The Life AffiiABORS 
 
 11 
 
 ■:-ii 
 
 ^^v'^;. 
 
 William Sheldon 
 
 '■^ u 
 
 i<r^ 
 
 
 4 
 
 ".isv,!; 
 
 
 i?f?, 
 
 
 ^/-vtS-*^:^'??' 
 
 
 % 
 
 S>' 
 
 '%m 
 
 J
 
 <i:^..^^:s <i^^A^^^ -i^AA^^^ <i::^^^i;^^ <i^,,xSi> ^lh'~'S^ ■ 
 
 y4-44-44-44-44-44"44"44-4><&44- 
 >v^4^44^44^4-444^4-444^44^4'#4- 
 
 *" -*^-^ ^-^ -fCv ^^:^ .<C\ x-?». -<rs. x-:>^ -Ow ^^_ -c^ ^j- <rv ^r>. -SX. .^^^^ r^-^ <^^ r^^ 
 
 y4-44-4^J 
 ^•4^4-4va 
 
 si4-44-4^^J 
 
 
 LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 B 
 
 S5441sh 
 
 I .H.S 
 
 >44^4-44- 
 ^4-44-44- 
 4-444>4- 
 
 s4-44-4v^- 
 
 4-44444 
 ■^■^^■^^^' 
 
 si4"44-4v^ 
 
 1 *?' 
 
 44^4-44-444444-4444-44-44-^y 
 44^44v^-444444444^44^4444i 
 44^44^44^44^44^44^44^444444^ 
 
 i^
 
 
 ^■^^^■^^■^^^■^^^•^^^■^^^■^^^■^^^■'^^ 
 ^4^44^44^44^4-44-444^4-44-44- 
 
 ^•444^4"44-44-44-44-44-44-44^ 
 
 ^4^44^4-4^44^44^4-44-44-44-44- 
 
 ^•444^4-4v4-44-44-44-44-44-44^ 
 
 ^4^44^44)44^44^44^4-44"44"44- 
 
 ^4^444 -^44^44^4444^444"44-. 
 
 ^44-44-4 )444-44-4444-44-44^ 
 
 ^4^44^-4-4 )444-44-44"44-4444- 
 
 ^4^44^44 )444"4444"444444 
 
 ?.4^444-4^44v4-44444444-44^ 
 
 ^4^4444>44v4444^444-44"44- 
 ^•■^^(^^•••^^(^^^^•■^^^^•.^^••^^^^••■^^^^•■^(^^.^^^^ 
 
 ii> <:^..(^ ^:pnf.,i^ <!^..f^ .^..r^ .^..f^ ^n,.^^ *^. ,^i> <i^. .r^ <i^. .C^ ^ 
 
 ^" 
 
 ^•444^44%4444-4444444^v^^
 
 
 
 
 rn
 
 ^hh^S-ivLjU^
 
 THE LIFE AND LABORS 
 
 OF 
 
 William Sheldon 
 
 WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY HIS DAUGHTER, 
 
 LUCY SHELDON. 
 
 "Ecce, venio cito; et vierces mea mecum est. 
 
 Western Advent Christian Publication Association, 
 
 Mendota, Illinois. 
 
 1902
 
 copteighted 1902, bt 
 
 The Westeen Advent Cheistian 
 
 Publication Association.
 
 3 ^ rOMyU-'^^^^'. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 It may be thought that the author of this narrative 
 has great respect for her father. She must own that 
 this is the case. And being aware of it she has tried 
 to be neutral, as it were, and to avoid immoderate 
 praise; but may not have entirely succeeded in con- 
 cealing her feelings. For this she humbly begs par- 
 don in advance, and asks that a reasonable allowance 
 be made for the fact that William Sheldon was her 
 beloved father. 
 
 And blessed are the children who have a father in 
 whom they can confide, and truly love and respect! 
 
 The wTiter fondly remembers many quiet, confi- 
 dential talks between father and daughter, in which 
 the two were brought into heart touch with each 
 other, and a mutual understanding established, to a 
 more than common degree, if we mistake not. These 
 are now as greatly missed as their memory is cher- 
 ished. Yes, blessed are we in having had such a 
 father. 
 
