The Lord's Day Alliance

Citation preview

BV

130

AiLad

LIBPAPV

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

VOLUME

II

MARCH

.NLIMBER

1928

PLAIN TALK The Lord's Day Alliance By

1

CLARENCE DARROW

This

veteran of the courts who has spent fifty years tearing deserved holes in the law , takes and swings his priceless irony towards these professional Christians . When do we rest and when do we play ? Apparently we don't . What price salvation ? It's not worth it .

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that adverse measure the Sabbath has passed Albany during this time although forty two such measures have been introduced repre the legislature sentative our organization has been present oppose each occasion boasts that such adverse measures

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to

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.

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informed affecting

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to

as

of

it

The Alliance informs

Lord

of

.

as

of

all

to to

to

strengthen

exalt Jesus Christ who the Sabbath Day and spread the knowledge the will God that His Kingdom may come and His Though the organi will may done points long zation still young glorious achievements We are list the church

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of

for

of

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on

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In

they have learned bath question anything that subject not vealed their tracts protect These Lord's Day folk seek the home and the day the interest in

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of

an

,

of

in

interested the State New York which contains about one tenth the population the Union and among unusually large number them foreigners and other heathen who have not been taught the proper regard the Sabbath the sanctity The activities this Alliance New York still leave them ample time watch the sinners the other states and bring book the wicked who are bent having pleasure the holy Sabbath Day their own language the work the interests the preservation and promotion the Lord's Day the American Christian Sabbath oppose adverse measures seeking weaken the law and seek the would tend passage such measures

“

- of

especially

is

be

This association to

seems

on

.

.

in

are

business they crape hangers

-

of of

a

to to

its

on

is caught enjoying life Sunday agents gleefully hie themselves the nearest legislature and urge stop the fun law Their literature and periodicals tell very plainly the kind

of

If any poor mortal

" in the last four years it has per sixty - seven furnished addresses month , on an average . During this time over three hundred and twenty institute meetings have been held the study the Sabbath question Several mil literature have been dis lion pages tributed also furnishes press syndicate ticles and matter the news papers Imagine institute spending the Sab the study much time

us that

of

that are

business

so

in the

is

societies

of killing pleasure, the Lord's Day Alliance of New York , deserves a place of honor . engaged

in

MONG the various

the

t ogposett : opening :: Faiš 1925 on Sunday

the

PLAIN TALK

protest the Commisthe members sion and the Attorney General The ruling from the Attorney result was General sustaining the law course long the fair one could Sunday the people were obliged church has defeated annually forty commercial and anti average Sunday bills our legislature and has

people who are really interested driving pleasure seekers golf from trips grounds baseball automobile parks moving picture houses and every pleasure Sunday other form possible that for lack any other place compelled some them might park themselves church bringing America does not succeed back the ancient Puritan Sabbath with manifold blessings will not

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Haegler ten one Dr. Basle says that Switzerland which experiments have shown that during day's work laborer expends more True oxygen than can inhale large part catches with this deficiency through the night time but does not regain follows keeps working six course that days week for the same time each day will out considerable amount can oxygen and the only way ,

are to

of

to

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on

It

.

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of

while these wise bodies have doubt succeeded coercing spineless members legislative yield bodies their will and their parade votes and thus spread con siderable gloom over the United States the Sabbath Day These Lord's Day Alliance gentlemen For are not only religious but scientific pamphlet writ instance they publish session

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Their sermonettes are and God's will conflicting their statements and ut terly senseless their assertions The guard sentries the Alliance the the national Con state capitals and

on

in

.

in

It

in of

commercialized amusement forces which have declared nation wide fight Sunday the finish movies and even proposing enlist the aid the churches their unholy campaign changing the date succeeded the gigantic carnival which admission was charged from Sunday August Saturday August 1925 held Bolling Field Washington No one charge for parson has the right but performance Sunday Through request the War Department issued orders November 1925 covering every military post the United States banning Sunday public air carnivals and maneuvers now leading country wide movement for the enact Sunday rest law for the ment District Columbia Washington Sunday rest law needs and must have day must informs that the kept above the Dollar Christ above Commercialism the Lord's Day the person must have the right way over the Pocketbook our American Sunday

the fault the Lord's Day Alliance part this noble work the organi publishes zation various pamphlets and leaflets and scatters them broadcast through the land As rule these pamphlets are the effusions more less obscure parsons These preachers have special knowledge God's plans

he

go

an to on ,

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“

It

of

.

to

to

as

no

.

go

a

” .

to

.

of ,

by

:

in

:

so

brought about the closing the First and Second Class Post Offices Sunday result thousands As our churches each Sunday are has been thanked President Coolidge for the services rendered hundreds government employees thousands the District Columbia and elsewhere throughout the nation What further honor could anybody get accepted the challenge earth has places defeated scores and

is

Surely this great work and de serves the active support and sympathy

of

State vigorous

Sunday

THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE

There was no reason why the Creator

set

to

of

on he on

,

be

;

a

;

re

on

to

around the sun stood axis should have been make this gesture help the day was

in as

It

.

it

as

Joshua hold the sun

to

to

of

homage

its

on

course

a

If

.

for

to

be

to it

as

be

in

leash that prolonged battle might nature had made plain provision the Sab patent bath Day would others well the medicine men who in as

sist that the Sabbath Day was made for their profit alone

in

of

.

