p. 2 | THE CAUSE AND THE CURE by Burt Fullmer

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 18, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 51.

THE CAUSE AND THE CURE.

By Burt Fullmer

THE author, Mr. Gamble, of one of the latest books on the Sunday question, in seeking to account for Sunday desecration, names two principal causes. The first he presents in the form of a tirade against the Seventh-day Adventist Church, whom he charges with being leaders in robbing men of a day of rest. The second cause I shall quote:—

Nor is this all. Multitudes of church-members help to rob the laboring men of their Sabbath. To illustrate: I go to the barbers in some large town and solicit their attendance upon a revival meeting, or solicit them to attend the regular preaching services. . . . I say,—

“We are directed to preach the Gospel to every creature. I recognize that ‘you are a creature. I recognize that you are an intelligent, well-raised, influential man; that you are a very successful man. I’d like very much to have ‘you attend my church, that I may have a chance to preach to you.’”

“To ME? Why, reverend sir, there are enough members belonging to ‘your church who, if I should close up my shop and go to church on the Sabbath, would withhold their patronage from me, to drive me into bankruptcy. ‘It is not possible for me to come to church.’”

This author’s first reason is simply an effort to arouse bitterness and prejudice against those who differ with him. The second, tho not so intended, is an admission of a condition of his own members, over which he, as their representative, may well ponder.

He also suggests two remedies, the first of which is:—

Therefore the one great need of the American laboring man is to have a rest-day guaranteed to him by national law.

Truly a remarkable remedy for a Methodist minister to suggest! A national law to prevent the members of his own church from compelling poor sinners to stay away from hearing the Gospel! His second remedy I also quote:—

I turn now and whisper a word of advice to my members who get shaved before going to church on Sabbath morning. Now that you are to blame for preventing that barber from attending church, and through the church services of becoming a Christian, . . . the first requisite you must have as a means of leading a man to Christ is to be able to live in such a way as to convince him that you are really what you profess to be.

Who does not see that in his second reason and remedy we find the key to his difficulty? The cause is not the work of a sect only the 1-698th part (his figures) as large as the combined Sunday-keeping churches, so much as the weakness of a doctrine that fails to command the respect of even its professed believers.

Neither is the remedy found in national laws; but in the power which, once felt and known, will never be cast aside for the arm of flesh. If Sunday-keeping is right, let its advocates unsheathe its sword—“the Word of God”—and command the respect of all. Let this minister cease to “whisper advice” to his members, while thundering at state-house doors for compelling laws. Let him first train his own members to show “the first requisite,” and not try to raise up a false issue to shield their inconsistencies behind false charges concerning others.

BURT FULLMER.

Iowa City, Ia.