THE W. C. T. U. AND THE “AMERICAN SABBATH.”
By G. W. Reaser
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of California held a “Summer School of Methods” at Pacific Grove, from the 1st to the 7th of this present month. Prominent leaders of the Union from several States were in attendance, and took active part in the discussion of all important questions that came before the school. Mrs. Sturtevant Peet presided. There was much interest manifested, and good practical work done, along the regular lines for which the organization came into existence; and in this grand and noble enterprise all Christian people can bid them a hearty Godspeed; but, stepping aside from their legitimate calling, they have taken up a side issue, which can not be indorsed by the followers of Christ, viz., the advancement of the popular “Christian Citizenship” idea, and in connection therewith the laying of plans and schemes to secure legal recognition of, and compulsory obedience to, the “American sabbath,” to which cause the sessions of the school for one day were almost wholly devoted. This day’s services were introduced with a consecration meeting, led by Mary Bell Mallory, M.D., of Auburn, Cal., who said, “We want Christian Citizenship clubs everywhere, and we must elect the best general to be found in our ranks, to lead in the work, and then the best local talent must be secured in each community, to act as leaders in carrying out the plans of the commander-in-chief.” The members of the Union were appealed to, and instructed to get their ministers, Sunday-school superintendents and leaders of young people’s societies interested and enthused in this great work, and to seek in every way possible to “make men vote as they pray; for universally applied Christian Citizenship,” Will Usher in the Millennium.
In answer to the question, “If women take up political work, will they not neglect religious work?” it was stated that “civil government is based on the Bible, and if men and women enter politics aright, we will have the millennium, for women have always taken religion wherever they have gone, and hence when they enter the political field, they will take religion into politics.” The audience were reminded that in two years there will be another State election in California, in view of which the W. C. T. U. workers should begin to agitate now, and impress their husbands with the importance of attending the primaries, “for we can if we will have all of the State officials elected at that time, pledged to give their support to Christian Citizenship, and we can likewise in four years secure the election of a president of the United States who is a champion of the same cause.” The scheme of a man-made millennium may sound well, and is, no doubt, a pleasing thought for some to contemplate, but such doctrine is not the teaching of the Infallible Book. The Lord does not tell us to look for the Millennium, but instructs us to be ready for his coming, and also plainly tells us that the wheat and tares—righteous and wicked—are to grow together till that event. (See Matt. 13: 39–42.) As Christians our citizenship is not in this world in its present sinful condition. We are in the world but not of the world. Our citizenship is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, according to his promise. (See John 14: 1–3; Phil. 3: 20, 21, R. V.) It is our duty to pray for rulers and those in authority, but we are not told to enter the “political field,” “attend the primaries,” and drag religion into politics, that we may elect government officials. Nor are we instructed to tarry at the polls, or in the legislative halls, until clothed with power to suppress evil; but rather to tarry at the throne of grace until endued with power from on high. When God’s people were held captive by Persia, a heathen nation, Daniel, the servant of the Most High, sought deliverance through the power of “Prayer, which soars on high through Jesus to the Throne,
And moves the hand that moves the world, to bring salvation down.”
In answer to that petition, Michael, the Archangel, and Gabriel, who “stands in the presence of God,” were sent to move upon the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia; and thus were God’s people set free. Can not God fashion things according to his own will still, without his people putting their hands to the ark to steady it, and without their becoming contaminated by mixing with politics and politicians? When Nebuchadnezzar, in the pride of his imagined power, once walked upon his palace, viewing the capital city of his realm, and in “great swelling words” said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?”— “Yet when his heart was hard, his spirit high,
God drave him from his kingly majesty,
Far from the brotherhood of fellow-men,
To seek for dwelling in the desert den.
“And bitter-biting frost, and dews of night,
Schooled him in sorrow till he knew the right,—
That God is ruler of the rulers still,
And setteth up the sovereign that he will.”
God upholds earthly governments, corrupt though they may be; for any system of government is better than a state of anarchy; and he does this that his Word, which is “quick and powerful,” may have “free course,” “to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people;” and the promise to the one who wields the “sword of the Spirit” is, “My Word . . . shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it.” The only legitimate use of that word is to employ it not to coerce, but to persuade. (See John 12: 47; 2 Cor. 5: 10, 11.) In her address on the subject of “Sabbath Observance,” the speaker, Mrs. Christine Armstrong, said in substance: The liquor traffic, Sabbath desecration, and social evils, are three cords by which our nation is bound. We must have a “national sabbath-rest law.” The national government must break off its sin of breaking the fourth commandment; 14,000,000 people have already indorsed a petition addressed to the National Congress for a national sabbath law; 10,000,000 pages of literature have thus far been circulated to agitate the question of such a law; the prominent religious organizations are wheeling into line to accomplish this much-desired end, and the time will come when the nation will yield to our demands. Three million laborers are deprived of their rest day by a Christian nation, in open violation of the law of God. Such Sunday-breaking threatens us with the curse of God. I stand pledged to use my influence for sabbath legislation. Let us unite our hearts and our voices in this work, and receive the blessing of the Lord of the Sabbath.” Let me, with proper respect and in all candor, ask, What is the necessity for a national sabbath law? Is not the law of God sufficient for all men in all ages and in all countries? Or has it become a “back number,” “dead,” “obsolete”? Has it ever been repealed? If so, where and when was the repeal made? Ought not the repeal to have been as clearly and prominently published as the enacting of the law? Can man by legislation make the law of God more forcible or binding. Did God make a law and pronounce it “perfect,” that would be insufficient to meet all emergencies that might arise? Is not the observance of the Sabbath purely a matter of conscience toward God? Then what the necessity of a Sabbath law upon the statute-books of the State or nation? Could a man-made law govern the conscience? We leave the reader to ponder and answer these queries to his own heart, and “to God, the Judge of all.” Again, does the national government commit the sin of violating the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, by operating its mail system on the first day of the week, a day not mentioned in the fourth commandment, nor in any other command in the Book of Holy Writ? Will the blessing of the “Lord of the Sabbath” rest upon those who knowingly trample9underfoot the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and clamor for governmental support for a rival Sabbath?