p. 93 | NEW YORK | AdventAI

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, February 5, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 6

NEW YORK.

Mannsville and Roosevelt.—In connection with the director, Wm. H. Brown, I attended the quarterly meeting for Dist. No. 3, held at Mannsville, Jan. 10, 11. The attendance was small on account of bad roads, yet the interest was quite encouraging. The T. and M. work was discussed, also the Sabbath-school and temperance work. A club of Signs was raised, also one of Instructors for the Sabbath-school. The plan of family reading recommended by the General Conference was adopted by nearly all; and the teetotal pledge was signed by nearly every one who had not previously signed it. Three subscribers were obtained for Good Health, and Testimony No. 29 was taken by every family represented at the meeting. The book sales were about $10.

The quarterly meeting for Dist. No. 2 was held at Roosevelt a week later. The attendance was very good, and our meeting was an encouraging one. A local club was organized, over twenty signing the teetotal pledge. Every family took Testimony No. 29, and the plan of family reading was generally adopted. A good spirit pervaded the meeting, and a better feeling than formerly seems to exist in the Roosevelt church. When our brethren and sisters go to work to spread the light of the truth, they will find less time and have less occasion to criticise each other, and sow the seeds of discord and strife. Let us not be ignorant of Satan’s devices.

M. H. BROWN.

P. O. Sanford’s Corners, Jeff. Co., N. Y.

Aurora, Erie Co.—Mr. Bois, owner of the church of the Evangel, Willink, Erie Co., N. Y., finding a very great interest in regard to the Sabbath, alike among Christian professors and worldlings, in the villages of Aurora and Willink, determined to have the matter presented on both sides, and to this end secured the services of Eld. Geo. W. Ball, one of the most able ministers and experienced debaters of the Freewill Baptist church, for years editor of their paper in New York City, and now pastor of a church in the city of Buffalo.

We agreed to abide by such terms of debate as Mr. Bois should arrange. Eld. Ball drew up the questions; viz., 1. “Is it a Christian duty to observe the seventh day, as specified in the fourth commandment, for the Sabbath of the Lord?” 2. “Is it a Christian duty to observe the first day as the Sabbath of the Lord?” The debate commenced Thursday evening, Jan. 22, and was to be continued afternoons and evenings, but was abruptly terminated by Eld. Ball at the close of the first session of the second question, he declaring there was no written law, and no word in the New Testament, teaching or enjoining the observance of the first day as holy time, or a Sabbath. As the Buffalo Express had announced him as “the champion of Sunday sacredness,” this was a severe shock to Sunday-keepers. On the first question he took the old ground so oft refuted, that the ten commandments constituted the old covenant, etc.

What most expedited the sudden close of the debate was our insisting on the production of the new and better code in the gospel, and repeated demands for an answer to the question, “Why do all orthodox denominations, in their catechisms, creeds, disciplines, and reward cards given to their Sunday-school children, print the words, ‘The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord.’ Ex. 20: 10?” If this statement is false, why print and publish it? Why circulate error, and an old, abolished law among the children and the people? If it is true, why not obey it?

The discussion resulted in quite a list of new subscribers to the Review; and some who had always kept the first day came forward and declared their gratitude for the truth, and their intention henceforth to keep God’s own holy seventh-day Sabbath. To the Lord be all honor and glory.

CHAS. R. REYNOLDS.