A Zealous and Enterprising Denomination

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 11, 1906

“A Zealous and Enterprising Denomination”

IN a recent issue of The Christian Advocate, the leading Methodist paper of this country, there appeared an article under this title, from which we take the following:—

One of the most active and energetic of existing religious sects is that of the Seventh-day Adventists. Its aim is avowedly to run the earth; and small though the denomination still is, it has its missionaries scattered through every region of the globe, working with at least equal zeal with those of any other organization, and with a consummate skill that is systematically taught as a part of their regular training. The Adventists originated in 1845 in Maine, in a separation from the general Millerite following. There were only half a dozen of them, all poor; and there were not enough of them to form an organization till 1860. They have gained since then steadily, though slowly, in numbers, but immensely in push, and have at present 1,500 workers, of whom 510 are full ministers and 571 missionaries, 1,892 churches, with 437 companies not yet organized, 75,767 members to the church funds last year were $510,259; and their year's increase in numbers included 114 laborers, 117 churches, and 11,764 believers. Their institutions and various enterprises, all made effective agents for proselytism, have cost very large sums. Their agents are dispersed through both Americas, all the States of Europe, the Levant, Egypt, South Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, and most of the islands of the Pacific. They recognize no missionary comity, for they believe that they alone have the truth, and all others are intruders. They maintain large and fine printing houses at Battle Creek, Mich., and in California, and other smaller ones in London, Hamburg, Basel, Australia, besides numerous branch houses, from which literature is sent out in large quantities in about forty languages. For the instruction of their youth under the direct influence of the church and the training of workers, they maintain six colleges, four academies, ten industrial schools, and 228 church-schools, with in all 381 teachers and 6,600 pupils. Their policy and principle are to discourage attendance at the public schools. A special feature in all these schools is drilling in methods and arts of propagating the principles of the denomination. Their sanitariums and health institutions are used persistently and skilfully as means of winning converts. As they are well patronized, they are capable of being made effective instruments for this purpose. There are twenty-seven of them, besides thirty treatment rooms, with two thousand workers employed, in all quarters of the earth.

Although there are some errors in this article, which will be readily recognized by those familiar with our denominational history, yet taken altogether, it is a very fair and favorable presentation of the work of this people. It will serve to call the attention of many thousands to this advent movement.