Visit to the S. D. Baptist General Conference.
By John Nevins Andrews
The fifty-seventh annual session of this body was held at Adams Center, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Sept. 6–10, 1871. Our General Conference at its session in February last appointed Elder James White its representative to attend the Conference of the Seventh-day Baptists, empowering him in case of inability to do this, to select some one to act in his place. In consequence of feeble health and of very urgent and responsible duties connected with the interests of the Publishing Association, Elder White was unable to leave Battle Creek to attend any of our eastern camp-meetings, and could not find time to be present at the meeting of the S. D. Baptists which came immediately upon the close of our camp-meeting in Maine. He therefore requested me to visit that meeting in his stead. To do this, I left the camp-meeting in Maine one day before its close, and reached Adams Center the morning on which the Conference convened. The first service of the Conference was the delivery of a sermon by Eld. S. S. Griswold on 1 Cor. 3: 16: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” After the sermon, the Conference was called to order by the moderator of the previous year. A nominating committee was appointed to present the names of persons suitable to serve as the new board of officers. Then a recess of one hour and a half was taken. On assembling for the afternoon session the officers of the Conference were chosen, and, following this, were read letters from all the churches which compose the denomination, excepting a few which failed to report. These letters were generally interesting and gave some idea of the progress of the work of the denomination in the territory occupied by its churches. After the letters were concluded, communications from corresponding bodies were called for. A minister of the Free Baptist denomination was present as a delegate from a convention of Baptists who oppose restricted communion, and who favor the union of all Baptist bodies. He asked the co-operation of the S. D. Baptists in this movement. The Conference responded through Eld. Wardner, expressing their friendship for these bodies of Baptists, but stating that their participation in this movement could only be to such extent as should not be inconsistent with their conviction of duty toward God. After this action I was introduced to the Conference as the delegate from the S. D. Adventists. I expressed my gratification in meeting so large a number of persons who observe the hallowed memorial of the great Creator, his holy Sabbath; that God had highly honored the S. D. Baptist people in making them for the past two hundred years the depositories of his truth concerning the Bible Sabbath, but that with this high honor there was also a corresponding responsibility to communicate this truth to those who were in darkness concerning it. I referred to the things which have caused some degree of ill-feeling between themselves and us, and mentioned the effort on our part to correct what has been faulty with us. I spoke of our sincere pleasure in receiving at our Conference, two years since, their delegate, Prof. Allen, and of the place which our brief acquaintance with him had given him in our hearts. I explained the causes of the failure of a delegate from us to be present at the session of their Conference one year since. Returning again, to the great truth of the fourth commandment, which distinguishes our two bodies from almost all the Christian world, I spoke of the difficulties in the way of direct co-operation. In some important points our views of divine truth are different. We cannot, for the sake of united action surrender any portion of God’s precious truth, nor can we ask of the S. D. Baptists that they should on their part do any thing of the kind. But if we cannot act as one people, we can so conduct ourselves, as distinct bodies, that there may be true Christian friendship existing between us. Elder Griswold, in his sermon this forenoon, spoke of one of the gateways of the spiritual temple as grown over with moss, and choked up with rubbish. But he said that inscribed on this arch were these words: “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” The speaker justly condemned much of the work wrought upon this temple as only the work of man, and of such character that it will not stand the test. But this part of the temple, I am certain, was set up by the Almighty himself, without human intervention, and these words inscribed upon it were written with his own finger. The moss must be removed from this inscription and the rubbish taken away which chokes up the door. This is no sectarian work, but one which should unite the best energies of the loyal people of God. Herein our hearts are as yours, and in this sacred work we desire to be helpers with you. At the request of the chairman, Eld. L. C. Rogers responded in behalf of the Conference, expressing the good will and the Christian sympathy of the S. D. Baptist people toward ourselves. The afternoon session closed immediately after this. The Conference convened again at 7:30 P. M. The evening session was devoted to the consideration of the subject of communion. The body as a whole are believers in restricted communion, but some individual members hold to open communion. The subject was very earnestly discussed, and arrangements were made for a thorough examination of the question by a committee, representing both parties, to whom the matter was referred. In connection with the General Conference the Missionary Society, the Educational Society, and the Tract Society, each held their anniversaries, and one gave place to the other, according to their mutual convenience, the same persons for the most part belonging to all these different bodies. During the session of the Missionary Society, I was requested to state the position of our people on the subject of missions, which I did briefly, setting forth the fact that our preachers are expected to labor almost wholly as missionaries, and hardly at all in the capacity of pastors. The money which is raised in our churches for the support of the gospel is not used to sustain preaching in those churches, but to send our ministers into those fields of labor where the people are yet in darkness concerning the law of God; and those who raise the money are expected to take hold and labor themselves, and thus sustain the worship of God in their own meetings. I was requested to give some information concerning the Sabbath-keepers in Switzerland, which I was happy to do. By request I also explained the subject of Systematic Benevolence as practiced by our people. I answered questions concerning our statistics, and gave some account of sister Preston, the faithful S. D. Baptist sister, who first brought the Sabbath truth to the knowledge of the Advent people. Upon this a brother arose in the Conference and said he wished to ask Bro. Andrews why he could not be a Seventh-day Baptist. I answered that I could at that moment think of but one point generally held by Seventh-day Baptists which I did not accept as truth, though there were some important doctrines which I held that they did not receive. The one point which I referred to I named as that of the nature and destiny of man. Another member then arose and said that he wished me to state how far and in what manner we tested people concerning our views of the immortality subject when receiving them as members, and also concerning our use of the testimonies of sister White on such occasions. I replied that I would answer with perfect frankness