CIRCULATE THE REVIEW by J. S. Miller

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1868

CIRCULATE THE REVIEW.

By J. S. Miller

As I read Bro. Ball's article in a recent number of the REVIEW, entitled “Change of Views,” I was more than ever before impressed with the unfairness of that class of publishers, who oppose S. D. Adventists in the matter of the Sabbath, visions, &c. Those of our brethren who never read the Voice of the West, World's Crisis, and some other religious journals, have but little idea of the manner in which our views are treated

in those papers. In my recent visit to the north-western towns of Connecticut, I came across quite a number of Adventists who took the Voice. In almost every instance when these brethren found that I was a Sabbath-keeper, the first salutation would be, “What about Ellen White's visions?” In such cases, I usually returned the compliment by asking them what they thought of them. Then I would be treated to a batch of prejudices and false notions, all of which had been derived from false statements in the above-mentioned papers. After they had expended their stock of objections, I would calmly inquire if they had ever read Spiritual Gifts. In some cases, they would frankly admit that they had never seen any of Sr. White's writings. In other cases, they would imagine they were tolerably well read in the “visions,” and when requested to mention something about the subjects treated, etc., they would almost invariably refer me to some fragmentary writings of Sr. W., and in most instances to things that had no connection with visions. In no case did I meet with any of the subscribers for the Voice who had ever seen the bound volumes of Spiritual Gifts. In such cases, it would have been folly to attempt to argue the question, since my opponent would be entirely ignorant of facts that have an important bearing on the case. My method of meeting the opposition of these brethren is to get them, if possible, to subscribe for the REVIEW, and so have a chance to hear our side of the question, and, perhaps, be induced to read Spiritual Gifts, which are in themselves, to a candid mind, the best answer to objections.

Let the brethren who have neighbors that oppose the visions, look to it, and see if something cannot be accomplished by extending the circulation of the REVIEW.

J. S. MILLER.