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Christian Liberty

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 8, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 6.

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Christian Liberty

By W. H. Thurston

Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience

Meeting the Premier and Minister of Justice of Canada

ABOUT four weeks ago a deputation representing the Lord’s Day Alliance waited upon the premier and minister of justice of Canada, and asked for the enactment of a Sunday observance bill at the next session of Parliament. The premier said that it was a very important matter, and that he could not give any definite answer, but that it would be referred to the cabinet. The Lord’s Day Alliance then started a petition through the land, soliciting signatures favoring such a bill.
After considering the matter carefully, I wrote to the premier as follows:—
“Sir Wilfried Laurier, Premier of Canada, R’t Hon. and Dear Sir: In view of the fact that you have been interviewed recently by a party asking for a Sunday observance bill, or in other words, a Dominion Sunday law, permit me to say that I represent the people, scattered all through the provinces, known as Seventh-day Adventists, and many other people not of our faith, who protest against the government’s legislating upon religious questions and passing Sunday laws. The principle upon which we stand is that civil government is civil, and has nothing to do in the matter of legislation with religious observance in any way. The basis of this is found in the words of Jesus Christ in Matt. 22:21: ‘Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.’ In this the Saviour certainly separated that which pertains to Cæsar—civil government—from that which pertains to God; we are not to render to Cæsar that which pertains to God; we are not to render to God by Cæsar that which is God’s.”
“The gentlemen referred to, ask for legislation regarding the Lord’s day. If Sunday is the Lord’s day, we are to render it to the Lord, not to Cæsar. It is well understood that Sunday is a religious institution. This being true, Sunday legislation, wherever found, is religious legislation. Being therefore, as it is, religious legislation, it is antichristian.”
“In view of the demand being made upon the government by the Lord’s Day Alliance for a Dominion Sunday law, there are thousands of people in Canada signing petitions asking Parliament not to pass any bill concerning the Lord’s day, or any other religious rite, ceremony, or observance which would in any way interfere with the rights of religious freedom of any of His Majesty’s subjects.”
“I hope to be allowed the privilege of presenting these petitions at the proper time. We very respectfully ask the privilege of an interview with you in regard to this very important matter. “Yours very truly.”
A prompt reply to this letter was received, saying that all due consideration would be given to the matter, and the request for an interview was granted. The interview was arranged for Thursday, January 18. Elders H. E. Rickard,A. O. Burrill, and Eugene Leland came to Ottawa, according to arrangements, and we appeared before the premier and minister of justice according to appointment, and set before them our principles, and gave them a brief history of our people and our work throughout the world. We then made clear the real object of desiring an interview with them, read our petition to them, and entered a protest against religious legislation and Sunday laws. Elder Leland then presented an argument in writing in the form of a “Brief,” taking up the proposed bill, and showing from every standpoint that it was religious legislation, and that it was not intended to restrain or prevent crime, but to restrain and prevent what is considered to be irreligious. He maintained that this was evident from the language in which the petition asking for it was couched; namely, “We respectfully pray that such legislation be enacted as will adequately protect every one in the enjoyment of the Lord’s day, commonly called Sunday, etc.” He showed clearly that the Lord’s day is a religious institution, and the observance of the day a religious duty, not a civil duty. He also pointed out the fact that the offenses are spiritual, and that the government is a civil government, and therefore has no jurisdiction over spiritual offenses, such as Sabbath-breaking. The paper was a clear-cut argument, and was convincing from start to finish.
Elder Rickard also presented a paper stating clearly that the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, the Lord’s day, and that we as a people observe this day, and that the Lord’s day needs no civil protection. He also called attention to the principle underlying the whole movement, and showed that it would result in religious persecution, as all Sunday laws had in the past. He informed the honorable gentlemen that we were an incorporated body in the province of Quebec, and are recognized by the legislature and given all the rights of a body of Protestant Christians; but if the proposed bill should become law, it would compel those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord to be criminals in the sight of the world, or sinners in the sight of God. His argument was logical all the way through, and we believe good will result from this interview.
This meeting was reported to all the papers of the associated press, and the whole matter is before the public. Thousands of people not of our faith are signing our petitions, and we have about five thousand signatures on file in my office now, and hundreds are coming in every day. We believe this effort will spread the knowledge of the truth and help to enlighten the people of Canada as nothing else would. Our own people are taking a more active part in the work than in the past, and we hope for a great awakening in this field from now on, and that the message may go with rapidity to all the people of Canada. Parliament will probably convene about the first of March, when the proposed Sunday bill will be considered, and passed or defeated. We believe it will be defeated, and that we shall have a little time yet of religious freedom in which to press the battle to the gates, and give all in this land an opportunity to hear the last message of mercy.
W. H. THURSTON.