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Review and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 9.

Publishers' Page

Review and Herald

Feb 28, 1907

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 28, 1907

Publishers' Page

Conducted by the Department of Circulation of the Review and Herald Publishing Association

Liberty—No. 4

Last April the first number of Liberty was printed. It being a quarterly magazine, only three numbers have been issued since. The fourth number is just now ready to mail, and in order to give our REVIEW readers some conception of the value of this issue, we give the subjoined explanatory outline of its contents:—

Survey of the Field

Noting the present religious liberty agitation in Bolivia, Russia, Spain, France, England, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States—other nations advancing in religious liberty, the United States retrograding.

Religious Freedom

Heaven-born,—the full right to choose,—liberty to worship or not to worship,—does not admit enforced observances.

A New Order of Things

Brought about by the Reformation and its principles crystallized into the Constitution of the United States.

Reformers’ Lobbying

How the National Reformers are lobbying Congress for their measures.

Is National Reform a Union of Church and State?

A minister’s query answered.

Timely Words from Washington Clergymen

Opposing coercive and legislative methods in religious reform.

“Backward States”

Interpreted by the Superintendent of the National Reform Bureau to be those which have prosecuted seventh-day observers for working on Sunday,—the inconsistency of clamoring for more rigid Sunday laws, which will produce much more of the same results that caused him to call them “backward States.”

The Struggle for Religious Liberty in Reformation Times

History of the struggle for religious liberty in the latter days of the old Roman empire, every line of which has its lessons and warnings for the present time.

A Man of Character

The testimony of a Christian business man, who has demonstrated that Sunday laws are not needed to enable a Christian to do right.

Making a Constitution

Giving the principles governing the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention in forming the constitution for the new State of Oklahoma.

Sunday Closing in Willimantic, Connecticut

History that reveals the inevitable confusion resulting from an attempt to enforce religious laws.

Some California Sunday Law History

Old Sunday laws having been declared unconstitutional, a bill providing for the constitutional amendment is now pending,—the proposed amendment and the reasons given why it should not be adopted.

An Old issue Rebelled

Through the Senate’s ordering the Postmaster-General to report on Sunday work—an old issue thoroughly discussed and settled on principle in 1830.

Compulsory Church Attendance in the Army

Citing a case in Columbus, Ohio, where Catholic soldiers were compelled to march as far as the church door.

Religious Persecution in the Land of the Free

Exposing the spirit prompting the prosecution of three seventh-day observers for Sunday labor in Spartanburg, S. C.

Religious Liberty in Canada

Data and facts pertaining to Canadian Sunday laws.

Shedding of Innocent Blood Destroys a Nation’s Prosperity

Spain’s crusade cited in evidence,—Mexico’s prosperity due to severing her union with the church.

Is the Church-and-State Argument against Senator Smoot Valid?

Senators Hopkins and Burrows maintain that there is nothing in the Constitution of the United States which prohibits a State from having an established religion.

A Zealous Kansas Mayor

Illustrating the partiality and inconsistency associated with enforcing Sunday observance by law.

Editorials and News Notes

Containing interesting and instructive comments upon the religious issues of the times.
Though Liberty is not yet a year old, it has become a recognized power in the advancing of the fundamental principles of religious liberty upon which this nation was founded, and by which it has won the enviable reputation of being “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” It has averaged a circulation of nearly 50,000 copies during the past nine months, and it is expected to reach 100,000 copies before the completion of its second year. The price of the magazine is only 25 cents a year. Five cents for a single copy, or 25 or more copies of any one issue, to one address, 2½ cents a copy. Address Liberty, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C.

