Christian Liberty by S. B. Horton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 13, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 24.

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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

TOPIC No. 5, "The Education and Development of Religious Liberty Secretaries," was considered by A. G. Daniells and D. W. Reavis. Emphasis was laid upon the fact that the religious liberty secretary should be very fully informed upon current events, and should qualify for his work by careful and painstaking study. Among other things, Brother Reavis said:—

"The religious liberty secretary should develop into an organizer,—a general who can lead the people at his disposal in a strong, systematic effort. He must be a strong believer in the efficiency of our message-filled literature in changing public sentiment, and in leading the people back to true principles. He must know the value of ink, the power of the press, and be able to create and to use a strong constituency in promoting his work."

Topics Nos. 6, 10, "Campaign Work; Petitions, Protests, Mass-Meetings, etc.," and "Work With Legislative Bodies," were considered by K. C. Russell and S. B. Horton. In these topics the importance of the petition work, and its utility in bringing our message before the attention of leading officials as well as before the rank and file of the laity, were dwelt upon. The value of protests and how to plan for mass-meetings and publicity work, also received proper attention. Experiences in dealing with public men in Congress and in State legislatures and constitutional conventions were referred to. Religious liberty secretaries were urged to deal with public men in a wise manner.

N. Z. Town prepared a paper on "The Place of Literature in Our Campaign Work," in which he said, among other things:—

"In the rise and progress of the third angel's message our literature has been one of the most important factors in promulgating the truth. It enters largely into every department of our work, not only in pioneering in new fields, but also in establishing those who are brought into the truth. Elder H. P. Holser once said, 'This work of circulating the printed page will probably be one of the greatest in the closing message.'"

"As the great final struggle is to be especially over this particular phase of the message which relates to religious liberty, we believe that what Brother Holser said will be true concerning the literature of this department of our work."

A good paper was read by A. J. S. Bourdeau on "The Use of Our Magazines Liberty and the Protestant in Religious Liberty Campaigns," and we regret, as in the case of other papers, that we are compelled to follow brevity in referring to it:—

"Our chief effort in all campaigns should be to reach the great common people with our religious liberty principles; for, in the words of Lincoln, 'He who molds public sentiment, goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. He makes statutes and decisions possible and impossible to be executed.' Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed."

"The sale of the magazines through agents is perhaps the best of all methods to be used in their distribution. It insures a most careful reading because of the financial investment on the part of the purchaser. It also provides a good living to the agent, as well as a particular education in the great university of life, and oftentimes he earns from one to three yearly scholarships in our own schools during a single vacation. . . ."

"The sale of these publications in connection with public lectures or tent efforts, is another excellent method. Hundreds of copies may be sold with ease at the conclusion of a religious liberty lecture."

Topic No. 8, "The Preparation and Publication of Articles in the Public Press," was considered by W. L. Burgan in a formal paper, and by S. B. Horton. In referring to the Press Bureau work since January 1, the paper said:—

"Many pages dealing with our denomination have been published in newspapers in different parts of the country. In fact, different phases of our truth have been published through the secular press from Maine to California and from Michigan to Texas. . . . In all the cities where the eight union conferences in the United States have been held this year, the newspapers have received the writers of the reports very courteously, and have also printed their articles. No estimate can be made of how many people have had an opportunity to read some phase of the last gospel message, and to learn the progress that is being made in carrying it to the ends of the earth. . . ."

Coming directly to the part that religious liberty secretaries can take in publishing our views to the world, there are many opportunities to bring the truth to the attention of the people. One of the most opportune times of having religious liberty principles published through the newspapers is during the session of the State legislature. . . . It would be best for our own workers to furnish the reports to the newspapers; there will then be no chance for a misrepresentation of our views, as might happen should any one not acquainted with our position on this question write the reports."

Attention was called to an instance in connection with press work. A synopsis of a sermon delivered in New Orleans was published in one of the local papers of that city, a copy of which found its way into the hands of a family living in Mississippi. Correspondence followed the reading of this synopsis, and as a consequence, three or four members of that family are now in the message.

Topic No. 9, "The Vital Topics for Short Institutes," was presented by W. A. Colcord in a very comprehensive paper.

Subjects selected for consideration at an institute should be such as will give those in attendance a clear conception of the forces, the issues, and the conditions which we have to meet. They should be such as will awaken a lively interest in the subject of religious liberty and inspire a desire to engage in religious liberty work, and should clearly outline both the work that needs to be done and how to do it. Such subjects as those planned for this short institute, or similar subjects, naturally suggest themselves for study and consideration in such a convention, and might be enumerated under the following topics:—

A Brief Study of the Fundamental Principles of Religion From a Bible Standpoint.
A Brief Study of the Papacy From the Standpoint of the Prophecies.
The Place and Importance of the Religious Liberty Work in Our Message.
The Rapid Strides Now Being Made by the Roman Power.
Protestant Organizations and Efforts to Unite Church and State.
The Sabbath; Its Origin, Nature, and Object, and How Its Blessings Can Be Secured.
Petition Work, Protests, Memorials, and Mass-Meetings.
The Circulation of Our Religious Liberty Literature.
The Preparation and Publication of Articles and Reports for the Public Press.
Work With Legislative Bodies—National, State, and Local.
Evils of a Union of Church and State From a Historical Standpoint.
A Brief Study of Our Religious Liberty Literature—the Leaflets, the magazines Protestant and Liberty, and "American State Papers."
What Can We Do to Help in This Work?

These are all vital and pertinent questions for us to consider at this time.

The closing topic of the convention, "Securing the Cooperation of Church-Members in the Department Work," was considered by J. L. McElhany and W. H. Heckman, who emphasized the importance of definite planning on the part of the churches. In

the Round Table Talk, the following books were recommended for religious liberty secretaries to secure: "The Story of Liberty," by Chas. C. Coffin (Harper and Brothers, 1876); "The Papacy and the Civil Power," by R. W. Thompson, ex-Secretary of the Navy; S. M. Cobb's "Rise of Religious Liberty in America;" D'Aubigne's "History of the Reformation;" J. A. Wylie's "History of Protestantism;" "Historical Studies," by Eugene Lawrence (Harper and Brothers); "Religious Liberty," by H. M. King (Preston and Rounds, publishers); "Church and State," A. Taylor Innes (Brentano); "Emancipation of Massachusetts;" and "American State Papers."

It was the sense of the convention that each union conference should place a man in the field who would give his entire time to the religious liberty work, and that local secretaries should be retained to assist as far as possible. The union conference presidents and committeemen who were present coincided with this recommendation. The Atlantic Union has already adopted this plan, and has a secretary devoting his entire time to religious liberty work. S. B. H.