p. 3 | Publishing Amid Difficulties by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 30, 1909

Publishing Amid Difficulties

By Editor

Editorial

Publishing Amid Difficulties. — Our first periodical, the Present Truth, was truly a pilgrim and a wanderer in the earth. It was begun in July, 1849. Numbers 1-4 were issued from Middletown, Conn.; 5-10 were printed in Oswego, N. Y., No. 10 being dated in May, 1850. The next and last number did not appear until November of that year, and was issued from Paris, Maine.

Never Ceasing the Effort. — In that interim, however, the brethren were publishing and scattering a paper called the Advent Review, printed in Auburn, N. Y. The publishing committee were Hiram Edson, David Arnold, George W. Holt, Samuel W. Rhodes, and James White, the latter being the editor-in-charge. Five copies and an extra of this paper were put out from August to November, 1850, the November number being printed in Paris, Maine. The motto of the paper was, “Call to remembrance the former days;” and lengthy reprints were made of articles by leaders in the 1844 movement, interspersed with articles on the law, the Sabbath, and the heavenly sanctuary. The aim evidently was to show the First-day Adventist believers, who were falling into utter confusion, that the logic of the 1844 movement, which laid the stress on the first and second messages of Revelation 14, now demanded the acceptance and proclamation of the third angel’s message as the next duty.

And one by one, or family by family, numbers of the scattered flock of believers in the “blessed hope” of the advent turned their feet into the pathway of advancing light.

Progressive Experience. — The development of the message was not by the throwing away of past experience, but by the pressing forward along the way of light, according to the apostolic rule: “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” By pen and voice the first apostles of the third angel’s message gave the call to press on.

The “Blessed Hope.” — What a story of sacrifice and patient toiling is borne witness to by those irregular dates and changing addresses on the first papers. But by the grace of God the pioneers kept the light glowing, and the printed page circulating. The preaching of the definite message God had given them built up companies of believers. And the work has been spreading, till now it touches the uttermost parts of the earth. The same third angel’s message that has built up this cause will finish it. In the same spirit of sacrifice and devotion and patient toiling the closing work will be accomplished. Their incentive was the love of souls and the bright hope of Christ’s soon coming. They lived it, and prayed it, and sang it. That is our hope, too; and now is our salvation nearer, so very much nearer, than when we believed. When the message has been preached as a witness to all nations, the end will come.

“With that blessed hope before us, Let no harp remain unstrung; Let the mighty advent chorus Onward roll, from tongue to tongue; Christ is coming! Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!”