A Slander Refuted by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 5, 1882

A Slander Refuted.

By Editor

SOME time since a correspondent of the Missouri Republican sent to that paper a slanderous account of the work and teachings of the Seventh-day Adventists in Denton, Texas. This was copied in many other papers throughout the country. A citizen of California, not a Seventh-day Adventist, wrote to Denton to ascertain the facts in the case. The following is the article, and the reply, which we publish with our thanks to the friend who furnished it:—

“The Second Adventists have been holding monster tent-meetings at Denton for several weeks, and are wonderfully worked up on their peculiar doctrine. They are engaged in their devotions night and day, and claim the second coming of Christ is near at hand. A special bed, with everything new about its furnishings, has been reserved for the Saviour’s occupancy, when he arrives, ever since the meetings opened. Conservative Christian people are mortified, and have become wearied of these fanatical performances, and talk of having them stopped.”—Mo. Rep.

DENTON, TEXAS, July 6, 1882.

JOHN TOPE, ANTIOCH, CAL.—Dear Sir: Yours respecting the Adventists who are holding meetings, is received. I have attended almost every meeting, and am well acquainted with Elds. Kilgore and Whitney, who are conducting the meetings. This is the first opportunity I have ever had of hearing their views presented. I am not an Adventist, but am a member of the M. E. Church. But I can say that all that has been said or published against them is false, and without any foundation whatever. I send you

inclosed a copy of a reply sent to the Missouri Republican, by the leading citizens of Denton; and also a copy of a tract which I have obtained to send you, which will give you in short what their views are. And as to the means of propagating their views, I have seen nothing but an earnest and solicitous appeal to the consciences and judgments of their congregations, which are made up of our best citizens. And their appeals are all from a Thus saith the Lord, and nothing else that I am able to discover.

JOHN B. NICHOLAS, Postmaster.

DENTON, TEXAS, June 19, 1882.

EDITOR REPUBLICAN: We take pleasure in stating that the above, clipped from the Missouri Republican of June 15, having reference to the Seventh-day Adventists now holding tent-meetings in our town, respecting the “special bed,” “fanatical performances,” etc., is a base and infamous falsehood, manufactured from whole cloth, and utterly devoid of even the semblance of truth.

We further wish to state that it is the boast of our citizens that in this place the religious and political opinions of every individual are held sacred; and we stigmatize the attempt that has been so ignominiously made to misrepresent us.

C. L. HERBERT, Mayor. H. H. DAWSON, Hardware merchant. JOHN B. NICHOLAS, Postmaster. A. GRIFFITH, Hardware merchant. RUDDELL & FERGUSON, Attorneys. CLEAVELAND BROS., Grocers. G. B. COLLINS, Ass’t Postmaster. LOUIS E. MOUSSIER. I. D. FERGUSON, County Attorney. L. L. ZUMAULT, District Clerk, D. C. ELIJAH BIGGERSTAFF, County Surveyor. BEN. A. KEY, Stoves and hardware. E. H. EGAN, Book-keeper. DR. CHAS. EVERETT, Attendant and Spiritualist. J. B. SCHMITZ, Merchant. JOS. SCHWORZ, Merchant. O SCHEOVENELL, Watch-maker and jeweler. J. L. TOMPKINS. S. T. CARROLL. R. HARTMAN, Superintendent W. I. Range Co. SAMUEL THOMAS, Boot and shoe-maker. WILLIAMS & GREENLEE, Dry goods merchants. H. J. HOWELL, Jeweler. E. C. FAIN, Book-keeper of F. P. and S. D. A. ROBINSON, Real estate agent. A. GREEN & Co., Grocers. W. H. STAPLES, Auctioneer.