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Denominational History LESSONS IN DENOMINATIONAL HISTORY . FOR USE IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF THE CHURCH DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS WASHINGTON, D. C. Copyright, 1942 Revised edition, copyright,J944, by The Department of Education General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists TABLE OF CONTENTS I. The Church in History " Page 1. Origin alid Mission of the Church 2. Concession and Compromise 12 3. The Church in Prophecy 17 4. Bearers of the Torch 22 5. Early Reformers 27 6. The Lutheran Reformation 32 7. The Calvinistic Reformation 37 8. Backgrounds of American Liberty 42 9. Religion in Early America 47 10: Modern Missions 52 II. The Hope of the Church 11. The Promise of Christ's Return 58 12. The Signs of His Coming 63 13. The First Angel's Message 68 14. In the Fullness of Time 73 15. William Miller 78 16. Other Advent Preachers in America 83 17. The Great Disappointment 88 "18. Prophetic Forecast of Second Advent Movement 93 III. Rise of the New Church 19. Light From Heaven 99 20. Ellen Gould Harmon 104 21. Sabbathkeeping Adventists 109 22. Joseph Bates 114 23. Developing the Doctrines 119 24. Early ,Publishing Work 124 25. Pioneer Preaching 129 26. Development of Organization 134 27. James White 139 28. Civil War Perplexities 144 IV. Widening Horizons 29. The Health Message 150 30. Systematic Benevolence 155 3 31. Camp Meetings 160 32. The Early Home Missionary Movement 165. 33. Expanding in America 170 34. A New Educational System 175 35. Establishing Christian Schools 180 fi V. Into All the World 36. Call to Europe • 186 37. J. N. Andrews 191 38. Down Under the Southern Cross 196 39. The Islands of the South Pacific 201 40. The Dark Continent Calls 206 41. Finding Black Diamonds in Africa 211 42. The Advent Cause in Europe 216 43. South America-A Land of Opportunity 221 44. Mission Advance in Inter-America 226 45. India's Challenging Mission Problems 231 46. The Message to China's Millions 236 47. Giving the Message in Japan, Korea, Philippines 241 48. Mission Problems and Support 246 VI. The Church_ in the Twentieth Century 49. Two Great General Conferences 252 50. The Change of Headquarters 257 51. The Last Years of Ellen G. White 262 52. Missionary Volunteers 267 53. The Modern Laymen's Movement 272 54. Religious Liberty 277 55. Educational Trends 282 56. The Medical Work 287 57. The Publishing Work 292 58. Sabbath Schools 297 59. -Bureau of Home Missions 302 60. The American Negro Work 307 61. The Seventh-day Adventist Ministry 312 62. Present Organization 317 63. A Growing Church 322 64. The Church in the Modern World 327 65 The Challenge of an Unfinished Task 332 4 PREFACE For adventure one need only follow the missionary into the wilds of the upper Amazon, or across the border of Tibet into that forbidden land, or go with him on many another incidental trip. But space excludes from these pages a full account of the adventure, the devotion, and the heroism of God's people and their leaders.. The story of a century of work cannot easily be told in a few pages. For some time students and teachers have sought a book con- taining the essential facts of the origin and growth of the church, presented in convenient and classroom form. Lessons in Denom- inational History is published as an attempt to meet the need. The book is the result of the co-operative efforts of a Committee selected by the Department of Education, and working at Wash- ington, D. C. The members were: A. E. Axelson, of Oak Park Academy; Robert Kitto, of Lynivood Academy; N. F. Pease, of Auburn Academy; D. E. Robinson, of the Ellen G. White Pub- lications office; and W. H. Teesdale, of the Department of Educa- tion. For information and helpful suggestions they are indebted to many sources and individuals. The committee is grateful to A. L. White of the Ellen G. White Publications office for the use of its library and for his personal interest and help, and to Miss Esther Benton of the Department of Education for her careful reading and correcting of the text. It is hoped that these pages will add stimulus to a reviving interest in the story of the church. Books rich in information and most helpful to the student are listed at the ends of the chapters. "We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history."—Life Sketches, 196. This revised edition is sent forth with as few changes as are considered consistent with the experience of those who have used the book, and with the authors' purpose to make the contents as informative and inspirational as space will permit. Selections of illustrations for the next printing are already being made. W. H. T. 5 THE CHURCH IN HISTORY Objective: To sketch in prophecy and history the background and foundation of the ideals and doctrines that constitute the setting and structure of the advent movement. 