p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 9. (2/27/1912)

Earlier text: Arrested for Distributing Mormon Books

Some Strong Statements and Pertinent Questions

By Editor

THE writer listened to Dr. Grannis, secretary of the Lord's Day Alliance of America, and Dr. G. L. Tufts, the State secretary of the same organization in California, at the First Presbyterian Church, in San Jose, the evening of February 14. Dr. Grannis stated at the outset that the work that he represented he felt was the greatest before the church to-day, without exception. The greed for gain, and lust for pleasure, and kindred things, were taking away what little of the Lord's day remained. Man must worship, and therefore must have a day of worship. Spiritual worship depended on physical rest.

He then told of his work of securing closed post-offices and Sundays off for the mail clerks and delivery clerks; stated repeatedly that never had such a work as that been wrought in the world. It was simply marvelous; how contrary to the expressed convictions of people of all classes and ranks, the post-offices have been closed Sundays in every city in the United States of over 5,000, so far as he knew, and in most of the small towns. He also told us of his experience in Pittsburg in relieving iron workers—"slaves," he termed them, as veritably so as ever Africans were enslaved in this country, working twelve hours a day 365 days in the year. All this was accomplished by solicitation and earnest persuasion and influence of men of strength in the various cities and towns. He declared that the revival needed to-day was a plain, practical teaching of the Ten Commandments, that men should square themselves with God's law of the Sabbath.

Yet, notwithstanding all this that had been wrought through persuasion, Dr. Grannis demands a Sunday law, and asks his hearers to write to their representatives in Congress in behalf of the Mann bill now before the House closing all post-offices in the United States on Sunday.

He also told of his effort to secure a six-day law in New York State, without any regard to Sunday, or Monday, or any other day in the week, but told how he was bitterly and strongly opposed by the railway interests. These large railway companies centering in that State declared to the legislature that it would be revolutionary, and he told them, "Better revolution than dynamite; it is a good deal less expensive." He declared that the corporations are inviting the very conditions manifest in the dynamiting revolutions. He declared that Dr. Tufts was able to lead this commonwealth to a good Sunday law. Some would oppose this through greed for gain; some would oppose it for the sake of their creed. He would feel that to do the latter, he ought to hate himself, and would hate himself for holding to a dogma which would trample on the rights of his fellows.

Now some of these statements are excellent. We will refer now to some of the points made, and to others later on.

With Dr. Grannis, we think that one of the most important things before the people of this country, and of the world, is the Sabbath question. In it the very future of the church and of the nations is at stake. But as to whether we shall decide by man's law or God's law, by man's way of observing the Sabbath or God's way, is a question that rests with each individual soul. It is not man's law which we will meet in the final judgment, but God's law. We would like to ask some pertinent questions, however, on the matter presented by our Sunday law advocates:

1. If a Sunday law will secure to men the right to rest, as Dr. Grannis and Dr. Tufts claim, why did not Pennsylvania's stringent Sunday law secure relief for the thousands of "slaves" in the iron industries?

2. Why did not Dr. Grannis appeal to this law, instead of resorting to moral suasion and personal influence, in securing relief for the toilers? We remark, by the way, that Pennsylvania has one of the strongest Sunday laws in the United States, and one of the oldest, and that Pennsylvania is the headquarters of the National Reform Association, and Pittsburg is the headquarters in that State of that association.

3. And if a Sunday law did not secure to men the right to rest in Pennsylvania, what hope is there that it would do just the opposite in California?

4. If a six-day work and twenty-four-hour rest law, which Dr. Grannis contended for in New York, is or would be sufficient to protect men in their right to rest, why is not a similar law, now on the statute-books of California, sufficient?

5. But why another law in New York, when there is already a strict Sunday law on the statute-books of that State?

6. How many subsequent enactments does it take to make the first effective?

This, perhaps, is enough for this time. We have other questions to bring before our readers in connection with this great issue.

The Threefold Angelic Message

God's message for this time is summarily comprehended in the great threefold angelic proclamation of Rev. 14:6-14. There is not a comforting, consoling, uplifting, broadening, deepening, cleansing, saving truth of the ages that is not wrapped up in that message. It includes the Word of God. It is full of His love, His grace, His power, His eternal justice, His marvelous wisdom. It throws fulness of light on earth's dark problems. It irradiates the past. It makes certain the future. It is, dear soul, worthy of your fullest acceptance, of your life study.

Bible Versions and Subscription Information

By Editor

Our authority is the Bible, the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. When the Common ("King James" or "Authorized") Version or the American Standard Revised Version is used, the version will not generally be designated in reference. Any Bible quotation in this paper, therefore, differing from the Common Version, unless otherwise indicated, will be almost invariably from the American Standard edition of the Revised Bible, copyright 1910, by Thomas Nelson & Sons.

