THE LIBERAL LEAGUE

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 6, 1879

THE LIBERAL LEAGUE.

The organizations existing under this name are manifesting unwonted activity. A meeting was held in Baltimore, Md., in the early part of September, for the purpose of forming a Liberal League Club. It appears from the resolutions offered that they, like those who are behind the Sunday movement, are calling for an amendment of the national Constitution. Both parties are seeking to entrench themselves in the highest authority in the land. As one writer has well remarked, “The battle of the amendments is at hand,” and the battle ground is to be the Constitution of the United States. The name which the liberals give to the amendment for which they call is a “Religious Freedom Amendment,” and this is the way they speak concerning it:—

“We urge the adoption of such a ‘Religious Freedom Amendment’ of the United States Constitution as shall effect a complete secularization of the government in all its departments and institutions, state and national.”

This, it will be seen, is exactly the opposite of what the National Reform party are seeking. They continue:—

“Resolved, That we advocate the equitable taxation of church property; the total discontinuance of religious instruction and worship in the public schools; the repeal of all laws enforcing the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath; the cessation of all appropriations of public funds for religious institutions or purposes of any kind; the abolition of state-paid chaplains; the non-appointment of religious fasts, festivals, and holidays by public authority, and whatever other measures and principles may be necessary to the total separation of church and state.”

Circumstances are rapidly shaping to compel all men to take sides on all these questions. This is the coming issue, long ago declared on the page of prophecy, and now so clearly indicated in the current events of the day.