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Behind the Bars for Conscience's Sake

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 30, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 5.

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Behind the Bars for Conscience's Sake

By J. S. Washburn

As we near the end of the earth's history and the conclusion of the mighty work of the third angel's message, the religious liberty issue will become more and more acute, and the conflict more and more intense and terrible. It is certainly right and opportune at this time that a religious liberty program should be sent out to all our people to be carried out in all our churches on Sabbath, February 1, at which time the collection for the religious liberty work will be taken. There is in this country a mighty current toward paternal and religious legislation. Here in the South especially, however, this is a living issue. A great temperance tide is flooding this part of our country, and there is no question of the sincere motives of many of the noble men and women working in the temperance cause, but unfortunately closely associated with it, and in many places directly following it, there comes the false issue of Sunday and other religious legislation. To many, these seem identical, and, in fact, one great issue.
Recently the writer visited a dark prison cell where the air was stifling and poisonous; here, for quiet Sunday work, one of our brethren, a missionary worker, was confined with criminals. Brethren and sisters, there is no mere sentiment that can sustain a man in such a position. He was placed in the prison cell and suffered the penalty of the civil law simply because of his religious belief; and this shows us something of the effort that the enemy is making to destroy freedom of thought and worship.
These issues mean much to the intelligent and leading men of this nation, and they give us the opportunity of reaching the governors and rulers of the land as we can do in no other way. Shall we not rally at this time and make a liberal donation to the religious liberty work? We believe there will be kings and senators, judges and men of leading influence, in the kingdom as the result of the religious liberty work, some perhaps by the generous help which will be given on Sabbath, February 1.
J. S. WASHBURN.