45. No dispute occurred between the Jews and Christians about the Sabbath; hence the Christians must have kept the same day that the Jews did, which was the seventh day.
46. It is mentioned in the New Testament fifty-nine times, always with respect as the Sabbath day.
47. It is not once said that the Sabbath is abolished or done away.
48. God has never given permission to any man to work upon it.
49. There is no record that God has removed his blessing or sanctification from it.
9 There is no record that the apostles ever rested upon it.
10 God never blessed it.
11 Christ never blessed it.
12 It was never blessed by any divine authority.
13 It was never sanctified.
14 No law was ever given to keep it; hence it is no sin, nor transgression to work upon it. 1 John 3:4; Rom 4:15.
15 The New Testament nowhere forbids work to be done on it.
16 No penalty is given for its violation.
17 No blessing is promised for its observance.
18 It is never called the Christian Sabbath.
19 It is never called the Sabbath day at all.
20 It is never called the Lord's day.
21 It is not called a rest day.
22 No sacred title whatever is applied to it.
23 It is called simply "first day of the week."
24 Jesus never mentioned it in any way.
25 It is never said that the Sabbath was changed from the seventh to the first day.
26 If you keep it, "Who hath required this at your hands?" Isa 1:12.
27 It is only mentioned eight times in the New Testament.
28 And six of these eight texts refer to the same first day.
29 No regulation is given as to how it should be observed.
30 Paul directed Christians to do secular business upon it. 1 Cor 16:2.
31 Only one religious meeting is recorded upon that day, and this a night meeting. Acts 20:5–13.
32 It is not said that the disciples ever had a meeting on it before.
33 It is not intimated that they ever did afterward.
34 It is not said that it was their custom to meet on that day.
35 There is no requirement to meet and break bread on that day.
36 There is only one case where it was done. Acts 20:7.
37 That was done in the night, after midnight. Acts 20:7–11.
Opposition to Religious Delusions
By Editor
WE are neither Spiritualists, Mormons, Rationalists, Free-Thinkers, fanatics, nor sensationalists. We are directly opposed to all these, and are endeavoring to expose their errors, and save men from their delusion.
Our Object and Method
By Editor
Our object is to teach men faith in the holy scriptures, to lead them to love our Lord Jesus Christ, and to obey the law of God. We rely upon the word and truth of God, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, for our success. Our object is not merely to tear down errors; but to build up the cause of Bible truth and holiness. All men have not the same gift and calling. The Lord's field is a large one, and there is plenty of room in which all may labor without conflicting, if they have the mind and Spirit of the Master.
What Say, Wealthy Friends?
By James White
SHALL we at once purchase all the material necessary to print THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES? It will cost less than $2,000. At some future time we will talk to you about a power press and engine. We now suggest that donations for this object come from those who are able to give sums not less than $10 each.
And, be it understood, that at any future time, when a publishing association can be formed on the Pacific coast, we shall be glad to make over to it every dollar that shall be donated to bring an office into existance, the same as we did the Review office when the S. D. A. Publishing Association was incorporated at Battle Creek, Mich., in 1861. We are ready to receive the donations, or the pledges, of our more wealthy brethren from Maine to California.
JAMES WHITE,
President S. D. A. P. A.
An Appeal.
By Chas. Lek
"PRESENT circumstances cause me to make an appeal to our American brethren and sister to favor our little Swedish Mission with the lending of a charitable hand, to send the Svensk Advent Harold to some honest-hearted Swede, in the neighborhood where you live.
At the present, for the first time, I have an opportunity to find a welcome stopping place, where I need not pay for my board, while I present our faith in the soon coming of our Lord Jesus. This is owing to the fact that a considerate and truth-loving man in Illinois sent the Review to this family. I stopped with them over half a year ago. This powerful, but silent missionary has not only converted the man who received its visits, who is deacon of a Baptist church, but even the minister of the same church and both their families.
