To Our Brethren | AdventAI

S. D. A. Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 7, 1882

FromThe Signs of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 34; Special Edition, No. 1

To Our Brethren.

ALL who are acquainted with our cause know that we have constantly affirmed, during the last thirty years, that the Sunday question would become the most prominent issue in American politics. The present movement in California is the first of a series of similar movements which will be inaugurated in different States. Present prospects indicate that Ohio will be the scene of the next excitement on the subject, but we will not pretend to say that it will be, as it may arise as unexpectedly in some other field as it has in California.

These efforts in the several States can be only partially successful. The lines of railroad from ocean to ocean are too extensive and powerful for State control. With these are connected so many industries that Sunday will never be kept by all classes as a day of entire rest from labor, as long as the railroads send out trains on that day. And this is but one direction in which the Sunday Law will be practically disregarded. Those who make and administer such laws care nothing for them personally. They will travel as long as the cars move on Sunday. They pass the law, and sometimes enforce it, in obedience to a popular demand, to please those whose votes they wish to secure to be retained in office. So with many delegates in the recent convention in Sacramento. We know some who joined in the jubilation over the “Sunday plank,” who care no more for Sunday than we do; but it appeared to them to present a means for obtaining the victory in the election, and as such it was seized with eagerness. This movement presents an incongruous admixture of politics and religion—politics for mere victory, and religion without reverence. And such incongruities will always be seen in every step toward a union of “Church and State.”

Nothing but an Amendment of the Constitution of the United States will meet their demand, and for this a large National Association is now laboring. Judging from the temper of the times there will be little difficulty in procuring this Amendment to our National Constitution. Then, they say, this will be a “Christian Nation.”

We have believed these things were coming, and proclaimed our belief when almost everybody laughed at what they termed our credulity and our folly. We believed it, because we thought the prophets of God had predicted it. We saw a contest spoken of in Revelation over “the commandments of God,” and we saw no chance for such a conflict to arise except over the downtrodden Sabbath commandment. Events are proving that we were not mistaken in reading the prophecy. And these events are but the beginning of the end; the first drops of the flood of lawlessness which will soon prevail upon the earth.

The question is raised: If you expect that such things will come, why endeavor to prevent their coming by asking politicians and legislators to exempt you from the penalties of the Sunday Law? We have several reasons for so doing.

We are anxious to proclaim the warning as far as possible before the evil comes upon the earth. For evil will come. God will not always suffer his holy Sabbath to be trodden under foot, and a heathen festival—“the day of the sun”—exalted in its place. The day of vengeance is approaching, and the wrath of God will surely fall upon those who trample on his law.

We do not wish to see the evil come upon our nation, without a suitable effort on our part to help those who are in darkness. We believe there are many in the land who will repent and believe if the light is set before them.

We are anxious that our Publishing House in Oakland shall be permitted to continue peaceably to print and send forth the truth on these important subjects. We wish to do this in harmony with the Law of God which gives us six days for labor, and the seventh for rest and worship.

We do not take such steps because of a lack of confidence in the word of God. We love our fellow-men, and wish to see them embrace the truth and escape when the wrath of God shall fall upon the heads of the guilty.