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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jul 12, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 28.

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EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 9.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
"No," replied Mr. Jones; "I am frank to admit that I have read the Bible all my life, without noticing these important texts."
"We are all more or less careless in reading the Holy Word," replied grandma, "we often fail to apply to it the search-light of the Holy Spirit, and, still oftener, fail to apply its great truth in our own lives."
"True, indeed; now Mrs. Wilbur will read, please, the ninth verse of the same chapter [Mark 16], as this is the next and third time that the first day of the week is mentioned."
"‘Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.’"
"Do we find any mention of Sunday sacredness in this text, Mrs. Wilbur?" smiled Brother Hartman.
"Well, no; I don't seem to see the text I'm looking for as yet, but I may find it later."
"At least, Mrs. Wilbur," declared Mrs. Jones, "it can do no harm to look for it."
"Certainly not," agreed Brother Hartman, "only I hope you will kindly read it to me after you discover it; for really I have spent days in looking for one single text which would warrant me in regarding the Sunday as a holy day;—of course that was a number of years ago."
"But, father, would I better read the next instance in which the day is mentioned?" interrupted Elsie, fearing an argument, and tactfully continuing the subject.
"Yes, daughter, you may read Luke 24:1."
"‘Now upon the first day of the week very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher.’"
"We can readily see that all this verse does is simply to reiterate the fact that Christ arose on the morning of the first day," said Brother Hartman.
"Now, John, we will listen while you read the next text, which is the fifth mention of the day. Every one please turn to John 20:1, and watch closely lest a mistake be made in the reading."
"‘The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.’"
"No mention is made of first-day sacredness yet, surely,—not so much as a hint of it. But there are still remaining three other texts in which the day is mentioned. We will read them all."
"Yes," sighed Mrs. Wilbur, "Mrs. Jones and I will be glad to listen to the reading and consideration of the remaining three texts, will we not, Mrs. Jones? for somehow I feel quite certain that somewhere we must find a text favoring, if not commanding, first-day observance."
"Very well; I am glad to notice your anxiety, Mrs. Wilbur; I remember how certain of the same thing I once felt. Your daughter Josie will please read John 20:19." And Josie read slowly and carefully—
"‘Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them—’"
"What did He say unto them? quick, read it, child, read it,—let me see the text!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilbur, who had neglected to turn to it herself, "let me read it, Josie. I believe that is the place where Christ commanded the observance of the first day," and Mrs. Wilbur eagerly bent over the open volume which her daughter held.
"Why, mama, you interrupted me; see, let me finish my verse—‘came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.’"
A shade of disappointment fell over Mrs. Wilbur's face, while Josie continued eagerly:
"It isn't there yet, mama, but never mind, there are two texts more to read."
"Yes, but I'm not ready to give this text up quite yet," declared Mrs. Wilbur, whose eyes had been constantly upon the verse. "These disciples met together on the first day of the week. Now please tell me, Mr. Hartman, what they met together for unless for religious worship."
"May be you can give us some explanation, John," said his father, observing a look of eagerness on his son's face.
"Why, father, the same verse tells plainly enough what they were there for. It was for 'fear of the Jews.' I dare say they were frightened, and fearful lest the same people who cruelly put their Lord to death, might seek them out and kill them also."
"Yes," added Elsie, "or quite likely this room was their home, where Christ appeared unto them, at least they were all making their home together in an upper room directly after the ascension of their Lord," and Elsie turned quickly to Acts first chapter and read the thirteenth verse:
"‘And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.’"
"But," protested Mrs. Wilbur, "at all events they were holding a meeting on the Sunday."
"But the mere fact that there was a meeting held on any day of the week would not be a good and sufficient reason, surely, for making a Sabbath of it," remarked Mr. Jones, with a smile, "else we should have a sabbath every time Christ or His disciples spoke to the people, which seems to me to be quite erroneous."
"Truly," said Brother Hartman, "and besides, there is no intimation given that they had assembled for religious meeting. But now we will turn to our next text. Mattie, will you kindly read Acts 20:7?"
"‘And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber.’"
"There?" said Mrs. Wilbur. "They celebrated the Lord's Supper on Sunday; doesn't that prove the day a sacred Sabbath?"
"No, Sister Wilbur," replied Mr. Jones, "not necessarily, because if it did, that day upon which Christ instituted the Lord's Supper would surely have been a sabbath, and that occurred, I believe,"
on what we now call Thursday eve. O, I can't see any proof in that text, whatever, tho I'll admit I'd be glad to if I could; but I'm in conscience bound to be honest in heart, Sister Wilbur.
"That is very good reasoning," said Brother Hartman. "While it is without doubt true that this meeting did occur on the Sunday, this fact alone could not sanctify or Sabbatize the day. But I think Elsie has something on her mind to say, judging by her looks. What is it, my daughter?"
"I was just thinking," said Elsie, "that if it is correct to begin Sunday at midnight, as people now-a-days do, I make out, by carefully comparing verses seven and eleven of this same chapter, that this breaking of the bread occurred on the first hours of Monday, because it was after midnight, hence not on the Sunday of to-day at all. So, Sunday observers who begin the keeping of the day at midnight, must either give up this text, or begin keeping Monday."
"Do you see, Mrs. Wilbur?"