The Twenty-First Anniversary of a Great Hearing by W. A. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 30, 1909

The Twenty-First Anniversary of a Great Hearing

By W. A. C.

A Cause for Thanksgiving

TWENTY-ONE years ago the thirteenth of the present month, Dec. 13, 1888, occurred the great hearing at the national Capitol here in Washington on the Blair Sunday Rest bill. At this hearing both the friends and the opponents of the bill were heard; and many strong arguments for and against the measure, and for and against Sunday legislation in general, were made. Much interest was manifested in the hearing, and much hung upon the issue as to whether the measure should pass or not. Through a monster petition, alleged to represent over fourteen million people, and the arguments made at this hearing and at a previous one held April 6, the friends of the measure sought to bring tremendous pressure to bear upon Congress to secure its passage.

The hearing made one hundred fifty-one pages of closely printed matter, and was published as a public document, Senate Miscellaneous Document No. 43. Thousands of copies of these were sent broadcast throughout the country. During the argument made by Elder A. T. Jones, Senator Blair, the chairman of the committee having the measure in charge, asked questions and made interruptions to the number of one hundred sixty-nine in ninety minutes, or on an average of nearly two a minute, and three times admitted that the speaker was “logical all the way through.” Speaking of the published hearing, Mr. W. F. Crafts, who took charge of the hearing for the friends of the proposed law, said it made “mighty interesting reading.”

The bill, however, failed to receive the approval even of the committee, and died with the Congress in which it was introduced. In an amended form it was reintroduced Dec. 9, 1889, but again failed to get out of committee.

When the measure was first introduced into Congress, we were told by the spirit of prophecy that we were not ready for the issue to which the passage of such a measure would bring us, and were urged to put forth strong efforts to oppose the movement.

As the twenty-first anniversary of this hearing passed, we felt to thank God that the powers of darkness had been held in check so long; that even up to the present time Congress had not yet passed a compulsory Sunday law. To be sure, we are twenty-one years nearer the great crisis now than we were then; but, encouraged by past experiences and by the blessing of the Lord upon our efforts already put forth, should we not still labor to hold the winds of strife and evil in check, that the warning message may be given and all the honest in heart prepared to take their stand for the right when the storm shall break and the crisis come? This thought ought to stir every soul to renewed effort and increased activity. W. A. C.