EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE ON THE SUNDAY LAW.
“THE Evangelical Alliance met in the parlors of the Y. M. C. A. building yesterday morning, Dr. Rutherford in the chair. The Secretary, Dr. Wilson, read the following resolutions, the same which had been referred to the Board of Councilors at the meeting held at St. John’s M. E. Church, on Sunday, the 12th inst. The Board made little changes in the resolutions, and reported them back as follows:— “Resolved, That in the judgment of this meeting the right observance of the Sabbath in St. Louis can be best promoted by the organization of the St. Louis Sabbath Association. “Resolved, That a committee of — be appointed, with the power to form a general or sub-committee, which shall represent the whole population of the city as far as possible, and thus complete the organization and put it in working condition. “Resolved, That the organization, when formed, should employ sufficient executive agency to make work effective and permanent. “Resolved, That the Association provided for seek the co-operation of all classes of fellow-citizens, and that all shall be appealed to to aid in establishing and sustaining an institution which has for its object to secure to all alike the inestimable blessings of a duly observed Lord’s day. “Dr. Felton said that the resolutions contemplated a civil Sabbath, not a Scriptural one. “A member of the Board said that it was thought advisable to put the movement on the ground of simply demanding that the laws upon the statute books should be enforced. There were thousands of men who cared nothing for the Scriptural idea of the day, but who would favor it being set apart as a day of rest. “Rev. Mr. Godbey had not been able to enforce a religious Sabbath among his own congregation, and had little hope of being able to do so throughout the city or State. “Dr. Wilson was so desirous of giving to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, that he would not touch with a forty-foot pole any movement that tended towards the enforcement of a religious Sabbath upon anybody. All that this movement should look for was the enforcement of the existing laws. Every decision that had been rendered by the Courts in regard to this question had affirmed that the laws upon this subject were founded, not upon divine law, but upon the benefits which accrued to the people. “Dr. Ganse thought that the movement would best succeed if it were not run by clergymen. It would be more successful if laymen would take the initiatory steps. He was also afraid that the resolutions contemplated a committee too large for the prosecution of effective work. From the very start he had said that what was wanted was to enlist the aid of laymen of wealth and influence who would form a compact Sabbath committee like the New York organization. These are the men who will have influence with the judges, the legislators, and the press. “Dr. Wilson moved that the blank in the resolutions previously read be filled so as to provide for a committee of five laymen, who should take charge of the work. The suggestion was adopted. On motion of Dr. Marquis, the appointment of this committee was referred to the Board of Councilors. “The meeting adjourned, to meet again on the last Monday in January.” We read that the beast [the United States] that was seen “coming up out of the earth” “had power to give life unto the image of the beast [the Protestant church of America clothed with power to punish heretics, and enforce its dogmas under a threat of death] that the image of the beast should both speak” etc. (Rev. 13:11, 14). It is a “Sunday Law*” that the agitators of this question want, and disguise it as the20opposite party may, and do, yet it is plain to be seen from the preceding (clipped from the St. Louis Globe Democrat of Dec. 23, 1880) resolutions of the “Evangelical Alliance” that this Sunday Law party “mean business” by this organization of the St. Louis “Sabbath [Sunday] Association.” Dr. Felton’s remark that the resolutions contemplated a “civil Sabbath,” not a Scriptural one” is very truthful, and also a significant sign of the times, as it is to a counterfeit Sabbath, not to a “Scriptural” one that “a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads,” (Rev. 13:16) has reference. It seems that they have a similar organization in New York, and no doubt there soon will be organizations of this kind in all the large cities of our land. Another very important item, and sign of progress, is the plan of enlisting “laymen of wealth and influence with the judges, the legislators, and the press.”