The Church: Its Organization, Order, and Discipline

For a number of months the Review and Herald has had the manuscript for a new pamphlet entitled, “The Church: Its Organization, Order, and Discipline,” by Elder J. N. Loughborough, author of “Rise and Progress,” “The Great Advent Movement,” and other denominational works. This new pamphlet is now in type, and will soon be printed and ready to mail. Elder Loughborough is eminently qualified to prepare an authoritative work on church organization. He has been actively associated with our work from its beginning, and has ever been a close observer, and has made a special study of church organization and its discipline. His manuscript has been carefully examined and approved by those in authority in the denomination. His new work will therefore come from the press sanctioned by those who are expected to pass upon a publication that deals so vitally with the affairs of the denomination.
This new pamphlet will contain much valuable instruction upon the following general subjects, which are treated minutely under natural subdivisions: The Church: Its Foundation; The Church as a Building; The Head and the Body; The Shepherd and His Flock; The Under-Shepherd and the Flock; The Vine and Its Branches; The Light of the World; Rulers; Rebuking Sin; Authority in the Church; Christ’s Ambassadors; Unity of the Church; Order in the Ancient Church; Order in the Episcopal Church; Submission Versus Creed; Power and Force; Calling Out of the Last Church; Anarchy or Order, Which? Development of Order; Support of the Ministry; State Conferences; Delegate Conference and Church Organization; Numerical Representation and Committees; Caution to the Church; Timely Advice to the Church; Reorganization; Answers to Questions, etc. The pamphlet will contain 182 pages filled with information every church officer ought to possess. The probable cost of the pamphlet will be 25 cents, post-paid.

New Edition of the 1907 Year-Book

The demand for the 1907 Year-Book is surprising. The first edition was so quickly ordered out that it seemed necessary to print a second edition; so a small edition has been run, and all orders can be promptly filled. No doubt the improvements in this Year-Book over former editions make it more desirable. A copy of the 1907 Year-Book ought to be in the homes of all who are interested in the work it represents. There is in the minds of many people an impression that the Adventists are a small, disorganized people, and that they and their work will soon pass away. This conception often prevents honest persons from seriously investigating the positions taken by this people. The Year-Book shows the thoroughly organized work in all parts of the world, together with a clear statement of the fundamental principles of the denomination, and will do more to favorably impress such people than any other publication we put out. The Year-Book, therefore, can and should be judiciously used in missionary work. Price, 25 cents, post-paid.
It will soon be the time of the year when increased efforts will be made in the organizing of Sabbath-school kindergarten classes. We wish to call the attention of our readers to “Bible Object Lessons and Songs for Little Ones.” This excellent kindergarten book contains 52 lessons, one for each Sabbath in the year, with suggestions accompanying each lesson; 39 songs and hymns written for the lessons; 36 full-page pictures, 6 x 8 half-tones, and colored plates; 52 pen drawings, showing the use of the illustrative material. The whole book contains 160 pages, beautifully printed and profusely illustrated. The book is bound in four styles: board cover, 7½ by 10 inches in size, $1.50; blue cloth, $2; lemon edge, royal edition, $2.75; gilt edges, panel size, $3.75.
Orders for the above-named publications may be sent to any State tract society or any of our publishing houses.

