How Did He Do It? by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 31, 1883

How Did He Do It?

By Editor

THREE weeks ago we made a note of the statement of a Methodist preacher in Humboldt County, that if the Adventists did not cease their labors in that section he would "expose the whole thing." We learn from the Advocate that he has put his terrible threat into execution. Finding that he could not frighten the workers away, he induced the directors to shut the school-house against them, and to open it for his use. The report says:-

"Bro. Woodward, in a very gentlemanly and Christian manner, made his reply, and proved very clearly, from Scripture and the teachings of the apostolic fathers, that Mr. McClure erroneously taught that Saturday was the Sabbath, for nearly all in the house voted in favor of Bro. Woodward—that is, that his teachings were Scriptural and common sense."

That settles it; if Mr. W. showed from the Scriptures (as interpreted by Dr. Benson) and the Fathers, that Saturday is not the Sabbath, and induced a congregation to vote that he had common sense, what more was necessary? He was not satisfied, however, and on the following Sunday he finished his work of destruction by a sermon three hours and a quarter long. The report further says:-

"He showed the fallacy of the teachings of Adventism, and also the ignorance of some of its teachers. If evangelical ministers in general would handle the errors of Adventism as Bro. Woodward has done, it would soon die out; but the trouble is, some can't, and others won't, consequently many good, weak-minded people are led away by the delusive, proselyting, erroneous teachings of those men sent out to disseminate its doctrines."

We don't feel very bad over this matter, for Adventism has been killed in this way a good many times, and it still lives. Perhaps, however, Mr. W. has discovered a weapon hitherto unknown, with which he has accomplished all that he claims. If so we wish to be informed in regard to the particulars. If Adventist doctrines have not enough vitality to survive the shock of a three-and-a-quarter-hour sermon, we wish to get rid of them.

And further; Mr. W. can handle Adventist doctrines so that they will die out; but "some can't, and others won't," and as a consequence many are "led away", by these "delusive, proselyting, erroneous doctrines." Now we submit that if these doctrines are delusive and erroneous, those who can kill them and refuse to do it, are guilty of a grave crime. They are equally guilty with those who teach such doctrines. The man who will sit with folded hands and see his neighbor walk off from a precipice, when he might avert the calamity, is as bad as one who would push him over. Now the Advocate is set, presumably, for the defense of truth, and here is a chance for it to do good service. Let it obtain and publish in its columns, Mr. W.'s method of rooting out Adventism. Thus by one blow it could demolish the whole fabric, and be troubled by it no more. Besides, it would thus save all the good, simple-minded people within the reach of its influence from being led astray. Surely, such a prospect should cause its zeal to overflow.

As we have stated, if we are wrong we want to know it; and as proof of our sincerity, and our willingness to further in every possible way the cause of truth, we promise that if the Advocate will publish Mr. W.'s "sure cure" (in a condensed form), we will reprint it in the SIGNS, and thus give it a wide circulation. How soon may we expect it?