RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE CAPITAL CITY.
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 made up almost entirely of infidels, atheists, and freethinkers, but among them I am sure are many who have been driven by the inconsistency of so-called Christians, by the positions 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. Altho 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, however, be revived without doubt 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 Congress committed to Sunday laws and all manner of religious legislation. By some means, Senator Wellington was persuaded to introduce into the U. S. 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. Mr. Craft's 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 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 precious 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. On January 3, when I spoke on the United States in prophecy, there was a deep interest. General Bitney, a leading member, spoke most highly of our people; 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 of Religious Liberty 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 had once had faith and had given it up with regret. I knew in the heart of every one of them God had placed 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 noble men truly, yet without light, without hope, without God, without chart or compass, driven by the wind and tossed, drifting swiftly toward eternity, toward the darkness of eternal 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 so strongly from the Bible, I did not know whether they would ever wish to hear me again. I was very 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 of the nation. J. S. WASHBURN.