In the death of Elder Joseph Madison Rees, as announced in the REVIEW last week, the cause of truth has lost a devoted and loyal advocate. His long years of service and his wide range of operation in connection with our church work, together with the spirit of Christian helpfulness and genial companionship which ever characterized his relationship to his associates, endeared him to many hearts. These will be interested in the following record of his life and labors in the gospel ministry:—
Brother Rees was born in eastern Tennessee, Dec. 17, 1844. When he was four years of age, his parents moved to New London, Ind., and here he grew to manhood. At the age of eleven years he was left an orphan. This sad experience, although disappointing to his early hopes, was nevertheless turned to good advantage in the development of those qualities of perseverance and strength which were characteristic of his later life, and which constituted him a stanch leader of his fellows.
The call for volunteers in connection with the Civil War thrilling his young heart, he enlisted in 1862 as a member of Company G, of the Eighty-ninth Indiana Regiment. He served most creditably as a soldier, and was mustered out at the close of the war, in 1865. About one year after retiring to civil life, he was married to Miss Melvina Seaward. She was a Christian and an observer of the seventh day as the Sabbath. Her religious faith deeply engaged the attention of her husband, and the year following, through faithful study, directed by the prayers and example of his godly companion, he accepted the system of truth and doctrines held by this church. Its principles appealed to his heart. He felt that upon him rested the duty of going forth to proclaim the gospel of the coming kingdom to his fellow men. Accordingly, closing out his prosperous business as a merchant, he began, in 1877, publicly to preach the gospel. Fruit attended his early labors, and convinced his brethren of the genuineness of his call to the ministry of the word. Hence the year following, in 1878, he was ordained a minister in the Indiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. In this State he labored till 1886, when he began his long service of official responsibility in church work. He was sent by the General Conference to take charge of the North Carolina Mission field. The following year he was invited to accept the presidency of the Tennessee Conference. Here he remained till the autumn of 1889, when, on account of his wife’s failing health, he was compelled to return to Indiana, where he continued in public labor till 1893. He then became president of the Arkansas Conference. After this, from the years 1895 to 1906, he filled the position of president in the conferences of Oklahoma, Colorado, Missouri, and Southern Illinois. In January, 1906, he voluntarily retired from his official labors, feeling that his own health, as well as his wife’s, demanded that he should be less burdened with the care and perplexity attending conference management. Returning to his old home conference, he again became a laborer in Indiana. But the anticipated rest and relief did not long continue. His experience was again needed in the work in which he had rendered such efficient service for many years. He was asked to respond to the earnest appeal of the West Virginia Conference. Hence, in the autumn of 1907, he accepted the presidency of that field, and entered upon his last charge, in which he was doing most acceptable work at the time of his death, April 8.
FROM A LATE PHOTOGRAPH OF ELDER
J. M. REES
Beginning his public life in 1877, Elder Rees engaged in the Christian ministry for a period of thirty-two years. For more than twenty years of that time he occupied the position of conference president. His work was uniformly successful both in soul saving and in executive administration. The latter work he accepted only as the call of duty, the former was his chief delight. In the presentation of the truth for this generation, and in leading men from the thraldom of sin to the liberty of the sons of God, he found his greatest pleasure.
The last few weeks of Elder Rees’s life seemed particularly marked with hope and abiding trust. He often spoke to his family and friends of his confidence in God and his strong hope in the speedy triumph of the work to which he had devoted his life.
As already stated, funeral services were conducted in Washington, D. C. These were attended by the only son, Prof. D. D. Rees, of Mt. Vernon (Ohio) College, and the two daughters, Mrs. Smith and Miss Pearl L. Rees, the latter being the secretary and treasurer of the West Virginia Conference. These, with one daughter, deceased, constitute the children of Elder Rees. Unfortunately the afflicted wife and mother, who has been practically a helpless invalid for eight years, was unable to be present, being confined to her bed in the Washington Sanitarium. Three of Elder Rees’s fellow ministers conducted the funeral service, while six other fellow ministers acted as pallbearers. The body was taken to the old home at Kokomo, Ind., where, after final services, it was interred in the family burying-ground.
