Religious Liberty Notes
By K. C. Russell
From recent and frequent reports which are appearing in the public press of Rochester, N. Y., it appears that there is a continuous crusade being carried on by the church element of that city. Rev. S. Banks Nelson, pastor of St. Peter’s Presbyterian church, said that the result of popular amusements on Sunday, “will be to bring into our city the continental sabbath, and make a class of men and women who will need an evangelist on every street corner to keep them within the bounds of decency.” From a communication sent by Elder W. H. Thurston, of Ottawa, Canada, we glean the following significant statement: “Rev. Dr. J. Hill, president of the Lord’s Day Alliance in Montreal, speaking of the Jewish deputation going to Ottawa, said: ‘The bill in question is a bill of a Christian government in a Christian land. No apology need to be made to the Jews for the fact. . . . The trouble with the Jews everywhere, in London as well as in Montreal, is that the Jew is an anachronism in modern society.’” Elder S. H. Lane, the president of the New York Conference, expresses his appreciation of our new religious liberty organ, Liberty, as follows: “I am glad you have started Liberty, and shall try to work up a subscription list for it. I was very sorry when the Sentinel of Liberty was discontinued; I thought at the time that it was a mistake, and still believe so. Two or three years ago there was a sentiment that the religious liberty work had about seen its day. I was of the firm opinion at that time that its sunrise had hardly been reached, and think we have lost two or three years. I hope, however, by redoubling our efforts, time can be redeemed. We are about to issue a religious liberty number of our State paper, and trust it may accomplish much good.” The Dodge County (Minn.) Record of March 22 contained the following, which the friends of freedom, especially in Minnesota, will greatly appreciate: “The new code that went into effect the first of March changes the Sunday law, and allows of more religious freedom to Jews and Seventh-day Adventists. The law states that persons who, according to their religious beliefs, observe some day other than Sunday as their sabbath, may resume their usual work and business on Sunday. The law will be a great boon to many who worship on Saturday. The right of this particular class of people to sell on Sunday was tested in the State supreme court only a few weeks ago, and the court decided that the fact that the Hebrews observed Saturday as their sabbath did not give them the right to keep their stores open on Sunday. This ruling is now rendered null by the revision of the statutes.” From a letter recently received from Toledo, Ohio, we have gleaned the following, which speaks for itself: “You will probably be interested in the religious liberty situation here in Ohio. In Toledo there is a pitched battle going on, which gives promise of being a long and bitter one. Both sides contend for their rights, and neither will give in. Charges of graft, etc., are being made wholesale, and an interesting combat is promised at no very distant date. The whole question has centered itself around the closing of the theaters on Sunday. There is what is called a ‘Church Federation League.’ These people declare they will close the theaters. The managers open every Sunday afternoon and evening. Last Sunday week was a critical day. The theaters had been closed for two Sundays previously, and declared their intention of reopening. The Church Federation publicly told them they would not be allowed to. Sunday afternoon an immense crowd gathered in the one street on which all the theaters are located. Each one of the four theaters was packed full—fourteen thousand people being distributed among the four. And in addition huge crowds thronged the street ready to do riot and violence the minute any attempt should be made to stop the performance. In each one of the theater lobbies were a half-dozen forbidding-looking men, who notably and conspicuously hung around all the time. Just what they would have done had occasion arisen will never be known. However, the Church Federation evidently thought prudence the better part of valor, and made no attempt to stop the performances, but at the close of the performance, served a warrant on each of the managers and actors. They appeared in the court Monday morning, pleaded not guilty, were declared guilty by the judge, and each of the managers was fined five dollars, and each of the actors—the costs. This has been repeated twice. Next Sunday it will occur again. It is getting to be a laughing-stock in the town. An interesting feature has been developed in the situation by the declaration by the attorneys for the theaters that Mr. Ketcham, owner of the only theater that keeps closed Sundays, is behind the whole movement, in an attempt at what might be called blackmail, to make the other theaters either close up or share profits with him.”