Sound Principles by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 13, 1905

Sound Principles

By Editor

IN this third angel’s message are found those sound principles which are a safe guide in every experience of life. If there are differences of opinion over any question which involves revealed truth, the light of this message will guide the humble mind to the right conclusion.

Our recent experiences in this city have impressed upon us the value of right principles and the importance of our work in making known the truth. When the ministers of Washington proposed to emphasize before the public the need of better “Sabbath observance,” it was our privilege to set before all the people the principles of this message in relation to the true Sabbath. It required no profound reasoning and no labored attempt to justify our practise, or to harmonize it with the plain teaching of the Scripture. It was only necessary to state the simple truth as revealed in the Word of God, and to point out from the prophecies the explanation of the departure from the observance of the day specifically mentioned in the commandment. And after these truths had been thus stated, there was no serious or successful effort made to overthrow them. Those who are not trained in the subtleties of theological reasoning can make an impregnable argument in behalf of the doctrines of this message by presenting the plain statements of the Bible as they have been brought together to establish the truth and to correct the error.

When later a movement was set on foot to introduce the teaching of religion into the public schools of the District of Columbia, a further opportunity was offered to witness for the truth, and the soundness of the principles of this message was again demonstrated. Although those who represented these principles were almost unknown in this city, and were not backed up by the influence which is derived from numbers, wealth, or social position, yet the arguments presented have been publicly declared to be “temperate and unanswerable,” and they have commanded the respect of many people who are willing to give candid consideration to sound principles.

Although we stood almost alone at the first in this contest in behalf of religious liberty, yet the tide of public sentiment has steadily turned as we have urged upon the public by every means at our command the Christian principles which

have been committed to us, and we have realized more fully than ever the benefit conferred by a knowledge of the truth for this time.

The weakness of the arguments in behalf of error have been made abundantly manifest in contrast with the convincing power of the truth, and we are confident that a favorable impression has been made upon many minds with reference to the work of Seventh-day Adventists during this recent vigorous campaign in behalf of religious liberty principles. And this experience has justified in our own minds the policy of connecting our religious liberty work directly and openly with the denomination and its work. In opposing the effort to introduce definite religious instruction into the public school we have frankly and freely taught the distinctive doctrines of this message, especially the Sabbath truth. Until the Baptists adopted their protest last week, which is printed in another part of this paper, we were the only Christian body of people who took any stand against this movement. The Jews, the freethinkers, the secularists, and the agnostics objected to the plan of teaching religion in the schools, but quite largely because they were hostile to Christianity, while we objected because we believed in Christianity, and desired to see its principles prevail. This has, of course, brought into prominence the views and teachings of Seventh-day Adventists in contrast with the views of other professedly Christian denominations, but this would not have been the case if our religious liberty work had been conducted on the platform of an undenominational association.

It has seemed clear to us that all our work should be conducted from the standpoint of this message, and that Seventh-day Adventists have a work to do in religious liberty lines which no other people can do. Thus the distinctive principles of this message for this generation would constantly be kept before the people, and every phase of aggressive work would call attention to the truth as a whole.

The time will come when even the presentation of the sound principles of this wonderful message of truth will not hold in check the efforts to secure an alliance between the church and the state in order to enforce the teachings of the church, and we certainly ought to make the very most of the time granted to us in which to give the warning message. This is the real meaning of our present situation, and we ought to be quick to realize it and to act upon it. Let every one who prizes the sound principles of this closing message join heartily in this great missionary campaign upon which we have entered, with the avowed purpose of continuing it until the Master shall come. We shall never regret the sacrifices made, or the toil endured. Blessed work and blessed reward!