After the Christian Citizenship Conference by W. F. Martin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 31, 1913

After the Christian Citizenship Conference

By W. F. Martin

No doubt many readers of the REVIEW noticed with interest the preparations made for the Christian Citizenship Conference recently held in Portland, Oregon. It was stated that there would be from twenty thousand to thirty thousand delegates and visitors in attendance.

In view of this, the commercial club gave the National Reform Association, under whose auspices the meeting was held, a cash donation of fifteen thousand dollars, and agreed to provide a place in which to hold the meetings. During the time of the meeting, it was evident that all was not moving smoothly. After all the great promises made as to numbers, it is claimed by the press in Portland that there were less than one thousand delegates present from abroad.

The great dailies of the city gave full reports of the meetings, and seemed to be in accord with the sentiments expressed; but only two days after the meeting closed, the Oregonian, both in an article and in an editorial, stated the true situation. First, complaint is made regarding the attendance, and then as to the cost of the meeting as compared with the value received. It is stated that none of the fifteen thousand dollars was used for expenses in Portland, but all sent on to Pittsburgh to the National Reform Association.

Several intimations of a lack of at least Christian business methods are made; but on these we do not wish to dwell. We wondered day after day as we listened to the speeches of the National Reformers just how their views would be received by a liberty-loving people. The Oregonian editorial expressed the following:—

“Of course there is more or less peril in too much insistence upon the supernatural view of affairs. All good things will run to extremes if they are not carefully guarded, and they are only too apt to vex their best friends by turning to evil. Take, for example, the doctrine so vigorously preached at the conference, that ‘the state is of divine origin.’ One speaker went so far as to say that since the state derived its authority ‘from God,’ we ought to recognize the Almighty explicitly in all public documents, acts, and especially in legislation. Were his theory to be carried out in practise, we should establish a theocracy in the United States. Leaving aside the difficulties which would surely arise among the sects if any such plan were seriously undertaken, the reflective citizen cannot forget that the Declaration of Independence teaches a very different doctrine. According to that document, governments ‘derive their just powers from the consent of the governed,’ not from inspired source.

“The theory of the divine origin of government and the divine authority of rulers has done so much mischief in the world that it is depressing to hear modern speakers refer to it with apparent favor. Is it not possible to apply the precepts of the Saviour to practical life without reverting to dangerous superstitions long since discarded? But these matters were aside from the main trend of the conference. Upon the whole, it spoke valiantly for civic and personal righteousness, and its lessons will be permanently uplifting to the city.”

We are glad to know that there is still ability to discern the dangers of religious legislation. It is the duty of God's people to do all in their power to spread these great truths that honest souls may know where to stand when the final crisis comes. W. F. MARTIN.