Brother Rees rests from his faithful labors, but the influence of his godly life still lives. That influence, gathering strength and volume with passing years, will constitute a monument to his memory more enduring than that of granite or marble. The full fruit of his labors of love he will see and rejoice in throughout the eternity of the redeemed.
The sudden fatality resulting in the tragic death of our lamented brother, as well as similar occurrences of daily happening throughout the world, should appeal with solemn admonition to every observer. We know not what may wait on the morrow in our experience. Now is the accepted time. To-day and every day should there be a squaring of accounts, a knowledge of divine acceptance, a constant abiding in Christ Jesus. Our times are in his hands; and whether we live or die, we should commit to him, moment by moment, the keeping of the life here and the realization of the life that is to come.
F. M. W.
A Good Record
By A. J. S. BOURDEAU
Georgia’s Monthly Report of Magazine Sales
THE following report is for the four weeks ending March 27:—
AGENT
HOURS
SOLD
VALUE
W. D. Hughes
3
2
$ .20
Mrs. Highsmith
4
25
2.50
Mrs. Rainwater
12
180
18.00
T. Henderson
43
333
33.30
Mrs. M. Gale
46
269
26.90
Maude Rainwater
13
375
37.50
Mariah Macmillan
16
254
25.40
Mrs. C. C. Hunt
63
606
60.60
Myrtle Maxwell
43
1002
100.20
Totals
243
3046
$304.60
Summary
Number of agents reporting . . . . . . 9
Average hours’ work a week . . . . . . 6¾
Average hours’ work a day, 5 working days a week, 1 hr., 24 min. or 1½
Average copies sold an hour . . . . . 12½
Value of sales an hour . . . . . . . . $1.25
The average profit to each agent was 75 cents, or 87½ cents an hour, according to the number of magazines ordered in each case.
We are, indeed, pleased at the efforts of Brother A. L. Manous, field missionary agent of Georgia, to place the periodical business of that State upon the same methodical basis as our regular book business, securing from the agents full reports of the number of hours worked, copies sold, and value of sales. We trust that many other conferences will adopt a regular system of reporting periodical sales in their territory. The sale of ten of our ten-cent magazines for one dollar will doubtless do as much to spread the third angel’s message as the sale of a dollar book. They may, in fact, do a greater work; for they introduce the truth to ten families instead of only one.
The above report, just as it came from Brother Manous, shows that our ten-cent periodicals are being sold with good success in the South. A glance at our department, “The Work and the Workers” (page 2), each week will reveal the fact that hundreds of our agents in all parts of the land are meeting with equal success in disposing of these attractive messengers of truth. And, the17best part of it all is that many who heretofore have not been considered good canvassers, are making some of our best records.
We trust that as far as possible our periodical agents will order their magazines through, and arrange for territory with, their State tract society, who are the legitimate purveyors of all our denominational literature in their territory.
A. J. S. BOURDEAU.
Hunan, China
By Percival J. Laird
CHANG-SHA.—A few items gathered from our experiences in the dispensary during the past week may be of interest. One day four men of affluence and influence called to have their eyes examined for treatment. While two were having their eyes tested for spectacles, we had a most interesting conversation with them all, and found they were of the family who are running the largest girls' school in Hunan, which has between three hundred and four hundred girls. We hope, as a result of this visit, that we may be able to look over their school at some future date. When they left, each kindly consented to take away three tracts. This is but another evidence that “the medical work is the right arm of the message.” And when we remember that these men belong to the same household as the notorious man Chow Han, who is undergoing a life sentence at Changsha for publishing and distributing anti-foreign literature, which it is said was responsible in part for the murder of foreigners in the Yangtse Valley some years ago, we are glad that even these silent messengers for the truth have entered yet another of Satan's strongholds.18It is interesting in this connection to state that although this Chow Han was at one time holding a high government appointment, yet he had his sons learn how to cut characters from wood blocks, because, it is said, he feared he would get no one else to prepare his literature lest they might be brought under the limb of the law.