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upit

a

or

or

its

in

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to

of .

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he

on

To

off

it

to

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us

let

for ,

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at

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a

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to

pass from the realm where pastors never did espe cially shine into field where they are fairly more likely excel Here easy The about see what Orange Reverend McQuilkin Pastor pamphlet New Jersey furnishes The Lord's Day Alliance Read what the Doctor says

,

if

if

,

But

science

to

by of

be

as

to

.

If

is

in

of a

of

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be in

to

.go

or

,

of

at

a

. It

,

or

in

still important

to

.

his

in a

to

on

up

is

the forest and glen might have frained from fighting and eating and chasing and maiming and have been made close their eyes the Sabbath

Day and have kept peace and tran quility The earth might have paused

ural law seems this should have been clearly indicated especially the righteous God had determined punish Sunday violations with death and hell

it

A

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in

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to

at

do

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no of of

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to

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if

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a

onis

should have been content to leave the proof to a revelation said to have been made in a barbarous age to an unknown man , hidden in the clouds on the top of a high mountain peak . Humans would not have graven such an important mes sage on a tablet of stone and then in sisted that the tablet should be destroyed before any being except Moses had eye upon Even God should not ask credulity and for faith that amounts gross superstition deity could have written the Sab bath requirements plain the face might have For instance nature still the seventh made the waves day the week the grass might have day off and rested from growing taken until Monday morning the wild animals

it .

all

no

it

,

a

.

on

to

of be

and go to church . This statement seems to be flawless to the powerful intellects who put out this literature . Any person who is in the habit of thinking might to once arrive at the conclusion that if the workman could not take in enough oxygen gas in the ordinary hours of work and sleep he might well cut down his day's work and lengthen his sleep and thus start even every morning . This ought better than running through the gas shortage week Likewise must occur most people that there are two kinds labor that consume the same amount oxygen gas per day and probably two human systems that work exactly

the workman ran alike Then too the days behind his oxygen gas when men worked from ten sixteen day might break even hours night since working hours have been eight Saturday reduced less with might even half holiday thrown help the situation raise the bedroom night window These matters course not occur the eminent doctor who wrote the pamphlet and the scientific gentlemen who send out To them the silly statement proves that Sunday man needs take day may and attend church order that catch oxygen them perfectly plain that for catching great oxygen the church has advantage over the golf links the any other place where baseball park spite the wicked wish This buildings the fact that crowded the oxygen might mixed with halitosis The exact proof that these parsons marshal for showing that the need Sunday rest manifest the nature things Sun the need marvelous day rest was meant nat shown

259

PLAIN TALK

for

:

no

; .

it

do to

all

of

is

do

all

the

in

is the in

is

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,

it

;

them and rested that sea and earth seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath Day and hallowed

it .

,

to

,

holy

thy work the Lord thy thou nor thy

so

,

on

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on

to

a

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of

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of

on

up

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to

in

It

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is

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a

to

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death

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to

put

of

of

In

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on

28 :

In

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9-10

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Sacrifice the Sabbath Day two lambs the part first year without spot and two tenths ephah fine flour for meal offering mingled with and drink offering thereof

oil of

to

on

?

Numbers

vision made meat offerings and drink offerings The meat offerings enjoin the sacrifice lambs fire and then sweet savor unto the Lord the Lord provides that the pastor shall further

an

?

an

by

,

,

the Congressmen members the legislatures judges and the public that are influenced their ravings Can anyone but idiot have any feeling but contempt for men who seek scare children and old women with such infamous stuff Let see what the Bible says this

preach

nection with various offerings that the pro Law required the Sabbath

" a

re

,

of

is

of

of

the Lord's Day the mental caliber

presents the views Alliance then what

view the commands God cer tainly his special agents the earth can not blamed for cruelty matter what they may ferocious doctrine

of

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to

If

of

a

is

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be

,

on to

is a

therein shall

be

of

be

Six days shall work done upon the seventh holy day the Sabbath day there shall you the rest the Lord Whosoever doeth work

of

be

is

it

be

:

35 : 2 :

in

is

or

he

no

of a .

