BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ASSOCIATION

By reading Article 5, Section 1, of the association’s constitution, it will be seen that the founders of this organization contemplated the attainment of two definite objects; namely, the assistance of prosecuted brethren, and educational work by means of literature and lectures. Since but few of our people were prosecuted during the past biennial term, our funds have been largely available for educational work. It is to be feared that during the years when prosecutions and imprisonments were so numerous, the educational work of the Association became eclipsed in the minds of some of our people by the more material idea of aiding the oppressed; and when imprisonments practically ceased, some began to affirm, “There is no issue before us,”—a sentiment that is apparently all too common.GCB April 7, 1901, page 110.1

One of the first requisites necessary to success is a true conception of the purpose for which the Association was created. Let it be recognized that its right to live does not lie primarily in its opportunity to give relief to the imprisoned, but rather in the fulfillment of its mission to inculcate principles of eternal truth in the hearts of men who must soon decide their attitude toward the image and the mark of the beast. Let it be ever remembered that the only issue worth the name was and is that involved in our educational work. That this fact was recognized in the year of the Association’s birth is amply affirmed by the record of its earlier meetings, when such brethren as A. T. Jones, E. J. Waggoner, J. O. Corliss, W. W. Prescott, W. C. White, and others similarly blessed with foresight and good judgment, expressed the legitimate work of the Association in such resolutions as the following:—GCB April 7, 1901, page 110.2

“Resolved, That we deem it the duty of all members of the Association to bring the literature of the Association before all the people at the earliest possible moment.”—From minutes of first annual meeting.GCB April 7, 1901, page 110.3

These words are strikingly in accord with those frequent admonitions found in such testimonies as “The Impending Conflict” and “The Coming Crisis,” of which the following are types:—GCB April 7, 1901, page 110.4

It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger. We should disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a proper light before the people. We should bring before them the real question at issue, thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures to restrict liberty of conscience.” And again: “When God has given us light showing the dangers before us, how can we stand clear in his sight if we neglect to put forth every effort in our power to bring it before the people?”GCB April 7, 1901, page 110.5

During 1900 over 207,000 copies of the Religious Liberty Library were printed, and the number of pages actually circulated amounted to 4,000,000. Aside from these, over 1,220,000 pages of the old series of the Religious Liberty Library were placed in the hands of the people. Thousands of specially prepared leaflets were also issued during the year. On May 1, 1900, the American Sentinel was transferred to the Association, and the 33 numbers published during the remainder of the year averaged about 9,000 copies each, a total of over 290,000 copies, approximating 4,700,000 pages.GCB April 7, 1901, page 110.6