Answers to Correspondents.
By J. H. W.
CAN a Seventh-day Adventist engage in peddling patent medicines, and be consistent with our faith? There are three words which have suspicious-looking faces in this question—peddling, patent, and medicines. It is always with regret that we hear of an S. D. Adventist peddling, especially if he is able-bodied, and can labor for his support, and if he peddles unnecessary things. We have known some strong, healthy men to go around the country peddling pictures! and if they knew what the majority of sensible people thought of them, they would be ashamed to enter a house with their wares; always provided that a peddler can be ashamed of anything. That which our faith embraces forbids our dealing in “patent rights;” they have a bad odor; there is so much of humbuggery about them, that the world looks with suspicion upon those who deal in them. And ninety-nine one-hundredths of all the patent medicines in the land are worse than humbugs—they are positively injurious, and to be avoided. We may safely caution all against buying “bitters” of every kind. We would as soon keep a pet viper in the house, as to introduce the use of “bitters” in a family. We must answer the above question with a decided negative. J. H. W.