The S. D. Baptist Anniversaries.
The General Conference of the S. D. Baptists convened for its fifty-eighth annual session, with the church of Southampton, at West Hallock, Ill., Sept. 11, 1872. At the last General Conference of S. D. Adventists, at Battle Creek, Mich., Dec. 29, 1871, Eld. James White was chosen delegate to this meeting of the S. D. Baptists, with Eld. J. H. Waggoner, alternate. But as the time drew near, it was evident that Bro. White, now recruiting his worn energies among the mountains of Colorado, could not attend; and Bro. Waggoner would be obliged to give up an important tent meeting in Ohio, should he act as appointed. Under these circumstances, the General Conference Committee requested the resident editor of this paper to become non-resident long enough to act as delegate for the S. D. Adventists at this meeting. The present was an occasion of more than ordinary interest, it being not only the annual session of their General Conference, and other important organizations among them, but the bicentennial celebration of their existence as a denomination in America. Commencing two centuries ago in Newport, R. I., with a little church of seven, five of whom came out from the regular Baptist church of that place, they have persevered in their adherence to the Sabbath of the Lord, and defended it against the attacks of its enemies, to the present day. And now the original seven have increased to more than as many thousand; and this increase (a sign to which they can point with hope) is much of it of comparatively recent date. As was appropriate on such an occasion, a number of essays were read touching the history of the rise and progress of the Sabbath-keeping churches of America, the history of Sabbath-schools in the denomination, the history of their educational interests, and the history and exposition of the general doctrines of Sabbath-keepers of America. These papers, prepared by some of their ablest men, by appointment of the Conference in 1871, showed extensive research, and were replete with interesting information. They are to be collected in permanent form and published as a memorial volume in honor of this interesting epoch in their history. In connection with the General Conference, the Missionary Society, the Educational Society, and the Tract Society, each held its annual session. To transact the business connected with all these organizations, required a vast amount of labor. And those who had these matters in charge showed themselves practiced and efficient hands in this branch of the work. It is the wish of some to simplify their organization by merging all these into the General Conference, letting these enterprises stand as arms to one central efficient organization. This will doubtless be an improvement on their present methods of operation. Missionary work among them is chiefly confined to the home field on our western frontiers. Sixteen missionaries are now in the field. These report a very gratifying measure of success the past year. This is giving new life to the work of Sabbath reform in their hands, and is, judging from our own experience, the most efficient policy to adopt for the spread of the truth. Error is not going to come voluntarily to where truth may, so to speak, have hermetized itself, there to lay down its darkness, and receive light instead. But truth must be aggressive; and men whose hearts have been touched by the living flame, must attack the strongholds of error, their motto being to “move upon its works immediately,” wherever they find them, and the only terms they have to offer being “unconditional surrender.” The mission in China, so long maintained by them is not abandoned, and there is some intimation that Bro. and sister Carpenter, who formerly labored in that field, will at no distant day, resume that work. Full reports were made to the Educational Society of the institutions of learning now in operation in the denomination. If in any one thing we, as S. D. Adventists, have almost reason to envy our S. D. Baptist brethren, it is in the facilities they enjoy for education among themselves. Probably no denomination, in proportion to their numbers, has taken greater interest in this important branch, and established a greater number of schools. More perhaps have been started than can be maintained. The tendency now is to reduce the number and make those that remain more efficient. The institutions destined to be permanent, and become complete in all their appointments are probably these: 1. Albion Academy, Albion Wis., A. R. Cornwall, A. M. Principal; an institution in which a greater amount of capital is invested, and which can present greater facilities, than some institutions which in this western country sport the name of college; which has itself, as we understand, a college charter, but declines to use it, till that name comes to have a higher significance, than in many sections now attaches to it. 2. Milton College, Milton, Wis. W. C. Whitford, President. 3. Alfred University, Alfred, N. Y. J. Allen, President. The Tract enterprise has been going forward of late years, with more activity than formerly, under those who have had it in charge, and who see the importance of this work as a means of spreading abroad the truth. Books and tracts to have a wide circulation must be furnished at a low price. To furnish them thus, requires capital that a cash business may be done in purchase of stock and payment of labor; and then large editions must be issued. But to warrant the issue of large editions, missionaries or evangelists must make it a point to secure their circulation as widely as possible among the people, and all the friends of the truth must become self-constituted colporters, to furnish conscientiously, not only themselves, but their friends, with the reading matter offered. There are those who are laboring to secure this degree of co-operation among the S. D. Baptist people; and when this can be done, new life will visit their publishing interests. Interspersed with the business proceedings came the reading of the essays before mentioned, these being made the special order at certain points in the meetings. This relieved the meetings from the monotony of parliamentary forms, created an interest in the minds of those present, and secured a promiscuous and large attendance throughout. They are making an effort to celebrate this their two hundredth anniversary, by raising a fund of one hundred thousand dollars to place their educational