Religious Liberty under the Proposed Christian Amendment.
By T. P. Stevenson
Mr. Editor:—The remarks in the REVIEW, No. 5, of present volume, on the movement to secure a religious amendment to the Constitution of the United States indicate a fear, which, I am aware, is shared by many, that the proposed change will operate oppressively toward the observers of the seventh-day Sabbath. I am able, from the most intimate and thorough knowledge of the movement, to assure you and your readers that no more zealous and consistent friends of religious liberty are anywhere to be found than the active promoters of this amendment. But, lest mere assurances be deemed of little worth, let me ask attention to the following considerations:— 1. Laws, guarding the sacredness of the Sabbath, have been in force in nearly all our States from the beginning of their history. In some States, at least, these laws contain special clauses exempting those who conscientiously observe some other day than the Lord’s day, from their operation, except so far as may be necessary to guard the quiet of other worshipers. With these laws, and with this modifying provision, the friends of the proposed amendment are satisfied. We are only seeking to bring the Constitution of our Government into accord with them, and to guard them in this way against the total overthrow with which they are seriously threatened. And we shall be behind no portion of our fellow citizens in advocating, wherever necessary, such modifications of existing laws as shall relieve true Sabbath keepers from anything actually oppressive in their operation. 2. Under which kind of government do seventh-day Sabbatarians imagine they will have the greatest security and comfort, and the fairest field for the advocacy of the truth—a government which knows no God, no higher law, and no Sabbath? or a government which acknowledges God and accepts his law as the supreme rule of its conduct? A government which holds its legislatures and courts, carries its mails, moves its armies, teaches in its schools, indiscriminately on all days of the week, attracting only Sabbath-breakers to its service, and laying no restraint on the avarice and lust which would leave man no time for religion, is powerfully hostile to piety and good morals, and equally unfriendly to all classes of Christians. No thoughtful and intelligent man will deny that we are making rapid progress toward such a state of government. Congress has ventured of late on two occasions to sit on the Lord’s day; and the Board of Visitors at the Naval School at Annapolis recently found the studies prosecuted on all days of the week alike. The carrying of the mails, the travel on our great thoroughfares, the unrestrained Sabbath-breaking in all our cities, are more potent and more alarming facts. The proposed amendment heralds, and, thoroughly discussed and deliberately adopted, will crown a thorough, practical reformation in the Government on the subject of Sabbath-keeping. Will not you, dear brethren, rejoice in this? 3. The advocates of the seventh day as the Sabbath rest their belief and practice in this matter solely on the word of God. They challenge discussion in the light of the Scriptures. To this tribunal they appeal. Can any damage accrue to their cause from the acknowledgment by the government of the same high authority? Yet that is all we propose. We do not foreclose discussion of this or any other question. We simply ask that in our common government, that great central institution which covers and affects us all, and which can never by any possibility be divorced from all religious and moral character and influence, the law of God, be acknowledged as of supreme authority. Is not that law the palladium of human rights and liberties? Can any man or any class be injured by its recognition? 4. That the observers of the seventh-day Sabbath should sometimes be led to regard all Sabbath laws with dissatisfaction is not surprising. But though the overthrow of these laws might be felt as a partial relief in some respects, would it not be obtained at a fearful cost to the interests of religion and the cause of Christ? You, dear brethren, are not to be numbered with the immoral and infidel classes who are striving to obliterate every Christian feature in our government. As earnest friends of the great law of the Sabbath, a law to be obeyed by kings and governments as well as individuals, and families, and churches, your place is logically and consistently with the friends of the proposed amendment. We hold to the same law, differing only as to its interpretation. The charity and confidence due among brethren, and a common regard for the best interests of our country, demand that we labor together for its acknowledgment by our government. With sincere respect, I am,
Yours truly, T. P. STEVENSON,
Cor. Sec. of the National Association.
Philadelphia, Jan. 24, 1872.