Sabbath-Keeping Clerk Retained
FIDELITY to conscience and to the claims of the fourth commandment has been lately recognized in the Treasury department at Washington by the refusal of an assistant secretary to dismiss a Sabbath-keeping employee when urged to do so by the division chief who brought the case before him. The facts are stated in the following press telegram, dated at Washington, December 12:— Assistant Secretary Ayles has disposed of the case of Elmer Pettiford, a colored clerk in the Treasury department, and a Seventh-day Adventist, who refused to do work on Saturdays. Although the chief of the division in which Pettiford was employed insisted that the work is being delayed by reason of his absence one day in each week, Mr. Ayles has not been disposed to dismiss him, and finally has concluded to transfer him to the sixth auditor’s office, where he will be put to work assorting money orders. He will be reduced, however, from $1,200 to $720 a year. He will be paid for only the time he is actually employed.