p. 10 | COMPARING STATISTICS by E. Lanphear

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, January 6, 1885

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 1

COMPARING STATISTICS.

By E. Lanphear

[We feel no disposition to draw any invidious comparisons between ourselves and others. We are doing far less than we ought to do, and we should feel earnestly to dissuade any of our own people from making the statements contained in the following article. Inasmuch, however, as they come from a Seventh-day Baptist, we feel less hesitation in granting him the liberty to express his feelings. It may be proper for us to add that so far as co-operation between the two societies—S. D. Baptists and S. D. Adventists—is concerned, the S. D. Adventists were not the first to put up the bars in that direction.—Ed.]

EDITOR OF THE REVIEW, Dear Sir:—I have been comparing the statistics of the last report of the Seventh-day Baptist denomination with those of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. In doing so I find quite a difference in the increase of membership and growth of the two denominations.

These two denominations seem to agree upon the seventh day of the week as God’s Sabbath, baptism by immersion, repentance, and salvation from the penalties of sin through our Lord Jesus Christ. These seem to be the fundamental principles of the gospel; and these principles seem to be what each denomination builds upon as the hope of salvation for lost men.

The differences of belief outside of these seem to pertain more to conditions after death and the final Judgment of saint and sinner. Yet each claims that the great object of the church should be to save the sinner from the penalty of sin, whatever that penalty may be. It seems impossible for us mortals in this world to know exactly what the future will reveal; but this much is revealed, that men shall be punished according to the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad.

Is it not safe to leave that matter in the hands of a just God, and unite on the fundamental principles upon which the two denominations do agree, and thus work together for the salvation of souls? Is there not a mistake somewhere? Certainly the S. D. Baptists are not making the progress that a Christian denomination ought to make, which bases its work and labor upon the gospel; for God’s word shall not “return unto him void.” The Adventists, though they appear to be gathering in more sheaves than the S. D. Baptists, have yet plenty of room and material in the world for greater progress. The adoption of proper methods may have much to do in the matter of progress. God’s method of converting the world is the correct one; and that denomination or church that gets the nearest to his method will be the most successful in bringing souls to Christ and his church.

Would it not be well for these denominations to come together in the name of Christ and compare notes and methods of work, and learn of each other the best methods of work, and from what source they gain the greatest number of souls, as saved to Christ and his church?

A church, as well as an individual, may come to the conclusion that it possesses about all the wisdom there is in the world, forgetting that all true wisdom cometh from above. Moses forgot to give God the glory for bringing water out of the rock, and forfeited his right to enter the promised land. Some seem wise above what is written. With such there can come no great success.

Here is a point worthy of investigation and examination by churches and denominations, as well as by individuals. And the statistics of the two denominations, as to increase, may be a topic worthy of attention; and by a thorough investigation better methods may be adopted, and greater success be achieved, and greater numbers be brought to a knowledge of the truth, and such added to the church as shall be saved.

The S. D. Adventist denomination has been organized in this country some forty years. Their last Conference statistics shows a membership of 18,702. It also shows an increase over last year of 1,266 members. The S. D. Baptist denomination dates back over two hundred years in this country. Its report of its last Conference shows a membership of 8,655. Net increase over last year 93 members. Comparing the last report with that of five years before, I find that the membership then was 8,605, which shows an increase of only 50 in the five years. It seems to me that on their part there must be a lack of proper methods of work, doctrine, or practice. Is there not a secret lying back of these facts somewhere, that is the cause of so small an increase? Why should they not have an increase in proportion to S. D. Adventists? Had they done so, they would now number one hundred and fifty thousand or more. What has been the matter? is a question worthy of attention and inquiry. Will God suffer this people to live on at such a poor dying rate? Have they made a proper use of the talent given them? Shall their talent be taken from them and given to another people? By their fruits ye shall know them.

Can you tell why the S. D. Adventist denomination has gained faster than that of the S. D. Baptist? Is it because of their living nearer to the truths they profess? or because they separate themselves more from the world, and walk more circumspectly before God and the world? Certainly their doctrines, or beliefs, do not accord with the common orthodox views in the world as do those of the S. D. Baptists; and so far as strictness of discipline is concerned, the former are much the stricter of the two denominations. So far as the use of ardent spirits, the use of tobacco, and the fashions of the world, is concerned, they are the strongest objectors, and would shut out many that would be admitted by other churches. I take it that a person must be more strictly religious, in practice at least, to get into the Adventist church, than to be admitted into the S. D. Baptist church. Consequently there must be among them different methods of work in order to obtain the results they do in the way of increase of membership.

Could there not be a gain to both denominations and to the cause of Christ generally, for these people to work together for the common cause, so far as they can agree in doctrine, and thus help each other and the cause generally, and especially the cause of the Lord’s Sabbath. I cannot see why these denominations might not be a greater power for good by working together. Why not?

E. LANPHEAR.

Plainfield, N. J., Dec. 21, 1884.