Conference Resolutions

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 10, 1912

Conference Resolutions

At the recent session of the West Michigan Conference the following resolutions dealing with religious liberty were adopted:—

“Expressing our profound belief in the principles set forth in the Saviour’s command, ‘Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s,’ and that

it is the Christian’s duty to cheerfully meet the requirement of this command; therefore—

“Resolved, That we hereby reaffirm our position on the subject of religion and civil government, maintaining that the church and state should be kept forever separate because of the fact that they occupy different realms in the Lord’s plan for men in their relation one to another.”

“Whereas, Sunday observance is a religious institution, and civil laws designed to enforce its observance are in opposition to the true principles of Christianity and subversive of the American idea of civil government; therefore—

“Resolved, That we respectfully but earnestly protest against legislation in behalf of compulsory Sunday observance either by Congress or by State legislature, and that suitable literature and periodicals be distributed among officials and the people generally for the purpose of giving information on the correct principles of religious freedom.

“Resolved, That our conference laborers be urged to study the principles of religious liberty, providing themselves with ‘American State Papers,’ so that they may be able rightly to represent this department of the work and give information to all concerned.”

Elder S. B. Horton, who was formerly assistant secretary of the Religious Liberty Association, at Takoma Park, D. C., was elected religious liberty secretary of the conference.

The religious liberty work was also considered at the session of the East Michigan Conference, and action was taken as follows:—

“Resolved, That the resolutions adopted at the last session of the Lake Union Conference, touching the religious liberty work, be carried out in the East Michigan Conference, as follows:—

“1. That the local secretary conduct religious liberty institutes during the year in different parts of the conference.

“2. That our people and churches be urged to continue the petitioning and memorializing of Congress against proposed religious legislation.

“In keeping with the important work of the Religious Liberty Department,—

“3. That copies of the new edition of the book ‘American State Papers,’ be judiciously placed in the hands of State legislators and other public officials by the local secretary.

“4. That the magazine Liberty be sent continuously to all State legislators and circuit judges, and—

“5. That the magazines Liberty and Protestant be sent to all public libraries.”