Further, the deacon, after he had learned the value of the message and his heart became attached to the blessed truth, sent some tracts to his friends in Kansas, and those tracts have lead their families to the holy Sabbath of their God. Those families are now eagerly working to spread light about them with feelings of joy and gratitude for the favor. They feel indebted to the God of Heaven, as well as to him whom God used as an instrument to enlighten them.
If you, dear reader, had only an opportunity to listen to the fervent prayers and heartfelt wishes that go up to God in behalf of those who have been the means of bringing the knowledge of present truth to those souls, you would not hesitate a moment to do all in your power to become an object of such a true and tender feeling.
Let us look at the nature of the work. We believe that this message is preparing souls for eternal glory. Every soul who is truly converted to God's truth and presses forward, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, in an active life of purity, will ere long gain an eternal crown of rejoicing. Oh, my soul! how couldst thou cease from laboring in the Lord's vineyard if thy labor will bring such a great price!
Reader, I hear you say, "If I could only be a missionary, oh, how I would delight in that great and glorious work!" This is the right kind of feeling that ought to fill your heart, brother or sister! and, now is the time to act out your principles. You can be a missionary. You can be to-day; Follow the example set by our dear brother of Illinois, who, by a small effort to draw the attention of his fellow-beings to God's eternal truth, can look upon a little mission of his own to-day which has already reached two States including fourteen or fifteen members. He can stay at home and feel that, by the blessing of God, he has been the founder of a mission that may continue to grow and bring forth an abundant harvest at the coming of the Reaper. "Go and do thou likewise."
Chas. Lek.
Lansing, Iowa, April 28, 1874.
This Week's Paper.
By Editor
This week's issue contains a large amount of important doctrinal matter, to which we call the attention of those who wish to learn our views and object. This number does not present the inviting appearance of variety which succeeding ones will, when we shall be able to give the productions of numerous writers.
We bespeak a careful reading of the earnest appeal by Robert Atkins on the first page.
The article on the "Millennium" on pages two and three may be read with profit and interest by those who cannot see the advent question clearly, because of theological fog on the subject of the conversion of the world.
And those who wish to understand what we do believe, will find a brief synopsis under the caption, "Fundamental Principles," on page three.
Let "Leadership" on page four be carefully read by those who are fearful of what they are pleased to call the "one-man power." Seventh-day Adventists are thoroughly organized, and the supervision of all their conferences, General, or State, is by committees of three. Our ministers endeavor to exalt Christ, and humbly counsel together, and the result is unparalleled union.
We regret the omission of the name of the writer, D. M. Canright, to the very important statements under the caption, "The Sabbath vs. Sunday."
To Our Friends.
By Editor
We are happy to mail copies of the Signs to many of our friends, old and new. We shall be glad to hear from each of you in return. We are engaging in a great work, and ask your prayers, and also the aid which it is in your power to give.
The Signs of the Times is not designed to take the place of the Review. We hope that those on the Pacific coast, who have hailed its weekly visits with joy, will be very slow to part with so valuable a friend.
The Signs is offered without money or price to those who do not object to receiving it on such terms. Those who do, can pay $2.00 a year. And in order that we may be sustained in the enterprise, all our friends, east and west, who would consider it a pleasure so to do, are invited to forward their liberalities, all the way from two dollars to one hundred.
And we now appeal to our friends, especially those on the Pacific coast, to immediately forward the names and addresses of those they wish to receive our paper. It is the universal opinion of our missionary workers that the best way to get the truth before the people, and the most efficient means of impressing our friends favorably, is through our periodicals. Send in the names at once, so that your friends can receive the first numbers. If you have not present means, send the names, and send your donations afterward.
Those we do not make permanent subscribers will find the postage of this number paid. Those who receive packages are requested to circulate subscription papers for the Signs, and deliver a copy to each donor. Be sure to give the name and post office of each donor in plain writing. Friends, let us hear from you immediately.
Address Elder James White, Oakland, Cal.
What Our Papers and Books are Doing.
