Battle Creek and Otter Lake, Mich.
By K. C. Russell
On my return to Washington, D. C., from the recent General Conference Council at College View, Neb., I visited Battle Creek and Otter Lake, Mich. Thursday evening, October 14, I spoke in the Tabernacle at Battle Creek on the subject of religious liberty, to an attentive congregation. The interest of a goodly number was manifested in a practical way at the close of the service by subscribing for the magazine Liberty. It was indeed a satisfaction to meet a number of brethren and sisters whom I had not met for many years. Sabbath, October 16, I spoke to the church at Otter Lake. This service was attended with much of the Holy Spirit's presence, and one of the results was the conversion of a young lady, who is engaged as a teacher in the public school of that place. Sunday afternoon I spoke at the Otter Lake Sanitarium, and in the evening I delivered a temperance lecture in the Methodist church. The announcement of the lecture was quite thoroughly circulated by telephone to the inhabitants of the vicinity of Otter Lake, and as a result the church was filled. Lapeer County, Michigan, in which Otter Lake is located, is one of the “wet” counties in that State. The question as to whether this county will continue so or will be placed upon the roll of honor with the “dry” counties, will soon be submitted to the citizens to determine by vote. We were glad to voice the position of our people on this important question in this part of Lapeer County. In the lecture we took occasion to show the audience that the state can rightfully legislate against the liquor traffic, without invading the natural rights of its citizens, because the business is a menace to the life and welfare of its citizens. We also endeavored to show in contrast to this that the state would be stepping beyond its legitimate sphere to legislate upon things of a religious character, because they in no way interfere with the rights of others, and therefore do not come within the province of civil government.