p. 108 | Sunday Law Tract by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 2, 1882

Sunday Law Tract.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

LAST week an edition of 5,000 of this tract was issued, and another edition is already called for. The Oakland church has taken and distributed 1,500, the San Francisco church 1,000, and other churches, that ordered only a few hundred, are calling for more. The demand for it convinces us that it was the right thing at the right time. Our object in circulating the tract was not to stir up strife, but to take advantage of an interest that had been awakened by the friends of the Sunday, to place the truth of the Bible on this question before the people. The truth on the Sabbath question has probably been brought before more people in California during the past two weeks than ever before.

That the prejudices of some should be aroused by it, is no more than could be expected. The truth has ever met with opposers, and we know of no way to avoid opposition except by keeping silent in regard to the truth, and this we cannot do. On the whole, however, the tract has been well received, and has received favorable notice from the press of this city. Some persons accused us of playing into the hands of the "League of Freedom," of desiring to enforce the observance of the Sabbath, and other things equally absurd. But none who have candidly read it, find any difficulty in understanding exactly our position.

We have nowhere charged the "Home Protection Society" with the arrest of the manager of the Pacific Press. They disclaim any connection with it, and we give them the benefit of the supposition that when they started the movement they did not foresee the result. Some evidently thought that a law which is general in its application could be enforced upon simply a few. They doubtless have learned better by this time. The Oakland Times justly says: "The obstacles in the way of a Sunday Law are much greater than had been anticipated when the agitation was first started." One of two things must now be done: The law must either be strictly enforced or else repealed. Whatever happens we are content, so long as the agitation serves to make the truth of God more clear to the people. E. J. W.