Plagiarism by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 6, 1864

Plagiarism.

By Editor

THIS is a word that is used to signify "literary theft," or the taking the productions of another and passing them off as one's own.

In the World's Crisis of Aug. 23, 1864, we find a piece of poetry duly headed, "For the World's Crisis," and signed "Luthera B. Weaver." What was our surprise, therefore, to find this piece our familiar hymn,

"Long upon the mountains weary Have the scattered flock been torn."

This piece was written by Annie R. Smith, and was first published in the Review, Vol. ii, No. 8, Dec. 9, 1851, and has been in our hymn book ever since the first edition thereafter issued.

But worst of all the piece is mutilated, the second and most significant verse being suppressed: namely,

"Now the light of truth they're seeking, In its onward track pursue; All the ten commandments keeping, They are holy, just and trüe. On the words of life they're feeding, Precious to their taste so sweet, All their Master's precepts heeding, Bowing humbly at his feet."

But perhaps this would too clearly have revealed its origin, as scarcely any class of people at the present day, except Seventh-day Adventists, have anything to say about All the commandments of God, &c. We are perfectly willing that pieces from the Review, or any of our books should be published to any extent, and all we ask is, that simple justice be done us, by due credit being given.