A MORAL VICTORY | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 7, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 39.

"A MORAL VICTORY."

SAYS the Advance over the recent decision of the World's Fair Directory to close on Sunday:—

Thanks be to God! A great moral victory for the nation and for the world! Not in our way, but in his own way, did it come to pass. Nothing could be more appropriate than that special thanksgiving service over the result be held in every Christian church in the land. The Sabbath rest day, as never before on so large a scale and in a manner so conspicuous to all the world, has been vindicated. The influence of it will be far reaching and world-wide. Our World's Columbian Exposition has at length made one exhibit of supreme significance.

Where is the "moral" of it? The "Christians" of the country, by a most unchristian method, the boycott, and by closing their exhibits on Sunday, so that much could not be seen, so reduced the gate receipts that it did not pay to keep it open, and the directors closed, and this is the "moral victory"! And is it God's way? Were the advised boycotts, the falsifying of petitions, the prayers and predictions of plague and pestilence, thus working on the fears of the superstitious, the appeal to arms, and the use of force so far as it could be employed, by the Sunday-law people, together with the high rates of railways and the full admission price for a half show, till the attendance did not pay expenses—was this the "moral victory"? Is this "His way"? "The Sabbath rest day" of God is not connected with the matter, only as it is lost sight of by the elevation of "the venerable day of the sun," a usurper in the church. It is apparently drowned in the clamor, even as was the gospel when the heathen of Ephesus shouted for two hours, without knowing why or wherefore, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." Yes, the influence will be far reaching. It is the biggest boom that the Sunday ever had since the days of the heathen emperor Constantine. And this is in harmony with the prophecy which declares that all that dwell on the earth shall worship the beast and receive of his mark whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life. See Revelation 13. The "exhibit of supreme importance" is America, the once "land of the free," at the feet of a religious hierarchy. The "thanksgiving day" over such an event should be a day of fasting and prayer by all true patriots. A "moral victory," forsooth!