p. 503 | Religious Notes by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 9, 1882

Religious Notes.

By Editor

—Since 1845 the membership of the Catholic Church in New York has increased 900 per cent., while all the Protestant Churches have increased only 76 per cent. It is estimated that there are 500,000 Catholics in the city.

—Heretofore there has been a law in New York against profanity, and each offense was punishable by a fine of one dollar, or by imprisonment. That law has been repealed, and people can swear without any fear of the civil law. Probably no more people will swear now than before, for the law was a dead letter.

—The story is told of a heathen convert to Christianity that he was urged by his employer to labor on the Sabbath, but declined. "But," said the master, "does not your Bible say that if a man has an ox or an ass that falls into a pit on the Sabbath-day, that he may pull him out?" "Yes," answered the convert; "but if the ass has a habit of falling into the same pit every Sabbath-day then the man should either fill up the pit or sell the ass."

—The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, in Chicago, has "Solemn High Mass," among its performances. On a recent occasion it was announced that Bishop McLaren would officiate. The Bishop, however, declined, giving as his only reason therefor, the fact that "The Book of Common Prayer contains no such office." He might have also said the same thing of the Bible, but he wisely quoted the authority that is most consulted and best understood.

—A Mr. Fisher, in a political speech in Alameda, said in regard to the Sunday Law: "The descendants of the Puritans are the last who would restrict any one in the pursuits of happiness or the observance of his religion." But the fact remains that the Puritans themselves did seriously restrict a good many persons in the "pursuits of happiness and the observances of religion," as the history of the Baptists and Quakers testifies. And who will presume to-say that the descendants of the Puritans are any improvement morally on their sires?

—The California Christian Advocate comes straight to the point on the religio-politico-temperance crusade, and states its position as follows: "For ourselves, we have been anxious that no harm should come to the holy cause of our Christian Sabbath. That has been our chief concern. As for prohibition, we desire to take that up in such form that success may be assured in time." Just so. That is just what we have said all the time. Sunday first, at all hazards, and prohibition afterwards if it is convenient. And yet they still continue to accuse us of being in league with liquor men, because we do not join in their Sunday crusade. We can stand it if they can.