The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-01-31
Against Sunday legislation

Day Adventist church resoVieo
itself into what might be termed a
mass meeting, when resolutions
were passed demonstrating against
proposed Sunday legislation now
before the United States Senate in
Congress at Washington, D. {. The
resolutions were brought before
the congregation by W. D. Schmuck.
elder Of the church. and were
passed unanimously. They read as
follows:
Whereas, The Johnson Su- day
Bill, now pending in the Senate of
the United States. is religious IN
its 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 indicates most clearly its
religious character by exempting
from the application of this section
those who belong to a religious
society that observes some other day
of the week than Sunday as Sabbath,
and
Whereas, Religious legislation is
contrary both to the spirit and let
ter of the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, and if carried to It's
logical conclusion means a union
of church and state. and the perse-
cution of dissenters; therefore be it
Resolved. That we respectfully,
hut earnestly, demonstrate against
the passage of this bill, or any
other bill requiring the observance
of Sunday as rest day which may
come before the Senate.
Similar resolutions were passed
in every one of the 1000 Seventh
Day Adventist churches in the
United States. thus showing that
about 10000 membes in this demon
nation alone are strongly opposed
to any kind of Sunday legislation.
Elder Schmuck said the reason
Seventh Day Adventists are so Wig
orously opposed to the johnson Sun
day 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 thousands of
others who love religious liberty.
In giving futhrer reasons why his
denomination is opposed to Sunday
legislation, Elder Schmuck 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 believe
to be religious laws; therefore we
are unconpromisingly opposed to
all legislation in behalf of Sunday
observance. Sunday is religious
institution; its observance is a re-
ligious act; law enforcing that OBJ
sevance is a religious law; therefore
we believe it should not exist in
this country. We would be uncom-
promisingly opposed to any legisla-
ton for the enforcement Of the sew
enth day of the week. The Sabbath
is a religious institution, and its OBJ
servance is a religious act, and
from our standpoint it would be en-
tirely wrong for the state to at
tempt any legislation for the OBJ
servance of the seventh day of the
week. The same !may be said re-
regarding baptism. prayer. or any,
thing else pertaining to religion.
We believe in 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.
Nov. as to our attitude regard
ing law to close the saloons on
Sunday. 1t is well known by all
who know anything about Adven-