Religious Liberty Notes by K. C. R. B.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 7, 1907

Religious Liberty Notes

By K. C. R. B.

The possibility of utilizing the public press in the proclamation of the third angel's message is clearly shown by the following example: Elder H. F. Phelps, of Minneapolis, Minn., has recently secured the publication of articles two and one-half columns in length, on the question of religious liberty, involving an explanation of Revelation 13, in leading newspapers.

At a recent session of the Southern Union Conference it was decided to make New Orleans, La., the headquarters of the religious liberty work in the Southern field. It is indeed encouraging to note the prominence that is being given to this important part of the Lord's work. An influence will be exerted that will be far reaching as the results of having the principles of truth published through the columns of the public press from as important a center of population as New Orleans.

The Pennsylvania Sabbath Association recently adopted a resolution recommending the ministers, officers, and members of its churches to “begin a general and systematic agitation for the strengthening of the State Sabbath law by increasing the penalty for violating the same.” Also another resolution was adopted, protesting “against any modification tending in any way to weaken the existing Sunday law,” and calling upon its members and representatives “to frustrate any attempt to weaken the present law.”

Thursday, February 21, there was a lively Sunday law hearing before a committee in the Connecticut State Legislature at Hartford, Conn. Leading clergymen were in attendance from all parts of the State in defense of the proposed measure. Elder W. R. Andrews, the Religious Liberty Secretary of Connecticut, writes concerning the hearing as follows: “The hearing was a most interesting affair. It was quite evident that the committee favored entertainments and baseball playing on Sunday. I did not think, however, that they looked with much favor upon the performance of work upon that day. One of the committeemen, in questioning a minister, said that there used to be a law that one had to go to a certain church, then the law was revised and made such that a person had to go to some church, and now they are trying to have a law that if one won’t go to church, one sha’n’t go anywhere else. The bill that seemed to meet with the greatest favor on the part of the committee was the one to make the question a matter of local option. This was vigorously opposed by the ministers present. The hearing as a whole was a decided victory for those opposed to Sunday enforcement; and the ministers there who were favoring a more rigid law, were compelled to retire in defeat.” K. C. R. B.