A DISCLAIMER by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 10, 1881

A DISCLAIMER.

By Editor

The following we copy from the Herald of Truth of November 1:—

“NOT BAPTIZED. “EDITOR HERALD OF TRUTH: As I recently was informed that an item appeared in this paper a few months since to the effect that I had been baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church, let me correct that misstatement by affirming that I never disconnected myself with the Baptist denomination, nor united with any church whatever since receiving letters and recommendations for myself and wife from the Nevada City Baptist Church. During the meantime I have simply been engaged in teaching an exclusively private school. BYRON L. ALDRICH. Oakland, October 12, 1881.”

There is something in the circumstances which raises a query why Mr. Aldrich let a year pass before noticing this report; for it appears strange indeed that so intelligent a man, who has “never disconnected himself with the Baptist church,” should need to be informed after so long a time, of a statement concerning himself in the denominational paper of his own church published in his own city.

It is true that he never connected himself with the Seventh-day Adventist church. Mr. Aldrich heard Elder Rice preach in Nevada City and professed to be convinced on the Sabbath and the doctrine of conditional immortality. At our camp-meeting in Alameda in 1880, he publicly took his position with us in belief, but not in church connection. The church in Oakland granted him favors when he wished to open a school, and he wrote several articles for this paper on doctrinal subjects which were quite acceptable.

The idea of baptizing him was never entertained by us, and we do not know how the report ever obtained a footing. Indeed, we gathered from conversations with Baptists that they were inclined to believe that their act of baptizing him was premature, on which we shall have no controversy with them—they ought to know best. Our acquaintance with the Professor has been of the most friendly nature, but the Baptists need not feel any delicacy in fraternizing with him, for as far as church relations are concerned their claim is undisputed.