,

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in

on

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of

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to

to

a

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printed this timely caution Six days shall work done but the seventh day Sab bath solemn rest holy Jehovah whosoever doeth any work the Sabput bath Day shall surely death Ex 31-15 The pamphlet also states that wealthy business man furnishthis ing the money for the distribution sheet this barbarous statement

us

plain from this commandment that the Sabbath was not instituted any natural law obedience that his supply man might catch oxygen but because the Lord in six days had performed the herculean task creating the universe out nothing day off and took rest the seventh Therefore every man must rest the seventh matter whether has been working and tired not This made even more binding Exodus of

be

a

in

It

?

on

THE DEATH

IMPORTANCE OF PENALTY Under

.

keep

thou shalt work nor thy daughter nor thy man servant nor thy maid servant nor thy cattle which within thy gates for Lord made heaven and six days ,

.

if

is

, to a to

it

To

a

In

.

, a

is a

to

!

is

to

on

Is

not little presumptuous even the church say that debt parsons God debt emphasize the importance leaving the Sabbathto the preachers we are warned the fate the sinner who profanes the Sabbath play work The Lord's Day Alliance has issued little folder which there the follarge letters THE lowing heading

is

God son

Here where the Alliance seems What reason has God strike pay dirt claim the Sabbath for Himself and why man should work God robbed possible Sunday can hardly that the puny insects that we call men could disturb God His Sunday rest

.

Day Remember the Sabbath Six days shalt thou labor and but the seventh day the Sabbath .

to

be

or

,

matter debt

to

judgment concerning the bring definite obligation Church attendance which we owe God

ence to the Sabbath , but the reasons such commandment

the

us

or

of

.

to

is

in

To

power in the exercise of public and private worship . spend this holy day pleasure unnecessary rob God We have got secular labor the Sabbath careful how we take the hours work for God will surely for secular study

important subject . In Exodus 19 :8-12 we find not only the commandment which was delivered to Moses in refer a

God claims the Sabbath for himself in a very unique , distinctive way as a day of rest and wor ship . He again and again commands you to spend its hours in the conservation of our spiritual

,

260

THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE

his

with murderers and suicides " . The for murder is common punishment death , and suicide is death , therefore ,

Dr. McQuilkin , with the rest of associates and with his God believes penalty for working the death

or

How

the Sabbath involuntarily .

playing

loves this righteous Dr. McQuilkin Orange New Jersey He must man whose love and understanding oozes from every pore No doubt the people his body Orange who are burdened with sorrow .

.

in

I

on

In in to by

"

.

be by

. to

of

to

,

to

,

to

be or

of

go

to

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of

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in

be

"

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a

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he

of

"

, "

is

.

-

”

;

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-p

sin

of

on

of

in

of

"

that

the day have often been the defenders their contentions too superficial this holy Sabbath that they behalf should soft edal the thou shalt nots

impossibility making people good school either law ought Probably the pastor would jail favor the jail The Reverend Doctor very much exercised about his idea spent that the Sabbath should cultivating our spiritual nature From the the gentle and kindly character doctor's utterances one judges that must spend several days week cultivat ing his spiritual nature The godly doctor indeed earnest about the church going He says God

.

of

.

their way Dr. McQuilkin further tells

us

if

at

of its

.

of

,

,

of

” .

as

:

Jehovah commanded Moses stones spite manifold texts like this there are persons who protest that they love the this bloody barbarous tribal God the Alliance The literature Jews sponsors would clearly indicates that the Jehovah follow this command they could only have present time

”

to

.

the congregation shall stone him And all with stones without the camp the congregation brought him without death with the camp and stoned him

The Reverend Doctor McQuilkin makes short work the idea that you law cannot make people good him the only fact that seems Therefore way make them good people and enterprises that commercial ize Sundays by baseball games and moving pictures who whine about the

is

death

;

put

all

be

:

said unto Moses

The man shall surely

.

a

at

is

It

to

”

.

Lord

to

"

“

of in

,

so

be

.

to

,

and the

or of

of ,

of

on

in

a

related

bring their sore troubles and lay them his loving breast am sure that little children their grief rush his outstretched arms for solace and relief to

In is

it

the Fifteenth Chapter Numbers related that while the children the wilderness they found Israel were the Sabbath man gathering sticks Day The Hebrews were evidently done with know what should loss him for this most heinous offense await the they put him ward then the Lord further orders

,

of

one

be a

of

an

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of

of

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re

is

of

If

on

burned because they were so young and innocent and would therefore make such a " sweet savor unto the Lord ” . Nothing is lacking in this smell but mint sauce . Moses is to be obeyed on pain of hell in his command to abstain from work or play on the Sabbath why the rest the program any less sacred How can the holy parsons lease their congregations from the sacrifice the two spotless lambs and ephah the two tenths fine flour mingled with oils

.

It is evident that the lambs less than one year old , without spot , were to be

In

•

and " we should thunder our ' thou shalts '

into the ears of the foolish , wicked men who for the sake of pleasure or financial profit would rob their fellow men or themselves of the precious rest God had given them for the cultivation and nurture of their immortal souls . Such men ” , he continues , “ must be identified

in

this is the burnt - offering of every Sabbath , be sides the continual burnt -offering and his drink offering

261

PLAIN TALK

262

L ma m

?

