A Review of the Religious Liberty Work for 1907, and the Outlook for 1908
It seems fitting, as we are standing upon the threshold of another year, to pause and take a retrospective view of our experiences in this important branch of the Lord's work during the past year, and consider its present aspects, and the outlook for the future.
As in other lines of our work, the past year has been one of special interest and activity in the religious liberty work. We trust that all will be interested and blessed in the following study.
1. What relation has the question of religious liberty to the third angel's message?
Answer.— We have but to study the third angel's message itself, as recorded in Rev. 14:9-12, and note other scriptures directly relating to it, such as that recorded in Rev. 13:8, 11-18, to see that the questions of free worship and of forced worship are inseparably connected with this message, and are a vital part of it.
2. Read the two scriptures referred to.
3. Since the Bible teaches that apostate Protestantism in the New World is to form an image to the beast and enforce its mark under severe penalties, and that there is to be a revival of the spirit of religious intolerance and persecution throughout the world in these last days, why spend time and means in opposing these things?
UNITED STATES CAPITOL, FRONT VIEW
Ans.— "God has revealed what is to take place in the last days, that his people may be prepared to stand against the tempest of opposition and wrath. Those who have been warned of the events before them are not to sit in calm expectation of the coming storm, comforting themselves that the Lord will shelter his faithful ones in the day of trouble. We are to be as men waiting for their Lord, not in idle expectancy, but in earnest work, with unwavering faith. It is not time now to allow our minds to be engrossed with things of minor importance. While men are sleeping, Satan is actively arranging matters so that the Lord's people may not have mercy or justice. The Sunday movement is now making its way in darkness. The leaders are concealing the true issue, and many who unite in the movement do not themselves see whither the undercurrent is tending. Its professions are mild, and apparently Christian; but when it shall speak, it will reveal the spirit of the dragon. It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger. We should endeavor to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a proper light before the people. We should bring before them the real question at issue, thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures to restrict liberty of conscience. We should search the Scriptures, and be able to give the reason for our faith."—"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. V, page 452.
4. When the Blair Sunday Rest bills were being introduced into Congress about twenty years ago, what word came to us?
Ans.— "The peculiar work of the third angel has not been seen in its importance. God meant that his people should be far in advance of the position which they occupy to-day. But now, when the time has come for them to spring into action, they have the preparation to make. When the National Reformers began to urge measures to restrict religious liberty, our leading men should have been alive to the situation, and should have labored earnestly to counteract these efforts. It is not in the order of God that light has been kept from our people,—the very present truth which they needed for this time. Not all our ministers who are giving the third angel's message, really understand what constitutes that message. The National Reform movement has been regarded by some as of so little importance that they have not thought it necessary to give much attention to it, and have even felt that in so doing, they would be giving time to questions distinct from the third angel's message. May the Lord forgive our brethren for thus interpreting the very message for this time."—Id., Vol. V, pages 714, 715.
5. In consequence of a lull in our religious liberty work a few years ago, what did the National Reformers say?
Ans.— At the annual convention of the National Reform Association, held at Allegheny, Pa., Dec. 7, 8, 1905, one of the speakers said: "Where are our enemies to-day? Where is the Secular League that threatened to undermine our very existence? Where is the Seventh-day Journalism that fought us so vigorously?—They are all disorganized and silent. They have come to naught. This is evidence that we are organized and founded in our principles upon the divine plan, and that God is with us and against them."
6. To what crisis will the people of God finally be brought?21
Ans.— "As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of a small minority to yield to the popular demand, will make them objects of universal execration. It will be urged that the few who stand in opposition to an institution of the church and a law of the state, ought not to be tolerated; that it is better for them to suffer than for whole nations to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness. The same argument eighteen hundred years ago was brought against Christ by the ‘rulers of the people.’ It is expedient for us,’ said the wily Caiaphas, ‘that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.’ This argument will appear conclusive; and a decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment, and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World, and apostate Protestantism in the New, will pursue a similar course toward those who honor all the divine precepts."—"Great Controversy," page 615.
"I saw the saints leaving the cities and villages, and associating together in companies, and living in the most solitary places. Angels provided them food and water, while the wicked were suffering from hunger and thirst. Then I saw the leading men of earth consulting together, and Satan and his angels busy around them. I saw a writing, copies of which were scattered in different parts of the land, giving orders that unless the saints should yield their peculiar faith, give up the Sabbath, and observe the first day of the week, the people were at liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death."—"Early Writings," page 123.
"The decree which is to go forth against the people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews in the time of Esther.
