p. 18 | A Religious Liberty Campaign by W. F. Martin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 6, 1913

A Religious Liberty Campaign

By W. F. Martin

In view of the fact that the World's Christian Citizenship Conference is to be held in Portland, Oregon, during the present year, and because of this a strong effort will be put forth by the promoters of this conference to forward the aims of the National Reform party, it was thought best to inaugurate a religious liberty campaign in the North Pacific Union Conference. Already the forerunners of the Christian Citizenship Conference have been on the ground preaching the doctrine of religious legislation. It has been the privilege of the writer to hear a number of these men.

To prepare for the religious liberty campaign, theater buildings and good halls were rented in several of the best cities of the union. It had been hoped that Prof. W. W. Prescott and Elder C. S. Longacre could be with us throughout the campaign. After arrangements had been made, it was learned that Professor Prescott could not be present, as he was detained in Washington, D. C., on account of the Johnston Sunday Bill. Arrangements were then made for Elder J. O. Corliss to come instead of Professor Prescott. Elder Longacre joined us at Seattle, Wash. Both of these brethren gave good instruction, which was much appreciated by our own people and by the large number of strangers who attended.

Our first meetings were held in the Keylor Grand Theater in Walla Walla. Thorough advertising had been done and full arrangements made. Two meetings were held. Fully one thousand persons were present at each meeting. Elder Corliss spoke each evening. Excellent attention was paid to the truths spoken. Much good literature was distributed. The people from College Place assisted in the meetings, and a good-sized chorus from the college rendered excellent help.

From College Place we went to Spokane. The large auditorium in the new Lewis and Clark High School building had been secured for the meetings here. Notwithstanding a severe snow-storm, the worst for years, we had good congregations. Never in my experience have I seen more attentive audiences nor finer-looking congregations. Here also much interest was manifested in the literature. It was refreshing to have fine-appearing people come and say, “I have read your tracts, and want to get more of them to send to my friends.” One man, the last evening, said he had a friend who was a senator, to whom he wished to send some of the literature. At the first meeting small cards were distributed to be signed by those who wished to read further on the subject of religious liberty. A good number of these were signed and handed back. These names will be followed up by the local workers. This same plan was followed at all the meetings. We consider this one of the most important features of the campaign.

Our next stop was at North Yakima. The Masonic Hall had been secured here. Between five hundred and six hundred persons attended the Yakima meeting. Here, as elsewhere, a deep interest was manifested by both our own people and those not of our faith. From here we went to Tacoma and held a meeting in the Temple of Music. The attendance at Tacoma was not what we had hoped for, but some were deeply interested.

One of the most interesting experiences we had was at Seattle. The Guardians of Liberty attended our meetings in a body, and manifested a deep interest. They gave us a cordial invitation to speak to them in their place of meeting. We intend to do this in the near future. Meetings were also held in Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, and Olympia in the Western Washington Conference. Theater buildings and good halls were secured in all these places, and the members of the churches did a good part to make the meetings a success. Elder E. H. Huntley, religious liberty secretary of that conference, was present at the meetings and rendered valuable service.

Two meetings were held in Portland in the Bungalow Theater. Excellent work had been done to advertise the

meetings. A hard storm and deep snow came, however, and hindered the attendance, but good and appreciative audiences were present each evening.

On the way back from the council in California, Elder Longacre lectured in Medford, Grants Pass, Roseburg, Cottage Grove, and Eugene in the Southern Oregon Conference. He reported good meetings in all these places. Elder T. G. Bunch, the religious liberty secretary for that conference, was with Elder Longacre.

About this time, a Sunday bill was introduced into the Oregon Legislature. After consulting with the local brethren, it was decided to hold two meetings in Salem. The opera-house was secured and two meetings held. The local church and workers took a good interest in the meetings. Elders M. H. St. John and C. F. Folkenberg are religious liberty secretaries for Western Oregon. These brethren were present and took part in the service. The Sunday bill met with but little favor in the legislature. The report of the committee to which it was referred was adverse, and it took the house of representatives not more than three minutes to kill the bill. A delegation of ministers had been appointed to lobby for the measure; this was known and resented by the members of the house. The bill was hurried through and killed only a few moments before these ministers reached the Capitol, and they were much disappointed. We felt that the Lord gave a victory for the truth.

The meetings in Salem closed the campaign for the present. Requests have come in for meetings in other places; these we hope to fill soon.

In looking back over this, perhaps the first campaign of its kind ever held, we have asked, Did it pay? There is no question that it did. There were many difficulties to meet, but the God for whose truth we were fighting enabled us to overcome them. When we think of the thousands of fine, intelligent men and women who listened so attentively to what was said, and many times broke into applause at hearing the simple truths of the message; and again when we think of the many thousands of pages of literature distributed, and last but not the least, when we think of the splendid interest taken in the work by our own people, and the effect it had on them, we say the campaign was a success. The officers of all the conferences gave their full cooperation and did all in their power to make the work succeed. Knowing this to be true, there is no doubt that they will lend their influence in the follow-up work. If this is done, we feel sure many souls will be gathered in when the harvest-time comes. W. F. MARTIN.