p. 59 | LETTER FROM IRELAND by W. J.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 22, 1877

LETTER FROM IRELAND.

By W. J.

BELFAST, IRELAND, JAN. 25, 1877.

MESSRS. OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION: For some time past I have purposed writing you, but business engagements prevented. I gladly now avail myself of the present leisure moment to do so. In the first place then, it is right to say who and what I am. I am a commercial man—have been for the last fifteen years, and I travel all Ireland. I have resided in Belfast with my family for the last twenty-five years. My family consists of wife, four sons, and one daughter.

I was brought up a Presbyterian, but lately joined the Methodists. When I was about seventeen years of age, my religious impressions were very strong, but as I had no one to guide me, they passed away to a great extent. However, I got married in early life, and my dear wife and myself were soon converted to God; and we have lived a happy life since then. I have read the Bible since I was a child, and shall continue to pore over its wonderful pages. I am more than ever delighted and instructed by its sublime teaching.

About twenty years ago, from the reading of the New Testament, I became convinced that there was no baptism but that of believers taught in that sacred book. Some time after, I learned from the same sacred fountain about the second coming of Christ. These two points fixed themselves on my mind, and became stereotyped there.

A good friend of mine some three years ago, a well-read man, mentioned to me about the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day. It was new to me. I had never thought on that point, but the common idea had so interwoven itself into my religious ideas that I thought my friend crazy on that point, and did not mind him. He again reminded me of the subject; but just at this point another friend attacked me on the same subject, and pressed it on me. I had really no information but the answer to the 59th question in the Shorter Catechism, which I quoted my friend, out of which he very soon shut me up.

I saw I had no standing ground, and set about to get some information on the subject. As God’s good providence would have it, I met with Mr. Wardner’s book, “Nature’s God and His Memorial,” which opened up the whole Sabbath question to me. I must confess I had not the slightest idea that our first-day, Sunday, stood in such a position. I wrote Mr. Wardner and our good friend, W. M. Jones, of London, and soon had a supply of Sabbath reading that has much astonished and instructed me.

I am reading Andrews’ large work on the Sabbath at present. I have a good supply of pamphlets from both these gentlemen, and am distributing them in all directions over the length and breadth of Ireland. Another commercial friend joins me in this good work. We have set our friends in all directions to read up the Book, and think for themselves on this and all other subjects, independent of our clergy. I have specially confined myself to reading, thinking friends, so that I don’t give away a single tract in vain. We had Mr. Wardner over here from Scotland; he delivered us three lectures on the integrity of the fourth commandment.

Amongst the many tracts I have, none so pleases me as one published by you in Battle Creek—“Who Changed the Sabbath?” a 31 page tract. I asked Mr. Wardner about it. He said write to you for a supply. And now, gentlemen, I have given you an honest and fair account of myself. I should add that on Sunday, the 5th of March last, I read Mr. Wardner’s book, and since that time I have read and studied constantly that momentous question; and I intend, D. V., to impart all the information I can to my friends.

I write, gentlemen, that you may help me, if possible, with a supply of the tract I have referred to, for gratuitous distribution; and for this reason, it is a most convenient tract, and gives what we in this country had no idea of, that Rome was at the bottom of all. It gives the Roman Catholic proofs—just the thing that readers here cannot possibly get by any chance. I admit I never saw them before myself. If you can see your way to send me a parcel, I shall do more than thank you one day.

I must not forget to thank you most heartily for sending me the Review. I read it, and give it to two friends, who admire it as much as myself; so don’t think your labor and expense lost on us. I must tell you that our city contains 200,000 inhabitants. Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Baptist, principally, with about fifty thousand Papists, who give us annoyance enough, God knows.

The agitation on the Sabbath question is so strong that the Roman bishop gave his people a lecture on the subject. He admitted freely that it was “the church” that made the alteration, and not Christ or his disciples. In fact, he virtually pleaded guilty to the charge of Daniel 7:25, when in speaking of the change of the Sabbath, he said, “We, the church, did that astonishing feat.”

You must excuse me for writing so long an epistle; I may not transgress again. I must say your ADVENT REVIEW is the cleanest and best printed sheet I ever saw. I shall be glad to hear from you in due time, and am, gentlemen,

Yours Respectfully, W. J.