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An Interesting Experience

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 6, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 32.

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An Interesting Experience

By I. A. FORD.

The following interesting experience was related by one of our brethren at the Allentown, Pa., camp meeting, illustrating the influence of our publications:—
One of our brethren living in east Pennsylvania had been sending the Liberty magazine to the prosecuting attorney at his place for a year or more. One day his neighbor, who had become incensed because our brother persisted in working on his farm on Sunday, went to the prosecuting attorney to make complaint and secure his arrest. The attorney listened to him respectfully until he had finished, when the following conversation, in substance, took place:—
Attorney: “Does this man do other bad things besides working on Sunday?”
Neighbor: “No, I do not know of anything else that he does that is bad.”
Attorney: “Do you consider him an honest man?”
Neighbor: “O, yes; I think he is.”
Attorney: “Is he a good neighbor?”
Neighbor: “Yes, very good.”
Attorney: “Then working on his farm on Sunday is the only bad thing that you know of that he does?”
Neighbor: “Yes, as far as I know, that is the only thing.”
Attorney: “Is he a Christian?”
Neighbor: “Yes.”
Attorney: “Are you a Christian?”
Neighbor: (Some hesitation) “Yes, I am a member of the — church.”
Attorney: “Well, if this man is honest, a good neighbor, and a Christian, and you are a Christian, why do you wish to have him arrested?”
Neighbor: “Because he is breaking the Sabbath, and the law says that he should observe it.”
Attorney: “Do you know of any others who are working on Sunday?”
Neighbor: “Well, I haven’t thought much about that.”
Attorney: “Do you know the milk condensery plant runs every Sunday?”
Neighbor: “Yes, sir.”
Attorney: “Do you carry your milk to the condensery on Sunday morning?”
Neighbor: “Yes, sir.”
Attorney: “Well, wouldn’t you like to have me arrest you for working on Sunday?”
Neighbor: No answer.
Attorney: “Does a man have to work all day on Sunday in order to break the law?”
Neighbor: No answer.
Attorney: “Now, Mr. —, I think you are in poor business trying to get an honest man, a Christian, arrested for doing honest labor on his farm, and if you would go and do likewise instead of trying to get him arrested, you would be a better Christian. I do not believe in the old blue laws which you are trying to enforce, and I shall not have this man arrested for doing honest work.”
The neighbor went home somewhat chagrined, having been taught a good lesson by an attorney who made no profession of Christianity, but who had become enlightened regarding the principles of true religious and civil liberty through reading the Liberty magazine. Evidently the neighbor profited by this interview, for when our brother called on him last fall with the Harvest Ingathering REVIEW, and explained our plan of raising funds for missions, he gave him one dollar. Doubtless others might profit from this experience by sending the Liberty magazine to their county officials, thus giving them an opportunity of becoming familiar with this most important subject.
I. A. FORD.