Men and Things by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 30, 1872

Men and Things.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

HATRED OF THE TRUTH.

The following from the Winterset Sun, Iowa, is rather amusing than provoking, and yet it shows the deep and bitter feeling which many ministers have against the truth.

“The pastor of the Christian church of this city, Mr. Chase, has called upon us several times, until we have discovered him to be an agreeable and apparently worthy individual. He says the opposition to Christianity is, at present, exceedingly formidable and widespread in the land. He regards the attack that is being made upon marriage as being very significant of evil. He regards Mormonism, Spiritualism and Adventism as being the three unclean spirits that are foretold in the New Testament as going forth to deceive the world.”

It will be seen that the impression is sought to be made that Adventism is associated with Spiritualism and Mormonism in opposing the proper marriage relation, than which nothing could be more slanderously false. Either Mr. Chase makes this assertion, being ignorant of the people he is slandering, or else it is made up wholly from the malice of his own heart. In either case, he is without excuse. But I give it, not to review it, but to let the reader see how we are treated by some of our neighbors who have much to say about “charity.”

WONDERS OF THE TELEGRAPH.

Rev. S. Osgood, D. D., in the Christian Union says:—

“Mr. Field told me that he had just sent a message to Japan, and that, if the operators were pushed to do their best and quickest, an answer from Japan could be obtained in ten minutes!”

Surely, this almost partakes of the nature of a miracle. Is not the hand of God in all this, preparing the way for his last and solemn warning to be sounded over all the world in a short time? In good harmony with this, Beecher says:—

“All the world is stirred up—Religion, Political Economy, Sociology, Morals, Philosophy, are undergoing fermentation. Men are in every state of transition.”

UNION OF ALL THE CHURCHES.

That the signs of the times indicate a speedy union of all the “orthodox” and “evangelical” churches on some general principles, no candid observer can deny. Doctrinal points of faith are coming to be regarded as of small consequence, provided each can, in some way, aid the advancement of the other. “Union of the churches” is the cry on all hands, and the thing is becoming popular. Let this be accomplished, and what a mighty power these churches will become in the land! Their pride and presumption will know no bounds. The facts are thus stated by a popular minister and editor, H. W. Beecher, in the Christian Union:—

“There are, at this time, signs of the approaching union of all Christ’s followers, such as have, perhaps, never appeared since the church’s earliest days. And while, knowing how easily human judgment may be deceived, we rest our surest confidence of this grand result on the simple promise of Christ, we have a right to cheer ourselves by the hope that the signs of the times afford.

“He must indeed be sanguine who can discover any present prospect of universal agreement as to doctrinal statements, and forms of worship and of government. Uniformity, like that of a regiment on parade, never looked farther off than now. But unity—the relation of men linked to serve in a common cause, and support each other even unto death—is betokened by many signs. Among the different churches of Scotland there are movements toward organic union. Among ourselves we have the conspicuous example of the two great Presbyterian bodies reunited. The alienation between such kindred organizations as the Methodist churches, North and South, is felt to be but a matter of time. In the West, the Baptists and the Disciples, offspring of a common stock, are seeking for a ground on which they can unite. It is impossible to mistake all the indications of this kind, which are seen on every side.”

D. M. CANRIGHT.