Authorized yet Unauthorized.
By Editor
THE Christian Statesman speaks of "unauthorized holy days, like Easter and Christmas." Why does it say unauthorized? We dissent, and declare that they are authorized—authorized by the same power that authorized the observance of Sunday as a holy day; all are authorized by the Roman Catholic Church, the "mother of harlots and abominations of the earth." As the catechism says, "Sundays and holy days all stand on the same foundation." The Statesman is working for such a change in the laws as will enforce Sunday observance; why does it not act consistently, and try to enforce the observance of Christmas, New Years, and Easter? Why discriminate in regard to matters of tradition? If we are to adopt one custom on the authority of tradition, why reject another which has the same support? For our part we propose to follow the advice of the historian of the popes, and "treat tradition as we do a notorious and known liar, to whom we give no credit, unless what he says is confirmed to us by some person of undoubted veracity." And this umpire, in matters pertaining to religion, must always be the Bible. We accept no other authority.