p. 45 | A Specimen by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 20, 1874

A Specimen.

By Uriah Smith

THE Watertown (N. Y.) Morning Dispatch, of Dec. 19, 1873, gives us the benefit of the following notice:—

“Battle Creek, Mich., has a society of Second Adventists who are expecting the end very soon; and yet they have provided against all contingencies by laying up a vast deal of treasure on earth. They own the largest publishing house in the State, which does a business of $200,000 annually, and their other properties are numerous and valuable. They have just held a ‘world’s conference,’ at which they affirmed their confidence in the ‘third angel,’ one Mrs. White, who knows very exactly when the end is coming, and who manages the finances of the concern. These people are pilgrims and strangers, they are; they can’t tarry but a night or so.”

If our publishing house does a business of $200,000 annually, as is here stated, its friends and patrons must be very numerous; there must be a large number of persons somewhere, who are in sympathy with the views we promulgate, and on whose patronage the business is run up to so high a figure.

Now, is it not a little singular that so many persons, scattered all over the land, can be made, in this age of gospel light, to believe that a woman, “one Mrs. White,” is an angel? Besides, if she knows so exactly when the end is coming, why does not this paper, or some other, state when it is? Papers are not usually slow to publish any item of that kind. Or is this a profound secret that she is keeping all to herself?

And again, if she manages the finances of a concern which is in so prosperous a condition as to do a business of $200,000 annually, she possesses financial ability which certainly entitles her to some respect.

But let us take out of that paragraph all the incorrect statements, and see if enough of it will be left to be visible to the naked eye.

1. If the writer means by “society” a community, that statement is entirely false. There is no community here, any further than any church organization, of Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, &c., is a community.

2. If this society has “laid up a vast deal of treasure upon earth,” we would like to have some one show it to us. We can find an excellent use for a great deal more than we know now where to lay our hands on.

3. Instead of our business amounting to $200,000 annually, we regret to say that it has not yet reached quite half that sum.

4. We never held a “world’s conference.” Our General Conference, in November last, was a most encouraging occasion; but

5. We did not on that occasion affirm confidence in the “third angel.” And

6. We did not affirm that “one Mrs. White” was that angel.

7. Mrs. White does not know, nor pretend to know, when the end is coming. Seventh-day Adventists are not the kind who set times for the advent of Christ. We have never done that, and do not believe the time is ever to be preached. “Of that day and hour knoweth no man.”

8. Mrs. White has nothing whatever to do in managing the finances of the concern. The Publishing Association is a legally incorporated institution, managed by a board of seven trustees, chosen at each regular annual meeting of the stockholders. Of these trustees, Mrs. W. is not, and never has been, one.

And now, having taken thus much of wholesale and downright untruth out of the paragraph, there is but a small residuum left; and even of that, all we can say is, that we wish it was truer than it is. U. S.