Report of the Religious Liberty Department
In our review of the work of the department, we shall not be able to enter into the details of our survey of the field and the work which has been accomplished as fully as we would be glad to do, owing to the large proportions the work has assumed since the last session of the General Conference, and especially so during recent months. It is well understood that for a number of years previous to the last session of the General Conference in 1905, comparatively little religious liberty work was done, and that the work was practically in a disorganized condition. During this time, therefore, it has been necessary to build the work up from its very foundation. The officers of the department began at once to urge the appointment of union and local conference religious liberty secretaries, also the appointment of religious liberty secretaries in the local churches. This has been followed out to quite an extent, and we feel certain that it has added very materially to the efficiency and despatch with which our work has been performed. Thorough organization in this department of the work is, if possible, of more vital importance than in any other, owing to the fact that national issues arise in various countries which demand the officers of the department being in direct touch, as far as possible, with every Seventh-day Adventist in their respective fields. The past four years have been historical indeed in this department of the third angel's message, not only here at the nation's capital, but throughout the entire field. During this period nearly a score of Sunday bills have been introduced into Congress, but praise to God, all these, except the Sunday-closing provision attached to the appropriation to the Jamestown Exposition, have been defeated, by the help of the Lord, and through the hearty co-operation of our people with the general department. Again, it should be borne in mind that the forces which are arrayed against the Sabbath of the Lord and are standing in defense of the child of the papacy, the Sunday institution, are becoming more aggressive and formidable every passing year, and that those who once stood with us in opposing these religio-political forces, have nearly all forsaken us. We are therefore practically alone, as far as this world is concerned, in this mighty and closing conflict in defense of truth and freedom. It will be remembered that the great federated Protestant churches of America have plainly voiced themselves on this question in a most emphatic and unmistakable manner, when at their late council in Philadelphia, they refused to tolerate, either inside or outside of their federation, those who observed another day as the Sabbath. The National Lord's Day Alliance,11which was launched last December in Pittsburg, Pa., designs to do much in the future in the matter of securing and enforcing Sunday laws. The Roman Catholic Church is uniting heart and hand with Protestants in enforcing the recognition of Sunday upon all classes. Two years ago, when the Washington Ministerial Association began its campaign for a Sunday law in the District of Columbia, the association sought the aid of the Roman Catholic clergy by obtaining the consent of Cardinal Gibbons for representatives of his church to join with Protestant ministers in Washington to secure a District Sunday law. This is another remarkable fulfilment of the statement by the spirit of prophecy that “Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power.” In addition to these movements, with their adherents, which it is alleged, number over sixty-five millions of people, there is the great Federation of Labor, which has already committed itself to the question of Sunday legislation. With these mighty hosts arrayed against the Sabbath of the Lord, and those who have stood with us in defense of the principles of Christian liberty, opposing Sunday laws, now lining up with the enemies of religious freedom, we stand practically alone in the mighty conflict; yet not alone, “for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” The remarkable success that has attended the efforts of our workers in the States in their opposition to Sunday legislation during the recent past has been unparalleled. Never before have there been so many Sunday bills introduced in the various State legislatures as during the past winter. In the New York State Legislature alone, no fewer than thirty bills, involving the question of Sunday legislation, were introduced. Among the most signal victories which have been gained in our battles against the numerous efforts to secure Sunday laws, may be mentioned those in the States of California and Missouri. An excellent work has also been accomplished in the Missouri Conference and other States in the Central Union Conference by the religious liberty secretary of that union, his wife, and others. Sunday bills have likewise been defeated in Maine, North Carolina, New York, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, etc. The religious liberty mass-meetings which have been held in different places since the last General Conference have also been occasions of special interest, and have resulted in creating public sentiment that has apparently brought defeat to the Sunday-law advocates on more than one occasion. Crusades against Sunday laws have been conducted both by the general department and by our religious liberty workers throughout the field, which have largely defeated the purposes of the enemies of the Sabbath where they have been held. While the storm-center of this line of work has been, and doubtless always will be, largely centered in this country, yet the same leaven is working in all countries to a greater or less extent. The situation in England is one of interest and significance. Questions involving the principles of religious liberty are kept in the foreground by the encroachments of Romanism and the agitation over religious instruction in the schools. A national Sunday campaign for securing the better observance of Sunday has brought about the formation of an Imperial Sunday Alliance, which combines in one powerful organization all smaller societies working to the same end, all the great religious bodies (including the Roman Catholic), and many influential representatives of labor and capital. There has been a growing spirit of intolerance and a recognition of the beast power in Australia. In every state religious bills have been introduced into the parliaments. A compulsory unitary training bill was introduced into the Federal Parliament. This caused our people much anxiety, but they were pleased when the measure was lost. Strenuous efforts have been put forth by our people to enlighten the people on the principles of religious liberty by way of public lectures, distribution of literature, and the public press. This work has done much to hold things in check in this country. Religious liberty does not prevail in Russia to the extent that many in this country have supposed, in consequence of the czar's manifesto of Oct. 3, 1905, guaranteeing liberty of conscience. One's religious belief must be given in securing permits from the government even to hold services with our own people. The circulation of religious liberty literature is prohibited. Therefore, we are unable to enlighten the people upon the principles of religious liberty in this way. In Cairo and Alexandria, strenuous efforts are being made to secure Sunday-closing of various places of business. The American missionaries are very desirous that the government should require Sunday observance, as some of their converts are in the employment of the government. Religious liberty in Finland is enjoyed, as the church has lost its power to a very large extent. There is, however, an effort on the part of some to create a sentiment for Sunday