Strangely bike work

on . by

a

I in

joyous crowd rolls while auto mobiles on their road hell cannot help thinking Sunday the parson morning telling the same story over and his half hundred listeners over again

. ,

of

-

?

com

in

in

.

?

it as

as

—

-

,

New York churches services taken counting large city churches State well small country ones has steadily dropped until

have seen this pastor and this con gregation the country church and the city church What have they mon with the world today Who are these faithful fifty One third them

I

the

of a

character Sunday morning

of

at the

the

all

for

years have utterly changed day The average attendance .

of

.

-d

to

to a

on

—

of

A

of

significant part this falling away from old American ideals has been the neglect the churches life among Christian people dropping Sunday pleasure lower plane The lure and the drift seven ay slavery within few

to

,

."

“

a

in

graph put Lord's Day liance folder entitled Let's Save 99 Our American Christian Sabbath

This is indeed distressing . I can well imagine the feeling of chagrin that steals over the parson when he talks to fifty persons on a Sunday morning . Here are the few parishioners , solemn - visaged and sitting impatiently in their pews to

Al-

the

out

by

Could it be possible that the Reverend Doctor McQuilkin's serious case of rabies might be due to vacant pews ? Such cases are related in the following extract from a very disheartening para

Is the church to survive ? Are we to remain a Christian nation ? had to be abandoned .

of

himself and his private business affairs with the Lord .

has now reached only fifty -three persons . This amounts to but little more than one - fourth of their total enrolled membership ! The old days of tithes are gone ! Lack of support is making the situation more and more critical and many churches have

a

will surely bring us to judgment in the matter of staying away from church , for church attendance is a definite obliga tion , a debt which we owe to God . ” The doctor has a naïve way of mixing up

THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE

263

two are merchants one who think that being church will help them sell prunes the rest are old and tottering has been long years since thought new even old one has atrophied found lodgment their They are decrepit and palsied brains

Sunday Playing golf sacrile pre gious practice whole leaflet pared golf Dr. Jefferson No one ought play golf Sunday golf player may The need oxygen but should not forget caddie The doctor calls our attention the fact that men the days Moses were How these even the least mindful our parsons do love Moses and his

-

.

of in

.

to it

.

,

to

.

a

at

;

of

in

.

is

a

is

“

.

in

of of

to

."

his

.

on

.

on

A

.

to by

of

of to a

to

to

,

“

a

it

on

.

a

is

it

!

,

a

on

"

.

on

is a

on

.

is

It

to

go

.

of

a

be a

to

a

It

to ?

not inspire

all

The caddies

do

on

.

an

caddie

.

a

on

time

no

are

,

.

valuable

They

in

the Sabbath way the proper literature for Sunday reading Automothe abomination bile trips too are

Day

,

deal

of .

The literature issued by the Alliance shows great concern about Sunday news great papers These papers consume

if

.

in.

,

Day Alliance cannot get these hundred Then thousand caddies discharged possibly some them would Sunday They might even church nickel the contribution drop box the cad Does anyone believe that dies were offered the same money for going church that they get for hunt ing golf balls they would choose the bright boy church takes on

to

,

of to

,

to -

.

-

to

up

.

a

a

of

.

I

fill

,

to

to

go

of

to

to

Aside from the Lord's Day Alliance's appealing make way the law people only church can think two plans the pews First large number abandon the churches find chance and give the parsons Secondly some useful and paying job get more date human and intelligent preachers into the church pulpits

murderous laws We are told that caddie works that not play golf ball with trudge after bag clubs his back The leaflets say that Sunday for the caddie does not work manly fun but for money and isn't thing for the golf player hire him Sunday We are told that work now over one hundred there are thousand caddies the golf links every Sunday These caddies are making living Of course this picture pathetic too bad that the Lord's

.”

by

?

it

to

go

?

sit in

its

,

,

aged who have lived their lives grumble and complain about youth with glow and ambition and Why should they hope the fading light and watch the world and vainly reach out their bony hands back hold

.

.

.

,

why should the

he

an

far life and the world are already dead they One are concerned But feels sympathetic toward the old ;

and done

“

so

as

.

in

a

or

.

It

;

at

;

or

consumptive

on

of

or

;

in

.

a

or

gas

.

,

.

no

to by

Sabbath . One pamphlet records ap proval of the conduct of the “ venerable " John D. Paton who even refused to use street -cars on Sunday while visiting in America He kept his appointments long walks sometimes even having This sounds run between engagements Still me strangely like work might have been necessary order get oxygen the proper amount

fat

at least , are little boys and girls , twisting and turning and yawning and fussing in their stiff , uncomfortable clothes , in the hard church pews . Then there are the usual old women wearing their Sunday finery Their faces are dull and They heavy and altogether unlovely longer think the world they are looking straight into space the They hold hymn Promised Land Bible their time worn book Perhaps there are ten full grown hands these look three church two men

the

PLAIN TALK

all

it .

of

its

in

as

"

on

.