By Editor
The forcible words in an appeal from brother Charles Lee, a Swedish Seventh-day Adventist minister in Minnesota, copied from the Review and Herald, No. 22, will be read with great interest, by all whose minds and hearts are imbued with the spirit of the present truth. His statements are simply an illustration of the great things that can be accomplished by the circulation of our periodicals and publications. These are made ready to the hands of our people in the most careful and acceptable manner. And all who have any degree of the missionary spirit can take part in their circulation.
And we have just received No. 23 of our glorious Battle Creek paper, containing soul-stirring statements from earnest men of God in the old World who have been reading our publications. We give these articles in the SIGNS, in the confident expectation that they will wake up the missionary spirit in those who read them. J. Matteson, who appends remarks to the communication from Denmark, is the editor of our Danish monthly, The Advent Tidende.
Oakland Tent Meeting.
The California tent was pitched at Oakland, California, April 30th. Elders Canright and Cornell have been the principal speakers. Mrs. White has spoken each first-day afternoon. The interest has not been very large, but good, and growing. Already Sabbath meetings have become intensely interesting. Twenty or thirty of the new converts take an earnest part in them.
Two Tents in the Field.
By John Norton Loughborough
MEETINGS in the tent, at Oakland, at the corner of Broadway and Thirteenth streets, near City Hall, will be held every evening and three times on Sunday, at the usual hours for two weeks or more.
The new tent will be opened for meetings in East Oakland (Brooklyn), near Union Hotel, Friday evening, May 29th. Meeting each evening and three times on Sundays, as long as the interest demands.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres't. Cal. Conf.
To the Brethren in California.
By Cal. Conf. Committee
We have purchased a new tent, an exact duplicate of the other. You will see by appointments that we are now operating with both tents. We have paid for this new tent from our State fund, leaving only $100 in the treasury. I am informed by the State Secretary that there is considerable due from some of the churches on the past quarter. We hope an effort will be made to place this at once in the treasury.
The pledges in the State for 1874 are $3,360. One half for the next six months would be $1,680. It will require all this to meet the expenses of the summer's campaign. Let all pay their pledges promptly, and let each treasurer collect and forward to the State treasury, that there be no embarrassment.
Cal. Conf. Committee.
Quarterly Meetings
By California Conference Committee
Petaluma, June 20th and 21st.
Green Valley, July 18th and 19th.
Woodland, July 18th and 19th.
Cal. Conf. Committee.
North Pacific Mission.
By Editor
THERE have been in the Walla Walla Valley, which extends through south east Washington and north east Oregon, a few Seventh-day Adventists for several years. Brother Maxon, a Seventh-day Baptist, moved to this valley several years since, and has raised his family in the observance of the Bible Sabbath. But he did not succeed in bringing others over to the true Sabbath until his son-in-law, brother Wood, heard Elder Loughborough in California, and returned to Walla Walla, not only a convert to the Sabbath, but to the doctrines of the S. D. Adventists. Brother Wood, by the aid of our publications, soon brought brother Maxon and family over to the Second Advent views, and brother Costin, another son-in-law of brother Maxon, embraced the faith.
At this state of the cause, strong appeals were made for a missionary to visit the Valley, and set forth our views before the people. But such men as the General Conference Committee could recommend to so important a field were scarce, and not one could be spared. Our brethren continued to call for help; but did not sit down and wait for help. They went to work themselves with our publications, and as the result they had a body of Sabbath keepers in the Walla Walla Valley, at the time brother and sister Van Horn reached them in April last, of more than thirty souls.
By reason of the failing health of sister Van Horn, the General Conference decided to send brother and sister Van Horn to the Pacific coast. They reached California in December, 1873. And at a council of the officers of the California Conference, and several ministers present, it was decided that they should go to the Walla Walla Valley, and that they take a sixty-foot tent with them. These missionaries reached their new field of labors April 8th, 1874, and in a few weeks had their tent erected in Walla Walla city with a good interest on the part of the people to hear. Brother Van Horn writes from Walla Walla, May 4th.
"Our tent meeting in this place is the absorbing theme of conversation. The interest is good. Some of the most influential citizens are interested."