The Victories of Faith

(Continued)
Christ, as we have learned again and again, is the revelation of what God designs humanity to be; that is to say, he is the revelation of the character of God as revealed in his law, the standard for man.
I would like to go back a little of the explicit statement of God’s law as set forth in the ten commandments, taking up the underlying principles of that law. The definition of God as to character, is “God is love.” Every revelation of God is but a revelation of his love. This is easy to see in the words of the scripture, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In the death of Christ on the cross, it is easy to see the revelation of God’s love; but, on the other side, even in the carrying out of the punishment for sin, God’s love is revealed. There is nothing that God does, there is nothing that he says, that is not a revelation of his character, which is love. We are required by faith to believe this, and to understand that every expression of what God is in any way is to the world an expression of his character.
Before rebellion came into the universe, this was all the statement of law that was necessary. The love of God in the hearts of his creatures led them to be in perfect harmony with him. God revealed himself continually in their lives by the very power of love. But when rebellion came into God’s universe, and a change came over the universe, it became necessary to reveal more definitely the principles which underlie that expression of love, that man might understand more clearly how love to God would reveal itself, that when God gives himself, he gives his very life to us.
When God was creating the world, he placed his love upon nature, and nature responded. To be sure, it has been marred by sin, and the page written by the hand of love has been blurred, yet we have in nature a revelation of the love and life of God. The commandments given to nature were but statements of God’s love. God said, “Let there be light: and there was light;” and light continues because of the obedience of nature to that command. But when man received the commandment to reveal God’s will, he was placed in possession of a voluntary will. Man must co-operate with God, in order that the words, “Let us make man in our own image,” shall be fulfilled. Those words were but another revelation of the love of God, and they contain the life and the power to make man in the image of God, and to keep him there, if man is but submissive to the word of God. All the unfolding of the plan of salvation is but the unfolding of that command, “Let us make man in our image.”
When sin entered the world, and man’s mind was darkened by becoming estranged from God, it became necessary that God should still further unfold his plan of salvation, and this he did by giving the precepts of the law, which are but a revealing of the original command, “Let us make man in our image,” defining plainly what the image is, in order that man may co-operate with God in the carrying out of his thought.
Time goes on, the mind of man still darkened by sin, and the thought of God more and more shut away from the world, and those who professed to teach God, making him one in their minds with the heathen idols; then God revealed his love in life, and what he had revealed to man in the precepts of his law as an unfolding of his thought, “God is love,” he shows to the world in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in the flesh is but the unfolding, in concrete form, of the statement, “God is love.” The example revealed in the life of Jesus Christ is obedience to God’s commandments, and nothing short of that is obedience. It does not meet God’s mind that we simply attempt to make our lives like the life of Christ. We meet God’s mind only when we submit to the power of his life, that it may work in us the very life of God. That is carrying out the command, “Let us make man in our image;” that is carrying out the law in its perfection. To keep the commandments of God is to reveal the life of God. That is spiritual obedience to a spiritual law.
What Christ did, faith in Christ can do. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” I want you to take that statement, “I have kept my Father’s commandments,” as a statement of what it means to keep God’s law. The life of Christ simply reveals to humanity what it is to lead a life in harmony with God. When the Pharisees found fault with Christ’s life, he referred them to the Word of God, and showed them that wherein they found fault with him, he was simply revealing in life what God had given in word,—that he was the Truth.
We may distinguish between three phases of truth, so to speak. We may have word-truth, we may have thought-truth, and we may have life-truth. We have word-truth when we take the word of God simply as words, simply as a vehicle in which to convey truth, the description of truth. We take those words into the intellect, and it becomes thought-truth, but it becomes life-truth when revealed in the daily life. Jesus Christ was always life-truth. God’s commandments are truth, but they may be word-truth or thought-truth or life-truth, according as we relate ourselves to them. If we treat them simply aswords, they are to us but word-truth; if we take them into our intellect so far as finite man can do, they become thought-truth; but when they come to us as revealed in Jesus Christ, they become life-truth. It is God’s design that all his truth shall be life-truth, and faith is the principle that changes word-truth and thought-truth into life-truth.
Christ was the embodiment of life-truth, and therefore, when he says, “I have kept my Father’s commandments,” it means that his whole life was simply a revelation of the life-truth of God’s law. Faith is to do for us, and to reveal through us, that very same thing,—the life-truth of God’s law. “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” That was exactly what Jesus Christ did. He established the law in his life, and we by our faith do the same thing; we establish the law of God, not as word-truth, not as thought-truth, but as life-truth. Then the renewing power of the life of Christ is seen in the individual, the character is changed, and we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. And nothing short of this meets God’s mind concerning our experience.
(To be continued)

Effective Preaching

By Editor

Editorial

Effective Preaching

THE test of successful preaching is in the results. It is not always the man who pleases the people the best who does them the most good. The most effective preaching is that which actually leads them to confess and forsake their sins, and to lay hold upon the saving grace of Christ. This was the result of the preaching of John the Baptist, and it is the result to be aimed at to-day. “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

For Sale

By W. A. S.

