UNDERSTOOD by Editor

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 1, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 14

UNDERSTOOD

By Editor

We are happy to notice that the historical facts concerning the institution of Sunday observance are getting to be quite well understood by both people and papers which are not bound by the fetters of any theological ring. History is plain upon this subject, showing that this observance rests wholly upon tradition and human enactments, and that the early testimonies which are claimed to prove that Sunday was kept as the Sabbath by the early fathers of the Christian church, are simply pious frauds. We believe the time is not far distant when even theologians will hesitate to expose their ignorance or bigotry by claiming any divine authority for the Sabbatical character of this day.

The following from the Chicago Weekly News of Feb. 19, 1880, is offered in illustration of these remarks. A correspondent of the News wrote, asking, “When and why was the Sabbath changed from the seventh to the first day of the week?” to which the editor responded as follows:—

“The change of the day of worship from the seventh to the first day of the week was an innovation of the early Christians, but the work was so gradual and slow that it is impossible to say when the change was fully accomplished. It was not until after the Reformation that the change was confirmed by legal enactments. In the first ages after Christ, it does not appear that his followers abstained from their regular business upon Sunday, but were accustomed to meet early in the day for some religious services, and then disperse to their various callings. The day was rather accounted as one for rejoicing and pastime, and later some portions of the day were set apart for sports. During the reign of Elizabeth, and down to the times of Charles I., plays were performed at the English court on Sunday, and the church did not object. As late as the reign of Edward VI. (1543), Sunday was classed as a holy day with Christmas and Good Friday, and was not regarded by Cranmer as more sacred. When the Puritans and other strict religionists gained ascendancy, they called the first day of the week the Lord’s day and the Sabbath, as the word Sunday was derived from mythology, as the day for sun worship. From this time the devoutly religious character which Christians had given to the seventh day became attached to the first.”