Matters in California by M. E. Cornell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 22, 1871

Matters in California.

By M. E. Cornell

We sometimes find it necessary in these days of “false accusers,” and “evil speaking,” to make a defense and expose the injustice of our opponents. This we believe to be duty, not merely for the sake of personal vindication, but for the sake of the truth, that it suffer not on our account.

The article of Bro. White’s, headed, “Our Opponents,” proves very timely for us. The refutation of the false statements of Eld. Grant, though plain and pointed, is so candid, and Christian-like in manner, that no one can take exception to it.

As we looked over that copy of the World’s Crisis in which Eld. Grant endeavors to stir up a prejudice in the minds of the people, to destroy our influence, we were filled with astonishment, and would scarcely believe our own eyes. Many of Eld. G.’s friends here came to us to know what it meant, and freely expressed their minds about its injustice even before they heard our defense. They had not forgotten how Eld. Grant was pained on account of the injustice of the pastor of the Advent Herald party in Boston, Mass., in sending a note to a San Francisco paper, informing the public here that Eld. Grant was not an “evangelical” Adventist. So keenly did Eld. Grant feel the injustice and unworthiness of that effort, that he could not refrain from weeping when he read it. I confess that my own sympathies were roused for Eld. Grant, when I saw what Eld. Cunningham had done, it would seem through envy or jealousy because of the great stir caused by Eld. Grant’s lectures here. We experienced similar feelings years ago when several persons entered into a conspiracy to destroy the influence of Eld. J. V. Himes. But that Eld. Grant, who preaches so much about “charity,” and the “law of Christ,” to do by others as we would be done by, should be guilty of far greater injustice, even of misrepresenting the views of others, has caused feelings of deepest regret.

Simultaneous with the Crisis effort came a bundle of tracts written by Wm. Sheldon, attempting to show contradictions in the writings of sister White. In looking over one of those tracts, we were reminded of the infidel tract entitled, “144 Contradictions in the Bible.” There is, however, this difference, the infidel tract is the more candid of the two.

Several parties here, not of our faith, and who are of high standing and influence, are disgusted not only with the book, but the spirit that prompted sending such a tract here. Many are expressing a desire to hear sister White for themselves.

In comparing Eld. Grant’s position in the Crisis with Wm. Sheldon’s tract, we find they are agreed only in one thing, namely, to do all they can to prejudice people against us and our views; but in the effort they overthrow each other. These two witnesses, one editor and the other corresponding editor of the World’s Crisis, send their testimony here to refute those troublesome Seventh-day Adventists. Let us compare the testimony of these witnesses and see how they agree when they try to destroy our position on the message of Rev. 14. Eld. Grant says:

“It is further claimed that the third angel has been uttering his proclamation since 1844; but events show that they have located the third angel’s message more than twenty-five years before that of the second.”

Again, “They have certainly made a great mistake as to the time, for they commenced sounding more than a quarter of a century before the events would allow the second angel to begin his proclamation.” World’s Crisis, July 5, 1871.

Now hear Mr. Sheldon:—

“In Luther’s time special attention was called to the corruptions of the church of Rome ‘with a strong voice.’ Luther and others faithfully presented the apostasy, or fallen condition of the Roman church. It was faithfully and fearlessly proclaimed that God’s hand was in the work.” “Thus has Babylon fallen morally and politically. The moral phase of her fall had reached its ripest stage a long time prior to Luther’s day, but the startling proclamation of the fact, ‘with a strong voice’ was reserved till that epoch. . . . After apostasy had fully matured, God stirred up Luther, and others, to make the thrilling cry, ‘Babylon is fallen.’”—Sheldon’s tract, pp. 22, 23, 24.

And these are the men to talk of the contradictions of others. Eld. Grant thinks we are very inconsistent in still holding on to the old Advent view that the second angel’s message was given as early as 1844, because the events on which such a message must be based were yet future. But Mr. Sheldon says the events were all ripe long before Luther’s time three hundred years ago, and that the message was given then! Now the query in the minds of the people here is, Which of these great men is right? We respectfully suggest that they call a council and come to some agreement among themselves before they attempt to speak of the lack of harmony in the faith of others.

M. E. CORNELL.

San Francisco, Aug. 10, 1871.