REPORT NO. 33
LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE, U. S.

ESTEEMED BRETHREN:

As the denomination's representative to the Lord's Day Alliance I offer the following report:

The alliance continues to distribute a vast amount of tracts and posters urging proper observance of the Lord's Day. Many of these tracts are biblically based, while a number of them appeal more or less to the general moral and physical advantages of observing one day in seven as a day of rest. I suppose it is inevitable that the alliance should at one time dip from God's stream of common grace, and at another time from that of special grace. The observance of the Lord's Day has blessings for believer and unbeliever.

As churches we must, of course, be discreet as to the kind of influence, not to say pressure that is brought to bear upon local and state legislative bodies. It is certain, however, that Christian citizens have the duty to support sound legislation as best they can. In 1885 the United States Supreme Court ruled as follows:

"Laws setting aside Sunday as a day of rest are not upheld from any right of government to legislate for the promotion of religious observance, but from its right to protect all persons from the physical and moral debasement which comes from uninterrupted labor. Such laws have always been deemed beneficent and merciful laws, especially to the poor and dependent, to the laborers in our factories, and in the heated rooms of our cities, and their validity has been sustained by the highest courts of the States."

As Christians we support this position as we would any other judicial decree which facilitates the public welfare.

We have, moreover, the duty of reminding the church and the world of the spiritual purpose and blessings of the Lord's Day. A number of tracts distributed by the Lord's Day Alliance seek to accomplish this.

It is gratifying to report that the financial picture is brighter than it was a year ago. Although the alliance is still running in the red, the deficit is not nearly as large as last year. This encouragement has made it possible to proceed with the audio-visual program for public or mass education. Today the motion picture film, The Triumphant Tradition, produced for the Lord's Day Alliance, is available to churches and church organizations. There is the request, of course, that when the film is shown a contribution be made to the work of the alliance.

The churches are urged to make use of the services offered by the alliance and to remember the efforts and cause of the alliance in prayer and by giving generous financial support.

If any of our churches or communities has a "Sunday problem" and would like materials or other assistance, it is suggested that they contact Rev. Melvin M. Forney, Lord's Day Alliance, 156 Fifth Ave., New York 10, N.Y.

Clarence J. Vos

Acts of Synod

Synod appoint a representative to the Alliance.

-Adopted

That Synod remind the churches of the services and movies that the Alliance has available.

-Adopted