,

They

.

divini

..

to

"

of

a is

It

just conceivable that one might Sunday newspaper and still have read time for the glowing divinity the day glow long enough satisfy every desire to

on

,

,

is all ,

is

is

so if

“

,

be

or

is

to

a

us

to

he

us

of

,

.

.

in

,

,

to

.

no

is all

at

is ,

It

.

to

he

”

on

“

he

be on

if of

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it

no

are

.”

of

his

his

of

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in

of

,

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on

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us ,

in

more definite beauti just what one ought the Sabbath Day On this subject he says

to

of

picture

.

to

as

The doctor

is

"

.

."

in

riding Dr. Speer disapproves can railroad trains on Sunday Certainly avoided one should take long railroad journeys Sunday He Sunday golf newspapers and tells thing are bad and weak that sort ening their influence These particular evidence the trend the birthright man who thus abandons

on

to

us

he

for

his

him

:

of

.

on

of

,

“

.

"

lawyer's speeches This may true events true Dr. Speer and there reason the world why poorest should not hunt up the preacher that can find and listen every Sunday No doubt Dr. him Speer might learn something from

all

on of

,

of

to

to

the Lord's Day and wants have the indispensable comforts and pleasure One would think that Dr. Speer We got daily messages from God need the day meditation and prayer and plans for better living No one questions the good doctor's right satisfy needs such way seems

the quality the sermons preached Sunday and informs that the wisest man can learn something from the poor neglects say est preacher although just what country He tells that preacher's sermon superior the country editor's writings country the

do ful

he or

I Al-

.

all

of

of

E.

, is

spend Sunday the proper way and the sort recreation man should naturally enjoy this holy day Dr. Speer says God wants the worship

berate

on

,

Dr. Speer condemns those who

”

to

on

to his on go

of

or

all

.

Speer Englewood Dr. Robert very definite and specific New Jersey as

is

"

Sunday with this food miss the calm and holy peace the glowing the day

minds and souls

“

,

,

” .

.

.

to or

the

to

members the Lord's Day any others from abstaining liance from kinds work and sorts play and every method enjoyment Sunday

it

I

wallow seculari the men who feed their

Look

:

ty

There

defiling denounced harm enough at in

may

",

.

is

in

.

is

golf are told that allowable Sunday then tennis baseball basketball football bowling and other games which our generation fond of You can't forbid one with says the out forbidding the others Alliance We heartily agree with the Reverend Doctor this particular question No one needs ball games play golf Sunday unless movies spend wants time that way anybody have never seen who objected

of

be

There are some thing deadly in their power to spoil it ( referring to the Sabbath ) . One is the Sunday newspapers . pass by that

ty

,

necessary and pleasurable for him . All that I contend for is that I , too , shall decide these questions for myself . Dr. Speer says :

so

.

of

to

to

in

on

.

tears ; we are told that chauffeurs and railroad employees are necessary to take the players to and from the golf links . This is no doubt true . Still , we have even seen chauffeurs sitting in automo biles outside a church where they had driven their employers to get their souls On our suburban railroads there saved Sun service are many trains put day take people and from church but these have not come under the ban the Lord's Day Alliance Its com plaint few trains are needed for that this blessed work this folder We some logic There

of

264

THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE

.

all

as

go

on

of

in

a

to

the golf links

by

I

he

of

.

of

die

of

,

in

a

he

,

the

That Perano

The family gathered over

.

to

is

,

of

a

of

.

by.

is to a

it

,

in

.

is

is

It

entirely possible that Dr. Speer's good of the ideal Sabbath good Doubtless him my mind and recalled Still hidden Dr. Speer's alluring language the memory his ideal Presbyterian Sunday day unmitigated This was picture picture

Bible

.

of

From Dr. Speer's picture the ideal Presbyterian Sabbath infer that he This opinion has been confirmed ref find that for Who's Who erence long years Presbyterian has been preacher not only America but has carried the blessed gospel even into China that the heathen that benighted land might not live and without the consoling knowledge eternal hell Dr. Speer's beautiful picture the

I

.

pared

is a

'

a

?

is

.

a

I

ball bleachers

or

a

of

the

at

on

of

,

as

is

guess that the mother was not present this joyful occasion was because she was home washing the dishes from big Sunday dinner that she had pre

that

,

it

a

a

.

.

