SINCE our last report our workers have been quite busy. On account of Sister Nelson’s not being well, it was thought best that she change her work for a time, so she came from Raiatea to Papeete, Tahiti, where she is holding Bible readings, canvassing for our Tahitian paper, and helping in our meetings.
Brother Fowler and wife are still on Huahine. They have been putting up a building there, which is used at present both as a meeting-house and a dwelling-house. The little company of native Sabbath-keepers there seem to be doing well. One of them, after having gone without tobacco for about three months, wished to be baptized, but he said he wanted to be a free man; that he owed a store bill which should have been paid before, and he wanted to pay that first; then it would be seen that he wanted to pay his debts, and no one could say anything against him, and he would feel better about it.
Brother Paul Deane has been working for some time in a district of Tahiti called Mataiea, where he says some interest is manifested. We have received from Brother Carey good reports of his school work on Pitcairn Island.
Our Tahitian paper, Te Maramarama, is taking quite well with the people. We had three hundred eighty-six subscriptions at the end of the year. We think this is doing quite well for the first year. These subscriptions come from many of the different islands. As far as we know, all seem to be well pleased with the paper. We believe it is doing much good in getting the truth before the people. Tahitian people like news. So we give them not only gospel news, but also other current events, showing how God’s Word is being fulfilled in the world.
Brother McCoy, of Pitcairn Island, has been with us in Tahiti for the past few weeks, and has been doing good ship-missionary work. The small boat bought for Pitcairn some time ago has been condemned as unseaworthy, and sold for sixty pounds. They are in urgent need of a schooner to run between here and Pitcairn, to open up communication. The boat can be also used in our work in introducing the truth into other islands. Our present need is money to help in getting such a boat.
We are preparing to build a church soon on Raiatea. We hope to have it finished by next May, so that our conference meetings may be held in it.
Four persons were recently baptized here in Tahiti, and united with the church. This island field is a difficult one, and much of the blessing of the Lord is needed to counteract the evil influences.
B. J. CADY.
_Bolivia_
By Ed. W. Thomann
[The following extract from a letter written to Brother E. F. Forga, who is now in California, will be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW.—ED.]
Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Next Sunday, God willing, I will go to Oruro, where I shall remain for a month or two; and if I have time, I will go to La Paz. I am not sure that I will go to La Paz, as I have to be present at the session of the South American Union Conference in Argentina in March.
I am of good courage in the work, although there are no other workers in this country, and the work of writing and translating for the Señales (Spanish Signs) takes much of my time.
Up to the present time I have not the pleasure of saying that there are any brethren in Bolivia. There are several who are convinced, but have not yet made a decision.
The brethren of Quillacallo have not given up the tobacco habit; some of the18brethren of Cochabamba are afraid of the difficulties they will have to encounter; and others love chicha (native drink) too much, so that it is quite a struggle for them to accept Christ.
There is one young man who has just completed a course in philology, in the university of Cochabamba, who seems to be under the influence of the Spirit of God, and I hope he will not go back, but will accept the whole truth. He is a very intelligent and serious young man, and might become a useful worker. He speaks Spanish, Quechua (the language of the Inca Indians), and also a little English.
If any bright young men from the United States would come here, they could give English lessons while learning the Spanish, and in this way could support themselves until they were well acquainted with conditions here, the language, etc.
Please accept my most hearty thanks for your collaboration, and believe me always,
Yours in the Lord's service,
ED. W. THOMANN.
Iowa
By G. R. Hawkins; Mrs. G. R. Hawkins
MUSCATINE.—Elder L. F. Starr requested us to come to the help of this church during the week of prayer, as it had been neglected for some time, and was in a rather backslidden condition. Immediately after the week of prayer, we began a revival effort. The first three weeks we worked for the church. After that we began to invite in outsiders; and with the exception of the time spent at the union conference, we have continued our meetings without a break. After holding them in the church for about a month, a hall was rented for us in another part of the city, where we are still holding the meetings. We shall close Sunday night to prepare for the tent season. We expect to go on with the good work begun. So far forty-five persons have joined the church. Many of these are young men and their wives, altogether we think they are as fine a company of young people as we have ever seen.
G. R. HAWKINS,
MRS. G. R. HAWKINS.
