General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

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INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ASSOCIATION

THE second meeting of the International Religious Liberty Association convened Sunday, March 3, at 4 P.M. A hymn was sung, and Brother G. B. Wheeler offered prayer. GCB March 4, 1895, page 462.4

The Committee on Nominations, finding that the Constitution did not provide for an Executive Committee, offered the following recommendation, which was adopted:— GCB March 4, 1895, page 462.5

We would recommend, That Article 4 of Section 1 of the Constitution be changed so as to read “Executive Committee of nine” in place of “Editorial Committee of five.” GCB March 4, 1895, page 462.6

The following names were presented, and unanimously elected:—

President. — Allen Moon. GCB March 4, 1895, page 462.7

Vice-President. — A. T. Jones.
Recording Secretary. — A. F. Ballenger. Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer. — A. O. Tait.

Executive Committee. — Allen Moon, A. T. Jones, R. C. Porter, O. A. Olsen, A. O. Tait, W. W. Prescott, J. H. Morrison, R. S. Donnell. GCB March 4, 1895, page 462.8

GEO. A. IRWIN, DAN. T. JONES, A. J. BREED - Committee.

Elder A. T. Jones presented the following resolution, and moved its adoption:— GCB March 4, 1895, page 462.9

Resolved, That the Executive Board be, and is hereby, instructed to publish as soon as possible and in most convenient shape, the documents necessary to a proper understanding of the principle of the right of appeal from Supreme Court decisions touching Constitutional questions. GCB March 4, 1895, page 462.10

Elder Jones explained that the principle of the right of appeal from Supreme Court decisions upon Constitutional questions is the basis upon which we will have to stand when the crisis comes. This is a principle that has largely been lost sight of, yet it is one of the fundamental principles upon which the government itself rests. It has been demonstrated, and wrought out once by the government itself. It was tested by the Dred Scott Decision, of which Abraham Lincoln held that it was the right of the people to reverse, and he stood for that principle until the country reversed it. GCB March 4, 1895, page 462.11

The government has again lost sight of the principle; and the National Reformers are exceedingly anxious that the principle shall never be seen again; but it must again be brought to light in showing the evil of the decision that this is a “Christian nation,” and the religious laws in harmony therewith. GCB March 4, 1895, page 462.12

The motion adopting this resolution was carried. GCB March 4, 1895, page 463.1

Meeting adjourned. GCB March 4, 1895, page 463.2