[From the Harbinger and Advocate.]
By E. P. Butler
[From the Harbinger and Advocate.] DEAR BRO. MARSH:—I have almost from the commencement of your publishing the Voice of Truth, been a subscriber for your paper, but after much reflection, have concluded to stop it. I am a stranger to you, but have many times rejoiced for the acquaintance I have formed with you through your paper. I have never been in the habit of writing much (and especially for publication). I should shrink from the present task, did I not think duty required I should give you some reasons for my stopping the paper. And should the Lord enable me to convey to your mind the same friendly feeling which I have in my own breast, I shall not wound your feelings; nor will you think me the less friendly. I leave it for others to heap praises and flatteries upon ministers and those to whom we look for instruction in spiritual things. From experience and observation, I have learned that they seldom (if ever) result in any good; nor are we disposed to use them, if our minds are deeply imbued with the Spirit of God: neither are the world nor nominal professors disposed to use them with those who are wielding successfully the sword of the Spirit. I embraced fully the belief that the Lord was soon coming, in Jan. '43; and expected he would certainly come at the close of that Jewish year, and was greatly disappointed in not seeing him. And, like yourself and others, I was more seriously disappointed, in not seeing the Savior coming in the clouds of heaven, on the tenth day of the seventh month, (1844,) when the cry was made: Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!—Go ye out to meet him. At the passing of this time, I believed the door was shut, nor was I alone in this belief. Yourself, and almost every other Advent believer, for months after the passing of the time, believed their work for the world was done. And as Bro. Miller expressed it, in his letter to Bro. Himes, Adv. Her., Dec. 11, 1844: 'We have done our work in warning sinners, and trying to awake a formal church. God in his Providence has SHUT THE DOOR.' You say, in the Voice of Truth, Nov. 7, 1844, in describing our position: 'We cheerfully admit, that we have been mistaken in the nature of the event we expected would occur on the tenth day of the seventh month; but we cannot admit, that the Great High Priest did not on that very day accomplish all that the type would justify us to expect. We now believe he did.' George Needham, in Voice of Truth, March 19, 1845, says: 'I am and have been convinced, since the 10th day of the 7th month, that our work with the world and the foolish virgins, is done. I must deny that glorious movement as the work of God, or can come to no other conclusion.' These quotations (you are aware) might be given to almost any length. But I forbear. I wish now to ask, whether Bro. Needham, or any of his brethren, are wise enough now to come to any other conclusion.—I ask, whether removing the bounds of time (the 2300 days) has had any other effect than to destroy our faith in all these movements being of God. If we have not had the true midnight cry, when, and where, and how, can we have it? Such has been the interest I have felt on this great subject, I have designed to neglect no means, nor refuse any necessary expenses, to learn39our true position and whereabouts. While the light was shining from our publications, I took all the Advent papers I had knowledge of; and there has been much good matter in them, but I have been constrained to believe that most (if not all of them) lost their light on our present position, soon after the 10th day of the 7th month. Is this the 'way of the just, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day?' Where is the love that existed among us, previous to the Albany Conference?—Where is the church of Brotherly Love, of which the Lord said: 'Thou hast a little strength, and has kept my word, and hast not denied my name'? Rev. iii, 8. And to whom will the 9th verse apply? I think, Bro. Marsh, you might define the position, and mark the organization of the Laodicean church more definitely now, than you did in the Voice of Truth, Aug. 13, 1845. I am glad that you stood aloof from, and protested against, its organization. But I fear even you have too much conformed to the powers that be. Let us bestir ourselves and repent. Here is our only hope. 'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.' Those that are 'rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing' now, I fear will find, when it is too late, that they are 'wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.' We have another testing truth before us, viz: The Third Angel's Message. And I very much fear it will be too close a test for some of the leaders in the Advent movement. Leaders don't love to be led.—But the Lord will abase the high, and exalt the humble. 'The last shall be first, and the first last.' I have been greatly blessed in meeting with the Seventh day Sabbath and Shut Door brethren. They hold to the past and define our present position. I believe they have the truth, and that God is leading them by his Spirit. Yours, in the bonds of love, E. P. BUTLER.
Waterbury, Vt., Nov. 23, 1850.