NOTE FROM BRO. LAWRENCE.
By Editor
BRO. WHITE: We have had some interesting meetings in Northern New York of late, attended by Bro. A. S. Hutchins. Some of our number give evidence of taking hold of the work of the Lord anew. The subject of order, connected with organization, is gradually gaining the confidence of many. On this point my prepossessions have been strongly against anything more than a portion of our brethren organizing as business societies. The name adopted has always harmonized with my feelings. I have no wish to remain behind, if the body move on by bringing to their aid organization in all the States, yet it would gratify me to see the subject further discussed in the Review. It seems to me that our former position on that point should be confessed and reviewed, so that all may enjoy the benefit of both the argument and our past experience. I still look for progress relative to christian association among us. And if it is brought about in one respect different from what I expected, I will try not to doubt the hand of the Lord in the matter. I will add, I have no special fears of matters being made worse; yet just how, and what is to be done under the circumstances is a question of moment with me at this time. I hope to share with the overcomers. NOTE. We are glad to see that Bro. L. designs to stay on board, though he be obliged to throw overboard some things which in time past have appeared to be of much value, of less value now. We highly prize past advent experience, and would be the last to stir a pin in the beautiful arrangement and harmony of the three messages of Rev. xiv. Neither would we be tinctured with a sort of Romish bigotry in concluding that the Advent people could not, and did not err, and come to some wrong conclusions. For instance: When expecting the coming of the Lord in the autumn of 1844, they some how called both the second and third messages the second. There seemed a necessity of crowding both into one, and the fact that they were two distinct messages was overlooked. Hence the conclusion of some that the beast against whose worship there is a dreadful warning in the third message, was a symbol of earthly governments, that the image was organized religious societies, and the mark of the beast in the forehead or in the hand was holding government offices, voting, taking the judicial oath, &c. But the opening of the present truth has shown these wrong conclusions, and we give it as our opinion that we act more like sane men to let the blazing light of present truth correct past wrong conclusions, than to cling to them, and, like Bro. Phelps, jump overboard.