 But as a historian we have tried to keep to facts, 
 without exaggeration or embellishment. This style — 
 of direct plainness — would have been most pleasing to 
 the deceased. The writer has also endeavored to 
 avoid invidious comparisons. She hopes that the 
 narrative may be found sufficiently "brief and to the 
 point." 
 
 We are indebted first of all to our mother for much 
 3
 
 4 PREFACE. 
 
 of the material in this volume; to our uncle, D. D. 
 Sheldon; to the World's Crisis; Our Hope; Messiah's 
 Advocate; Dr. H. F. Carpenter; Bro. J. E. Derham; 
 besides others mentioned in the work; but especially 
 are we indebted to Eld. A. Armour for assistance in 
 its preparation; and still later to the Committee 
 who revised the manuscript. 
 
 We here add, after the book is in type, that some 
 selected matter on subjects mentioned elsewhere, must 
 be excluded for want of space. This will account 
 for its non-appearance in this work, although it is 
 prepared. 
 
 The motive prompting us to attempt this ' work, 
 at the request of the Board of Directors of the W. A. 
 C. P. Association, was that it might be of service to 
 the Advent cause; and though prepared under very 
 unfavorable conditions, we hope and trust and pray 
 that God may use it, and bless it. We now leave 
 it with the Lord and you; and trust the results with 
 Him who can rule and over-rule all to his glory. 
 
 L. S. 
 Brodhead, Wis., September, 1902.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Preface 3 
 
 Poetry, "A Model Preacher" 7 
 
 Introductory,— "Life and Work" 11 
 
 CHAPTER. 
 
 I. Birth and Childhood 13 
 
 II. The Coming of the "Message" . . 16 
 
 III. Getting the News, and a Bible . . 21 
 
 IV. The Young Man's Education ... 25 
 V. Called to Carry the Flying Angel's 
 
 Message 30 
 
 VI. Early Work, and Opposition ... 35 
 
 VII. A Larger Field 41 
 
 VIII. Marriage. Removal West .... 47 
 IX. Western Pioneering in the Advent 
 
 Cause 51 
 
 X. Western Pioneering in the Advent 
 
 Cause, continued 58 
 
 XL Lengthening the Cords .... 65 
 
 XII. A Fighting Record 70 
 
 XIII. Branching Out ....... 78 
 
 XIV. Faithful to the Mission, Amid Trial. 84 
 XV. Evangelistic Work 90 
 
 XVI. Tent and Chart Work 98 
 
 XVII. A Tent-meeting Experience . . . 107 
 
 XVIII. Answered Prayers 110 
 
 XIX. Failing Health 118 
 
 XX. Studying and Writing . . . .123 
 5
 
 6 CONTENTS. 
 
 XXI. Editorial Work 136 
 
 XXII. Family Afflictions 142 
 
 XXIII. Notes of his First Southern Tour . 148 
 
 XXIV. Notes of his Second Southern Tour . 159 
 XXV. A Glimpse into his Diary .... 167 
 
 XXVI. Mention of Other Trips . . . .174 
 
 XXVII. His Last Efforts 186 
 
 XXVIII. Closing Hours 212 
 
 XXIX. Funeral Services 219 
 
 XXX. Words of Sympathy 229 
 
 XXXI. An Unpublished Manuscript . . 235 
 
 XXXII. Christ 249 
 
 XXXIII. Prophetic— The Reason Why ... 265 
 
 XXXIV. On AdventLsm 289 
 
 XXXV. Condensed Chronology 298 
 
 XXXVI. Closing Words 302
 
 A MODEL PREACHER. 
 
 Is this not he? — The one who bears 
 The impress of the Christ-life?— dares 
 Be like his Lord. The one who walks 
 In Jesus' ^teps. The one who talks, 
 And also acts, to aid Christ's cause, 
 And to maintain his sacred laws. 
 Who doth the life divine reflect, 
 By righteousness always bedecked. 
 Safe pattern for his trusting flock, 
 Because he's founded on the Rock, 
 And build's as bidden by the Word 
 Of his ador-ed Christ and Lord. 
 Ah, surely that's the model true; 
 The samples, though, are very few. 
 
