A Sunday Movement. Conventions, &c by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 2, 1866

A Sunday Movement. Conventions, &c.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS have long said that before the coming of Christ there would be strict Sunday laws enacted against them. Indications of this have been seen in different parts of the land of late. Within the last few weeks a movement has been started in Maine, which plainly points to that object. One year ago the tent was pitched in Norridgewock, Somerset Co., Me. The Lord wrought a great work. A meeting-house was built, and now scores gather there every Sabbath to worship the God of Heaven. On Sunday these persons are seen in their fields, shops, &c., at work. This influence is telling on the community. Many others who do not keep the seventh day as yet, feel that it is right, and are inclined to endorse it. The Sunday clergy saw all this, and were troubled. Something must be done. One zealous advocate of the traditions of the fathers, as he saw not only Adventists, but other persons “desecrating” the Sunday, had his spirit stirred within him. He made a solemn promise to devote all his energies to the work till this Sabbath desecration should be stopped. He stirred up his brother ministers to take hold with him. Reverend Drs. from abroad lectured on the obligations and duties of the Christian Sabbath. A convention was appointed at Skowhegan, five miles from Norridgewock, to further consider the subject. Delegates, composed of ministers and laymen from different parts representing the different orthodox churches, were present. To this body a minister from Norridgewock delivered a sermon in defence of the Christian Sabbath. The substance was this: Our object is to secure the better observance of the Christian Sabbath. The Sabbath is not a Jewish institution as it was given in Eden to the father of all races before there were any Jews. Jesus said that it was made for man. We need a Sabbath now as much as the Jews ever did. This is evident from the fact that no person can long continue to work seven days in the week, without breaking down. Many who have tried it say that they can not accomplish so much in a year by working seven days in a

week as they can by working six and resting one. Numerous pointed examples were cited to prove this. The body needs a day of rest. The mind needs a rest day. Those who keep no Sabbath soon become coarse, heathenish, ignorant, and immoral. Sabbath-breaking communities are generally noted for ignorance and immorality. The Sabbath brings us together, and makes us social beings, and cultivates a friendly intercourse in society. The Sabbath is the stronghold of religion. With it stands or falls true piety, &c. Many other arguments were used which were plain and forcible to every thinking mind. To all this every Sabbath-keeper could say, Amen.

In closing he said that a few words might be in place concerning the change of the Sabbath. We need a practical Sabbath. We have such a Sabbath now; our fathers had; where did it come from if not of divine origin? Who can tell? I wanted to say, Sir, I can tell you. The same reasoning would prove any heresy the Devil ever propagated. We hold this doctrine; our fathers hold it: therefore it is of God! So might the heathen and the Catholic prove his religion to be of God. What a monstrous position for a Protestant minister to take! Hear what God says about walking in the errors of our fathers:

‘Thus saith the Lord: For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked.’ Amos ii, 4.

His argument for the change of the Sabbath was this: One seventh part of time fulfills the command. The spirit is above the letter. Any seventh day after six of labor is the Sabbath of the Lord. The change was made by Christ, not by any express command, but gradually and spontaneously! The first-day was the sealing day of redemption. [Paul contradicts this slightly by saying that the day of redemption is yet future. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. iv, 30.] Every Christian’s heart is now drawn to the first-day. It is the Lord’s day. Jesus’ day. Well might John be in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, the first-day of the week. Rev. i, 10. Well might Paul preach on that day, and exhort the brethren to remember the poor on that day. God is blessing us now on that day. [He now became very positive that the first-day, and no other, was the Sabbath-day, forgetting his previous argument that any seventh part of time would do. Both positions of course can not be true. Error always contradicts itself. This reminds us of the man who was accused of borrowing a kettle, and then returning it broken. His defense was this: 1. The kettle was broken when I got it. 2. It was whole when I returned it. And, 3. I never had it. There, thought he, if one argument does not clear me another will. So with the Elder’s arguments for Sunday.] We must make this day here what it ought to be, kept by all classes. We hope to bring on the day when it shall be properly observed everywhere. Asks pardon of God for so long and so wickedly neglecting this divine institution, and promises to be more zealous in the good cause in the future.

