p. 46 | The Rebel Conference by B. F. Snook

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 6, 1863

The Rebel Conference.

By B. F. Snook

A FEW weeks ago I spoke in the Review of a contemplated conference to be held in Marion, Iowa, by those Adventists who oppose organization and sister White's visions. It came off Nov. 27, and as their report is before me I shall make such remarks upon it as I think necessity demands.

They claim to be Seventh-day Adventists. We deny that they are such; and their actions prove it. They say, "A Seventh-day Advent church was organized in the town of Marion in the year 1860, taking for their faith and discipline the Bible alone." In this they are much mistaken. There was then no Seventh-day Adventist church organized in Marion; for that name was not adopted by the body at that time. Neither were they organized as a church of Seventh-day Adventists. The following is the covenant on which they were then organized: "We the undersigned do hereby express our wish to associate together in Christian fellowship as the church of Jesus Christ at Marion," &c. This expresses all involved in the name. Subsequently, however, the name, Seventh-day Adventists, was adopted by the church. But in their mania they have rejected it. For proof we refer to a resolution passed at their conference: "Resolved, That we continue to stand firm upon our original foundation, and exercise the functions of a church of Jesus Christ." Here they step back from the name, Seventh-day Adventists, to the old, disorganized elements from which the church was organized. Therefore we say they are not a true church of Seventh-day Adventists. If any at all, it is the counterfeit.

But why do they claim the name when in reality they have renounced it? This looks dark. Surely they sail under a banner to which they have no right. But they claim to be a church of Christ. This we doubt very much. If they can be his church and have no confidence in the gifts in his church, then I ask, Who may not be his church?

Again, they say that we made an effort to disorganize said church, and re-organize on the visions of sister White. This is not true. We never said disorganize once, nor could we, for the church had not been thoroughly organized. They also state another thing, which is not true—that one object of organization was to secure the recognition of Bro. White as the "latter-day Moses." That phrase, latter day, only serves to show the spirit that inspired it. "They say that we have left the Bible and gone after fables." That is all to gain sympathy from that character who is to make war upon the remnant. Those who believe the visions are not afraid of being led away from the Bible. They know that as long as they believe sister White there is no danger. She says, "Study his word prayerfully. Lay it not aside for any other book." Vol. ii, p. 264.

They complain that they were repelled from us. The facts are these:

1. When the subject of organization was first spoken of in the Review, these same ones began to murmur and complain. Soon a meeting was called for to investigate the visions. In the interim I had a conversation with the main leader of the rebellion, in which he said, "I will admit that all that sister White has yet seen is according to the Advent doctrine." Then, said I, you must admit that her visions are good so far. He assented that they were. Now, said I, my impression is that if it were not for the fact that her visions are against your tobacco, you would receive them. Yes, said he; because she is against me I will be against her. This, God being judge, is the substance of the interview. The meeting came off. The same man opened his batteries against the visions. I stated to the church that I knew tobacco was the root of his rebellion, and then rehearsed the above conversation. He arose and denied ever conceding or admitting that because sister White was against him he would be against her. His denial, however, does not affect the truth. This is the beginning; he was the leader of the rebellion, and he was led by tobacco with which Satan baited the hook which he was fast upon. The cry of separation was then raised. I opposed it, and still plead for the church to remain together.

2. Another meeting was appointed to settle up matters and divide. I led out, pleading for the church to remain as they were, as I thought they were not prepared for organization. The same man plead for division, but failing to effect anything, in a rage declared himself no longer a Seventh-day Adventist. The church decided to remain together until they could act more unitedly. After a lapse of some weeks the subject of organization was again talked of. Those who opposed the visions said it would be best for us to organize, that it would be no worse for them, and they would meet with us as they had done before. There was not a dissenting voice. The brethren then who were ready went into the organization. The rest in a short time went off by themselves and established another meeting.

These are the facts, and yet they say they were driven away from us. The truth is, "They went out from us; but they were not of us; for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." 1 John ii, 19.

They complain of us for calling them rebels. What else are they? Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and their sympathizers, could as consistently raise the same complaint. They are not in union with this people, or they would move with them. They have rebelled against the work, themselves being judges.

I do not write the above to persecute, or anything of the kind; but believing that their actions, and the circumstances attending them, demanded an exposure, and as I am acquainted with the whole thing, I felt it duty to state what I have, in the fear of God and love for his cause. B. F. SNOOK.