The year 1893 was an important year in the history of Protestant America, and hence also for the church. The world had been invited to attend the "World's Columbian Exposition" or commonly known as the "World fair". During the six months in which it was open, 27,000,000 visitors had paid the 50 cent admission price, which means that nearly half of the American population at that time had travelled to Chicago to see the fair. The Presbyterian churches and other religious groups saw the Fair as an opportunity to promote the principles of their faith, and through petitions signed by millions of people, they lobbied the US Government to close the Fair on Sundays. The Senate conceded, and passed legislation to this effect, despite it being a direct violation of the 1st Amendment of the Constitution which stated that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..."

Jones had been active representing the cause of religious liberty to the Senate in direct opposition to the Presbyterians. But a few months later, during the 1893 General Conference, he confessed the reality of the matter: "The government of the United States is now in the hands of a hierarchy and no longer in the hands of the representatives of the people."

Government as our forefathers established it, is gone, irretrievably gone now. Government of the people, by the people and for the people is gone. The authority of the government from the people, expressed in the Constitution, and the government to be conducted according to the Constitution is gone. The constitution has been overridden, and now it is ignored...

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