THE SUNDAY-CLOSING DELUSION.
By W. N. G.
If the practical union of Church and State does not obtain in this country, it will not be the fault of the education of the young by the popular churches. According to a report of Christian Endeavor doings, in the Morning Times of this city, a Sunday-closing movement has been started that "will be an issue, and will cut a large figure, in the coming election of supervisors, and, later on, of councilmen." The consequence of the political feature of this Endeavor education is thus gravely stated in the Times report: "The young people's societies of the various churches have become so infatuated with the value of union in the thirteen years' training in the Christian Endeavor cause that they think almost anything may be undertaken by them." The dire effects of educating young men and young women, many of whom are not yet out of their teens, to the belief that it is their province to control the politics of the community, could not be more concisely expressed. A further idea of the self-importance that is being inculcated by these Endeavorers is shown in the statement that, of a church-going constituency of 12,000, "it is safe to say that 5,000 are voters who can be controlled by these young men and women." Surely the church voters have radically reversed God's order when they place themselves under the control of the children. But this infatuation with their own importance on the part of the young, this dependence on the part of the church upon everything but God's order, is clearly set forth by the prophetic word. While it is surprising, from a human standpoint, that men, ministers and laymen, who ought to be most intelligent in such matters, will thus deliberately educate the young in such a delusive course, yet this condition of the church was foreseen by the inspired apostle, and thus described:— "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." 2 Tim. 3: 1-5. Has not the "thirteen years' training in Christian Endeavor" had this very tendency? Is it not so admitted when it is proudly said that they "have become so infatuated with the value of [their own] union . . . that they think almost anything may be undertaken by them"? Are they not denying the power of godliness when they seek to accomplish their ends by controlling the politics of the country? Is it not clear that the success of such methods must practically establish and maintain a Church and State government to the utmost extent of its control? Even the juvenile element of the church is to be educated up to the point of assuming the leadership. For proof of this we have only to cite the closing paragraph of the Times' report:— "The thirty-eight Junior societies are also organized and marshaled. . . Each member of these societies will be used in influencing their parents, brothers, uncles, and cousins on behalf of this fight." But one of the strongest delusions that has yet taken practical hold of the Christian Endeavor movement is the idea that Sunday closing is a temperance movement. Their education has so "infatuated" them with the papal Sundayolatry that any pretext or any means for inducing or compelling its observance is enthusiastically brought forward and set in operation. Temperance is a popular thought, a thought which many people harbor because it is popular, a thought which many outwardly express who do not inwardly cherish it. Many advocates of Sunday observance are not practical temperance men. They would like to pose as temperance men because of the political prestige it would give them with the temperance element. Hence they cater to their own Sunday sentiment while acting in the temperance role before the temperance people. The Sunday-closing movement is their opportunity. Again, the politician who cares neither for temperance nor Sunday will, for sake of the church influence and the influence of the temperance people, concede Sunday closing at least during the campaign. He thus hopes to secure their support, knowing full well that Sunday-closing is a mere pretense as a temperance measure. Thus, if Sunday closing succeeds, it is Sunday that is boomed, while the temperance pretext has been merely a stepping-stone. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked." All the specious "endeavors" to supersede his holy day with a papal substitute will be exposed in the "great day of the Lord."