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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 26, 1867

We have frequently had our attention called to the reckless oddity and drollery in which many preachers among the first-day Adventists seem inclined to indulge for the purpose of appearing eccentric, or for some other reason, but which is very unbecoming, to say the least, in a minister of the gospel, in his sacred calling of warning the world of the impending Judgment. A notable instance occurred at the late Advent Camp meeting at Alton Bay, N. H., as reported by a Congregationalist minister who was present. As his report has been endorsed by the leading Advent papers as a fair and candid representation of the matter, we presume his statements are correct. Speaking of one of the prayers offered on the occasion, he says:

“I was a little surprised, however, when the praying minister told the Lord, regarding the one who was to preach, ‘Lord, thou knowest he isn’t much of a preacher. He is only an earthen vessel, and nothing but poor crockery at that!’”

Such expressions, to all sensible outsiders, must be disgusting.