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Coercion contrary to the genius of Christianity.

the exercise of this right he does not interfere with the rights of others; but "to pretend to a dominion over the conscience is to usurp the prerogative of God." However desirable it may seem to some who profess the Christian faith to use the power of government to compel at least an outward respect for Christian institutions and practices, yet it is contrary to the very genius of Christianity to enforce its doctrines or to forge shackles of any sort for the mind. The holy Author of our religion recognized this great principle in these words: "If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not." The triumphs of of the gospel the gospel are to be won by spiritual, rather than by temporal, power; and compulsion may be properly employed only to make men civil.

Therefore, in the interest of the nation, whose prosperity we seek; in the interest of pure religion, for whose advancement we labor; in the interest of all classes of citizens, whose rights are involved; in the interest of a world-wide liberty of conscience, which will be affected by the example of this nation; in the interest even of those who are urging this legislation, who are thereby forging fetters for themselves as well as for others, we earnestly petition the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled, not to enact any religious legislation of any kind whatsoever, and particularly not to pass the bills to which reference has been made in this memorial. And for these objects your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.1

THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY

ADVENTISTS:

A. G. DANIELLS, President;
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.

1 Under the heading, "A Reasonable Petition," the Washington "Post" of February 11, 1908, commented editorially upon this memorial as follows:

Triumphs

not won by temporal power.

In the

interests of Congress enact any

all concerned

asked not to

religious law.

Comment of Washing; ton "Post.

Congress should grant petition.

Much in creed that appeals to mind and heart.

"In the interest of religious liberty, in respect for an alert conscience, Congress ought to grant the petition of the Christian sect known as the Seventh-day Adventists, asking that those of that faith may be legally authorized to keep Saturday as their Sabbath day in the District of Columbia. Nobody but the most churlish bigot can object. The Christian religion is much a matter of faith, and it is the belief of the Adventists that Saturday is the true Sabbath.

"While this paper is a Christian in walk and talk it is not a sectarian, but we are free to say that there is much in the creed, if it be a creed, of the Adventist that appeals to the mind and the heart.

"It is commanded that we keep the Sabbath day. There is a difference of opinion as to which day of the week is the Sabbath. Nearly all Christians accept Sunday as the Sabbath; but great numbers of our citizens, notably the Jews, believe that Saturday is the proper day, and among them the Adventists.

"It is an act of despotism, a flat defiance of the first amendment Sabbath to the Federal Constitution, and a truckling to fanaticism, to prelegislation a violation of scribe any particular day that the citizen shall keep as the Sabbath. first amendIt is the legitimate offspring of the demoniac zealot that sets up the ment, and offspring of torture chamber to vindicate the Lamb of God and hasten his reign persecuting zealot. on earth of peace and good will to men.

No other sect can show a better

citizenship.

tion as to

object of the memorial.

"As for the Adventists - no other sect can show a better citizenship. They are industrious, frugal, and peaceable. If all other men were no more prone to evil than they, the grand jury would have little to do, and courts, civil as well as criminal, could take a vacation of at least six days in the week and have little to do the seventh.

66

'Their petition is reasonable, and we do not see how any one can object to it."

The "

Post" falls into a very natural error in supposing the Misconcep- Adventists petitioned to be " legally authorized to keep Saturday as the Sabbath day." That would be a serious violation of the very principle for which they contend. They do not ask any legislature for a right freely given them of Heaven. What they here contend for is that there shall be no religious legislation whatever, and that all others as well as themselves, shall be protected in the exercise of their religious rights. See closing paragraph of memorial.

No legislation wanted.

A noteworthy document, rich in historical citations.

The New York

memorial thus:

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Times" of February 3, 1908, referred to the

A document of interesting literary, religious, and political significance. . . . It is rich in its citations of historical precedent, clear and strong in its argument against the union of church and state, and apt in its quotations of authorities, from Neander to Bancroft. The Seventh-day Adventists remember the Sabbath and keep it holy on Saturday. . . . Their present position is interesting, and their memorial is a noteworthy document."

MEMORIAL AGAINST SUNDAY LEGIS

LATION.1

PRESENTED IN CONGRESS MARCH 3, 1908.

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives. in Congress Assembled:

March 3,

1908.