 But one I've kno\\'n. 
 
 Who thus has sho-mi 
 Himself, by God's owti pattern formed; 
 The Christian name his life adorned. 
 Such William Sheldon long did prove; 
 He Jesus and His truth did love. 
 And held each word as true as He 
 WTio spake it; — sacred e'er to be. 
 
 First, making careful search for truth 
 With all the energy of youth. 
 He studied deep as years rolled by, 
 And, living by ideal high. 
 Exemplified by life and word. 
 The teachings of his holy Lord, 
 And gave his heart, his life, his aU, 
 To sounding forth Christ's mercy-call; 
 And, though of most retiring mien, 
 E'en bashful, modest, as e'er seen, 
 Yet, for his Lord, was Peter-bold, 
 And all God's counsel plainly told, 
 As, wth a heaven-begotten zeal — 
 Received while he for grace did kneel — 
 He, firm as Daniel, stood for right, 
 And wrought, and preached, with holy might. 
 7
 
 A MODEL PREACHER. 
 
 Thus, valiant ever, in the van, 
 Despite opposing fiend or man, 
 Uncompromising, against sin 
 Led on, God's righteous cause to win. 
 
 No worldly gain allured his mind, 
 Nor danger made him lag behind ; 
 Prospective honors, power, or cash, 
 Behind him he would promptly dash, 
 When placed as magnets in his sight 
 To lure him from the course of right, 
 Or lead him to forsake his post, 
 For one of ease; or, with the host. 
 
 No ; he was not for sale : not he ! 
 But faithful servant he would be, 
 Whate'er the cost. Whate'er the gain; 
 He still refused Avith much disdain. 
 The least detraction from God's right; 
 Or, that displeasing in His sight. 
 Nor would he sell the truth; nor sell 
 His Lord; nor 'gainst His will rebel. 
 Nor yet against the chastening rod : 
 Submissive ever to his God. 
 
 Though persecutions he did share, 
 Braved dangers, hardships, knew great care, 
 He gladly spent his time, his powers, 
 (Of which he had most princely dowers,) 
 Nor compensation sought below. 
 Believing God would still bestow 
 The measure of his need each day, 
 He wrought for Him, — secure his pay. 
 Without reserve, life's years he gave. 
 With joy and trust great ills did brave, 
 In candid fervor to proclaim 
 God's truths, and power, and Jesus' name. 
 
 Now rests he, on untarnished shield, 
 
 A soldier never known to yield 
 
 To foe. He "kept the faith;" he "fought 
 
 Good fight ; " " laid up " the " crown " he sought. 
 
 He rests a while, his labors o'er, 
 
 While rich reward God holds in store. 
 
 Soon He will call him forth from earth. 
 
 To an immortal, glory-birth! 
 
 Ah! then the model, made complete, 
 
 Shall triumph over all defeat. 
 
 And in the perfect image shine, 
 
 Of his ador-ed Christ, divine.
 
 A MODEL PREACHER. 
 
 Then loud and long God's praise shall ring 
 While he the victor's song shall sing, 
 And high the victor's palm shall wave 
 O'er vanquished death, and empty gravel 
 
 THE SEQUEL. 
 
 So far as he God's mould well fills, 
 And life of Christ through his distills, 
 Thus far take note, and follow him ; 
 Nor let your light for truth grow dim. 
 
 Jennie Sheldon Bowden. 
 Brodhead, Wis.
 
 LIFE AND WORK 
 
 OF 
 
 ELDER WILLIAM SHELDON. 
 
 "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen 
 this day in Israel? " 
 
 At Brodhead, Wisconsin, on February 11th, 1902, 
 a man of God closed his earthly career. Three days 
 after, he was laid away to rest until the resurrection 
 morning, when he will arise clad with immortality. 
 
 His had been a life of usefulness, and of considerable 
 prominence, among his chosen people and others, and 
 an account of his life and labors has been deemed ad- 
 visable by some; though no person living can ever 
 furnish a full account, or begin to do justice to the 
 subject of this memoir. 
 
