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Ellen G. White: The Progressive Years: 1862-1876 (vol. 2) - Contents
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    The Dissident Group in Iowa

    Snook recounted the origin of the dissident group:2BIO 24.1

    When the subject of organization was first spoken of in the Review [some of the Sabbathkeeping Adventists in Marion, Iowa] began to murmur and complain. Soon a meeting was called for to investigate the visions. In the interim I had a conversation with the main leader of the rebellion, in which he said, “I will admit that all that Sister White has yet seen is according to the Advent doctrine.”2BIO 24.2

    “Then,” said I, “you must admit that her visions are good so far.” He assented that they were. “Now,” said I, “my impression is that if it were not for the fact that her visions are against your tobacco, you would receive them.”2BIO 24.3

    “Yes,” said he; “because she is against me I will be against her.”—Ibid., January 6, 18632BIO 24.4

    Snook continued:2BIO 24.5

    He was the leader of the rebellion, and he was led by tobacco with which Satan baited the hook which he was fast upon. The cry of separation was then raised.... After a lapse of some weeks the subject of organization was again talked of. Those who opposed the visions said it would be best for us to organize, that it would be no worse for them, and they would meet with us as they had done before....

    The brethren then who were ready went into ... organization. The rest in a short time went off by themselves and established another meeting.—Ibid.2BIO 24.6

    The spirit of the group was further made plain at their conference held November 27, 1862, in the charge that “one object of organization was to secure the recognition of Brother White as the ‘latter-day Moses.’”—Ibid.2BIO 24.7

    The next issue of the Review carried an article from the pen of Uriah Smith titled “The Secession Movement in Iowa”; it characterized the situation as “the anti-vision movement which has been inaugurated in Iowa” (Ibid., January 13, 1863). This was accompanied by a Smith editorial of three columns titled “Do We Discard the Bible by Endorsing the Visions?” The editorial was obviously aimed at holding the lines steady in that critical time when companies of Sabbathkeeping Adventists were moving into church organization. Smith introduced a telling illustration:2BIO 24.8

    Suppose we are about to start upon a voyage. The owner of the vessel gives us a book of directions, telling us that it contains instructions sufficient for our whole journey, and that if we will heed them, we shall reach in safety our port of destination.2BIO 25.1

    Setting sail, we open our book to learn its contents. We find that the author lays down general principles to govern us in our voyage, and instructs us as far as practicable, touching the various contingencies that may arise, till the end; but he also tells us that the latter part of our journey will be especially perilous; that the features of the coast are ever changing by reason of quicksands and tempests; “but for this part of the journey,” says he, “I have provided you a pilot, who will meet you, and give you such directions as the surrounding circumstances and dangers may require; and to him you must give heed.”2BIO 25.2

    With these directions we reach the perilous time specified, and the pilot, according to promise, appears. But some of the crew, as he offers his services, rise up against him. “We have the original book of directions,” say they, “and that is enough for us. We stand upon that, and that alone; we want nothing of you.”2BIO 25.3

    Who now heed that original book of directions? those who reject the pilot, or those who receive him, as that book instructs them? Judge ye.2BIO 25.4

    But some ... may meet us at this point like this: “Then you would have us take Sister White as our pilot, would you?”2BIO 25.5

    It is to forestall any efforts in this direction that this sentence is penned. We say no such thing. What we do say is distinctly this: that the gifts of the Spirit are given for our pilot through these perilous times, and wherever and in whomsoever we find genuine manifestations of these, we are bound to respect them, nor can we do otherwise without insofar rejecting the Word of God, which directs us to receive them. Who now stand upon the Bible, and the Bible alone?—Ibid.2BIO 25.6

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