Record of

Seventh-day
Baptists.

The Seventh-day Baptists of the United States, for and in behalf of whom this memorial is laid before you, beg leave to call attention to their record as advocates and defenders of constitutional, civil, and religious liberty ever since their organization in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1671 A. D. That record includes colonial governments, the Continental Congress, where they were represented by Hon. Samuel Ward, the services of German Seventh-day Baptists of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and other points of interest. Having such a history and inheritance, we respectfully and confidently ask and petition that you will not enact any of the following bills, now in the hands Sunday bills of the Committees on the District of Columbia, namely:

"S. 1519. A bill to prevent Sunday banking in postoffices in the handling of money-orders and registered letters."

"H. R. 4897. A bill to further protect the first day of the week as a day of rest in the District of Columbia."

“H. R. 4929. A bill prohibiting labor on buildings, etc., in the District of Columbia on the Sabbath day."

“H. R. 13471. A bill prohibiting work in the District of Columbia on the first day of the week, commonly called 'Sunday."

"S. 3940. A bill requiring certain places of business in the District of Columbia to be closed on Sunday."

1 Printed in the "Congressional Record" of March 3, 1908, pages 2891, 2892.

Pray no

be passed.

Basis of memorial.

Forbidden by Constitution.

Postal regulation of 1811.

The agita

tion from

We base this memorial on the following grounds: First. The Constitution of the United States declares that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." That Sunday legislation is forbidden under this act is shown by the records of Congress from 1808 to 1830. The question came to the front under an act of April 30, 1810, establishing the Postal Department and requiring the opening of post-offices and the transmission of mail on every day in the week. Remonstrances and petitions followed the enactment of this law. Postmaster-General Granger, January 30, 1811, reported that he had sent the following instructions to postmasters:

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At post-offices where the mail arrives on Sunday the office is to be kept open for the delivery of letters, etc., for one hour after arrival and assorting of the mail; but in case that would interfere with the hours of public worship, then the office is to be kept open for one hour after the usual time of dissolving the meetings, for that purpose."

He also reported that an officer had been prosecuted in Pennsylvania for refusing to deliver a letter on Sunday not called for within the time prescribed, and said he doubted whether mail could be legally refused to any citizen at any reasonable hour on any day of the week. "American State Papers," volume xv, page 45.

Reports, discussions, and petitions concerning Sun1811 to 1830. day mails crowd the annals of Congress from 1811 to 1830. Mr. Rhea, chairman of the Committee on PostOffices, reported adversely concerning efforts to secure a change in the law requiring Sunday opening on January 3, 1812; June 15, 1812; and January 20, 1815. Postmaster-General Granger made adverse report January 16, 1815, saying:

"The usage of transporting the mails on the Sab

bath is coeval with the Constitution of the United States."

Adverse report

House.

January 27, 1815, Mr. Daggett made an adverse report, that was considered by the House in Committee adopted by of the Whole February 10, 1815, and after various efforts at amendment, was passed, as follows:

"Resolved, That at this time it is inexpedient to interfere and pass any laws on the subject-matter of the several petitions praying the prohibition of the transportation and opening of the mail on the Sabbath."

March 3, 1825, an act was passed "To reduce into one the several acts establishing the Post-Office Department," section II of which reads as follows:

"And be it further enacted, That every postmaster shall keep an office, in which one or more persons shall attend on every day on which a mail shall arrive, by land or water, as well as on other days, at such hours as the Postmaster-General shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof; and it shall be the duty of the postmaster, at all reasonable hours, on every day of the week, to deliver, on demand, any letter, paper, or packet, to the person entitled to, or authorized to receive, the same."

Postal law of 1825.

Discussion renewed, and

Congress

flooded with

petitions.

This renewed the discussion throughout the country, and Congress was flooded with petitions and counter-petitions, which were referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, of which Richard M. Johnson was chairman. He made an elaborate report to the Senate January 19, 1829, and to the House March 4 and 5, 1830. These reports were exhaustive and able documents. They centered around the question of Congressional legislation on religious subjects, son's reports. all phases of which were considered with marked ability and candor.

When he presented the report before the Senate, Mr. Johnson said:

Character of Mr. John

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