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Oklahoma Sunday Bills

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 10, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 15.

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Oklahoma Sunday Bills

By I. A. Crane

Sunday bills seem to be the order of the day in Oklahoma. Three bills dealing directly with the Sunday question and at least two others with attachments relating to Sunday observance have been introduced. All but one of these bills were defeated. This one prohibits theaters, shows, boxing, etc., from twelve o’clock Saturday night until twelve o’clock Sunday night. The bill provides that for its violation there shall be a penalty of $50 to $200, or 30 to 90 days in jail.
We have endeavored as best we could to place the truth upon this question before the members of the legislature and others whose minds were awakened by the agitation. Petitions and remonstrances with literature have been placed in the hands of each member of the legislature, State officers, judges, county attorneys, etc. About thirteen hundred letters, circulars, etc., have been mailed.
The Oklahoma papers have given us fair recognition, and by this means many people are hearing that Sunday laws are not only unscriptural but unchristian. Last week the Oklahoma City Ministerial Alliance, with a membership of forty-one, presented a memorial asking that the bill pass. We followed with a protest signed by five of our ministers setting forth the evils of such legislation. A letter was also addressed to each minister of the city. Copies of both these letters were addressed to the editors of the three daily papers as well as to many State officers. An editorial followed in one of these papers entitled “Preachers Become Lobbyists,” in which our work was favorably contrasted with the “blue-law” ideas of these men.
On Sunday two of these men preached on “Church and State.” One avoided the Sabbath question. The other was quite bitter against a “small sect that, because everybody will not keep Saturday, would rob us of any Sabbath.”
It is evident that the agitation has uncovered some points of truth which the enemy would be glad to have kept out of sight. We believe that in God’s providence his truth has been planted in honest hearts as a result of this work, and that some day under the influence of God’s Spirit souls will hear and heed the last call of mercy. Those who hear by means of the religious liberty work could scarcely be reached in any other way. Pray for the work here.
I. A. CRANE.