The Annual Convention of the New York State Sabbath Association
By K. C. Russell
The New York State Branch of the American Sabbath Observance Association held a convention in Elmira, N. Y., October 28-31. The attendance was large in the main, and the speakers were enthusiastic and zealous in their so-called reform movement. At the first mass-meeting on Sunday evening, October 28, Rev. J. Milton Thompson, D. D., of Troy, spoke. In his address he extolled the law of God and emphasized its perpetuity. He quoted Gen. 2: 2, 3, as a basis of his talk, and there followed in his remarks such a commingling of truth with error that the ordinary hearer would be confused by the arguments presented. In proving the first day of the week to be the Sabbath, he assumed that the seventh day upon which the Lord rested in the beginning was Adam’s first day; therefore, the first day, Sunday, is now really the original seventh-day Sabbath. It seems incredible that such arguments in behalf of Sunday observance would have any weight on the minds of intelligent and thoughtful people. The language of the New Testament states the distinction between the seventh and first days of the22week, for we read in Luke 23: 56 concerning the holy women after the crucifixion of Christ: “And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment;” and all know that the fourth commandment of the decalogue is the day on which God rested in the beginning, thus we see that the very day of the week upon which God rested was called the seventh day in the days of Christ, and in Luke 24: 1 the first day of the week is spoken of in contrast with the seventh. After producing these arguments in proof of the Sunday sabbath, he then proceeded to show the necessity for a law to enforce its observance, and concluded his remarks by saying, “Remember to keep holy the choice heritage of the sabbath (Sunday), the couch of toil, the truce of care, the sunshine of the home, poverty’s birthright, the golden chain let down from heaven to link men with angels and with God.” At the second mass-meeting, Monday evening, October 29, Rev. Frederick J. Stanley, D. D., general secretary of the American Sabbath Union and secretary of the New York State Sabbath Association, spoke on “New Japan.” He told of many interesting things concerning his visit in Japan, but the burden of his talk was to impress his audience with the great moral influence which has been and is being exerted by this country upon other nations. One significant remark which he made to show our nation’s position was: “America is to be the arbiter and destiny of nations.” He recited how this country through Secretary Hay, the great diplomat, brought peace in the time of the Boxer outrages in China; how this nation did not insist on indemnity from China except in cases where houses of our citizens were burned, and said that our example had an influence on other nations, and that they, too, did not demand indemnities; how China and Japan looked in vain for help and justice under other flags, but under the stars and stripes had found satisfaction. He spoke of the peace arbitration at Portsmouth, N. H., through the good offices of President Roosevelt in bringing peace between Russia and Japan. After emphasizing again and again the wide-spread and universal influence of our country upon other nations, he did not fail to make the application of his argument by showing the influence that our Sabbath laws were producing upon other nations. The large map of the United States, designed by Dr. Wiley, showed the States which have no Sabbath law in black, the States in white that have the most rigid laws, and those in gray or dark that have less rigid laws. This reminds us of the text of Scripture which speaks of some who “put darkness for light, and light for darkness.” This map occupied a very conspicuous place in their meetings. Dr. Stanley also spoke at the mass-meeting on Tuesday evening. His subject was, “A White Flag with a Blue Cross.” He read as a basis of his theme Isa. 58: 13, 14; Rev. 1:10; and Eze. 20:20, but dwelt more upon the latter text, “My Sabbaths shall be a sign.” He told how the United States naval vessels each have a white flag with a blue cross, which is run up on the masts above all other flags every Sunday. In carrying out his illustration he compared the disregard of Sabbath laws to the grievous offense of pulling down the stars and stripes, which would be regarded as an act of treason. It is not difficult to see the logical conclusion of these arguments. To be a traitor to God’s government by refusing to keep the sabbath (Sunday) would be a much more grievous offense than to be a traitor to one’s country. Dr. Stanley referred to the work of the Religious Liberty Bureaus with great vehemence, speaking of them as “your little societies that are crying out against uniting church and state.” He said, “We do not want to unite church and state, but religion and the state.” In speaking of these societies, he showed the contempt he had for those who differed with him. It certainly has been demonstrated thus far in this convention that it will be a serious thing for the minority to oppose the work of these reformers if they should obtain control of the lawmaking powers. May heaven help every loyal citizen to awaken to the demands of the hour.