Inconsistent by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 26, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 52.

Inconsistent

By G.

Inconsistent.—At a recent meeting of the Ministers' Association of the M. E. Church in Buffalo, N. Y., at which Rev. W. F. Crafts, of Washington, D. C., was present, a resolution was adopted asking that the Pan-American Exposition, to be held in that city, be closed on Sundays. The inconsistency shown in the document is its own condemnation. The preamble says that the directors of the Chicago Exposition confessed that their opening on Sunday "caused loss, because of the great number who refused to attend, by way of protest against that trampling on an American Christian institution." Then the resolution, predicated upon this preamble, asks that the Buffalo Exposition be closed on that day lest it should result in "bringing vast throngs of people, and so making the day one of toil, traffic, and turmoil." We have seen a great many propositions for enforcing Sunday observance upon the people, but we have never seen one that was consistent with itself; and we do not believe it possible for one to be framed—excepting from the standpoint of the Roman Church. Rome set up the Sunday-sabbath institution by adopting the Sunday holiday of the pagans, and Rome believes in enforcing her religion, wherever she has the power; therefore it is consistent for Rome to advocate enforced Sunday observance. But professed Protestants never can observe Roman institutions, or attempt the enforcement of their observance upon others, and be consistent. G.