p. 16 | A MODEST REQUEST by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Nov 1, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 44.

A MODEST REQUEST.

By Editor

A GENTLEMAN in Denver, Colo., sends us this modest request: That we secure a column of a daily paper of good circulation in Oakland or San Francisco, or, if we prefer, print his "writing in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES," that he may show that we "are in error" in respect to the Sabbath, to reply to him if we desire; and he tells us that if we do not do this, he "will regard any refusal on your [our] part as a concession of recognized weakness of your [our] faith in your cause."

Now, is not this a truly modest request? Mr. Barclay wishes us to "secure" the column of a daily, take the time to fill it, send him a copy of the paper, let him occupy the space which we have secured the next day, or week, or month, in order that he may in his great interest for us show us that we are in error!

No, Friend Barclay, we can not accede to your request. Let us suggest: (1) We can not afford to go to the expense of "securing" a column in a daily for an indefinite length of time to have some man who thinks we are in error endeavor to convince us that we are, when we know that we are not. (2) We have a paper now with a general circulation of 40,000 weekly (we wish it were a million); why should we "secure" space in a daily with a less and local circulation? (3) We have not time to notice the challenges (of which this is a type) of those who desire somebody else to furnish space for what they may write. (4) We would suggest that Mr. Barclay write us a good friendly letter showing us where we are in error. We shall read it, tho we may not have time to reply. (5) Let him read the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, "The Lord's Day, the Test of the Ages," "The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week," and other Sabbath publications, and he may be led to see himself in error. (6) If this does not satisfy him, let him secure a column of space in the Denver Republican or the Rocky Mountain News and set forth his views in that, asking for correction, and we are sure some kind friend will set him right. These are the best suggestions which occur to us at present. If this causes Mr. Barclay to regard our refusal as "a concession of recognized weakness of" our "faith," we are sorry that he is determined to believe what is not so. One thing let us correct: he says we "reject all who do not pretend to keep Saturday." He is surely mistaken; we "reject" no one. And, so far as "Saturday" is concerned, we are not desirous that any should keep it. But we are desirous that men should know the Sabbath of the Jehovah, the true Lord's day; for a blessing from God is in it for all who will obey.