The Convention pronounced this an able discourse in defence of the Christian Sabbath, and invited the Elder to deliver it to the different congregations throughout the county. Sept. 19, he delivered it in Norridgewock, at which time I heard it, and took the above notes. Neither in the discourse nor in the Convention was it directly said that this movement was meant to put down the Adventists. Probably they would disclaim any such object; but all can readily see that that is the primary object. Indeed, in all their speeches and resolutions no exceptions were made, but it was repeatedly declared that all classes must be brought to keep the Christian Sabbath. Yet they knew that there was a large class in their midst who were keeping the seventh day.

In the Convention at Skowhegan, the declared object was to promote the proper observance of the Christian Sabbath. What a spectacle! Here were ministers and laymen who had deliberately rejected the law of God, hid their eyes from his Sabbath, and

tried to hinder others from keeping it. These men now come together very solemnly, and with great pretensions of zeal for God’s commands, to do what? To enforce the keeping of a day of their own choosing, one that God had never required them to keep, never had blessed, or mentioned as a holy day. Very zealous for their own traditions, but despise the direct command of God.

The Convention was agreed that something must be done about this subject. Each one agreed to do all that he could. But that was not sufficient. Public men must be interested in this, or it would come to nothing. Our lawyers, judges, legislators, senators, &c., must be induced to take up the subject, and cast their influence in favor of it.

Resolutions were passed, embodying what they had said on the subject. These were printed in the Maine Farmer, with a request that other papers copy them. Thus we see that their object is to interest the civil authorities, and get the law to aid them. And we know that they will succeed.

Sept. 20, another Convention was called in Norridgewock. Court set here this week, and now will be the time to get the subject before members of the bar, judges, &c. I attended the Convention all through. As before, the object of the Convention was stated to be to prevent the desecration of the Christian Sabbath in this county. The first speaker confesses that they have all “been verily guilty before God in neglecting this holy day so long.” Promises now to do something. Is confident that God is in the movement. Wishes it to spread everywhere. Hopes to see the day when the Sabbath will be as strictly observed as God wants it to be. Several others spoke of the rapidly-increasing Sabbath desecration. All agreed that it was lamentable, and called upon every Christian to mourn. Sorry that they had no power to stop it. We must have the good old Puritan Sabbath restored. We must agitate the subject in every way. The ministers must preach more on it; the teachers must teach the children more about it, and especially must parents be more in earnest to teach their children the Christian Sabbath.

Many good things were said about the obligations and blessings of the Sabbath. If they only had the right day, their remarks would have been good. One thing was a little remarkable. They had come together to discuss the claims and obligations of the Christian Sabbath. Mark: the old Jewish Sabbath, as they call it, the seventh day, they utterly reject and despise. They oppose those who do keep it. Now of course we should expect to hear the law which enforces the keeping of the Christian Sabbath. Reader, do you suppose that we heard any one repeat that very important law? Not once, not once! Almost every speaker repeatedly quoted the law which enforced the keeping of the Jewish (?) Sabbath. How strange! Why not tell us where to find this new law for keeping the Christian Sabbath? Because they have no such law outside of the fourth command, which says that the seventh, not the first, day is the Sabbath.

This Convention was attended by ministers from several different denominations, laymen, lawyers at the bar, judges, &c. A former Chief Justice of Maine was also present, and spoke at some length, warmly approbating the object of the meeting, and encouraging them to go forward. A committee was appointed to arrange for future meetings. The discourse on the Sabbath is now being repeated through the county. Tracts on the subject are to be scattered among the people; and, in short, every effort is being put forth that can be to forward the object. Will they succeed? Yes, we know they will, ultimately, and we are not sorry to see the work begun, as it is another sign that we are nearing home.

In conclusion, the Secretary told them not to be discouraged, because they had a great work to do, and but few at present to do it. To encourage them he gave them this illustration: A good old deacon, many years ago, advocated the anti-slavery doctrine. His little flock of twelve men went with him in it. They nominated their man, and voted for him. The other parties remonstrated with them for this, saying, “You are throwing away your votes. These ‘scats’ don’t amount to anything. You had better join with us where your votes will tell.” The deacon told them that the day was coming when these “scats” would come in with enough others to make it tell. Now this is the leading party in the nation. So with this Convention. It looks small now; but the day is coming when it will have authority. I thought the illustration a good one, and believe that it will be true.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Portland, Me.