Why Seventh-day Adventists Organized: Protection From Impostors
ONE important object in view when Seventh-day Adventists organized was to protect themselves from impostors. In our early unorganized history as a people, we suffered much from the scattering influence of men who pretended to hold our views, while, as it would soon appear, they had no sympathy for our positions, or our work. Some inexperienced persons were always sure to be attracted by these impostors who took upon themselves the work of the ministry, without giving evidence that God had called them to it, or that they were even in a degree qualified for it. And there frequently arose among ourselves men who held our views in the main, but objected to some points held very dear and important by the body. And instead of being teachable, susceptible of the impressions of good instruction, they would go to the work of correcting the body in a style sure to divide brethren. When corrected, these have become headstrong and rebellious; and, in our unorganized and inexperienced condition, there have ever been more or less of the honest who would be led away by them, and separated from the body for a time. And thus the hearts of the true friends of the cause were torn, and saddened. It was evident that such things stood in the way of the advancement of the cause, and that it was duty to remove these evils as far as possible from us. A system of organization was therefore introduced as the most effective remedy. The simplest form of church organization, embracing the enrollment of the names of the members, and the proper selection of scriptural officers, was adopted. These churches in the several States were made amenable to the State Conference, which was composed of delegates from the churches and all ordained ministers. And the several State Conferences were made amenable to the General Conference, composed of delegates from the State Conferences. The General Conference was designed to take the supervision of the entire cause wherever it might spread its borders, and increase its interests. Each State Conference was designed to take charge of the cause in its State or States. It was also designed that those who should enter the ministry should apply to the Conference in the State where they should reside for license to prove their gift for labor in word and doctrine, and that they should be examined by the Conference as to their fitness to receive such license. And that all approved, ordained ministers should receive from the Conference full credentials as such. Those who feel called of God to the work of the ministry, and who do not live within the limits of a State Conference, should apply to the General Conference for license. This they can do either in person, or by letter, being well-recommended by some missionary, or well-known friend of the cause, if possible. There ever has been a great want of good men to answer the many calls for ministerial labor in all parts of the field. This has been felt more than any other want among us. And in the anxiety of our people to supply this want, we have urged men to receive licenses to labor, and in several instances have been made to feel keenly that we had taken hold of unworthy men. As a general thing there has been no lack among our people of holding out inducements to men to enter the ministry. We have been anxious to license, and secure the labors of, all who could be of service to the cause. Therefore, brethren and sisters, wherever in the wide field you are situated, you may depend upon this one thing, that if men come among you preaching the leading doctrines of Seventh-day Adventists, who are in sympathy with the body, they have in their possession credentials of some kind which will show their standing. And if men come among you, professing to observe the Sabbath, and to look for the soon coming of the Son of Man, without such credentials, you may depend upon it that there are good reasons why they should not hold such credentials, and that they are unworthy of your confidence. You need not be deceived in this matter. At any time during Conference year, men called of God to labor in the gospel field, can obtain license of State Committees, or if they live on missionary ground where there is no State Conference, they can receive license from the General Conference Committee. Therefore it becomes the duty of all our friends, wherever they may be situated, when any one shall come among them professing to teach the leading doctrines held by Seventh-day Adventists, to simply ask for their credentials. It is your duty to do this as a matter of self-protection against the deceptive influence of impostors. There are wolves clothed in Seventh-day Adventist garments, prowling around, of the stamp of the notorious Nathan Fuller. There are those of other stripes, who may not stand condemned of open immoralities, and who may profess great love, and manifest zeal in the advocacy of the leading doctrines we hold, who are the bitterest, and most determined enemies of the cause. If these men would let our people alone, and go out into the wide field and labor to convert men to their positions, be assured we would give them all the room they might need for their work. But this is not their mission. Their work is to try to tear down what our people have labored patiently and hard to build up. They seem happiest when they succeed in shaking the faith of one of our people in some important point held by the body. They feel that they have gained a decided victory when they shake the confidence of one in the testimonies and work of Mrs. W. They misrepresent. They delight in repeating for the hundredth time some stale slanderous untruth. On her own account she does not care a fig for all such miserable stuff. But she feels the tenderest solicitude for honest, precious souls who may be in danger of being deceived by those whose success depends upon the art of deception. God save the scattered sheep and lambs of the flock. It is the duty of our people everywhere to call for the credentials of those who come among them as religious teachers, out of respect to our organization, and the men who have labored long and faithfully, and have worn out the strength of their lives in building up the cause, and in fortifying it against the distracting influence of impostors. We at great sacrifices send our publications and our missionaries wherever the way opens, and men and women are brought to the glorious light of present truth. And will not these very men and women respect our efforts for their salvation? Will they not respect our organization, and act in harmony with it? We have the fullest confidence that, when the facts in the case are fully understood, all our people, however far they may be scattered, will see the propriety and necessity of respecting our organization, and our efforts as a people, by calling for the credentials of those who come among them as teachers of the word of God. LET everything be done decently and in order.