Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-03
THE SABBATH QUESTION.

Editor Courier .r
Although much has been said in the
peoples pulpit upon the Sabbath
question, there are some features
which I have not yet seen discussed.
Through your courtesy I would like to
present some facts which have been
held in the background, but which
vitality concern every one of us, what
ever our views of the question may
be.
It is clear that the law proclaimed
upon Sinai enjoined the observance of
the seventh day, now commonly call
e. Saturday. But there is a prophecy
in Daniel 1925 which shows that a
power should arise which should
"think to change the time and
laws" of the Most High. There is
It one power on earth that claims
authority to co this; that power is the
Roman Catholic church; and it con-
fesses to having changed the observ-
ance Of the Sabbath from the seventh
to the first day of the week; and his
tory justifies the claim. Sunday OBJ
servance is the mark of the power of
the papal church over the world, and
a monument Of its work in substitute
ing mans laws in the place of Gods.
The question is, whose statutes will
stand, mans or Gods?
One step further: There is another
prophecy in Revelation Is which
shows that another world power
should arise which would so fully imi-
tate the work of the papacy that 1t
would form what the scripture calls
IAN image" to that power, and would
enforce it's mark, the Sunday, upon
the people. Have there been any
steps taken toward the fulfillment of
this prophecy? and if so. where? Yes,
and in this very land of the free. But
mark,-that for fifty years and more,
these two prophecies have been inter-
preted in his manner and widely
taught in this and other lands. What
steps have been taken In the United
States that indicate that it will en-
force the papal mark, the Sunday?
Let one inst>.nce answer, and the read
er will think of others. At the very
session of congress now being held, a
number of Sunday bills have been pre-
scented and one of them has already
passed the senate, and is in the hands
o. committee in the house
A strange thing occurred when this
bill came to a vote. That was, there
was only one audible vote in its favor,
but there being no voice raised
against it, the chairman announced
that the ayes appeared to have it, and
so the motion prevailed. Evidently
the men who have been 50 strongly
urged to enact such measures felt at
IL oh
not right. When Plate was about to
deliver the Saviour to be crucifie he
received a message from his wife.
warning him against doing So He
hesftated; then washed his hands in
water: but that did not wash away
his guilt.
Is it light thing that legislation
upon earth should be such as to lead
those who wish to obey all right laws,
to set aside ;ie law of heaven? Should
human enactments set at naught stat
utes divine?
In recent speech, Governor
Hughes of New York said. II am con-
vinced that that we need is not leg
islation, but moral character.
We cannot carry matters OF faith into
the political arena"
This has long been a true American
doctrine.
Such bill could not have been
passed in the senate fifty years ago.
It was declared, and truly, that the
constitution forbade all such enact
ments. But in 1893 an organization
was formed in this country for the
very purpose of securing change in
the constitution SO that such statutes
could be passed. But now 1T seems
as If they will reach the statute
books, the constitution to the contrary
Notwithstanding. Be it said to the
honor of most of our senators that
they refrained from voting for this
measure.
And now the most important point
of all, namely, that the most solemn
w-.rning in all the Bible is against The
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