The Sunday Law Movement in Europe
By L. A. S.
In the December issue of the Christian Statesman, an advocate of Sunday legislation says of the recent progress of the Sunday movement in Europe:— An international Sabbath federation . . . has existed for some forty years, with its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland. More recently a Popular League for Sunday Rest has been organized in France, which has done grand work in closing shops, factories, public offices, and business houses. In Belgium alone two thousand freight trains are discontinued on the Lord’s day that run on other days. Russia forbids all factory work on Sunday, and most places of business are closed. Drinking places are closed all day on Sunday in Norway, Holland, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. A determined effort is being made in the same direction in England, where already such places are closed Sunday mornings, but open in the afternoons. A wonderful advance has been made in France by voluntary effort. Till recently, all the shops in Paris were open on Sunday, and thronged with buyers. Monsieur Honore, the director-general of the shops of the Louvre, sent out many thousands of letters to the ladies of Paris, simply asking them if they could not do their shopping on weekdays. The replies were surprisingly favorable. Now the shops on the Louvre are all closed, besides many other shops in Paris and other cities of France. This shows what can be done when one tries. The power of royal example is strong. Hence we were delighted by a newspaper paragraph the other day—we hope it is authentic—to the effect that King Edward, after a sojourn in Scotland, refused to return to London by a Sunday train, and declared his intention hereafter to refrain from all Sunday travel, to have no more social functions6at court on that day, and to have the king’s Sunday table served simply with cold meats. All over Europe no delivery of parcels is allowed on Sunday by the post, and only a single letter delivery, whereas till recently this was all the same as on week days. No reference is made by this writer to recent developments in Italy and Spain, but readers of the REVIEW know that the Sunday-law movement is gathering great force in those countries. What is the significance of this world-wide rally in behalf of the institution which is the special sign of the power and authority of “the beast”? This question every Seventh-day Adventist should be able to answer. L. A. S.