The Separatists

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? . . . Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord . . .

--II Corinthians 6; 14,17

Seventh-Day Adventists take their separateness seriously. They do no "unnecessary" work on Saturdays (their Sabbath) and refuse to "strive" against their fellow men. During World War II the U.S. Army came to terms with them. Now U.S. labor is following suit.

Last week the Adventists announced at they had signed an agreement with the United Auto Workers (CIO). Adventist auto workers agreed to contribute the monetary equivalent of union dues to a sick-benefit or some other workmen's benevolent fund, and to refrain from backing either side in the event of a strike. In return, they will receive from the union a card exempting them from all dues, meetings and other union activities in any of the U.A.W.'s 900 locals.

The man responsible for this deal is the Adventists' plump, benign Carlyle B Haynes of Washington, B.C., who has made similar bargains with twelve other international unions during the past two years. Says he: "We believe that we ought not to be tied up in any organization which by a majority vote can bind us to a course of action contrary to our religious convictions."

So far, Haynes has suffered only one turndown--from the Plumbers & Steam Fitters union, on the grounds that such exceptions would create an unfortunate precedent. "Your people don't belong in these big industrial centers," a union official told him. Haynes replied that his church is working on a back-to-the-country campaign.

"They don't even belong here on earth," said the union man. "Well," said Haynes, we plan on moving to another world shortly, and while we remain in this one we want our liberties respected."

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