American Sentinel, vol. 5

March 13, 1890

“Front Page” American Sentinel 5, 11.

E. J. Waggoner

We learn from the London (Ontario) Advertiser that a bill is about to be introduced in the Canadian Parliament with this title: “An Act to Secure the Better Observance of the Lord’s Day.” By the term Lord’s Day is meant Sunday. What tottering support that Sunday institution must have, when all the Governments in Europe and North America are so urgently besought to hold it up. AMS March 13, 1890, page 81.1

Remarking upon the phrase “secular,” used in the two Sunday bills pending in Congress forbidding on Sunday all “secular work, labor, or business,” a Baptist minister aptly says:- AMS March 13, 1890, page 81.2

When it finds difficulty in deciding whether one hundred and fifty men are absent or present, although they can be seen and heard, as in the recent debate concerning the quorum, how is Congress to render decisions concerning the unseen things of the world to come? Theological matters might better be left to the theologians who are so eminently successful in agreeing among themselves. AMS March 13, 1890, page 81.3

At the opening of the Woman’s Suffrage Convention, held in Washington, February 18, Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who has been for many years an able and respected leader in the cause which that convention represented, said the part which so many women were taking in the Sunday-law movement, and the effort to “put the name of God in the Constitution,” was calling into question what woman’s influence might be in government. “I do hope,” said Mrs. Stanton, “that this Association will declare that the Woman’s Suffrage Association is opposed to all union of Church and State.” AMS March 13, 1890, page 81.4

Such a declaration as this, from such a source, should lead the women of the country to give individual thought and study to these questions, and trust the formation of their views and opinions upon them, to their own good sense, instructed by the Bible alone. AMS March 13, 1890, page 81.5

“Back Page” American Sentinel 5, 11.

E. J. Waggoner

Our thanks are due to Hon. H. W. Baker, Superintendent of the State Documents, Albany. N.Y., for official documents furnished. AMS March 13, 1890, page 88.1

If you are interested in Arizona curiosities, subscribe for the Moral and Scientific Companion, published by Mr. Eugene Browne, of Florence, Arizona. AMS March 13, 1890, page 88.2

Now that the United States Senators begin to say on the floor of the Senate Chamber, that the Sunday-law petitions are “not true as stated,” perhaps those who are running the Sunday-law business will discover that it would be better to be honest and state the truth as it is. See page 86 of this paper. AMS March 13, 1890, page 88.3

March 5, there was presented to the Senate of the United States a petition carrying 308,377 names in opposition to the Blair Sunday bill and the Blair resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution respecting establishments of religion and free public schools. This makes more than 658,000 bona fide signatures that have been presented to the Senate in opposition to these measures. Let the good work go on. AMS March 13, 1890, page 88.4

The Young People’s Christian Endeavor societies of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., have started a boycott on Sunday trade. They are endeavoring to get people to sign an agreement not to patronize any stores that do not close on Sundays, only excepting drug stores. These societies would do better to spend their efforts in an honest endeavor to be Christians, than to lay themselves out in such “Christian endeavor” as this amounts to. AMS March 13, 1890, page 88.5

A gentleman who holds a proper estimate of human nature has stated to us that, though we are so strongly opposed to the work and aims of those who are seeking to secure religious legislation, we ourselves would be just as bad as they are if we had the power which they are asking for. Of course we would. And for the very good reason that we would have to be as bad as they are before we could ask for that power; and being as bad as they in asking for it we certainly would be as bad as they in the use of the power when obtained. Our constant purpose is, that by the grace of God we may be kept so good, that we will never ask for any such power. AMS March 13, 1890, page 88.6

We are indebted to Prof. W. H. McKee’ Secretary of the National Religious Liberty Association, for a copy of the Brief submitted by him to the Congressional Committee on the proposed District Sunday law. We shall print it next week. Professor McKee is a graduate of Michigan University Law School, and a practical lawyer besides-having been regularly admitted to the bar in three different States-and we can assure our readers that in this Brief there is a treat in store for them. AMS March 13, 1890, page 88.7

In the North American Review, for March, there is a fine discussion of “The Limitations of the Speakership,” by Speaker Reed and Ex-Speaker Carlisle. The editor of the Review graciously informs the public that “of all others” these two gentlemen could discuss this question “with adequacy in point of practical experience and contrasted principles.” “Others” indeed! We had supposed that of all men in the country these two gentlemen were themselves. And if Mr. Bryce had only been in the gallery of the House of Representatives, January 29 last, we believe that he would be inclined to think so too. Assuredly, Mr. Editor, these two gentlemen are themselves, not “others.” AMS March 13, 1890, page 88.8

The organ of the French Evangelical Publishing Society, Semeur (Springfield Mass.), the publication of which was suspended last fall, has again made its appearance under a new name. It is now known as Le Citoyen Franco-American, which means “The Franco-American Citizen.” It is printed principally in French but has an English department, and has a thoroughly Protestant ring which is decidedly refreshing. The object of the paper is the promulgation of Protestantism among French-speaking people in America, and while its publishers do not wish their countrymen to forget that they are French, they do desire that they shall become thoroughly loyal American citizens, owing allegiance, not to the Pope of Rome but to the Government under which they live, and to the God who gives them their being. We trust that Le Citoyen Franco-American will be always and in every part thoroughly and consistently Protestant. AMS March 13, 1890, page 88.9