The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-04-06
Is ReligiOug Liberty Threatened :
Editor The Washington Hcral

Editor The Washington Herald
We have enjoyed the blessing Of liberty
so long, and feel so secure in our blood
bought heritage. that we smile when
even the suggestion is made that danger
threatens. And yet there have been in
PRODUCED in the present session Of Con-
gress six bills which If passed will be-
come links 70 bind Us to that which ever
has been curse 10 the state and an in
jury to true religion. q union of church
and state. I refer TO the Sunday bills.
Those who in foreign lands have been
denied the rights Of conscience, on coming
in touch with the efforts 10 enact Sunday
laws, seem 10 comprehend our danger
more than those Of us living In the home
land. At meeting held IN the First Bap-
fist Church in Chicago, whose object was
to petition Congress to pass a Sunday
law, a Russian student made the follow
ing touching speech:
Il am from Russia, the land of in
toleTance-the land of a union of church
and state. I have seen the scars on the
wrists of the missionaries whom you sent
to my eountry-scars made By chains
placed on them by Russia's union of church
and state. 1 Joined the Baptist Church
in Russia because it trusted In God not
in the state. And now l come to America
and enter my beloved Baptist Church
and hear you petitioning Congress for q
law TO bind chains on the wrists of your
fellow-men. l appeal to you in the name
Of God. Send your petition to the throne
Of God, and not TO the Congress of the
United States"
William Lloyd Garrison. of whom John
Bright, the English statesman, wrote 10
James Russell Lowell. 4 know Of no
nobler man than William Lloyd CARR
sen" saw danger in Sunday legislation.
and the following extracts from a speech
delivered by him in Boston Will prove
interesting reading in view of the present
agitation:
who wants TO be prosecuted on ac-
count of his own conscientious views?
l will ask the fiTst-day Sabbatarian: Do
you claim a right TO entertain your views
without molestation. in regard 10 the
holiness Of time Most assuredly. How
do you make it out that the first day Of
the week is the Sabbath?-I believe il
TO be so; Il it is not 10 my own Master
l stand or fall. Under a government
which avowedly tolerates all beliefs. I
claim the right as a first-day Sabbath
rian, 10 keep that day as the Sabbath
Well, / do not assail that right. / claim
the right also to have my own views of
the day; the right TO sanctify the first.
second, third, or all days, as / think
proper. Now I turn TO that frst-day
and ask him how he dares
to dictate to me to keep the day which
be regards as holy. and TO say, II you do
not obey me, / Will put my hands into |
your pocket, and take out as much as
please IN the shape of a fine; or II |
find nothing there. I viii put you in |
prison; or if you resist enough to re-
Iuire it, 1 will shoot you dead. How |
iare he do this? If he is not a rufiian, |
s he a Christian? Talk of the spirit Of |
Justice auimating the bosom of the man |
Nho comes, like highwayman, with !
DO or die.
Why should we attempt 10 legislate |
upon question Of this kind? Observe |
low many differences of opinion prevail, |
honestly and sincerely, In the world, re- /
'pecting It. Does any one doubt that /
he Seventh-day Baptists are sincere?
Are they not honest. courageous. self |
sacrificing men, those who stand out
gainst the law and public sentiment, for
sake? The men. even though
hey err, who are true TO their con-
cost what it may, are, after
III, those who are ever nearest to the
,ingdom OF God. They desire only 70
NOW what is right, and they have the