Experiences in the Petition Work
THE experiences of our people in circulating the petitions to Congress against religious legislation have been interesting and varied. One brother from North Dakota writes:— “I had many interesting experiences in circulating the protest. On the first column are the names of most of the officials of the county, the lawyers, and leading business men of the town. I feel confident that this is the beginning of a new experience for the Lord’s people.” A brother in Oregon says:— “I had many good experiences with the petition.” A Kansas brother writes:— “I have many wonderful experiences in circulating the petition, and many rebuffs. I find Rev. 12:17 fulfilled, and the people ready to fulfil Rev. 13:15, 16.” A brother, writing from a town in North Carolina, says:— “I have done more preaching here with this petition than I ever did before.” An Ohio sister, who for some time has been an active worker in her locality, writes:— “People sign the petition readily; but we have quite a time with some.” A brother, writing from Kansas, says:— “I found it comparatively easy to secure the signatures after I started out. About three out of every four I presented it to signed it.” Sending a petition from Alabama, a brother says:— “I enclose the names of most of the business men of this little place. With a few exceptions, the petition met a cordial reception.”13 A brother in South Dakota writes:— “Nearly every one I asked signed it. Some were much interested in the principles underlying each side of the question. It is surprising to see how ignorant the people are on these subjects.” A Wyoming brother writes:— “It seems to me that the people are not so ready to sign these petitions as they were years ago.” After putting in a whole day with the petition, a brother in Illinois writes:— “I hasten to inform you of my non-success with the petition against the Sunday bills now pending in Congress. It seems to me that the people are ripe for this event, as every one with whom I conversed is now positively in favor of such legislation. Men who in the past have stood squarely opposed to such measures seem to rejoice that that event is about to be realized. I did not obtain even one protest, although I had supposed I would succeed in obtaining the signature of almost every one.” Another brother in Illinois says:— “I find that some of the people are most ready for the bill to pass.” A Nebraska brother writes:— “I was astonished to find so many who would not sign the petition. I verily believe that if this question of Sunday enforcement was submitted to a popular vote, it would become a law at once. The time is surely ripe for very decisive movement on the part of God’s people.” A brother, who, for over two years, has been holding meetings in his vicinity, sends in a petition with seventy-one names attached, and says:— “Every one here is a Sunday observer, except my wife and myself. Those who have heard me preach were ready to sign the petition. They seem to remember what I said.” A sister in Pennsylvania writes:— “I am sixty-five years old, and am living in the country; but I have had some good talks with the people while getting their names.” Speaking of his experience while circulating the petition, a church elder in Indiana says:— “It has given me opportunity to present the true Sabbath.” A Vermont sister writes:— “When I went out with the petition, I took copies of all our tracts on the Sabbath question, for I thought the people would have something to say about the Sabbath,—in this I was not disappointed,—so I had a tract that was adapted to each case. This gave me a chance to do two days’ missionary work, and I worked hard. Most of the business men’s names in — are on the petition.” An Iowa brother writes as follows:— “Enclosed find petition. I sent in one some time ago, and could fill another if I had it. I had one hundred and eight names on the first petition, and have one hundred and four on this one. I have to paste on to your petitions. They are not long enough.” Another brother in Indiana says:— “Many would not sign it. They said they wanted the Sabbath better observed and protected. I presented it to the Catholic priest. He said he could not sign that because he wanted the Lord’s day better protected. I asked him to show me by the Bible that Sunday is the Lord’s day, and he told me that the Bible was not their rule and guide. And when I asked him what was, he said, ‘The church.’ And when I asked him which church, as there were many churches, he replied that there was only one church, and that one was the Catholic Church.” A sister, writing from one of the large cities in the State of New York, says:— “I find business men here generally in favor of a Sunday law, but I also find that they have not considered the subject of religious liberty. I believe the United States should be flooded with literature upon this subject. We need brief tracts right to the point upon this question.” A brother in North Dakota writes:— “A district judge, with whom I am well acquainted, was the first to sign my petition. He said he would also write to our senators and representatives to Congress from this State about the matter, with the view of influencing them against the bills. From the experience I have already had with the petition, I am alarmed at the ignorance of the principles of liberty even among officials. These things ought to stir our hearts to their greatest depths, and cause us to sense the fact that the crisis is just before us.” From a town in Minnesota a brother writes:— “The general sentiment of the business men here is in favor of Sunday closing.” Sending in a petition with one hundred and fifty-six names attached, a brother from Michigan writes:— “The business men are well represented, including several lawyers, bankers, and one minister. As you glance over the list of names, you will hardly appreciate what it means to secure them unless you have had personal experience in the same work, in a place made up largely of people who, having never heard or read anything on the subject of religious liberty, naturally believe that legislation on the matter of Sunday observance is all right. Some signed the protest readily, some required much persuasion. I am thankful to the Lord, the Author of liberty, for the truth, and for the education I obtained through reading the Sentinel. I am glad this matter has come up, as it gives our people an opportunity to get out and enlighten others on a subject which is not generally understood. As one meets opposition, he is made to realize something of the way one will be regarded (after the Sunday laws are passed) who holds God’s law as supreme, and refuses to receive the mark of the beast and to worship his image. I trust you will do all you can through the REVIEW AND HERALD to arouse our people to immediate action.”