p. 17 | Christian Liberty by S. B. Horton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 6, 1912

Christian Liberty

By S. B. Horton

Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau W. W. PRESCOTT . . . . . Secretary S. B. HORTON . . . . . Corresponding Secretary

Religious Liberty Convention

TOPIC No. 3, "The Efforts of Various Protestant Organizations to Unite Religion and the State," was presented by C. M. Snow in a carefully prepared paper. Lack of space precludes giving the paper in full, but we will refer to some of the points contained in it. After showing the great progress made by our country in the cause of freedom, the speaker mentioned the different organizations that are now endeavoring to have the nation declare its acceptance of the Christian religion, and place upon a legal basis certain Christian customs and usages now practised in our government. He referred to the National Reform Association, which was organized in 1863 at Xenia, Ohio, as being the parent of this retrogressive movement. Dr. J. S. Martin, the general superintendent of the association, was quoted as saying at a meeting of the National Reform Association held at Winona Lake, Ind., in August, 1909, that "the no-religious-test guaranty of the national Constitution ought to be modified."

This purpose was also indicated at the World's Christian Citizenship Conference in Philadelphia, November, 1910. The paper says, among other things:—

"The association proposes that there shall be a recognition made in our nation's fundamental law that the law of God, as revealed through Jesus Christ, and not the will of the majority of the people, is the supreme law of the land.' That would at once put the nation under ecclesiastical control; for 'the preachers are the successors of the prophets,' the expounders of the divine will, the authorized 'spokesmen' of God. Under such a régime no law could be formulated without their authorization, or enacted without their approval. That would mean the overthrow of representative government, and the establishment of an ecclesiastical hierarchy to rule over the people. They had that during the dark ages, and during the colonial days of America, and it created for them not a paradise, but a purgatory.

"That the organization's officials understand what is involved in the movement seems to us most apparent; for the president of the organization declared at Winona Lake, Ind., in 1910:—

"Uniformity [in religion] is essential to both peace and progress. The opinion of the majority must be decisive. Even in the matter of mere consciences a degree of uniformity is necessary. We would allow the greatest amount of individual rights of conscience consistent with the necessary uniformity."

"In 1864 there was one obscure organization advocating those un-American principles. In 1888 there were three more,—the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the Third Party Prohibition Party, and the American Sabbath Union,—and each of these three was capable of wielding a greater influence than the parent organization.

"In 1884 the National Reform Association made a bid for an ally stronger in numbers and political influence than all four of these organizations, that is, the Roman Catholic Church, and received promise of cooperation; but of that organization and its purposes I am not now to speak, nor of the American Federation of Catholic Societies, which is also committed to the same ideas in government; nor yet of that great organization the American Federation of Labor, largely Catholic, which has promised its help to the National Reform Association in securing religious legislation.

"But there has recently been organized in this country a branch of the great organization now operating in England and Canada, known as the Lord's Day Alliance, whose secretary, Dr. Grannis, is an ardent advocate of many of the principles for which the National Reform Association stands, and who is encouraging the American branch of that organization to do all in its power to bring about legislation in all the States in behalf of a compulsory sabbath. Through this organization identical legislation is to be introduced into all the State legislatures. That work has actually begun.

"In addition to this, we have the International Federation of Sunday Rest Day Associations, whose purpose is to oversee them all, and assist in carrying out the purpose of them all; also the International Reform Bureau, which makes the securing of Sunday legislation one of the cardinal features of its operation.

"The great organizations of the Christian young people of the United States have also adopted the shibboleth of Sunday enforcement, and in their annual conventions are committing themselves by resolution to that principle. Said the Christian Endeavorers at their last convention in Atlantic City: 'We urge also upon civic authorities the enforcement of Sunday laws without discrimination.'

"But greater than all these, more inclusive in its scope, and if possible more energetic and determined in its policy, is the great federation of the so-called Protestant churches of this country. It proposes, by means of the very instruments which Congress warned the country against in 1829, 'combination and influence,' to create a force which 'lawmakers and lawbreakers will respect and heed.' This organization, claiming to represent eighteen million communicants, not only advocates and urges a compulsory rest day, but refuses to recognize the right of a portion of its own constituency to observe the day of its choice. Thus the weight and force of all its power and influence are thrown into the scales against liberty of conscience and in favor of religious oppression. . . .

"These are some of the forces that have set themselves against the fundamental principles of our government, against the religious liberty of the individual. In doing so, they have set themselves against the process by which the mighty progress of our nation was achieved, and against the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ; but in the promised power of that gospel our preachers and teachers and colporteurs go forth to proclaim the last message of Jesus Christ in the face of, and against the prohibition of, these confederations, knowing that to him belongeth the victory, and that in him their triumph is sure."

TOPIC No. 4, "The Proper Setting for Protests Against Romanism and the Infringement of Religious Liberty," was assigned to F. M. Wilcox, editor of the REVIEW AND HERALD. This paper will appear later in the editorial columns of the REVIEW.

Both papers mentioned above were discussed by the members of the convention. This report will be continued next week.