institutions on a firm basis, and forward the general interests of their cause. Forty thousand of this have already been raised, some parties generously subscribing to the amount of ten thousand dollars, and promising under certain conditions to go as high as fifteen. The agents who have thus far had this matter in hand, reported some noble instances of generosity and self-sacrifice well worthy of so good a cause. Three sermons delivered on Sabbath and first-day deserve special notice. First, the missionary sermon, Sabbath forenoon, by Eld. G. B. Utter, from 2 Cor. 5: 14, 15: “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” The argument on the declaration, “If one died for all, then were all dead,” was exceedingly well put and convincing, completely demolishing the false hopes of Heaven which some build on the foundation of what is generally considered a good moral life. Outside of a direct and personal interest in Christ, all are lost; for “all are dead.” Secondly, a sermon, Sabbath afternoon by Eld. L. Crandall, from Matt. 6: 19, 20: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth . . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven;” in which he startled his hearers by announcing that selfishness is all right; that it is our duty to be selfish; and that God himself is selfish. This was then explained to mean that God must conserve himself for the good of his universe, and that men should seek for the true riches, the Heavenly possessions, with more earnestness than men, selfishly, in the bad sense, seek for earthly treasures. Men cannot be too solicitous to obtain wealth, if it is of the right kind, nor be too ambitious, if they direct their aim to the right object, nor be too careful and solicitous for their own interests, if the end be to make sure of an interest for themselves in the Heavenly world, that Christ may not have died for them in vain. Thirdly, a sermon by Eld. J. Bailey, first-day forenoon, in which he treated the Sabbath question in a somewhat fresh and novel manner, by taking, as it were, a flying trip from paradise lost to paradise regained, lighting here and there upon the Sabbath, in both sacred and profane history, as upon oases all along our journey through the desert of time. Some among this people sympathize with the reform which holds so high a place in our regards, namely, the discontinuance of the hurtful habit of tobacco-using. This was evident when Eld. N. Wardner reported his visit as delegate to our last General Conference. For when he related that we, as a body, have so far freed ourselves from this habit that not even the smell of the foul poison can be detected in our assemblies, a good brother manifested his appreciation of that fact by fervently ejaculating, “Praise the Lord!” And again, another cast into the treasury five dollars as a thank-offering for having overcome the baneful habit of tobacco-using. This is excellent, so far; but we think he could have very appropriately gone a little further, and made his offering equal to the amount formerly expended for the seductive weed. And we would suggest that the same practice and the same principle might properly be extended to other things. For instance we know of a denomination to which a sister belongs who casts into the treasury this year fifty dollars which she calls tea and coffee money—money saved by the disuse of those, to say the least, unnecessary articles. The questions of close, or rather open, communion, and secret societies, are agitating the S. D. Baptist church to some extent. We have happily thus far kept ourselves free from trouble on these points, by not admitting it to be a debatable question whether a commandment-keeper can commune with a law-breaker, though the latter follows his practice in ignorance and unbelief; for there can be no stronger outward sign of Christian fellowship, than partaking of the cup and symbolic body of the Lord: and in relation to secret societies, by not admitting it to be a supposable case that a person could let his heart remain under the godless bonds of an unsanctified alliance in secret societies, after having professed to transfer all his affections to his Saviour, and to be governed alone by the bonds of his love. The majority of S. D. Baptists, we judge, take this view of the matter; but some think and act differently. The subject of the best means of raising funds, is also engaging their attention. Some are in favor of a plan embodying substantially the principle involved in our Systematic Benevolence, which has this potent argument in its favor, that after several years’ practical operation, its simplicity and efficiency are more than ever apparent. This is an important subject. It lies at the very foundation of denominational prosperity. And it struck us that their action on this subject was rather slow, as they have only appointed a committee to examine the subject and report at their next session in September, 1873; and thus the matter rests another year. Eld. Stephen Burdick, of Leonardsville, N. Y., is appointed delegate to attend the next General Conference of S. D. Adventists. We are confirmed in the impression that the most direct road to a better understanding between these two bodies of Sabbath-keepers, and a better knowledge of each other’s positions, is a more free and extended personal intercourse between them. This will tend to correct any misapprehensions that may exist, and reduce to their minimum all our differences. And whatever differences shall be found permanently to remain, the better they are defined and understood on both sides, the less likely will they be to disturb the cordial relations which should exist between those who occupy common ground touching the law of our God. Some unfortunate movements in the past, when matters among us were not in a condition to be controlled, but every man was in certain directions a law unto himself, are past, and will not be repeated. And we believe there is a disposition on the part of those aggrieved to drop and forget them. Certain it is that the two denominations which have nailed to their mast-head the colors, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God,” the great sign by which we are, in common, especially distinguished from all other religious bodies, and by which the religious world will, to a certain extent, consider us identical, should have no guns to point at each other, but should direct our efforts against the common enemy who seeks to pervert or destroy the law of Jehovah.