Bonacca
By F. E. Cary
NORTHEAST BRIGHT.—As I read the reports of those who, in different parts of the world, are nobly advancing the message in the face of difficulty, I am led to take courage, and rejoice that honest-hearted souls are reached, and soon Jesus will come. My school work is onward in this place, and each week our numbers are growing. Our school was small at its opening this year, on account of sickness. I had a touch of fever, which forced me to close school one week after starting. This was the first fever I have had since coming to this field. We had a splendid camp-meeting in these islands, although the elements were somewhat against us. I am of good courage in the Lord, and am doing what I can to advance the blessed message here. Remember this field in your prayers.
F. E. CARY.
Atlantic Union Conference
By I. H. EVANS
Received on the $150,000 Fund
up to April 28, 1908
Atlantic Union Conference
Central New England ........$ 2,775.18
Greater New York .......... 1,505.46
Maine ....................... 852.89
New York .................. 2,326.50
Southern New England .... 1,210.50
Vermont ................... 1,344.74
Western New York .......... 2,073.09
Total ....................... 12,088.36
Chesapeake .................. 688.58
Eastern Pennsylvania ...... 2,549.51
New Jersey ................ 1,202.45
Ohio ...................... 6,302.43
Virginia .................. 1,034.77
West Pennsylvania ........ 1,976.56
West Virginia ............. 558.86
Total ....................... 14,313.16
***District of Columbia***
Washington Churches ....... 1,384.54
Lake Union Conference
East Michigan ............... 3,158.46
Indiana ................... 5,248.02
North Michigan ............... 1,705.22
Northern Illinois .......... 2,913.36
Southern Illinois ............ 1,457.71
West Michigan .............. 8,733.70
Wisconsin .................... 5,044.25
Total ....................... 28,260.72
North Pacific Union Conference
Montana ..................... 691.64
Upper Columbia ............ 3,036.43
Western Washington ........ 3,308.13
Idaho ....................... 1,022.65
Western Oregon ............... 2,956.15
Hawaii ...................... 21.05
Alaska ...................... 20.00
Total ....................... 11,056.05
***Southern Union Conference***
Conference not specified .... 97.41
South Carolina ............ 268.09
Alabama ...................... 623.14
Tennessee River ........... 1,405.31
Florida ................... 951.48
North Carolina ............ 954.75
Cumberland ................ 1,360.99
Louisiana ................. 572.54
Mississippi ................. 413.08
Georgia ................... 457.97
Total ....................... 7,104.76
Northern Union Conference
Iowa ........................ 7,777.58
Minnesota .................. 5,752.78
South Dakota ............... 2,666.47
North Dakota ............... 2,134.93
Conference not specified .... 73.82
Total ....................... 18,405.58
***Pacific Union Conference***
Southern California ....... 4,584.90
Arizona ................... 466.79
California-Nevada ......... 10,249.03
Utah ...................... 440.58
Total ....................... 15,741.30
Southwestern Union Conference
Not specified ............... 22.82
Arkansas .................. 938.93
Oklahoma .................... 3,938.79
Texas ....................... 2,538.90
Total ....................... 7,439.44
Western Canadian Union Conference
Alberta ................... 1,211.35
British Columbia ............ 224.50
Manitoba .................... 349.76
Saskatchewan Mission Field .. 59.60
Total ....................... 1,845.21
Unknown
Unknown ..................... 161.70
Foreign
Algeria ................... 13.33
Australia ................... 178.71
Bermuda ..................... 36.00
China ....................... 165.60
South Africa ................ 439.02
Jamaica ..................... 66.01
Yukon Territory ............. 20.00
England ..................... 281.55
West Africa ............... 50.00
Mexico ...................... 65.97
Costa Rica .................. 6.25
India ....................... 418.25
South America ............... 76.43
Switzerland ................. 9.69
Panama ...................... 27.11
Nicaragua ................... 9.00
Central American Mission .... 26.00
Trinidad .................... 28.69
Norway ...................... 25.00
Japan ....................... 12.50
Hayti ....................... 5.00
Egypt ..................... 51.55
Palestine ................... 2.00
Tobago, W. I. ............... 1.22
Cuba ........................ 8.00
Hungary ..................... 3.00
Tahiti ...................... 14.88
France ...................... 6.80
Philippine Islands .......... 1.00
Samoa ....................... 8.00
Barbados .................... 5.00
Portugal .................... 6.00
Straits Settlements ......... 10.08
Pitcairn Island ............. 20.00
New Zealand ................. 1.52
Fiji ........................ 4.87
St. Kitts ................... 7.51
