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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · May 30, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 22.

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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

A two days' convention of the Religious liberty secretaries of the Atlantic and Columbia Union Conferences was held at Takoma Park, May 15, 16. There were in attendance at this convention the conference presidents of the different States composing the unions, and other laborers. The following delegates were present:—
Atlantic Union: W. B. White, J. E. Jayne, J. F. Piper, W. O. Howe, H. C. Hartwell, L. S. Wheeler, C. H. Edwards, R. D. Quinn, L. T. Nicola, H. W. Carr, and T. B. Westbrook.
Columbia Union: B. G. Wilkinson, J. L. McElhany, W. H. Heckman, A. R. Bell, B. F. Kneeland, N. S. Ashton, E. K. Slade, J. F. Olmsted, W. J. Stone, S. Kime, and J. F. Steele.
In addition to the persons mentioned there were present: A. G. Daniells, W. T. Knox, G. B. Thompson, K. C. Russell, E. R. Palmer, N. Z. Town, W. A. Colcord, D. W. Reavis, W. R. Andrews, J. C. Stevens, W. L. Burgan, H. S. Prener, G. B. Starr, A. V. Cotton, C. M. Snow, A. J. S. Bourdeau, and F. M. Wilcox.
W. W. Prescott, the secretary of the General Conference Department, acted as chairman, and S. B. Horton as secretary.
The program was as follows:—
1. The Place and Importance of the Work of the Religious Liberty Department in This Advent Movement. A. G. Daniells—G. B. Thompson.
2. The Aggressiveness of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, and Our Relation to It. W. W. Prescott.
3. The Efforts of Various Protestant Organizations to Unite Religion and the State. C. M. Snow.
4. The Proper Setting for Protests Against Romanism and the Infringement of Religious Liberty. F. M. Wilcox.
5. The Training and Development of Religious Liberty Secretaries. A. G. Daniells—D. W. Reavis.
6. Campaign Work: Petitions, Protests, Mass-Meetings, etc. K. C. Russell—S. B. Horton.
7. The Place of Literature in Our Campaign Work. N. Z. Town. Use of Our Magazines. A. J. S. Bourdeau.
8. The Preparation and Publication of Articles in the Public Press. W. L. Burgan—S. B. Horton.
9. The Vital Topics for Short Institutes. W. A. Colcord.
10. Work With Legislative Bodies. K. C. Russell.
11. Securing the Cooperation of Church-Members in the Department Work. J. L. McElhany—W. H. Heckman.
On account of the brief time allotted, speeches were limited, those in charge of the topics having ten and five minutes in which to present their views.
A. G. Daniells and G. B. Thompson led out in the first topic, emphasizing the fact that the responsibilities of the Religious Liberty Department were most important, that the work of warning against the worship of the beast and his image is the message, and urged that in view of the movements now at work in this country to thwart the purpose of its founders, and owing to the manifest impotency of Protestantism as at present constituted, an active and ceaseless campaign of education through the distribution of literature is required.
Brother Thompson quoted from Volume V of the Testimonies showing the place and importance of the religious liberty work, and the great need of our properly relating ourselves to it at this time.
The second topic, regarding the Roman Catholic encroachments and aggressiveness in the United States, was presented by W. W. Prescott. The spectacular functions of the Roman Church, its persistent activities and bold insistence to make the United States Catholic through ingratiating herself with public officials and by a system of boycott, were directly pointed out. Attention was also called to the matter of the wearing of a religious garb in the Indian schools controlled by the government, a hearing upon which was held before the Secretary of the Interior.
The sessions of the Religious Liberty Convention alternated with the meetings of the council of the city evangelists.
This report will be continued next week. S. B. H.