Sunday Enthusiasm

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

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

Sunday Enthusiasm.

WHEN the “Sunday plank” was read by Judge Latimer, Chairman of the Platform Committee, there followed a scene which almost defies description. There were over four hundred and fifty delegates. Beside these, every available space on the floor was filled, as also the galleries. The whole multitude, with few exceptions, broke forth into a loud shout of applause. Men rose from their seats and threw their hats into the air, and fairly screamed in their exuberance of delight. As this subsided and the Judge was about to read the next paragraph, the tumultuous applause was renewed, and for some time the reader was compelled to wait for silence. As the noise again subsided, Mr. Pixley, editor of the Argonaut, a very recent convert to the Sunday cause, arose and moved three cheers for the triumph of this great principle! The delegates sprang to their feet and gave three cheers as heartily as their wills and lungs enabled them. When they sat down, and the Chairman was about to proceed, the applause was again renewed, and the wild tumult still kept the reader in waiting. He was requested to read it again, but declined. In all that we ever witnessed in public assemblies, we never saw the like before.

Meeting a gentleman on the street, who was in the San Jose Convention but repudiated the anti-Sunday plank there adopted, we remarked that no other point in the platform created any enthusiasm; he replied: “That is the only issue between the parties in this campaign.” And so it is. Some of the papers say the most important question is that of anti-monopoly. But the platforms of the two parties agree in this; so that, in truth, the only real issue in the coming election is the Sunday question! Would any one but a Seventh-day Adventist have believed that this would ever be the case in American politics?

But it is only a political-religious enthusiasm; there is not a particle of reverence in it.