Sabbath Desecration.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 7 May 1913, Page 3

Sabbath Desecration.

TO THE EDITOR

(Continued from previous issues.) Sir, —It is to be hoped that among the readers of the Advertiser, there are many, who, recognising the importance qf . this subject will be willing to read a few more statements, as proof, that there are in all denominations, those who solemnly affiirm, that the low ebb in spiritual things, has been brought about mainly, by neglecting to keep holy the day, that above all others comes laden with spiritual blessing. Following Sabbath desecration, comes a dislike for studying the Holy Scriptures, which are . "able to make us wise unto salvation." Mr H. IST" Haskel, in his " Story of Daniel " has well said *' The Sabbath commandment is the keystone to the law of God." - Many reformers are crying " Back to the land," " Back to the primitive life," others in fulfilment of Prophecy now due, cry " Back to the Holy Sabbath —the pilgrims Cordial, and the Empire's strength." In concluding our inquiry concerning this phase of the great Sabbath question a few more very brief notes are offered. At the first meeting of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in Am erica, in 1908, the following resolutions were passed —" It is the sense of this Council that a new and stronger emphasis should be given in the pulpit, the Sunday-school, arid the home, to the Scriptural observance of the first day of the week as a sacred day, the home day, the rest day, for every man, woman, and child. " That all encroachments upon the claims and sanctities of the Lord's day, should be stoutly resisted through the Press, the Lord's day alliances and associations t and by such legislation as may be secured to protect and preserve the bulwark of our American Christianity. At their meeting in Chicago in Dec, 1912, efforts were made to secure a better observance of Sunday. Commenting on this i Itev, Dietz, a Catholic priest, ■says : —Catholics everywhere ought to assist this legislation more'largely from the viewpoint of God's first great Labor Law—the Sunday. —Catholic Citizen, Feb 8,1913, and Watchman April 1913, Vashville, Term. Dr Wilbur F. Crafts, superintendent of the International Reform Associations Bureau, U.S.A, ssid : " Sabbath Reform lies at the foundation of all other reforms." ;ln his public address upon the subject " Living and dying^ nations," he explained that "The living nations are those who observe the Sabbath, and the dying 1 ones are the Sabbathless ones. At the World's Christian Citizenship Convention, held in the city of Philadelphia, Nov 16-20, |^, -1910, conducted by the National J^^X&eform Association, the Rev J. P. Larson, a prominent Clergyman of Brooklin, N.Y., said : " Give us an enthroned Bible in our halls of legislation, and the Sabbath, God's best boon to poor tired humanity, will be restored and respected. ' A part of the programmes adopt ed at this Congress runs " In asmuch as the Sabbath is ah integral part of thje moral law, which is universal in its application, and essential to >the well-fare of the State, Christian citizens in all countries are urged for the sake of the national welfare, to show iby their own example their re- ' sard for the divine appointment of one day/ in every seven as a day for rest and for worship ; to up hold thte laws which safeguard it and to [conform their public ■ -utilites to ihis beneficent arrange- ' ment of our Creator. By suitable

and effective laws, every nation should guard the rights of all labourers, especially in regard to the weekly day of rest, and for worship allowed by our Creator." Watchman, Nashville, Term., in Jan. 1911 (To be continued.)