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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 9, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 23.

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Louisiana

By S. B. HORTON

THE message has made some progress in this State, and at the present time there are reasons for believing that the Lord will soon do for his cause in this State a great work through the agitation of religious legislation which is now before the people.
For some time the Louisiana clergy have been calling for reform in public affairs, and one of the reforms demanded is, of course, a better observance of Sunday. The Shreveport ministers have united in a petition to the legislature now in session at Baton Rouge, asking for the passage of an amendment to the present nominal Sunday law, one of the provisions of which is that a merchant or dealer who violates the law shall forfeit his license for the period of one year. In other words, for one to do business in the State, should the measure pass, he must observe Sunday.
The writer is on the ground, and with the Lord’s blessing it is hoped that opportunity will be given to present the true principles of church and state matters from the standpoint of the Master’s utterances on the subject: “Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Recently Brother Williamson Vancil, a centenarian Sabbath-keeper, fell asleep in Jesus while visiting in Welsh. He was ‘born in Kentucky, moved West, finally connecting with the church at Afton, Iowa. He had recently made application for a letter of transfer from this church. He lived with his daughter at Estherwood, La., and was probably the oldest Seventh-day Adventist in the world. During his last days he seemed very desirous of doing missionary work, especially by distributing our literature. What an incentive to us who are younger to finish this work in this generation!
May 14, at Hayes, La., a church was organized, consisting of twenty members. At the same time a Sabbath-school convention was held, at which the principles of Christian education were considered. Accessions have been made recently to the churches at New Orleans and Shreveport. We are planning to hold our annual meeting, July 28 to August 7. S. B. HORTON.