Untitled article by Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 15, 1906

A Statement of Facts Concerning Our Present Situation—No. 2

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

IN the preceding article of this series, the position was taken that one of the causes of the trouble between the general body and what was formerly the medical missionary department of this cause, is a difference of views regarding some of the fundamentals of our faith. As proof of this, two quotations were given from instruction which has been imparted through the spirit of prophecy. The first quotation was taken from a chapter in “Early Writings,” page 121. This was first published in 1858.

This quotation presents the following outline: (1) “A solid, immovable platform;” (2) three steps leading to this platform; namely, “the first, second, and third angels’ messages;” (3) God led his people up these steps onto the platform; (4) some found fault with the platform, stepped off to examine it, and declared that it was laid wrong; (5) an angel said, “Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin;” (6) nearly all who stepped onto the platform remained true, and “stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body;” (7) God looked upon these with approbation; (8) “they recounted the wonderful work of God, which had led them to the firm platform, and in union raised their eyes to heaven, and with a loud voice glorified God;” (9) they declared that God was the Master Builder of the platform; (10) this affected some who had left the platform, and they again stepped upon it.

The second quotation was taken from “Testimonies for the Church,” Series B, No. 7, pages 38, 39. This message was first published in 1904, in a leaflet entitled, “Decided Action to Be Taken Now.” It relates to the doctrinal teaching of “Living Temple.” The outline presented in this Testimony is a fulfilment of the one referred to above, and printed forty-six years before. It is this: (1) “A platform, braced with solid timbers;” (2) these timbers were “the truths of the Word of God;” (3) “some one high in responsibility in the medical work was directing this man and that man to loosen the timbers supporting this platform;” (4) a voice said, “Where are the watchmen that ought to be standing on the walls of Zion? Are they asleep?” (5) this foundation was built by the Master Worker; (6) will the watchmen “permit this man to present doctrines that deny the past experience of the people of God?” (7) “the enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith;” (8) “were this reformation to take place, what would result?—The principles of truth that God in his wisdom has given to the remnant church would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted error. A new organization would be established;” (9) “the time has come to take decided action.”

The foundation for these attempted changes in our cause which the spirit of prophecy places before us so graphically, began to be laid many years ago, and the Testimonies raised the danger-signal at the time. In a message written at Christiania, Oct. 3, 1885, and addressed to the Directors of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, this statement is made:—

I was shown that he [the medical superintendent] had been in danger, great danger, in the past, of making shipwreck of faith, by exalting science above the God of science. He has not a clearly defined position in regard to his faith, and he should be guarded or he will certainly wander in the mazes of skepticism. I have not felt that the enlargement of the sanitarium was advisable, for several reasons. The foregoing is one.

Seven years later a Testimony was written in Melbourne, Australia, April 15, 1892, to the Superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, containing the following warning:—

I have been shown that in the sanitarium at Battle Creek there is great need of walking humbly before God, for Satanis devising snares to take every mind that is not entirely surrendered to God, looking to God for light and wisdom daily. There are constant temptations for physicians to exalt science above the God who is the ruler of the universe. . . . Here, my brother, has been and will be your danger in scientific researches; unless you are daily increasing in the knowledge and love of the truth, growing up into Christ your living head, you are in positive danger. . . . I know that the Lord has been pleased to show me, in clear lines, your danger, in the past, and at the present time. . . . It is fatal for man to feel safe to walk in the sparks of his own kindling. Sophistry will weave for you a very fine web; I fear that it will ensnare you. . . .

I remember well the reproof given to Drs. — and —, that they had made the mistake common with physicians, that science was everything. Satan was weaving his net about their feet, and very much was made of the powers inherent in man and in nature, and this matter became so subtle in its influence, as they viewed it, that the power and glory of God were not exalted. They were wandering in the mazes of skepticism. . . .

Once these young men were willing to submit their wills and their ideas to God’s will and ways. But they became confused through your ideas of science. While you could start them on a track of investigation, you could not control their imagination. Human ideas, contracted, confused, and obscure, were to them like the bright shining of a candle at midnight. They were simply walking in the sparks of their own kindling.

In December, 1899, seven years after the warning given above was written, another was sent from Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia. In this message the following paragraph is found:—

The sanitarium will be a memorial for God, if it is conducted in all lines as it should be. . . . The medical missionary work might better be named the Missionary Health Restoration Work. The powers of darkness, which have long been watching for a chance to come in and counteract the Lord’s work, have found no better open door than this work which has done some good, but O! so limited an amount in comparison with the outlay of effort and means!

From the general trend of the large amount of instruction which has been given through the spirit of prophecy concerning the medical missionary work, it is evident that it is not this department of work in itself which has served as an open door to the enemy. It is the fact that this line of work has been made the channel for the introduction of teaching contrary to the fundamental principles of the gospel, and that perverted methods of administration have been employed, which has turned this agency for good into such an opportunity for evil.

The danger pointed out in this last quotation came into full view when “Living Temple” was printed. Of the teaching set forth in that book the spirit of prophecy says:— God has permitted the presentation of the combination of good and evil in “Living Temple” to be made to reveal the danger threatening us. The working that has been so ingeniously carried on he has permitted in order that certain developments might be made, and that it might be seen what a man can do with human minds when he has obtained their confidence as a physician. God has permitted the present crisis to come to open the eyes of those who desire to know the truth. He would have his people understand to what lengths the sophistry and devising of the enemy would lead. . . .

Few can see the meaning of the present apostasy. But the Lord has lifted the curtain, and has shown me its meaning, and the result that it will have if allowed to continue. We must now lift our voices in warning. Will our people acknowledge God as the supreme Ruler, or will they choose the misleading arguments and views that when fully developed, make him, in the minds of those who accept them, as nothingness? . . .

It is something that can not be treated as a small matter that men who have had so much light, and such clear evidence as to the genuineness of the truth we hold, should become unsettled, and led to accept spiritualistic theories regarding the personality of God. Those doctrines, followed to their logical conclusion, sweep away the whole Christian economy.—“Testimonies for the Church,” Series B, No. 7, pages 36, 37.

In view of the facts set forth in these statements, is it at all surprising that there has been conflict in our ranks? Could there be union and harmony? On this point the spirit of prophecy has spoken very plainly:—

It will be said that “Living Temple” has been revised. But the Lord has shown me that the writer has not changed, and that there can be no unity between him and the ministers of the gospel while he continues to cherish his present sentiments. I am bidden to lift my voice in warning to our people, saying, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.” . . . While the misleading theories of this book are entertained by our physicians, there can not be union between them and the ministers who are bearing the gospel message. There should be no union until there is a change—Ibid., Series B, No. 2, page 49.

It is perfectly plain that the introduction of a teaching that would result in such sweeping, destructive changes would cause controversy. For one in a leading place of influence in the denomination to even hold such views personally, could not fail to bring him into conflict with other leaders who held firmly to the original faith of the cause. The views one holds regarding Bible doctrines, mold his mind, form his ideals, and shape his purposes and plans. Men holding conflicting theories and convictions regarding the teaching of the Bible can not work in harmony in their efforts to make known their views. This is a primary cause of the friction which has existed among us during the last twenty years, and which has culminated in what the spirit of prophecy has designated as “the present apostasy.”

A. G. DANIELLS,

President General Conference.