Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Appendix 655how this desire might be effected so that “we as a people” might act tosecure the above advantages.Among the first responses to this request was one from the BrotherB referred to in this connection, in which he expressed his convictionthat it would be wrong to incorporate as a religious body according tolaw. This he held would be “making us a name,” as was the purposeof the builders of the tower of Babel, and would “lie at the foundationof Babylon.” As for insuring the meeting houses, were they not theLord’s property, and could he not take care of his own without the aidof insurance companies? Further, said he, those who lend money to theoffice should not insist on having a note signed by a legal corporation,for “they lend it to the Lord, and they must trust the Lord for it.”—TheReview and Herald, March 22, 1860.After much discussion the misgivings regarding the propriety oflegally organizing the publishing office were largely overcome, and ata conference held in September, 1860, the Advent Review PublishingAssociation was formed. A few months later the name was changedto the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association. Even after thisstep there still remained with some a reluctance to enter into churchorganization, and the subject continued to be discussed. However, withthe large majority favoring organization, the movement proceeded,first by the organization of churches, then of state conferences, and,finally in 1863, of the General Conference.The testimony on “Organization” (pages 270-272) speaks of theopposition that was encountered in New York State to this move andof the vision given regarding it. [716]Page 292—The magicians did not really cause their rods to becomeserpents; but by magic, aided by the great deceiver, they were able toproduce this appearance. It was beyond the power of Satan to changethe rods to living serpents. The prince of evil, though possessing allthe wisdom and might of an angel fallen, has not power to create orto give life; this is the prerogative of God alone. But all that was inSatan’s power to do he did; he produced a counterfeit. To humansight the rods were changed to serpents. Such they were believed tobe by Pharaoh and his court. There was nothing in their appearanceto distinguish them from the serpent produced by Moses and Aaron.Thus the testimony speaks of it in the language of the Scriptures; while