WE HAVE A LAW by S. B. Horton

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 10, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 44.

"WE HAVE A LAW."

By S. B. Horton

BY ELDER S. B. HORTON.

THE record of religious persecutions in Maryland is on the increase, two more brethren being called to answer for Sunday-law violations in Church Hill. When the Third Angel's Message was first heralded in that town, God's servants were fairly well treated. But as present truth was gradually unfolded to the people and the test of loyalty to God plainly brought to the attention, a few yielded to the influence of the divine guidance, but the multitude became "grieved," because the deed of Sunday keeping was shown to be of antichristian origin.

In April of this year the Sabbath keepers were organized into a church, and steps were immediately taken to erect a house of worship. The majority of the people were of opinion that our work would not stand, but expected the minister would leave soon and then the flock would scatter, etc. But they "reckoned without their host," and when the church lot was purchased and the lumber commenced to arrive, the foundation laid and the frame was being raised, their "grieving" turned to "indignation." The "church" people agreed largely that the erection of a Seventh-day Adventist Church was worse to the community than the opening of whisky shops. They finally agreed that the work must be crushed and stamped out by State law, since their gospel had no power.

Inquisition methods were resorted to and a constable found who assumed the role of detective. He has been laboring night and day seeking for witnesses to betray the Sabbath keepers who exercise the God-given right to work on the first day of the week.

As a result of this on June 7 R. R. Whaley was arrested for hoeing in his garden on Sunday, June 3. This was followed by the arrest on the 15th of W. G. Curlett on two counts. Other arrests will follow as fast as betrayers can be found.

The Church Hill church is going through this furnace of affliction for the glory and honor of God and his truth. They are united and are seeking for that power which kept Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, Abed-nego, Peter, James, John, Paul, Stephen, and others in the trials of persecutions. The people opposing God's work in Maryland are very bitter. Satan has so darkened their understanding that they are unreasonable in the extreme, their only cry and answer to the words of the Lord being, "We have a law, and Adventists must obey it." But the time has come when we must say, "We will not bow down to the image set up, nor receive the mark of the beast."

I am forcibly impressed as never before with the words of Paul to Timothy, found in 2 Tim. 3:1-5. People who know not Christ in his fullness are rushing headlong, fighting against God, and in the end what will they have accomplished?

The Sunday law is enforced only against Seventh-day Adventists; for it is well known that others violate the law. But "this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

Church Hill, Md.