Protesting Through the Papers by W. L. Burgan

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 27, 1913

Protesting Through the Papers

By W. L. Burgan

A STRIKING indication of the readiness of newspapers of this country to print reports of events transpiring among Seventh-day Adventists is shown in the prominence of the headings placed on the articles dealing with the remonstrances recently passed by our churches throughout the country against the proposed Johnston Sunday Bill for the District of Columbia.

Reproduced in this department is a photograph of several headings that appeared on reports dealing with this question. These headings have been taken from reports published in newspapers in various parts of the country. Copies of an article in which were incorporated the remonstrance, some salient points as to our attitude as a denomination on the dangers of uniting church and state through the enactment of Sunday laws, and the liquor traffic, were sent to about

two thousand of the elders in the United States, with the request that they be submitted to the local newspapers for publication.

Up to February 17, clippings of the report had been sent to the General Conference Office from cities and towns in thirty-three States. The total circulation of these papers amounted to 960,429. Computing four readers to a paper, as is the reckoning of practically all newspaper officials, the number of persons reached in this one effort was 3,841,716. The States in which reports appeared were:—

Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, California, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming.

Quite a number of the large cities were reached in this effort, and through the publication of the resolutions thousands of persons were made acquainted with some of the principles of religious liberty as held by our denomination. Among the large cities in which reports were printed were Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Buffalo, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Nashville, Spokane, Knoxville, Portland (Maine), Pueblo (Colo.), and Altoona (Pa.).

It was interesting to study the prominence given to the reports in many of the papers. A large number of the reports appeared on the front page, while a few were made the leading topics in the papers. One newspaper in northern New England thought so well of the account that a new introduction was written, stating that it was news to many of the residents of the city that a Seventh-day Adventist church was in their midst. The article was given the leading column in the paper. It may not be amiss to urge that the brethren in this city ought to take advantage of the liberality of the editor and continue to hand him reports filled with words of truth.

The results of this effort should give those who have been utilizing the columns of the secular papers fresh courage, and arouse those who have been backward in using this medium, to get a fresh supply of pencils or ink and paper and wield the weapon that is stronger than the sword.

W. L. BURGAN.