The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

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World’s Fair Legislation

In 1892 a demand was made of Congress to prohibit the opening of the World’s Fair which was to be held in Chicago, Illinois, from May to October of that year, from opening on Sunday. Such a law was passed July 19, 1892, under just such a pressure as above predicted. And be it remembered that this is the first time that the Congress of the United States of North America ever legislated on the Sabbath question. GSAM 453.4

The churches sent in immense lists of names, and petitions, and telegrams, not only petitioning Congress, but kindly (?) informing the congressmen “that we do hereby pledge ourselves and each other, that we will, from this time henceforth, refuse to vote for or support for any office or position of trust, any member of Congress, either senator or representative, who shall vote for any further aid of any kind for the World’s Fair except on conditions named in these resolutions.” The conditions were that the Fair should be closed on Sunday. GSAM 453.5