Testimony by Raymond F. Cottrell

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 18, 1855

Testimony.

By Raymond F. Cottrell

BRO. SMITH:—Your statement in the REVIEW of Dec. 4, relative to Brn. Stephenson and Hall's acknowledgments at the Conference at this place in April last, is true. I then had the utmost confidence that they could never unite with the Messenger; but I am sadly disappointed. They had an undoubted right to change their minds in relation to the Messenger when convinced by the force of evidence that they were in error; but it seems that their strongest motive in giving their influence to that paper was their irrepressible desire to get their views of unfulfilled prophecy before the public. Had they conscientiously changed their views of that sheet, and come to think that it was indeed the "Advocate of Truth," they would doubtless have communicated the same to its conductors, whose motto ought to be, "Report and we will report it," and it would have been made public. But the utmost reserve is maintained by Brn. S. and H., while they dictate the terms of union, which are eagerly accepted by those who evidently have men's persons in admiration because of advantage. Whereupon the REVIEW is discarded as "sectarian," and the Messenger, which has not obtained one public acknowledgment of their confidence, becomes their organ.

This, I think, is the most favorable light in which this transaction can be viewed by any one who has carefully considered it. R. F. COTTRELL. Mill Grove, N. Y., Dec. 12th, 1855.