"The Protestant world to-day see in the little company keeping the Sabbath a Mordecai in the gate. His character and conduct, expressing reverence for the law of God, are a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord, and are trampling upon his Sabbath; the unwelcome intruder must by some means be put out of the way."—"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. V, page 450.
7. What are some of the evidences that we are nearing this crisis?
Ans.— The widespread agitation over the Sabbath question, the almost universal demand for Sunday enforcement, and the federation of various bodies, both civil and religious, both Protestant and Catholic, with a view to controlling legislative assemblies and shaping legislation to desired ends.
8. Mention some of the things which have taken place recently in the line of Sunday legislation.
Ans.— Seven Sunday bills were introduced into the Fifty-ninth Congress, the measure for the Sunday-closing of the Jamestown Exposition passing. Three have already been introduced into the present, or Sixtieth, Congress. Canada passed a stringent Sunday law about a year ago; the State of Idaho also passed a Sunday law last winter, leaving California only, of all the States in the Union, without a Sunday law; and a most desperate effort was made to bring that State into line in this respect during the last session of its legislature. This attempt, however, through the earnest efforts of our people and the good providence of God, was defeated. France has passed a one-day-in-seven Sunday-rest law, and the advocates of Sunday legislation have made some headway in securing a legal recognition of Sunday in such countries as China and Japan. A Sunday bill has been introduced into the legislature of Oklahoma, the latest State to come into the Union. Protestants and Catholics have united in Washington, D. C., in an effort to uphold the Sunday institution, and the friends of Sunday enforcement throughout the country are rallying their forces in a determined effort to secure from Congress the passage of a Sunday law for the District of Columbia, during the present session. Even the old Maryland Sunday law of 1723, once incorporated by Congress as a part of the laws of the District of Columbia, has been dug up, and a test case started over it, to see if it is enforceable in the District. All over the country there has been a general uprising for Sunday enforcement, as witnessed in the campaigns inaugurated recently in such large cities as Chicago, New York, Kansas City, and Topeka. Prominent judges and governors of various States are becoming the active champions of National Reform principles.
9. What are we doing to stem the rising tide of opposition, and enlighten the people in regard to the evils of religious legislation and the momentous issues involved in this question?
Ans.— As far as possible, we have endeavored to encourage our people to meet these issues whenever and wherever they have arisen, by interviewing the people, writing articles for the press, circulating literature and petitions, writing letters to prominent men, holding public meetings, and praying the Lord to hold the elements while the work was being done. As a result, many millions of pages of religious liberty literature have been distributed throughout the land during the last few years; hundreds of thousands of signatures have been secured to petitions against religious legislation; our religious liberty magazine, Liberty, is having the largest circulation any journal of this character we have published has ever had; a large share of the legislators of the country, both State and national, are receiving this publication regularly; mass meetings have been held in prominent cities, such as Washington, Boston, Willimantic, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Topeka, and other places; hearings have been secured, movements looking toward religious oppression have been held in check, and Sunday bills defeated. And yet we feel that we are not doing a tenth of what we ought to be doing, and what must be done.
This first day of February is the day set apart by the General Conference for the annual contribution to the General Religious Liberty Department.
Among some of the expenses which have to be borne by the Department are the following:— Office expenses; namely, stationery, postage, etc.; supplying the members of Congress annually with four hundred and ninety-two subscriptions for Liberty, besides furnishing as many more to other prominent officials throughout the country; assisting in supplying literature when special campaigns are going on in different localities in opposing Sunday-closing crusades; furnishing thousands of pages of literature for distribution at such places as the Jamestown Exposition; and in addition to the foregoing, the printing of an enormous number of petition blanks, as well as the document sent out with the petition blanks, showing the dangers of the proposed religious legislation. At present we are engaged in a campaign here in Washington which will require one hundred thousand copies of special tracts, which are prepared for the purpose of being placed in every home in the District of Columbia. During the past year the chairman of the Bureau has attended meetings in the interests of the religious liberty work, in a large number of States.
The outlook for the ensuing year indicates still greater demands upon the General Conference Religious Liberty Department. The tide of religious legislation is rolling in from every direction. Now is our opportunity to enlighten the people before the crisis overtakes us.
We urge that every one do his best to make this religious liberty offering proportionate in amount to the great needs of the hour, in order that the people may be enlightened concerning the dangers that threaten freedom of conscience, thus holding in check the persecution which will ultimately overtake God's remnant people.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY BUREAU:
K. C. RUSSELL, Chairman;
W. A. COLCORD, Secretary.