For further particulars, subscription rates, etc., see page 15.

Contained in This Issue

By Editor

Question Corner PAGE

3673 — Elijah; 3674 — The Rest of the Dead; 3675 — Beginning and Ending of the Sabbath; 3676 — What Does It Mean? 3677 — The Hundred Years of Isa. 65:20; 3678 — Memorials of Creation; 3679 — Sons of God — Daughters of Men . . . . . 2

Our Bible Band . . . . . 2

General

"We Ought to Obey God Rather than Men" . . 3

What Shall We Do with the Fourth Commandment? . . . . . 4

The Testimony of Jesus . . . . 5

Studies in Daniel — A Vision of Empires; the Little Horn . . . . . 6

The Promises to Abraham . . . . 7

The Outlook

Our London Letter . . . . . 9

California Sunday Law . . . . 10

Wholesale Arrest of Labor Leaders . . . 11

Notes . . . . . 10, 11, 16

Temperance

The Sources and Outlets of Intemperance . . 12

Something of Our Own Work

Annual Meeting of the Pacific Press Publishing Association . . . . . 13

Poetry

The Benediction . . . . 1

Go, Ye Reapers . . . . 4

True Science . . . . 5

Work for Small Men . . . . 8

Our London Letter

By Editor

"Our London Letter" in this issue will be read with absorbing interest. It clearly shows that the course of Russia and the yielding attitude of the British government find little sympathy with the English people or press. And this is but one interesting item in the "Letter."

What Shall We Do with the Fourth Commandment?

By Editor

We began a series last week with the general heading, "What Shall We Do with the Fourth Commandment?" The question is not only pertinent, but timely. It is not a local question; it is not merely a theological question; it is becoming a church-wide religious and a world-wide political question. Surely it is time to examine its foundations. To this examination these articles invite us.

Three Articles on Socialism

By Editor

We have three articles waiting publication which will be of interest to our readers, by Prof. G. W. Rine, on the subject of Socialism. These articles will consider Socialism from three different phases: first, its phenomenal growth; secondly, some aspects of its program; and thirdly, the religious aspects of Socialism, and their significance. We are sure that our fair-minded Socialist friends will be also glad to read them.

Campaign for a Sunday Law

By Editor

Under the pretense of securing a rest day for postal employees, most of whom have obtained it themselves without any help, the so-called Lord's Day Alliance of America is sending out their secretary, the Rev. George W. Grannis, who is now in California pushing not simply for the postal clerks' and carriers' associations, but for a Sunday law, planning to take advantage of the Initiative, and present it this fall. See article in another column and on this page.

Life and Life

By Editor

WE are sure that every reader of the SIGNS is interested in the question of life,—especially of life now, and many of them; if they stop to think of it at all, of life hereafter. A series of six articles will soon appear in the SIGNS on Man, and Man's Relation to Life: Man as Created, Man as Deceived, A Dying Creature, Man in Death, Fallen Man in Christ, and Man in the Kingdom, According to God's Design. These articles show life not only according to God's design, but life now, and life here as God wishes to bestow it upon mortal men. We can assure our readers that they are of decided interest, and not only of interest, but will be of help to those who will heed the wonderful truth which they contain. They are written by Prof. C. L. Taylor, Bible teacher in the faculty of the Sanitarium school, near St. Helena.

Who Would Like to Help?

By Editor

For instance, appeals come to us continually from foreign fields asking for clubs of this journal. We are giving away all the time, but we can not fill all requests. Who wants to help us?

Another appeal comes to us for copies to be sent to each congressman of the United States, about 500 in all. Would you not like a part in the work?

Calls come from public libraries for our periodicals. Will you not coöperate with us? Any one or all of these are worthy enterprises in which to invest. Who will help us?

Coming Articles on China and India

By Editor

We have waiting two articles from correspondents abroad, which we will give to our readers at the earliest possible date. The one is "The Situation in China," from our correspondent Mr. Stafford; and the other is of the durbar in India, where King George was crowned emperor of the Indies, and the proclamation which he gave at that time. Both of these are of interest to world students. Both of these great countries are looming large in the public eye just now, and we are sure that our readers will be glad to peruse both articles. The one on India will appear next week, to be followed by "The Situation in China."

Famine Relief for China

By Editor

There are pitiful stories told of the famine in China. All that has been done heretofore on account of the war has relieved but temporarily, and the present condition of the country renders it almost impossible for the Chinese government itself to do anything. The American Red Cross engineer, Mr. C. D. Jamison, speaks of the processions of gaunt, starving people wandering aimlessly along the roads, falling and dying when they can go no farther. Nearly three million people ordinarily live in these famine districts. If any of our readers wish to give for this purpose, and desire us to forward their donations, we will be glad so to do.

Main Offices and Factory, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California

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