Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-06-27
Communicated.

to business matters.
Communicated.
EDITOR Mo. VALLEY Times
Many things are taken for granted
that needs continuation Tho people
Just at this time are strangely exercised
over questions of both religion and
politics, and people without due con-
sideration, take many things as true
that lack every element of truth.
Religious bodies are conducting a
crusadeagainst secret societies in gem
eral and Masonry and Odd Fellowship
in particular. when we are unable to
find single word in the New Testa-
ment condemning snch societies, and
yet Masonry anti-dates Christianity
many long years, and the Son of God,
in his 33 years travel on the earth, had
not word of condemnation on that
subj set; and again, we read in the new
testament that Paul, the great preach-
er, was caught up 20 the third heavens
and heard words unlawful to UTTER
Now, one of two things must be adj
mitted, either Paul heard words that
the finite mind of man cannot grasp,
OF that Paul heard secrets i'm heaven
that was unlawful to speak TO common
ears. In either case it must be admit
ted that Paul and the holy angels held
q secret meeting in the third heavens,
and no church or Christian body of
men or angels have ever condemned
Paul for uniting iii that secret meeting.
Again, we are having religious war
on Sunday sports, and strict obser-
vance of Sunday. State and munici-
paiilaw is invoked to enforce personal
opinions, and condemning every thing
that does, in the slightest manner, diff
fer from such personal opinions.
We take the question of strict OBJ
servance of Sunday law, a law enac-
ted without the sanction OF the law it
invokes to give force to the Sunday
law, and yet strange to say, no precept
or example is given in Holy writ that
requires an observance of Sunda y any
more that any other day of the week
Is there anything Christian may
do on Monday that would be sinful for
him to do on Sunday? We are often
reminded tina; the Bible commands us
ito remember the Sabbath Day and
keep it holy" That was under the old
or Jewish dispensation, and if binding
now requires us to keep Saturday the
Seventh day and not Sunday the First
day of the week.
Don't understand us favoring the
desecrating Sunday by any act calcu-
lated to bring reproach upon the name
Of the Lord or the Sabbath, but we are
not aware of any command ofthe Mas
ter to keep any speclad day holy, but
the rather to keep every day as in the
sight of God and accountable for our
every day acts. Christians keep sun.
day as the Day of the resurrection and
not as the Jewish Sabbath. The
idea of keeping any special day has
only human and not divine law, and
this Sunday religion only, takes from
the true religion itself the power and
sanction of the religion of the Bible
Is there anything in asocial game OF
ball that is wicked or wrong, if so then
we ask: what right has Christian to
lengage in the game-if not. wrong ther
why not play on Sunday?
The same is true of every other act
if not absolutely wrong in its self, ne
day constitutes a wrong.
But we are told that the law of the
State forbids work or business on Sun.
day; that is true, but such law is foun
ded on the idea that 1--WE must remem.
Der the Sabbath Day and keep it holy
If the State has legal right to say we
shall not work ON Sunday why may no.
the State say that evey lady in lowe
must have her washing done on Mon
day. To prohibit work on Sunday is
to command work at stated time. The
affirmative must have negative. We
as Christians, keep Sunday as the Lord!
Day, not as command, but because
it was the custom in the early days OF
Christianlty to meet OF the first day o.
week to break bread.
| Remember we are not opposing the
keeping of Sunday; nor fayoring bal
playing on that day, but as the reli
gious world are becoming 80 radica
against secret societies and the keep
ing of Sunday, we merely ask for the
scriptural authority. We think it i.
good policy to conform to the customs
of the country in which we live, pro
vlded such obedience does not conflict
with our religious duty, but when VIZ
are told that it is the command of God
then where is it recorded in the New
Testament, the Holy Book of the Sor
of God, or In the writings of His Apos
ties. Where? ***