HISTORY.

The movement which resulted in the formation of

the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination originated in a discussion as to the correct interpretation of the passage in Daniel viii, 13, 14, "Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed," which Mr. Miller and other Adventist leaders had interpreted as referring to the cleansing of the earth at the coming of Christ which they looked for in 1844. With the passing of that period, there arose renewed investigation, and some who were convinced that while there had been no mistake in regard to the time, there had been error in interpreting the character of the event. They came to the conclusion that the sanctuary to be cleansed was not this earth, but the sanctuary in

heaven, where Christ ministered as high priest; and that this work of cleansing, according to the Levitical type, was the final work of atonement, the beginning of the preliminary judgment in heaven which is to precede the coming of Christ, as described in the judgment scene of Daniel vii, 9, 10, which shows an "investigative judgment" in progress in heaven, while events are still taking place on earth.

Further study of the subject of the "sanctuary" convinced them that the standard of this investigative judgment was to be the law of God as expressed in the Ten Commandments which formed the code that was placed in the ark of the covenant in the earthly sanctuary, a type of the heavenly sanctuary. The fourth precept of this law commanded the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, and

they found nothing in Scripture commanding or authorizing the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day.

The passage in Revelation xiv, 6-14, particularly that portion beginning with the phrase "the hour of His judgment is come," they interpreted as a representation of the final work of the gospel; and understood that, with the coming of this "judgment" (in 1844, as they believed), a movement was imperative to carry to every nation and tongue a warning against following tradition, and a call to men to follow the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. They further believed that when this final message had been carried to all the world, Christ would come to reap the harvest of the earth.

As a result of these convictions, a few persons in New England, formerly First-day Adventists, began in 1845 and 1846 to observe the seventh day of the week, and to preach the doctrines which now constitute the distinctive tenets of the Seventh-day Adventists. Among those prominently connected with the movement were three persons-Joseph Bates, James White, and Mrs. Ellen G. White, "the last named looked upon in the early history as possessing the gift of prophecy and regarded still as receiving messages of instruction for the church from time to time by the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit." In 1849 they began the publication of a paper at Middletown, Conn. Later they established their headquarters at Rochester, N. Y., but in 1855 transferred them to Battle Creek, Mich., and in 1903 to Washington, D. C. At a conference held in Battle Creek in October, 1860, the name "Seventh-day Adventist Denomination" was for the first time formally adopted as the official designation of the denomination, and three years later a general conference was organized at that place, under that

name.

The membership at the time of this organization (1863) included approximately 3,500 persons, located principally in the eastern and central parts of the United States and gathered into 125 churches, with 30 ministers and 6 local or state conferences. In 1873 the membership had risen to 5,875; in 1883, to 17,436; in 1893, to 37,404; in 1903, to 77,554; and in 1906 there were 91,531 members (including 62,211 in the United States), 2,416 churches, 1,101 ministers, and 102 organized conferences. At the close of 1916 the strength of the denomination throughout the world was represented by a membership of 141,488, with 3,987 churches, 1,678 ministers, 26 union conferences, 130 local conferences, and 113 organized mission fields.

DOCTRINE.

Seventh-day Adventists have no formal or written creed, but take the Bible as their rule of faith and practice. The following is a summary of the chief points of their belief, upon which there is entire unanimity throughout the denomination:

The law of God is the divine standard of righteousness, binding upon all men. Christ, taking upon Himself the nature of the seed of Abraham, lived as an example, died as a sacrifice, was raised for justification, and is now the only mediator for man in the heavenly sanctuary, where, through the merits of "His shed blood," He ministers pardon and forgiveness of sins to all who come to God through Him. The seventh day of the week, from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday, is the Sabbath established by God's law and should be observed as such. Immersion is the only proper form of baptism. Man is not by nature immortal, but receives eternal life only by faith in Christ. The state to which man is reduced at death is one of unconsciousness. The investigative judgment now in progress in heaven decides the eternal destiny of all men. The personal, visible coming of Christ is near at hand, and is to precede the millennium; at this coming the living righteous will be translated, and the righteous dead will arise and be taken to heaven, where they will remain until the end of the millennium. During the millennium the punishment of the wicked will be determined, and at its close Christ with His people will return to the earth, the resurrection of the wicked will occur, and Satan, the originator of all sin, will, together with his followers, meet final destruction. The earth will then be made the fit abode of the people of God throughout the ages, where the righteous shall dwell forever, and sin will never again mar the universe of God.

The Seventh-day Adventists make the use of intoxicants or tobacco in any form a cause for exclusion from church fellowship. They advocate the complete separation of church and state, and oppose all religious legislation. islation. They are strongly opposed to the so-called "higher criticism." The invitation to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is general to all Christians, the decision as to participation resting with the individual. The service of washing one another's feet, as described in John xiii, is observed at the quarterly meetings, the men and women meeting separately for this purpose, previous to the celebration of the Lord's Supper, during which they meet together.

With regard to the time of the Advent, they have never set a definite date, believing that it is near, but that the day and hour have not been revealed.

POLITY.

The local church is congregational in its government, although under the general supervision of the conference of which it is a member. One or more elders are elected annually to care for the spiritual interests of the church, conduct services, and, in case of need, administer the sacraments. One or more deacons and deaconesses are also elected annually to care for the financial and administrative work. In the case of large congregations, particularly in cities, ordained ministers are sometimes appointed as pastors, but usually they act