The Reaction of the Early Seventh-day Adventists to the Sunday Law Movement Before 1888

Seminary Room S340

Problem. Developing eschatological Sabbath theology, the Adventist pioneers witnessed the persecution by the Sunday laws from the 1870s. What had they done in reaction before 1888? Results. The first indictment occurred in Georgia, where the Adventists were rare and none minister was appointed for. Church didn’t involve in this case, and the trial was an individual affair. This was similar in other cases in middle of the 1880s. Only one minister met the prosecuting attorney to help the believers, while scores of cases depended upon the individuals. The General Conference of 1885 advised the members to show their beliefs at the courts, while the church didn’t offer proper help. In other side of the States, a group of Adventists in California caused the Democratic Party defeated Republicans who supported Sunday laws in 1882. In other words, the Adventist chose liberalism to resist the Sunday law enforcement. Conclusion. Before 1888, other than literature works, the Adventist church didn’t have proper structure for helping the believers under the persecutions. Especially in the Southern states, where the persecution was most intensive, the church didn’t have enough ministers or structure to help the believers. Few cases imply that if the church moved properly, the persecutions might be lessened.