VOLUME THIRTY by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 18, 1867

VOLUME THIRTY.

By Editor

“History,” it is said, “repeats itself;” so has our experience so far repeated itself as to render appropriate to our present issue, the following introduction to volume xxix:

“This week, the Review, entering upon its twenty-ninth volume, in enlarged form and new dress, offers the hand of greeting to its many readers. It presents some new features which we doubt not will be acceptable to all its friends, and tend to increase its circulation and greatly enlarge its sphere of usefulness. That the changes which have been made, have been called for, especially the enlargement of the paper, we believe the event will fully prove. The state of the world and the wants of the cause of present truth have for a long time demanded that the Review should be capable of bearing a more extended testimony. We have for some time past been aware of a deficiency of carefully-prepared arguments of greater or less length, setting forth and defending the main point of our faith. This want we intend shall hereafter be supplied, so that they who will take the Review for one volume, and carefully read it, shall know what Seventh-day Adventists believe, and why they believe it.

“As the shades of twilight fast deepen into the blackness of night, so moral darkness is shutting down upon the world. The perils of the last days, by which is meant no ordinary perils, are thickening around us. In ever-lessening circles, and with ever-increasing velocity, the world is being drawn into the great whirlpool of coming destruction. Much is yet to be done in the way of warning sinners, and arousing the church. Those who have charge of the publishing department feel like taking hold of the work anew. Will these feelings meet a response from all parts of the field? We believe they will.

“The enlargement of the paper will add greatly to the labors and responsibilities of those connected with the office; but these will be cheerfully borne, if the Review, as it goes forth to the homes of its patrons, may be esteemed a dearer friend, and meet, if possible, a still warmer welcome.”

Much of the foregoing language applies with equal fitness to the present time. The opening of this volume beholds another addition of four pages to the paper. When the first enlargement was adopted at the commencement of last volume, it was our conviction that another enlargement would eventually be needed; but that it would so soon be called for, and the desirable end be so speedily reached, we had no idea. The Review has now doubled its size in six months; a good index, as we view it, of the rapidity with which the message will rise to power and glory, when the time comes for the accomplishment of its final work; for God “will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.”

That we now have a weekly journal of a size sufficient to meet the wants of the cause, must be a matter of encouragement and congratulation to every lover of the truth. It remains that it be conducted in such a manner as to answer the high and holy ends of its important mission. And since the members of the Publishing Associations have seen fit to leave the paper in our charge another year, the reader will suffer us to speak a personal word concerning the motives and feelings with which we continue in this work.

1. We bring to our daily task an ever-increasing conviction of the unqualified correctness of the views we teach, and a growing love for these sanctifying and thrilling truths.

2. The ever-recurring question with us from morning to night as day succeeds day, and week follows week, is, How shall we, so far as our efforts are concerned in the matter, furnish a paper of unflagging life and interest; one that shall tell most for the advancement of the great truths we defend; one best adapted to the wants of the brethren and sisters everywhere; one which shall contain that which is of most interest to all, most instructive and encouraging to all, calculated to furnish them meat in due season, build them up in the most holy faith, and aid them in their efforts for holiness of heart and purity of life. And whatever a person may find in any paper which is contrary to his tastes and feelings, or however dry and uninteresting some numbers may seem, let all be assured that it is not from any indifference on our part as to what the paper may contain, or any lack of anxiety and endeavor to guard against such a result. We therefore ask, with no small confidence, the forbearance of all, and the help of such as feel a desire to aid us in our work.

3. In conducting the paper, we have no selfish ends to serve, and no personal feelings and views to promulgate. Seventh-day Adventists are happily united to a degree not attained by any other people. In our belief and views, feelings, hopes, and aims, there is no essential variation. We are all laboring for the same end, and desire to see the Review ever true to the principles which have called us out. We would not knowingly publish a line that would be a matter of grievance to any brother or sister. But in the variety of matter that will now be necessary to fill the paper, it would not be strange if some view should occasionally be expressed, which would cross somebody’s track. When such is the case, feelings should not be allowed to rise, but the matter be passed over by taking into charitable account the circumstances of the case and the motives of the writer.

4. From our close confinement at the Office, we are personally acquainted with but comparatively few of our subscribers. From this cause the names of those are liable to appear in the Review occasionally as correspondents, who so far as known, are a reproach rather than an honor to the cause we love. Unworthy persons of irregular lives and scandalous reputation, should not, so far as it can be guarded against, be allowed to bring reproach upon the paper and its supporters. It is to be regretted that there are any, however few, of this character, and that we are liable in any degree to this evil. But while it probably cannot wholly be avoided, brethren should as far as possible, put us on our guard against receiving communications for the paper from those whose names they would be sorry to see in its columns.

5. We must have the blessing of God, in all departments of the paper, and in all stages of its progress, from those who write for its pages, to those who perform the mechanical part of its publication. Without this, whatever precautions we may take, whatever zeal and energy we may bring to the work, whatever talent we may enlist in its behalf, the Review will be weekly but a bundle of chaff. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” With all hearts, contributors, laborers, publishers, and readers, deeply imbued with this heavenly Spirit, there will be no lack in the testimony of the paper, and no limit to its potency for good.

What startling and momentous events are before us we know not; or, rather, how soon they may burst upon us, we know not. For the future history of this world, its downward career of perplexity, crime, and blood, ending with the fearful infliction of the unmingled wrath of God in the seven last plagues, is pretty clearly defined in the prophetic word. The opening of the great drama may be nearer than we expect. Never did events call upon us so loudly as now to cut loose from all that pertains to earth and get ready for the coming kingdom of the Son of man.

Having thus freely spoken of our purposes and feelings, we ask the co-operation of the brethren in our efforts to make the Review a true exponent of the last message of mercy to a perishing world. We ask them to endeavor to gain an entrance for it into every home where there may be an honest heart to be reached by the truth. And, above all, we ask them to give it a large place in their sympathies and their prayers.

So run that ye may obtain.