SUN-WORSHIP, SUNDAY, AND CHRISTIANITY.
By W. N. G.
April 5, 3,000 Knights Templar of Boston, headed by brass bands, escorted Rev. Dr. Lorimer and the Right Eminent Grand Commander Lawrence through the principal streets of Boston to Music Hall, where annual Easter services were held. A marked feature of the occasion was the presentation of a handsome bronze pulpit to the pastor of Tremont Temple, which will grace the platform of that edifice. Boston presented the spectacle of a prominent pastor being unequally yoked, not only with modern sun-worshipers, but with the prince of modern distillers, Grand Commander Lawrence, whose Medford rum is the curse of Africa, and who assisted Dr. Lorimer in the services.—Christian Cynosure. Inasmuch as the pastor and the church of which he has charge religiously observe the day originally set apart for sun-worship, and inasmuch as he is also united to these “modern sun-worshipers,” it was logically fitting that the “Right Eminent Grand Commander” should join forces with the pastor on Sunday. The illegitimate feature of the transaction was that it should be done in the name of Christianity. There is no ground for criticism on the assumption that any part of the ceremony was Christian. We do not aim to controvert the Cynosure’s reference to the Masonic fraternity as “sun-worshipers,” as, personally, we know nothing about Masonic worship, as such; but taking for granted that its editor knows what he is talking about in this instance, and knowing him to be a leading National Reformer, we note two other instances which he may cite in confirmation of his charge. One is an item in the Christian Statesman, a colaborer of the Cynosure in numerous “reforms,” and is as follows:— “Senator Quay and wife have donated sixteen acres of land and $10,000 in money for a Masonic university at Beaver, Pa., and the agent of the proposed institution publishes that a subscription of $400,000 at Pittsburg and another of $100,000 at Philadelphia, for the same purpose, are already assured. This is a bid for Masonic support in this presidential campaign.” The other point, and one which forms a significant connection between “these modern sun-worshipers” and the National Reform combination, is found in the senator’s public record on the matter of Sunday legislation. When the bill proposing an appropriation for the Chicago Exposition was under consideration in the Senate, Mr. Quay introduced and successfully supported the provision that the exposition should be closed on Sunday. At that time we did not hear any of the National Reformers accusing him of being a “sun-worshiper;” but if he and his fellow-Masons are to be classed in that category, that bit of evidence should not be overlooked. W. N. G.