E XPOS U R E 
CLERICAL SLANDER. 
— OF — 
PREFACE. 
THF. object of this little Tract is to expose that 
Clerical slander, indulged in, especially in the West, 
in charging Seventh-day Adventists with Mormonism. 
If but one case of the kind had come to notice, we 
should not have felt called upon to expose the slan-
der. 
But there are many such, and it is time such 
mouths should be stopped. 
Many, in their ignorance of the case, report the 
scandal with a good degree of relish. If they can be 
instructed, and the willful falsehood-bearer be rebuk-
ed and silenced, the object of this Tract is gained. 
CLERICAL SLANDER. 
THE following communication will show to what 
lengths ministers will .sometimes go in their efforts 
against the truth and its adherents, and how also they 
often overshoot the mark. 
EDITOR OF REVIEW—Dear Sir: I am not a member 
of the Seventh-day Adventist church, but I am a friend 
to all who I think are trying to teach the way of God 
truly. I thought it would be well to give you an ac-
count of a meeting which occurred in this neighbor-
hood last evening (March 6), in what is familiarly 
known here as Wesley Chapel. The discourse was de-
livered by the regular minister, Mr. Briggs, Methodist, 
on the subject of the Sabbath. He stated that a num-
ber of years ago, this country was considerably an-
noyed by the Mormons; that there was a considerable 
body of them at Battle Creek, Michigan ; that they 
had all left except a small faction who split off from 
them, who differed somewhat from the Mormon body 
in their views; were somewhat purer in doctrine: that 
they were Materialists, something like the Sadducees 
of the Saviour's time, not believing in soul or spirit; 
that ttey were soul-sleepers; that they believed the 
soul dies with the body, &c.; that they had purchased 
an old printing-press from the Mormons, and for a 
number of years attracted no notice; but that they 
were now attracting some notice in certain localities 
<> 
in regard te the Sabbath-day, teaching that the old 
Jewish Sabbai'h should be kept; that the observance of 
Sunday was a mark of the beast.; that all who kept 
Sunday were resting under the anathemas of God and 
of the plagues that were to be poured out upon the 
beast. 
The church is a large one, and it was filled, the sub-
ject having been given out previously. Addressing 
the assembly, mostly Methodists, be said, 41 We, friends, 
are all marked with the'beast, and doomed to destruc-
tion, according to these Battle-Creek prophets." 
Af-
ter these and many other like declarations, which 
would make this notice too lengthy to insert, he turned 
his attention to the history of the Sabbath. He stated 
that chronology had been but imperfectly understood 
during our world's history down till the present age; 
that some years ago a Mr. Aker, a well-known Meth-
odist minister in Illinois, took up the subject, and by 
his knowledge of astronomy, the eclipses, &c., he had 
traced time back to its commencement to the minutiae 
of a second ; that at the exodus from Egypt the Jews 
lost one day, throwing the Jewish Sabbath on the sixth 
instead of the seventh day ; hence the Sunday or first 
day is the original seventh. He then went through 
with the eight places in the New Testament where the 
first day of the week is mentioned, making them all 
Sabbath-days, according to his version. 
He then 
stated that it was impossible for Constantine to have 
changed the Sabbath, from the fact that the church 
was divided ; that one head was at Rome and the oth-
er at Constantinople; hence if one had made the at-
tempt, the other would have detected and exposed it, 
which was nowhere on record. 
He next went to work to illustrate by a mathemati-
cal problem the impossibility of keeping any day, by 
showing that while it is sunrise at one point, it is at 
the same moment, in other parts of the world, noon, 
suuset and midnight. In either case the Adventists 
could not possibly keep their Sabbath according to the 
law. 
lie then stated that at the poles it was six months 
day and six months night, hence the Adventists would 
have to keep six years for work-time, and one year for 
Sabbath. He then showed the many failures which 
had taken place in battle, where the attacks were made 
on Sunday ; also that many who had gone on pleasure 
excursions on Sunday had been drowned and otherwise 
destroyed; that of the vessels which went to sea on 
the Sunday, two to one were destroyed more than those 
going on other days. He then became eloquent in an 
exhortation to stand by the Christian Sabbath, and 
that any departure from it led to infidelity; that chil-
dren would have their minds confused, and conclude 
there was no Sabbath. Of course the crowd swallowed 
all he said, and, from appearance, considered it a 
mighty triumph. I have no doubt but in the opinion 
of most that were present, Adventism is among the 
things that has served its day, and is now laid in the 
narrow charnel-house, without the hope of a resurrec-
tion. 