 He was, to use the words of our late and beloved 
 brother, E. A. Stockman, and of brother H. E. Thomp- 
 son, "A Denominational Man." From boyhood his 
 life was connected with the people known as Advent- 
 ists, among whom he was a representative man in a 
 broader sense than could be said of many; a leader, 
 thinker, instructor, and an exemplar. Such was 
 William Sheldon, the subject of this memoir. 
 
 And we have buried him beneath the snow; 
 But when the spring appears and flowerets blow, 
 Some shall be planted o'er his grave, 
 Foretokening 
 That in after years, when Christ shall con>e in power, 
 What we have sown in dust, an earthly seed, 
 Shall rise a heavenly flower. 
 
 — Jas. a. Libbey. 
 11
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD, 
 
 The Sheldons were of English Puritan descent. 
 Three brothers came to America between two hundred 
 and three hundred years ago. Wm. Sheldon's grand- 
 father, Thaddeus Sheldon, was a captain in the Revolu- 
 tionary war, and fought in the battle of Plattsburg, 
 where Captain William Miller, of Advent fame, also 
 was. 
 
 William Sheldon was the third of the seven children 
 born to Hiram and Villars Sheldon, only three of 
 whom lived to maturity. He was born November 
 15th, 1830, in the little inland town of Stockbridge, 
 Vermont; that state noted for its sturdy sons. Dillon 
 and Increase, his younger brothers, lived to see man- 
 hood. 
 
 When William was still quite young his parents 
 moved from Vermont over into the state of New York, 
 making their home for a time on a farm in Hampton, 
 on the Poultney river, and but six miles from the home 
 of William Miller, of sacred memory to every loyal 
 Adventist; the man who so greatly moved the whole 
 country with the proclamation: "Behold, the Bride- 
 groom Cometh!" Was there an over-ruling power 
 which determined that the neighbor boy should also 
 herald the same proclamation later? 
 
 13
 
 14 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 While a mere child he began to manifest a habit of 
 thoughtf Illness, and would sit on the floor in such 
 perfect quiet for hours at a time, that his mother really- 
 feared he was not very bright; but when he became 
 old enough to talk, she soon learned that the child was 
 no fool. He would speak of things which showed that 
 in his quiet, thoughtful moods he was pondering over 
 subjects too deep for one of his years. 
 
 Among the earliest recollections of his boyhood was 
 the fulfillment of the event foretold in Matthew 24th 
 asoneof the "signs, "and which caused such great excite- 
 ment. This was "the falling of the stars," on November 
 13th, 1833; and although just three years old he 
 well remembered seeing it, and the excitement caused 
 by the grand, unusual display in the heavens. This 
 fact he mentioned but a short time before his death. 
 
 At the early age of three years William commenced 
 his school days. In those days the teachers of schools 
 "boarded around," each family in the district keeping 
 the teacher for a specified time, which was apportioned 
 according to the number of scholars attending from 
 the family. A teacher, possibly in order to secure a 
 good boarding place, started William to school at this 
 age, going back and forth with him for a time, a dis- 
 tance of over two miles. 
 
 At that time the younger pupils had as many hours 
 of school in the day as the older ones, and it was no 
 wonder that they became weary during the long school 
 hours. This soon became the case with our subject. 
 Sliding down from his seat on a high bench, he would 
 run to the large stove, in which there was no fire, take 
 hold of the top of the large door, and swing out, 
 "riding" the stove door, and blacking hands, face,
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 15 
 
 and clothing, to the merriment of the others. The 
 teacher would lift him back to hi,s place on the high 
 bench, only to have the scene repeated again and again. 
 It was fortunate for the child that he was so young 
 and also a favorite with the teacher. In this little 
 incident we see the early development of an element 
 in his natural constitution which formed a strong 
 characteristic of the man — activity and persistence — 
 which enabled him to accomplish so much and to 
 overcome many difficulties. 
 
 His inclination for study developed early. As he 
 grew tliis inclination grew also, and he woidd read and 
 study whatever he could get hold of. The Bible 
 early became his chief delight, and as often as he could 
 he would go to his room to read and study this book. 
 Parents would call, "William, do this," or, "do that;" 
 and he would reply, "Yes, in a minute;" but the 
 minute would slip into many without his realizing it, 
 so absorbed was he in his Testament. 
 
