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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 20, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 8.

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KANSAS

By E. D. Santee

Ward, Wilson Co., Feb. 9.—Since our last report, there has been a strong and determined effort to destroy our work. Four ministers of the New-light Christian church, in a protracted effort of about ten days, have made every effort to demolish us. We were called “spiritualists of the worst type,” etc. We were compared to a flowery serpent, and the people were warned against the poison. They refused to invite us into the desk, because they said I had called the people heathens (which was not true). The amusing part is that they were preaching charity nearly all the time they were not fighting us. As we listened to their tirade we remembered with pleasure Matt. 5:11. They were antinomian on the law, and as I heard their strong expressions I wished that good old Bro. Summerbell could have been here to rebuke his degenerate sons. I doubt not but his voice would have been heard uttering the same truth that his pen has recorded: “It [the Roman Church] has reversed the fourth commandment, doing away with the Sabbath of God’s word, and instituting Sunday as a holiday.”—“History of the Christians, p. 418. They told us that nine of the commandments were natural laws, and then explained that natural laws govern the animals. The arguments on the Sabbath are not worthy of repetition, as we meet them wherever we go.
The concluding meeting was worthy of note. The speaker arose and announced his text: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” I thought this a grand conclusion after more than a week’s persistent effort to destroy the law of Jehovah. Thank the Lord that many in this place are coming to the same conclusion. Yesterday we organized a church here, and our prospects are cheering.
We have just received an urgent request to come to Chanute and labor. Bro. Stevens has spoken a few times in that vicinity, and there is a deep interest. E. D. SANTEE.