freedom, and gives light and life. True charity, or love, ‘rejoiceth
in the truth.’ 1 Cor. xiii, 6. Thy law is truth.’ Ps. cxix, 142. David
describing the day of slaughter, when the pestilence shall walk in
darkness, and destruction waste at noonday, so that ‘a thousand shall
fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand,’ says: ‘He shall
cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his
truth shall be thy shield and buckler.’ Ps. xci, 4.
“The storm is coming. War, famine and pestilence are already in the
field of slaughter. Now is the time, the only time to seek a shelter in
the truth of the living God. In Peter’s time there was present truth,
or truth applicable to that present time. The church have ever had
a present truth. The present truth now, is that which shows present
duty, and the right position for us who are about to witness the time
of trouble such as never was. Present truth must be oft repeated, even
to those who are established in it. This was needful in the apostles’
day, and it certainly is no less important for us, who are living just
before the close of time.
“For months I have felt burdened with the duty of writing and
publishing the present truth for the scattered flock; but the way has
not been opened for me to commence the work until now. I tremble at
the word of the Lord, and the importance of this time. What is done to
spread the truth must be done quickly. The four angels are holding the
angry nations in check but a few days, until the saints are sealed;
then the nations will rush, like the rushing of many waters. Then
it will be too late to spread before precious souls the present,
saving, living truths of the Holy Bible. My spirit is drawn out after
the scattered remnant. May God help them to receive the truth, and be
established in it.”
A few numbers of this little sheet had been published, which, with
Bro. Bates’ publications, were a great help in the cause. Then the
few that taught the truth traveled on foot, in second-class cars,
or on steamboat decks, for want of means. The testimony they bore
was pointed. God worked with them mightily; and the cheering news of
conversions to the truth were coming in on every hand. Several brethren
sold possessions, and handed out their means, to advance the cause.
Young men and women could then give up their wages to help preachers
from place to place, and to publish books for gratuitous distribution.
All seemed to give cheerfully, and God abundantly blessed the cheerful
giver. Ministers and people then felt for souls, and labored for them
as though the coming of the day of God was an absorbing reality. But
in those days of prosperity to the cause, there were trials; and these
generally arose in consequence of a disposition to draw off from the
great truths connected with the third message, to points of no vital
importance. It was impossible to make some see that present truth
really was _present_ truth, and not future truth, and that the word,
as a lamp, shines brightest where we stand, and not so plainly on the
path in the distance. Hence the order of events a thousand years in
the future, or just before or after the coming of the Lord, was the
all-absorbing theme with some.
THE REVIEW AND HERALD.
In 1850 I commenced publishing the _Review and Herald_ at Paris, Me. As
friends were few and generally poor, we chose this country location
to save expense. By this time several preachers had united in the
proclamation of the present truth, and our hearts were often cheered by
their success. But those were days of poverty, deprivation, toil and
anguish of spirit. We labored ardently to bring some to a knowledge of
the truth, divided our scanty purse with them, and at the same time
were suffering for the comforts of life. With feeble health we traveled
from town to town, and from State to State, preaching the word and
holding conferences; and at the same time issuing the _Review_ once in
two or three weeks.
About this time Bro. J. N. Andrews commenced his labors, which was no
small reinforcement. Faithfully has this dear brother labored in the
cause, which is now blessed with his clear expositions of Bible truth
in our most important publications.
The first number of the second volume of the _Review_, was issued at
Saratoga Springs, N. Y., August 5, 1851. Up to this time we had no
permanent home, but had traveled as the way opened, then stopped to
write and publish where brethren made us welcome. Our two little boys
were from us, and six hundred miles from each other.
In March, 1852, the _Review_ was established at Rochester, N. Y. The
friends of the cause raised seven or eight hundred dollars to purchase
press and printing material with which to issue it. This was a new
and important era in the progress of the cause. Here commenced Bro.
Andrews’ letters to O. R. L. Crosier, which not only exposed the
weakness of the no-Sabbath heresy, but the deceitful manner in which
some handled the word of God. Success attended the cause east and west.
Bro. Waggoner raised up witnesses for the truth in many places in
Wisconsin. The labors of Brn. Cornell and Cranson were greatly blessed
in Michigan. Bro. Bates was having his usual success in different
States and the Canadas, through which he so rapidly passed, and other
brethren in the State of New York, and in New England, were reporting
success. I cannot better represent the state of things that followed,
than by quoting from the _Review_, vol. xi, p. 77, which I give under
the appropriate head of a
PURIFYING PROCESS.
“It is evident, however, that with the increase of numbers there was
not a corresponding increase in consecration and in the graces of
the Spirit. The truth was being more clearly brought out, and many
were embracing it, and at the same time the standard of consecration,
self-denial and sacrifice, was being lowered among us as a people.
