Where Is the Proof?

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 7, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 44.

Where Is the Proof?

Troublesome

The Herald and Presbyter further says that Seventh-day Adventists, “in proportion to their numbers, are more troublesome and harassing” than any other people; that they have “made themselves felt as troublers in the land;” that “their attitude is that of troublers,” “attacking the faith and practice of nearly the whole Christian world.” These charges are not new; and they do not discourage us. Elijah, the prophet of God to Israel, which had departed from the pure worship and Sabbath of Jehovah to the sun-god Baal and the heathen times, was called a troubler in Israel. Said the sun-worshiping king, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” 1 Kings 18:17. Surely he was the troubler; for had there not four hundred and fifty prophets of the sun-god and sun-day and four hundred prophets of “the groves” felt his “influence”? Did he not “attack” their “faith and practice” ? And then he would not coöperate as a citizen to uphold Ahab and Jezebel in their course! Surely he was a “troubler,” “troublesome,” and “harassing.” And so have God’s people ever been. It was said of the apostles, “They that have turned the world upside down have come hither also.” Orthodox Pharisees and liberal Sadducees were alike troubled. It mattered not that the one class had made void the law of God through tradition, and the other class had taken away by their influence the reproof of the prophets, Christ and his disciples were the troublers. So also were the Christians to Pagan Rome. So were the Reformers to Papal Rome. So were the Presbyterians to the Church of England. So will every one be who follows the ever-increasing light of God’s word and who bids others to follow also. But, as in our previous note, we ask our readers, not for our sake, but for theirs, let God’s word decide.

Where Is the Proof?

There is another charge which the Herald and Presbyter makes to which we wish to call attention, and ask that paper for correction or proof. That charge is found in the following:—

“In more than one quiet community they have courted martyrdom, not by observing Saturday as the Sabbath, as they have a right to do, nor by working quietly on Sunday, but by doing this as noisily and ostentatiously as possible, and interfering with the peace and quiet to which the community has a right. Seventh-day Adventists have no more right to blast rocks, reap, thresh, or work the highways on Sunday than a baseball team has to disturb a community with a noisy game, and in some states neither one of these things is permitted, and when the law of the land which secures a day of rest and quiet is broken, those who break it are lawbreakers, and not martyrs, whether baseball players or Seventh-day Adventists.”

We have printed in Italic the particular item to which we have referred. The uniform testimony of witnesses for the prosecution, so far as they have testified on this point at all, and we do not recall a single exception, has been that the work done on Sunday for which Seventh-day Adventists have been prosecuted, was done in the most quiet and unostentatious manner possible. This has been the testimony of the courts which have tried them. In some cases they were convicted on their own testimony, contrary to law. We would like proof of the charge. Will the Herald and Presbyter furnish it?

As to baseball playing, men have as much right to play on Sunday, so far as man is concerned, as any other day. The peace and quiet of religious worship or religious meetings is sufficiently guarded in all states on all days, apart from all Sunday laws. Baseball players, as Seventh-day Adventists and Presbyterians, are responsible to God as to how they observe the Sabbath, any sabbath, or no sabbath. But in this, as in other duties, let the word of God decide. To him and his law all are amenable. We desire for the good of all that all should find the same blessed peace, rest, and power which comes by loyalty to God’s law through Jesus Christ. We have no desire to compel or criticize; we only entreat.