The Harbinger’s Financial Troubles
By Editor
The readers of the Harbinger, whose eyes have for years, fallen upon the almost weekly duns of that paper, and who have read the numerous, stirring articles from the Editor, headed, "Our Wants," and "Our Pecuniary Wants," could not be blamed for having the impression that the Editor was a very poor man, and that it was with great difficulty that he obtained a livelihood. Let such compare their impressions with the above testimony. But it is said that Eld. Marsh is "trying to sell his house and lot in order to pay debts incurred in publishing." Is it any marvel that his subscribers should fall off, and that many should lose their interest in a paper that teaches the abolition of the commandments of God, and is ready to publish false reports of those who do and teach them. Men who get their eyes once open, will not support such a paper. Has not the Harbinger of late been committing suicide? The following shows the spirit of the Harbinger, whose motto is, "Speak the truth in love." "We have been credibly informed that Hiram Case and S. W. Rhodes, two of the most prominent and active Seventh Day evangelists, are in the habit of advising the subscribers of the Harbinger to stop their paper without paying for it! Men who will advise such dishonesty will not scruple to corrupt God's word, nor to do any other wickedness that they deem necessary to carry their points, provided they think they can escape punishment. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. Beware of them." Now let Bro. Rhodes speak for himself in this matter. Bro. Case can do the same. DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I wish to say that the statement of the Harbinger that I have advised "the subscribers of the Harbinger to stop their paper without paying for it," is a false charge. So far from this, that money handed me for my personal benefit, I have handed to the Editor of the Harbinger to pay what the individual owed for that paper. I have always advised those stopping the Harbinger to pay what they owed for it. This, and other slanderous reports, may be noticed hereafter. S. W. RHODES. Sabbath-keepers have been wickedly misrepresented by the Harbinger as possessing a denunciatory, unchristian spirit. We mourn that we are no more like Christ. We have nothing to boast of. It is the mercy of God that his Spirit is with us, as a people, and that we feel the perishing condition of those exposed to the wrath of God. This should lead us to great humility of soul. It is well known that the REVIEW AND HERALD has often spoken out plainly against an unchristian spirit, and has faithfully warned its readers to seek for the spirit of meekness, and ever manifest a right spirit to those who oppose us. We do not say that all of our brethren have at all times moved and spoken with that discretion that they should. We have reproved some privately, and have often pointed out in the REVIEW AND HERALD faults in some professing the Sabbath. What a wonder, if Sabbath-keepers, coming out of the different classes of professed Advent believers, and the different churches, should all, at first start, move in perfect, gospel order. But this is our aim, and the REVIEW AND HERALD will not cease to enforce the necessity its readers manifesting the fruits of the Spirit in all the walks of life. If any of our brethren have been misinformed respecting the Harbinger, and have at any time stated what was not correct respecting it, we confidently expect that they will take the first opportunity to correct the same. We expect to be vilified through its columns, but trust that none of our brethren will indulge in a spirit of retaliation. In the remarks of the Harbinger for July 31st, upon the note of Bro. M. E. Cornell, is the following: "LOVE is a prominent fruit of the spirit of Christ; the greater degree of that spirit the possessor has, the greater will be his love for his brethren." Now we will give the following from the same article, which the Editor may consider a strain of love. "And had his feet been planted on the rock of truth, or the plain word of the Lord, he would not have been deceived by the unqualified assumptions, the dogmatical and unlawful inferences, the fearful perversions, the mystified expressions, wild, metaphysical and vain ramblings, foolish dreams, and mesmeric influences of those who practice such things." (!) What love is this! This Editor seems to claim alone the right to pour out his bitterness on those who do not agree with him, then, perhaps, in the next paragraph turns around, and in his accustomed strain talks of love. Here are some of the expressions relative to Sabbath-keepers, so common in the Harbinger. "Such liars and unprincipled men—their villainy—reckless of the truth—unsafe to hear them, or keep company with them—we warn all persons to beware of them—their unholy spirit and practices—swaggering raillery of these vagrant strangers—perhaps he don't know silver from tom—they vilely sneak away, muttering—they are wolves in sheep's clothing." We close by saying, this is a manifestation of the real spirit of the Harbinger whose position has been that the ten commandments have been abolished, and are now being fulfilled in LOVE, whose motto is, "Speak the truth in love."(!)