There was a great increase of numbers. The scripture evidences of our
position were the themes of public lectures, and close, practical
preaching was too much neglected, and most Sabbath-keepers became quite
satisfied with the form without the power. Hypocrites crowded into the
ranks. Men destitute of principle, and having a seared conscience,
professed the Sabbath. And the spirit of the world prevailed in the
body.
“Church discipline was urged through the _Review_, which was very
disagreeable to some in the ranks who wished to have their own way, and
hated reproof and instruction. They chose to be teachers, when they
should have been learners. They went out to teach the truth without
being sent of the Lord, or approbated by the church, and sowed the
seeds of discontent, disunion and death wherever they went. Some of
them were labored with and reproved. Others did not receive as much
approbation and attention as they desired. And not a few were rebuked
of the Lord for their unchristian, reckless course. This aroused their
jealousy and anger, and finally they started a sheet of slander at
Jackson, Mich., which met the feelings of all those who were ready to
be inspired with jealousy and a feeling of hatred and revenge toward
those who had reproved them for their wrongs, and they all poured forth
their feelings of bitterness and wrath into this sheet.
“This was a cause of great grief to many dear brethren, and it appeared
for the time that the precious cause was being injured. But this sheet
was manifesting hearts and purifying the body. It was evident to all
decent people that those who would go with such a sheet were not fit
to go with the saints. We will mention some of the leading men in this
faction, and their position when last heard from. W----n, rejected by
his party for crime, and a town charge; B----o, their editor, fined $25
for presenting a pistol, and threatening to shoot a scholar in school;
C----e, run out as a preacher, and fishing on the lakes; C----n,
in a clothing store; L----s, a Spiritualist. R----l and H----s had
denounced B----o and the publishers of their sheet as hypocrites, and
were standing alone. It seems that as soon as these restless spirits
went out from the body by themselves, they immediately went to biting
and devouring one another, until not one of the eighteen messengers of
which they once boasted as being with them, is now bearing a public
testimony, and there is not one place of regular meeting, to our
knowledge, among them east or west.
“The true friends of the cause have been led by these things to see
the necessity of bearing a bold and independent testimony for the
truth, and for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And that gift which was
so despised by the faction, never was prized by the body as now. The
faction has crumbled and disappeared, and the body has risen in union
and strength. And where one destitute of moral worth has left the
ranks, four of real worth have joined the ranks of Sabbath-keepers. At
the time of the disaffection, when the effort was to break down the
_Review_, the church property at the Office was only $700; since, it
has increased to $5,000. Then there were but about one thousand paying
subscribers, now there are nearly two thousand, besides quite a free
list.
“We mourn our lukewarm condition. We have nothing to boast of. But
thanks be to God who has given the truth the victory thus far through
our Lord Jesus Christ. The truth will triumph. Though those who now
profess it be laid aside for their unfaithfulness, God can raise up a
faithful army to fight his battles, and wear the victor’s crown. But
those who have stood the storms of the past will not fall away now.
Though many who have not the truth in them sufficient to move them
cheerfully to action, may be shaken out, and left behind, yet the
faithful ones who have toiled on, groaning, sighing and crying for
salvation and deliverance, will go through to the city of God, and
share the everlasting rest.”
TENT MEETINGS.
Tent operations, as an effective method of spreading the truth, were
commenced among us in the summer of 1854. The first meeting of the kind
was held in Battle Creek, Mich., June 10 and 11, of that year. These
meetings called out large congregations, and gave greater publicity
to our views, by means of the oral lectures, and of our publications,
which had been greatly multiplied, and were eagerly called for. Since
that time tent meetings have been held with great success in New
England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Iowa, and Minnesota.
REMOVAL TO MICHIGAN.
The autumn of 1855 found me much reduced in strength, in consequence
of incessant toil and care, editing, publishing, journeying and
preaching. Very many gave me over to die of consumption. A change
seemed necessary. Heavy debts were upon me, in consequence of printing
large editions of our publications. In this state of things I called
upon my brethren to take the cares and responsibilities of the Office
from me, and advised them to remove it to some more favorable locality.
The truth had been taking strong hold in Michigan, and the brethren
in that State came nobly forward in that time of need, and took the
responsibilities of the Office upon themselves. At a conference of the
friends of the cause in Michigan and Indiana, held in Battle Creek,
Mich., September 23, 1855, I offered the following resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted:
“1. That the Advent Review Office still remain the property of the
church.
“2. That the Advent Review Office be removed to Battle Creek, Mich.
“3. That a financial committee of three be chosen, whose duty it shall
be to move the Office, and publish the _Advent Review_.
“4. That D. R. Palmer, of Jackson, Henry Lyon and Cyrenius Smith, of
Battle Creek, be that Committee.”
