The American Union

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 8, 1900

The American Union

In New York City there has been organized and set in operation a religio-political combination called the “American Union,” which announces its principal designs as follows:—

The union is a political organization, based on political principles. The members are all voters, and a majority are taxpayers. You can rest assured that their power will be felt in the coming election, and, in fact, in all elections. We will send delegations to the candidates whom we expect to indorse, and learn if they approve our principles. If they do, all well and good; if not, then we can not give them our votes. We shall not, however, put any candidates in the field for office. Each lodge, of which there are seventy-six at the present time, has one representative on the executive committee. The members of the union will be expected to support the candidates selected by the executive committee.

Other objects of the Union are:—

To enforce the law demanding the reading of the Protestant Bible each day at school-opening to or in the presence of all scholars, in a tone of voice that shall be audible to all.

To resist the appropriation of public funds for sectarian purposes.

To resist the appropriation of public funds for private use.

To oppose sectarian discrimination in the personnel of the board of education, superintendents, teachers, etc., in public schools.

To oppose governmental aid in favor of sectarian appropriations for religious or educational purposes in the newly acquired countries or territories now governed by the United States.

How that organization can enforce the reading of “the Protestant Bible each day at school-opening,” or anywhere else, and at the same time “resist the appropriation of public funds for sectarian uses,” and “oppose governmental aid in favor of sectarian appropriations for religious or educational purposes,” etc., etc., can perhaps be explained by just such a religio-political order as this is; but it is certain that no such antagonistical things can ever be done.