Strange, but True by E. G. Doud

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1866

Strange, but True.

By E. G. Doud

In the Pioneer bearing date May 30, I find an excellent article taken from the Saginaw Enterprise, headed “Street Education.” The writer after describing the scenes that daily occur in the streets among the children, says: “This state of youthful merriment ceases not with the six days of play and labor, but the seventh, the Holy Sabbath, is desecrated by the same scenes.” Nothing could be more true or more ruinous in its results. But did the writer actually mean what he said, or did he mean the first-day? Coming from the source it does, I have reason to believe that he says one thing and means quite another. Question: Are the terms seventh-day and first-day synonymous? From the teachings of the present day, we are left to infer that they are. Is not this truly strange?

Have the people of the present day the power of thought, and yet when told that the first-day is the seventh, think it is all right? Were I to tell them that white was black would they consent to it and call it the truth? Is not this a strange state of things? Would it not be more consistent when the Sabbath is mentioned to call it the seventh-day, as did the writer of the article referred to? and when the first-day is spoken of to either call it by its number or name? Is it not best to call things by their right names? Would it not be better if people exercised thought more and asked themselves the question, Does calling the first-day the seventh make it so?

Why people receive this as truth, is one of the mysteries of these days.

E. G. Doud.

Denmark, Mich.