A building was immediately erected, and steps taken for the removal of
the Office.
A General Conference was held at Battle Creek, November 16, 1855,
which sanctioned the doings of the conference of September 23, 1855,
and elected Uriah Smith resident editor of the _Review_. The last
paper published in Rochester, N. Y., was dated October 30, 1855, and
its publication was resumed in Battle Creek, December 4, following.
The expenses of the new building, and the removal of the Office, were
promptly met, and soon the publishing department was in a prosperous
condition.
POWER PRESS.
The business at the Office increased so rapidly that the hand press
soon became entirely inadequate for the work. An appeal was again made
to the friends of the cause, this time for means sufficient to purchase
a power press. The brethren immediately responded. An Adams New Patent
Power Press was purchased, and the _Review_ of July 30, 1857, was the
first number printed upon it. A steam engine was soon obtained to
run the press. The entire cost of press, engine, and fixtures, was
twenty-five hundred dollars, which was soon met by the donations of the
brethren.
PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION.
But the wants of the cause soon demanded an enlargement of capital,
and more extended operations. To this end the Seventh-day Adventist
Publishing Association was incorporated in the city of Battle Creek,
May 3, 1861, to which the _Review_ and all the publishing interests
were made over by those who had heretofore had them in charge. This
Association immediately erected a commodious publishing house, and has
since that time been zealously engaged in carrying forward the objects
of its formation. Its eighth annual report, May 14, 1868, showed
the amount of property belonging to the Association, free from all
incumbrance, to be $35,996.59.
ORGANIZATION.
The subject of church order had been from time to time set forth in
the _Review_ since 1850, and the necessity of some simple form of
organization had been quite fully discussed. The positions taken upon
the subject of Babylon, the burden of the second message, had led many
of our people to stand in great fear of organization, however simple.
Babylon signifies confusion. God did not design to bring his people out
of the confusion of Babylon into the greater confusion of no order nor
discipline. This would only be making a bad matter worse. His object in
bringing them out from the churches was to discipline and unite them
for the last great battle of truth under the third message. It was
not ambition to build up a denomination that suggested organization,
but the sheer necessities of the case. For a time, the subject of
organization waded heavily. But the importance of united action, and
some simple form of organization by which we could legally hold our
places of worship, and property necessary to efficiently conduct the
publishing department, being earnestly plead by those who saw and felt
the wants of the cause, our people generally soon overcame their fears,
and united fully in the work. It has proved a success.
In our church organization, the General Conference, composed of
delegates from the different State Conferences, is our highest
authority. This Conference chooses annually, besides the usual
officers, a committee of three who have the oversight of the work
throughout the entire field.
Next to this are our several State Conferences, composed of the
ministers and delegates from all the churches, in their respective
States. These Conferences also have a committee of three to take the
oversight of the work in their several States during the Conference
year.
Next to these stand individual churches, associated together under
the following simple covenant: “We, the undersigned, hereby associate
ourselves together as a church, taking the name Seventh-day Adventists,
covenanting to keep the commandments of God, and faith of Jesus.” The
officers of the church are local elders, deacons, and clerk.
SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE.
In the early stage of the cause, our people had no system upon which
to act in the support of ministers. Those who were disposed to give
anything, gave what they chose. For a time our ministers were quite
well sustained, by a few liberal souls, while the majority excused
themselves from doing anything. Ere long, it became evident that these
liberal ones were becoming weary of this inequality, and they began to
withhold their support. Hence, in the winter of 1858-9, some of our
most efficient laborers were contemplating leaving the gospel-field to
labor with their hands for the support of their families.
In this state of things, feeling that something must be done, I finally
prepared an address on the subject of Systematic Benevolence, for the
church in Battle Creek. This address was adopted, and published in the
_Review_ of Feb. 3, 1859, as an appeal from that church to the churches
and brethren in Michigan. This system is based on 1 Cor. xvi, 2: “Upon
the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store,
as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come,”
and, as now matured, suggests to all believers who are enjoying common
prosperity, 1. That they give at the rate of two cents each week upon
every one hundred dollars worth of property which they possess. 2. That
they give a personal donation, each week, of from one to twenty-five
cents, or more, according to their ability. The object of this second
suggestion is to embrace those who have ability to earn, but have
little or no property. The necessity and equality of the system are
plead before all; yet all are left to assess their own property, and
give, in the love and fear of God, according to their prosperity.
Widows, the aged, and the infirm, who are in straitened circumstances,
are excused. It is not a system of compulsion, but, as carried out
among us, is Systematic Benevolence. While all are entreated to act
their part in this work, with feelings of cheerful benevolence, none
are compelled.