Ireland ..................... 1.21
Russia ...................... 5.00
Denmark ..................... 14.59
Santo Domingo ............... 2.50
Total ....................... 2,134.84
Grand Total ................ $138,505.78
I. H. EVANS, Treasurer.
Brazil
By F. W. Spies
RIO DE JANEIRO.—Although we can see from year to year that the people at this nation's capital are growing more hardened and less impressible by the Holy Spirit, we are nevertheless encouraged in our work by seeing now and then a few become obedient to the truth, and follow their Lord in baptism. These baptismal occasions are times of rejoicing to the little church here. So far this year we have had two such occasions of encouragement, one on January 25, at which time five souls were buried with their Lord, and another on February 8, when four more were led down into the watery grave.
Our method of working has been generally to offer for sale from house to house our Portuguese journal, O Arauto da Verdade, thus trying to find the interested ones. But how few care to purchase a second and a third paper! Still, as we read the Lord's description, as given in Matt. 24:37-39, of these last19days, and as we then think of faithful Noah, preaching and exhorting the people to repent during one hundred twenty long years, with none outside his own family at the very last to go in with him into the ark, we feel we have no reason to complain, but rather seek to redouble our efforts while there are still a few who will listen; for the time is coming when we also shall find none who care to hear the precious, saving truth.
History is also being made rapidly here in Brazil. Recently a law has been passed which makes military service compulsory on all male citizens who reach the age of twenty-one years. And as reserves they can be called upon up to their fortieth year. Steps are being taken to put this law in force as far as practicable on and after Jan. 1, 1909.
There is also a bill for a proposed Sunday law now pending before congress, which, if it becomes a law, will be surpassed in its stringent character by very few existing Sunday laws. As we view these things in the light of the sure word of prophecy, they represent to us the forerunners of the coming storm, and we daily feel the need of building more firmly on the sure foundation, so that when the floods and storms of persecution and trial beat heavier and still heavier upon God's people here in Brazil, these very storms may then reveal that their building has been reared upon the sure Rock, Christ Jesus.
The United States squadron, while passing on its way to the Pacific, spent eleven days at Rio, and was received with great honors. As far as I could learn, officers and men left Brazil with a good impression of this country. As I looked upon those stately war-ships and thought of the future, I wondered what would be their fate. Indeed we who have and know the truth ought to prize it more and more. May we be sanctified through it.
F. W. SPIES.
Asia Minor
By Claude D. AcMoody
BRUSA.—Our Captain is certainly before us, leading on to sure victory. We have passed through some unpleasant experiences during the past year, with false doctrine, but it is disappearing. I am now on a trip among companies and isolated ones, and plan to get into Constantinople to-morrow afternoon (March 25). We have labored hard with all who have persisted in the false doctrine, and have been forced to disfellowship eight on this trip. Though this makes us feel sad for those who have thus cut themselves from the truth, yet from the standpoint of the work itself, we are not in the least discouraged; for those who will stand through the shaking time will come through tested and firm. On the whole, we are losing only a few, who persist in turning against the message.
We are on much more friendly terms with the Protestants than we have been. I heartily believe that when the Turkish government can be brought to know that, unlike so many movements in Turkey, our principles are those of loyalty to the government, we shall enjoy more liberty. March 2 I closed a two-and-one-half-months' institute, with ten in attendance. It was held in Bogtchedjik, where is our largest church, and where the Turkish officials are friendly to us. The institute has done good. One young man from it will do some Bible and tract work this summer. Elder L. R. Conradi writes that he expects another man for Turkey. Do remember that we have a great deal of room for all you can send.
CLAUDE D. AcMOODY.
Virginia
By H. W. Herrell
AMONG THE CHURCHES.—Recently I had the pleasure of visiting the churches at Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Newport News, and found them in a better spiritual condition than ever before. Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Claremont were appealing for help, greatly desiring a minister for a season. At present we could supply only one of these calls.
