The following we copy from the Herald of Truth of November 1:—
“NOT BAPTIZED.
“EDITOR HERALD OF TRUTH: As I recently was informed that an item appeared in this paper a few months since to the effect that I had been baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church, let me correct that misstatement by affirming that I never disconnected myself with the Baptist denomination, nor united with any church whatever since receiving letters and recommendations for myself and wife from the Nevada City Baptist Church. During the meantime I have simply been engaged in teaching an exclusively private school. BYRON L. ALDRICH.
Oakland, October 12, 1881.”
There is something in the circumstances which raises a query why Mr. Aldrich let a year pass before noticing this report; for it appears strange indeed that so intelligent a man, who has “never disconnected himself with the Baptist church,” should need to be informed after so long a time, of a statement concerning himself in the denominational paper of his own church published in his own city.
It is true that he never connected himself with the Seventh-day Adventist church. Mr. Aldrich heard Elder Rice preach in Nevada City and professed to be convinced on the Sabbath and the doctrine of conditional immortality. At our camp-meeting in Alameda in 1880, he publicly took his position with us in belief, but not in church connection. The church in Oakland granted him favors when he wished to open a school, and he wrote several articles for this paper on doctrinal subjects which were quite acceptable.
The idea of baptizing him was never entertained by us, and we do not know how the report ever obtained a footing. Indeed, we gathered from conversations with Baptists that they were inclined to believe that their act of baptizing him was premature, on which we shall have no controversy with them—they ought to know best. Our acquaintance with the Professor has been of the most friendly nature, but the Baptists need not feel any delicacy in fraternizing with him, for as far as church relations are concerned their claim is undisputed.
Our Publications in England.
By Editor
ANY of the books, pamphlets and tracts issued at this Office may be obtained of Eld. J. N. Loughborough, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England, who will furnish catalogues and prices in English money, and receive subscriptions for all our periodicals.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
By Editor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
# Missionary Society of Seventh-Day Adventists
A twelve-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel, with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home Circle, The Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-School.
Price Per Year, . . . . . . . . $2.00
In clubs of five or more copies to one address, to be used in Missionary work . . . . . . . . 1.50
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
—OR—
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
Miss ELIZA THAYER, Secretary N. E. Tract Society, So Lancaster, Mass.
ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England.
W. L. RAYMOND Gaston, Or.
REVISED EDITION—JUST ISSUED
By J. H. Waggoner
Thoughts on Christian Baptism.
BY ELD. J. H. WAGGONER.
Being an examination of its ACTIONS, SUBJECTS AND RELATIONS.
Also, a brief consideration of the Historical Evidences of Trine Immersion.
Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged.
Price, postpaid, Paper Covers, 25c.; Flexible Cloth, 35c.
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
Baptist Council Refuses Ordination
A BAPTIST council in Minnesota, called to ordain a young minister, after closing their examination of the candidate passed a resolution declaring that, while they heartily approved his Christian character, call to the ministry, and doctrinal views, his denial of the right of women to speak in church was designed to interfere with his usefulness, and they therefore declined to ordain him.
NEED OF PROHIBITION
THE N. Y. Independent has never espoused the cause of prohibition, taking rather the stand of a looker-on only desirous to see "fair play." For this reason the following item, from its number of Oct. 20, has all the more force:—
"Liquor has now an unrestricted sale in Boston, notwithstanding the promise of the opponents of a prohibitory law that they could be depended upon to enforce a license law. The law is violated day and night, and the protected interests take no pains to restrain violations of law. It is about time for more prohibition."
DR. YOUNG'S CONCORDANCE.
WE are not believers in "total depravity." We do not throw aside men or things because we find a fault in them. Having freely expressed our opinion of the error of Dr. Young in giving "to moisten or besprinkle" as the definition of tah-val, and fully endorsed the strictures of Dr. Tombes on the same, it is due that we say a word in behalf of the Concordance as a whole. The design of the work is excellent; we know of nothing else of its kind, and it is a great help to the student. Without having examined its entire contents we venture the opinion that it contains very few errors—probably no other as great as the one noticed. We do not hesitate to recommend it as a book of real value, and one which we have used with much satisfaction, especially when we had access to it where text-books were not at hand, as is sometimes the case when attending meetings at a distance from our office. The "Pacific Press" keeps this book on hand for sale, and those who are really studying the Bible will probably find few better helps, in some respects.