The Revival of Our Religious Liberty Work
By Arthur G. Daniells
One year ago a very obnoxious Sunday bill for the District of Columbia was presented to Congress. It was quietly and quickly put through the House, and passed on to the Senate. This aroused the officers of the Religious Liberty Department to earnest action. Elder Moon, the chairman, came to Washington and began active, consistent opposition to this Sunday bill. The committee in whose hands it was placed, failed to agree to report it to the Senate. Hence Congress adjourned without making the bill a law. Since then, the Religious Liberty Department has been active in its protest against this proposed Sunday legislation. Most excellent work has been done by the chairman and the secretary in the District of Columbia. Petitions of protest have been prepared, circulated, and presented to Congress. Tracts covering various features of the great question of religious liberty have been written and printed. Congressmen have been interviewed, articles have been written for the Washington papers, and public meetings have been held to define our position. In addition to the work done in the District of Columbia, correspondence has been held with union and local conference officers with reference to securing signatures to petitions of protest which have been sent to the various States. These petitions are now coming in from all parts of the country, and are being presented to Congress. This revival of our work in behalf of religious liberty now calls for the active, earnest co-operation of all our people. The work is too great for the officers of the Religious Liberty Department to carry on alone. They can stand as sentinels on the towers, watching the movements of the enemy; they can sound the alarm, prepare effective literature, and suggest work to be done; but they can not do all the work. Every conference officer, minister, church officer, and believer in the third angel’s message, must unite in earnest efforts to warn the people against the evils of religious legislation, which, in the end, will form the image to the beast, and give life to the beast itself. The third angel’s message can not be given clearly and fully without this. I would not forget to express deep gratitude for the interest manifested by our people in this line of work during the past year. We greatly appreciate the very hearty co-operation given the officers of the department. This has helped them much in their work in Congress. Let all keep a close watch on present-day movements, and read the articles and tracts on this subject as they come from the press, and then respond quickly to the call for action. This will help to keep us alive as well as to warn and instruct the world. This work, done in the fear of the Lord and with a deep love for the souls of our fellow men, will bring the Master’s blessing to many.