Another "Check" Wanted.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
A LITTLE more than two years ago, one of our brethren went into Humboldt County, to hold meetings and do general missionary work. The weather was unfavorable for meetings, but by faithful labor several persons were brought to see the light of truth, and began to keep the Sabbath. As some of these had been members of the M. E. Church, the minister in charge, one Mr. Woodward, preached a sermon, in which he attempted to overthrow the work already done, and attacked every doctrine which he thought was believed by Seventh-day Adventists. This sermon, when duly indorsed by the president of the University of the Pacific as "cogent and timely," was labeled a "Check on Adventism," and sent out to the world, that it might stop the progress of Seventh-day Adventism, just as it had in Humboldt County. Well, two years have passed, and we are now inclined to agree with the learned Doctor who pronounced the book "cogent and timely." At the time the "check" was given, there were six or eight Seventh-day Adventists in that county. Now there are more than one hundred who are firm in the truth, and zealous in its propagation; there are two good houses of worship completed and in use; one more is in process of construction; and the ground has been purchased for a fourth, which will be erected within two months. There is no other county in the State, where the cause is in so flourishing a condition. We have often wondered, of late, if it would not almost pay to get Mr. Woodward to visit some other county, and give Adventism another "check." We do not wish to give him so much praise as to turn his head. Perhaps the same results would have been seen if he had not put on his little brake. The truth has power in itself, and must produce conviction in the hearts of the honest. "What is the chaff to the wheat?" saith the Lord. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" Jer. 23 : 28, 29. Yet we believe it is the providence of God that unreasonable men should open up the store-house of error, in attempts to overwhelm the truth of God, so that all may see the difference between the chaff and the wheat. So we do not get excited when some one threatens to "expose the whole thing," knowing that God can cause even the wrath of man to praise him, and that none can do anything against the truth, but for the truth. E. J. W.