The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-01-23
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-
tions 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 appll
cation of this section those who be-
long to a religious society which OBJ
serves some other day of the week
than Sunday as a 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 it's logical conclusion
means a 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
quiring the observance Of Sunday as
rest day which may come before tht
! Senate.
Similar resolutions were passed il
every one of the 1000 Seventh Da!
Adventists churches in the United
States, thus showing that about 20,
900 members in this denomination
alone are strongly oppose d, to any kim
of Sunday legislation.
Elder Croskrey said the reasol
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 persect
ton upon dissenters. 1t was state
that not only are Seventh Day Adve1
lists opposed to Sunday Legislation
but also thousands Of others who low
religious liberty.
In giving further reasons why hi
denomination is opposed to Sunday lie
islation, Elder Croskrey said:
"Our denomination has always stoo
for the entire separation of church al
4 state, ard has earnestly opposed q
! attempts at religious legislation, SUI
, day laws we believe to be religion
laws; therefore we are uncompron
isingly opposed to all legislation
behalf of Sunday observance. Sunds
, is a religious institutions; its obser
. ance is a religious law; therefore "
, believe it should not exist jim tn
country We would be uncompromisl1
q ly opposed to any legislation for II
). enforcement of the seventh day of tt
week. The Sabbath is religious i
q stitution, and it's observance is a re
- ND a
q would be entirely wrong for the sta
=. to attempt any legislation for the Q
servance of the seventh day of tt
week. The same may be said regar
!. ing baptism, prayer, or anything ell
: pertaining to religion. We belle
!. that Christ, the founder of the chure
+ taught the complete separation Of t
+ church from this state; and this,
believe, should be the attitude of {
y cry professed follower of him.
- "Now, as to our attitude regardi
" law to close the saloons on ST.
II day: 1t is we'll known by all W
know anything about Adventistsi tt
~ they are uncompromisingly opposed
II the saloon on all days of the wee
III We believe that they are a mena
" to the welfare of the state, and tt
10 they should not be permitted to cal
on their destructive work; thereto
~ we Join in every movement to sect
10 laws for closing the saloons entirely
II.
IN LEGAL NOTICE