A *Crisis by A. O. BURRILL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 18, 1906

*A Crisis***

By A. O. BURRILL

We have reached a crisis in the work of the third angel's message in the Dominion of Canada. We have reached a time when all that is held most sacred and dear to us as a people, is at stake. Our social relations, our homes, our reputations, our property, and even our very lives, are at stake. Yes, even our eternal life is at stake; for when people are brought to a crisis such as the one we are facing, they are compelled to choose between eternal life and the things of this world.

What is the crisis? you will ask. We answer, It is the effort which is being made at this time to secure a Dominion Sunday law, which, if successful, will deprive all our people in Canada of their sacred rights, and compel them either to acknowledge the authority of the law in violation of the law of God or to seek a home in some other land, only to have the same thing repeated in the near future.

When such crises were reached by the people of God in ancient times, the history of those times reveals the fact that certain individuals, acting with wisdom and prudence, and directed by the Spirit of God, were able to pass the crises in safety; but at this time the crisis is to be met, not by one or two, acting as individuals, but by a united people though widely scattered, acting together as one man.

This movement on the part of the Lord's Day Alliance will deprive men of liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and in the end, of life. This may sound strange even to some of our own people who for many years have been looking for just such things to occur. To those not of our faith it will no doubt sound fanatical. But we know that these things are so, and we know it from the prophecies of the Bible.

The spirit of prophecy has spoken upon this point in no uncertain voice. In Testimony No. 32, page 206, are these words: 'The Protestant world to-day sees in the little company keeping the Sabbath a Mordecai in the gate. His character and conduct, expressing reverence for the law of God, are a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord, and are trampling upon his Sabbath; the unwelcome intruder must by some means be put out of the way. The same masterful mind that plotted against the faithful in ages past is still seeking to rid the earth of those who fear God and obey his laws.'

In the light of this testimony, what ought the people who are the Mordecais of the present time, to do? The Hamans of to-day are at work trying to secure a decree against us. Shall we remain idle, saying, It will come anyway? To whom has the Lord committed the work of warning the people against the worship of the beast and his image, and the reception of his mark? Who are to hold aloft, inscribed upon their banner, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?

We repeat, everything is at stake with us here in the Dominion of Canada, and we can not remain idle at such a time as this, and be on the Lord's side. By securing signatures to the petition, by scattering tracts upon the subject of religious liberty, by talking with our neighbors and friends about this work, we are warning them against the beast and his image and the reception of his mark.

The present effort of the Lord's Day Alliance to secure legislation upon the subject of religion, affords one of the best opportunities for our people to work, because the minds of the people are agitated upon the subject, and they are prepared to take their stand either for or against the truth.

If these people should be successful in securing a national Sunday law, then it would be too late for work with our petitions. The wicked thing would be done, and our hands would be tied. Now, just now, is the time to work; and we trust that all our people, in all parts of the Dominion of Canada, will improve the opportunity which has thus been offered to us in the mercy of God, and work as never before. Let every lover of liberty, equity, and righteousness, go out with this petition, and seek for signatures from every male citizen who is twenty-one years of age. Take along a good assortment of religious liberty tracts, and other tracts on the third angel's message, and, filled with the Holy Spirit, warn the people that the Lord is coming, and that this attempt to enforce Sunday observance is the sure sign that his coming is near.

Elder Thurston is stationed at the capital of the nation, and will see that the petitions are properly presented. If possible without slighting the work, get the petitions mailed by the twentieth of January. But do thorough work, and do not be discouraged even though you may not be successful in securing as many signatures to the petition as you would like; and if you secure only a few names, do not fail to send them. We can continue the petition work until Parliament sits, which will not be until the middle of March.

We have been to the expense of getting out a double number of the Messenger, also of preparing blanks, and other work necessary to send out these petitions, and if there are any who will contribute to this expense, let them send their contributions to B. B. Noftsger, Toronto Junction, Ontario, and he will see that they are properly applied.

A. O. BURRILL,

President Ontario Conference.