Some of the members had been distributing the printed page from house to house, and praying that God would bless the same. We found, in talking with them, that some had mourned because their friends and loved ones were outside the fold. The Lord has heard their prayers, and blessed their efforts, in behalf of these; and some are now rejoicing in God's saving truth for this time.
The work is onward in Virginia. During the past five months more than twenty persons have decided to keep the Sabbath of the Lord.
While we are pleased to see this progress, still our hearts are made sad to see so many failing to take and to study the REVIEW. In going from place to place we notice that where the REVIEW is taken, and read, the people are rooted and grounded in the faith. Surely none can afford to be without this most valuable paper.
There are, we know, some who can not afford the subscription price to the REVIEW, though they greatly desire it. If such will send me their names and addresses, I will see if we can not arrange to have some one send the paper to them. All who can afford to take the paper, and who are not doing so, should not fail to send in their subscriptions at once.
We ask that all the REVIEW family will remember the work in Virginia before the throne of grace.
H. W. HERRELL.
Sanitarium Work in Australia
By Franklin C. Richards, M. D.
SANITARIUM work was begun in Australia in August, 1896, by Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Semmens, who returned to the Australian field after having spent several years in America, training for, and getting an experience in, medical missionary work. The first institution was a seven-room cottage, situated in a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. The work prospered and grew until in January, 1897, it was necessary to move into more commodious quarters, and increase the staff by the addition of a physician and other workers. Soon three additional buildings were being used, and treatment rooms in an adjacent city had been opened. The publication of a health paper, known as the “Herald of Health,” was begun in 1898. The first meeting of the Australian Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association was held in Melbourne the latter part of the year.
Next the work was begun in South Australia. The Nurses Semmens went to Adelaide in 1899, and opened the Hydropathic Institute. Several other treatment rooms were also opened in other parts of Australia, and a small sanitarium was established in Christchurch, New Zealand. The latter part of 1900, Drs. D. H. and Lauretta Kress arrived in Australia; the work was then reorganized; and the Health Retreat was opened in connection with the Avondale School. At this time the building for the Sydney Sanitarium was in process of construction. In December, 1902, the Health Retreat family, numbering twenty-six nurses and workers, moved into the Sydney Sanitarium. Thus the year 1907 is the fifth in the history of this institution.
The Lord has blessed the work of the Sydney Sanitarium from the beginning. The past year has been no exception in this respect. In the care of critical cases, both physicians and nurses have realized the presence and help of the Great Physician, and throughout the institution the influence of the Comforter has been manifest. As a result, patients suffering from diseases considered incurable have been restored to health and usefulness.
Of more than ordinary interest is the case of a well-known physician, who came to the sanitarium suffering from pernicious anemia. He had spent several months in other institutions, and had been under the care of leading physicians. While this sick physician was at the sanitarium, other physicians who were friends, called to see him. All agreed that the sick man could not possibly recover, and urged his wife to wind up his affairs. So his practise, which brought him an income of ten thousand dollars a year, was sold, and other business matters were settled. At that time this patient’s blood was so impoverished that the lips were practically colorless.20The blood examination revealed the fact that he had lost fully eighty per cent of the life-carrying constituents of the body. At one time he drew so near to the gates of death, that his physician and nurses spent several hours stimulating him with hot and cold applications, friction, artificial respiration, and hot normal saline solution internally. Nor did patient and attendants forget to call upon the Lord in their extremity. The Lord heard these petitions, and honored the faith exercised in him and his appointed remedies. After accepting of the Saviour, this physician was speedily restored to health. This is the second apparently hopeless case of pernicious anemia in which restoration has been brought about at the sanitarium. Another desperate case now under treatment bids fair to add a third to the list.
The surgical cases have been very satisfactory, and the amount of surgical work is increasing. The fees received during the year for this class of work aggregate over thirteen hundred dollars. By far the larger part of the cases were for those able to pay but small fees. Quite a number of major operations, for which the usual fee in this country is fifty pounds or more, have been performed without any remuneration. Among the surgical patients for the year was our first case of hydatids of the liver—a disease quite common in Australia. The patient, who was one of our own people, had suffered for over fifteen years, during which time several operations had been performed. The case was a critical one, but the Lord blessed our efforts, and with careful nursing and after-treatment, the patient made a very rapid recovery, and has gained over twenty pounds in weight, with corresponding increase in health and strength.
