Sabbath Keeping Amid Opposition
By Alice M. Eaton
Bro. Smith: I can say that I have a desire still to be on the Lord's side, and to walk in all his commandments blameless; yet I am aware that a few faint desires can never save me. Sometimes I feel almost discouraged. I am all alone. My friends tell me that I am committing sin by keeping the seventh day, and that I am ruining my children by keeping them still when the rest are at work, and then letting them play when other people are getting ready for meeting. I was invited to go to the Christian meeting, where my sister belongs; so at the appointed time I went, and the minister was prepared in his mind to do away the seventh-day Sabbath. I felt that the sermon was for me as I was the only Sabbatarian present, although the man was very cautious how he commenced. He first had the "Jewish" command nailed to the cross, then he set up the seventh part of time theory. It was astonishing to see what a mixture. After the sermon, he was introduced to me and talked with me a few moments. I told him that his views and mine differed widely. We had quite a talk but it ended finely. He asserted that the Sabbatarians were the most dogmatically strenuous sect of people that he ever knew. But I came home glad that God had permitted me to hear the Third Angel's message. Lynn, Mass., Apr. 25th, 1858.