The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-18
SUNDAY AND THE SABBATH.
EnstOr of Seventh Day Baptist'
Views on sunday Observance.

Views on Sunday Observance.
Editor Morning News: l desire TO voice
through your paper the sentiments of no
inconsiderable number of the citizens OF
Savannah as to the nature and obligation
of the Sabbath of the Loasd and the en-
forcement of Sunday laws now so widely
agitated. In the first place clear dis
tinction should be made between Cod 3
Sabbath, commonly called Saturday, and
the first day of the week. commonly cali
ed Sunday. The words Sabbath and Sun
day refer TO Two distinct religious insi-
tutons. The former to the Sabbath of
Jehovah, instituted in the garden of Ellen
b. three distinct acts of Cod viz. His
rest. blessing and sanctification Gen. %.
81; also by specific command: "Remem-
Der the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
The seventh day is the Sabbath
of the Lord, thy God" exodus, 20: 8, 9.
10, IL. The latter is a religious instltu-
ton, wholly of human foundation and au-
thority. This is evident from the fact
that nowhere in the Holy Scriptures II
the first day of the week referred to as I
day upon which God rested, or which He
blessed, sanctihed or commanded to be OBJ
served, reiigiously or otherwise. The first
day OF the week is referred to in the New
Testament but eight times, viz, Matthew,
III l.
10; Acts, 20:7; First Corinthians, 1872. In
all these instances 1t is spoken of simpl y
as week day without any divine title
whatever. As for the change of the Sab
bath from Saturday to Sunday by Christ
or His apostles, there is no proof. I
would be as impossible for God himself
to change the day upon which He rested
TO a day upon which He did not
rest as to change your birthday
from day upon which you were
born, to a day upon which you were not
born, for the Sabbath was the birthday
Of the world and the sign of creative pow
er. Elk, POLL, Isa.. 5S:l3. Ezekiel, 2O:12.
The so-called prophecy of the change of
the Sabbath quoted from Ezekiel, 1921,
Because the priests from a certain time
should offer sacrifices upon the eighth
day. does not refer to the change of the
Sabbath, for the eighth day in this text
refers TO the eighth day of the seventh
Jewish month See Leviticus, % 1896.
Moreover, Christ affirmed the immutabil-
ity of the decalogue and the Sabbath by
saying, Think not that l am come to
destroy the law or the prophets; l am not
come to destroy, but to fulfil" Fulfil
means to establish, see Matt. 5a7, and
Gal, So.
The change of the Sabbath from the sew
enth to the first day has been effected
wholly by man, and that change the pap
acy claims TO have accomplished. The fol-
lowing words, quoted from a letter dictated
by Cardinal Gibbons are to the point:
Cardinals Residence, Baltimore, Md.
Feb. %, 1S92.-John R. Ashley. Esq; Dear
Sir-In answer to your first question, die
tated by the cardinal to reply to your let
ter, / will say: First. Who changed the
Sabbath?
Answer. The Holy Catholic Church.
Second. Are Protestants following the
Bible or the Holy Catholic Church in
keeping Sunday?
Answer. The Pedestrians are following
the custom introduced by the Holy CathO-
lie Church.
Third The Protestants do contradict
themselves by keeping Sunday and at the
same time profess to be guided by the BIZ
BILE only. 1 am faithfully yours,
> &C. F. Thomas, Chancellor"
The prophecy of this change is found in
Daniel 7:25. AS to Sunday laws they en-
body a religious dogma and constrain the
citizen on religious grounds alone. There
fore the object of Sunday laws is to com
pei men to perform a religious duty, and
to punish an offense against religion as
such. This is clearly a violation of the
rights of conscience and a deadly blow at
civil and religious liberty.
judge Cooley of Michigan. in his Con
stitutional Limitations" page 5S5. says:
THE Jew may plausibly urge that the
Sunday law discriminates against his re-
ligion, and, by forcing him 10 keep a Sec
ond Sabbath in each week unjustly,
though by indirection, Furnishes him for
his belief
We simply desire to voice the protest
not only of seventh day observers, but also
Of many Sunday keepers against any re-
ligious and class legislation, which Sun
day laws embody and by which civil and
religious liberty is endangered. We de-
plore the growing tendency of preachers
and churches, as such. to enter the polit-
ical arena. This did not Christ, who said,
MY kingdom is not of this world" Woe
worth the day when the leading churches
of the United states, uniting upon such
points of doctrine as are held by them in
common shall influence the state to en-
force their DEGREES and sustain their in
situations. When this shall come to pass
America will thereby repudiate every prin-
ciple of Professionalism and republicanisn
upon which she is founded, and national
ruin will inevitably follow sure and swift
Let there be no union of church and STATE
Arthur w. Bartlett.
THE SENSES OF SAVAGES.