p. 658 | SUNDAY VOICES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 28, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 42.

SUNDAY VOICES.

By Editor

EVER and again some of the religious press persist in speaking of Sunday as the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and the "violation" of Sunday as a transgression of the Decalogue, of the law of God, etc. Here is what the Western Christian Advocate (Methodist), of Cincinnati, says on the Sunday closing of the World’s Fair:—

The Directory has not repented of violating its contract with the government, and is innocent of any respect for the fourth commandment. It disregarded both when it believed there was money in doing so.

The New York Observer says:—

In closing the Exposition on the Sabbath [the Directory] has regard only to the pecuniary profits of the enterprise. . . . Had open gates on the Lord’s day proved remunerative, they would have remained open throughout the Fair, and the laws of God, of Congress, and of the Directory itself would have been defied and trampled on.

The Christian at Work (Presbyterian) said in January, 1884:—

We hear less than we used to about the apostolic origin of the present Sunday observance, and for the reason that while the Sabbath and Sabbath rest are woven into the warp and woof of the Scripture, it is now seen, as it is admitted, that we must go to later than apostolic times for the establishment of Sunday observance.

In its issue of Jan. 8, 1885, the same paper says:—

The selection of Sunday, thus changing the particular day designated in the fourth commandment, was brought about by the gradual concurrence of the early Christian church, and on this basis, and none other, does the Christian sabbath, the first day of the week, rightly rest.

He who works Sunday violates no law of God. Whatever work is not sin on Monday or Tuesday is not sin on Sunday. Really, we cannot help questioning at times as to whether the Bible means anything to these Sunday-law people at all. If Sunday observance is taught in God’s word, where is it? Assumption is not proof.

THE Literary Digest of July 15 presents an article from the Revue Bleue (Paris) of June 24, on the German elections. It has one significant paragraph which we here reproduce, merely remarking that the Centre party of the German Reichstag, or Parliament, is the Roman Catholic party:—

The party of which all the world predicted the decay and the dissolution was that of the Centre. All the world was mistaken. The Centre has changed its character, but it remains unshakable. Herr Lieber, who has succeeded Herr Windthorst in the leadership of the Centrists, is trying to make his party perhaps too exclusively popular and democratic. For this time, however, the tactics of Herr Lieber have been successful; the Centre has remained the “unshakable tower;” at the first balloting, as usual, it has obtained more seats than any other party, and eighty-one of its members have already been elected.

It is doubtless more democratic; the Vatican is much more democratic; for the drift lies in that direction.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL R. F. WALKER, of Missouri, in a recent opinion on opening schools and educational institutes with singing and prayer, has decided that, while there is no express law violated by so doing, it is no part of the regular exercises of such body. Institutes are purely creatures of the statute; as such, their proceedings must, in accordance with both the letter and spirit of the Federal and State constitutions, be secular. Any other course would subject those in attendance, no matter how diverse their religious beliefs, to the spiritual direction of the conductor then in charge. While the State spreads its protecting arm over every citizen, irrespective of his faith, and extends ample aid for the education of its children, it has in its organic law expressly forbidden the recognition of any religion or form of worship.

We take this from the Kansas City Journal of July 8. Mr. Walker is sensible, and his utterance shows that he has not been blinded by the false sentiment expressed in “common law,” “Christian nation,” “Christian people,” etc. It would be a blessing to this land if he numbered millions, that is, if he is equally good all the way through. This opinion would shut out all Sunday laws.

RELIGION is of the head as well as of the heart. While the affections must twine around Christ and enthrone him within, the intellect, guided and quickened by the Spirit of God, must study his life and analyze his teachings. Growth in grace is in proportion to the growth in knowledge. 2 Peter 3:18. The man who stops studying Christ will stop growing up into his image. The revelation of God in the gospel of his dear Son is the spiritual meat and sustenance provided for the spiritual natures of his children. Let us look and live, eat and grow, study and imitate. Thus will the gospel become to us the “power of God unto salvation,” and Jesus Christ our righteousness, redemption, and salvation.