Seventh Day Baptists Oppose Proposed Calendar Reform

The Seventh Day Baptists take a stand similar to that of the Jewish religious bodies in the United States in opposition to the proposed calendar reform, which would result in making the Sabbath migratory.

The mid-year meeting of the Commission of the Seventh Day Baptist Denomination, held here at the Fort Pitt Hotel, representing 8,000 members, reaffirmed the resolutions passed at the general conference of the Seventh Day Baptists held in California last July, expressing to the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America “our most earnest opposition to the adoption of the proposed calendar, based upon the following reasons: (1) In all previous calendar revisions, the week has not been disturbed. In this weekly cycle the Sabbath has always held its rightful place. The proposed simplified calendar, with its “year day” and its “leap day” destroys the present sequence of the days of the week. (2) It makes it impossible for Sabbath-keepers to be true to their convictions and at the same time carry on their normal, educational, business and industrial activities, since under the proposed calendar the Sabbath will fall upon different days of the week. (3) The proposed calendar, forcibly trampling upon the rights and consciences of others is, in fact, religious legislation which would inevitably lead to persecution. As an illustration, consider the application of our compulsory school laws.

“(4) The proposed calendar, seeking to stabilize our holidays, destroys those sentiments that cluster about definite days, such as our national holidays, birthdays, etc. (5) We feel that the Sabbath, religious convictions and sentiment should not be held subservient to industrial needs.

The Rev. Willard D. Burdick of Plainfield, N. J. General Secretary, was authorized to represent the Seventh Day Baptists at a hearing on the calendar reform to be held in Washington. If there is a second hearing, Rev. A., J. C. Bond of Plainfield, N., J., denominational leader in Sabbath promotion, will also attend.

Members of the Commission who were present are: Frank Hill, Ashway, R. I.; Herbert I. Polan, North Loup, Nebraska; Moses H. Van Horn, Salem, W. Va.; Curtis F. Randolph, Alfred, N. Y.; Edgar D. Van Horn, Alfred Station, N. Y.; George M. Ellis, Milton, Wis.; Edward E. Whitford, New York; Claude L. Hill, Farina, Ill., and Rev. Burdick, general secretary.

S. Rosenman, New York attorney, has been appointed Counsel to the Governor of the State of New York by Governor-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt. The office carries with it a salary of $12,000 a year. Mr. Rosenman now holds a post in the Legislature Department, whose function it is to give proper form to the bills introduced in the Legislature.