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THE GOLDEN RULE

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Feb 6, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 6.

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THE GOLDEN RULE.

By Editor

Another Word to the “California Christian Advocate.”

As quoted last week, the California Christian Advocate says of us: “Of course, they think the first thing to do is to break down all legal supports of the Christian Sunday.”
Sunday has no “legal supports” in this State, tho it has in others. Why should the Advocate ask for such supports? It claims to be a Christian paper. Dr. Bovard, its editor, is, we presume, a Christian man. Why, as a Christian, should he ask or demand legal support for what he deems a “Christian” institution? Suppose the Mohammedans should demand legal support for Friday; would the Advocate be willing to grant it?—Hardly. But why not, according to the Golden Rule? Suppose that the Jews, the Seventh-day Baptists, and the Seventh-day Adventists should demand legal support for the seventh day, from Friday night at sunset to Saturday night at sunset; would the Advocate be willing to grant it? If not, why not? The Golden Rule reads: “All things whatsoever YE would that men should do unto YOU, do YE even so to THEM.”
Now the Advocate would that men should give legal support to the day it calls the “Christian Sunday.” This means that a law should be passed enforcing it as a day of rest. It wants the Mohammedan and the Seventh-day man to help in this. According to the Christian Golden Rule, ought not the Advocate to support a similar demand from the classes above named?
If it be said that there are more who keep Sunday, it is sufficient reply to say that the true province of civil law is to support and protect the weak and the inferior; and that right and wrong are not questions of majorities.
The Advocate believes, and we are willing to concede its sincerity, that Sunday is a Christian institution which ought to be observed. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES does not believe in Sunday sacredness, but does believethat the seventh day ought to be kept as commanded of God and observed by Jesus Christ. Each of us, we suppose, is “fully persuaded in his own mind.” Each one has a right to his own opinion. Why not leave this matter with God? Why not let all men and women in the light of God's word and conscience decide between the respective days, and the respective arguments presented to sustain them, without let or hindrance from civil power? Leave the arbitrament of the question with God.
“The evil can not brook delay; The good can well afford to wait.”
Is not this reasonable, neighbor Advocate? Why, then, should not you, as well as we, strenuously oppose all Sunday-law measures?