Religious Legislation in Bermuda by M. Enoch

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 19, 1911

Religious Legislation in Bermuda

By M. Enoch

UNDAUNTED by last year's failure, the Moral Reformers again brought their "Lord's Day act" before Parliament this fall. The measure was defeated the fifth of last October.

The Bermuda Colonist contains the following: "In the House of Assembly, on Wednesday, Dr. T. H. Outerbridge moved the second reading of the Lord's Day act. After some discussion, the bill was rejected." Then are enumerated the names of the ten members in favor of the second reading, and the eleven who voted against the measure. While the measure was defeated by a majority of only one, it must be understood that this motion was not whether the act should become law, but simply whether it should be read a second time. It was the same one year ago. There is no doubt that the majority of those favoring a second reading of the act would have opposed its becoming a law.

It is quite evident that one year ago the mover in charge of that measure tried to rush it through with a small house; and that this year he tried to push it when some who are much opposed were away from the islands.

Perhaps the following editorial from the Bermuda Royal Gazette of Oct. 18, 1910, will show the feelings of most Bermudians: "The Rev. D. K. Grant, in a mildly satirical letter which we publish this morning, calls us severely to account for certain remarks made concerning the defunct Lord's Day act. More immediate demands upon our time, forbid our undertaking the disagreeable task of a post-mortem upon a measure whose utter ineptitude was so apparent that it never even reached the committee stage in the House of Assembly."

The foregoing shows that Bermuda is still not only "the land of the lily and the rose," but also the land of religious freedom; and that the Moral Reformers have again failed in their efforts to force the people of the Bermudas to observe a purely human institution, which, though wholly religious, has never been sanctioned by the Lord of the Sabbath.

The apostle, in defining the "mystery of iniquity" (2 Thess. 2: 1-7), shows plainly that this mystery is the spirit of self-exaltation. This spirit originated with Lucifer, when he said, "I will be like the Most High." Isa. 14: 12-14. It was this same spirit that was manifested by the early Christians when they adopted, several hundred years after Christ, the "venerable day of the sun" as a rival to the Sabbath of Jehovah. Not only was it adopted by them, but this Sunday sabbath was enforced on the people by imperial decrees and councils. When men did that, they exalted this human Sunday institution above God's holy Sabbath. When they did that without

divine authority, they set themselves above God. So likewise when the Bermudian Moral Reformers attempt to do the same thing, do they not also partake of the same spirit? Like Saul of Tarsus, their motives may seem right to them, but Saul's experience and confession prove that honest motives may be wrong. Like causes produce like effects.

M. ENOCH.