The Hearing at Albany, N. Y.
By F. H. DEVINNEY
THE hearing on the four Sunday bills at Albany, February 26, was a fiasco, though through no fault of the representatives of the truth who gathered there. Elders C. H. Edwards, H. W. Carr, A. J. Clark, Amos Mitchell, and J. J. Kennedy, and Brother Brown, of Albany, were on hand at ten o'clock, the time set for the hearing on the senate bills. About the first thing we noticed was a steady stream of telegrams coming to members of the committee, and it was just delightful to watch the expressions upon the faces as they read them. In they came from New York, Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Norwich, Rome, Fultonville, and other places where our brethren had been instructed to telegraph the objection to the bills at that time and place. After a time the chairman asked us what bills we were interested in, and whom we represented. Elder Edwards, of New York, replied that it was the Sunday bills, and that we represented the Seventh-day Adventists. He was then asked if we were in favor or opposed; the answer was, “Opposed.” One of the senators then asked upon what grounds we opposed. Elder Edwards answered, “It is religious legislation, and out of the province of civil government.” The senator then said, “Then you oppose because you believe that these bills infringe religious liberty and rights of conscience?” Elder Edwards answered, “Yes, sir.” Then the following conversation took place:— Senator.—“Then you believe it is wise to let well enough alone and not enact such laws.” Edwards.—“Yes, sir, except that the Sunday laws we now have are entirely improper.” Another Senator.—“Don't you know that we have started out to regulate the universe, and bring in the kingdom of God by law?” Another Senator (interrupting).—“Yes. And all the preachers are coming in to help us do it.” All the Senators (together).—Ironical laughter. We all felt impressed that with our show of force and their condition of hostility to the preachers who were attempting to influence them to religious legislation, the bills were safely smothered already. The chairman told us that Senator Page, the mover of one of the bills, had said, just before coming into the committee room, that it was doubtful if he should ever call up his bill, and that the other bills had not been called, and he doubted if we should ever hear anything from them again, but if we would leave our names and addresses, the bills should not be reported out of the committee until we were notified, and we should have a full and free hearing against them. At two o'clock, at the hearing on the assembly side of the chamber, we lined up eight strong in chairs facing the big table. We could not help smiling again as messenger boys kept coming in with telegrams, sometimes two at a time with each a handful of telegrams for the assemblymen. Some would read the messages, and look over to us and smile. After a time the chairman said that the mover of one of the bills was present, Mr. Conklin, who would make a statement for our benefit. Mr. Conklin arose and said he had no interest in the bill one way or another. He only introduced it upon request, supposing there would be no opposition to it, but as there was strong opposition to it, he should not call it up. The other bills were not called up, and we were also told that it was doubtful if they ever would be, but that they might be on March 11, but if they were ever to come up in the committee, we should be notified. The clerk took our names and addresses, and we, as gracefully as possible under the circumstances, retired in good order. It seems to me that the Lord is as willing to work for us as he ever was to work for his people, if we will awake to our responsibilities; then he can use the sight of his people to instruct the wise, and defeat the enemy; can use a few telegrams from his loyal children to win a battle. Praise his name.