The Two Republics, or Rome and the United States of America
THE AMERICAN SABBATH UNION
which was organized in New York City, November 13, 1888. They way in which it was brought about is this: The year 1888 was the time for the regular meeting of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Early in the year, before the conference met, “Rev.” W. F. Crafts circulated among the officers of Sunday-law associations in all parts of the country, the following petition:—“To the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. TTR 744.2
“DEAR FATHERS AND BRETHEREN: The undersigned earnestly petition you as representatives of the largest denomination of American Christians, to take the initiative in forming a National Sabbath Committee, by appointing several persons to serve in your behalf on such a committee, with instructions to ask other religious bodies, in your name, to appoint representatives to serve on the same committee, in order that the invasion of our day of rest and worship by the united forces of the liquor traffic and its allies, may be successfully resisted by the united forces of American Christianity, in the interests alike of the church and of the nation, of morality and of liberty.” TTR 744.3
When the said General Conference met, the petition was presented by “Rev.” J. H. Knowles, editor of the Pearl of Days. The petition was referred to the “Committee on the State of the Church.” May 15 this committee made the your committee recommend the following for adoption by the General Conference:— TTR 744.4
“Resolved, 1. That the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in response to a petition signed by the officers of Sabbath association of this country, and by more than six hundred other petitioners of different evangelical denominations, take the initiative in forming a National Sabbath Committee. TTR 745.1
“2. That this General Conference invite all other evangelical denominations to appoint representatives to serve on this Committee. TTR 745.2
“3. That the basis of representation on the Committee for each denomination be one representative for each one hundred thousand or major fraction thereof. TTR 745.3
“4. That the following persons be designated to serve on this Committee during the coming quadrennium, with power to complete the full quota for the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to fill vacancies—the first-named to communicate the action of this body to the official representatives of other denominations, and to be the convener of the Committee for its first meeting.” TTR 745.4
This prompt and hearty action of the Methodist Episcopal General Conference, was made the basis of a plea for similar action on the part of other church organizations which met the same year. Upon the strength of this action, the originator of the petition visited, and secured the indorsement of, the Presbyterian General Assemblies both North and South; the Baptist Home Missionary convention; the Synod of Reformed Church; and the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church. Then, November 13, there was held in the parlors of Col. Elliott F. Shepard, New York City, a meeting of eight preachers, one Ph. D., and Mr. Shepard, and the organization was effected, with a Constitution as to name, basis, and object as follows:— TTR 745.5