July 13, 1893

“Editorial” American Sentinel 8, 28, pp. 209, 210.

ATJ

THE Sunday managers resorted to the United States courts and got swamped the first thing. “All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”AMS July 13, 1893, page 209.1

THEY called upon the courts to decide their question. The courts did decide the question. And now they refuse to accept the decision. They submitted their cause to the courts, and now refuse to accept the decision because it was not on their side.AMS July 13, 1893, page 209.2

WELL, then, as they are determined to have their own way anyhow, what in the world did they want with the courts in the first place? Ah! they only wanted to use the court as a tool in enforcing their own decision and their own will upon the people of the United States. And having failed in that, Bishop Merrill, for the Methodist Church and “other denominations,” announced that they will pursue a course “that means that they will pursue a course “that means that the World’s Fair will be a financial failure.” Was there ever, or could there be, a clearer case of “rule or ruin”? It is true that Bishop Merrill has since discovered that he could not carry the whole Methodist Board with him in this, but this does not affect the principles involved, nor change his disposition. Neither have the “other denominations” changed their announced course.AMS July 13, 1893, page 209.3

THEY unsparingly denounced the Directory of the Fair as “anarchists” and their action as “violation of law,” and “anarchistic in conception and rebellious in character,” etc., etc., at their pleasure when the Directory opened the gates on Sunday in pursuance of what they supposed to be a proper interpretation of a law of which Judge Grosscup—the only judge of the lower court who was right—said that it was “so ambiguous that it required a construction of the law-officers of the Government; so ambiguous that of the three judges sitting, there is a difference of opinion between them respecting its effect.” And now these very ones themselves openly and intentionally disregard the plain decision of the United States Court which they themselves called for.AMS July 13, 1893, page 209.4

NOW if the action of the Directory in construing a law “so ambiguous,” was “anarchistic” and “rebellious,” then what is this action of the church managers in intentionally disregarding the plain and unmistakable decision of this high court, whose jurisdiction they themselves invoked? Judge Grosscup pertinently inquired: “Is the local corporation to be held to have known precisely what that act meant, when this court is divided as to what its meaning is?” But there is no room for any such inquiry in behalf of the action of the church managers in disregarding the decision of the court which is not at all ambiguous, and about which there was no division of the court. There was ample room for the Directory to act innocently in what they did. There is no room whatever for the church managers to act innocently in what they are doing in this matter.AMS July 13, 1893, page 209.5

THE Directory stated plainly beforehand that if the court decided that they were wrong they would accept it in good faith and conform to it in good faith. But neither before nor after, did the Sunday managers make any such statement. Instead of that they plainly declare that they will not do any such thing, but will make the Fair “a financial failure;” and all because that, in the law procedure which they had inquired, they have failed to accomplish their purpose to rule the country. Of course it is always understood that especially the party which initiates legal procedure shall accept in good faith the final decision. With the other party it is not necessarily so; for he may be dragged into it, and forced into court by the course of the initiative, and he is not bound to accept any decision because the whole procedure may be one of persecution, and therefore wrong from the beginning.AMS July 13, 1893, page 209.6

But with the initiative it is not so. It is in the nature of things, it inheres in the very idea of legal government, that the party who resorts to the law, the party who begins legal procedure, shall accept in good faith the final decision. Otherwise there is no use of legal government; violence becomes the only procedure, and might the only source of appeal. And that is anarchy indeed.AMS July 13, 1893, page 209.7

NOW it is the everlasting truth that the Sunday party did take the initiative, and have kept it, from the first inception of the act of Congress clear up to this final decision of the court. And now, instead of accepting the final decision in good faith, they do not accept it at all, but resort to violence. The party of the second part, the party that was dragged into the procedure and into court, freely announces beforehand that if the decision is against them, they will accept it in good faith, and so conform to it. The party of the first part, the party which takes and holds the initiative from the beginning, openly disregards and refuses to accept the final decision, and boldly announces their purpose to pursue such a course as will make the Fair “a financial failure.” And these are the ones who so scathingly denounce the course of the Directory as “anarchistic” and “rebellious”!AMS July 13, 1893, page 209.8

