p. 11 | Commerce and Religion

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 15, 1910

Commerce and Religion

THE Federal Council of Churches is doing all in its power to work into the good graces of the organized labor element. It makes a plea in behalf of the working man for one day's rest in each seven, reasonable hours of labor, and a living wage—all good, by the way. But evidently the Council does not wish to offend the large manufacturers; therefore it does not demand that the working man shall have the universal Sunday. They ask that where possible this shall be done, but they recognize "the increasing complication of the industrial situation and the necessity of conducting many industries seven days of the week," and urge all its organizations, branch and affiliated, to press home their "obligation in these premises; namely, that it is the right of every man to have one day out of seven for rest and recreation of body, soul, and mind, and that it is the obligation of every Christian employer so to arrange his business that each of the employees may have one day holiday in seven without diminution of wages." "The nominal holiday is the Christian sabbath, the Lord's day; but where the condition of industry or service requires continuance of work seven days and the consequent employment of some part of the employees on the Lord's day, then those so employed are entitled to receive a holiday on some other day in the week."

Now it is true that every man ought to have a day of rest if he desires it; it is also true in this free country that he may have it if he desires it strong enough to take it. No one can compel him to work on the day he regards as sacred. There are any number of men who could not be hired to work upon the day which they consider sacred, and such men are generally appreciated enough by their employers to be given employment. No civil law is needed in aid of a man if he is religious enough and independent enough to claim his right, and the day is worth observing.

By the terms "Christian sabbath" and "Lord's day" the Federal Council means Sunday, a day which has absolutely no claim to either title. The only true "Christian Sabbath" is the Sabbath which Christ kept and endorsed. That goes without saying; but the only Sabbath He knew or of which He approved, which He Himself observed, was the seventh-day Sabbath. So also the only Lord's day that the Bible knows is the day which the Lord claimed as His own—the seventh day of the week. That is the normal day; and if man had been educated rightly, if the consciences of the masses had been kept clear and strong by the Word of God, there would have been no question as to the observance of the day without civil law. The only things for which religious people demand civil law are dogmas or institutions unsupported by the Scriptures.