THE preachers of Milwaukee, not long since, discussed in their Monday meeting, the subject of “Capital and Labor.” The following resolution was introduced:—
Resolved, By this Preachers’ Conference, that we are in full sympathy with the laboring people of this city, and stand ready at any and all times to manifest friendly, fraternal regard to each. Our churches are open to every one, and all shall be cordially welcomed when they desire to come.
The resolution was fully discussed, but was mostly objected to on the ground that it seemed to imply that the laboring classes had not before been welcomed to the churches, and the following resolution was substituted:—
Resolved, That this Preachers’ Conference is in full sympathy with all the people of this city, rich or poor, learned or unlearned, and stands ready at all times to welcome all to our churches and assist any to lead a better life.
This was unanimously adopted. But that the first resolution should have ever been introduced, or the second one either introduced or adopted, is, in itself, a grave reflection upon the influence of those churches. When professed Christian churches have to advertise that the people are welcome to attend them, and welcome to their assistance to lead a better life, in other words, when they have to advertise that they are Christians, they are in a sorry plight so far as Christianity is concerned. But there is entirely too much of that kind of Christianity in the United States, and that is why there is so much demand that the State shall take charge of religious instruction and religious observances.
THERE was a strike of Sunday car drivers a week or two since in Brooklyn, not as might be supposed, however, against Sunday work, but for pay by the day instead of by the trip.
THE Voice says that “although Francis Murphy is dead set against prohibition a resolution was unanimously passed at one of his South Omaha meetings, last week, calling upon Mayor Sloan to enforce the prohibition laws on Sunday.” Yes; love for Sunday, and laws for its enforcement, take precedence of all opposition to the liquor traffic, in the minds of thousands of people both in and out of the Prohibition Party.
THE Loyal American found something in THE AMERICAN SENTINEL which it thought was awry, and asked for an explanation. We have given it; now it is our turn. In its issue of July 2, it sets forth among its principles this:—
We want all wills to be signed thirty days before death, or failing that, the State shall divide the estate among the heirs.
Now we should like the Loyal American to explain just how every man is to know when he is within thirty days of his death so that he can make his will, and escape the penalty here proposed? We pause for a reply.
DOCTOR GUTHRIE, the eminent Presbyterian divine, is credited with this statement:—
I counted in Paris thirty-three theaters and places of amusement, open on the Sabbath day, but in one hour I saw in Edinburgh, with all her schools, churches, and piety, more drunkenness, than I saw in Paris in five months.
This shows that Sunday laws are practically worthless as a temperance measure; if people are in the habit of drinking, and have opportunity to get liquor six days in the week it is useless to attempt to keep it from them on Sunday.
The Louisiana Legislature has had before it a substitute for the State Sunday law, in the form of a bill giving to police juries and municipal corporations throughout the State the power to regulate all Sunday trade, etc. The measure is really local option applied to the Sunday question. The bill passed the Legislature, but was vetoed by the Governor.
The Pearl of Days noticing the bill, says, “It is a measure that no friend of the Sabbath ought to approve.” Certainly no National Reformer would approve it; the aim of that party is to centralize the control of all the moral questions in which they interest themselves, into one infallible, papal head, and no such approach to individual freedom of choice, as local option even, could be permitted in their politics.
At the Catholic Congress held at Baltimore, last year, a committee was appointed to arrange for another one to be held in connection with the World's Fair in 1892. The Catholic Review of June 29, urges upon the committee prompt and steady action in preparing for the Congress. It says that “the Congress will be an American Congress, but the celebration must be continental, and delegates from every diocese in North and South America, representatives from every race on the continent should find recognition on this occasion.” We wait now to see what steps the National Reform Association, and the American Sabbath Union will take to secure the recognition of representatives in that Congress.
THE St. Paul Dispatch supports the decision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in the Edgerton Bible case, and says: “In view of the severity with which the founders of our constitutional systems plainly regarded all possibility of interference with individual religious belief or individual right of conscience, it is safe to say, that the proper and the more advisable course in the discharge of the duty of the State, to afford secular instruction to its citizens, is to wholly eliminate all form of religious instruction, and leave the discharge of that duty where it rightfully belongs, with the parents of the several children.”
THE Sunday Alliance, of Scotland, communicates to the Sunday Union, of the United States, a report of the progress of the work of the Alliance for the past year in Scotland; a paragraph is devoted to the commendation of the American Sunday Union, and the Mail and Express. Thus steadily are these forces for the promotion of political religion joining hands round the world.
