More Nice than Wise by Wm. C. Gage

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 28, 1865

“More Nice than Wise.”

By Wm. C. Gage

This popular adage is sometimes illustrated in the conduct of opposers of present truth, especially in their many efforts to stop its progress, which often lack in wisdom, either worldly or otherwise. A couple of incidents in our own experience so pointedly illustrate this idea that we give them to the Review.

During the discussion at Norridgewock, while the interest was at its hight, we received a visit from the U. S. Assessor, who inquired if we made a practice of selling books. Upon being answered in the affirmative, he produced an application for license as book pedler, which he requested us to sign. We politely informed him that the law exempted the sale of religious publications from taxation, upon which he retired, somewhat crest-fallen.

We were not, however, disposed to blame him so much, as our suspicions deepened into conviction in relation to the movers in the operation, who, as we have good reason to believe, were those who had failed to silence us by argument, and then hit upon an expedient to "take us down" by sending for the officer. If our suspicions are well grounded, some of our clerical friends failed to enjoy the joke as well as they anticipated.

It not unfrequently happens that those who embrace the truth are threatened with "the law" if they persist in laboring on the first-day of the week. A case of this kind occurred in an adjoining town, which is illustrative of another popular adage about the "shoe being on the other foot." A brother who had commenced to keep the Sabbath, went into his shop on first-day, and hoisting his gate, proceeded about his business as usual. Being at considerable distance from any dwelling or place of worship, no one was disturbed by the noise, but "the dragon was wroth," and stirred up a mob of people, who went from the meeting and gathered about his shop, muttering and threatening "law." They finally gave vent to their anger by shutting down his gate, when they retired from the scene, gathering again in front of their place of worship to meditate upon some scheme to put a stop to "such work." At this stage of the proceedings, the Justice of the peace appeared upon the ground with the Revised Statutes in his hand, and asked the crowd if they knew what they were about. They replied that they "rather thought they did," when he opened his book and "expounded the law" to them, showing that all who conscientiously observe the seventh-day, are permitted to labor on first-day if they disturb no one, adding that as they did not keep the seventh-day, every soul of them were liable to the law as sabbath-breakers, and furthermore, those who had shut down the man's gate, were liable to a heavy penalty for trespass, if he were disposed to "put them through" for it. The effect upon the crowd may be imagined.

We do not always expect to be protected by the law, but while it does last we certainly may be pardoned for enjoying the discomfiture of our enemies in the triumph of truth. WM. C. GAGE.