Quite a number of changes have been made in our family during the year 1907. Early in February the Drs. Franklin and Eulalia Richards arrived from England. Five weeks later the Drs. Kress sailed for America. About the same time a change was made in the business management. Notwithstanding these changes, the patronage has continued good, the average number of resident patients during the year being thirty-two a week. The number of ordinary day treatments given during the year is, in round numbers, ten thousand. A number of improvements are being made in our equipment, the most important of which is the installation of an electric-light plant.
A medical missionary training-school is carried on in connection with the institution. There are at present twenty-four nurses in training; nine third-year, ten second-year, and five first-year. Calls for trained missionary nurses are continually coming in, and several workers have been sent out into the island fields during the year. Others will go as soon as they can be spared. There are at present eight graduate nurses in the institution. The orchard and other outside work require the services of other workers; eight are at present employed.
The sanitarium staff is as follows: Medical superintendent, Dr. F. C. Richards; ladies’ department, Dr. E. S. Richards; manager, Mr. A. W. Semmens; medical matron, Mrs. A. W. Semmens; domestic matron, Mrs. E. Anderson; accountant. Mr. J. R. Fletcher.
FRANKLIN C. RICHARDS, M. D.
Field Notes and Gleanings
AT the time of the recent quarterly meeting, Brother N. C. Bergersen baptized four persons at Sioux Rapids, Iowa.
BROTHER W. M. CUBLEY reports the baptism of five persons by him at Freeland, Tex. The interest in the meetings is still good.
FROM Corning, N. Y., where Brother T. B. Westbrook has been holding meetings a few weeks, word comes that seven persons have taken a stand for the truth.
SIX more persons were baptized and added to the Kansas City (Kan.) church on Sabbath, April 18, making a total of thirty-five since Brethren Meade MacGuire and H. B. Steele began meetings.
MEETINGS were held April 2-11 with the church at Walker, W. Va., by Brother W. R. Foggin. During this time five young people followed their Lord in the ordinance of baptism. It is expected that six others, who were hindered at that time, will soon be baptized.
AS the result of the labors of a sister in the St. Thomas (Ontario) church, four have taken their stand for the Sabbath, and expressed a desire to learn more of the third angel’s message. She worked faithfully with missionary publications, distributing more than five hundred each week.
SINCE the close of the tent-meeting at Kansas City, Kan., last October, Brother U. S. Willis has engaged in house-to-house work among the colored people. He has been assisted by one of the new believers; and as a result of their efforts, six have begun to walk in obedience to the truth.
A MISSIONARY convention was recently held in Chico, Cal. Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell, Brother A. J. S. Bourdeau, the missionary secretary of the California Conference, and Brother J. R. Ferren, of the Pacific Press, took leading parts in the work of this convention. A good interest was manifested in the instruction given.
THE new church at Kincaid, Kans., was dedicated April 5. The house was well filled with interested listeners to the sermon preached by Brother Charles Thompson. Brother B. W. Brown offered the dedicatory prayer. This neat house of worship, which will accommodate about two hundred persons, and cost fifteen hundred dollars, was dedicated free of debt by the new company of believers, who have worked unitedly to this end.
Medical Missionary Department
Conducted by the Medical Department of the General Conference
W. A. GEORGE, M. D., Chairman
W. A. RUBLE, M. D., Secretary
The Sunday Bill Before the United States Senate
By W. W. P.
ON Friday, May 1, Senator Johnston, of Alabama, reported to the Senate the Sunday bill to which reference was made in the last REVIEW. This bill is a substitute for the bills previously introduced by Senator Johnston, and reads as follows:—
“That it shall be unlawful for any person or corporation in the District of Columbia, on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, to labor at any trade or calling, or to employ or cause to be employed his apprentice or servant in any labor or business, except in household work or other work of necessity or charity, and except also newspaper publishers and their employees, and except also public-service corporations and their employees, in the necessary supplying of service to the people of the District.
“SEC. 2. That it shall be unlawful for any person in said District on said day to engage in any circus, show, or theatrical performance: Provided, That the provisions of this act shall not be construed so as to prohibit sacred concerts nor the regular business of hotels and restaurants on said day, nor to the delivery of articles of food, including meats, at any time before ten o’clock in the morning of said day from June first to October first; nor to the sale of milk, fruit, confectionery, ice, soda and mineral waters, newspapers, periodicals, cigars, drugs, medicines, and surgical appliances; nor to the business of livery stables, or other public, or the use of private, conveyances; nor to the handling and operation of the United States mail.
