WORLD’S FAIR OBSERVATIONS.
By R. C. Porter
There is in St. Louis at the present time an admirable display in grounds, buildings, and exhibits, which, alike in vastness and variety, make the Louisiana Purchase Exposition unequaled in impressiveness and educational values in the history of world’s fairs. The marvelous achievements of recent years in art, in science, and in the industries, have brought together, from all parts of the world, thoughtful, intelligent persons, concerned not only in what they may be able to acquire or to communicate in their special callings, but interested in all matters which affect the advancement of society. Much space was devoted to exhibits of horticulture, agriculture, live stock, manufacture, mining, and the fine arts. These exhibits were all very instructive and of great educational value. As nearly all nations were represented in their native home life, this feature afforded an opportunity to see much of the world in its varied phases of natural life in a brief space of time and with little expense. The special industries from all parts of the world, accumulated as they are within the small compass of thirteen hundred acres of ground, passing in review before the eye as a panorama, is a rare opportunity for the student of history. These features of the Fair are in themselves of great educational value to the student of limited resources and means. But these are not the most important or most highly-prized features of the Exposition to the careful Bible student. There were called together by the occasion those societies interested in humanitarian work, mission work, and those interested in Sunday rest work. The Vegetarian Society and Sanitarium and Life Boat Mission Societies held conventions that were eminently practical and highly educational in their lines of work. The mission work of some churches brought together from the various fields of the world, in hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart touch, those interested in this line of work. This must certainly prove a blessing to those darkened lands where the needs are so great. One sad feature of the work of religious conventions held during the Fair was the clamor of the International Sunday Rest Congress for enforced Sunday observance. No doubt the assembly, gathered in the interest of this special work, like Paul, when persecuting the church before he became fully acquainted with Jesus Christ, verily thought they did God service. But, like the great apostle, zealous tho they were with a zeal worthy a better cause, they were certainly misguided. The whole tenor of the Sunday Rest Congress was demands for compulsory Sunday laws in the interest of a better observance of the day religiously. They seemed to forget that religion ceases to be Christianity whenever it is forced. The Gospel of Christ, as presented by Himself, is, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “Whosoever will, may come,” not Whosoever will not, must come. A lover of religious liberty, aroused by the anti-christian demand for religious legislation by the Sunday Rest Congress (a body of professed Christians), submitted the following questions to the secretary of the convention, with the request that they be read, and answers solicited: - Did Jesus Christ ever ask the state to enact laws for the enforcement of Sabbath observance or any other religious doctrine?
- Was not the enforcement of Sunday laws the first step taken by the Papacy in religious legislation which ended in religious persecution and the martyrdom of the Dark Ages?
3. In the demand for Sunday laws are we not in danger of becoming responsible for a period of religious legislation that will fulfil Rev. 13:14 by making an image to the Papacy?No attempt was made to reply to the above questions. It is so apparent that it is antichrist and not Christ who is the author of all attempts to enforce religious doctrines, that no thoughtful Christian would attempt to defend such a movement with his eyes on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. But John, in the book of Revelation, has described this movement (13th chapter), declaring that it will proceed to use the boycott to the extent that none can buy or sell unless they have the “mark of the beast” or worship his image; even declaring that those should be martyred who should refuse to allow others to control, by civil enactments, their religious belief and practice. The indications, from what appeared at the World’s Fair Sunday Rest Congress, are very plain that we are on the eve of the fulfilment of this prophecy, the development of that “beast” power in the accomplishment of its cruel work. Every reader knows that a beast represents mastery by force. Christ’s Gospel is controlled by love. So here that kind of force in the enforcement of religious doctrines constitutes the image of the beast. The mark or sign or first great step by the Papacy in this direction was the enforcement of Sunday laws to make Sunday a day of rest. It afterward appealed to this great achievement as an evidence of its authority to command other religious observances. It was very noticeable that, in this Sunday Rest Congress, the enforced closing of the World’s Fair gates on Sunday, which was claimed to be the direct result of the labor of this Sunday rest movement, was the first great achievement in the work of this body and a mark of their influence or power with the state; and it was this that gave assurance of success in their movement for the accomplishment of their further purposes in religious legislation. In Revelation 14 a company is presented who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. They are giving a warning against this movement for religious legislation, and warning against the making of an image to the Papacy or receiving its mark of authority, enforced Sunday rest. From the presentation of this company as keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus in contrast with those making an image to the beast, it is plain that those who demand religious legislation neither keep God’s commandments nor exercise the faith of Jesus. If they kept God’s commandments they could not demand religious legislation; and if they kept the faith of Jesus they would not want such legislation. The company here presented as keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are declared to have gained the victory over the beast, his image, and his mark, and they stand in the holy city singing redemption songs. The conflict before the world is here made plain. The results of the work of this movement in connection with the closing of the gates of this Exposition on Sunday will give new inspiration to their work. Every lover of truth, every soul that rejoices in the blessed hope of the soon coming of Christ, should gird himself afresh for the work of giving the warning message to the world. Those who are true to the work of living the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and giving the warning message, will soon stand victorious in the City of God. The class who make the image to the beast, and receive his mark, will be recipients of the wrath of God under the seven last plagues. This is no common time, and the lesson drawn from a careful study of this greatest of world’s expositions is no common lesson. Let us catch the true import of these lessons, reflect the image of Jesus, whose we are and whom we serve, and go forward to victory.