p. 24 | The Dominion Sunday Bill

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 5, 1906

The Dominion Sunday Bill

THE spirit of religious intolerance which dwells in Sunday legislation is plainly shown in connection with the Sunday observance bill now before the Canadian Parliament at Ottawa. The question of granting an exemption to observers of the seventh-day Sabbath was presented and discussed in the House, and it was voted that no exemption should be given. Back of this vote was a telegram from a Methodist conference at Toronto to the premier, saying that the conference unanimously opposed the exemption; back of this conference action was the “Lord’s Day Alliance” of Canada; and back of this Alliance, as a prime mover in its organization, is Rev. W. F. Crafts, who in the United States claims to favor exemption clauses in Sunday laws. Elder W. H. Thurston sends us the following information regarding the stage which this intolerant measure has now reached in the Dominion Parliament:—

The Dominion Sunday bill has been under discussion in the House of Commons for three days, and at twelve o’clock Wednesday night, June 27, the bill passed the House with the exception of one section, which was laid over for further consideration. The minister of justice purposes to amend this section so that it will meet the mind of the House, but this remains to be seen. The bill is quite well summed up in section two, which reads as follows: “It shall not be lawful for any person on the Lord’s day, except as provided herein or in any Provincial Act heretofore passed, to sell or offer for sale or purchase any goods, chattels, or other personal property, or any real estate, or to carry on or to transact any business of his ordinary calling, or in connection with such calling, or for gain, or to do or employ any other person to do on that day any work, business, or labor.” There was a clause in the bill exempting those who conscientiously observe the seventh day of the week, but it did not carry, there being about one-third majority against it.

Strong arguments were made by members of the cabinet favoring the exemption clause, and Seventh-day Adventists were mentioned as a loyal, conscientious, law-abiding, Christian people, living what they profess and respecting the rights of other Christian people, and it was urged that they should not be oppressed by this bill. The Jews were another class mentioned that would be oppressed by the bill without the exemption clause. Among those voting for the exemption clause were the prime minister and the leader of the Opposition, or Conservative Party. There were men in the House who saw the evil results of the bill, should it become law, and the evil was pointed out. There was strong opposition to the bill from different parts of the Dominion, but the majority carried the day. If the questionable clause carries, the bill will then go to the Senate.

Mr. Shearer, D. D., the leader of the Lord’s Day Alliance, and their legal adviser are in attendance, and are working arduously in the lobby room. One member of the House said, in a speech: “There should be one day of rest in Canada, and one only, and those who would not conform to this should go elsewhere,” and to this resounded, in many parts of the House, “Hear! Hear!” This is significant of the times, and the meaning is clear. “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”