Guadalajara

In a report from Mexico, in the issue of January 10, referring briefly to the work in Guadalajara, I made this reference to the medical institution formerly operated there by the Medical Missionary Association: “Just before that association went into liquidation, as most of our readers know, the Guadalajara real estate was taken over by the Michigan Sanitarium Association. The attorney of that corporation is now in Guadalajara disposing of the property. It is closed as a sanitarium, and a portion of the property has already been sold.”
An unsigned note has come to hand, addressed to the editor, upon paper bearing the letter-head, “Hotel Sanatorio de Guadalajara.” It is undoubtedly written by the manager and attorney, and I quote from it as follows, as the writer apparently takes exception to the report that the property was “closed as a sanitarium,” and desires correction made:—
I wish to say that the statements there made are entirely misleading and incorrect. The Guadalajara Sanitarium has not been and is not closed, and its affairs are not, and never have been, in a state of liquidation, by any representative of the Battle Creek Sanitarium that has been sent here for that purpose. I have explained to Elder Spicer and to others just what my mission here is, and who I represent. I have repeatedly said, and I say it to you again, that I have not and do not intend to close this place.
I would gladly accept any correction in phraseology required, but need only call attention to the fact that the manager's note does not state that the place is open “as a sanitarium.” My report that the property was not being operated as a sanitarium—which suggested no reflection upon the manager, I may say—was the manager's own statement to me in personal conversation, in which he explained freely that he had no medical help employed, gave no treatments, but simply let rooms with or without board, while endeavoring to sell off the property. In other words, it was operating as a rooming house or hotel property. This is borne out by the following advertisement, running in a Guadalajara paper at the time of my visit:—

For Sale

The desirable Hotel Property known as the

Sanatorio de Guadalajara

Beautifully located. All modern conveniences. With or without equipment. Complete printing plant also for sale. Furnished rooms, single or en suite, together with table board, if desired. Also family apartments.
This advertisement may be taken as a sufficiently full statement of the facts, to which the report made but the briefest reference. I regret the space required to state these facts, but wished to give the writer of the note the desired opportunity to make his correction of the report.
W. A. S.

AS Others. See Us

By C. M. S.

It may not be amiss for us to take a look at ourselves once in a while in the garb that an unfriendly cartoonist pictures us wearing. In thus doing it may be possible for us to show the artist where he has caricatured us when he meant only to picture our likeness.
We have never expected that our attitude toward the Sunday question would meet with approval on the part of those who keep Sunday and wish to compel others to do so. Neither have we expected any applause for our position on the question of religious legislation and the union of church and state from those who are seeking to make men and nations religious by law. Therefore we are not so greatly astonished as we otherwise might be when we read such statements as the following from the Methodist Christian Advocate, of New York; for the Advocate believes in the Sunday institution, and believes in the union of church and state—in practise if not in theory. But we are a little surprised that the Advocate should go so far in its disapproval of our position as some of its statements and its approval of the California Christian Advocate’s statements would indicate. We quote:—

