The Camel's Nose by H. W. Cottrell

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

The Camel's Nose

By H. W. Cottrell

It is our privilege to preserve our liberty. There is, however, a band of so-called National Reformers going about spying out our liberties as citizens of the commonwealth and as Christians, with the thought of depriving us of those liberties. He who is deprived by force of one God-given liberty is thereby placed in bondage, at least in civil bondage.

The “Sunday-rest bill,” as framed by the National Reformers, is ready to be presented to the California Legislature this winter in altogether a new dress. Should this bill pass the legislature, it is only a stepping-stone toward the veiled object of their aim, which is a stringent Sunday law, as both they and we very well know. Should this bill pass, and thus become law, others similar, except as they are unveiled,—made stronger by the lapse of time,—and thus appear in their true color, will follow, and stringent legislation in behalf of Sunday sacredness will be forthcoming. Then results similar to those of the prophecy of Revelation 13 will be seen.

But, in the meantime, it is our privilege to protest against such craftiness as will bring, in the end, much evil upon the nation.

Note the cunning of certain portions of the bill: “Those who serve the public in doing necessary work on Sunday are entitled to a day of rest at some other time during the week. And, conversely, those who regularly observe another day of the week as their rest day should be permitted to engage in works of necessity or private labor on Sunday. This would remove the objections of those who set apart Saturday as their day of rest and worship, yet without reference to religious matters. This is in no sense a religious statute. Yet it will promote public morals, the chief object of government.”

Notice their liberality is apparently unbounded in this quotation. Watch for the camel's nose. California has no Sunday law.

God calls us to service. Let the petitions against the evil of religious legislation be scattered freely. From the Bible view-point, we have seen; we have heard; we know. Let us act now.

Our concern, dear brethren, to enlighten the minds of the people regarding this great evil, and incidentally to preserve our religious liberty, should certainly be greater than their ardor to obtain the power of the state for oppression. Sign and circulate the petitions both to the California Legislature and to the United States Congress.—H. W. Cottrell, in Pacific Union Recorder.