The visit of these four men to our dispensary was a pleasant contrast to two cases of poor men who had come no less than fifty Chinese miles to see if the doctor could restore their lost vision. Four months ago one of these poor men had had no trouble with his eyes, but, owing to some slight affection, he rubbed them until he had destroyed his sight completely. We can almost hear his words now, as he said, in effect: “If only one had known what to do!” The other man will also soon be totally blind; and mainly through ignorance. O, how we long for the time when so many cases may not have to be turned away as at present! Our quarters are so ill adapted for surgery, and so badly lighted, that it would be very unwise to operate. Moreover, the doctor has no qualified nurse to assist her in such cases. PERCIVAL J. LAIRD.
Mexico's Awakening
By A. Allen John, M. D.
THE work of bringing the third angel's message before the Mexican people has been one of great difficulty. It is useless to dwell upon the causes which have hindered, further than to confess and deplore our weaknesses. Our organization is even yet incomplete; and the natural indifference is so characteristic as to be easily ranked as a sign of the times.
Little by little, changes for the better have taken place; a feeling of unity prevails; our organization is shaping more perfectly; and there is manifested, in different places, an interest to hear and obey the truth, which has attracted the attention of the Catholic clergy and the secular press. For some time the efforts have centered on the publishing work, and the results are encouraging. The clipping from the Mexican Herald shows how our paper, El Mensajero, is rated by the clergy—condemned with the Holy Scriptures:—
“CATHOLICS FORBIDDEN TO READ PROTESTANT BIBLES
“Special Dispatch to The Herald.
“MORELIA, MARCH 27.—Circulars issued by the higher church authorities of this state, in which all Catholics are forbidden the reading of Protestant Bibles and certain other Protestant literature, including a paper called El Mensajero de la Verdad, have been circulated throughout the various parishes of the state and read from all Catholic pulpits.
“The immediate cause of this circular is the presence here of a Protestant missionary, who has been distributing Bibles and copies of El Mensajero de la Verdad. It appears that many good Catholics were reading both the paper and the Bibles until the matter reached the knowledge of the priests, followed by the above result.”
In Guadalajara recently the same paper speaks of a ban which the Catholic clergy has put upon all publications, secular and religious, which in any way reflect on the teachings of that church; and many families have placed notices on their doors, saying that such papers will neither be received nor read.
These reports indicate that an awakening has begun, that many are seeking for truth and light; and, at the same time, that the Catholic Church feels that it would not be helped by the circulation and reading of the Holy Scriptures, nor by periodicals and literature which are set in defense of religious truth; also, that the Seventh-day Adventist paper has the honor to be named and proscribed with the Holy Bible. We should thank God and take courage, while redoubling our efforts to shower the country with literature, and should see to it that our work is organized so that it will be representative on every point.
The educational work is barely started among us. Other denominations are far in the lead. A woman of the Catholic faith informed me, a few weeks ago, that she had sought a school in which to educate her son, a mere child. She went to a general inspector of schools, who told her that the Methodist schools gave the best training of any. And on his recommendation, she placed her boy in the Methodist boys' school in Puebla, although she lives in Cuautla.
Our medical work is more generally represented. An open door is found everywhere for blending the healing of body and soul, and less serious opposition is experienced.
There are openings for all. Several brethren and sisters are giving real force and character to the work by operating different kinds of business in an honorable and successful manner. The government respects and encourages all such; and so does the Lord. Mexico will furnish her quota for the church triumphant in the new earth home. She is enrolling them now in the church militant. Now is her day and opportunity—and ours! A. ALLEN JOHN, M. D.
