The Age to Come by Editor

Publishing Committee · BATTLE CREEK, MICH. · Jul 24, 1856

The Age to Come

By Editor

It may be due to the friends of the REVIEW for us to speak out plainly, and let it be known how those who have been led off by the advocates of the Age to Come views generally fulfill their promises and legal obligations to the REVIEW. It is indeed painful to thus point out the wrongs of any person, or class of persons, still it seems a plain duty to let facts appear for the benefit of the friends of the REVIEW, and that wrongs may be repaired.

We have before stated that at meetings held at El Dorado and Koskonong, Wis., where teachers of the Age to Come held the leading influence, that a resolution was passed to discontinue the REVIEW, after paying all indebtedness. Well, on this resolution five or six only acted promptly. The names of Walker, Wilsie, Sheffield, &c., were among the number. Their course, so far as carrying out their own resolution is concerned, was commendable, yet we regard them as then acting under a wrong influence, and a mistaken view of matters in stopping the REVIEW.

But, a large portion of those who sustained the resolution of those meetings, and of those who were not present, but were in sympathy with it, have utterly failed to act upon the resolution, or to discharge their duty to the REVIEW, according to law of God or man.

While a very few of those persons who have stopped the REVIEW on account of prejudices arising from the Age to Come, have paid their indebtedness, more have ordered it stopped without paying, and still more receive the REVIEW and utterly neglect its terms. These are facts in the case, and facts too, which do not speak well for those holding views called the Age to Come—more recently, the gospel of the kingdom. But this wrong should not all be charged on the doctrine, nor on all those who have been led into it; the leaders who have excited prejudice are chargeable with much of this wrong. Could this portion of our subscribers have been under the direct influence of the present truth, instead of speculations upon the future age, they doubtless would have been led to discharge their duty to the REVIEW Office as honest men in the sight of God and man. How deplorable must be the condition of those brethren who have become so infatuated with doubtful theories of the future age, as to neglect most sacred obligations of the present age. We here give an instance which is a fair sample of many, as follows:

"Dear Bro. White:—My paper is stopped, and has been for two months. If any one here should have done it, I would like to know it. Please send it. I will pay for it. Yours, &c. LEWIS HICKLIN. Kendalville, Ind., Aug 25th, 1855."

On the receipt of this note we turned to the list book and found that Lewis Hicklin had not paid for Vol. VI, and that we had marked his paper and name with Red Ink, and stopped his paper in June. But with the promise, "I will pay," we sent the REVIEW to him as before. The promise, however, has not been fulfilled; but, March 8th, 1856, the following was received at this Office:

"Bro. Smith:—If you will not give both sides on the Kingdom question, fully and frankly, I must request you to discontinue my paper; but if you give it a fair hearing, then continue to send me the REVIEW. Yours in hope of eternal life. LEWIS HICKLIN."

The letter of March 8th, from which we copy the above, made no mention of past promises, nor of what the writer was owing the Office; but a dry request to stop the paper, unless it should be conducted according to his notion. This is what some regard as free investigation. Eld. Hicklin is worth his thousands, and was not long since ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, by Elds. Stephenson and Hall.

Some months since Eld. D. P. Hall wrote to the Office requesting an account of the indebtedness of subscribers at El Dorado. We had just marked the indebtedness of delinquents on the margin of their paper. This was passed unheeded, and the paper is received by them without regard for its terms. In that church one of said meetings was held, where the resolution was passed against the REVIEW.

Two papers were returned last month from Rush Lake Wis., on which was written, "Not Accepted!" Neither had paid any thing on Vols. VII or VIII.

Since certain men have arisen among us, with the profession of present truth, to divide the flock, the leading object apparent, has been to crush the REVIEW. And from what has been manifest, we must conclude that with some, at least, the ruling sentiment has been, "The end will justify the means."—Down with the REVIEW, at the sacrifice of honesty and honor. "We speak that we do know." And "by their fruits ye shall know them."

But we are happy in confidently believing that the REVIEW is established on a basis on which it will stand. And its friends will see it sustained amid all the perils it may pass through. Brethren, let us be prompt to attend to the duties of the present age, live for God and the cause of present truth day by day, that we may be prepared for the glorious future as it opens before us.

James White