Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 29, 1905

Editorial

By Editor

Small, but Growing

To show that a movement has a comparatively small following does not necessarily condemn it as a lost cause. Nearly all the great reform movements of the world had their day of small things. It is true, however, that a work begun and carried forward under the inspiration of the Spirit of God ought to be always growing, constantly extending its sphere of influence. There have been several efforts to improve upon the work of this advent message by discarding some so-called objectionable features, or by adjusting the teaching in harmony with some new light, but the history of such efforts has not been encouraging. They have either soon run their course and have ceased to exist, or they are still halting between life and death, without vitality enough to be a telling factor in solving the great problem of the coming of the kingdom. There is a warning in such history. The providential circumstances which have attended the development of this advent movement are just as surely evidence in favor of its genuineness as are the various portions of the Scriptures which are brought forward in its support. The arguments adduced against it must be sufficiently strong to overthrow not only the Scripture argument, but the providential argument as well, or they are not worthy of credence. It has been characteristic of this cause that it has always been growing. In its weakest days there was no stagnation. When it was young, it was healthy, and as it has grown older, it has grown stronger, and to-day it is more vigorous than ever before. It is still small, but it is growing, and this is a most hopeful indication.