CHANGE OF VIEWS | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 18, 1868

CHANGE OF VIEWS.

[BRO. SMITH: The following communication was sent to the Voice of the West, with a request that it might appear in the columns of that paper. But the editor concluded the demand was more than justice required, and so the article has been returned. Will you please give it a place in the REVIEW? W. H. BALL.]

BRO. HIMES: I wish to say through the columns of the Voice, to its numerous readers who have read my attacks against the positions held by S. D. Adventists, and more especially my warfare against the visions, that my views have during the past six months undergone a happy change.

During the past winter Bro. and Sr. White visited our place, and I had the privilege of presenting my objections to the visions to Sr. W. in person. And the explanation I received upon many points was, I am happy to state, perfectly satisfactory. They were successful, by the blessing of God, in removing not only several objections, but a large amount of prejudice from my mind.

The Spirit and power of God which attended the labors of these faithful servants, is the best of evidence that God is with them of a truth. The Lord worked with them in great power, until nearly all the children of Sabbath-keepers enlisted in the service of God. No one, it would seem, could form even a short acquaintance with Sr. W. without being forced to the conclusion that she is a humble, devoted, godly woman, if there is one to be found upon the earth. And I feel that I am guilty before God of a great wrong in raising my voice against the testimonies of this humble instrument.

It is my settled conviction, not only from the sad experience I have had in this matter, but from daily observation, that no weapon raised against the testimonies of this godly woman can prosper. God’s

frown and not his blessing, will attend all such efforts. If others think they can fight the visions, and enjoy the favor of Heaven at the same time, they can try it. But for one I am satisfied with this kind of work. I pray God to forgive me my errors in this direction.

I also feel that I have committed a great wrong in holding up S. D. Adventists and their views to scorn and ridicule before their enemies. That my articles have partaken too much of the spirit of war, is too evident. What if our S. D. Adventist brethren do hold some errors? Where is there a people who do not? I am bold to affirm that there is no class of people to be found that have more truth than S. D. Adventists. There is no people to be found that are putting forth greater efforts to gain the immortal inheritance than S. D. Adventists. There is no people who are more zealous to get right in the sight of God, and keep all his commandments (the fourth not excepted), and get ready for translation, than S. D. Adventists. There is no people who are trying to conform to the laws of their being, so as to possess healthy bodies and clear minds, like S. D. Adventists. In short, there is no people I should be willing to cast in my interests with, but S. D. Adventists.

In view of these facts, how wicked and unchristian the act to take the faults of this people (if faults they have), and hold them up to the gaze of those who disregard the law of God, the great rule of right, the perfect standard by which men are to be judged in the last day. Jas. ii, 12.

I feel deeply my wrong in warring against my seventh-day brethren. I have been led on by Satan in his unholy work, until I fear my influence has turned souls away from the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. I wish to counteract, so far as possible, my wrong influence, and would deeply humble myself before God, and seek forgiveness for all my wrongs, while Jesus pleads in behalf of the sins and errors of his people.

W. H. BALL. Washington, N. H.

REMARKS. When the editor of the Voice refused to give the foregoing communication from Bro. B., a place in his paper, he promised to do him justice in an editorial of his own. What his idea of “justice” is, may be gathered from the following paragraph, which is all that appeared.

“CHANGE OF VIEWS.

“Bro. W. H. Ball, who has several times spoken very effectively through the Voice against the visions and theories of the prophetess, Ellen G. White, writes us that he has changed his views. He declares himself sorry that he ever wrote against the views or theories that rest upon them. The only reason he gives for his change of views, is, that he has had an interview with Mrs. White, who explained matters satisfactorily to him. We decline publishing his letter, because it is mainly a special pleading for Mrs. W., and her theories, rather than a justification of his own ‘change of views.’ We are sorry that Bro. B. has fallen into a delusion which has ensnared many.”

The Voice, and papers of its class, make wonderful professions of liberality. And so they are wonderfully liberal—when it is all on one side. While Bro. B. was writing against Sr. W., and S. D. Adventists, no article of his was rejected on the charge of special pleadings. Whatever might be the nature of the testimony, with the utmost avidity it was set before the public. But no sooner does Bro. B. become convinced that he has been wrong, and has been doing his brethren injustice, than he is refused the privilege of expressing his convictions to those who have read the articles he now wishes to retract. The columns of the Voice are peremptorily closed against him, and with a slur, both against him and Sr. W., he is dismissed from the paper. But perhaps no higher idea of justice could be expected from any one who holds that the great law, which can be shown to be the only one which God ever gave to regulate the conduct of the race, has been abolished.