The Southern Review Article (1901)

The Southern Review, Vol. 10 (1901-1902)

August 20, 1901

"The Religious Liberty Association" The Southern Review 10, 31 , p. 143.

IN the process of reorganization begun at the last General Conference, the Religious Liberty work, instead of being conducted longer by a separate organization, was made a part of the General Conference organization, to be conducted by a sub-committee connected with the General Conference Committee.

In some unaccountable way, a good many people have received the impression that the Religious Liberty work was to be abandoned. This is altogether a mistake. Some of the machinery and a good deal of expense is to be abandoned. But instead of the Religious Liberty work being abandoned, it is intended and expected that more of it shall be done, if possible, than was done before. It is therefore expected and desired that memberships, annual dues, and donations shall not only continue, but shall be increased. Through the mistake of hinking [sic.] that the work was to be abandoned, memberships, annual dues, and donations have dropped off considerably. But brethren who love religious liberty and its spread among the people, please change this order. Please send in your renewals and donations.

The National Reform element is not slacking its work, though its work is not done openly as much as at first. This is a live issue now just as really as ever: though the phase of it has changed, as has been the case two or three times before. Yet under whatever phase the evil thing may appear, it is always the same subtle, evil thing; and it will continue its evil work unto the end, and until then it will have to be watched, and will have to be opposed and exposed by the living principles of the gospel - the only true liberty.

So to all who have thought that the Religious Liberty work was to be abandoned, and to all who have been inclined to let it be abandoned, we would repeat the works that on a historic occasion brought a great victory and the overwhelming recovery of an abandoned field: "Turn, boys; turn. We are going back." Come along.

Send in your fees and donations. H. E. Osborne is still secretary of the Religious Liberty work, although his address is now Battle Creek, instead of Chicago.
ALONZO T. JONES.