Disturbers of Rest by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 7, 1883

Disturbers of Rest.

By Editor

The Sabbath Memorial makes the following pertinent remarks in answer to the Independent's plea for a legal day of rest. Of course they will not be thought worthy of notice by those who clamor for law, for it makes a great deal of difference whose ox is gored:—

The New York Independent proposes that Sunday be made a day of rest on civil grounds only—that the majority rule and the minority submit—that if Seventh-day Baptists and Adventists disturb the rest of first-day people, they must "move away." Does the Independent know of a single case where the "civil rest" of any Sunday man was ever disturbed by any of our people? They are, true to their principles, engaged in business and labor six days of the week, and sabbatize the seventh day. We know of no instance of a Sabbath-keeper disturbing a worshiping assembly on any day or evening of the week. Will the Independent say that plowing in one's own field, or working in his shop disturbs the rest of the Sunday-keeper? If so, our remedy is that said Sunday-keeper should "move away," or else cure himself of that officious fidgetiness which seems to possess some people whenever the Bible Sabbath is brought practically to their notice. But, dear Independent, tell us where we move to—Shall we go to Palestine?—Will you follow us there and set up your Sunday law in the land of the Seventh-day Sabbath, and command us to "move away"? But how about the thousands of seventh-day worshipers who carry on a brisk racket of business that breaks upon the ears on the Sabbath of the Lord the year round? "Oh, we never thought of that!" Is it Christian to be so unmindful of others' rights and feelings?