Visit to Ohio by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 3, 1884

Visit to Ohio.

By Uriah Smith

MONDAY, Dec. 10, in company with Eld. Lamson and several of the Ohio ministers, we took the train for Cleveland, to be present at the convention of the National Reform Association, the 11th and 12th. The convention was not large in point of numbers. Probably not over three hundred were in the hall at any one time; and not all of these were delegates.

There seemed to be no special effort to call out the masses; probably from a feeling that the time has not yet come to work in that direction. But a remark dropped privately by one of the members, that a certain obnoxious measure if carried through would lose them a million votes, shows that they intend to reach and control the masses when the time comes to strike. They are apparently laboring now to lay a foundation for a strong movement in all parts of the country not far in the future.

This is shown in the list of officers they have secured, among whom are over three hundred Vice-Presidents who are connected with the higher courts, doctors of divinity, bishops of churches, presidents of colleges, etc.

Mrs. Woodbridge, President of the Ohio Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, was made one of the Vice-Presidents, the more closely to link the temperance work with their own.

Indeed, they claim that their reform, which is to so amend the Constitution of the United States as to secure a recognition of the Bible as the source of all law, and of Jesus Christ as the ruler of the nation, includes all other reforms; and on the basis of this claim they are endeavoring to rope in and identify all reformers with their work as their natural allies and assistants. This once secured,

and the influence of great names, everywhere, also gained, they will be ready for a bold movement when the time comes.

The members of the convention were evidently men of ability and education. Their speeches were a great success intellectually and rhetorically; but from a Scriptural stand-point some of them were most astounding. Of these we have not time to speak particularly in this paper, but purpose to speak of them fully hereafter.

We came out of the convention more than ever confirmed in the correctness of our position; more than ever assured that a great crisis is just before us; and that these men have entered upon a line of action, the end of which they do not themselves foresee.

Over three thousand copies of The Sabbath Sentinel were distributed in the city of Cleveland and at the convention. This was a broad sowing of the truth for that place. Some effects were apparent immediately. We expect more wide-spread results in the future. God is hastening the day of his great work in the earth. Let us also hasten it by preparing ourselves thereunto.—U. S., in Review and Herald.