An Important Line of Work.
By L. A. S.
RECENT events connected with the progress of the message of present truth in this part of the field, well indicate the importance of the relation sustained to that message by what has been known as the “religious liberty work.” Among some who have been cognizant of this work the opinion has prevailed that it was not an integral part of the gospel message, but was something separate and different from, though related to, that message, constituting a special line of work by itself; that it was a sort of adjunct to the gospel work, and not really essential to the knowledge and proclamation of the gospel itself. If the religious liberty work was of this nature, if it was not really identified with the gospel message, it would certainly not belong to Seventh-day Adventists as a people, to expend time, energy, and means in its promulgation. But events have shown in the history of our denominational work, how greatly the advancement of the third angel’s message may be hastened by the means which this line of work provides. For it is the very opposition of other denominations to religious liberty that provides the greatest opportunities that have ever come to us for reaching the people with the message of present truth. Recently the Protestant clergymen in Washington came together and planned a campaign for securing Sunday observance in the District of Columbia. This gave opportunity to write and publish in the Washington papers the “Open Letter” to the Washington clergy, which, with other communications following, has aroused a wide-spread interest to hear the truth, not only here in Washington, but in many other places. The Sunday bills pending in Congress contributed much to the interest of the situation. In the Review of February 16, in the article “What Has Been Done,” facts are stated showing the vast work already accomplished through the avenue opened up to us by this movement in the field of religious liberty. How long would it have taken our workers here, under ordinary circumstances, however well provided with facilities, to have aroused the interest which was developed almost in a day by the results of the effort that was planned to restrict religious freedom? And what is true of the work here is true of it elsewhere. Let a movement be made to restrict religious liberty, let the enactment or enforcement of Sunday laws be sought and literature scattered among the people to that end, and how quickly an interest is aroused. Our workers have then only to step in and improve the opportunity which, without any effort or expense to them, has been created. Connected with this line of work also are many things which should serve to arouse those who know the truth to greater activity and earnestness in seeking to accomplish quickly the task of warning the world. This was illustrated in some of the experiences reported by those circulating the petitions against Congressional Sunday legislation. Note the following from the reports printed in the Review of February 16. 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.” Such testimonies as these ought to startle and arouse all of us, and especially those who have supposed that no particular progress was being made these past few years toward the fulfilment of the prophecy of the latter portion of Revelation 13. It is through the religious liberty work that this very important information reaches us. Religious liberty is a true part of the gospel proclamation. It can not be left out of the third angel’s message. That message can not be given without warning people against the worship of the “beast” and his “image.” The “beast” is not the Catholic Church, nor5is the “image” the United States government. The “beast” came into being by a union of church and state, and without that union the persecutions of the Dark Ages would never have been. The “image” to the “beast” is likewise a union of church and state. If we can not speak to the people intelligently on this subject, how are we prepared to give the third angel’s message? We should be ready to improve the opportunities which are opened up by this department of the work. The design of this department is not to try to prevent the fulfilment of inspired prophecy concerning this nation, nor, primarily, to save Seventh-day Adventists from paying fines or going to jail. Its purpose is, first, to spread the truth, to reach the people with the last warning message; and many will be reached through this channel—judges, lawyers, and professional men—who could not be approached by a presentation of religious doctrines. Secondly, its purpose is to safeguard other departments of the work by pointing out the threatened departure from American principles of government, to statesmen and other men of influence, some of whom will, as the spirit of prophecy has declared, by their opposition hold back for a time the tide of persecution which Satan would bring upon the remnant church, until its mission in the earth can be accomplished. Let the cause of religious liberty be revived among this people. L. A. S.