The Sabbath Discussion by Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 26, 1873

The Sabbath Discussion.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

It is perhaps due, both to the readers of the REVIEW and to myself, that a few words of explanation be given. I have never seen Eld. Vogel, and first heard of him through a brief report of a debate held in Illinois, with Bro. R. F. Andrews. After that debate, the Disciples arranged to get up a written discussion, and sent out a challenge through their paper printed in Quincy, Ill. Our brethren in the West requested that Bro. J. N. Andrews or Uriah Smith should conduct such a discussion; but as they were engaged on important works, the request was forwarded to me, and my address was forwarded to Eld. Vogel, who opened the correspondence in April, 1872. I accepted the propositions as offered by him. Excepting our correspondence, the readers of the REVIEW have the same acquaintance with my opponent that I have. The discussion was published in The Christian, printed in Quincy, Ill., which circulates in Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa, but mostly in the two States first named. While the readers of the REVIEW are generally acquainted with the doctrines, and to some extent, the writings, of the Disciples, this discussion has placed our views of the Law and the Sabbath before many of their people who had never before heard or read them.

The Book.—

Inquiries frequently come to us about the discussion in book form. I had no especial desire to have it so published; but it was determined to print a small edition in Quincy, and for obvious reasons I considered it my duty to have an interest in them. They are printed from matter transferred from the paper, the columns of which are somewhat narrower than those of the Youth's Instructor, double column, magazine style, in bourgeois type, (one size larger than this), and put up in flexible cloth covers, which were deemed most suitable for that size, and about as durable as stiff covers. The price will be $1.00. As I have not yet received a copy I cannot say what the postage will be; but as the edition is very small, and I shall have only a few hundred copies, I would request all who order them by mail, and who are willing to aid me in meeting the expense of printing, to add something for postage. However, if this is not done, I shall send them for $1.00. I hope to have them for the camp-meetings in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, and to send by mail early in September.

J. H. Waggoner.

Battle Creek, Mich., Aug. 22, 1873.