The Signs of the Times, vol. 8

February 16, 1882

“Our Position” The Signs of the Times, 8, 7.

E. J. Waggoner

We are well aware that some honest people, knowing our temperance principles, wonder that we are opposed to the Sunday law; and others, not so honest, have seen fit to revile us, classing us with the lowest rabble, and accuse us of favoring intemperance. To both classes we repeat what we have before stated: The law is not a liquor law, but a Sunday law; it is not in the interest of temperance, but of the Sunday; it is given in the code under the general heading of offenses against religion, and prescribes that all places of business shall be closed on the “Christian Sabbath.” A strict endorsement of the law would affect saloon keepers less than any other class of men. SITI February 16, 1882, page 78.1

This being the case, it is not at all inconsistent with our temperance principles for us to decline to help enforce the law. Indeed, should we join with its friends, we should be recreant to our faith, and violate our own convictions of right; for the Lord has said: “Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work.” The command to keep holy the seventh day is imperative; permission, at least, equally emphatic, is given to labor on the six days, Sunday included; and a permission from God is of more weight than a command from man. We do not try to force any body to keep the Sabbath of the Lord; why, then, should we give the Sunday greater prominence? Would not such an act be in violation of the spirit of the commandment, even though we outwardly observed the seventh day? It certainly would. SITI February 16, 1882, page 78.2

As to our convictions on the subject of temperance, they may be learned from the columns of the SIGNS. We are for prohibition. We shall not cease to expose the evils of the liquor traffic, so far as lies in our power. But inasmuch as Sunday is in no sense a sacred day, we cannot become a party to a transaction that will elevate it over other purely secular days. The following paragraph from the Lever, a paper wholly devoted to the cause of temperance, expresses our sentiments exactly. We hope no one will accuse the Lever of being in league with saloons and brothels:- SITI February 16, 1882, page 78.3

“We do not believe, however, that any journal which does not openly and flatly denounce saloonism on week days as well as Sundays will ever command any very vast amount of respect when it pleads in favor of the suppression of Sunday saloonism. The fact is, murder is just as foul a crime when committed on Thursday as when committed on Sunday; and what we want is an open, frank, decided, emphatic, unequivocal, Anglo-Saxon denunciation of saloons and saloonism everywhere and all the time.” SITI February 16, 1882, page 78.4

One word more in general to our relation to the Sunday question. We are opposed to the law merely from principle, not for pecuniary gain. We do not, however, intend to make any demonstration against it, or say anything in any way derogatory to those who favor it. We are not in sympathy with the so-called “League of Freedom.” While they join hand in hand, for selfish purposes; and while in the church “there is a conspiracy of her prophets,” we, remain neutral, so far as acts of opposition or friendliness are concerned. But the command has been given concerning the Sabbath question: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1. We may not neglect this command and remain guiltless. Having the light, it is our duty, not only to walk in it, but to let it shine for others. We must let the people know the claims of God’s law, and those of its rival, that they may choose whom they will serve; and this we shall continue to do “with malice toward none; with charity for all.” E. J. W. SITI February 16, 1882, page 78.5