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Night Is Coming

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 8, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 10.

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Night Is Coming

By K. C. Russell

GOVERNOR PATTISON, of Ohio, in his inaugural address, outlined as one of his policies a strict enforcement of the Sunday laws. The Toledo Blade, in commenting upon the governor’s address, says: “If Governor Pattison proceeds on the lines indicated in his inaugural address, we confidently predict for him an administration that will reflect credit on him, and one that will add glory to this grand old commonwealth.” In commenting on this statement, the religious liberty secretary of the New York Conference in the New York Indicator pertinently says: “Such, brethren, are the ideas and conditions in a neighboring State. These are gaining ground rapidly and ever becoming more generally extant. How soon public sentiment may change in our own State, regarding the rights of conscience! To the east of us is New England conservatism and strict sabbatarianism; to the north, Canadian intolerance; to the west, State National Reformism; to the south, Pennsylvania’s fanatical bigotry and oppressive Sunday laws. Surrounded and bounded with dangerous and heretical church and state ideas and measures, we in New York State are still enjoying comparative peace and tranquillity, and the state, the bulwark of human rights, still protects us with tolerative exemptions. Let me ask a pertinent question: What is each one doing to rightly educate the public conscience that these rights enjoyed may be preserved? Are you circulating tracts, papers, and letters upon the subject of the rights of conscience? Each individual of the commandment-keeping remnant should do his duty. ‘England expects every man to do his duty,’ was Lord Nelson’s message to his fleet at the opening of the battle with the Spanish ‘Armada.’ Surely, in the present battle with the principles of Romanism everywhere, God expects every soldier of the cross to do his duty. A thousand avenues are open! Let us work while it is day! Night is coming.”
K. C. RUSSELL.