Untitled article by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 28, 1884

"By Their Fruits."

By Editor

IN one of our exchanges we find a long article about the Seventh-day Adventists, in which are many unjust things said about Mrs. E. G. White, whose writings are so well known to, and have been so favorably received by the readers of the SIGNS. The following are the closing words of the article:—

"After what has been written it is only just to Mrs. White to say that her revelations and teachings, although tending to keep the people in intellectual slavery, have on the whole, had a very practical moral character, and the Seventh-day Adventists are, as a class, an upright and exceptionally orderly and industrious element of society. However, forces of disintegration are at work within and without the organization that will, it is believed, sooner or later destroy its unity."

Now a few words on this will be in place.

1. We emphatically deny that anything can be found in Mrs. White's writings which has a tendency to keep the people "in intellectual slavery." The Seventh-day Adventists are a reading, studious people; their faith in the Bible is strong, and they are not anxious to enjoy that so-called "liberty" which is in truth only "license." The only restraining influence which her writings have is to restrain from wrong-doing.

2. There are no "forces of disintegration" at work among us. To the contrary, there never was a time when we were more united than at the present.

3. We are always happy to listen to any instruction which is of "a very practical moral character," and we are led to question the motives and standing of those professed Christians who oppose such teachings, as they thereby show that teachings of an opposite character would better suit them! If we can only prove ourselves worthy of being called "an upright and exceptionally orderly and industrious element of society," and by our piety may be able to stand approved of God, we shall be content. If some of those who oppose and deride our faith will be soundly converted to it, they may soon stand where the same words can be spoken of them!