For a time this system received considerable opposition; but when fully
explained, it was seen to be a perfect system of equality. The poor who
had but a very few hundred dollars, were called upon by this system
for so trifling a sum that they were the last to object to it; and the
wealthy were certainly able to pay the small percentage from their
abundance. This system is generally adopted by our people everywhere,
and affords a liberal support to our ministers, leaving them free to
devote themselves entirely to the work of the ministry.
GLANCE AT THE PAST.
As we look back upon the great Advent movement, with its joyful
expectations and bitter disappointments, its prosperity and adversity,
its triumphant victories and its trials, it appears just like the
work of God in separating a people from the world, to purify, make
white, and try, and thus make them ready for the coming of their Lord.
Have Adventists been disappointed? So were the Israelites, in not
immediately entering Canaan, and the disciples, as Jesus died upon
the cross. Have the faith and patience of Adventists been tried? So
were the faith and patience of the Israelites tried in their term of
forty years’ wandering in the wilderness. And that of the disciples
was severely tested in the unexpected death of their beloved Teacher.
Have but comparatively few of the once happy expectants of the King of
glory held fast their faith and hope? And have many cast away their
confidence in this work and drawn back to perdition? Caleb and Joshua
alone, of the six hundred thousand male adults that left Egypt, entered
the goodly land. And what of the chosen twelve in the hour of our
Lord’s apprehension? “Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.”
Matt. xxvi, 56.
God has never been able to make anything very great or very good of
man. It has been his plan to prove his people in every age, to test
their faith and patience. This has been for the good of man and the
glory of his name. It was necessary that such noble characters as
Noah, Abraham, Job, and Daniel, should suffer the severest tests. And
how unlike the work of God in all past time, had the many thousands
of Adventists triumphantly entered the kingdom at the point of
expectation, with hardly a single trial. “Blessed is the man that
endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown
of life.” James i, 12. This is God’s plan. First the cross and the
trial, then the crown of unfading glory. As I “call to remembrance the
former days,” touching the Advent movement, and see its adaptation to
the wants of the people, and God’s great plan of saving men, my soul
says, “He hath done all things well.”
It was necessary, in order that the first message should arouse the
people and separate those who should receive it from the spirit of
the world, that it should not only relate to the fearful realities of
the Judgment, but also to the period when it might be expected. “Fear
God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his Judgment is come.”
The proclamation of the time was a part of God’s plan. This brought
the coming of the Lord very near. This was right. This was necessary
to move the people. And when the time passed, instead of calling the
attention of believers to some period in the future to which they
might look for the coming of the Lord, the Spirit of God sweetly and
powerfully applied to their consecrated minds and hearts, such passages
as, “Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which hath great
recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have
done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little
while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”
How long this little while would be, no one knew. It was not best that
any one should know when it would terminate. And more, it was God’s
plan that this should not be known; but that they should move along
through the period of the patience of the saints, Rev. xiv, 12, up
to the coming of the Lord, ever keeping that event just before them.
Those who have taught the three messages the past twenty years, have
all the way presented the coming of Christ at hand. This has been as
God designed. And those who would murmur at God’s ministers for this,
murmur against the providence of God.
It is painful to hear those who have their faces set toward Egypt,
complain that the message was not properly preached to them. The coming
of the Lord was presented too near. And that if they had understood the
matter, they should have laid their plans for the future differently,
and now their property might be double its present value. These murmur
against the direct providence of God. The coming of the Lord was
brought very near in 1844, to rid men of the love of this world, that
they might share the love of the Father, and seek a preparation for
the coming of his Son. They cannot have both. “If any man love the
world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John ii, 15. And it was
designed that the coming of Christ should be viewed near by believers,
every step of the way from the disappointment in 1844 to the gates of
the golden city, to keep them free from the love of this world.
An energetic Advent minister, on visiting the believers at Roxbury,
Mass., being asked, “What is your message now, Bro. B.?” answered,
“Come out of her my people.” Soon after the passing of the time he
visited that people again, and in reply to the inquiry, “What is your
message now, Bro. B.?” made the apt and appropriate reply, “_Stay_ out
of her my people.” So Heaven designed that the coming of Christ should
be brought very near to tear from men the love of this world, and that
in their faith they should ever hold his coming just before them all
the way till faith should be lost in the blazing glories of the coming
of the Son of man. If we keep the coming of Jesus ever near, and live
consistently with such a faith, keeping the commandments of God and
the faith of Jesus, we may be saved. But remove the coming of the Lord
to the distant future, become imbued with the love and spirit of this
world, and remain in such a state, and perdition is certain. Let the
painful history of the past relative to those who have said in their
hearts, “My Lord delayeth his coming,” have apostatized and have been
scattered to the world and to Satan, be a warning to all to be ever
“looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.”