The Horoscope by C. S. Longacre

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 5, 1916

The Horoscope

By C. S. Longacre

WE are glad to report that the cases of two of our brethren which were carried over into the September term of court in Gallatin, Tenn., because of a former mistrial for Sunday-law violations, were dismissed last week without further trial by the court. All five cases have gone on record as dismissed by the court because of insufficient evidence to convict by jury trial. The public sentiment was strongly in favor of our brethren. This is a great victory for the truth in Tennessee, and let God be praised for it. May all our brethren everywhere continue to live in such a manner before their neighbors as to make them their friends.

The religious forces are organizing to get Congress to enact the Jones compulsory Sunday-observance bill for the District of Columbia, now pending before that body. Resolutions were passed by the Presbyterian presbytery of Washington, D. C., at a recent session, requesting the presbyteries of all the States to call on their Senators and Congressmen before the coming election in November, and urge them to pledge themselves to pass during the next session of Congress the above-mentioned Sunday bill. The inclosed resolutions have been sent to all the presbyteries throughout the United States by the clerk of the presbytery of Washington, D. C., who is the pastor of the Presbyterian church in Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.:—

“Resolved, That Presbyterians, grateful for the deep regard for the Sabbath that has come to them by inheritance and training from Scotland, should everywhere consider themselves under special obligation to lead in defense of the imperiled Sabbath, especially as there are very few Sabbath-defense organizations other than the churches, united for the safeguarding of this divine and humane institution; and—

“Resolved, That as the District of Columbia is the only Christian commonwealth in the world, except California, that has no Sunday-rest law; and as it is the nation’s capital, and in its population includes a nearly pro rata portion of the population of every State as resident members of the government, we appeal to all true Americans, and especially to Christians, individually or by deputations, to see their Senators and Representatives while they are at home, to ask their support in the next session of Congress, to the Jones Sunday-rest bill, which provides for the suspension on Sunday of such unnecessary work and business in the District of Columbia as is forbidden in all the States, save California. We submit, their delegations in Congress should give to their own citizen residents in Washington such Sunday rest as their State gives when they are at home; and—

“Resolved, That the stated clerk shall send a copy of these resolutions to the local press and to all presbyteries, asking them to take similar action, and to urge their Senators and Congressmen to support this and other pending moral measures.

“The above is a true copy of the action of the presbytery of Washington City, in session in Washington, D. C., Sept. 11, 1916, and is hereby sent to each presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., through the stated clerks.

“Attest　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 “Stated Clerk.

“Takoma Park, D. C., Sept. 15, 1916.”

This resolution and letter reveals the fact that the presbytery of Washington, D. C., is planning a distinctly religious propaganda throughout the United States, with the expressed purpose of engrafting the “Sabbath” of “Scotland” as a “divine institution” upon the citizens in the District of Columbia. Of course, they have the liberty to ask their Congressmen to enact all the tenets of the Presbyterian Church into civil law, and make them a part of the fundamental law of the land, if they so elect. It is not the first time Presbyterians have tried such a scheme. It worked for a while in Scotland, but even Scotland had to repudiate the scheme. We doubt very much whether our Congressmen are ready and willing to adopt the Puritan or Scottish Sunday blue laws at the present time. However, the proposed scheme reveals the fact that some of the religious organizations in this country are determined to get Congress committed to the subject of religious legislation, and that they will spare no efforts to accomplish their end.

Our people should make it their business to call on their Senators and Congressmen while they are at home, or write them a letter setting forth the dangers of religious legislation, so as to counteract the influence of the demands of the Presbyterians for the compulsory observance of a Scottish Sunday.

The last Liberty Extra sets forth the wrong principle involved in the Jones Sunday-rest bill, and the circulation of this Extra ought to be continued, and the petitions of protest be sent to Congress until March 4, 1917. We must not be found sleeping on guard while the enemy is wide awake. We must put forth special efforts to defend our Constitutional rights from this time forth, or our liberties will soon be taken from us and our work be greatly hindered. Let us rally, and prepare for the coming conflict. Our watchword must be “Preparedness for the finishing of the Lord’s work”.

C. S. LONGACRE.