Cherokee Co., Iowa by Chas. L. Boyd

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 13, 1873

Cherokee Co., Iowa.

By Chas. L. Boyd

Last February, Bro. R. M. Kilgore came to this county and delivered a course of lectures on points of Scripture concerning which Adventists differ with most orthodox churches. He presented the truth in a straight-forward and clear manner. As a result of his labors, many were interested, some convicted, and a few decided to obey. To us who were believers in the glorious truths of the third angel's message, it was indeed a privilege to listen to this course of lectures.

Soon after Bro. Kilgore left this place, it was announced that Rev. Hilton, Baptist, would speak on the immortality of the soul. In his discourse, he said, “There is, or may be, as much atheism about the nature of man as about the existence of a God;” and that the reason the Jews were commanded to abstain from the worship of idols was because they could have no true idea of the form of God. He classed those who believe in the ultimate destruction of the wicked and that the dead sleep till the resurrection with the Sadducees and said, “These delusions have come from the pit of hell.”

In another discourse on the “Christian Sabbath,” I was astonished that a Baptist minister should resort to such desperate means to get rid of that troublesome fourth commandment. The ten commandments were written by the finger of God, hence were hand-writings and included in Col. 2:14. No Sabbath was observed from the creation till the manna fell in the wilderness. When a man teaches the law, he is contradicted and condemned by the New Testament. None but the murderers of Christ and a few who have sprung up at this late day, keep the seventh day. I think that keeping the seventh day is rejecting Christ and turning to Moses. The above, are almost, or quite, the exact words of the speaker.

That law which contains nothing “against us,” but is so perfect as to be the foundation of the laws of all civilized governments, must be done away, cast aside as unholy, simply to do away with the Lord's Sabbath. When were the words of the sweet psalmist so applicable as at the present day? “It is time for thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void thy law.” This world offers no reward, no happiness, to be compared with that offered to the commandment-keepers in Rev. 22:14. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Chas. L. Boyd.