SECRET WORKINGS by L. A. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 7, 1902

SECRET WORKINGS.

By L. A. S.

Do you know of the secret workings of the movement that is going forward in this country to bring about the enforcement of the “mark of the Beast” and the worship of his “Image”? Here is an incident of this nature which happened recently in Iowa. We quote it from the Iowa State paper, the Workers’ Bulletin:—

“Last summer a pastor in one of Iowa’s smaller cities called on the wife of one of our ministers. He asked her what church she attended, and she answered, ‘Not any.’ ‘Then you are not Christians,’ he suggested. She answered, ‘Yes; but we have no church here; we hold our Sabbath-school and meeting in a private house.’ He then asked her what she was, and upon her answer, ‘A Seventh-day Adventist,’ he inquired particularly how many there were of them, who they were, where they lived, where they held their meetings, etc.

“When her husband returned, she told him of her visitor and his questions. Shortly after this her husband met another pastor who was friendly, and telling him about it, asked what the object was in making such inquiries. He said, ‘I dislike to tell you.’ Upon being urged, he repeated, ‘I dislike to tell you. I am opposed to it, and spoke against it in the League, for I know your people. I know them to be quiet, honest, and inoffensive; but it means persecution to your people.’”

With this we will relate another incident, which so far as the writer knows has never appeared in print, nor in any other way been put into general circulation. It occurred some time ago in the city of Washington, D. C. A man who has been prominent in work for the preservation of religious freedom, was speaking with a leading official of the Catholic Church with whom in some public place he had happened to come in contact. The Catholic prelate did not know he was speaking with a Seventh-day Adventist. An effort was being made at the time to secure further Sunday legislation in that place, and this was the topic of conversation. The Catholic official expressed himself as decidedly in favor of such legislation. “Then what about these people who observe the seventh day?” inquired the Adventist. The latter, in relating the incident to the writer, said, “He turned upon me like a lion, and exclaimed, ‘They ought to be strung up, every mother’s son of them!’”

Do you think that Rome does not have her eye upon Seventh-day Adventists? Does Rome not know that there is one little body of consistent Protestants, whom she hates the more bitterly because they have a belief which guards them against all her attacks, and exposes all her deceptions? She is saying nothing in public now. She is dealing yet with the Protestant world in general. But wait. Rome knows how to wait, and she is waiting. Protestants will clasp hands with the papal power, as Church and State will be united, and then will come a mighty effort to “reform” Sabbath-keeping Christians out of the world. The sentiment in favor of this exists to-day. It is spreading, making its way in the dark, working secretly, but occasionally showing itself upon the surface of events. And what do these things mean to us? One thing they ought to mean; namely, that now is no time for losing sight of the truth we have proclaimed in the past, but instead, the opportune time for earnest work in the way of acquainting the people with the deceptions of the enemy, and setting before them the prophecies relating to the present time. Is this the work that we are doing?

L. A. S.