A State-Wide Tour of Missouri by John S. Wightman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 16, 1908

A State-Wide Tour of Missouri

By John S. Wightman

On account of the great amount of agitation over the Sunday closing law in Missouri, it was decided to carry out the plan of general education as to religious rights and privileges by mass-meetings, public lectures, personal work, and the wholesale circulation of religious liberty literature during the summer months. The urgent need of this work has, I believe, been fully recognized by all.

On the last day of May, Mrs. Wightman and the writer left Kansas City, and began a tour of the State. We have reached Joplin. Our first stop was at Sedalia. In the midst of a hotly contested local option campaign, we succeeded in getting a fair-sized audience in the opera-house. Both daily papers gave a column review of our position. Ten thousand and more readers were reached. Then on to Clinton, the county-seat of Henry County. In the court-house a small though very appreciative audience listened to the message.

Our next stop was at El Dorado Springs. Here the court-house was literally packed full of people—the largest of all the audiences so far. Judge Wallace had been here, and lectured in the same court-room for strict compulsory Sunday closing. It is a little singular that our audience was larger than his, and what we said was received with much applause.

Then back to Appleton City, where a public lecture was given in the opera-house to a small but interested audience. The next stop was at Nevada. Here every seat of the court-room was filled, and the audience was very appreciative. Seeing conditions at Iola, Kan., a city of fifteen thousand, we ran in for a strenuous three-days' campaign there. Was religious liberty work ever more needed than at Iola? I found the business men worked up to a great pitch of excitement; and it has been said that no such strict Sunday closing ordinance has been enforced since the blue-laws days of the Puritans. Our public meeting here was conducted in the A. O. U. W. hall, and despite the intense heat of the night, a good-sized audience was present. Here Congressman Scott's paper (the Register) gave excellent reports of our meeting and work, and published an open letter from me. He also granted me an hour's interview upon the question.

Now we return to Missouri. A good-sized audience turned out to hear us in the G. A. R. hall at Liberal. Next, a strenuous two days of labor at Lamar, the county-seat of Barton County, ending with a mass-meeting at the court-house. Now at Joplin for ten days. During this time, mass-meetings will be held in the court-houses of Joplin and Carthage, and public halls at Webb City and Carterville. These near-by places are connected by trolley lines, and we are making every effort to give these meetings prominence before the people by extensive advertising and newspaper work.

In all the towns we have visited, with one exception, the press has extended us all the courtesies of their profession, and given our work an extended notice, in most cases a column or more in length. All—with the exception of the single instance of a church-and-state man—have spoken in the highest terms of commendation of our work and its purpose. I have noted that the press editors in general do not understand the nature of the work of the church federations, and the intent of the same to invade the precincts of the civil power in the interest of the religious institutions of the church. Almost to a man, they do not seem to understand about the work and the aim of national reform, inter-church conference, American Sabbath Union, etc., and appear to be glad to get accurate information upon the subject.

Most encouraging of all, perhaps, is the class of people who come out to hear us. Several judges have appeared, many lawyers, doctors, professional and business men, preachers and laymen as well, and editors. I am aiming to make our printing fit the situation of every town reached; and Liberty and religious liberty tracts are being judiciously circulated. We are making it a point to call upon prominent citizens and business men.

I must not forget to say that we had profitable meetings with the churches at Sedalia, Appleton City, Iola (Kan.), and Joplin over Sabbath, and we much appreciated the privilege of meeting with them. A short stop at Windsor was enjoyed.

JOHN S. WIGHTMAN.