FIRST NURSES' CLASS AND THEIR INSTRUCTORS, WASHINGTON SANITARIUM
The Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium
By D. H. KRESS
THE Washington Sanitarium at Takoma Park is having a good patronage. Every room in the new dormitory for nurses, which accommodates about fifty, is at present filled with nurses and patients. The sanitarium building is also full. I have never seen a more intelligent class of patients than those at this institution. I have never heard less complaining among patients. Guests who come seem anxious to receive and follow the instruction given in lectures. We have had with us a number of government officials,—the minister of Norway, the minister of Sweden, the minister of Denmark, the minister of Persia, and the minister of China; the Swedish consul, of Chicago; the Persian consul, of New York; and other men of influence. These men have all spoken in the highest terms of the beautiful location of the Sanitarium, and the excellent service given by the workers.
The new bridge, which is rapidly nearing completion, will add to the beauty of the surroundings, and will make it possible for many more to avail themselves of the advantages of the sanitarium treatments and the quiet country life.
We have had to refuse accommodation to quite a number of our brethren and sisters who have applied for rooms during the meeting of the General Conference. We shall probably not be able to accommodate any besides our patients during that time, but we shall do our utmost to provide rooms for patients. If necessary, we shall have tents for the nurses and workers, and fill the nurses’ dormitory with patients. Any who desire to enter as patients during the time of the General Conference meetings, should correspond with us beforehand. D. H. KRESS, M. D.
Mexico
By G. W. Reaser
For about four years we have had a brother, by the name of Alberto Gomez, located in the city of Torreon. This brother and his wife have been faithful in holding up the light of truth in that place, and as a result of Bible readings held in their home, three other families have recently embraced the truth as it is in Jesus. Brother Gomez now requests that an ordained minister be sent to baptize this company of believers.
G. W. Reaser.
Brazil
By F. W. Spies
THE general meeting at Uniao da Victoria, Parana, was held January 26-31. This meeting, although attended by but few more than the members of the Uniao da Victoria church, was a very good meeting, and it brought blessings that will be long remembered by all who attended it.
The attendance was about sixty, and Bible studies were given in three languages—German, Portuguese, and Polish. The meetings were held in the new schoolhouse which the brethren had recently built. Each evening a Portuguese preaching service was held in the theater of the town, which had been kindly furnished us free of charge.
On Friday, January 29, nine persons were baptized, one of whom is a cousin of the governor of the province of Parana.
We are glad to see that the construction of railroads is being rapidly pushed forward, and we hope that in the near future it will be possible to go by rail from Rio de Janeiro through the southern states of Brazil to Buenos Aires. All this means a more rapid spreading of the truth in this field, and a hastening of the closing work of the gospel.
F. W. Spies.
Chapel Row in Singapore
UNDER this heading the Straits Times of January 7, published in Singapore, speaks in the following complimentary manner of the work of Seventh-day Adventists:—
“Many persons expressed the opinion, when his excellency the governor gave the Methodists the imposing site for their chapel on Fort Canning Road, that it was too near the Presbyterian church, and now a representative of The Straits Times has unearthed the fact that still a third chapel is to be erected in the same general neighborhood, only a little farther on the other side of the Presbyterian church than the new edifice of the Methodists is on the southeast. The neighborhood may now be fairly entitled to the name of Chapel Row.
“The new building is to be a very neat structure, but smaller than the other two, and will be built on a site purchased from the government on Penang Lane, where the ground slopes up to Fort Canning Road, which will pass behind the chapel at a level approximately near the eaves. As this new structure is to be the church home of the Seventh-day Adventists, the services held there will not disturb the worshipers in the other two churches, as they will be held on Saturdays, this sect considering that day to be the true Sabbath.
“The sect is not as yet a large one in Singapore, but its devotees make up in vigor and industry what they lack in numbers, and it is safe to say that they are very modest in erecting a church home to seat only one hundred eighty persons.
