A Valuable Collection of Facts Regarding Our Denominational History
By A. G. Daniells
ALL our people, and especially our ministers, teachers, canvassers, and managers of institutions, should be apprised of the fact that our Year-book for 1905 contains a very valuable summary of the history of our denomination. This history begins with the year 1831, when William Miller preached his first sermon on the second advent to take place about the year 1843, and closes with the establishment of the General Conference offices in Takoma Park in the month of February, 1905. Between these two points, a period of seventy-four years, there is given, in chronological order, a closely connected and unbroken account of the changes, growth, and extension of the cause brought into existence by the threefold message of Revelation 14. Under the first angel’s message—from 1831 to 1844—are given the names of the leading men who joined William Miller in his work, the periodicals and publications issued, the conferences held, the dates connected therewith, and the general results of the entire movement. Under the second angel’s message are given the reasons that led the advent body to separate from the nominal churches, as well as brief accounts of the remarkable manifestation of spiritual power that attended “the midnight cry.” Under the third angel’s message are given the leading events connected with the rise and development of this cause, and every event is stated in chronological order. The account begins by giving the names of the pioneers in the movement, states the reasons which impelled them, the time when they became connected with the work, and the general service they rendered; there is also a statement of how and by whom various fundamental features of present truth were brought to light; reference is also made to the date and place of the first general meetings of believers; and then, step by step, the various organizations under the third angel’s message are traced, beginning, first, with the publishing work, in 1849, in the Eastern States, and showing its establishment in Michigan in 1855; then the organization of churches, of the General Conference, of local conferences, followed, successively, by sanitarium work, educational work, Sabbath-school work, and then foreign mission work. The important work done at each session of the General Conference is indicated, and there is also given a summary of the statistical report submitted at every session. This one feature alone gives, more clearly than anything else, an absolutely correct idea of the rapid growth that this cause has made since the General Conference was organized forty-two years ago. Tables are also given showing the consecutive number, date, and location of all the sessions of the General Conference, as well as the names of the presidents and secretaries, and their terms of office. The foregoing features are in addition to a full and revised directory of every institution, association, conference, or mission connected with the denomination. This is the main feature of the Year-book, and of course shows the present standing of the denomination in all the points which it covers. The information given in this summary has been culled from the periodicals, publications, Year-books, and Bulletins issued during the seventy-four years of our history. As only a very few persons have access to these documents, and as no complete account of this sort has ever before been published, this historical summary should be of great interest and value to our workers. In fact, every believer in this cause can study it with much profit. Our object in compiling these facts has been to place valuable data in the hands of our ministers and conference officers, and to give our people generally information that they may use to advantage. Those who really desire the Year-book should order at once. Only a limited supply has been printed. It is not probable that another edition of this number will be issued. Our ministers, conference officers, and managers of institutions who fail to get this book will lose a valuable document.