Men and Things by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 12, 1872

Men and Things.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

GEOLOGY.

For years geology has been trying to upset the word of God by its speculations. When it has announced some grand discovery which proved the earth to be millions of years old, as it claims, infidels have shouted for joy, doubters have been settled in their unbelief, and many have thrown away the book of God, and rested their very souls on these vain speculations. But every year demonstrates the falsity of many conclusions drawn by geologists. Here is a little item from the Christian Union just to the point.

“Investigations near the Sandwich Islands have proved that coral aggregates at the rate of seventeen feet in a century, instead of a few inches in that time, according to accepted scientific estimates.”

It was assumed that these coral reefs were formed at the rate of only a few inches in a century; then measuring their depth, of course, it followed as an inevitable conclusion that they must have been forming there for many ages, reaching back thousands of years longer than the Bible record of creation. This they thought was rock bottom; but now, lo! and behold, instead of a few inches it turns out to be seventeen feet in a century. And so we believe it will upset all their speculations which contradict the word of God.

HOW TO DECIDE PROPERLY.

There is a vast amount of sense in the following paragraph. We commend it to all who are investigating to ascertain the truth.

“No man can be in a proper frame of mind for the discovery and reception of truth, who is not utterly regardless of the question whether his being in a majority or a minority will be the result of his investigations.”

SPIRITUALISM GETTING INTO THE CHURCH.

Seventh-day Adventists have from the start believed and prophesied that spiritualism would yet obtain a stronghold in the churches; that its ministers and members would embrace it. That some of these ministers and members should embrace this doctrine of the devil, give up their faith, and leave the churches, is no marvel. But when we see ministers unequivocally committed to modern spiritualism, and yet retaining their places in the churches and in the pulpit, and in conference, preaching and teaching among the people, by the authority of the church, it certainly does become a sign of the times.

In the Phrenological Journal of October, 1872, I found the following, which speaks for itself:

“We have recently read a work by Rev. Samuel Watson (a new book), just published in this city, at $1.25, entitled “The Clock Struck One,” in which are presented the Bible proofs that the dead of earth have communicated and can communicate with men on earth, and we were surprised with the number and significance of the proofs cited. Mr. Watson, who has been a devoted Methodist minister for many years, and has been honored with the title D.D., and still holds his relations with that church, thinks that many eminent Christians, several of the ministers, and one of them a bishop, have talked with him from the other side of the river called death. He claims to be a Bible spiritualist, and to accept only that which finds its basis in the Bible. If the deceased prophet Samuel could be made visible to those living on the earth in ancient times, why could not the ‘One Eyed Conductor’ be able to do the same for a beneficent purpose?”

“We insert a few of Mr. Watson’s quotations, but do not give his cogent comments: Heb. 1:14; Gen. 18:2; Judges 13:3; 1 Sam. 28:3; Eze. 9:2; Dan. 8:13; Dan. 9:21; Dan. 10:5; Dan. 7:13, 16; Dan. 12:5-7; Zech. 1:8; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4, 5; John 20:12; Acts 1:9-11; Acts 16:9; Rev. 20:11.”

Here we have a Rev. Dr. of Divinity, in the Methodist church, openly committing himself to spiritualism; writing a book in favor of it; and still retaining his place in the church. It is a strong indication that the time is drawing near for the fulfillment of Rev. 18:1, 2. “And after these things I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit; and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”

Mr. Potter, a spiritualist, with whom I debated in this place, told me that he knew of several orthodox ministers who are spiritualists and yet retain their places and continue to preach as before. Every reader of the Phrenological Journal must notice that the editor of that journal is really a believer in spiritualism, though he does not directly say so. Yet all his comments, as in the above case, tend directly in that direction. This doctrine is manifestly gaining rapidly in the public mind.

D. M. CANRIGHT.