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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 31, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 22.

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Canada

By W. H. Thurston

The Dominion Sunday law agitation is still on, and much is being said in different parts of the country in opposition to the bill. At this writing (May 22) the bill is still in the hands of the special committee. Many people are in the mist regarding the attitude of many of the Catholic priests toward the bill. It seems that the Roman Catholics, who claim to be authority for Sunday-keeping, do not desire that the Protestant clergy should dictate to them as to how they shall observe Sunday.
In some cities an effort is being made to stop the running of street-cars on Sunday. In considering the question of Sunday street-cars, Rev. Father Drummond, S. J., St. Boniface College, as reported in the Winnipeg Telegram of April 11, 1906, said: “I certainly think that we ought to have Sunday cars, and that I have never heard a good reason against their use, although I have read many lofty opinions of contempt for those who share my opinion, but this does not constitute a reason.
“Traveling by car is no more a sin than traveling by cab, automobile, or even by shank's mare.
“The mere fact that some few men would be employed to run the cars is no reason why the public should be deprived of their use.
“This is a case where the greatest good to the greatest number should prevail. The cry that this will lead to the desecration of the Sabbath is no proof that people will not want to use the cars for a good purpose. The abuse of a privilege should never be made a reason for the suppressing of such a privilege. In all such matters we have to strike a balance of good and bad, and I believe that Sunday cars will be productive of more good than evil. The mere fact that Sunday cars will enable many people to attend church who otherwise could not do so is a sufficient reason for their use, notwithstanding other objections. Where Sunday cars are in use, people do use them very largely to attend church, and besides, rational amusement is not at all against the spirit of the Lord's day as instituted and organized by the Catholic Church.
“All the rest of the Christian world, which takes its observance of the first day of the week from the Catholic Church alone, has no right to dictate to us as to which way we shall observe the Sabbath.”
Father Gregory O'Brien, as reported in the Winnipeg Free Press News Bulletin, April 6, 1906, in answering questions, explained the meaning of holy water, scapular beads, why Catholics can not be Freemasons and Odd Fellows, and among other things, said: “The pope never approved of the massacre of the Huguenots, and never struck a medal to celebrate that event. If the Bible is the only guide for Christians, then the Seventh-day Adventists and the Jews are the only people observing the law of God with regard to the Sabbath day. Those who claim the Bible as their sole guide have no right whatever to keep Sunday, but are bound to keep the seventh day—the Sabbath.”
These declarations are in perfect keeping with former assertions by the Catholic Church, and are significant at this time when Protestants are clamoring for a Sunday law, and wrestling the Scriptures to prove the sacredness of Sunday.
Dr. Isaac Williams, in "Plain Sermons on the Catechism," stated the matter clearly when he said: “The reason why we keep the first day of the week instead of the seventh is for the same reason that we observe many other things, not because the Bible, but because the church, has enjoined it.”
W. H. THURSTON.