THE sum of the whole matter is this: It is essential to the very idea of existence of legal government that the party who takes the initiative in legal procedure shall accept in good faith, and so conform to the final decision; not to do so, but to act the same as though there had been no decision after the final decision has been rendered, is in itself to renounce legal government and is essentially anarchistic and rebellious. The Sunday-law party is and has been from the beginning, the party of the initiative in this legal procedure. This party instead of accepting in good faith the final decision, ignores it entirely and resorts to violence—the boycott—after that decision has been rendered; it therefore follows inevitably, and the demonstration is complete, that the action of the Sunday managers in this matter is truly the action, and the only one, which is indeed “anarchistic in conception and rebellious in execution.” This is the logic of the situation, and it is the exact truth. Their every action only further illustrates it; and their calling other people “anarchists,” “rebels,” “traitors,” “atheists,” and so on, can never disprove this abiding truth.AMS July 13, 1893, page 209.9

THIS is the same conclusion to which we were forced last year by the logic of their course in securing the act of Congress requiring the closing of the Fair. It is the only just conclusion that can ever be reached from the basis of ecclesiastical dictation or control in the affairs of the Government. And this for the plain and simple reason that on the part of the ecclesiastics it is never intended that they shall pay any respectful attention to any law or any decision that does not suit them. Therefore the only purpose for which they ever resort to either legislative or judicial procedure is that the governmental authority may be at their disposal with which to execute upon the people their arbitrary will. And this, in itself, is at once to sweep away all really just, or properly legal, government.AMS July 13, 1893, page 210.1

AND all this only makes the more manifest the divine wisdom which commands the total separation of the ecclesiastical and the civil powers, which forbids the Church to have any connection with the State. It also demonstrates the wisdom of the men who made the Government of the United States, in embodying in the Constitution and the supreme law of the divine idea for governments—the total separation of Church and State. And this which has been done, and which is now being done, by the churches, is only a hint, and the beginning, of the sea of troubles into which the Government will be plunged, and indeed finally sunk by this gross disregard of the governmental principle established by our fathers, and announced by Jesus Christ.AMS July 13, 1893, page 210.2

SO long as the Church keeps herself entirely separate from the State, she can consistently and rightly disregard any and all legislative acts, judicial decrees, or executive power, put forth upon religious questions; because she ever denies the right of government to touch religion or any religious question in any way. But when she forgets her place and her high privilege, and herself actually invites governmental jurisdiction of religious observances, she then, by so doing, and in justice, forfeits her power of protest, and her right to disregard governmental commands in things religious, while in fact and in practice she refuses to let it go, so that whenever the Government does not do according to her will she openly and intentionally disregards the very authority which she herself has invoked. She thus becomes the chiefest example and source of lawlessness, and the swiftest instrument of governmental ruin.AMS July 13, 1893, page 210.3

AND this is what the Sunday leaders of the United States are; and this is the relation which they bear to the Government to-day. J.AMS July 13, 1893, page 210.4

“Back Page” American Sentinel 8, 28, pp. 217, 218.

ATJ

CHRISTIANITY is love only, not force,—“God is love.” And “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And “the love of Christ constraineth us.”AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.1

CHRISTIANITY is all of faith, not of law,—“For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” And “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” “If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” “Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested ... even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference.”AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.2

CHRISTIANITY is freedom of choice, not arbitrary requirement,—“If any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not.” “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting lift.” “Whosoever will may come.” “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord.” “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.”AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.3

CHRISTIANITY is dependence wholly upon the power of God, manifested through Jesus Christ, by his Spirit alone; not upon the power of man, manifested through government, by the sword or the bayonet. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” “Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God.” “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” “And I will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses nor by horsemen.” “This is the word of the Lord.... saying: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.4

THE Sunday movement is force only, not love.AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.5

“Resolved, That we do hereby pledge ourselves and each other, that we will, from this time henceforth, refuse to vote for or support for any office or position of trust, any member of Congress, either senator or representative, who shall vote for any further aid of any kind to the World’s Fair, except upon conditions named in these resolutions.” ^{1Church petition to Congress to secure Sunday closing of the Fair.—Congressional Record, May 29, 1893, p. 5144.}AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.6

“If temporary injunction is impossible to-day, let proclamation and troops hold gates closed until obtained.” ^{2From telegram to President Cleveland, May 27, 1893, sent from Boston, by Wilbur F. Crafts, Joseph Cook, and A. H. Plumb.}AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.7

“The First United Presbyterian Church of Boston, distrusting both directory and commissioners, appeals to you to suppress Chicago nullification with Jacksonian firmness, and to guard the gates next Sabbath with the troops, if necessary.” ^{3Telegram to President Cleveland, May 19, 1893.}AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.8

