p. 12 | Untitled article by Uriah Smith

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 12, 1865

Notes by the Way. No. 5.

By Uriah Smith

WHEN our last Notes were written from West Wilton, N. H., dated Oct. 22d, 1865, we designed in about two weeks, or at most three, to bring our vacation to a close, and return direct to the Office; but circumstances conspired both to interrupt our reports, and prolong our period of absence. Soon after the above date we received an urgent invitation from Bro. Andrews to attend the discussion of the Sabbath question between Bro. Cornell and T. M. Preble, to commence in Portland, Me., Monday evening, Nov. 6. We felt a deep interest in this discussion, not only on account of the truth involved in the question, but in consideration of the disputants to be engaged, and the circumstances that had given rise to this investigation. In view of these things, and with a desire to make the acquaintance of some whom we might otherwise never have the privilege of seeing, and actuated somewhat, we confess, by a motive once falsely attributed to David, namely, that we "might see the battle," we decided to accept the invitation and be present.

The discussion continued through its appointed eight sessions. It was a season of great interest, closed well, and can but result in good. We took quite full notes of the arguments presented, and shall write them out for the Review as soon as practicable. To the charge made by Eld. F. in the discussion, that we had been brought on from Battle Creek for the purpose of reporting our side of the question, with sundry implied insinuations that said report might not be the fairest thing in the world, a word might as well be said here, perhaps, as anywhere. A fact or two will be sufficient to set this matter right: 1. When we left Battle Creek, with a programme all arranged for a visit to our friends in New Hampshire, the time of the discussion had not been decided upon, and we did not know that it was to take place this year. 2. It was not till we had nearly finished our contemplated stay at Dansville, N. Y., that the appointment appeared in the Review, which was our first intimation of the time. 3. We had no intention of being present at the discussion, till we had reached West Wilton, N. H., and received the letter containing the invitation above referred to.

This was our first visit to the State of Maine. We found Portland, called from its profusely shaded avenues, the "Forest City," a far more beautiful place than we had anticipated. Its pleasant streets and stately edifices, as works of human art and taste, are pleasing and impressive. But to us the most delightful feature of the place was the little company of commandment-keepers, who apart from the busy throngs engrossed in worldliness and pleasure, are reverencing the law of the great God, bearing the cross of their Saviour, and patiently looking and waiting for an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, even a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. And as we saw those who were all engrossed in the world, revelling in their wealth, and whose every movement seemed to show that they shared the same feelings which dwell in Nebuchadnezzar's breast, as in looking over his palaces, he exclaimed in the pride of his heart, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have builded?" we could but think of the time soon to come, when it will be said to them, "Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, but now thou art tormented;" while the humble servants of God, upon whom they now perhaps look as Dives did upon Lazarus, will be "comforted." Yes, the time of the saints' inheritance, comfort, consolation, blessing and long life, is at hand. The time of the minority of these heirs of the kingdom of Heaven draws to a close; and though they now "differ nothing from a servant," the full blessings of their glorious title will soon be seen. We were here happy to meet Brn. Howard, Hanscom, Goodrich and Prescott, who have recently embraced the Sabbath under the third angel's message, together with others who have long been friends of the present truth in Maine. Sabbath, Nov. 11, and Sunday forenoon following, three discourses were given by Bro. Andrews in the S. D. Advent hall, on the thrilling themes connected with the truth of these last days, particularly the third message and the position of those Adventists who profess to believe that the Lord is at hand, and yet have no room for this message which is the last warning to precede that great event. He also spoke on the development and work of the two-horned beast, and the contemporary sanctuary work in Heaven, and how they who adopt the traditions of men in place of the commandments of God, are hewing out for themselves cisterns which can hold no water, and walking in the light of sparks of their own kindling. Sunday afternoon, Bro. Cornell spoke on the great truth that is to sanctify and prepare a people for the coming of the Lord, especially the prophetic command to bind up the testimony and seal the law among the disciples, and the effect that will be produced by this, as brought to view in Rev. xii, 17. Sunday evening Bro. Howard spoke on the subject of the atonement, presenting it in a manner, and with some new ideas, which give to that great subject, in its important bearings upon the law of God, and the work of the sanctuary in Heaven, a fresh and increased interest.

