November 18, 1897

“A Sign of the Times” American Sentinel 12, 45.

E. J. Waggoner

(Present Truth.) London, Eng

“One of the most notable signs of the times,” says the current Review of Reviews, was the action at the Zurich Socialist Labor Congress in favor of making Sunday the universal compulsory day of rest.AMS November 18, 1897, page 711.1

“There were two propositions before the Congress, both insisting on one day’s rest in seven, but the English Socialists objected to stipulating that this day must be Sunday. Their Continental brethren-owing largely to the influence and numbers of the Catholic Socialists-would have no other day but Sunday, and after an animated debate voted down the English opposition by a large majority.”AMS November 18, 1897, page 711.2

The Catholics were only standing by the papal principle of enforced religious observances, by the institution which Rome in all her teaching claims as the mark of her authority. She boasts of having substituted Sunday for the Sabbath without Bible authority, and whatever builds up her substitute adds to her prestige.AMS November 18, 1897, page 711.3

Mr. Stead thus commends these Catholics for outvoting the English delegates, who seem to have stood for that freedom of choice which even God will not take from them:-AMS November 18, 1897, page 711.4

“This was well don’t! If the rest day is to be generally observed, there must be a general agreement as to what day it shall be. That is why, from the general humanitarian point of view, the Seventh-day Adventists, etc., have always seemed to me to be among the most pernicious of Protestant sects.”AMS November 18, 1897, page 711.5

If so, it is because they are the most Protestant, and the more scripturally Protestant and Christian a movement is the more pernicious will it be considered by any who stand for the papal principle of state-enforced religion of human invention. This issue is of tremendous importance to humanity.AMS November 18, 1897, page 711.6

What is humanity’s need?-It is salvation from sin. God only has power to save men from the greed and selfishness and oppression eating into the vitals of society. He only can save men from lawlessness by writing his law in their hearts. But when would-be social reformers shut away his power from men, and teach the world to reject his word and commands, they are shutting away the only hope and Saviour of humanity. And God declares that his Sabbath is the sign of his power to save and sanctify. It is a question of loyalty to God, in which way alone is there hope for men.AMS November 18, 1897, page 711.7