Arizona republican., 1916-10-16
ADVENTISTS AGAINST
 TIE SUNDAY LAWS
By F. A. COFFIN


 Sunday laws and measures restrict ing the freedom of the press were viz oruusly protested against by Arizona Seventh day Adventists at their meet ings at Sixth avenue and Washington streets yesterday afternoon. The de- cisiuu was reached to hold the confer ence sessions biennially hereafter, in stead of annually, and conference of ficers will be elected for two years. The camp meetings will be held an- nually, however as at present
 The creation of a tract society here for the handling of Adventist books, tracts and periodicals was acted upon favorably, but final decision was left with the Pacific Union Conference committee. The offices of home mis- sionary secretary and field agent were created by vote of the delegates. The appointments to these positions prob ably will be made by the conference committee after the close of the con- ference.
 The protest against Sunday laws is as follows:
 Believing that the principles of civil and religious liberty upon which our government was founded are being constantly endangered by the ever increasing demand for religion legis- lation in the form of Sunday laws, and press restrictions; therefore
 Resolved. that we continue to use every means at our command to en- tighten the public in general and the lawmakers in particular upon these matters and urge them with all the powers at our command to vote against such laws"
 Seventh-d day Adventists are opposed |. is wrong to legislate upon religious questions. To enact q Sunday law they say. is to settle by state law a difference of opinion among sects re- specting the worship of the Deity. They assert that in matters of conscience where the rights of fellow citizens are not infringed. man is accountable alone to God for his acts, and that the state has no right to interfere. Their position is that there is as much jus tice in enacting laws to compel church attendance. or baptism by some par ticular mode or to the celebration oi the mass. or the reading of the Bible or contributions to the financial sup port of the church, as there is in mak ing Sunday laws.
 The Adventists point out that Sun day laws. being religious, are a stel AAfAdAN NltAAiiH filultl anu SAdlt. W Ill the church predominant. They poin to the history of the Dark Ages, when heretics were freely burned a the stake or tortured for refusal t conform to the creed of the stat church. They call attention to condi uons in church ruled Russia, alsC where dissenters are imprisoned an hanished to bleak Siberia.
 Elder Philip Knox spoke in the bi tent at II o'clock yesterday morning Prof NJ. F. Cady. of Oakland. youn peoples secretary for the Pacifi Union Conference. conducted the meet ing for the youth at o'clock yesterda afternoon. He explained the Morn ing Watch" a plan for the systemati reading of the Bible every morning He also urged the youth to enter thei names as participants in the readin course outlined by the North America Division conference, which include three good books each year upon help ful Subjects
 That the downfall of Turkey mean the extinction of all human govern mentS was the statement of Elder