The Liberator

From the Free Church (Scottish) Magazine.

THE SABBATH ALLIANCE.

Our readers will rejoice in the carrying out of the plan suggested in our last Number, by the establishment of a powerful confederation of all classes of Protestantism in Scotland for the protection of the Lord's day. Two large preliminary meetings have been held, attended by the leading members of the different denominations—a basis of union has been cordially adopted, and arrangements made for speedily starting the association at a public meeting. The basis is the divine authority and universal and perpetual obligation of the Sabbath, as declared through the Word of God, and more formally enjoined in the fourth commandment of the moral law. All will be admitted members of the Alliance who are prepared to acknowledge this basis, and to subscribe an annual sum to the funds. The objects of the Alliance are the diffusion of sound and scriptural views on the subject of Sabbath observance, as the keeping holy to God of 'one whole day in seven,' in the admirable language of our catechism, in opposition to infidels, on the one hand who deny all Sabbaths, and of some English Episcopalians and others, who would abridge the Sabbath by confining it to the hours of public worship, on the other. The association will aim at putting down all traffic on the Sabbath by railway trains or other public conveyances; at shutting up the post-office, in all its branches and ramifications over the entire empire on the Lord's day; at the abolition of Sabbath trading of all kinds, especially in strong drink; and at the promotion of such arrangements, by the payment of wages on other days than Saturday: the securing of leisure for the people on other days, by early shop-shutting on Saturday; and in short, any proper plans by which temptation to Sabbath desecration may be done away. Above all, the Alliance will form a centre for the operations of Sabbath Committees and district societies in all parts of Scotland, and will correspond with other societies in England and elsewhere, for the purpose of ultimately combining in one powerful confederation all the people of God in Britain, and resisting that ungodly confederacy of mammon-worshippers, by which all that is sacred is threatened with destruction. The Alliance has been singularly fortunate in securing the services of Dr. Greville as secretary; and we have reason to know that they are likely to secure the services of another equally eminent as travelling secretary, to form district associations, and arrange for the collection of a large annual revenue.

This is the true way to meet the emergency which has arisen; and we are confident that our friends everywhere will thank God and take courage, and that the voice of many prayers will ascend from closets and families for the success of this holy enterprise. We have reason to know that it is exciting deep interest amongst the Christians of England, and that many of them will be prepared to join us. But in the meantime, ought not meetings to be held in all the provincial towns, and arrangements made for forming auxiliary associations? Nay, ought not every district in Scotland to arrange for the formation of an alliance? Unless prompt measures are adopted, we shall soon have railway trains on the Sabbath in all parts of our land. Might there not be courses of lectures arranged for this winter on the various aspects of the Sabbath question for every town? It will not do for all to be looking to Edinburgh The strength of the cause, under God, will depend upon the universality of the movement, and above all, on its promptness and energy. We presume that the public meeting in Edinburgh will be held in a few days, and it would be well if the whole kingdom were immediately seen to be instinct with life upon the subject. We are persuaded that there is no matter about which the Christian people of Scotland are so thoroughly unanimous.

We are delighted to hear that there is an active movement begun amongst the working classes on the subject. They have, of course, the most manifest interest in the protection of the Lord's day. It secures to them, by divine and human right, fifty-two whole days of rest out of the three hundred and sixty-five. Take these away from them, and they are reduced to the position of the veriest slaves, nay, to a position more degraded than that of any slaves in the world, and that without one farthing of compensation; for it is clear that they would get precisely the same wages for seven days which they at present get for working six. But if the present course is unresisted, all laboring people will soon lose their Sabbaths. Railway officials are first employed, and already they feel the intolerable hardship. But why are not also masons and laborers (as has already been the case in some parts of England.) if the contractor has a piece of work to finish? The post-office officials at present work on the Sabbath; but why not the bakers, as in London? Why not the carpenters? Why not the millers, as at the Cannonmills? In a word, there is no point to halt at, if the authority of the divine law is disregarded, and nothing will do but a determined combination to put down all public forms of Sabbath desecration. We rejoice, therefore, to find the working people taking up the question: and we shall be happy to record, from time to time, and to promote in every way, the success of this noble enterprise.