,

it

at

We could hazard

reason

in

of

,

.

marked day distinct from other days and probably ended with rare walk with the father the son's side and some sober talk over what abiding and what eternal worth

.

on

Sunday the demands the week were laid aside The family gathered over the Bible and quiet calm through the Catechism There was things rendered the house Innumerable

pain . No spirit of life or joy relieved the boredom and torture of the endless hours . The day meant misery to the young Even now can feel the blank despair that overcame youth and hope we Saturday night children left our play and sadly watched the sun down and gloom steal across the the period Why should Dr. Speer and the world other dead seek force that sort Sabbath upon men and women who want take their oxygen gas the base to

I

do not believe that anyone who grew up in a truly Christian home in which the old ideas prevailed can have any sympathy with this modern abuse of the old -fashioned observance of Sunday . There ,

265

PLAIN TALK

air

.

in

to

is

.

this

in

is

a

of

God

a

life in

A his

?

to

to

,

its

?

,

something that comprehend

preacher

possibly

to

of

the simple nature the catechism says

as

Again God head

;

: “

-

in

-

,

,

the There the God head the are three persons Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one God the same power and glory substance equal Imagine family spending the whole mystery like this Sabbath unravelling evident that any child whose mind has been permanently twisted this wondrous logic would later found visiting legislative bodies and imploring pass laws them blot the sun from the sky on the Sabbath Day Here Number

in

;

,

”

.

in

,

.

a

a

be

.

to

?

of

,

of

He

own glory pass comes

God are His eternal His will has fore ordained

counsel

-

of

:

7 :

to

the

,

whereby whatsoever

The decrees

to

After the child had been made thoroughly understand how harmon freedom and the responsibility

of

an an

according

to

is

to

" .

purpose

God

.

of

to to

in

ANSWER

to

croakers

His

these

,

that

ize

wonder

should seek call children from joy spend the whole time and laughter public and private exercises God's worship The wonder not that these place their palsied Divines should seek hands upon the youth but intel but that intel-

What are the decrees

:

QUESTION

.

Small

is

of ,

so

in

as

on

,

in

be

up

of

;

to

as is

and mercy

for

even from such worldly employments and recreations are lawful public other days and spending the whole time and private exercises God's worship except necessity much taken the works

that day

to

by

sanctified

a

be

to

is

The Sabbath

holy resting

:

ANSWER

all

by

is

sanc

It

be

:

I to

is

the Sabbath

?

:

How

which

God who can find no other work for man and no other use for the emotions that nature placed glorify spend except Imagine taking child ing His maker from play and the life and activity that being nature has made necessary for make him understand and seeking

,

In

this ancient Westminster Catequote chism which few men read question and answer number sixty tified

?

of

:

is

:

:

What sort

these parsons believe

I

.

a

.

ian

QUESTION

man

glorify God and

can

I

,

.

by

is

he

Man's chief end

enjoy Him forever

no

a

I

. ,

is

,

the chief end

.

of

in

a

ANSWER

in

of

to

by

Presbyterian clergy would hazard bet that the tender gentle loving Dr. Presbyterian sought McQuilkin consulting confirm this belief Who's Who but found that the editors had stupidly left out his name Still Presbyter am convinced that

What

him

of

,

am inclined

think from their internal evidence that most the sermonettes circulated the Lord's Day Alliance had their the origin the warped minds

to

QUESTION

A

I

the human mind

.

ment

of

.

,

,

,

I

of to

.

In

preacher and was duly instructed in the spite Westminster Catechism the aversion and terror that its reference inspired read took down the book the once more the horrible creed twisted and deformed minds who pro duced this monstrosity which has neither sense meaning justice nor mercy but only malignant depravity devilish creed which shocks every tender senti

ligent people , who really do not worship a God of malignancy and hate , would ever let these lovers of darkness invade a legislative body . They have no more place in the sunlight and pure than croaking frogs and hooting owls Here the first question and answer this wondrous catechism

is

old -time Christian Sabbath describes family gathered over the Bible "the and the Catechism ". I , too , sat under the ministrations of a Presbyterian

to

266

THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE man with the statement that God had

.

a

to

In

All

are

we

, “

of

in

on no

Of

to

all

, to

the

,

life , so

,

by

be

of

,

.

.”

forever course one would lieve this today except fear eternal torture Does the fear never enter the minds these parsons that God might punish them eternally for believing that He such monster

of

of

-

its

,

is

,

-

in

in

.

all

.

a

is

,

beyond

.

of

Dr. Speer like the other members the Lord's Day Alliance very sure that one the chief occupations Sunday should attending church But what church pray We are formed that any preacher better listen and read from than any editor Most lawyer other person preachers have heard sorts We have listened some whose churches could only filled Lord's Day liance should succeed and make offense punishable death not church We have heard preachers say and could say who had something well There much difference is

of

of

.

.

Al goan

to it

the

by

if

be

to

of

all

us , to

is

?

in

.

be

,

to

in

as

is

to

.

.

or

.