6 1. ORIGIN AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH The church is God's fortress that He holds in a revolted world. It is His purpose that it shall be a great citadel of truth, and He is determined that it shall recognize no authority above the word of God. It is God's agency for the salvation of humanity. To it has been entrusted the gospel commission, and it has been or- ganized for service. The Seventh-day Adventist church is of comparatively iecent origin, but its doctrines are old and time-tested. It contains all the gospel truth that can be applied to the present time. In order to better understand this institution, it becomes necessary to make a brief survey of its history. Even as the church was rooted and grounded in the Scriptures of Jesus' time, so the Seventh-day Adventist Church is rooted and grounded in the Old and New T6taments. Stephen refers to the exodus movement out of Egypt as "the church in the wilderness." Acts 7:38. Abraham was a member of that group. He was called out and away from •an idolatrous home to become the father of all that believe. There were many others whose lives shine undimmed down through the centuries. Paul refers to them in Hebrews 12:1 as a great cloud of witnesses. The Old Testament teachings laid a sure foundation for the prophecies and teachings of the New Testament. Without the supplementary prophecies of Daniel the book of. Revelation would be incomplete. The one is unfolded and explained in the other. Christ based much of His teachings upon the Old Testament. In fact, He quoted freely from the Scriptures of His time, and thereby placed His stamp of approval upon the inspired writers. • Like the growing seed, the apostolic church grew in a simple, natural way. John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the way and to announce the coming of Jesus. As the work prospered and grew, the organization developed and was perfected. The Holy Spirit watched over it and directed its activities. When the time for a mission expansion came, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Acts 13:2. 7 The doctrines of the early church were simple, clear, anti very definite. They were centered in Christ and the teachings of the Scriptures. The burden of the message was Jesus, His crucifixion and resurrection, and salvation in His name. In the presentation of that God-given message the believers were completely united. They preached with authority and with deep Heaven-born con- viction. Those who heard their teachings marveled and took knowledge that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13.) The first step in its organization was taken when Jesus ordained the twelve apostles. Upon their_ shoulders rested the responsibility of finishing the work that Christ had so well begun and was -'so soon to leave. Immediately after Christ's ascension they set them- selves to work to accomplish their task. A democracy. Guided by the Holy Spirit and the teachings of the Scriptures, the whole body of believers proceeded to fill the place left vacant by the tragic death of Judas. The procedures were democratic. If difficulties arose, and they did, they were brought before the church to be settled. In the case of the dis- contented Grecian widows, who claimed that they were being neglected in--the daily ministration,—the church relieved -the apostles of their temporal duties, and selected seven deacons— honest men, of good report, and filled with the Holy Spirit—to carry such material responsibilities. Some years later, at Antioch in Syria, the problem of the con- ditions upon which the Gentiles were to become members came dangerously near to splitting the church into Jewish and Gentile divisions. The question was referred to a council of delegated leaders from the various churches. Peter related his experience at Caesarea. He reported that while he was preaching to the Gentiles the Holy Spirit came upon them and made no dis- tinction between Jewish and Gentile believers. James, the chair- man of the council, showed from the writings of the Old Testa- ment that the Gentiles were to share in the blessings of the gospel. Paul and Barnabas related their missionary experiences in the first missionary tour. With these facts before them, the council at Jerusalem decreed that the problem had already been decided in favor of the Gentiles by the prophecies of the Old Testament and by the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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