The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-01-16
Seventh Day Adventists Hold Meeting

The meeting of the local Seventh
Day Adventist Church last Saturday
resolved itself into what might be
termed a mass meeting, when resolu-
tons were passed demonstrating
against proposed Sunday legislation
now before the United States. Senate
in Congress in Washington. D. C. The
resolutions. were brought before the
congregation by R. w. Croskrey, elder
of the church, and were passed. unani-
mously. They read as follows:
Whereas, The Johnston Sunday Bill,
now pending in the Senate of the
United States, is religious in its
character, in that it is designed to fos-
ter the religious observance of Sun
day, and,
Whereas, the exemption clause at
tached to one of the sections of this
bill indicates most clearly it's religious
character, by exempting from the appli
cation of this section those who be-
long to a religious society which OBJ
serves some other day of the week
than Sunday as Sabbath, and,
Whereas, religious legislation is con-
trary both to the spirit and letter OF
the Constitution of the United States,
and if carried to its logical conclusion
means union of church and state,
and the persecution of dissenters
therefore,
Resolved, That we respectfully, but
earnestly, demonstrate against the pas
sage of this bill, or any other bill re
curing the observance of Sunday as
rest day which may come before the
Senate.
Similar resolutions were passed II
every one of the 1000 Seventh Day
Adventists churches in the United
States, thus showing that about 70,
900 members in this denomination
alone are strongly oppose d to any kim
of Sunday legislation.
Elder Croskrey said the reason
Seventh Day Adventists are so vigor
ously opposed to the Johnston Sunda,
bill in Congress is because the pas
sage of it would be the first step to
wards the union of church and state
which would ultimately bring persecr
ton upon dissenters. 1t was state
that not only are Seventh Day Adver
fists opposed to Sunday Legislation
but also thousands of others who low
! religious liberty.
In giving further reasons why nj
- denomination is opposed to Sunday lie
islation, Elder Croskrey said
!. Our denomination has always stoc
for the entire separation of church an
y state. and has earnestly opposed a
4 attempts at RELIGIOUS legislation. SUI
a day laws we believe to be religion
n laws; therefore we are uncompron
isingly opposed to all legislation
:. behalf of Sunday observance. Sunda
n is religious institution; its obser'
a ance is a religious law; therefore "
h believe it should not exist In tn
country. We would be uncompromisin
70 ly opposed to any legislation for TT
n. enforcement of the seventh day of tt
r week The Sabbath is religious i
q stitution, and it's observance is a re
/. gious act, and from our standpoint
Va would be entirely wrong for the sta
r. to attempt any legislation for the o
servance of the seventh day OF tt
week. The same may be said regar
l. ing baptism, prayer, or anything ell
4 pertaining to religion. We belle
l. that Christ, the founder of the churc
+ taught the complete separation OF Il
+ church from this state; and this,
believe, should be the attitude of e
~ cry protested follower of him.
u "Now, as to our attitude regardll
IL law to close the saloons on Su
~ day: 1t is we'll known by all w
know anything about Adventists tn
av they are uncompromisingly opposed
~ the saloon on all days of the wee
Gil We believe that they are a mena
ay to the welfare of the state, and tn
iie they should not be permitted to car
on their destructive work; thereto
ay we join in every movement to secu
TIC laws for closing the saloons entirely.
II.
on