Hake-
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. 
8 
REPLY. 
We have been unable to account for the origin 
or circulatiqn of such reports as are above referred to, 
only on the ground that men love to have something 
to say against any cause to which they are opposed; 
and this love, the natural offspring of the carnal heart, 
will lead them to start rumors upon mere conjecture 
if not wholly from the imagination, receive them upon 
the bare testimony of interested parties, and circulate 
them without examination and without p^oof. 
But those who give currency to such reports as are 
mentioned above, betray a recklessness in regard to 
their veracity which is utterly reprehensible; for 
" this thing is not done in a corner," and the truth or 
falsity of such statements can be easily ascertained. 
, Now if a person has any regard for the reputation of 
his word, he should ascertain, as can be easily done, 
the truthfulness of his information before he gives it 
circulation; but if in his eagerness to spread the 
scandal, he neglects to do this, he should remember 
that others may be sufficiently interested in the matter 
to look it up, and he stands liable to be proved, as in 
the present instance, either himself a willful misrepre-
senter, or the dupe of one who has thus misrepresent-
ed. Neither of these positions furnishes a very envia-
able light in which to appear, though the latter is, if 
possible, the more contemptible of the two. But be-
ing a dupe, will not shield a man from condensation; 
for the Bible represents that he who loves a lie is 
equally guilty with him who makes it. Rev. xxii, 15. 
To address ourselves more particularly to Mr. B.'s 
y 
misstatements, we will say that this part of the coun-
try never has been annoyed by the Mormons. 
By a 
faithful inquiry from the oldest citizens, we have as-
certained that no-Mormon lecture was ever delivered 
in Battle Creek, nor has any Mormon ever taken up 
his residence in this city. Consequently all the talk 
about the main body moving away, and leaving a small 
faction who had split off, applies somewhere else. 
Touching our doctrines, we venture the assertion 
that those who so strenuously accuse us of being Mor-
mons, endeavoring thereby to bring down upon us the 
just odium of the community, hold two points to our 
one in common with that body of impostors ; hence if 
doctrines are to be the test of identity, they will find 
themselves Mormons long before they can prove us to 
be such. 
The attention of Adventists was first called to the 
Sabbath question in 1845, bv_T. M. Preble, formerly 
a minister of t-haJP. W. Bant.ist, denomination. Elder 
Joseph Bates immediately commenced to keep and 
teach it. Previous to his embracing the Advent doc-
trine, he was a member of 
rhriatia/n ^nomination. 
About this time Elder James White, the founder and 
conductor of the publishing interests of this people, 
commenced keeping the Sabbath. He also was from 
the Christian denomination. His wife, Ellen 6. White, 
was a Methodist, as were her father and all his family. 
Tender Andrews was from the Methodists. Elder Wag-
goner from the Baptists. And thus we might go on, 
and mention other preachers, some from the ranks of 
former Adventists, more from the various churches of 
the land, and more still, from those who had previously 
professed no religion of any kind, but not one from 
any class of Mormons whatever. 
10 
The first volume of the paper, the Review and Her-
ald, was published at Paris, Me., commencing Nov. 1, 
1850. Volume ii, was published at Saratoga Springs, 
N. Y. Vols, iii, to No. 10, Vol. vii, in Rochester, 
N. Y., at which place the work was done on a hand 
press, purchased through the agency of Richard Oli-
phant, of Oswego, N. Y. From Rochester, the press 
was removed to its present location, Battle Creek, 
Mich., in the fall of 1855. In 1857 the power press 
was purchased of Isaac Adams, Boston, Mass., and 
shortly after a steam engine to drive it, from Hoard 
and Son, Watertown, N. Y. The Publishing Associa-
tion, by whom the business is now carried on,was incor-
porated according to the law of this State, May 3, 1861. 
From these leading facts in our history, it will be seen 
that we have had no more connection with the Mor-
mons, than we have with the Hindoos of India. 
