ADVENTISM IN ENGLAND

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 24, 1874

ADVENTISM IN ENGLAND.

A CONFERENCE was held May 5th to the 10th, 1873, in St. George's Hall, London, to consider the subject of the second advent of Christ. Addresses were given by the most distinguished clergymen, and also by lords and noblemen, with others of less note, mostly of the Church of England. Many of the addresses have been printed in the Signs of the Times. The following is the substance of an address by the Chairman of the Conference, the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Shaftsbury, K. G. He said:—

“I have been requested to say a few words to express my sense of the value and importance of the subject of the second advent of Christ: and I do so with some hesitation, because, although I have had it much upon my heart, yet I have never studied the subject for dogmatic or didactic purposes. When the thought has arisen, ‘At what time will He come?’ the ready answer has been, ‘As a thief in the night,’ and when the question has been put, ‘In what manner will He come?’ the reply has presented itself in the words of the angels, ‘This same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.’ With satisfaction I may say that this subject has been upon my heart for years and years; it has been much upon my inmost soul, I will not say every day but often every hour of the day: and although I cannot talk theologically upon the matter and enter into the arguments introduced to-night with so much force and piety, I may say, that in reference to the state of the times and the signs which are around us, I cannot see any remedy or solution but that suggested by the assured hope of the second coming of Christ.

“The social convulsions, national perplexities and troubles which are on every side in these days, have been pointed out by Mr. Baxter; and it is impossible to observe the condition of things and the aspect of society, without arriving at the conclusion that an event, no less than that of the second advent itself, must come to pass before the world can be brought to a condition of piety, and purity, and peace: and I do hope that these meetings may be the beginning of a constant, persistent course of practical preaching and faithful testimony and warning upon the subject; for hitherto we have had far too little said about it in the pulpits of our land.

“It is not enough to have occasional meetings and sermons in relation to this grand theme, and to read an odd book, or pamphlet, or tract; but it must be constantly and regularly preached by the clergy from every pulpit, and proclaimed everywhere, even at the corners of the streets. And I believe if this great matter were so treated, you might still produce a very practical result upon all classes, and especially upon the English people; upon the refined and educated classes, as well as upon the masses of our working population.

“From long-continued knowledge of the working classes, I believe there would be no one subject they would receive with greater delight—no one doctrine which would produce a greater effect upon their lives and their general conduct, than the bringing before them, in their miseries, sorrows, and sufferings, the grand consolations of the second advent.

“And I know of no ground upon which we can more readily overcome our religious differences—Church and Non-conformist—than this; to go forth and preach, day by day and night by night, the great and glorious truth of the approaching advent of our blessed Lord.

“Indeed what can there be more calculated to produce a powerful effect upon all, both great and small, than to assert, without ceasing, the necessity of constant watchfulness, and to proclaim the solemn admonition, ‘Be ye therefore ready, for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.’ Luke 12: 40.”