Among the staunchest advocates of civil and religious liberty in the United States have been the Baptists. In the early centuries in the history of our country the Baptist Church stood for the principles of liberty. The following paragraphs from The Word and Way reveal that there are those who still hold to the same truth: "The Sabbath observance question is difficult to deal with as a law question. This is true both in framing and in enforcing the law. On what basis is the law to rest? Shall it be civil, social, moral, religious—what? It would be contrary to the genius of our government to make a law requiring people to observe the Sabbath for religious reasons. But apart from the fact that it is a law of God, why should people be prevented by law from laboring all the seven days of the week if they wish to? "And then where shall the line be drawn? How is it to be decided what is or is not labor, according to the law, or absolutely? According to Christ, works of mercy and works of necessity may be performed on the Sabbath. But what are works of necessity, for instance? Once friction matches were a rarity and a luxury; now they are a necessity. Are the running of street-cars and passenger-trains on Sunday a necessity? Is it any more necessary for railroads to operate freight-trains on Sunday than it is for the grocer to operate his store or the farmer his plow?" And it might be added, a necessity or not, has any class the right to regulate matters which relate wholly to God and His law? Is He unable to protect His own institution? Can man's laws make a day holy? H.