West Monroe Sabbath-Keepers’ Testimony
Bro. Hiram Decker writes from West Monroe, N. Y.: “Almost one year has gone by since the little band of Sabbath-keepers in West Monroe embraced the present truth as brought to view in the third angel’s message, and commenced striving to keep all of God’s commandments and the faith of the blessed Jesus. We are still striving to make some progress in divine life by assimilating ourselves to the great Pattern and Author of our salvation. And when we look back and recount the mercies of our heavenly Father, of which we have been recipients, our hearts melt into gratitude to the giver of every good and perfect gift. Although our pathway has been strewed with many mercies, and we have felt the approbation of God, as we believe, yet with the enemy we have had many a sore conflict. Our good name has been cast out as evil, our motives questioned and denounced. We are looked upon as disorganizers, subverting all good order in society. In some instances our children reproach us, in others our parents; and in others still, even those with whom we have taken sweet counsel, and walked together to the house of God; and the truths of God’s Bible are evil spoken of, and resisted by a malignity that illy becomes the professed disciples of Jesus. The Sabbath and immortality questions have been ably discussed by Bro. Ross on one side, and Eld. Milton on the other, who took the position after no small amount of quibbling, that the seventh day was the Sabbath for the Jews, and the first day was the Gentile Sabbath. But when told the Sabbath was made for man, and unless he could show that the Gentile was not a man, it was binding on all men, Eld M. denied his position, and gave a challenge on the immortality question. After an evening’s effort on this subject to convince himself and his audience, he came to the conclusion that eternal life was the gift of God through Jesus, and that the righteous have it if the wicked do not, and closed, giving Bro. Ross no chance to speak that evening. Subsequently Bro. Ross reviewed his discourse, and the unprejudiced mind could but acknowledge the truth of all his positions, according to the Bible.” “We have been favored at intervals with the preaching of the word by Bro. Wheeler and Ross, and have been encouraged and made strong. Many times have our hearts gone out in sympathy for the lonely ones who have not been thus blessed. Right on, ye followers of the lowly One! You will conquer by and by.”