Let the Candid Judge by A. A. Marks

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Jul 22, 1852

Let the Candid Judge

By A. A. Marks

From Bro. Marks.

Let the Candid Judge.

Dear Bro. White: I thought of saying a few words in relation to an obituary notice in the Advent Harbinger for December 20th, 1851, from the pen of Mary A. Seymour, on the death of P. Cook of Jackson, Michigan.

It seems that there is nothing, however absurd or false it may be, but what can find a place in that paper, if it is only in opposition to the Holy Law of God, or those who love and obey it.

The writer asserts that most "of his [C.'s] former brethren whom he much loved, having embraced the shut door, and its kindred doctrines, seemingly shut their bowels of compassion towards him, and others also who do not agree with them in faith. This to him was a very great grief. They did not as much as look at him. More than this, did the Priest and Levite."

As to the truth of the assertion, that he much loved his former brethren, let the reader decide; for he left them, and their meetings and united with the wicked world, and fallen church, for no other reason than that they opposed the idea of Christians voting for wicked rulers. It was about a year before we embraced the open and shut door of the heavenly Sanctuary, and the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, that Mr. C. left us; and although we entreated him time after time, and exhorted him in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God, yet all in vain. Still he stood opposed to the commandments of God. Not willing to give it up, I visited him again, when I was told by his wife, in his presence, that she wished I would go away, and keep away, and that he did not want to hear it (the present truth) any more than she did.—To this he kept silent. She further said that some of us were coming there every little while, and hanging on to him, calling him Bro. Cook, and she wished we would keep away, and I left the house. I have stated the remarks of Mrs. C. as near as I can recollect, and I leave the candid to decide whether we could go there under such circumstances, or not.

I am one of his former brethren who have embraced the commandments of God, &c., yet, under all these circumstances, I was with him in his last illness, time after time, watched with, and took care of him, and when unable to watch myself, I have been after others to watch with him.

The other brethren living about three miles off, and all of us being requested to keep away, complied with the request. Mr., and I think Mrs. Seymour was knowing to the fact of my being with Mr. C. in his last illness, and yet they could make the assertion that we "did not as much as look at him, more than this did the Priest and Levite." But I submit the subject with the following questions. 1. Did he much love his former brethren? 2. Did they shut their bowels of compassion towards him? Was that to him a very great grief? 3. Did they not as much as look at him? I leave the candid to judge for themselves where the truth is in this matter.

Yours in the truth, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,

A. A. MARKS.

Jackson, Mich., June 20th, 1852.