20. By what authority was Sunday sabbath-keeping instituted?
By the authority of the Catholic Church. See page 439.
21. Why were the ancient Sunday laws demanded?
"That the day might be devoted with less interruption to the purposes of devotion." "That the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance."--_Neander's __"__Church History,__"__ Vol. II, pages 297, 301._
NOTE.--In short, it was to secure the enforced observance of the day, and through this means church attendance, and control over the people in religious things.
"Give us good Sunday laws, well enforced by men in local authority, and our churches will be full of worshipers, and our young men and women will be attracted to the divine service. A mighty combination of the churches of the United States could win from Congress, the State legislatures, and municipal councils, all legislation essential to this splendid consummation."--_Rev. S. V. Leech, D. D., in Homiletic Review, November, 1892._
23. Who is responsible for the present State Sunday laws of the United States?
"During nearly all our American history _the churches_ have influenced the States to make and improve Sabbath laws."--_Rev. W. F. Crafts, in Christian Statesman, July 3, 1890._
NOTES.--"These Sunday laws are a survival of the complete union of church and state which existed at the founding of the colony."--_Boston Post, April 14, 1907._
"Such laws [as the Maryland Sunday law of 1723] were the outgrowth of the system of religious intolerance that prevailed in many of the colonies."--_Decision of Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, Jan. 21, 1908._
The first Sunday law in America, that of Virginia, in 1610, required church attendance, and prescribed the death penalty for the third offense. See "American State Papers," edition 1911, page 33.
24. Why is a national Sunday law demanded?
"The national law is needed to make the State laws complete and effective."--_Christian Statesman, April 11, 1889._
25. Since the Sunday sabbath originated with the Roman power (the beast), to whom will men yield homage when, knowing the facts, they choose to observe Sunday, instead of the Bible Sabbath, in deference to compulsory Sunday laws?
"Know ye not, that _to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey_?" Rom. 6:16.