Report of Religious Liberty Rally Held at Willimantic, Conn.
By W. R. Andrews
For several weeks there has been a local fight concerning the problem of Sunday closing in Willimantic, Conn. We have been following it quite closely through the daily papers, and about two weeks ago we went down and negotiated with the manager of the opera-house to hold a liberty rally in it. The W. C. T. U. had succeeded in closing up the opera-house on Sunday evening, and after talking with the manager, he consented to let us have the use of the house free. We therefore made arrangements to hold a rally there on Sunday evening, the 13th ult. We were able to secure Elder K. C. Russell to deliver the lecture of the evening. The daily papers gave full announcements of the meeting in several issues during the previous week. The manager of the opera-house also circulated printed handbills, so that the meeting was well advertised. We opened the meeting with a stereopticon song service, and promptly at 8:30 the meeting was called to order, and prayer was offered by Elder W. A. Westworth. Fully seven hundred people were present. A short introductory address was made by the writer, which was followed by the lecture of the evening by Elder Russell. Elder Westworth closed the meeting with a talk illustrated by stereopticon views. The sentiments expressed by all the speakers met with decided approval by the audience. We were able the next day to put in the leading daily paper of the city a synopsis of the speeches. This paper has a circulation of about two thousand, so that by this means the attention of at least ten thousand people was called to the principles of Christian liberty. We all felt that a decided victory was gained for the truth, as a result of the gathering. Had we known of the conditions earlier, so we could have made larger plans for following up the work for a few weeks to come, we are sure it would have been an opportune time for calling the attention of the public to the great truths of the third angel’s message. When the agitation is on, and the people are taking sides, and there is a general discussion by individuals, and arrests are being made, then is the time we should be on the alert, and make the best possible use of the occasion for enlightening the people concerning the true issue in this Sunday-closing movement. We all came away from Willimantic, feeling that through the religious liberty work are to be found the best avenues for presenting the message that we have, and I earnestly solicit the co-operation of all our people in this conference, that we may be able to take the best possible advantage of every opening that comes for presenting the great truths of religious freedom. W. R. ANDREWS,
Sec. R. L. Dept. of S. N. E. Conf.