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Religious Liberty Campaign in California

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 31, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 53.

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Religious Liberty Campaign in California

By A. J. S. BOURDEAU

To meet the situation here, we have gotten out a Religious Liberty edition of the Signs of the Times, entitled “The Present Issue.” It contains very timely information regarding the religious liberty situation in California, has thirty-two pages, besides cover, the design of which is in three colors. This periodical is furnished at 2½ cents a copy.
The petitions against the proposed California Sunday law are pouring into our office in large numbers by every mail. One aged G. A. R. veteran has just sent us a list containing 1,732 signatures, and another brother in the same district writes as follows:—
“I have sent you a few hundred names on the petition against the proposed California Sunday law. Two of us secured eight hundred signatures in three days. This is a busy time with me, but if you see that you lack one or two thousand names, I can secure them in about one week’s time or less. Hope they will not be needed.”
We need all the signatures we can get, and hope to roll up a list of at least fifty thousand signatures to present to the legislature in January.
The following interesting experience by one of our workers in one of the large Bay cities will be of interest:—
“I called on a very prominent attorney, presented him with a copy of Liberty, and requested him to read the petition. After looking it over, he said, ‘Please leave the magazine, and call again.’ One week from that day I called, but he was away. Later I called again. He was out, but I waited his return. Presently he came and invited me to have a chair in his private office. He said, ‘I can not sign your petition; for if I were a member of the legislature, I would frame a bill to close all saloons from 12 P. M. Saturday night until 12 P. M. Sunday night, if it could be done on a civil basis, leaving out the question of religion altogether.’ He then took from his library several books to investigate the Supreme Court decisions regarding a secular Sunday law. He failed to find just what he wanted. After he had read and talked over the subject for about thirty minutes, he sat back in his chair, saying, ‘If a Sunday law can be made on a civil basis as a legal holiday, I am in favor of a Sunday law.’ Then he seemed to have finished.”
“During this time my heart was uplifted to God that I might say only that which would be to his honor and glory. I then said, ‘If you will allow me a few minutes, perhaps I can clear your mind.’ He listened attentively. Briefly I stated: ‘The keeping of a sabbath is a religious question, and never can be a civil question; and religious legislation has always ended in persecution, and if a Sunday law is passed in this State, it will open the way for religious bigots to persecute those who differ from them in unorthodox religious belief.’ I also told him that ‘when Congress made the appropriation to the World’s Fair in 1892, it was made on condition that the gates be closed on Sunday, the fourth commandment being read as authority for their demand, which proves that this lawmaking body viewed it from a religious standpoint.’
“He picked up the petition, sat in deep study for several minutes, then said, ‘If that is so, I will sign it.’”
“During part of this time there were several persons waiting to see him; he had not been to lunch; I had started to leave twice, but he had detained me.”
“This man was a former superior judge, also district attorney, and is, I understand, well known to members of the coming legislature. To my mind this is sufficient proof that the Spirit of the Lord is impressing men of high position, and it is time for us to work.”
“This is one of about fifty calls. Several told me they would defend us against a Sunday law. Some said it was no man’s affair what day a man should keep.”
Would it not be a good plan for some of our brethren in every city to call on the lawyers, also to get Liberty before the ministers? See “Testimonies for the church,” Vol. IV, page 390.
A. J. S. BOURDEAU, Sec. Cal. Religious Liberty Assn.