“SEC. 3. That any person or corporation who shall violate the provisions of this act shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than ten dollars or by imprisonment in the jail of the District of Columbia for not more than ten days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court: Provided, That persons who are members of a religious society who observe as a sabbath any other day in the week than Sunday shall not be liable to the penalties prescribed in this act if they observe as a sabbath one day in each seven, as herein provided.
“SEC. 4. That all prosecutions for violations of this act shall be in the police courts of the District of Columbia and in the name of the District.”
A printed report was submitted on this bill, which was in the nature of an argument in favor of its adoption, with an attempt to answer some of the objections which had been presented at the hearing. Some of the considerations presented in favor of the enactment of such legislation are thus stated:—
“The seat of government of the United States is perhaps the only territory within its jurisdiction in America where the fourth commandment has been repealed or is practically ignored, or where at least the universal sentiment in favor of a legislative day of rest does not prevail.”
“No religious duty is enjoined; no attendance on any church is any more required than there is any prohibition of hearing a lecture in support of infidelity. Every citizen is permitted the widest liberty of conduct except only following the ordinary avocations and amusements of the week. There is no invasion of the home, no disturbance of the family, no prohibition of friendly intercourse. The bill imposes no restraint whatever upon the religious liberty of any citizen of the District.”
“It would seem that if anywhere in the United States some fair regard for the divine law or human needs should be observed, it is in the capital city and District of the country.”
“The appeal of those who are compelled to labor in shop and factory under fear of a permanent loss of employment in case of refusal should appeal to the humanity of every good citizen.”
“It was stated at the hearing, and not denied, that the greatest opposition at the hearing before the commissioners of the District came from the Seventh-day Adventists, and that they did not number, men, women, and children, more than three hundred in a population of some three hundred thousand.”
The simple reading of this bill and of the arguments advanced in its favor, is sufficient to show the distinctly religious character of the proposed legislation. It is because the fourth commandment “is practically ignored” that it is deemed necessary to make provision “for the proper observance of Sunday.” It is because “some fair regard for the divine law” should be observed that it is proposed to make it a crime to engage in the ordinary pursuits of life, or to indulge in the usual sports and amusements “on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.”
Only those are exempted from the provisions of this bill who are (1) “members of a religious society who observe as a sabbath any other day in the week than Sunday,” and who (2) “observe as a sabbath one day in each seven, as herein provided.” This exemption plainly shows that the real purpose of the proposed legislation is to secure sabbath observance; preferably the observance of the first day of the week as a sabbath, but the observance of some other day as a sabbath is tolerated. And yet it is declared in this report that the bill “imposes no restraint whatever upon the religious liberty of any citizen of the District.” The bill says, in effect, to every citizen of the District of Columbia: “You must observe one day in the week as the sabbath. If your religious convictions require you to observe any other day than Sunday, such sabbath observance will be accepted by the civil authority as satisfactorily meeting ‘the divine law;’ but in case you do not observe any other day, you must observe Sunday, whether you have any religious convictions in regard to the matter or not.” And this is “no restraint whatever upon the religious liberty of any citizen”! Such “religious liberty” as this was in vogue in the Dark Ages, the only apparent difference21being that in this case a belief and practise different from that of the majority is tolerated. But this apparent difference is a mere matter of sufferance, — a difference which, as experience has shown, may be obliterated at any time at the will of the majority, if the right to enact such a law is granted.
By a strange and unaccountable misapprehension of the objections presented to this proposed legislation at the hearing granted by the Committee on the District of Columbia, it is stated in this report that “objection to the selection of the first day of the week instead of the seventh” was one of the reasons for opposing the bill, and to this supposed objection the reply is made “that to object because Sunday is chosen by the law-making power as the day of rest, and that it is the first day of the week and not the seventh, is to put the opposition distinctly on religious grounds.” As a matter of fact no such objection was made at the hearing. It is certain that the Seventh-day Adventists have never taken this ground. They are just as certainly opposed to any legislation requiring the observance of the seventh day of the week as to any legislation requiring the observance of the first day of the week. Any such legislation would be religious in character and wholly outside the sphere of civil government, and the question of the day does not change the character of the legislation.
