Conviction of the Sabbath
By Lyman K. Walker
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—It is with a good degree of pleasure that I address you at this time, although we are strangers in the flesh, yet I trust that ere long we shall become acquainted, and made heirs of, and together meet in the soon coming Kingdom. I have been reading the Advent Harbinger about one year and a half, and I must say that it has been a source of comfort to me, living as I do in a new country, and where sectarianism is triumphant, and the preaching of fables only is popular. In reading the Harbinger, I saw occasionally communications from different individuals, (on one side only,) in regard to the Sabbath; and I saw that many of them were written in a wrong spirit, therefore, paid but little attention to them, until quite late. And since I have been reading the Review, which I have read with interest for the last six months, I have paid more attention to the Sabbath question in the Harbinger than before, and I have been led to examine the most vital and important subject prayerfully and carefully.—I have read the evidences in the Bible, and the arguments, too, very carefully, and I must say that my prejudices, and interest also, were in favor of the Harbinger, or Sunday keeping. But a love of the truth, and a reverence for Almighty God and his holy commandments, compels me to say that I am rationally convinced, and am satisfied, that the fourth commandment has never been abolished, and is still in force, and will be until he who made the Sabbath shall abolish it, with as plain a declaration as when he uttered his voice in awful grandeur on Mount Sinai, to "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." I am endeavoring to keep the commandments of God, the fourth not excepted. And if I can judge by my feelings in regard to justification on any point, then I am on safe ground; for I find in keeping all of the commandments there is great and present recompense of reward. The time has come when it appears to me that duty demands of me that I pay Bro. Marsh for the back numbers of the Harbinger, and not take it any longer, for reasons following: First, because it is published on the Sabbath day in open violation of the fourth commandment, and also, for teaching others to do likewise. Second, because of the unchristian, and uncharitable and abusive language dealt out so unsparingly, by some of its correspondents, against those who conscientiously observe and keep the Sabbath according to the commandment. Third, because it evidently disregards the ninth commandment also. In one instance in particular, we have positive proof. In the Harbinger for Dec. 11th, 1852, is an article under the head of "Palpable falsehood," in which the acting Editor, and his correspondent, did bear false witness against their neighbor. And in the same number is another article, under the head of "Brother Marsh and the Sabbatarians," and signed by W. Sheldon, which is a pretty fair sample of some of the communications which too often appear in that paper. Now if individuals that observe the fourth commandment, have misrepresented Bro. Marsh in any way, let those persons be named by their proper names by which they are known, and called, and not abuse other people because they believe and observe the Sabbath day also. In some of those letters, we are put down as ignorant and of no consequence whatever. In the last paragraph of the letter signed by W. Sheldon, as noted above, where he says, "Remember, &c.," if the defect he speaks of there, means the Sabbath question, I would like to see it, that is, I would like to see the argument, for I must say that I have seen nothing in the Harbinger as yet on that subject but what is full of weakness, and militates only against themselves. I am satisfied that the evidences adduced from the Bible, and the arguments by Bro. Andrews are unanswerable. And I do approve the spirit in which Bro. Andrews has presented that subject. I would say to all of the dear brethren and sisters that are looking and waiting for the consolation of Israel, that we be careful that we possess the Spirit of our Lord and Master at all times, and that the truth should always be spoken in love. And see that we do maintain good works, is the prayer of your unworthy brother, who lives in hopes of having immortality and eternal life when Jesus comes. LYMAN K. WALKER.
Metomen, Wis., Jan. 17th, 1853.