Warning Against a National Sunday Law
By Editor
As the enemies of religious liberty are exerting themselves to the utmost to manufacture public sentiment in favor of a national Sunday law, and as the work of securing “signatures” to their petition is being carried steadily forward, it behooves every lover of truth to be on the alert that the people may be warned against this effort which is being made to overthrow religious liberty in this country. The American Sentinel is the only paper published for the express purpose of maintaining the United States Constitution as it is so far as regards religion or religious tests, and it should have the hearty support of everyone who is in sympathy with its object. When the Blair Sunday-rest bill was before Congress, there was great activity in circulating counter petitions and in securing subscriptions for the Sentinel; but now that Congress has adjourned, there seems to be a letting down in this respect, and a great many seem to feel that the danger is past. But this is not the case. The friends of National Reform, so called, have only doubled their diligence and their efforts for the accomplishment of their desired purpose. Almost the whole religious press of the country, and a considerable portion of the secular press, are arrayed in favor of a national Sunday law; and not only so, but Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts, field secretary of the American Sabbath Union, is devoting his entire time to visiting the various States and Territories in the interests of this so-called reform, organizing State and county associations wherever he goes, and it is certain that a great pressure is to be brought to bear upon Congress at its next session to enact into law some such measure as the Blair bill. In view of all this we ask, What are you doing to spread a knowledge of the truth? We trust that the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will not be remiss in their duty, and that they will not leave unimproved any opportunity to increase the circulation of the American Sentinel, and to educate the people upon this important question. A large number of subscriptions to the Sentinel expire about the first of July, and someone in each neighborhood should see to it that as many renewals are secured as possible. A great many who will not take the trouble to send in their subscription would renew if they were asked to do so. We trust the various local Tract Societies will do their whole duty in this matter. Now is the time to do effective work. A year from now may be too late. The publishers do not ask you to do this for nothing. A liberal commission is paid on the Sentinel, and anyone who will apply himself to the work, can make good wages by canvassing for that paper, besides doing effective missionary work. We trust that all who can do so will take hold of this matter in earnest. For terms to agents, etc., write either to your State Tract Society, or to the American Sentinel, Oakland, Cal.