p. 356 | Disintegrating by Uriah Smith

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Sep 16, 1875

Disintegrating.

By Uriah Smith

WE learn that Wm. L. Himes, long connected with the Advent Christian Times of Chicago, and latterly pastor of the first-day Adventist church of Castleton, Vermont, has severed his connection with the Adventists and joined the Protestant Episcopal church. This makes eleven of the prominent and leading ministers of the first-day Adventists who have within a few years left that body, and joined the Baptists, Methodists, Disciples, and Episcopalians.

There is in this fact food for thought. Why this large and continual defection from the ranks of that people on the part of its leaders? Is it not evident that the power, vitality, and gathering influence of truth has departed from that body? or rather, that they have lost it by not following on in the opening light of prophecy?

And while this disintegrating process is going on among the first-day Adventists, Seventh-day Adventists are increasing and growing in numbers, strength, harmony, and love. Who cannot see the significance of this fact? Who that has any faith in the Advent movement at all, cannot see that it is with those who have been led to the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, to prepare for the coming kingdom, that the Lord is working, and the power of his truth is to be found! U. S.