Religious Liberty Notes
By K. C. RUSSELL.
THE Lincoln (Ill.) Courier wisely says: “Observance of the Sabbath is a question of conscience.” The New York Conference, at its recent session, unanimously elected Brother J. S. Wightman as their religious liberty secretary, after the adoption of the following resolution: “We recommend that the conference add to its list of officers a secretary of the Religious Liberty Department who shall act in co-operation with the Religious Liberty Bureau of Washington, D. C.” In making reference to the Sunday agitation in India, the Christian Work and Evangelist (N. Y.) says: “The Sabbath question seems to girdle the globe.” The same paper also states concerning the question of Sunday observance: “As this is chiefly a religious question, it is evident that it is much better settled by the churches, appealing as it does to the religious nature of man, rather than resort to the courts of law.” “Some of the old friends of Governor Folk, of Missouri, in various parts of the country are turning against him for what they call his meddlesomeness in interfering in the local affairs of the cities of his State, especially in his enforcement of the Sunday closing law.” So states the September number of The World To-day, and the same magazine further adds: “In Springfield and other places in Illinois, an attempt has been made to put in operation a Sunday closing law, which had previously been a dead letter.” The following resolutions were adopted at the recent session of the East Michigan Conference: “Whereas, There is an increasing demand for religious legislation throughout the country, and, Whereas, All such legislation is a menace to religious freedom, resulting in a union of church and state, therefore, Resolved, That we urge upon all our people the necessity of engaging enthusiastically in the work of disseminating literature upon the principles of religious liberty, that all the people in our conference may be enlightened on this subject. Further, Resolved, That this conference select a competent person who shall be known as Religious Liberty Secretary, and shall devote such time as may be necessary to the religious liberty work.” Prof. J. G. Lamson was unanimously elected as their religious liberty secretary.