Editorial Correspondence.
By John Nevins Andrews
In response to advertisements in papers in the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Holland, I have received a considerable number of letters of inquiry, all of which I have answered as wisely as I was capable of answering. The correspondence has given me considerable labor, for I have had to procure the translation of these letters from the Holland or Dutch language, and the translation of mine into that language. The German language and the language of Holland are not the same, though often spoken of in America as the same thing. The language of Holland is Dutch; the German language is the Deutsch as called by the Germans. They are two distinct languages, though confounded sometimes because of some degree of similarity in the names. Very few persons here understand Dutch. I will give some extracts from these Holland letters. My advertisement stated the object of my mission, the views of the people by whom I am sent, and it inquired after Christians who hallow the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, or who may be interested to consider the subject. Here are some of the responses:— “THIEL, PROVINCE OF GUELDRE, HOLLAND, MARCH 27, ’75.
“To-day, in looking over the New Gazette of Rotterdam, I have read an announcement concerning the celebration of the Sabbath, and this upon the seventh-day itself. It will be very agreeable to me to learn the reasons of this observance, and this in respect to your position as missionary from America. In waiting your honored response, I am your devoted servant,
“H. A. VAN A.” The next letter is from three ladies. “ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND, APRIL 9, ’75.
“It is with astonishment that we have read in the Gazette of Rotterdam that you have been sent from America to Europe as a missionary by Christians observing the seventh day of the week, or Saturday. We have reflected a long time upon this subject, and though we do not partake of your sentiments, we nevertheless respect them; for we are not able to give the subject a satisfactory explanation. For this reason we have requested our pastor, who is instructing us and preparing us for our first communion, to give us some clear light upon this matter. After having conferred much with him upon this subject, he at last counseled us to address you, and to request, if not too much trouble, that you answer the following question: Why do you not celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but, like the Jews, observe the seventh day of the week? Hoping to receive a response from you immediately, we are your devoted servants,
“D. M., H. O., AND M. M. VAN E.” Here is a third letter, and it is written by one who supposed that I must mean Sunday in my advertisement. “MAASLUIS, PROVINCE OF HOLLAND, SEPTENTRIONALE (PAYS BAS), APRIL 1, ’75.
“In consequence of an announcement in the New Gazette of Rotterdam, No. 3931, in which you request to be put in communication with those persons who feel the need to sanctify the Sunday, and as I am much in union with this idea, I desire more full instruction on this subject from you.
“I have the honor to be with esteem your devoted servant,
“C. VAN R.” I answered each of these letters. When Mr. Van R. had read my answer, he changed his mind concerning the day of the Sabbath, and wrote a second letter as follows:— “MAASLUIS, APRIL 19, ’75.
“Your letter of the 11th instant has much interested me, and after having taken knowledge of the ideas which it contains, I must confess that I am perfectly of your opinion. But to obey is not possible for one who cannot live independent of others. Think a little of the case of a workman who must gain his bread at the house of another, and who takes for his day of rest the day instituted by God; his employer, who is not of his opinion, observes the first day of the week. He fails to receive from this workman two days of the seven, and yet the workman has been obliged heretofore to labor six13days and sometimes seven, not to speak of the nights also which he has had to pass at his work, to procure his daily bread. What sort of chance is there, then, for such a person to follow his own convictions of duty in this matter? You see that it is impossible for the workman. But if the employers and those who make the laws would set the example it would be possible. “The only thing which I am able to do for the good cause is this: I will give you the address of two gentlemen to whom I have shown your letter, and who have been touched with the truth of your sentiments. They will take your cause to heart, and as they possess much means with which to render assistance, they have invited me to give you their names. They are ready to enter into particular correspondence with respect to this subject, and if money is needed they are willing to help with their means. They will use French if you choose to have them. Their names are U. F. M. and E. M., both of Maassluis. Hoping that your work of Christian charity will succeed as you desire, I have the honor to be your devoted servant,
“C. VAN R.” I wrote these persons and received the following response:— “ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND, MAY 18, ’75.
“I have received your letter with pleasure, and have considered its contents. It is perfectly in accordance with my idea of the subject. I deeply regret the fact that the inhabitants of the earth do not understand, and will not accept, the seventh day from the creation, which is the only Sabbath that should be hallowed by mankind as sanctified by God. What to do in this case, each must know for himself. I am voluntarily of your views concerning the Sabbath, and am able to act in harmony with my convictions of duty. I wish you to know that I shall do all in my power to set this subject before others as Mr. Van R. has set it before me.
“I remain your very devoted,
“M.” To this gentleman I have sent a copy of nearly all the publications which I received in the box from America. To be sure they are in English and in French, but he understands French, and in Rotterdam he can certainly find those who can read to him from an English book. But the feelings of my heart are inexpressible. How can the truth be got before these people in the Holland language? As soon as I began to receive letters from Holland I wrote to Battle Creek for copies of our Holland tract upon the Sabbath. I have watched for their coming with intense interest, but they have not yet arrived. I shall spare no pains to get the truth still further before these and other persons in Holland. It seems to me that here are indications of Providence that labor should be bestowed upon that country, and that it would not be in vain. In my report from Germany, it will be remembered, I spoke of the manner in which this advertising was done. A gentleman in Gladbach, not a Sabbath-keeper, and not even a professor of religion, became so much interested in the truth to which he listened that he asked the privilege of doing this advertising at his own expense. He has been as good as his word, and this advertising has cost the mission funds nothing. I have from time to time reported to him the letters which I have received, and he has manifested interest to hear. Though I desire to keep a file of the REVIEW and of our other papers for my own use and for reference, I find it impossible to do it. The REVIEW has many very valuable articles which I wish to read again. But before I have fairly read the paper once, I have had an opportunity to put it into the hands of some one who can read English, and who may, as I hope, be benefited by it; and so all the papers from the Office have gone. I give or send them with many prayers that God’s Spirit may attend them to the reader. I feel confident that sometime I shall be able to report the result of this distribution of the papers. In my last report, I spoke of the state of religion in these countries. The condition of things is such that it brings much sadness to my heart. Grace is to save men without obedience, and without changing their evil disposition, at least not till they lie down in death. The people are generally lulled to sleep in the arms of Satan. My words are not to be taken without exceptions, but there are fewer exceptions than I could wish. I attend the service of the national church once every week for the purpose of hearing French. Two things in the service are quite impressive. Each person before taking a seat bows the head for a short time in prayer to God. It is with many perhaps but a mere form, but it seems to me something very suitable for the house of God. While the bell is ringing in the morning, the school-master ascends the pulpit, and the moment that it ceases he arises and invites the people to listen to the reading of the law of God. Then he reads from Ex. 20 the ten commandments, and from Matt. 22:37–40 the two great commandments. The preacher sits at the foot of the pulpit stairs till the school-master has finished the reading of the law and retired. This service is, I suppose, designed to represent the order in which the law and the gospel perform their work in Christian experience. At all events, the people hear the law of God in every service, and I think it very much in place. The Methodist brother of whom I have spoken will, I think, become a valuable helper. He is a man of good understanding, and very much in earnest to learn the truth, and not less in earnest to teach others. He is a German, but understands some French, and is very anxious to read English. Himself and wife and four others, all newly converted to the truth within a few weeks, will be baptized shortly. It was publications that first interested this brother. I hope by the time of the baptism there will be still others to offer themselves as candidates. Though the work is prosecuted at present under difficulties, yet we have tokens of good. J. N. ANDREWS.
La Coudre, Neuchatel, June 14, ’75.