Sabbath Reform | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 27, 1875

Sabbath Reform.

From an article in The Sabbath Recorder, the organ of the Seventh-day Baptists, published at Alfred Center, N. Y., we take the following paragraphs relative to the agencies now at work to bring before the people the truth on the Sabbath question. The article appears in the issue of May 20, 1875, and is entitled The New Call:—

“The constant agitation in this country of great moral questions, wherein the sentiment of truth has been pressed upon the public mind, has exerted a reflex influence upon this subject as upon many others. The war made upon the Puritan Sunday by the presence of so many foreigners in this country has also exerted an influence in this direction.”

“It has been specially noticeable in this connection that the defenders of Sunday have largely depended upon civil enactments rather than upon the Scriptures for support in this struggle. The public mind has become possessed with the fact that the law of God does not enforce the keeping of the first day, and hence men shun to meet the question on this ground.”

“Also, large numbers of men and even whole bodies of Christians acknowledge freely that if the fourth commandment is binding on Christians under the present dispensation, then the seventh day should be kept and not the first. But from whatever quarter discussion may arise, the fact is more and more apparent that the keeping of the first day has no Scripture foundation on which to stand. The doctrine that the seventh day is the Sabbath is certainly gaining ground, especially in America.”

“Those most thoroughly and systematically committed to the propagation of this sentiment in this country are the Seventh-day Adventists, having their headquarters at Battle Creek, Mich. The work of this people is a marvel, all things considered, in this stirring age. They have their points of operations from Maine to the Pacific Coast, and everywhere they are applying themselves to the work of Sabbath reform with praiseworthy zeal. Nor is their work confined to America, but in Prussia and Switzerland they are beginning to make themselves felt. One of their best-informed men on the Sabbath question is now a missionary in these countries.”

“But the work of Sabbath reform is not left alone in the hands of these honored laborers, but the Seventh-day Baptists, a much older and in some respects stronger sect than these, have for a series of years been more and more turning their attention in this direction. These have now nearly eight thousand communicants, and many of their churches are of vigorous and solid growth, the oldest of which have existed in America some two hundred years. They are located in many of the States from Rhode Island in the East, to Minnesota in the West. The central power in this body of Christians interested especially in the work of Sabbath reform is known as the American Sabbath Tract Society, having their printing establishment at Alfred Center. This Society, although feeble at the time of its organization, has constantly grown in numbers and wealth until it has become able to do considerable work. In their hands, especially of late years, the work of Sabbath reform has greatly advanced. At all points, our work has been strengthened, especially at the West and Southwest. But we mention with joy the work in southern Illinois as presenting a most gratifying spectacle of this character. Here a number of ministers have recently embraced the Sabbath, and several churches have been formed with the prospect of becoming permanent organizations.”

“But of late a new field of labor has been opened to us. For many years we have had Sabbath-keeping churches in England, which in their earlier years were possessed of considerable strength. Latterly, however, only two have had an existence, and these were very feeble. Since the settlement of Bro. Jones in London, however, he having adopted more energetic measures for the promotion of the cause, new light has sprung up, and Sabbath-keepers have been found both in Ireland and Scotland and of such character as to warrant the hope that extensive good may be done in these fields. In view of the pressing calls from these fields for assistance, the Board of the Tract Society have secured the services of our beloved Bro. Wardner, who is now on his way to this new and untried field. In the truth Bro. Wardner has gone to proclaim, we have all the confidence we have in any statement of Holy Writ. We unhesitatingly and unwaveringly believe that the seventh day is the Sabbath of divine appointment. We also have confidence in Bro. W.’s integrity, judgment, and ability, and are therefore filled with hope. We know that the work undertaken is a great one, in view of the obstacles lying in the way of its accomplishment. But we also know that God loves his own truth, and that he has power over the hearts of men, and can turn them at his own will by such agencies as he may please to employ.”