THE MISSION IN SWITZERLAND.
ELD. J. N. ANDREWS reports very encouragingly concerning the work in Switzerland. As stated in his report last week, their principal missionary work is sending out copies of Les Signes des Temps, a French paper published by the mission in Bale, Suisse. From Aug. 24 to Sept. 27 he says that 7,712 copies of Les Signes have been mailed from the office there; also 523 copies of the Stimme der Wahrheit, a German paper published at Battle Creek, Mich. In reply to letters accompanying the papers, they have received 40 very interesting responses. The following from a gentleman in Zurich is a good example of what has been received:— “For a long time I have heard the Sabbathists spoken of, that is, the Christians who keep the seventh day of the week. I have never met any of these persons; but recently, making a journey through French Switzerland, I saw for the first time some numbers of your journal, Les Signes des Temps. I read these with attention, and became thoroughly convinced that I had been deceived with respect to the doctrine and character of those who keep the seventh day; for I had been told that they were Mormons. Will you therefore give me an outline of the doctrines which you teach? [This has been done in a private letter and in the last number of Les Signes.—J. N. A.] “I will not hide from you the fact that the question of the change of the Sabbath has often troubled me, because I cannot find any place in the Scriptures where the fourth commandment of the law of God has been abrogated. I remark, on the contrary, that Christ has declared that he did not come to abolish the law, but to accomplish it. I also observe that the apostles have changed nothing in this divine order, and that they have shown, on the contrary, the example of sanctifying that day by assembling at the synagogue. This is without doubt a question to be studied in the spirit of prayer and with the word of God in our hand. Certainly if I become convinced of this truth, I will believe and submit to it without501delay, and labor for its propagation. Being attached to no congregation, I love all the children of God from principle, and I wait in silence the manifestation of the glorious day of Christ, when all the redeemed shall be united in the same love. I love to meditate upon the words of the holy apostle, ‘The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.’ Let it be thus with all those who in truth call upon his name.”