Reminiscences by C. O. Taylor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 27, 1864

Reminiscences.

By C. O. Taylor

BRO. WHITE: In my recent visit with the church at Champlain, memory called to mind much that in other days was of interest, and is of profit now. Here I had my first experience in the great truths of the third angel's message. I had ten years of interesting life with this church. Our toiling in the rise of the truth has endeared them to me. It was here that I first received the light of the Advent message in 1848. It was the proclamation of the hour of his judgment come. It was the coming judgment on definite time, '43, that moved me out and caused me to seek a preparation for the event. Such was its power, such its force, that I could not resist it, and hundreds felt as I did. I gave glory to God, and thousands did the same. I look upon that move to be as complete a fulfillment of Rev. xiv, 6, 7, as was our Lord's ride into Jerusalem a fulfillment of Zeph. ix, 9, or as the parting of his garments and casting lots was a fulfillment of Ps. xxii, 18. And it was here, in this frontier town, not alarmed by raiders from Canada, as now, but by the judgment message, that I was called to bear the heavy cross of breaking my connection with the Methodist church. I had warm Advent friends that advised me in the matter. Some of them became my enemies when I took another step in the same chain of prophecy, and commenced keeping all the commandments of God. This is what some call, "Going

out from us;" just the same way the apostolic went out from the Jewish church, or the Lutheran from the Roman church, and the very way that we left the different churches in 1844. They would not walk in the light of prophecy. We chose to do so. As it was once remarked by Bro. Hutchinson, of C. E., a man of excellent spirit, one of the best then, "that if the churches wished to remain in that old field they could; but we wished to pass into a new field where we could find better pasture. The way to the white cloud, and the coming of Jesus is through the field called 'patience of the saints, commandments of God, and faith of Jesus.'"

I fail to see how any can reach that great event in safety, but by that field, adventists of any class not excepted.

C. O. TAYLOR.

Adams' Center, Dec. 4, 1864.