ONTARIO by F. D. Starr

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 11, 1900

ONTARIO

By F. D. Starr

As in apostolic times, and as in the days of the reformers, Ezra and Nehemiah, there are many adversaries to the work here, yet there is also much to encourage us. The canvassing work is improving; and almost every week persons are accepting the truth.

The annual meeting of the Lord’s Day Alliance was held in Toronto, November 9. I was present at the meeting, and never before have I attended a convention of those working for Sunday legislation where we, as a people, were brought into such prominent notice. A resolution was passed, the substance of which was that, Whereas, There is a sect of people known as Seventh-day Adventists, who are working systematically to bring about a disregard of the Lord’s day (Sunday, of course, they meant), therefore we urge that more earnest efforts be put forth to warn the people against the teachings and literature of this people; also that we advise the ministers to become better informed in regard to the historical and Scriptural basis for Sunday observance. A lively discussion of this resolution then followed, lasting about twenty minutes. Several ministers spoke of having come in contact with our books, and of the very pernicious influence of the same. One minister said that he was astonished that some ministers would even allow their members to read our literature. What greater power than this does the Catholic Church profess to exercise over its members? Of course our work and belief were misrepresented.

That Seventh-day Adventists should be the only people mentioned as a body against whom their efforts should be directed is indeed significant. It shows that the remnant mentioned in Rev. 12:17 is being discerned and brought to notice. If the resolutions there passed are carried out, which they no doubt will be, the minds of many will probably be prejudiced against the message, and it will be harder to get people to take and to read our books and papers. It is therefore all the more urgent that we circulate our literature, to the utmost of our ability, before the circumstances become still more unfavorable. We must work while the day lasts. To this end let canvassers and other workers be more diligent than ever before.

But while some will be prejudiced against the truth, others will have a desire to investigate it. The resolution means that in many parts of the province where Seventh-day Adventists have scarcely been known or mentioned as yet, the people are going to hear about them in this ministerial warning. May not Phil. 1:15-18 in some degree meet a fulfillment in this? Some will no doubt be stirred to investigate, and, as a result, receive the present truth; and may not some of those who warn the people against this doctrine be led to examine more closely and accept of God’s Sabbath? No doubt there are earnest, sincere Christians among them.

To disprove the mistaken idea that our literature is so “pernicious,” such books as “Christ’s Object Lessons” should be put into the hands of the people as speedily as possible. It seems very providential that this book is published just at this time; for nothing could be better adapted to dislodge prejudice and show to the people the converting, sanctifying influence of the truth for this time than this book. We hope our Conference may furnish places for thousands of these books.

Another resolution (no doubt growing out of the experience the Lord’s Day Alliance has had with the cases of our people and others that have been carried up to the Court of Appeals) was passed to bring about such a change in the legislation that convictions for Sunday labor or desecration, secured in the lower courts, can not be quashed by appealing to the supreme or higher courts. This would cut off the right of appeal to those who might feel that they had not received justice in the lower courts. This resolution was so manifestly unfair that some leading minds in the alliance were afraid of it, and it did not pass without opposition by voice and vote. But it passed by a large majority. This move would be nothing less than despotic. Even in pagan Rome, Paul had the right to appeal to Cæsar, and he was heard by that dignitary. The right to appeal is a sacred one; to provide for it, these very courts are established. But we must expect the denial of our rights. The agitation of this question will furnish opportunity for enlightening the people on the subject of religious liberty. A further report of this Lord’s Day Alliance meeting will be found in the Sentinel of Liberty, which all should take and read.

F. D. Starr.