Monday, the 13th, we had the pleasure of visiting the residence of Bro. Howland, in Topsham, Me., which has so long been a strong hold of the present truth, that it has been appropriately christened "Fort Howland." A short stay with the "veterans" who hold possession there, was to us a season of good cheer. Returning to Portland the 14th, for the purpose of starting for New Hampshire again on the morning of the 15th, we learned that Bro. Parker had just fallen in death under the power of diptheria, with which he was attacked a few days before. The friends being disappointed in not obtaining the services of Bro. Prescott, we tarried by request another day to attend the funeral, on which occasion we endeavored to set forth briefly the value of our hope in Christ, without which we are of all men most miserable, but with which, whether in health or sickness, life or death, the present or the future, time or eternity, we are of all men most happy.

Sabbath the 18th, met again at West Wilton, N. H., with the few Sabbath-keepers in that section. We were happy to greet at this meeting, friends from Worcester and Lancaster, Mass., besides a full representation from Bennington, Greenfield, Peterborough, Temple, New Ipswich, and Mason, N. H. Some of the neighbors manifesting a desire to attend the meeting, it was held Sabbath forenoon and afternoon at the school-house in the village. An explanation of the mistake of 1844, connecting our present work with the great Advent movement of the past, and the impressive signs of the present time, were the subjects especially before the meeting. At the same place, Friday evening, Nov. 24, we spoke by request on the subject of the state of man in death, and the destiny of the wicked. The house was well filled with the people of the place who listened with close and courteous attention. We presented as many of the more important points of both branches of the subject as we were able in the space of two hours, and urged the congregation to make up the deficiency by a perusal of our publications. We are not engaged in a work that we wish to have done in a corner, and we hold no views for which we do not court the most searching investigation. We find with some a strong prejudice existing against the views we entertain upon this subject. This, of course, is not to be wondered at, in a place where the popular view has from the very beginning held undisputed sway. But we want our friends to awake to the fact that the time has come when those things which profess to be Bible subjects, must stand upon Bible proof. A doctrine will not now be received as true, simply because it has been of long standing in the church.

Our view is charged with being a modern doctrine. So far from this, it is the very first penalty ever announced against man. And the popular view originated not far from the same time. Both doctrines are of very early date, yet ours has the priority. The origin of both is given in Gen. ii and iii. In the one it is said by God to Adam, in the case of disobedience, "Thou shalt surely die." That is the view we advocate. In the other it was announced by a certain character to the same Adam, in reference to the same disobedience, "Thou shalt not surely die." This was the commencement of the popular view, and the first and only announcement of the unconditional immortality of man in all the Bible.

But no conversions, it is said, will follow our doctrine. This assertion is sufficiently refuted by the fact that wherever this has been preached in connection with other truths upon which special light has come forth in these last days, conversions have followed; and it has been demonstrated that there is a potency in these views to move sinners and vindicate the Bible, possessed by no other preaching. But what are the conversions which the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, with the consequent eternal misery, is making? It has already made converts to Spiritualism outnumbering any single evangelical denomination in the land; and it is daily making scores and hundreds of converts to that unhallowed delusion, to infidelity, and to every form of skepticism. More souls are to-day stumbling to ruin, over that one doctrine, five to one, than are brought to embrace the Saviour by all the combined agencies of the gospel in the land. Surely these things demand that we look well to the foundation upon which it rests.

Monday, Nov., 27, turned our course westward. Reached Kensington, Ct., the same evening, and enjoyed a pleasant visit of three days with Bro. S. T. Belden and family. Bro. B. took us to Middletown, where we had the opportunity of seeing the office from which the first periodical of S. D. Adventists was issued, which was to us an object of much interest. Reached Rochester, N. Y., Dec. 1, and spent the Sabbath with the friends there. Started for Battle Creek, Dec. 4, where we arrived on the morning of the 5th, thankful for the period of rest and relaxation we had enjoyed, and for the protection of a kind Providence which had now brought us back in safety to home and friends. Found our family well, and the brethren in the Office, laboring zealously on in the good cause. We return refreshed in body and mind, to engage with new vigor in a work which we love, and in which our whole interest is centered. We are resuming as fast as possible the currents of thought and business which fall to our department, where we left them twelve weeks since—and our "Notes by the Way" are indefinitely suspended.

Battle Creek, Mich., Dec. 7, 1865.