The District Committee of the House of Representatives, to whom has been referred the Johnston Sunday bill for the District of Columbia, has appointed a hearing on the bill for March 8, from 10 A. M. to 12 M. The time will be equally divided between the friends and opponents of the measure.
The friends of the bill were evidently greatly disappointed by the House District Committee failing to report the measure favorably to the House without any further hearing, inasmuch as the subcommittee had reported favorably to the committee as a whole.
The subcommittee has recommended still other exceptions to the bill than when it passed the Senate. The numerous amendments and exceptions which have been made to this bill since it was first introduced into the Senate, and the elimination of some of its most glaring religious terms, may so disguise its true character that many congressmen may be deceived into thinking it is free from anything of a religious character, and thus vote for its passage. The persistency with which many have been urging its speedy passage through the House since it passed the Senate, should convince the most incredulous of its religious character.
Since this bill passed the Senate another measure has been introduced into the House, legalizing Sunday baseball and other innocent sports on that day in the District of Columbia. This bill is being bitterly opposed by those who have been claiming that all they are seeking is “distinctly a civil, and not a religious measure.” One naturally queries, if this is so, why there is such a persistent opposition against a bill for something that is strictly civil in itself. In speaking of this bill in favor of Sunday sports, Rev. Wallace Radcliffe, the chief promoter in Washington of the Johnston Sunday bill, says: “It would be an injustice and a sin to permit Sunday baseball in the District. It would be a violation of the fourth commandment, and an outrage if permitted.”
The evident lack of personal interest on the part of senators in the passage of the Johnston Sunday bill is expressed by a Washington correspondent to the Christian Advocate of Feb. 17, 1910, the leading organ of the Methodist Church, as follows:—
“Judging from the lack of animation and determination on the part of the senators in reference to the bill, we are impressed that they did not expect it to become law.”
Then follows an urgent appeal to Methodists throughout the States to assist in securing the passage of the measure.
The following are strong statements from two leading clergymen in Washington against those who are opposing Sunday legislation: One says that he is “violently opposed” to their views; the other says, “Seventh-day Adventists seem almost omnipotent in their ability to hinder all such legislation.”
We can only conjecture at present what the outcome of the Johnston bill will be. We are certain, however, that “He who marshals the stars in order in the heavens, whose word controls the waves of the great deep, will work in behalf of his people if they call upon him in faith. He will restrain the forces of darkness until the warning is given to the world, and all who will heed it are prepared for the conflict.”
K. C. RUSSELL.
Miss Ethel Bonney Sails for Fiji
On January 19, Miss Ethel Bonney, of the Avondale school, sailed from Australia for the Fiji Islands.
Geo. F. Watson Elected President
We learn that Elder Geo. F. Watson, of South Dakota, has been elected president of the Southwestern Union Conference.
First Kroo Man Baptized
WRITING from West Africa, Elder D. C. Babcock says: “Our first Kroo man was baptized last Sunday, January 16.” Thus another tribe and tongue is added to our list.
Miss K. Sierke Visits Washington
WE have been pleased to greet in Washington Miss K. Sierke, of Friedensau, Germany, who is on her way to California to teach in the Pacific College, our new California school.
Pacific Press Book Work Sales
In a note from Brother H. H. Hall, representing the field work of the Pacific Press book work, he remarks: “We are expecting a sale of not less than a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of subscription books in 1910.”
Workers Sail for Mussoorie Sanitarium
After spending a few days in Washington, Miss Mabelle McMoran, of the Loma Linda (Cal.) school, and Miss Nellie Wagner, of the Boulder-Colorado Sanitarium training-school, sailed last week from New York for Europe and India. They go out to join the staff of the Mussoorie Sanitarium, in the Himalaya Mountains.
Harvest Ingathering Brings Sabbathkeepers
At the recent State conference meeting in Ohio a brother reported three persons keeping the Sabbath as the result of the distribution of the Harvest Ingathering number of the REVIEW in his town. It does people good to know what this advent message is doing in the world.
Dr. Paulson Visits Washington
Last week our brethren in Washington enjoyed a visit from Dr. David Paulson, superintendent of the Hinsdale (Ill.) Sanitarium. He spoke to the young people's society of the Takoma church Friday evening, to that church Sabbath morning, and to the Sanitarium and Seminary families Sabbath afternoon. His visit and talks were greatly appreciated.
Raising the $300,000 Fund
Now all the union conferences have adopted the plan of raising the $300,000 Fund for printing plants, training schools, small sanitariums, and missionary homes, where necessary, in all the great mission fields. The plan is greeted even enthusiastically; for it means a decided step forward in hastening the work to a conclusion. Send in the special gifts for this fund to your church and conference treasuries.
Elder Jones Leaves Singapore for Health
We regret to hear that Elder G. F. Jones, of the Singapore mission, has been advised medically to secure a change of climate at once, and so had arranged to sail for West Australia January 31. He hopes soon to recover the health and strength, and we pray that he may. We must especially remember in the prayer the workers round the whole tropical belt, who must push forward the work in debilitating climates.
Missionaries Sail for Fiji and Java
From the Australasian Union Conference Record we learn that missionaries sailed from that field in December as follows: December 7, Allan Butler, of the Avondale school, to work in the mission office in Fiji; December 29, Elder R. W. Munson and wife and two daughters, for Java, Dutch East Indies. Elder Munson was formerly in Sumatra, but for some years has been in Australia. He now returns to the East Indies to aid in getting out literature in the various languages of Java. Miss Miriam Munson, his eldest daughter, returns with him to engage in Bible work.