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Sunday-Closing in Oregon

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 18, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 20.

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Sunday-Closing in Oregon

By W. F. Martin

By request of the church at Ashland, Ore., I went there, March 15, to assist them in meeting a Sunday-closing crusade. Through the influence of the churches and young people's societies of the city, the council had passed a Sunday-closing ordinance. This did not suit a number of the citizens and business men, so, through the initiative and referendum, the ordinance was submitted to the people, to be voted on, and the date of election was set for March 25.
On arriving in the city, Elder B. C. Tabor and myself interviewed a number of business men, and found a strong sentiment against the ordinance. The agitation was entirely a church move. The leader of the young people's union freely said they wanted Sunday and Sunday evening for the churches, and wanted Sunday amusements transferred to the other days of the week, so they would not rival them in their worship. We decided to hold an open-air meeting at half-past two Sunday afternoon; so an automobile was secured, the meeting advertised, and at the appointed hour, I spoke to a good-sized audience, who had gathered to listen. The Lord blessed in presenting the powerful arguments in favor of religious liberty.
On the Sunday before the election, the different ministers of the city spoke on the question, urging their members togo to the polls and vote for Sunday-closing. They were repeatedly urged to carry the election for the Lord.
A mass-meeting of all the churches was called for Monday evening to complete plans for the campaign. In company with some of the brethren, Elder Tabor and I attended this meeting. There were not more than fifteen present besides ourselves; this was rather discouraging to the Sunday-closing advocates.
It was thought best for us to hold a mass-meeting, so the business men of the city secured the opera-house, and on Thursday evening before the election about four hundred people assembled there to listen to reasons why Sunday laws should not be enacted. The meeting was presided over by a leading attorney, and three other prominent men made short speeches. Then I spoke for forty minutes on the origin and nature of Sunday laws. The truths on this subject were well received. This closed the campaign so far as we were concerned. The opposition sent to a neighboring town for a prominent speaker, but he failed to secure much of a hearing.
On election day, Sunday-closing lost by a decided minority. I feel it was a providential opening to lay the truths of the message before the people, and trust the Lord will water the seed sown.
W. F. MARTIN.