AN EXPLANATION WANTED by C. P. Bollman

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 23.

AN EXPLANATION WANTED.

By C. P. Bollman

THE Christian Cynosure of May 23 notes with indignation the fact that Chauncey M. Depew, president of the New York Central Railroad, says that the stopping of Sunday trains on that road is only an experiment. The Cynosure characterizes this statement as “careless if not wicked,” and asks, “Will Mr. Depew experiment with the law of God?” In the same item the Cynosure notes with approval the fact that the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company has given notice that no freight will be received from, or delivered to, connecting roads, and only live-stock and perishable property will be moved for twenty-four hours preceding six o'clock Monday morning. With this arrangement the Cynosure seems to be perfectly satisfied. But if Sunday were really sacred time we cannot see that this would be any less a violation of the law of God than would running trains all day Sunday; or does the Cynosure regard one part of Sunday as more sacred than another? And if, indeed, it is sacred time at all, how does it come that the six hours from twelve o'clock Saturday night to six o'clock the next morning are not as sacred as any other part of the day? We suppose that what the Cynosure wants to see accomplished is not so much the stopping of work on Sunday as the stopping of the work at such hours as interfere with church services. We are assured, however, by some of the advocates of Sunday legislation, that Sunday laws are in the interests of the workingmen, and if so, we could understand this matter, for twenty-four hours' rest is just as good one time as another; but if we understand the matter correctly, the Cynosure takes the position that Sunday is sacred time, hence the question as to the first six hours of that day. We think this matter requires some explanation. C. P. B.