and with sincere pleasure. In answering the first question I paused a moment to think, and then stated that so far as my memory served me no case had ever arisen where this had been brought to actual test. Wherever our doctrines have been preached, the people have been more ready to accept our views of immortality than to adopt our practice of hallowing the Sabbath. I further stated that although the most of those present held to views of the immortality subject different from my own this was no barrier to my fellowship for them so long as I believed them to be truly seeking to follow the light of truth; but that it was my conviction that whenever they refused to do this in anything great or small because of its unpopularity they would in so doing bring upon themselves the displeasure of God. To the second part of the question I answered that whenever I had occasion to bring up the matter in the reception of members I generally embraced the whole thing in two questions: (1.) Do you believe the Bible doctrine of spiritual gifts and of their perpetuity in the Christian church as taught in 1 Cor. 12 and in Eph. 4.? (2.) Can you treat with candor the Testimonies of sister White, and will you prayerfully examine them? When I had thus answered another member propounded further questions on the same point which I was about to answer when a brother arose and said that this was wholly out of order and not courteous toward Bro. Andrews. He said that I had not asked them to accept the views of the S. D. Adventists, and that that body had not sent me to them to be catechised in this manner. Others made similar remarks, and so this colloquy ended, after I had made the further statement that I did not object to being questioned, and would be happy at any time to answer with frankness any inquiry which they wished to propound. On sixth-day, Sept. 8, one of the themes of discussion was that of the celebration during the coming year of the two hundredth anniversary of the organization of the S. D. Baptist Church at Newport, R. I. Many desired that it should be held at Newport itself, and that Sabbath, Dec. 23, which is the exact date of the anniversary, should be observed with appropriate commemorative services. But it was finally decided, much to my regret, that this celebration should be held in connection with the session of the General Conference in Illinois in September, 1872. The subject of Masonry engaged the attention of the Conference to some extent. Though the great majority of the S. D. Baptists are opposed to Masonry, yet some of the churches do tolerate this anti-Christian institution much to the annoyance of those who regard it as an accursed thing. The Conference finally adopted a strong anti-Masonic resolution. Yet as the action of the Conference is only advisory, the churches not being bound to heed the counsel, it is difficult to see how it can effectually cure the evil with which it grapples. But let our own people remember this lesson: we can control Masonry now, because it has no foothold in our churches. Let us always hold the door against this dangerous intruder. On the Sabbath at 10:30, Eld. N. V. Hull preached a missionary sermon from 2 Cor. 5: 14, 15. It was well adapted to impress the sacredness of the work upon those who heard it, and to call attention to the great motive which constrains the servants of God to act in the work of saving lost men. In the afternoon Eld. James Summerbell preached from Acts 12: 24. His discourse was designed to show how the word of God develops itself in the experience of individuals, and in his cause as a whole. He used considerable plainness of speech in some parts of his discourse, strongly reproving some faults which had manifested themselves in the course of business in the Conference. The first day of the week was devoted principally to the business of the American Sabbath Tract Society. It was very gratifying to me to learn that the agents of this Society had met with marked success during the past year in their efforts to turn men to the keeping of God’s commandments. In Southern Illinois eight Baptist ministers have embraced the Sabbath of the Lord during the year just closed, and several churches have been raised up in that region during the same time. In the afternoon several persons spoke upon the subject of Sabbath reform as presented in the record of the doings of this Society. By request I spoke briefly concerning this sacred work, and the responsibility which devolves upon us in view of the fact that the fourth commandment is everywhere trampled beneath the feet even of professed Christians. God has not109given the light concerning this great truth for our own benefit merely, but that we may cause it to shine upon others. He holds us responsible for their violation of His law, until we have done what is in our power to set the light of truth before them. The evening of the first day of the week brought to a close the business of the Conference and of the several societies. I should here mention that Eld. N. Wardner was chosen as the delegate to our next General Conference, and Eld. N. V. Hull as his alternate. In many respects the series of meetings thus concluded was of special interest to me, and its incidents and its lessons will never pass from my memory. Here were assembled perhaps nearly 500 persons who acknowledge the authority of the fourth commandment, and who observe as the Sabbath the day which that commandment bids us to remember and to hallow. This body seemed near to me because identified with that ancient and honorable institution, the sacred rest day of the Creator. No observer could pronounce this assembly lacking in mental strength or in business capacity. I was pleased to notice that for the most part the entire body of men, women, and children, remained through the meetings for business, and that they manifested interest in the proceedings of the several bodies which held their sessions. It is proper, however, that I should name a few things which did not so favorably impress me. 1. I should have been pleased to find that some portion of every day was set apart to devotional exercises in which all should participate. I regretted that such season could not have been found at an early hour each morning. 2. I also express my regret that the apostolic precepts respecting plainness of dress had been forgotten by many. 3. I regretted to observe that tobacco had its votaries in this body, though I hope that they are not numerous. 4. I also regretted the prevalence of a spirit of debate, which sometimes led to the use of sharp language. I omitted to mention in its place that an interesting social meeting was held at the commencement of the Sabbath, and that the congregation very generally participated in its exercises. I also omitted to state that Prof. Williams preached the anniversary sermon before the Tract Society from 1 Cor. 1: 26, 27: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” I was much edified by this discourse, which seemed to me to enter into the real spirit of the apostle’s words, and to make their meaning very clear to every hearer. I was happy to form acquaintance with a goodly number of both preachers and people and to renew acquaintance with some that I have known in former years. My intercourse with these dear friends was pleasant and profitable. And as I conclude this imperfect sketch, I will do it by expressing the earnest prayer of my heart that when the commandment-keepers shall enter through the gates into the holy city, I may be permitted to meet many of these brethren in the kingdom of God.
J. N. Andrews.
Camp-Ground, Charlotte, Mich., Sept. 17, 1871.