Washington, D. C by J. S. WASHBURN

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 14, 1903

Washington, D. C.

By J. S. WASHBURN

SUNDAY afternoon, March 29, I spoke to the Secular League of Washington, D. C., on the subject of “Present-Day Monopolies, National, Financial, and Religious.” This was the second time I had been invited to speak to this society, which is made up almost entirely of infidels, atheists, and freethinkers; but among them I am sure there are many who have been driven by the inconsistency of so-called Christians, by the bigotry of National Reformers and Romanists, to this position of doubt and denial of all divine revelation.

My first talk before this society was on January 3, on the subject of the United States in prophecy. This first invitation was the result of the public hearing, in May, 1902, before the District Commissioners, on the proposed District Sunday law. At that hearing there were three classes of opposers—Jews, infidels, and Seventh-day Adventists. Although the chief commissioner of the District is an avowed champion of Sunday legislation, the other two commissioners were against the proposed law, and the strong opposition killed it. It will doubtless be revived soon.

The International Reform Association is represented at the capital by Rev. W. F. Crafts, now a resident of Washington, D. C., who is working more quietly than formerly, but none the less energetically, to get the national Congress committed to Sunday laws and all manner of religious legislation. By some means, Senator Wellington was persuaded to introduce into the United States Senate a document entitled “Patriotic Studies,” which contains old-fashioned “National Reform” in a new dress, but “National Reform” none the less, and of a most pronounced and dangerous kind. In it is found Dr. Haegler’s Chart, which boldly designates Monday as the first day of the week, Saturday as the sixth, and Sunday the seventh, and Sabbath. In this document Mr. Crafts argues the absolute physiological necessity for a compulsory Sunday law to save the people and the nation. The Crafts’ adage, “The liberty of rest for each demands a law of rest for all,” is boldly advocated. “My ‘Sabbath for Man,’ ‘Civil Sabbath,’ and other Sunday literature,” it tells us, “is widely advertised.”

This document goes so far as to advocate the Russian system,—that children of parents who do not train them according to the ruling of this National Reform hierarchy should be taken from their parents and properly trained by the state. This document was ordered to be printed at public expense, Dec. 20, 1902.

There are men of education and deep students of history in the Secular League, who see the danger, and yet do not know exactly how to meet it. January 3, when I spoke on the United States in prophecy, there was a deep interest. General Birney, a leading member, spoke most highly of our people; he said that Seventh-day Adventists had done more than any others to open the eyes of the people to the dangers of religious legislation; that he had received more benefit from reading The Sentinel than from any other publication he had ever read. They see the danger, but hope it may be avoided in some way.

I spoke for forty-five minutes, there was public discussion for an hour, and then I had fifteen minutes in which to answer questions. While some spoke strongly against the Bible, yet they listened with kindest attention to all I had to say from the Bible and all I read to them. Some said they once had faith, and had given it up with regret. I knew that God had placed in the heart of every one of them a yearning for something better than this life, a longing for the love of God now, and an earnest desire for eternal life hereafter; and as I considered these men, many of them truly noble men, yet without light, without hope, without God, without chart or compass, driven by the wind and tossed, drifting swiftly toward eternity, toward the eternal darkness of death, I was drawn out to make a strong appeal to them. The Spirit of the living God spoke to them, and I knew that impressions were made that would never be forgotten, and will, I trust, bear eternal fruit.

I spoke strongly from the Bible, and I did not know whether they would ever wish to hear me again. I was much pleased to receive an invitation to speak a second time to them. There was, if possible, a more decided victory than on the first occasion. While there was some sharp criticism and opposition, yet at the last the tender Spirit of the Lord took strong hold, and all were most cordial, and there were urgent invitations to speak to them often. These men will for a time help to stem the swelling tide of religious oppression at the capital. We are, in this matter at least, brethren, and I truly believe that among them are those who will see the light of the glory of the truth, and will stand among the one hundred and forty-four thousand.

One man in this city, who had once kept the Sabbath while in the army, and had been a member of the church in Denver, Colo., but who, having become discouraged, drifted into utter infidelity, burned up “Great Controversy” and all our books in his possession in 1896, has now heard the call of God again, has given up infidelity entirely, and is preparing to keep the Sabbath, accepting the whole truth and loving it as never before. This is wholly and directly the work of the Lord. Never have we seen so clearly as here in many ways the direct working of the Spirit of the living God.

I have begun meetings at the home of the soldiers of the regular army, which is located in Washington, and is probably the finest soldiers’ home in the world. About one thousand veterans of three wars and many years’ service, are there. At the first meeting there was an excellent and intelligent interest, as I spoke on our own country in prophecy, and the dangers that confront the nation. What may develop from this I can not say.

Since January 20, with the exception of Sunday, when there is no mail delivered in Washington, we have received money for the Memorial Church every day without fail up to the present day, April 1. This is generally in small sums, but enough has been sent to pay $6,200, in all, on the church, which cost $12,900, leaving $6,700 yet to be paid; but, as I have $1,300 on hand toward another payment, which will be made in a few days, the debt actually stands at $5,400, with interest at 5½ per cent, or eighty-one cents a day. When we consider that since Nov. 1, 1902, in five months, more than $7,500 has been paid, we thank God and take courage, hoping that in a few weeks the building of this memorial for God will be finished. We have received the mites of many widows, and we deeply appreciate these gifts, and especially the prayers that have followed them. Verily, none who have given shall lose their reward. Yet are there not several of our people who will come forward with a gift of one thousand dollars, as our sister in St. Louis has done, or at least with five hundred dollars, so that the work may be quickly finished, and we have time to attend to the many calls that are pressing us? May the Lord’s call be heard and answered quickly. In the appeal by Mrs. E. G. White, which all have seen, are these words, which show how easily the church could be paid for if all will give as they are able, “and the amount given by each would scarcely be missed.” “If all will give what they can, the indebtedness will soon be liquidated. We pray that those who can help in this enterprise may be constrained to do so by their love for Christ.

We regard the purchase of this church property as a wise step, and your co-operation in assisting the brethren there to pay for it will bring you into harmony with the beneficent purposes of the gospel.”

Below is given a list of donations, all of which, with the exception of the first, reported in the Atlantic Union Gleaner, and one third of the second donation, were sent directly to me, and so not reported in the REVIEW:—

A friend, $144.34; Hattie G. Weller, $1,500; Dr. and Mrs. Copehart, $225; Wm. Hurlock, $100; H. W. Cottrell, $100; D. E. Scoles, $30; W. W. Conkling, $10; Geo. W. Countryman, $25; H. H. Bosworth, $3; Mae George, .25; Mr. and Mrs. H. Webber, $2; Fred Webber, $2; Jessie V. Bosworth, $1; Dr. A. W. Hurr, $1; T. S. Johnson, $1; Sac City (Iowa) church, $1.85; A. Ridgely, $25; Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Landu, $2; Nellie Freel, .01; Vintie McCann, .25; W. B. and N. J. Dana, .50; W. Rutherford, $1; Jane Burkhard, $1; Fred Burkhard, $5; J. N. Loughborough, $5; F. W. Mace, $25. Total, $2,211.20.

Other names may appear later.

J. S. WASHBURN.