,

his

.

is

on

.

to

he

.

all

,

for a of to

an

to

of

is

for

It

is

!

it

if

on

,

,

of

generations beThere are thousands tween the first man there ever was one and the boy who likes activity and play the Sabbath Day Unless the boy perverse and wicked should being conunderstand the justice demned estate sin and misery because Adam made covenant not only posterity himself but quote further not worth while from the Westminster Catechism This brutal creed runs for 107 questions And this the shorter and answers catechism

of

,

,

.”

of

an

: “

to

The answer the seventeenth quesThe fall brought mankind tion says into estate sin and misery

in

, his

,

, in

ordinary from him and fell with him

.

,

in

descending mankind generation sinned him first transgression

of

all

by

,

,

:

being made with ANSWER The covenant Adam not only for himself but for his posterity

at

,

,

When one thinks this organization with its senseless leaflets its stern en deavors blank despair half shut eyes blinking reminded life one the frogs the green scum covered pond the woods who sit on their haunches day the dark and croak No doubt frogs these believe that the germ infested pond They are oblivious sacred pool the rolling living ocean that lies just its

Adam's

in

fall

mankind

?

:

Did QUESTION first transgression

all

:

?

a

and answer make this

living issue

a

Question

" 16 .

,

"

Sabbath Day student that the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created was their eating the for bidden fruit

of

the

in

the Westminister

whichtells

is

to

,

of

.

is

lucidly explained

Catechism

mankind told Question their fall lost communion with God are under His wrath and curse and made liable miseries this death itself and the pains hell to

“

a

”

is

,

all

as

the

,

Any child could understand how God spirit and catechism says could make things out nothing Himself included God's justice man

19

.

.

, ,

is

of

by

God's

word His very good and

days

It is amazing to think that any human being with ordinary intelligence would accept such doctrine now . It is still more amazing that in spite of the brazen effrontery of the Lord's Day Alliance, legislative bodies should help enforce such teaching upon the young But even this not sufficiently terrible for Sabbath Day diversion answer to

?

creation

the creation

is

of

work

nothing

of of

things

six

the space

,

power

in

making

all :

QUESTION : What is ANSWER The work

all

of the

foreordained whatever comes to pass, he might then on pain of hell tackle number 8 :

267

be

of .

.

,

no

no .

in

is

as

”

a

on

.

be

“

to his

It

.

of

a

.

a

in

for ,

of

,

in

a

of

of

.

of

in

It

of

It

.

it

.

of

,

,

.

it

of

of

,

of

.

.

,

St.

the Jewish Sabbath They neither abstained from work nor play Paul specially condemned the setting apart

Scotland after the death John fits the stern hills the bleak moors and the unfriendly climate this northern land was born fear and gloom and lives by fear and gloom Early the Seventeenth Century Scot land adopted this stern theory the ruthlessly Jewish Sabbath and applied The was Westminster Confession adopted the General Assembly

Knox

by

it

.

us is

to

came When and how worth finding out Jesus and His disciples did not believe

in

Ye

I

."

be as

his

to

an

be

to

The real American Sabbath was born

a

.

. of

to

us

of

?

, ,

are European

in

no

,

of

no of

. ,

its

it

"

an

so

is

.

of

a

to

.

blue Sabbath and permitted trading open theatres and frivolity the after Under the leader noon and evening ship England the Sab the Church longer was day gloom and bath despair

in

.

"

to

it

of

Is

" as ?

it

?

Lord's Day Alliance anxious product force upon the United States of America Everyone knows that Sunday with the rest the Christian The religion came from Europe weird ideas the Lord's Day Alliance

years and resulted law proscribing every kind Sunday recreation even vainly and profanely walking pleas England soon reacted against this ure

.

is

,

in

,

?

,

-

un

"

is .

It

the Lord's Day Alliance call Sunday caricature American Sabbath On what grounds does against the European Sab urge bath this nightmare which the does

first insisted that the Jewish Sabbath should maintained The controversy hundred over this question lasted for

".

” ?

to

as

em

as

“

an

Is to

.

"

to

Christians The Lord's Day folk say that reading the Sunday newspapers playing golf riding automobiles and witnessing baseball games and movies American This compound word has been used cover multitude sins What means nobody knows bunkum meant serve every cause By what license good and bad alike

“

" we

all

In

this literature are constantly preserve our American Sabbath there any special holiness that American Sabbath lurks around Are not European Christians compe tent determine the right way ploy their time on Sundays American urged

“

,

of

in ye

ye

I

.

that the Fourth Commandment literal sense binding upon Christianity Even Luther and Calvin enjoined day upon the Christians these such moderns wish fasten upon America that the churches may filled The righteous John Knox played bowls Sunday and voluminous preach ing used day effort make Sunday gloom wherein people should abstain was not until from work and play English preacher 1595 that Suffolk a

.

a

do a

,

?

of

.

