Holding to the Fundamentals

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 12, 1915

Holding to the Fundamentals

It should be remarked in connection with the article “Contending for the Faith,” in the Editorial department, that any additional light which the Lord may be pleased to reveal from his Holy Word will not contravene the light which has already been given. There are certain fundamental, well-defined principles which lie at the foundation of this movement. They are plainly taught in the Scriptures of Truth. They constitute the basis of faith in the third angel’s message. Any theories which may lead away from these fundamental principles should be discarded at the outset as unscriptural, and therefore unsound.

Dr. Lyman Beecher once warned a class of young divinity students to beware of speculation. He stated that he had sometimes indulged in it, but before venturing out into the great sea of speculative philosophy he had made fast to some stump of doctrine which had stood on the shore and resisted the wind and tide for long years. Then he cautiously ventured forth. If there came along a breaker and overwhelmed him so that he lost his footing, he pulled in on the rope and soon got back to solid ground.

Let us make fast to the landmarks, the great fundamental principles of the truth of God; and when we find that our study is leading us away from these principles, let us pull in on the rope and get back to firm footing once more.

A FURTHER word from Russia, this time from Brother Reinke, at Petrograd, is written May 25, says: “About a month ago our only Russian minister in this city was put in prison, and the library books of all four churches were taken away to be examined. The most of these have been returned. No one is allowed to visit this brother except his wife, and this only by special permission once a week. His money, books, etc., were taken away. He may be in custody for some time to come. Thus far I have been free from being visited. Last Friday an order was issued by the city governor to stop at once all our meetings in this city. Since the order was served on us not earlier than Saturday night, we were enabled to have a quiet Sabbath, and a most spiritual one, although not knowing what was awaiting us the next day. The same has been done in two other cities recently. No meetings are allowed. There is a tendency to close all the sectarian meetings in the land. The word of God in Rom. 8:31 is still true. “As one man, we seek at set times the Lord in fasting and prayer. Though there is a heavy pressure resting upon us, still we are quiet and confident that the great God, who permitted all this to come upon us, has a good lesson for us, and will in this his time turn all to our best good. He has ways and means by which to finish his work, and we trust him for them.”