The Washington herald., 1910-02-07

Branding the Johnston Sunday bill as
an attempt to curtail religious liberty.
more than GOO citizens held a mass meet
ing at the National Rifles Armory last
night TO protest.
After four fiery speeches had been
made, charging supporters of the bill
with trying TO force Congress to invade
the churches. a unanimous resolution Of
protest was adopted. to be forwarded 90
the House and Senate. There were re-
peated outbursts Of applause.
With the hall crowded to the doors,
Chairman X. c. Russell called the meet
ing to order. He gave a brief explana-
ton, and said recent activities of the
clergy and weIl-meaning citizens had
started a strong movement in favor Of
legislation making il an Offense to break
the Sabbath, and that energetic action
must be taken 10 stem the tide f. W.
Farnsworth. Bible instructor Of the
Washington Foreign Missionary Society;
". A. Colcord. secretary Of the Religious
Freedom Association. and W. W. Pres
colt made speeches. sounding a note OF
warning against allowing the nation to
regulate the religion Of citizens.
Resolution Is Emphatic.
At the close Of the addresses the fol-
lowing resolutions were adopted by ris-
ms vote:
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font being made both i'm Washington and throughout
the country 10 secure national religious legislation.
particularly in the matter Of Sunday observance
ard
Whereas all such legislation Is subyersve Of human
rights, contrary % the spirit and teachings a
Christ and pure Christianity, and 70 the letter and
spirit Of the Constitution o. the United States, in
imca % the best interests Of both the church and
the ststg, and. IN the end. tau result only II a
cOmEi-rJ union oi ciIuCh and state, the great desc
llting sCuurgs q all time and
Whereas ID order 10 conceal the real character Of
the movement. The measures sought trequeltly
styled civil enaCtmeuts. police regulations. ten
perance measure, and 'laboTiug mems laws
therefore
Resolved. That We. citizens OF Washington in
meeting assembled. In the interests Uf IeaCe.
prosperity. pure religion and good government, here
by respectfully but most earnestly protest against
the passage by Congress o. any law for the en-
forced Observance u Sunday as a sabbath. or day
OF res.. that We express disaErrov8l Of any
movement calling for such legislation and also OF
the effort 10 conceal its religious character and
that We pledge ourselves TO DO al We can % per
pe.ulte in this country the blessings Of civil and
religious liberty.
Chairman RuSSeITS Version.
"We believe that this Johnston bill is
dangerous and that Congress has no more
right to enforce Sunday observance than
to enforce the Lords Prayer" said Chair
man Russell When religion becomes a
political issue 1t Is a prostitution Of re
Hgion. The churches and state should
forever be kept separate, and this is es-
sentially a religious movement started
by churchmen and fostered by church
men.
we do not believe that the state can
rightfu!ly enforce upon any Of its citizens
the observance Of any religious duty.
such as the observance Of the Sabbath.
The state would have no more right TO
enforce Sabbath Observance than it would
baptism or the Lords Supper"
Mr.. FarnswoFth said. In part:
I'VE affirm that members Of Congress
have no right TO leave the civil realm to
which they We're elected and step over
into the religious realm, TO which they
were not elected.
THE constituencies that sent their rep
resentatives to Congress gave them full
liberty in things civil They expect they
will discuss and legislate on the tariff, the
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