A Right Decision

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 22, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 16.

A Right Decision.—Prosecutions recently instituted in Philadelphia against Sunday newspaper publishers have come to naught. They were based on the old Sunday law of 1794, under which it is misdemeanor to engage in any “worldly employment” on Sunday. Judge Gordon decided that if the term “worldly employment” were to be construed literally, its enforcement would cause a great calamity. He said the expression was too indefinite for intelligent determination. He declared the act inoperative, because it destroyed the religious liberty guaranteed by the declaration of Rights in the State Constitution.

It is not helping a brother to sacrifice a principle. The only true way to help one is in the way of righteousness. To lift one up in sin who remains in sin is to exalt him that he may fall the lower. To truly lift one up is to lift him from the sin. Jesus saves, not in sin, but from sin. While helping it is not given to us to judge or condemn those we help, but it is our duty to stand right ourselves, on the principles of eternal righteousness.