p. 176 | THE SUNDAY QUESTION COMING TO THE FRONT

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · November 27, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 22

THE SUNDAY QUESTION COMING TO THE FRONT.

By Wm. Penniman

In a late issue of the St. Louis Globe Democrat, the editor, in commenting upon the doings of the Evangelical Alliance, past and present, also referring to its session in St. Louis, says:—

“The chief end of legislation is the protection of rights. Under Christianity we are to test the Sabbath by its relation to human well-being, and to use it for that end. Man has rights in connection with the fourth commandment, as in connection with the others that refer to relative duties, and these rights ought to be protected by law on the same ground. It is not the province of legislation to enforce the fourth commandment in its God-ward aspect, nor to promote religion directly, but simply to protect men in their rights under a great provision made by God for their well-being.”

The preceding is a common-sense view of the question, and the only view consistent with justice and right. Of course, by Sabbath the editor means Sunday, and he is therefore wrong in thinking that that pagan day has anything to do with the fourth commandment.

We have quoted this to show that able men are working on both sides, and it is evident that the opposition to the union of church and state will urge on the question till the prophecy will be fulfilled. Wm. Penniman.