Religious Liberty Department Statement
By K. C. R.
Outline of Work Accomplished During Past Two Years—Present and Future Plans
The following summary was prepared for the General Conference Committee Council:— SIXTY-FIRST CONGRESS.—Seven measures introduced relating to Sunday laws and amendment to the Constitution. Only one measure (S. 404), the Johnston District Sunday bill, passed the Senate, Jan. 27, 1910, but failed of consideration in the House. SIXTY-SECOND CONGRESS.—Two measures affecting principles of civil and religious liberty; namely, a District Sunday bill (S. 237), by Senator Johnston, of Alabama, now on Senate calendar, under Rule IX; a Sunday-closing of post-offices (H. R. 4933), by Representative Mann, of Illinois, now in the Committee on Post-offices and Post-roads. Hearings have been conducted on the District Sunday bills in both congresses. Our churches and workers throughout the country assisted the department immeasurably by petitions, memorials, letters, and telegrams, which under God has stayed the hand of unfavorable legislation. Besides Congressional work campaigns have been conducted before the legislatures of North Carolina, West Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. The department has been active in the lecture field, its officers having spoken on religious liberty and temperance topics in various cities, in addition to the general meetings held in different sections. Too much can not be said on the subject of the distribution of literature in campaigns of enlightenment and in opposition to proposed legislation. A number of leaflets, pamphlets, and tracts have been and are being prepared and used by the department in Congressional and other campaign work, as follows:— FOUR PAMPHLETS.—“Do You Wish Congress to Prescribe Your Religion?” eight pages; “Songs of Freedom,” revised, eight pages; “Shall the Legislature Prescribe Our Religion?” four pages; “A Protest by Seventh-day Adventists Against S. 237, Before a Subcommittee of the Senate,” eight pages. ONE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LEAFLET, No. 16.—“Why Sunday Laws Are Wrong,” eight pages. TWO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LEAFLETS FOR CANADIAN CAMPAIGN.—“Do You Wish Parliament to Prescribe Your Religion?” sixteen pages; “What Eminent Men Have Said,” twelve pages. FOUR LEAFLETS.—“Patrick Henry’s Great Speech,” four pages; “A New Line of Work” (newspaper), two pages; “Protest Against Johnston Sunday Bill,” two pages; “Senator Heyburn on Sunday Legislation,” four pages. New petition blank for campaign use. Besides the above, we have in publishers’ hands and in course of preparation: “Why the Mann Post-Office Closing Bill Should Not Pass;” “Memorial to Congress” (next session); “Baptist Views on Religious Liberty;” “Relation of Sunday Laws to Constitution;” “Majorities and Minorities in Religion;” “Operation of Sunday Laws;” “Evils of Religious Legislation;” “Opinions Favoring Seventh-day Adventists;” “Sunday Laws and Working People.” We also prepared a special newspaper insert, which was used to good effect. Thousands of copies of the famous Congressional Sunday Mail Reports were sent to mayors, councilmen, and other public men. “LIBERTY.”—This organ of the department continues to be a valuable factor in the work of enlightenment on the principles for which we stand. Many instances may be cited showing that public men read Liberty, and have been more or less influenced thereby. Members of Congress, mayors of cities throughout the country, and other public officials have been furnished with copies of Liberty from time to time. In addition to this, State conferences have been supplying this magazine to legislators, State officials, college presidents, professors, teachers, and others. The circulation is 40,000. In this connection, the recent action of the Pacific Union Conference is worthy of note. The brethren of that field voted to send Liberty to lawyers, editors, and county superintendents throughout that field. This involves the additional circulation of thousands of copies, and will doubtless result in much good. What a splendid campaign of enlightenment for the nation would follow if all our union conferences would do likewise! “AMERICAN STATE PAPERS.”—This work, fully revised and up-to-date, is now ready. It is a splendid volume on the work of our forefathers in connection with the foundation principles of this government. The department plans to place this book in the hands of congressmen, and will use this opportunity to confer with them on the subject involved. This will require much time and pains, besides the expenditure of funds, but we believe that results will justify the same. We have encouraged our State conferences to take up this line of work with their legislatures and officials. PRESS BUREAU WORK.—The department has been endeavoring for some time to encourage and develop a line of publicity work through the columns of the newspapers throughout the country. Encouraging results have been thus far attained through the instrumentality of local church elders and special correspondents. We are furnishing at stated intervals specially prepared articles on some phase of present truth, and for the most part these articles have been courteously received and published. An article18was recently prepared on the subject of the Eastern question, taking for its basis the present imbroglio between Italy and Turkey, and submitted to the associated press. We have been informed that this agency furnished the article to about fifteen hundred of the leading papers. Many letters bearing upon the Eastern question have been sent to this office as a result of its publication. We can not estimate accurately the number of papers which have published our articles, nor the extent of the reading population to whom opportunity has been given to read these articles. In some instances opponents of our views have written to editors, taking issue with us. This has opened the way for replies, of which we have taken advantage. We are glad to note the success attending the work of our religious liberty secretaries and other workers in this line. Among those whose efforts have been especially blessed are Elders H. A. Weaver, of East Michigan, C. B. Haynes, of Maryland, and J. F. Olmstead, of Ohio. The press bureau work should be greatly extended. Plans should be developed for publishing articles through newspaper syndicates, the expense of which might be met by special donations to a fund dedicated to that purpose. We should secure space in the great metropolitan papers of the country. We have found by experience that it is not difficult to secure space in newspapers for reports of meetings and synopses of sermons in connection therewith. Such reports are gladly accepted as items of news. It is different, however, with regard to articles designed for enlightenment. To gain the editor’s favorable consideration more than ordinary care must be used in preparing such articles. In order to carry on the different lines of work which are now increasing, our department should be strengthened by the addition of competent help. CAMPAIGN PLANS.—The department is planning for a vigorous campaign before the next session of Congress, which convenes December 4, against the Johnston District bill, and the post-office Sunday-closing bill. Our churches and workers throughout the field will again be appealed to for assistance in the way of memorials, petitions, letters, and telegrams. INDEX AND DIRECTORY.—The department has under way plans for securing an index and directory, which is designed to assist in locating articles, items of news, etc. This will be of material benefit to us in preparing articles and giving information involving data, statistics, etc. CORRESPONDENCE AND PREPARATION OF ARTICLES.—It should be borne in mind that the work of the department is many-fold, involving as it does correspondence, the preparation of articles, initiating and pushing forward plans. In these endeavors we are in touch with not only our own people in urging them to action, but our efforts concern public men and others not of our faith.