Religious Liberty Notes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 11, 1907

Religious Liberty Notes

The following tribute was paid by a prominent man of Panoka, Alberta, to Liberty: “I am a Sunday man, but that is the straightest thing on that subject I ever read. Success to Liberty.”

The writer expects to deliver a lecture on “The Dangers of Religious Legislation,” at the Seventh-day Adventist church, Corner Fifty-first and Locust Sts., Philadelphia, Pa., Sunday evening, April 14.

The students of the South Lancaster Academy, of South Lancaster, Mass., are preparing an elaborate religious liberty program to be rendered by them at an early date. It is a satisfaction to see the interest which is being manifested on the part of our young people on the question of religious liberty.

Brother V. B. Watt gives the following item of experience in securing petitions against Sunday bills for the District of Columbia, which were introduced into the Fifty-ninth Congress: “I went to the business men of the town, and almost every man, except the Jews, was in favor not only of a District Sunday bill, but of one for the United States. One business man said, ‘A man ought to be in the penitentiary who works or opens his store on Sunday.’ When the most influential men favor such legislation, how long will it be before the image will speak? It is time for us to get ready to meet God, and warn the world of its coming doom.” These experiences are an expression of what may be expected as the result of the almost universal efforts now being exerted by the foes of religious freedom.

Extract from a letter from W. Ising: “The German Union has recently had an experience illustrating the influence and the power of our Sabbath-school lessons. It is known that in the Russian empire we have had serious difficulties in preaching the message in the past years. Since the czar’s ukase of liberty, wonderful changes have been wrought. But in some places of the large empire we have had to contend with difficulties. The revolutionary idea has been especially demonstrated in the southern part, in the Caucasus. The government was very rigorous here, and was on the watch for all publications. So, early in 1906, one number of our Russian paper Maslina (Olive-tree) was confiscated by the police and forwarded to the governor, evidently under the suspicion that it might contain revolutionary articles. One of our workers in south Russia has now informed us that this very paper contained the Sabbath-school lessons on the subject of ‘Religious Liberty, Health Reform, and Temperance,’ lesson seven dealing especially with ‘The Government, When, by Whom, and the Purpose of Its Establishment.’ When this lesson was studied by the governmental officials, they came to the conclusion that

the Seventh-day Adventist people had no connection with the revolutionists, and that they should be granted unhindered meetings throughout the Caucasus, while heretofore our brethren were compelled to gather secretly, avoiding the notice of officials. To-day they enjoy the blessings of this liberty, and large audiences at the meetings and at their baptismal services prove the great change that has taken place.”

The Workers’ Bulletin of Des Moines, Iowa, bearing date of March 26, 1907, contains the following concerning the dangers of the “unwritten law” argument concerning which there is so much said in these strenuous times: “Some people seem to forget that all just laws are to be obeyed. If, in a fit of anger, or for any other reason, he breaks a good law, the man who is loyal to law and government will submit to its penalty without resistance. And if, on the other hand, he sees fit not to comply with an evil law, he will even then not resist the law, although he seeks kindly and wisely to explain his position and show why the law should not be obeyed. Why it is that good people will excuse and even commend men who openly transgress just laws that are necessary for the protection of mankind, is more than can be explained. At least, let not Seventh-day Adventists do such a thing.”

The Pacific Union Recorder, bearing date of March 21, 1907, contains the following selected article on the subject, entitled “Power of Choice in Religion:” “ ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’—Declaration of Independence. Here are ten men, A, B, C, D, etc. 1. Every one of these men has a right to choose his own religion. 2. Every one of the ten has a right to refuse to make any choice. 3. As every one of the ten has a right to choose or not to choose, no one of the ten has a right to interfere or compel the choice of any of the ten. 4. No one of the ten has a right to compel any one of the ten to abide by his own choice, for this would deny a man the right to change his mind, and so interfere with the right of choice. 5. No one of the ten has a right to compel any one of the ten to act as if he had made a choice; for this would make a hypocrite of him. 6. If any one man has no right to compel any one of the ten to act as if he had made a choice, then nine of the ten can not compel the tenth to act so. 7. If a majority of the ten should crystallize their choice into law, it would give them no right to compel the minority. 8. This forever denies to civil government the right to have anything to do with religion, save to protect every man in his choice, or in his refusal to choose. 9. Every man having the right to choose his religion, neither majorities nor minorities can, of right, have anything to do by law with a man’s religion. 10. This is the civil and religious liberty conundrum in a ‘nutshell.’”

The following letter from Elder S. G. Huntington, president of the Utah Conference, appeared in the Pacific Union Recorder under date of March 7: “The Sunday question is also up before our legislature, and is waxing pretty warm. I will address the House Committee on Judiciary. The speaker of the House is a Jew, and stands with us. It is going to be a hot fight, however. The bill comes up under Sunday amusements, etc. I presented our protest to the House Judicial Committee, not all the members being present, however. The chairman indicated that we could have fifteen or twenty minutes, but detained us for a full hour. It was evident that our influence was felt. I had a talk with the speaker of the House this afternoon, and he frankly declared himself against the bill. I sent each member a personal letter, enclosing two of Elder Colcord’s leaflets, marked copies. In the morning on each of their desks the members will find a copy of the special Sunday law Signs, such as were used in California. On a little slip pasted to the paper the following was written: ‘California still stands for liberty, the proposed Sunday closing and rest amendment bill being defeated in the House, February 20, by a majority of 46 to 20. This paper tells all about the evils and unconstitutionality of Sunday laws. Take a minute to look it over.’ K. C. R.”