Concerning his theology we need not speak at length, 
considering the publications we have abroad on this 
subject. Had he acquainted himself with our posi-
tions, he could not, at least honestly, hare charged us 
with believing that ail who keep Sunday are marked 
with the mark of the bea«t, and doomed to destruction. 
That would be a rare piece of consistency, would it 
not, to hold such a view, and yet go forth to try to 
convert men to a knowledge of the truth ? 
Like many o'thers, he appears to be in trouble on the 
Sabbath question. First it is Aker's chronology, that 
the first cfay of the week'is the true seventh, then no 
day cau be kept because the world is round, then there* 
is no Sabbath, and finally it is infidelity to disregard 
the first day of the week. 
As to Aker's chronology, it is entirely outside the 
Bible. The Scriptures are uniformly and throughout 
11 
against it. And the circumstances of the giving of the 
law on Sinai, God's pointing out the day by the mira-
cle of the manna, and by the fourth commandment con-
necting that day with the seventh day of creation week, 
shows Dr. A.'s claim of a change of day at the Exode, 
to be foolishly false. 
But Adventists cannot keep the Sabbath according 
to the law, because time differs east and west. Indeed ! 
Has not God given a law binding upon men the world 
over ? and in that law included a Sabbath, to say noth-
ing now of the particular day ? If you say he has not, 
the apostle Paul convicts you of error; for he says 
that there is such a law binding on all the world; and 
if you say he has, and yet that we, from the nature of 
the case, cannot keep it, you charge God foolishly. 
But how is it with the first day ? Oh, that can un-
doubtedly be kept, east, west, north, and south, with-
out any trouble. There is no difficulty with any day 
but the seventh, and there would be no difficulty with 
that, had not God commanded its observance. If the 
first day is. the true seventh, as Dr. Aker claims, all 
who believe this, observe it doubtless in obedience to 
the fourth commandment. The missionaries on the 
other side of the globe do the same thing. How do 
they do it ? It is midnight there when it is noon here. 
Why cannot we do the same with the seventh day ? The 
truth is, all these things are mere idle quibbles. The 
observance of the same absolute time is nowhere re-
quired. The sun is given to rule the day. It marks 
off the days to all the inhabitants of the earth ; and it 
brings to each in his turn the seventh day ; and when 
that day comes, the commandment enjoins upon us its 
observance. Nor is there any difficulty at the poles ; 
for there, both in summer and in winter, in the light. 
12 
and the dark parts of the year, each revolution of the 
earth, which of course measures off a day, is as dis-
inctly marked, as could for any possible occasion be 
required; so that the succession of days and weeks 
can be as accurately kept there as here. See Travels 
of Bayard Taylor, Kane, and others. 
Iu regard to Constantine's changing the Sabbath, it 
is not claimed that he did. He made a law for the ob-
servance of Sunday. He did it as emperor of the Ro-
man empire. The empire was then undivided, and all 
the churches east or west had to do was to obey. But 
this edict for Sunday was made by Constantine before 
his professed conversion to Christianity, and was in 
behalf of that day as a heathen festival. When the 
empire became nominally Christian, this statute was 
left unrepealed, and Sylvester, then bishop of Rome, 
with a shrewdness well becoming the prospective 
" man of sin," gave to Sunday the imposing title of 
"Lord's day," and availed himself of this law of Con-
stantine's to enforce its observance. See History of 
the Sabbath, and the authorities there cited, pp. 
252-264. 
Concerning the loss of battles, and accidenis on Sun-
days above other days, that is merely a relic of super-
stition. History will not bear out the claim. We de-
ny the statement, and are prepared to bring proof 
when it is required. 
In conclusion, we would say to our brethren every-
where, let ministers or other persons of influence, who 
are found engaged in circulating false statements like 
the foregoing, be reported and followed up with the 
facts. 
TESTIMONIAL. 
As far as the above reply relates to Mormonism, we 
the undersigned, citizens of Battle Creek, Michigan, 
can bear testimony to its truthfulness. 
