Sabbath Items by Editor

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 25, 1875

Sabbath Items.

By Editor

ELD. W. M. JONES, of London, in his paper, The Sabbath Memorial, has an article entitled, "Progress of the Work," from which we quote the following paragraphs :—

"THE UNITED KINGDOM.

"In Scotland and in Ireland there have been found, quite recently, persons who embraced the Sabbath ten and twenty years since, without the knowledge of the existence of any of like faith, and others whose experience is of a later date. Besides the churches of Natton and Mill Yard, there is now a Sabbath meeting established in Glasgow, the result of the Sabbath Conference held there on the 8th of October last. There are others in various parts of the country who are seeking the truth on this great question.

"AMERICA.

"The Seventh-day Baptists have added many to their churches during the past year. There is increased activity in the Sabbath-school department, and earnest work continues to be done in the academies and colleges. The Pennsylvania Sunday laws being of an oppressive character, renewed efforts are to be made for such alteration of them as will relieve conscientious Sabbath-keepers from fines (from which they are exempt in many of the States), for pursuing secular business on the first day of the week. Besides its large weekly (the Sabbath Recorder), the Tract Society publishes more than thirty tracts and books on the Sabbath question, and has on its list nearly a dozen new ones. The Woman's Tract Society promises to be an important aid. What is needed is the personal work of TO-DAY, in giving, sacrificing, and doing in behalf of the Lord's despised Sabbath.

"SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.

"The Seventh-day Adventists appear in the field in strong force. The number of publications in English, Swedish, Danish, French, and German, which they send forth is something wonderful; and then their threescore preachers seem to have one very necessary qualification for this our common pioneer work, and that is, grit. They take hold of a place and hold on till something is done for the Lord and his Sabbath. Preaching every day, arguing against all sorts of whims and dodges, enduring hardness, and filling their cotten tents with eager, solemn listeners,—such is the order of business. Success, though hard earned, does attend them.

"SWITZERLAND.

"The Sabbath Convention recently held at Locle, Switzerland, was a decided success. Eld. Andrews had so far mastered the French language as to be able to give three addresses at the meetings. 'The urgent necessity for publications was considered, and it was voted to raise 2000 francs to commence the work,' and 1800 francs were paid down. A printer who has quite a large business at Basle, is interested in the Sabbath, and will, probably, be an important aid to the brethren. The Lord favors them, and happily they possess the courage to do all in their power. A small monthly, or rather, a weekly, paper is just what these brethren need to help forward the cause of the Bible Sabbath. Their self-sacrifice and energy will doubtless prove to be equal to the demands of the hour. The Lord grant 'that with all boldness they may speak his word.'"

In addition to the above which we copy from the Review, Eld. Jones, in a letter to the SIGNS, says:—

"Three Sabbath keepers, not knowing of any others of like belief, have written each a tract on the Sabbath. They all came to light by my advertising within the last year. They are John Villiers of Belfast, Ireland; Donald Mackenzie of Urray, Ross shire; and James Scott of Elgin, Scotland. A lady in Belfast, keeping the Sabbath for five years, has just written to me."