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A Conversation

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 8, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 32.

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A Conversation

By J. G. White

A FEW days since announcement was made that on Sunday evening one of the twelve traveling or field secretaries of the International Reform Association (formerly National Reform Association) would speak at the M. E. Church in Fultonville, N. Y.
A union service was held, and a fair congregation was present. This secretary has eastern New York as his field, and is the Albany lobbyist for the Association. His lecture was chiefly along the line of much-needed reforms, dealing with intemperance, gambling, the opium traffic, etc., and only once did he mention the Sabbath reform, naming it in the list of moral reforms for which the Association is laboring.
The next morning he came to our place of business soliciting funds to aid their work, but without having been informed that we were Seventh-day Adventists. A very pleasant and extended conversation ensued, and many points of interest were discussed. We were pleased to learn that this particular secretary is not so much interested in pushing the sabbath (Sunday) reform as the other reforms, although he was aware that it was Dr. Craft's favorite subject. The lecture of the evening before seemed to bear him out in the statement regarding his position.
The part of this incident which will doubtless be of most interest to our readers is that considerable time was spent questioning the secretary on the point of individual rights of conscience and whether or not Sunday laws are a violation of such rights. Of course he at first contended that they sought a civil rest day only. After discussing this for some time, he frankly stated that he had learned something on these points, and saw them in a different light than ever before, and could now see that such laws were wrong.
He kindly consented to dine with us, and the talk was prolonged. He assured me that there were others in the work, who, like himself, were not putting the sabbath reform foremost. I pray God that this truth may soon find all such.
Dear reader, we are not as thankful as we should be that such clear light has come on these and kindred subjects to us as a people; neither are we as faithful as we should be to make it clear to people of every calling. Even the workers in the enemy's cause may need to be reached. Let us double our efforts to carry the whole message to every soul on earth, preparing the way for the soon-coming King.—J. G. White, in New York Indicator.