Christian Liberty

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 1, 1906

Christian Liberty

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

Experiences With the Petition

The religious liberty secretary of the Western Pennsylvania Conference, Elder C. S. Longacre, gives the following interesting experiences in his efforts in securing signatures to the petitions against the present Sunday bills before Congress:—

“I never before had such an experience as I had in the securing of those names. First I went to see the lawyers and office holders of this town. Some of them certainly did give me a roasting for working against good law and order, as they called it. If I could recall every statement and argument they made in favor of more strict Sunday laws, and against us and our movement, it would indeed make a very interesting volume. I was wonderfully surprised to learn what vague ideas these lawyers have concerning religious liberty, and how biased they are toward the adopted customs of popular churches.”

“There was not a single lawyer out of twenty who was not in favor of more strict Sunday laws. I was able to convert only one to sign the petition after an earnest talk of thirty minutes on religious liberty principles. He opposed the signing of it at first, and said he favored Sunday laws, and the way they operated. Finally he said: ‘Well, I will sign it, since I see I am not signing any of my liberty away, and am giving you a chance to enjoy the same.’”

“One lawyer, after I informed him that we were being persecuted, said: ‘You deserve to be persecuted for bringing in so much confusion into the churches and disturbing the public tranquility. If you don’t like our laws, move off. You must understand that this country is ruled by majorities. If I had it in my power, I would shut up everything and put the lid down tight next Sunday. I would stop every railroad, every street-car, every factory, and every corporation that employed men.’”

“Another lawyer told me: ‘I am not opposed to religious legislation. I think the church is more capable of ruling than our corrupt politicians. I believe in a union of church and state, with the church on the throne. Separations of church and state can only be regarded as an affected cant employed by those who have a waning cause. A theocracy is the most desirable thing a nation can have.’ When I informed him that the Christian church had once tried the experiment of a human theocracy, and that it resulted during the Dark Ages in the martyrdom of millions, he replied: ‘We don’t fear the Catholic Church any longer. The Protestant and Catholic Churches have joined hands and declared peace. We hold most things in common, and expect to reign jointly.’ ‘But,’ I asked, ‘What will you do with us who disagree with you? If we oppose Sunday laws and keep any other day, what do you propose to do with us?’ He said: ‘I have no sympathy for a set of religious fanatics, who will grumble against the ordinances of God and his ordained theocracy. He who resists the power of God, resists the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves judgment. That is just what you deserve for making disturbance and bringing in confusion.’”

“The burgess of the town gave me a roasting for going around with no higher object in view than to disquiet the public mind in regard to good law and order. He said he could not allow any one to keep his store open or do any secular work for profit on the holy Sabbath (Sunday). He said he would prosecute us just as soon as he would a Sunday-keeper. I asked him if he would burn me at the stake if the law gave him the privilege to do so in case I disregarded Sunday, or regarded it as a regular week day. He replied: ‘I would not go to that extent, but I would bring every other measure to bear upon you that would not deprive you of life.’ I told him that we were assured in the Bible of just such treatment in regard to Sunday legislation, and that the saints received the persecution instead of inflicting it.”