“Messrs. Williams, Draper, and Steadman, who have had a large share of the prominent buildings of the town lately, are the architects, and they have drawn a structure which makes a very attractive appearance on paper, and will doubtless do so in bricks and mortar in the course of a few months, as bids have already been called for and are under consideration by the building committee. The most striking feature of the exterior of the building is a broad tower-like spire, or spire-like tower, under which an admirably sheltered driveway gives access to the front entrance. The interior is very conveniently arranged, with two vestries and class rooms, the latter having folding doors, which will enable them to be utilized as a part of the main body of the church on special occasions.
“The services to be held in the building will, at first, be only in the two languages in which the mission of this body is doing the most of its work here, English and Chinese, but later on, services in Malay will probably be held there. Like most of the other Christian bodies, the Adventists have had to begin in a small way; but without ostentation and by earnest, hard labor a congregation has been collected, and a number of adherents gained. The same body is doing a considerable work in Sumatra and Borneo among the natives of those islands, some of the most intelligent of whom have been sent to Singapore and are being educated in the Adventist training-school at Mount Pleasant, Thomson Road. For the present at least, they do not plan to take up the work of general education, as most of the other non-conformist bodies have done here, nor do they at present plan to acquire other property than their house of worship, the work on which is to commence very shortly. Of the money required for the purchase of the site and the erection of the building, one thousand pounds has been furnished from the United States, where the body is strongest; the remainder will be sent by friends in Australia, whence most of the local workers come. The denomination is very strong on the island continent, and has numerous sanitariums and large printing and sanitary food-preparing establishments there.”
North Carolina
By Mrs. W. L. Killen
SILVER CITY.—One evening as I was reading our good papers, the thought occurred to me, Why not have some neat temperance meetings here? So I began to agitate the subject; for there is great need of reform in this line especially. I visited the Methodist Episcopal church one Sunday, and talked the matter over with the pastor. He appeared willing to co-operate; so we met that afternoon to lay plans and to select officers. They chose me as leader. We asked about fourteen different persons to read, sing, and recite on various temperance themes. But few had anything suitable to read, so I furnished them with articles.
We had our first meeting last Sunday, which was very interesting. About fourteen persons were on the program, and nearly all the articles were taken from our literature. The large church was very nearly full. All were delighted with the meeting. These are to be continued monthly. I will be thankful for any health and temperance tracts or papers for distribution that any one can send us. There are only two families of Sabbath-keepers here. Pray for us, that we may hold up the blessed light of truth. Mrs. W. L. Killen.
Field Notes
TEN persons were baptized at San Jose, Cal., recently, all but one of whom were young people.
As a result of meetings held at Elmhurst, Cal., five persons are keeping the Sabbath, and others are much interested.
A CHURCH of twenty members was organized at Hawarden, Iowa, on March 7. Eleven were baptized on Sabbath, March 6. Others expect to go forward in the ordinance soon.
EIGHT persons have begun the observance of the Sabbath, at Prattsburg, N. Y., as a result of meetings held in that place. A number of others are under deep conviction.
Two persons have begun the observance of the Sabbath as a result of the tent meeting at Mercedes, Tex., and a church of fifteen members was recently organized at that place.
THE following comes from Brother D. G. Turk, Unadilla, N. Y.: “Six have stated that they are going to obey the Lord by keeping his Sabbath. A number of others are in the valley of decision.”
ELDER E. A. MERRELL reports that five adults have accepted the truth as a result of a series of meetings held at St. Joseph, Mo., and on March 23 these, and a youth, were baptized and united with the church.
AT Elida, N. M., eleven signed the covenant, and five others are keeping the Sabbath as a result of meetings recently conducted by Brother H. E. Giddings. These, together with six who had previously been keeping the Sabbath, were organized into a Sabbath-school.
