Tobacco Still Tolerated

No special effort, however, was made through denominational publications to induce Sabbathkeeping Adventists to discontinue the use of tobacco until the latter part of 1853. The first utterance, indeed, on this topic to appear in the church organ was a “selected” article. The principal reason given for putting away the narcotic was that the indulgence hindered spiritual growth. It was argued that “religion, for its full development, demands all our mental powers. ... This drug impairs them. It accordingly must follow, that, in proportion to their derangement, will be the defect of their action; so that, in this sense, it may be said with truth, that the person that uses tobacco, cannot be as good a Christian as he could be without it.”—The Review and Herald, December 13, 1853.SHM 66.4

As time went on, the objections to tobacco were stated more positively. This is indicated in the following statement, written by Elder James White regarding some who pleaded poverty as a reason for not helping to sustain the Review and Herald:SHM 66.5

“They have much leisure time, and perhaps are in the filthy, health-destroying, God-dishonoring practice of using tobacco. Yes, too poor to help a brother send out the bread of heaven to the scattered flock; but have means enough to obtain tobacco, snuff, and tea. Can the Holy Spirit dwell with such men and women? Who dares say, Yes?”—The Review and Herald, July 24, 1855, p. 13.SHM 67.1

A few months later an article dealing with tobacco was prefaced with the observation that “the subject of the use of tobacco is engaging the attention of many of our brethren in different places.”—Ibid., October 16, 1855.SHM 67.2

By this time some were so deeply stirred that they were ready to take drastic action against their brethren who persisted in its use. At a general church meeting held at Morristown, Vermont, October 15, 1855, and attended by delegates from most of the churches in the state, the subject of the use of tobacco by members of the church was introduced. After listening to arguments based upon Scripture, the delegates voted,SHM 67.3

“That the use of tobacco by any member is a serious and bitter grief, and greatly lamented by the church; and after such members have been labored with, and properly admonished, as long as duty seems to require, if they do not reform, the church will then deem it their duty to withdraw from them the hand of fellowship.”—Ibid., December 4, 1855.SHM 67.4