But if such objection places “the opposition distinctly on religious grounds,” what about the appeal in favor of such legislation on the ground that the fourth commandment “is practically ignored,” and that there should be “some fair regard for the divine law”? Is not this appeal based “distinctly on religious grounds”? — Plainly so; and, according to the logic of the report itself, this is “a sufficient answer” to those who propose such legislation.
While it is true that Sunday is not the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and that the observance of Sunday as the sabbath is directly contrary to the express provisions of the fourth commandment, yet we do not base our opposition to the proposed legislation upon these grounds, nor ask for legislation in favor of the observance of the true Sabbath. This whole question of sabbath observance is outside the jurisdiction of civil authority, and belongs wholly to the realm of conscience. We are therefore opposed to any legislation which attempts to deal with this subject.
As to the statement that there are not more than three hundred Seventh-day Adventists in a population of some three hundred thousand in the District of Columbia, we submit the following extract from a speech from C. C. Burleigh, Esq., at a religious liberty convention held in Boston, March 23, 24, 1848:—
“The majority must rule! Shall the majority rule in matters of conscience? Can you count consciences? Can you count moral principles? Can you count the impulses of the heart, the faculties of the soul, the multitudinous cords that bind the individual to the universal heart? If you can, you may count majorities in cases of conscience. . . . Can you speak of ballots and ballot-boxes, of the ayes and noes of the legislative hall, against this right of individual conscience? It stands too high for legislative power to reach up to it.”
We shall doubtless have occasion to refer to this bill and the report in future issues of the REVIEW. W. W. P.
Christian Liberty
By K. C. Russell; W. A. Colcord
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertainingto the Current History of theRights of Conscience
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau
K. C. Russell, — — — — — Chairman
W. A. Colcord, — — — — — Secretary
Wishes It Were Fifty Times As Much
By W. A. C.
A BROTHER in New York, sending in a check for five dollars as a personal donation to the religious liberty work, accompanies his donation with the following words:—
“I want to give a little toward the good work of upholding religious liberty. I am a subscriber to Liberty, and am a strong advocate of its principles, and wish I could give fifty times as much for the cause. Kindly accept this very small amount from an isolated Sabbath-keeper.”
We are glad to know that we have such loyal friends and such staunch supporters of our religious liberty work throughout the country. This is not the only brother who has sent in five dollars to this work.
W. A. C.
Religious Liberty Notes
ELDER J. S. WIGHTMAN has entered upon his work as Religious Liberty Secretary of the Central Union Conference.
The Religious Liberty Bureau is getting out a set of ten souvenir post-cards on the subject of Religious Liberty. Each card will have a reproduction of a cartoon, illustrating in a forcible manner the question of religious liberty.
W. A. Colcord, Secretary of the Religious Liberty Bureau, is to attend camp-meetings during the months of May and June in the North Pacific Union Conference and Western Canada in the interests of the Religious Liberty work.
The Religious Liberty Bureau has just had made a large number of slides of pictures, illustrating the subject of religious liberty, which will be used by the officers of the department, in giving stereopticon lectures on that theme.
Some comment has been caused by the fact that President Roosevelt recently signed a bill on Sunday. Attorney General Bonaparte declares that this will not interfere with the validity of the bill, but has not decided whether the work of the President was a work “of necessity and charity.”
Brother S. E. Pearl, in the Wisconsin Reporter of April 22, reports that at a recent town meeting in Richfield, Wood Co., Wis., a resolution was passed prohibiting all road work on Sunday. After it had passed the town council, some citizen, not an Adventist, showed the inconsistency of the resolution.
At a religious liberty mass-meeting held in Wichita, Kan., at which about two hundred were present, a protest against the Sunday bills now before Congress was made, and a telegram was sent to one of the senators from Kansas, asking him to oppose all religious legislation. The senator responded with the assurance that the matter would have his careful consideration.
Applications have come to the Religious Liberty Bureau to have public libraries supplied regularly with our magazine Liberty. Why should not some plan be devised in all the conferences to place this magazine on file in every library in their respective States? The Bureau is already sending four hundred thirty-seven copies to the principal university and college libraries in the United States.