General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

PROGRESS OF THE NATIONAL REFORM MOVEMENT

ALLEN MOON

[READING NO. 2, SABBATH, MAY 16. — PART II.]

A REVIEW of the past year reveals the fact that it has been one of activity on the part of the would-be reformers of this country. Congress had been in session but a few days when bills began to be presented to that body for the enactment of laws recognizing Sunday as the Sabbath in the District of Columbia, and for a complete establishment of the Christian religion for the whole country. These were supported by such old associations as the National Reformers, the American Sabbath Union, the Womans’ Christian Temperance Union, the Epworth League, and the Society of Christian Endeavor, besides several new organizations and combinations that were formed during the past year. The Churchmans’ League, was organized in the spring of 1895 for the purpose of securing united action in favor of Sunday legislation, on the part of all church people, not excepting the Catholics. The Womans’ Sabbath League of America was organized for the purpose of securing more complete co-operation among women for the same ends, and the National Anti-saloon League was organized in December, 1895 to bring about concerted action on the part of all the temperance societies of the land; and last of all, what is known as the Bureau of Reforms was instituted under the leadership of Dr. W. F. Crafts. This organization is designed to unite all the foregoing in one grand body, for the purpose of presenting to Congress an imposing front, like that of the Spanish Armada. Another move in this great scheme, was to induce the First Presbyterian church of Washington to call Dr. Talmage to its pastorate. This was done, and then all was in readiness for the great movement that it was hoped would result in securing legislation of such a character as to leave no doubt that our government was committed to the support of religion. GCB April 1, 1896, page 693.3

The present Congress, as many public expressions prove, was relied upon to favor the measures demanded, many of the members having been elected on the reform issue; but apparently, our Father who rules on high and in the kingdoms of men, has determined it otherwise, and none of the bills have gone beyond the committees to which they were first referred. No doubt the Lord in his wisdom is holding back the passage by Congress of these national laws which are designed to legalize the already oppressive State laws. His people have been warned of that which is coming by the afflictions they have been called to endure under the State laws, but the question comes home to us: Has this warning been the means of begetting in us that degree of earnestness and faithfulness in the Master’s work that the occasion requires? GCB April 1, 1896, page 693.4

Within a year past, a number of our brethren and one sister have been sent to prison and the chain-gang. A larger number still have been convicted. Three who were for some time under sentence of imprisonment, have recently been committed. These convictions and imprisonments have occurred in four States and in Ontario, Canada. Surely, this is no time for indifference, but rather a time for thoughtfulness and earnestly seeking the Lord for wisdom and strength for the time of trial now upon us. GCB April 1, 1896, page 694.1

The fact that men are paid to spend their entire time to work up a sentiment in favor of the overthrow of the safeguards of the liberties of the people, is significant, and even more so the further fact that these men never seem to lose heart, but notwithstanding repeated failures, organize themselves more thoroughly each year. GCB April 1, 1896, page 694.2

Let us not be deceived by appearances at the present time in the national Congress, for Congress is composed of an almost entirely new set of men every two years. At least this is the case with the House of Representatives, while a gradual change is continually going on in the Senate. Everything is uncertain regarding the nations of this world. Our dependence is in the living God, and he has given us his Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. GCB April 1, 1896, page 694.3

Dr. McAllister publicly declared that it was the object of those whom he represented to so change the present form of government in this country as to make the will of the majority the guide of conscience. These are his words: “My good friend, Dr. Lewis, says explicitly that the seventh-day Sabbath is Bible ground. That is his interpretation. He has a right to interpret it in his way. I say that the first day of the week is Bible ground, and that is the way it ever will be. Now here comes the Congress of the United States, and it must decide; the nation must decide;” and again: “It is not simply an individual conscience..... Here is a nation which gives its decision according to its sense of right and wrong. That is the national conscience, and when the nation thus gives its decision, the individual conscience must yield to the conscience of the whole people which is over him, and should be over him in order to enforce what is right.” This reveals the fact that in the professed Christian world, the guide of conscience is entirely lost sight of, and there is little thought of the individual responsibility to God. GCB April 1, 1896, page 694.4