p. 3 | Our First Paper by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1909

Our First Paper

By Editor

Editorial

Our First Paper.—The first paper devoted to the proclamation of the three-fold message of Revelation 14 was the Present Truth, printed in July, 1849, at Middletown, Conn. It was an eight-page, semimonthly, published by James White.

The Burden to Publish.—The motto of the paper was, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant. Ps. 25:14.” The first paragraph was the text: “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the PRESENT TRUTH.” “For months,” wrote the publisher, “I have felt burdened with the duty of writing, and publishing the present truth for the scattered flock. . . . I tremble at the word of the Lord, and the importance of this time.”

Dedicated to God.—Thus on that July day, in 1849, the first of our periodicals spread its white wings to fly with the third angel’s message to the children of men. This was the paper the entire edition of which was brought from the printing-office in a hand-bag. And we have been told how the little band of believers knelt round the pile of papers on the floor, and with tears dedicated this first periodical to God, and besought him to bless the silent messengers as they were sent forth. Now, with our hundred twenty periodicals, in many languages, we do well to call to mind that day of small things but of great faith; and in the same spirit of devotion to dedicate and consecrate our all to God in this time of the finishing of the work. With all our numbers, and with all our facilities, we are as utterly helpless to do the work, and as dependent upon God, as were they.

The Tremendous Issue.—“I tremble at the word of the Lord, and the importance of this time,” wrote James White as he began the first paper. How much it meant that the time so long foretold in prophecy had at last come! The scene at the opening of the judgment hour had transpired in heaven:—

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Dan. 7:9, 10.

God’s providence had raised up a little band of believers to begin the work of proclaiming the last message on earth. Well might Elder White feel the tremendous importance of the time as he launched that first paper; and well may our hearts now tremble at the word of the Lord and the importance of this time, sixty years later, on the very verge of eternity. This third angel’s message movement is no dream. The end of all things is at hand. Cry it aloud, and wake every sleeper.