THE Sunday movement is altogether of law and not of faith at all. They worked steadily for thirty years to get a national Sunday-law, and everywhere they demand State Sunday-laws where there are none, and the rigid enforcement of them with increased penalties where they already exist. This is so entirely a part of the daily history and the public records of the whole country in the last few years that no particular quotation is needed; for all know that it is so. Their whole cry is, “Law, law, law,” and all for “the salvation of the Nation.”AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.9

THE Sunday movement is arbitrary requirement entirely with no shadow of freedom of choice. Sunday, as “the Christian Sabbath,” must be unquestionably observed by all, whether they be Christians, Jews, Infidels, or what not. Even though a man be the most sincere and devout Christian, and observes the seventh day, the day which the Lord himself appointed as the Sabbath, yet this counts nothing—he must observe Sunday, too, or else suffer the penalty of fine, and imprisonment till the fine is paid. These facts are also matters of daily occurrence and public record. Thus the Sunday movement, in behalf of what it calls “the Christian Sabbath,” knows nothing but arbitrary requirement and compulsory procedure to secure its acceptance and observance.AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.10

THE Sunday movement is dependence wholly upon the power of man, manifested through law and by force alone; not upon the power of God manifested through Jesus Christ by his Spirit.AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.11

“What is now to be done? This is the question that is perplexing the supporters of the Sabbath.... From present appearances relief can be looked for only at Washington.” ^{4Mail and Express, (N. Y.) May 31, 1893. Report on first Sunday opening of the Fair.}AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.12

“In this third fight ... Attorney-General Olney ... with President Cleveland, must be our chief reliance.” ^{5Address of “Rev.” W. F. Crafts, in Boston, May 21.—Christian Statesman, June 3, 1893.}AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.13

IN a Sunday-law speech made in the Baptist Church, Cortland, N.Y., Sunday evening, June 18, 1893, “Rev.” Addis Albro, State Secretary for New York, said: “In all this contest the right arm of power is the executive.” And cited the President of the United States, the governor of a State, the sheriff of a county, the mayor of a city, and the president of a town, as the ones in whom the executive power is lodged.AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.14

“To HON. GROVER CLEVELAND,
“Washington, D. C.

“Dear Sir: As God in his providence has given you the highest office in the United States, we appeal to you in this decisive conflict between the friends of God and of good government on the one hand, and the powers of darkness and the enemies of our Christian American Sabbath on the other, to use all the power that has been delegated to you in the position you now hold, to keep and to close the gates of the World’s Fair on the Sabbath, not only the buildings but also Jackson Park....AMS July 13, 1893, page 217.15

“I look upon the move as high treason against God’s divine government and the accepted laws of the land, and in this request I voice a half-million people of Indiana, of whom a large per cent. will abandon their attendance at the Fair, if the gates are open on the Lord’s day.AMS July 13, 1893, page 218.1

“Your humble servant,AMS July 13, 1893, page 218.2

“J. R. Day.” ^{6Letter printed in Christian Statesman, June 3, 1893.}AMS July 13, 1893, page 218.3

This Mr. Day is the secretary of the Indiana division of the Christian Endeavor Society—that is, of this kind of Christian endeavor. But what kind of Christian endeavor is that which appeals to a man to settle a conflict between them and the powers of darkness. What a delightsome figure would be cut anyhow, by the President of the United States endeavoring to settle a decisive conflict between the friends of God and the powers of darkness!AMS July 13, 1893, page 218.4

“Resolved, That the Prohibition Party of Iowa, in State convention assembled, do most emphatically protest against such action [the opening of the World’s Fair on Sunday], and that we ask President Cleveland to use the power vested in him to enforce the law of Congress to prevent this sin against high heaven, and rebellion against the Government of the Untied States.” ^{7Iowa State Prohibition Convention, June 1, 1893.}AMS July 13, 1893, page 218.5

“In Wisconsin, when the mayor of the capital refused to prohibit a prize fight on the Sabbath, the governor ordered the troops to take possession of the stage and grounds, and bayonets prohibited lawlessness. Let President Cleveland order the U. S. troops to guard the gates of the World’s Fair on Sabbath, and keep them closed if need be.” ^{8Wilbur F. Crafts’ speech in Boston, reported in Christian Statesman, June 5, 1893, by “Rev.” J. M. Foster.}AMS July 13, 1893, page 218.6

By the evidences presented in these notes, it is as plain as A B C to everybody that Christianity and the Sunday movement are two directly antagonistic things. The one is Christianity, the other is deviltry. The one is salvation, the other is destruction. These are the two ways; which way do you take?AMS July 13, 1893, page 218.7

J.