A Terrible Monster by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 16, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 36.

A Terrible Monster.

By Editor

Have you heard of it? "Christian" men in a "Christian" paper declare that it "compels an army of men and boys to labor;" "it invades many Christian homes, in defiance of law and of the express decision of the Supreme Court," and it prevents many persons from going to church. Certainly it is evil. Why does not this army rise up against this monster and destroy it? Why do not Christian homes bar their doors? Why do not men go armed to church if need be? What is this monster? Well, a committee of the Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, United Presbyterian; Baptist, Disciple, Methodist Protestant, and Reformed Presbyterian Churches of Alleghany County, Pa., twenty-eight in number, have, after careful consideration, . . . agreed that the "Sunday" newspaper is the most potent influence at work in our midst for the destruction of the Lord's day as a day of rest and worship. It not only compels an army of men and boys to labor on the Lord's day but it openly hawks its wares on the streets, and invades many Christian homes, in defiance of law and of the express decision of the Supreme Court, and is the means of keeping many persons from the house of God.

But this army works voluntarily; the many Christian homes not only open their doors willingly, but pay for the privilege of having this monster come in; and those who keep from the house of God prefer the monster to the sermon. And, therefore, these men, these homes, and all parties concerned, must be compelled by Sunday laws to do what they do not want to do, and these Sunday laws enforced by "Christians"!! Verily, "the church has fallen." The language of the true servant of Christ is, "We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Let these Pennsylvania ministers "preach the word." But they desire a quicker way,—Rome's way.