A MEMORIAL

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 6, 1879

OF WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

The following Memorial was written by Bro. W. H. Ebert, a Christian minister who has recently embraced our views, and presented to the church of which he was a member on the occasion of his withdrawal from their communion to become a member of the S. D. Adventist church. As they refused to receive his paper, he forwarded it for publication in the REVIEW, that the members of that church might know his reasons for the course he has taken.

To the Elders of the Christian church at Frankston, Madison Co., Ind., and to all others whom it may concern: After candid deliberation, I feel it my duty to say that I do not think it consistent or right in me to continue to hold fellowship in a church which not only tolerates a disregard of the Sabbath of the Lord, but teaches and declares this doctrine in the most open and exultant manner, as your employed teachers are now doing, at the same time urging that the pagan-Catholic Sunday should be observed in its stead, if, indeed, any should feel like observing any day. Your preachers also urge that the ten commandments of God have been abolished, and that we are therefore no longer under the moral law of God, which, if true, would leave man in the gospel age without a standard of moral right. There could then be no knowledge of sin, very little guilt or condemnation in the world, and also very little need of a plan of redemption.

Believing as I do, that the ten commandments are the embodiment of all the moral duties of man, and that they are as immutable as God himself, I deny that they have been, or ever are to be, abolished; but, on the contrary, I believe they are established, and that they as well as the gospel will remain in full force until the heavens and the earth shall pass away. I also believe that the Bible, which is of divine authority, is full and clear on the facts that the ten commandments are of binding force, and that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is of divine appointment, and should be observed by all who desire to be the people of God. And I cannot refrain from regarding a failure to see and accept these truths, when our attention has been called to them, as the result of prejudice and willful blindness, and therefore criminal in the sight of God.

Our church was once ready to discuss any Bible question; and the course they have taken in this matter indicates, to my mind, fear of the light, and a consciousness of the weakness of their own positions.

I regard the law of God as binding upon us of to-day, and I expect to bring my life into harmony with its precepts, not excepting the fourth commandment. I believe that the Christian church, as an organization, is opposing and making void the moral law so far as their influence goes, and that, too, in violation of their discipline; and that they are thus assisting to increase immorality and spread infidelity. I think they are doing this especially by trampling upon the fourth commandment, in which is inscribed the name of the Creator, thus effacing the memorial which he has given us as a perpetual testimony that he is the true God. I can no longer fellowship the church in efforts of this sort, and from henceforth I shall not assist in the warfare they are making on many of the most sacred and important truths revealed in the Holy Scriptures. But I shall ever cherish feelings of respect and love for all the brethren of said church who may extend to me a generous toleration in my acceptance of the present truth.

I have the great pleasure of believing that there are many in this church who are of the same faith with myself, and who will not continue to remain in open violation of the commandments of God. I shall ever be free to talk with, or preach to, any of my former brethren who may wish me to do so, when I hope to be able to give a reasonable answer for the hope that is within me. And I will endeavor to do so with proper meekness and fear.

My heart’s desire for all men is, that they would accept all the truths revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and be willing to do and keep, not only a part, but all the commandments of God and the faith of his Son, and be ready to meet Christ with joy when he shall come again.