ELDER F. I. RICHARDSON reports the baptism of eleven (three of whom were rebaptized) on March 21, at San Diego, Cal., and states that there are several others who are apparently on the point of accepting the truth as the result of Bible work done since January 1.
Hearing on Four Sunday Bills at Albany, N. Y.
By F. C. Gilbert
(Concluded)
RABBI DRACHMANN, of New York City, president of the Sabbath Association, was the first speaker to defend the bills exempting observers of the seventh day. He spoke of the patriotism and loyalty which the Jews had manifested in this country, and said that they had done nothing at any time to discredit or repudiate American institutions. He said he supposed America was a free country, and that people who came here were granted equal privileges with all other people, as far as religion was concerned. He told of the hardships the Jews had to endure by being compelled to lose one day each week from their labor if they kept the seventh day and were not allowed to work on the first day.
He said that it was a great surprise to him to think that in this land of freedom and liberty, people should attempt to terrorize American citizens by telling them what might happen if they sought to exercise and enjoy inalienable rights, which were theirs as citizens. It was a surprise to him to hear such statements from the lips of men in this country, and he almost wondered whether it was a land of freedom as people generally considered it to be.
He made a very strong plea in behalf of the rights of the Jews, and made some very vigorous and telling points in behalf of the rights of conscience. He appealed to the committee and to the representatives of labor, to give to the poor Jews what they asked and desired for themselves. He thought it was only fair to give to one class of citizens what was desired and demanded by every other class of citizens.
He plainly stated that they were not discussing the matter from the standpoint of their fullest rights, but he thought that certain things should be done for the Jews so that there would not be oppression brought to bear upon them. While his speech was very telling and very touching, still the real point of religious freedom and religious liberty was weakened. He wanted the Jews to have the privilege of doing on Sunday what other people were allowed to do on Saturday, and this because they were Jews.
A Jewish lawyer followed him, and promised the committee that if the Jews were given the privilege of attending to their business on Sunday, he would see to it that all seventh-day observers, whether Jews or Seventh-day Adventists, would keep the Sabbath conscientiously. This was rather a surprising statement, to say the least; and we wondered whether he proposed to do by the seventh-day observers as the Sunday-law guardians propose to do with Sunday observers. This lawyer told the committee that he would see that every Sabbatarian who desired to observe the seventh day should register with the prosecuting attorney of the county, and make a clear statement that he actually refrained from labor on that day, and did it conscientiously. We were certainly glad we were not found on that side of the bill.
The last speaker favoring the bill was Mr. Aaron J. Levy, a member of the Assembly. His speech was very interesting, instructive, and profitable. He showed that all that the Jews were after was an extension of Penal Code 264, giving the Jews the privilege of opening their stores on Sunday, as well as performing work and labor, since it has been established by the courts that work and labor did not include the opening of places of business.
After ably discussing the bills from the standpoint of the Jews, he turned his attention to the constitutional view of the subject, and delivered an able speech on true religious liberty. He told the committee that they had not asked all that belonged to them, as the first constitution of New York State, and every constitution since that time, granted full and complete religious liberty. He confessed that there was more that belonged to them than they asked for, but they would be satisfied if they could receive what they requested.
The speaker then paid a most glowing tribute to the Seventh-day Adventists. It was one of the most eloquent eulogies given to any people that we ever heard. It was not given by way of flattery, for he had nothing to gain by it; but his earnest manner and his forceful presentation showed that he was speaking from the depths of his soul. He said that they were a class of people who were Christians, and emphasized the fact that they were different from the ordinary Christians, and, though they believed, in principle, concerning the Sabbath question as did the Jews, they could not stand with them that day in favoring the bill. It was not, he said, because they did not believe in the Sabbath, nor in the principles of religious liberty; but because they were so conscientious in their faith, and were so strongly entrenched in the true principles of civil and religious liberty, that they could not, under any circumstances, violate their consciences by asking for any privileges which rightfully and lawfully belonged to them. They did not and could not favor any exemption, and therefore could not stand with the Jews in speaking in favor of the bills. He further gave the committee and the people to understand that the Seventh-day Adventists held different views of Christianity from those held by other people who called themselves Christian, and they seemed to follow the Bible more closely in their practises.
