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A QUESTION

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 1, 1869

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 33, No. 23.

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A QUESTION.

By John Harvey Waggoner

SABBATH LABOR AND CHEESE FACTORIES.

Several persons have sent questions to the Office on the subject of sending or taking milk to cheese factories on the Sabbath. Some time in April I received a letter from Ohio asking my opinion and advice, to which I replied that I would consult my brethren at the Conference. During Conference week I received another letter asking the same question, and stating some facts on the point. From this letter I copy as follows:
“This year we have a small dairy, and we do not intend to send milk on the Sabbath. We cannot see that it is right to do so, as it is only a matter of gain; there is no necessity in it as we view it. There is no compulsion; a man may keep it at home when he chooses, and there is no need of waste. It can be taken Friday early enough not to infringe on the Sabbath, and then in the evening, after the Sabbath is past, as any time before nine o’clock will answer, thus keeping out only one milking. The morning milking can be set for butter, or made into cheese, after the Sabbath. I know it is attended with a little inconvenience, and more work, though not on the Sabbath, than to send it every morning; but is it right to labor for the sake of gain on the Sabbath, be it much or little, provided there is more gained by taking it away? Some of the Sunday-keepers in our vicinity keep it at home on Sunday; and the question was asked us, by that colporteur that you saw when here, if we carried milk to the factory on the Sabbath. We told him we did not, and he mentioned some friends that did not on Sunday. We hope it will be brought up and decided, and would it not be well to answer through the REVIEW.”
I let Bro. Andrews read this letter, and asked his opinion. He replied that he thought the question was plainly set forth and answered there, and he fully agreed with it. I copy it, because, coming from a family who are in the dairy business and sell their milk, the testimony is more conclusive than anything I could say on the subject. Let us all seek wisdom from God, to understand how to “Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy.”
J. H. WAGGONER.
Battle Creek, May 27.