laws, by advocating the same through the public press, and in the circulation of literature on Sunday observance. Generally speaking, there is no religious intolerance in Japan, although the government exercises a sort of supervision over all religious sects and organizations. Church property is exempt from taxation. Sunday is becoming more and more observed there as a sort of civil holiday. Through the influence of Protestant missionaries some years ago, an organization was formed, called “The Japan Sabbath Alliance,” having for its object the better observance of Sunday. Freedom to worship God is enjoyed by the inhabitants of Norway. There are, however, movements on foot to prohibit Mormons proselyting, and to absolve the state church, and place in its stead an organization known as the Evangelistic People's Lutheran Church. The different colonies in South Africa have Sunday laws on their statute-books. The clergymen are quite generally agitating this question in their pulpits, conferences, and synods. In many leading towns, conferences have been held where the leading subject discussed was church federation, and the churches have already federated on the Sunday question. There are Sunday laws in at least three South American republics,—Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. In Ecuador there is no union between church and state, and three years ago, religious liberty was proclaimed in Bolivia. With the exception of Peru, public meetings can be held anywhere. While in some ways the Roman Catholic power seems to be waning, yet in other ways it is gaining strength. It is evident that South America is watching the United States carefully, and will follow quickly in every backward step toward persecution. Prior to July 25, 1908, there was no religious liberty in Turkey in fact, though in the theory of Moslem law there was liberty. This liberty applied only to such churches as were recognized by the Sublime Porte, and not to the individual. In the Young Turk revolution, it has been the aim to follow in the path of the American idea, as regards the rights of the individual. There is at present freedom of the press and of speech. Public services can be held without hindrance from the government. Marriage can now be contracted without the consent of a church. Our Religious Liberty Literature
On an exceedingly dark and stormy night a little over three years ago, two members of the Religious Liberty Bureau faced a storm in compliance with a call for a meeting of the Bureau members present in the city of Washington. These two being all the members present, they planned for the preparation and circulation of a series of pamphlets that would contain some of the fundamental principles of religious liberty. Ten thousand copies of a thirty-two-page pamphlet, magazine size, bearing the name of Liberty, were printed. Before these were all disposed of, the pamphlet, slightly remodeled, was developed into a regular quarterly magazine, and named Liberty. It was entered as second-class matter, and at one leap became a popular publication, with a circulation of 50,000 copies per issue. From the first, Liberty has been appreciated not only by our own people, but by many of the best thinkers throughout the country; and though it is as yet only in its infancy, it has an enviable record in defeating error and defending truth. Up to the present time we have issued a set of fifteen Religious Liberty Leaflets12besides thirteen or fourteen other great tracts and leaflets, making an aggregate of about 275 pages of literature. Hundreds of thousands of these leaflets have been published. During the past four years about fifty million pages of religious liberty literature, issued directly under the auspices of the Religious Liberty Bureau, have been published. In addition to this, many millions of pages have been published in foreign countries and in foreign tongues. It is true that this is only a beginning of what is needed in this line, but we are glad for the awakening that has come. Religious Liberty Institutes
We believe that the holding of religious liberty institutes by our union and local conference religious liberty secretaries, assisted as far as consistent by the officers of the general department, is indispensable to the development of strong and competent workers in order to meet the rapidly growing demand of this important branch of the work. We would recommend that these institutes be held at such times and places as will be the most convenient for our field workers to attend. We believe it would also be well if religious liberty institutes were held in our colleges, academies, and intermediate schools at some convenient time during the school year. The studies in this line of work should embrace the true principles of civil and religious liberty, and our practical campaign work in enlightening the people. The importance of institute work can not be questioned, for it has been demonstrated to be of untold value in different departments of our work. Should any be in doubt as to the need, they have but to read some of our correspondence coming from the field, and note the questions asked. Selecting Suitable Persons to Attend Hearings
In view of the frequency with which Sunday bills are introduced into the various State legislatures, and hearings on these held, we would further recommend for your consideration the advisability of appointing a man in each union conference to attend these hearings, not only for the purpose of enlightening the legislators upon the principles of true liberty, and to defeat certain measures, but with a view to instructing local religious liberty workers in this particular feature of our religious liberty work. Financing Our Religious Liberty Work
The question of financing our religious liberty work in the General, union, and local conferences, should receive most careful consideration by the delegates of this Conference, for the increasing demands of the work upon us require a corresponding increase in the means with which effectively to prosecute the work. Religious Liberty Literature
If there is any one line of work to which the oft-repeated phrase that our literature should be scattered like the leaves of autumn, applies, more than to another, we believe it is to this work. We therefore urge that during this Conference more than ordinary attention be given to this feature of the work. Not only should we consider how we are to place the literature in the hands of the great masses of people who know little or nothing of these principles, but also study the question of preparing other literature to meet the ever-increasing emergencies. We would further recommend the wisdom of appointing competent persons to visit congressmen and State legislators at such times as these lawmaking bodies are not in session, as it has been demonstrated that this is a much more favorable time to interview these men than when they are in the whirl of legislative work. Meeting Sunday-Closing Crusades
We would also recommend that special consideration be given to the question of how best to carry on religious liberty campaigns where the opponents of the Bible Sabbath are advocating the evil principles of religious legislation, and thus prejudicing the people against the principles of true liberty. We believe that wise and careful methods should be employed in our campaign work, that nothing may be done which will in any-wise reflect upon the cause of right that we are so justly maintaining. In conclusion, we desire to express our heart-felt gratitude to God for the degree of peace, freedom, and prosperity which we have enjoyed during the past four years. We also hope and pray that the winds of intolerance and persecution may be held in check a little longer until the last warning note of the third angel's message has been sounded, and victory is won.