It was indeed encouraging to hear such words from the lips of an able Hebrew concerning Seventh-day Adventists, and it impressed the writer very much with the fact that the Lord has a key for his people to unlock many Jewish hearts that they may be opened to receive his blessed truth.
The chairman of the committee then announced that time would be given to the Seventh-day Adventists. Elder A. J. Clark made a few remarks, and I followed, speaking for about fifteen minutes. I told them we regretted very much that we were obliged to oppose the bill on the ground that it was class legislation. The state has no right to give to any one class of citizens privileges which can not be enjoyed by every other class. The Lord graciously helped us to present the true principles of religious liberty, while at the same time we had an opportunity of telling the committee as well as the Jews that we were Sabbath-keepers. We showed them that we were keepers of the seventh day, not as Jews, but as Christians; that we observed the seventh day as the Sabbath because Christ commanded it.
We called their attention to the fact that, viewed from any and every standpoint, legislation in behalf of Sunday observance is religious, and religious only. That they might appreciate this fact, we showed them that all the Sunday forces were doing everything in their power to compel all classes to observe the first day of the week as a sacred day, and furthermore, that the prime movers in this whole movement were the ministers and religious enthusiasts. Their attention was further called to what these people proposed to do to all who dissented from them and who had no reverence for this man-made religious institution, by reading the following statement, written to Pastor J. S. Washburn, Hawleyville, Iowa, by Rev. M. A. Gault, clergyman of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, District secretary of the National Reform Association, and District secretary of the American Sabbath Union: “I see most of your literature [referring to literature circulated by seventh-day observers] in my travels, and I am convinced that your folks will die hard. But we are helping Brother Crafts all the time to set the stakes and get the ropes ready to scoop you all in. You will kick hard, of course, but we will make sure work.”
We then showed them the accompanying placard, copies of which were scattered broadcast by the American Sabbath Union, in the days when Wilbur F. Crafts was editor of the Sabbath Reform Library. It was quite a revelation to the committee, and it was a20great surprise to some of Mr. Crafts’ lieutenants. At first it was doubted whether he wrote it, but when we showed them the name and the stamp, they confessed that it must have been even so.
At the close of the talk one of the members of the committee inquired how or where our freedom was abridged. He wanted to know if we did not have full and free liberty. We told him that as long as there was one Sunday law on the statute-books, our liberties were abridged. I then told him that there had been a large number of arrests made in different States of persons who observed the seventh day, some of these honest men being obliged to work in the chain-gang with the vilest criminals. He wanted to know if they were not arrested for violating the Sunday law rather than for working on the seventh day. I told him that if the Sunday law were not on the books, there would not have been any arrests. He said no more, but saw the point.
Elder F. H. DeVinney, of Rome, N. Y., and Elder A. J. Clark, of Hudson, N. Y., made brief remarks, declaring their belief in full religious and civil liberty.
The committee were very kind, and it was apparent that many of them appreciated these God-given principles of religious liberty. One of them said it was an education to them, and they desired very much to have our people come there as often as we could.
After the hearing was over, I met several of the Jews, and they expressed themselves still further concerning Seventh-day Adventists. They admitted we had the truth on these points, and appreciated the fact that we were endeavoring to do the Jews more good than they were doing themselves.
We felt to thank God for the victory he gave us, and for the privilege of presenting what truth we did. We are in the midst of the battle. We need, beloved, to keep on the armor. We need to pray much that the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of many of these people, both Jews and Gentiles, that they may see the light and truth involved in this whole question. F. C. GILBERT.
Christian Liberty
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience
