Religious Liberty Notes
By K. C. Russell
The Daily Mail of Lowell, Mass., bearing date of Feb. 2, 1906, published in full Elder Colcord's article in the REVIEW of Jan. 18, 1906, in which he quoted and explained H. R. Sunday bill 10510 for the District of Columbia. Let others improve such opportunities in spreading the various phases of the third angel's message. The following tribute was paid to us some months ago by a national reform lecturer in Lincoln, Neb.: “While the Jews and Seventh-day Baptists have caused us no trouble whatever, these Seventh-day Adventists have almost gone crazy on this subject.” He added that “if the friends of Sunday enforcement were one half as vigilant as are the Seventh-day Adventists, we would make short work of this movement.” We are indebted to Elder J. O. Miller, of Dayton, Ohio, for a Church Union “Syllabus” regarding the question of church federation. Perhaps the following quotation setting forth the purpose of the union is the most significant: “To prevent the unnecessary multiplication of churches; to unite weak churches of the same neighborhood wherever it is practicable, and to invite and encourage the affiliation with this council of other Christian bodies cherishing a kindred faith and purpose.” The following report, recently received from Colorado, speaks for itself: “Jacob Weisskind, who was assaulted by some ruffians on Christmas day because he was working on the Christian sabbath, died at the county hospital yesterday morning. The murdered man leaves a widow and two children, who until a short time ago were in destitute circumstances, having been deprived of the small earnings of the father and husband.” Those charged with the crime are now under arrest. This is not the first or last case of death for Sunday labor. A bill has been introduced into the Massachusetts Legislature requiring street railways to permit parochial school children to ride for half fare. The Boston Transcript of Feb. 15, 1906, gives a report of a hearing on the question, and, among other speakers, it quotes the following from Prof. Frederick Griggs: “Frederick Griggs, principal of the South Lancaster Academy, opposed the bill. He said this was class and religious education under another garb. The bill involves sectarian legislation, and is dangerous. The fundamental principle of the bill is wrong. This is a question of requiring a corporation by law to support private religious institutions. It should be defeated. In answer to a question Mr. Griggs said that the pupils of his academy were carried at half-rate, but this was a voluntary act on the part of the railroad.”