E. W. PENUILL, 
J. S. UPTON, 
C. FORD, 
G. F. SMITH, 
H. A. STONE, 
T. WAKELEE, 
A. C. HAMBLIN, 
T. W. HALL, 
B. F. GRAVES, 
A. NOBLE, 
C. P. BUCKLEY, 
NICHOLS & SHEPARD, Machinists, 
F. W. BROOKS, 
Hardware Merchant, 
COL. J. W. STUART, 
" 
" 
# Express Agt. 
C. S. GRAY, 
Boot and Shoe Merchant, 
A. WHITCOMB, 
Freight Agent, 
T. B. SKIS NEK, 
Dry Goods Merchant, 
A. SCHODER, 
Dept. Revenue Collector, 
W. W. WOOLNOUGH, 15 years Editor B. C. Journal, 
A- ROWLEY, 
H. J. CHAMPION, 
Insurance Agent, 
JOSEPH YOUNG, 
Deacon Presbyterian Church, 
EVAN L. DAVIIS, Pastor 
" 
" 
SAMUEL J. ROGERS, 
" 
Reformed Dutch Church, 
D. HARRINGTON, 
Former Pastor Baptist Church. 
None of the gentlemen who have given their names 
above are Seventh-day Adventists. Messrs Noble, 
Hall, Gray, Whitcomb, Champion, and Young were 
among the very first settlers. 
[The following article, from Eld. M. E. Cornell, is 
copied from the Review and Herald, Vol. xxi, No. 19.] 
Mayor, 
Alderman, 
* " 
$ Post Master, 
Circuit Judge, 
Ex-May or, 
14 
Wlio are Mormons? 
Sometimes our opponents, failing in argument, for 
effect, raise the cry of "Mormonism," They cannot 
show that our views of spiritual gifts are irascriptural, 
or unreasonable, but because the Mormons professed 
to have those gifts, they think it a happy hit to excite 
prejudice against us, by calling us Mormons. But 
this charge loses all its force when we consider that 
faith in spiritual gifts is not peculiar to the Mormons. 
The most devoted and learned men of the Protestant 
sects have claimed the same thing both in theory and 
practice. See work entitled, " Miraculous Powers," 
published at Review Office. The truth is, we do not 
believe with the Mormons on a single point that is pe-
culiar to them. But if to agree with the Mormons on 
leading points of doctrine, makes a man worthy of 
their name, then verily the orthodox churches of the 
day are full of Mormons. 
1. The Mormon "Caeed teaches the doctrine of the 
Trinity. " That Christ was the God, the Father of all 
things." Mormon Bible, Book of Mosiah, par. 5. 
" Behold ! I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father ami 
the Son." Book of Esther, ch. i, par. 3. 
"Is the Son of God the very eternal Father? . . . . 
Yea, he is the very Eternal Father." 
Book of Alma, 
ch. viii, par 7. 
2. They believe in an immaterial God. "It is truth, 
light, and love, that we worship and adore; these are 
the same in all worlds ; and as these constitute God, 
he is the same in all worlds; wherever you find a 
fullness of wisdom, knowledge, truth, goodness, love, 
and such like qualities, there yon find God in all his 
11 
glory, power, and majesty—therefore if you worship 
these adorable qualities you worship God." Mormon 
Seer, pp. 24, 25. 
Compare the above with Mr. H. W. Beecher in the 
Independent, A. D. 1859. "A dim and shadowy efful-
gence arises from Christ, and that I am taught to call 
the Father. A yet more tenuous and invisible film of 
thought arises, and that is the Holy Spirit. But nei-
ther are to me aught tangible, restful, accessible." 
That Christ is the very and eternal God, and that 
God is immaterial, without body, parts or passions, is 
the teaching of most of the church creeds. 
3. They believe in rewards and punishments at 
death. 
"Immortal spirit joined with the choir above at 
Benjamin's death." Book of Mosiah, ch. i, par. 8. 
4. They believe the second death is endless torment. 
"Then cometh a death, even a second death, which is 
a spiritual death 
They cannot die seeing 
there is no more corruption." Alma, ch. ix, par. 2, 3. 
"Lake of fire is endless torment^' Book of Jacob 
ch. iv, p. 140. 
'* 
5. The Mormons keep the Pagan Sunday, so do Prot-
estants in general. But why go farther? There is 
not a class of religious people in the world that differ 
with the Mormons in both theory and practice more 
widely than the Seventh-day Adventists. Thope very 
men who charge us with "Mormonism," agree with the 
Mormons in ten points to our one. We conclude 
therefore that such persons have simply mistaken the 
parties, and raise a charge more applicable to them-
selves, to create prejudice against another class to 
whom it does not (ipply.