Be on Your Watch by B. F. Snook

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1862

Be on Your Watch.

By B. F. Snook

For the information of all interested I would say it is expected that there will be a Conference in Marion, Iowa, in November held by the Anti-organization Adventists. We are informed that they are writing extensively for delegates, and lest some of our brethren should suspect that this is a genuine Conference, we wish to inform them that it is not in fellowship with us.

They are deeply in sympathy with E. W. Shortridge, and the object of their Conference as we are informed, is to raise him up. E. W. S. stands proven guilty of conduct which unfits him for membership in the church. If he ever desired to get right before God, he would neither hear nor accept any of their mediation. If they would desire his real good, they would not throw over him a mantle of false sympathy, which is only calculated to lead him further away from right.

What was done at our Conference was well done, and we have our papers to show it. E. W. S. complains that he had not a fair trial, that he could not speak for himself. Every one who was at the trial, knows that such statements are not true, and are only made to get sympathy. Besides, he now throws out insinuations, and doubts of the visions. But it is known far and near wherever he is known, that his testimony has been, that he knew they were of God. Why? Not because the brethren say so, but because Sister White told him of things which he knew were known to God only. That testimony was true or false. If false he is not worthy to be trusted. If true he now acts falsely by throwing out reflections upon them and is not to be trusted now.

Brethren should neither listen to, nor favor, any kind of word from him, nor them, contrary to what we know to be right, as set forth in our Conference report. Whoever has confidence enough in E. W. S. to believe him in what he says of the Conference, and those there, have more confidence in him than in all present at the Conference. We are commanded to shun every appearance of evil; and here is not only the appearance of evil, but the evil itself. Believing it my duty to speak out, I have done so in the name of the Lord. B. F. SNOOK.

NOTE.—A union of E. W. S. with those in Iowa who have rebelled against the positions taken by the body, will work the shortest possible ruin of the influence of both him and them. The true friends of the cause in that State will be on their watch from the statements of Bro. Snook. We pity those who may be drawn away by false sympathy, but we cannot help them. There is no cure for rebellion. It must run its short race, and land its unfortunate victims outside of the present truth. Then the honest, the humble and the true, will see the true position clearly. These matters are shaping well for better days in Iowa.—ED.