The Seventh-day Adventists Active Against the Protection of Sunday by Law

The California Christian Advocate has an editorial on the activity of Seventh-day Adventism. It alleges that some time ago an effort was made to secure better observance of Sunday in Washington, D. C., and that the whole strength of the Seventh-day Adventists was used to betray the measure, and affirms that now “in California an effort is being made to re-establish the Christian Sunday as a day of rest. The Seventh-day Advent brethren are aroused to the highest degree of moral stress to prevent the legislature from taking any action.” The editor continues: “It never seems to occur to these good brethren that common ethics, ordinary respect for morality, would dictate quiescence if not co-operation. This childish stubbornness on the part of the Adventists shows how far they are in the rear of the procession of events. If the contention had any ground in ethics or in piety or in common sense, we might be willing to come to Saturday or Wednesday or any day of the week in order to have one day of rest, but to come to Saturday would be to rehabilitate a sheer mechanical religious despotism.”
We have noticed the activity of the Seventh-day Adventists in connection with Sunday laws, and have seen a spirit in some of them which we can not harmonize with a wide view. We agree that they are justified in keeping Saturday as the Sabbath, that is, justified by their own methods of interpretation, with which we do not agree. We are willing that the laws should recognize their conscientious convictions by indulging them in using Sunday as they please up to the point where they would tend to demoralize its religious use by the Christian nations of the world, precisely as we sympathize with conscientious Jews—to the same extent and no more. But when the Seventh-day Adventists, knowing well by long experience that they can not make any inroads upon the belief of the Christian nations or their practise, act in a manner that shows that they would be glad to see all the remaining restrictions (which, while allowing every man to make it a day of rest, make a day of worship possible for the religious part of the immense preponderance of the population that regard Sunday as the day for religion) taken away, and thus, without themselves accomplishing anything, would be the means of overthrowing in large degree the influence of the Christian sabbath, we may not agree with our contemporary in calling it “childish stubbornness;” but we beg to substitute for that phrase this sentence: “The activity under the circumstances is an aberration of judgment and conscience which brings forth the same effects as childish, that is, unconsidered, stubbornness would produce.”
Now our Methodist brethren must know that if the “Christian Sunday” has been disestablished in California, the only place it can be truly re-established is in the heartsof the people there. It can not be done by law without religious coercion, which is contrary both to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to the fundamental principles of our government. But when it is established in the hearts of the people, it is a thousand times more firmly established than it would be if established by human law. And what right, brethren Advocates, has any set of men to establish a religious practise by a human law? Religion pertains to the things of God; and each man is accountable for himself to God. God does not judge a man for that man and some one else. Therefore no man is accountable to God for himself and some one else. Therefore no man has a right to compel any other man to do as he does in matters of religion. A divine institution established on a human law is a most inexcusable monstrosity. Nothing of the kind ever originated in heaven; and nothing of a religious character that did not originate in heaven is worthy of a moment’s notice on the part of any individual in this world. God has left men free to choose whether they would serve him or not; and any religious institution that comes to us with the compulsion of human law behind it placards itself with the declaration of heaven’s disapproval.
Seventh-day Adventists are not protesting against the right of any individual to rest when or where he chooses. They do not protest against any man’s worshiping God when he chooses—even if he chooses to rest and worship on a day which the Creator never appointed for such purposes. But they do protest against a union of church and state (or religion and the state as some are now putting it) in this country. They protest against the enforcement of any belief, tenet, or creed by law. They protest against the attempt to make men religious by civil law. They protest against making criminals of Christians because those Christians choose to obey God rather than men—as recently happened through the enforcement of a Sunday law in Spartanburg, S. C., and as has occurred in many other States of this Union.
Seventh-day Adventists would regard it as a terrible calamity if the States or the nation should seek to enforce the observance of Saturday as the Sabbath. It would then be in truth what the Advocate calls “a sheer mechanical religious despotism.” And that is what Sunday laws are now making of Sunday wherever they are in force. Whether or not the Sabbath of Jehovah is “a sheer mechanical religious despotism,” we shall leave for the editor of the Advocate to settle with the Author of the institution. Seventh-day Adventists did not have anything to do with making the seventh-day Sabbath. Their duty is fulfilled when they keep it; and in so doing they have found blessing and comfort and rest and strength. It has never come to them as “a sheer mechanical religious despotism,”—far from it. Heaven’s richest blessing and sweetest liberty are experienced in its observance; and therefore they do not need a human law to help them or to compel them to keep it. The fact of the matter is, they would keep it if the civil law were against it; for in religious things they recognize the supremacy of the divine command over the human.
And is this “childish stubbornness”? We are sorry for their own sakes that the Advocates have used such an expression and its equivalent; for surely they know that it is not wise nor kind thus to characterize the conscientious standing for a sacred principle. If it be right thus to do, then every God-fearing man since the days of Adam who has stood for principle has been childishly stubborn. Witness then the “stubbornness” of the three Hebrews who opposed the united worship of all Babylon. Witness the “stubbornness” of Daniel, who continued to pray when it was “against the law,” and when the threat of death hung over him for doing so. Witness the “stubbornness” of Elijah in Israel when he stood for principle against practically the whole nation, and was accused of being the troubler of Israel. Witness the “stubbornness” of Paul in standing for principle against the traditions and injustice of his countrymen and the restrictions of pagan Rome—a “stubbornness” which resulted in his martyrdom.
In fact, witness the “stubbornness” of the fifty million martyrs who paid with their lives for their protest against the “legal religion” of their day. There is no doubt that the ponderous Roman hierarchy regarded the course of these Christian people as “an aberration of judgment and conscience,” and so she took to rectifying that “aberration” by her own legal process. The spirit of many of the advocates of Sunday laws, and the persecution that has already resulted from them, compel us to believe that there are many in these days who would be willing to rectify that “aberration” even as Rome did when she had the power.
C. M. S.

Two Vacant Places in the Mission Field Ranks

By W. A. S.

