The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-01-30
IMPORTANT MEETING
Anent Proposed Sunday Legislation
Resolutions Drafted

RESOLUTIONS Drafted
The meeting held at the Seventh
Day Adventist Church, Jan. Is,
1913 resolved itself into what might
be termed d mass meeting, when
resolutions were passed remonstrat-
ing against proposed Sunday iegis-
lation now before the United States
Senate in Congress in Washington,
| D. G. The resolution were brought
before the congregation by B. A.
Rogers, Elder of the church, and
were passed unanimously. They
read as follows:
Whereas, The Johnston Sunday
Bill, now pending in the Senate of
the United States; is religious in it's
| character, in that it is designed to
foster the religious observance of
Sunday, and,-
Whereas, the exemption clause
attached to one of the sections of
this bill indicate most clearly its
religious character, by exempting
from the application of this section
those who belong to religious
society which observe some ,other
day of the week than Sunday as a
Sabbath, and,-
Whereas, religious legislation is
contrary both to the spirit and letter
Of the Constitution Of the United
States, and if carried to its logical
conclusion means a union of church
and state, and the persecution of
dissenters; therefore, =
Resolved, That we respectfully,
but earnestly, remonstrate against
the passage of this bill, or ahy other
bill requiring the observance of Sun
day as rest day which may come
before the Senate. T.
Similar resolutions were passed
in every one of the 1000 Seventh
Day Adventist churches in the
United States, thus showing that
about 10000 members in this de-
nomination alone. are strongly op-
posed to any kind of Sunday legis-
lation.
Elder Rogers said the reason
Seventh Day Adventists are so
vigorously opposed to- the Johnston
Sunday bill in Congress is because,
the passage of it would be the first
step towards the union of church
and state. which would ultimately
bring persecution upon dissenters.
1t was stated that not only are
Seventh Day Adventists opposed
to Sunday legislation, but also thou
sands of others who love religious
liberty.
In giving further reasons why his
denomination is opposed to Sunday
legislation, Elder Rogers said:
"Our denomination has always
stood for the entire separation of
church and state, and has earnestly
opposed, all attempts at religious
legislation. Sunday laws we be-
lieve to be religious laws; therefore
we are uncompromisingly opposed
to all legislation IN behalf of Sunday
observance. Sunday is religious
institution; its observance is a rell-
gious act; law enforcing that ob-
servance is religious law; there
fore we believe it should not exist
in this country. We would be un-
compromisingly opposed to any
legislation for the enforcement of
the seventh day of the week. The
Sabbath is a religious institution,
and it's observance is religious act,
and from our standpoint it would be
entirely wrong for the state to at
tempt any legislation for the obs: r.
vance of the seventh day OF the
week. The same may be said re-
garding baptism, prayer, or anything
else pertaining to religion. We be-
lieve that Christ, the founder of
the church, taught the complete
separation of the church from the
state; and this we believe, should
be the attitude of every professed
follower of him.
'Now as to our attitude regarding
a law to close the saloons on Sun
day. 1t is we'll known by all who
know anything about Adventists
that they are uncompromislngiy op-
posed to the saloon on all days OF
the week. We believe that they
are menace to the welfare of the
state, and that they should not be
permitted to carry on their destruc-
tive work; therefore we join in any
movement to secure laws for closing
the saloons entirely"
Looks like if High Point wanted
a railroad she could get it, we mean
q rool rom0atitiva r2ilrO9d and mt