Again, brother Van Horn writes May 12th:
"Our meetings have now been in progress nineteen days. We have gone over the prophecies and given the Sabbath and law question quite a thorough investigation. The congregation still holds good, and the interest also. Last Sunday evening, the 10th, after giving a discourse on the restoration of the Bible Sabbath, we called upon all those who were convinced that the seventh day was the Bible Sabbath, to manifest it by rising to their feet. Between fifty and seventy-five immediately got up. We then called for all who still believed that Sunday was the Sabbath by divine authority for this dispensation to arise, and not one responded. There were about three hundred and fifty present at the meeting, and you can judge something of the interest."
The editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES has become responsible for the sum of one thousand dollars to start the North Pacific Mission, the amount to be given in the tent already in the field, and in books. Three hundred dollars' worth of books have already been shipped, and more will be as soon as they shall be needed. We have invited our friends everywhere to share this blessed stock in the Lord's cause on the Pacific coast with us, and there have been already a goodly number of cheerful responses. And yet there is room. It will be seen that the stock is not all taken yet. Should more be received than needed for the N. P. Mission, it will be used in the publication of THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Please remit in drafts on New York, or Money Order. Address Elder James White, Oakland, Cal.
And as you send forward your liberalities for the North Pacific Mission, send up your fervent prayers that God will give the missionaries great success.
Donations for the N. P. Mission.
$20.00 EACH.—Mrs. L. M. Hall.
$10.00 EACH.—James White, Mrs. E. G. White, J. N. Loughborough, Mrs. Lucy Bush, R. M. Kilgore, E. Lobdell, L. Parrot, C. P. and L. R. Whitford, R. Stickney, Jane Rowland, A. W. Maynard, W. J. Boynton, and wife, Daniel Andre, Kaufman, Frederick, Ohio, Geo. Drew, Bro. L—e, Bro. F—.E. H. Root, A Brother, Chas. W. Cummings, Sherman Kenedy, S. A. McPherson, D. R. Palmer, S. N. Haskell, M. Wood, H. B. Stratton, J. L. Kilgore.
$5.00 EACH.—Mary A. Kilgore, Geo. V. Kilgore, Isaac Zirkle, A. Brown, Sr., Stickney, A. V. Deyburg, Lottie Chittenden, G. C. Martin, R. D. Benham, A. J. Richmond, John I. Tay, Richard Godsmark, M. A. Clement, H. Hilliard, E. Zytokoskee, Thos. Alverson, A. S. Hutchins and wife, M. A. P. Wheelock, R. B. Wheeler, A. A. Bradford, A. P. Green, P. C. Rodman, J. C. Tucker, B. F. Wilkinson.
$2.00 EACH.—Alice Canfield, E. A. Disher, D. W. Bartholomew, E. Van Deusen, George E. Fisher, Perry Holloway, James B. Green, Mary Bradford, L. Martin, Josiah Webber, Francis Gould, M. L. Huntley, L. G. Huntley.
$1.00 EACH.—R. E. Tefft, M. E. Haskell, C. E. Palmer, Albert C. Green, Noah Holloway, James A. Tefft, Samuel Green, H. S. Green, E. P. Holloway, N. M. Green, Sally Healey, L. Gardner, C. W. Reed, M. C. Hastings, L. Tarbell, Lewis Martin, A. W. Gould, Sarah Brown, Amaranth Green, J. A. Sullivan, J. B. Green and wife.
50 CENTS EACH.—G. A. Holland, Hattie Smith, Lydia Sullivan, Mary L. Holly, L. Martin, Betsey Martin, L. Wilkinson.
MISCELLANEOUS.—J. Pulse $3.00; J. H. Disher, $2.50; J. D. Bundy, $3.00; Mary E. Haskell, $1.50; H. E. Haskell, $1.50; E. Slocum, 25 cents; Lucia Philbrick, 10 cents.
Books! Books! Books!!!
By Editor
PLEASE look over our column of book advertisements. We offer them by mail, post paid, at their prices in coin. They will be so faithfully wrapped and so plainly directed, as to insure a safe transit by mail. Let the orders come in.