THE missionary advance is a conflict at home and abroad. Again we are sadly reminded of it by news from abroad. Dr. A. W. George, of Constantinople, and Brother Charles W. Enoch, of Trinidad, West Indies, both true medical missionaries, have fallen in the service.
Dr. A. W. George had labored in Turkey since 1903, a faithful worker in both medical and evangelistic effort. He held to his post until failing strength compelled him to retire, a few months ago, stricken with consumption. He died at the Friedensau Sanitarium. The family in Nebraska received the news by cable February 13. His brother, Dr. W. A. George, of College View, writes: —
My brother has always been a self-sacrificing boy — ready to work hard and take a hard place, and now that he has fallen after only a few years in the hard field which he chose, I hope that the work in Turkey will be in no way hindered, but that his death may only stimulate others to take up the work and do more, perhaps, than he could do. If so, we can feel that our sacrifice in giving him up will be repaid.
These are precious gifts to the cause of God, of loved one on the part of the family, and of life itself on the part of the worker.
On the fifth of February the cable brought the message from Trinidad, West Indies, that Brother Charles W. Enoch, who, with his wife, had opened treatment rooms there, was dead. Now mail news brings the word that his death was very sudden, and by fever. Elder S. A. Wellman writes from Port of Spain: —
His death comes as a heavy loss to us here. He had every prospect of splendid success in his work. His wife, though sick and broken with the shock, is of good courage in the Lord, and earnestly desires that the work begun should be carried forward by others. Brother Enoch died of good courage. He knew that he must lay down his work. We buried him near the graves of Elders Crowther and Flower, there to await the call of the Life-giver. How these graves make us long for the hastening of the end, and we feel to dedicate our all as never before to the work of the Lord.
Elder George F. Enoch, just returned from the West Indies, on his way to India, writes: —
The news of the death of my brother has flashed over the wires like a bolt out of a clear sky. Only one month ago I left him well and strong, just opening the Trinidad Treatment Rooms, with the brightest prospects. I am thankful that he died at his post of duty. After all, these are but sad incidents to the man out on the firing line. When he takes his place there in a strange climate, amid changed surroundings, he knows that just such sacrifices must mark our advance. The last thought of such a falling worker is not of regret at having made the effort, but rather, Will some one grasp the standard as it falls from my hands? While our hearts are bowed in sadness in our affliction, still the thought presses heavily upon us, will this branch of the work in the West Indies, which we strove together so hard to get upon its feet, be now left to languish for the lack of consecrated workers? We have no regrets to offer, but take this bereavement as one more link to bind our lives on the altar of missionary endeavor.
Thus, even amid sorrow, the word of courage is spoken, lest any should hold back from service. The Lord has in preparation, somewhere, the workers who are to step in and fill up the ranks.
W. A. S.

Organization—No. 5

By Arthur G. Daniells

A Brief Account of Its History in the Development of the Cause of the Third Angel’s Message

