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Volume XXII

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 2, 1863

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 22, No. 1.

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Volume XXII.

By Editor

ANOTHER volume of the Review and Herald is completed, and this week's issue is the first number of volume XXII. Again we look back to the first volume and number of this sheet, when we commenced its publication without experience in the work of publishing, without means, and with only two or three hundred subscribers, and they of the poor of this world, and contrast the condition of the Review then with its present prospects, with no small degree of pleasure.
The Review has the same motto it then had, and its work has ever been the same. It has ever had the same tide of popular errors and prejudice to press against from without, and the same unsanctified influences to meet from a certain portion of its professed friends. But its course has been straight forward, carrying out its first design to keep its columns free from the discussion of those questions which have no bearing upon the present truth. The following is from Vol. I, No. 1:
"The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald is designed to be strictly confined to those important truths that belong to the present time. We hope to be able to send you this enlarged size of the paper quite often, containing a simple and clear exposition of those great and sanctifying truths embraced in the message of the third angel, viz: the 'commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.' It is truly lamentable to see Second Advent papers, that once advocated the pure, naked cutting truth, applicable to the time, now devoted to the discussion of questions foreign from the present truth, which cannot possibly benefit the dear saints that are perishing for spiritual food. Among other charges given to Timothy by the Apostle Paul is the following,—'But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.' This we intend to do. And with much pleasure do we look forward to the predicted period, when the sheep, that have been scattered on the mountains of Israel since a cry at midnight, shall be gathered into the unity of the faith, the rubbish blown away, and the precious jewels all brought into the clear light of the third angel's message."
Many who have run well for a season have turned aside in some particular from the path, and become dissatisfied with the truth as they first learned it. And because the Review would not turn to suit them, they have charged it with departing from the truth. Their case may be illustrated by the drunken man who thought all sober men around him were intoxicated, and himself sober.
These men have changed and changed. At one time they have praised the Review, and then have cursed it. Some of them turn a complete religious somerset annually or oftener, and rejoice in the great advancements they make, leaving, as they suppose, the Review far behind. But the Review has ever had its specific work, and that work it will pursue. In regard to the second advent, two resurrections, state of the dead, destruction of the wicked, perpetuity of the royal law, and of spiritual gifts, and the past great Advent movement, it has had but one main position.
The Review has never held that it was necessary to make a general chowder of truth and error in its limited columns, in order better to bring out truth. It has aimed to be a clean, straight-forward advocate of truth. Some oppose, and say, "Let truth and error have the field together." Error has ever had the field, and, compared with truth, its batteries are a hundred to one. The teachers of error are many, firm, vigilant, and ever on the side of error. Should the lone advocate of truth divide its strength under such circumstances, and with one hand help sustain the flag of error? Never! never!
The patriarchs and prophets were exclusively devoted to the cause of truth. Christ was on the side of truth. His apostles never divided their strength, but were rigidly devoted to the truth. It was designed that Christians should carry the torch of truth amid the moral darkness of this world, and never suffer its pure, light to be dimmed by dabbling with error.
May God speed the Review on its mission, and may it be in this respect a one-sided paper, ever on the side of truth.