Sunday Law Agitation in Chicago
By Brother Sadler
From Chicago, Brother Sadler writes:—
Our brethren who pass through Chicago often speak thus to me: “Well, I suppose you are not bothered much with the Sunday-law agitation here in Chicago, as everything seems to run about the same seven days in the week.” To the casual observer this seems to be true; but notwithstanding all this, there are great channels of influence molding public sentiment in this direction. Some time ago the Butchers and Retail Grocery Clerks Association began to agitate the matter of Sunday closing, and last week, from personal conversations and newspaper articles, I discovered that this movement is assuming large proportions. The labor organizations are coming to the support of the movement. The general committees representing Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist, Congregational, Presbyterian, and Christian churches which have been in charge of the noonday revival services at the Central Y. M. C. A., have all pledged themselves to support the movement. Noonday prayer-meetings for the coming week are to be especially devoted to the agitation of Sunday laws, their enforcement, etc. The agitation in favor of religious legislation is becoming more and more widespread in Chicago, notwithstanding the general appearance of loose Sunday observance. It would require but a short time so to mold public sentiment as to secure the enactment and enforcement of Sunday laws so rigid as to work great hardships to the progress of our work. Chicago is destined undoubtedly to become a great battle ground of truth and error in the closing struggles of this world's history. We see the forces of persecution and oppression organizing themselves for the last conflict; and as never before are impressed that the people of God who are enlightened on these great subjects should give the trumpet of truth a certain sound. The night is far spent.