The opposition our people felt to organization was dealt with fairly. It was not arrogantly silenced by a large majority, nor overridden by the dominating power of a minority. The whole question of organization received careful, serious study, and free, full, and open discussion. This resulted in convincing the large majority of our people that instead of being the evil, dangerous thing it had been represented to be, organization was a wise and necessary provision given by the Lord for the welfare of his cause in the earth.
More or less of the discussion of this question was carried on in the columns of the REVIEW. Some who were opposed to organization made use of the paper to give their reasons for their opposition, and also to make suggestions as to how to manage the affairs of the cause without organization. Those who believed that organization was necessary gave their reasons for the position they held. It is mainly from the articles that appeared in the REVIEW on this question that we are able to trace the history of this phase of our cause prior to the time organization was effected.
The first response made to Elder White’s call for organization came from our esteemed brother, Elder J. N. Loughborough. This response was prompt, definite, and positive, and was decidedly in favor of organization. It appeared in the second number of the paper printed after the call for organization was made. After giving the situation a careful review, Brother Loughborough said: “I am in favor of organizing by law, that we may be able to hold and legally protect our church property.”
During the forty-six years that have since passed, our brother has been a firm, consistent advocate of gospel organization, and has practised what he has advocated. And who could reasonably ask for greater liberty than he has enjoyed while adhering to the details of our denominational organization?
The next response to the call for organization came from one of the associate editors of the REVIEW. His position was expressed as follows:—
Brother White has asked the brethren to speak in relation to his proposition to secure the property of the church. I do not know precisely what measure he intends in his suggestion, but understand it is to get incorporated as a religious body according to law. For myself I think it would be wrong to “make a name,” since that lies at the foundation of Babylon. I do not think that God would approve of it. . . .
Brother White asks for suggestions for a better plan. He has already proposed that the books should be sent out into different States. This I think would be well. Let them be distributed around for safe keeping, and for convenience. I would take one hundred dollars’ worth, and many others in the wide field would do the same. Then the office with what remains, after those engaged therein have performed their duty faithfully, can be safely trusted in the hands of Him who owns the whole.
Those that lend money to the office, lend it to the Lord, and they must trust the Lord for it. If he sees fit to let them lose it here, if they are faithful he will repay them hereafter. He will not fail. He has no lack of means. And he will do what is best for those that trust in him.—Review and Herald, Vol. XV, page 140, March 22, 1860.
In the same article this writer reviews Elder Loughborough’s article, in the course of which he says:—
We can trust each other, thank the Lord! and if any man proves a Judas, we can still bear the loss and trust the Lord. . . .
The responsibility of the office debts and liabilities ought not, and in my estimation, does not, rest upon Brother White. I am glad he has spoken upon this point. If any have means in the office that they are unwilling to trust to the Lord and his people as a body, without making any individual or individuals responsible for the same, I hope they will withdraw it. The church can raise the amount and pay them off. There may be those that need what they have lent to the office. Such certainly should be paid.—Id., page 141.
The main reason here given against organizing is that in doing so they would be obliged to take a name by which to be known, and in doing this they would become a part of Babylon.
The suggestion made for storing and safe-guarding the books from the time they were printed until they were sold was that they be distributed in lots of one hundred dollars’ worth among the homes of the brethren and sisters in the different States, to be held until called for. Such a suggestion shows how very limited and unbusinesslike were the views of some at least regarding the great and important place the publishing work was to occupy in this cause.
As to the debts of the publishing house, the writer believed that these should not rest upon any specific person or persons, but upon all the believers generally, and that all who were not willing to trust the Lord and this unnamed body of believers would better keep their money in their own care.
The brother who took this position against organization was one of the editors of the REVIEW, and a very conscientious and influential minister in the Eastern States, where the majority of our people lived. His public opposition had the effect of confirming many in their anti-organization views.
Elder White replied to this statement in an article filling seven columns of the REVIEW. By this time the question was before the people in real earnest, and it never ceased to be studied and discussed until the great majority of our people recognized the necessity of organization, and applied it to churches, conferences, and institutions. A. G. DANIELLS.

Note and Comment

Men frequently assume that there are laws higher than the written law, and thus assuming, make laws of their own or perform acts contrary to all law, and justify them by “the higher unwritten law.” This is a most dangerous procedure in reference to both human and divine law. It puts the club, the rope, and the faggot in the hands of lynchers, sacrifices the lives of innocent and guilty together, and spreads the fabric of human life before the new generation at a “marked down” valuation. At least two ministers last Sunday took for their text the unprintable Thaw trial now on in New York City, put themselves in the position of judge and jury, and pronounced guiltless and worthy of commendation the man indicted for murder. All this because of a certain “higher unwritten law.” Concerning this the New York Sun says:—
It is more than pitiful to hear murder justified and commended from the pulpit, and to find there not the influences of the sermon on the mount, but the loose mouthings of the yellow neurotics. . . . To weep over the red hand, to proclaim the gospel according to Cain—here silly lips in the pulpit breed new murders. These violent clergymen are using all the power of their sacred office and of their standing in the community to pull down the law and to promote murder, an industry in which the United States already stands at the head.
It is a far cry from such a course to the commission given by our Lord to his followers. But a similar course, with equally serious results, is that which many professed followers of Christ are taking in interpreting the law of God to suit their wishes or convenience, or in setting their own acts above that law.

California Religious Liberty Opposition

The California Religious Liberty Association is thoroughly awake to the dangers threatening that State in the proposed amendment of the constitution so as to make possible a State Sunday law. Millions of pages of religious liberty literature are being circulated among the people, and nearly fifteen thousand petitions of qualified voters have been secured against the proposed amendment. The people of California are having a chance to learn the principles of religious liberty. Let the good work go on; there is much more in it than the matter of our people's immunity from arrest.
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