How They Became Convinced
By Editor
[Believing it would be of interest to our readers, the editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES has asked Sabbath-keeping ministers and evangelical workers to tell in a few words the scripture or scriptures, the truths and principles, which constrained them to accept the unpopular truth of the seventh-day Sabbath. These testimonies must not exceed 500 words. Let us hear from all.] I WAS taught to strictly observe Sunday. I heard no controversy as to what day was the Sabbath. I knew that the Bible taught the observance of the seventh day, and, seeing that Sunday was generally observed, why should not a girl in her teens conclude that it was really the seventh day, and teach her pupils to begin naming the days of the week with Monday? Nearly forty years ago I united with the M. E. Church. One Sunday, thirty years ago, out of curiosity, I attended a Seventh-day Adventist camp-meeting in central New York, and heard Brother S. N. Haskell preach on the prophecies, closing with a few minutes devoted to the Sabbath question. I did not want to make any change from the popular Sabbath, but I did want to be right, even if it should involve the disfavor of man. I studied the Bible, especially the New Testament, seeking for the privilege of keeping the first day, or Sunday, but I became very strongly convinced that it was a very poor place for an honest person to find such a right. That very week I began to think of Friday as the day of preparation for the keeping of God's holy rest day. Each weekly return brings sweeter blessings in its observance, and makes me praise the name of Him who gave it as a memorial of His creative work. I must not fail to say that the carefulness, plainness, and Christian love of the people on that camp-ground influenced me much toward searching God's Word for the truth. I also saw a decided change in the lives of some acquaintances, who had just espoused the cause. Personal influence has much to do with leading others to the truth.
MRS. D. A. FITCH. WHEN I was about ten years of age, my father began to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. My mother did not see the light of it, and this brought controversy. Her pastor, of the United Presbyterian faith, preached on the subject, presenting the usual arguments for the change of the Sabbath at the resurrection of Christ. I went home, and, alone, read over carefully the account in the four Gospels. I could not see any suggestion of a change, and, tho' of such tender years, was settled forever as to which day was the Sabbath. Fear of young companions, and of brothers and sisters, kept me from obeying at that time, and led me into many foolish sins. However, when I was converted by the love of God, at sixteen, the keeping of the Sabbath seemed just as natural as to refrain from swearing or stealing. Increasing knowledge of prophecy, history, and the unchangeableness of God's character and government only make it more certain to my mind from day to day that God's Sabbath is equally unchangeable; and the hope of celebrating it in the world to come cheers me on amidst every trial of earth.
ALBERT CAREY.