,

to

a

to

listen their favorite preacher full day and there are few preachers who would undertake talk for whole day What then must one for the rest the time One simply cannot sleep all day on Sunday

lest have years am afraid stowed upon labor vain The early fathers did not approve any such day the Lord's Day Alliance insists shall fastened upon America group attended church Jerome and Sunday but otherwise pur services sued their usual occupations St. Augus Sunday day tine calls festal and says on

the

for

care

days and said to disciples ob days and months and times and

serve

St.

few men outside

are

Lord's Day Alliance who would

to

There

of

?

to

or

?

we

to

or

go

.

the views and ability of preachers as in other men Would Dr. Speer think that hear the Fundamental we should ists the Unitarians Should listen the Mod the Holy Rollers ernists

his

PLAIN TALK

268

THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE

campaign

to

of

In

.

all

of

in

or be

to

by

en

of

to is

it

.

If

air ,

,

,

to

.

to

to

go

a

be

to

to

.

to

on

is

.

It

all

of

no

in

,

in

,

believe tolerance and freedom should make themselves heard un in

,

of

of

in

,

be

,

to

,

of

After long years effort with the lazy dowardly public that does not want disturbed the Legislature New York the face the opposition

be

.

,

gloom

ball games movies and the open they will get the trade they cannot provide such entertainment then spite their endeavors the churches will vacant time that those who

in

they

,

fanaticism

If

might

of

on

their

.

,

in

.

,

to

by

,

of ,

ance and unfathomable

carry

,

,

of

,

.

,

in

of

of

of

.

in

should able force their cruel dog twenty mas upon the people Not one the residents the United States believes the Sabbath the Lord's Day Alliance Our cities villages and even protest against the country districts bigotry and intolerance The Lord's Day Alliance and their kind Still spite appeal this obsolete statutes religious prejudice crass ignore

to

be

to

the Lord's Day Alliance and other alliances too late the history bring back the Mosaic the world Regardless Sabbath their best deavors will probably never again crime punishable death work play what they are pleased call the Lord's Day Those ministers who say that appeals have something men and women will able to make themselves heard without law com pelling people church the Lord's Day Alliance can provide some thing equally attractive compete golf Sunday newspapers with the base

a

,

to

be

or

a

is

It

of

ful

almost unbelievable that handhumanity men without reason

of

all

Ours is a cosmopolitan country , made people with various of sorts creeds There should room enough spend Sunday and allow each person every other day according his own pleasure and his own profit spite up

,

.

a

,

a

,

-

to

sunshine , and the Lord's Day Alliance prefers the gloom and hardness of this out lived Scotch Sabbath outworn the sunshine and joy that comes with fertile soil mild climate and natural human emotions

cities and towns should have the right to legalize baseball games and moving picture shows on Sunday after two o'clock in the afternoon and charge an ad mission fee for seeing the entertainment . Why after two o'clock ? The answer is perfectly plain : It is possible that some one might be forced into church in the morning if there was nowhere else to go . Were the hours after two o'clock any less sacred in the laws of Moses and the prophets than the hours before two o'clock ? Or was the Legislature induced to pass this law simply to give the minister a privilege that it grants to no one else !

it

Even in spite of the natural gloom and cold of Scotland , Sunday strictness has been greatly modified there in the last fifty years. It is not the present Scotch Sabbath that these modern Puritans insist on forcing upon America . It is the old , ferocious , Scotch Sabbath of the Westminster Confession . It was brought from a land of gloom into a land of

of the Lord's Day Alliance, managed to pass a law providing that incorporated

.

the Kirk of Scotland in 1647 and has re mained the formal standard of faith to the present day . Ordinary recreations were disallowed . Books and music were forbidden except such as were recognized as religious in a narrow sense . No recreation but whiskey -drinking re mained . This Presbyterian Sabbath of Scotland was brought to New England by the early settlers of America and is , in fact , a Scotch Sabbath - not an American Sabbath .

269

Date Due

3

MAY

&

MAR

gots who in all welfare of the

MAIN

ty

CIB

CANCELLERIA

to defen_097 n affair

12 1967

MAV

2

MAIN JUN

LIBRARY

JAN 1873

11-89

!

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MAY

0

SERVICE

CANGERED

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LIBRARY FERED 7ZHABEC

.by

us

1994

.

”

“

,

.

to

,

A

woman passed Pausing she turned her head Curiously spy The shameless things she said

we

.

were just two common Caught kissing the park

And

folk

.

,

,

-

dull grew the evening star And cold seemed the night and dark Then

in

It is

Quico

7.

nan .

BV 130 Al - L84

Due

, Darrow . The

C.

544021

Lord's day alliance .

Name of Borrower

BV130 A Led

Returned

544021

The Ohio State University

3 2435

00821

2730

BV130A1L8D 001 THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BOOK DEPOSITORY

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077

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