 When he was about ten years of age his parents 
 again moved, leaving Washington county for the wilds 
 of Franklin county, in the same state ; settling in what 
 is now known as Chateaugay. The journey was made 
 down Lake Champlain by boat as far as Plattsburg, 
 thence through the wilderness to their new home.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE COMING OF THE "MESSAGE. 
 
 When, in 1842, William Sheldon reached the age of 
 twelve years, the country was being greatly stirred 
 by the proclamation: "The day of the Lord is at 
 hand: who shall be able to stand?" This message had 
 a mighty effect upon the people as it was carried from 
 place to place, from city to city, and from state to 
 state. The attention of the people was arrested, and 
 many were led to "search the Scriptures to see whether 
 these things were so;" and being convinced of their 
 truthfulness, were led to set themselves right before 
 God and man. 
 
 The message was given to the church and the world 
 as the result of prayerful and careful investigation of 
 the prophecies of the Word of God, and their fulfill- 
 ment in history, as understood by the leading protest- 
 ant commentators. For it should be understood that 
 William Miller originated no new interpretations: his 
 purpose was to test the truth of the Bible by the fulfill- 
 ment, or failure, of its predictions; so he accepted the 
 expositions of the old and approved writers, finding 
 them according to facts. Thus he was convinced of 
 the truthfulness of the Scriptures. 
 
 But also these fulfilled and fulfilling prophecies had 
 time measurements attached to them, which being 
 interpreted in the generally received way, indicated 
 
 16
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 17 
 
 the end of time about the year 1843. This was accord- 
 ing to the old commentators; but when they wrote 
 that date was in the distant future, and thus not of 
 interest to their generation. And also they had inti- 
 mated that a great revolution would take place, after 
 which prophecy would be clearer; thus in former 
 generations the interpretation of the prophecies caused 
 no stir, as the end was then distant. But William 
 Miller found that in his day the time had almost run 
 out; and the looked-for revolution, and the signs, had 
 already appeared; therefore the judgment must be at 
 the door. This being the legitimate conclusion from 
 the legitimate and accepted expositions, the churches 
 could not, and did not show his error: they hardly 
 made any attempt to do so, — until the time passed. 
 _ Remember, also, that the falling stars of 1833 were 
 fresh in the memories of the people, and thus the 
 heavens co-operated in bringing about the Advent 
 movement. 
 
 We wish our readers would turn to the history of 
 the early days of this proclamation and read concerning 
 the message, and the power that propelled and ac- 
 companied it. It seems to us that no candid reader 
 can peruse the Life of William Miller, who first in 
 America sounded out the tidings that the judgment 
 was nigh, without being convinced that he was a 
 "chosen vessel" used of God at that special time for 
 the special purpose of arousing the slumbering church 
 and world to a realization of the proximity of the 
 greatest of all earthly events, and to a preparation for 
 The Second Personal Coming of Christ. 
 
 About this same time the same message was -being 
 heralded elsewhere in the world, by messengers inde-
 
 18 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 pendent of each other, who had studied prophecy for 
 themselves. In Asia, as well as in Europe, the Rev. 
 Joseph Wolff, a converted Jew, journeyed very ex- 
 tensively with the object of proclaiming this gospel to 
 the Jews; but also preached it to Mohammedans, 
 Hindoos and heathen. A Spanish Roman Catholic 
 published in 1812 a work on "The Second Coming of 
 Christ in Glory and Majesty," under the name of Ben 
 Ezra; the Rev. Edward Irving, of London, published 
 an English translation of this, and several volumes of 
 his own on prophecy. Pere Lambert, in France; 
 Hentzepeter, in Holland; Cunninghame, in Scotland; 
 Faber, and many others in England, were also writing 
 on prophecy in the years before 1843. 
 
 Miller did not long stand alone in this country in 
 heralding the solemn warning. Being aroused by 
 so peculiar and unexpected a message, pious men and 
 women made haste to turn to the Book and investigate 
 the matter. As a result of prayerful investigation 
 many were led, yes, forced, to lay aside everything 
 which concerned only their temporal welfare, and go, 
 "run," with the same tidings. 
 
 The late Luther Boutelle in his "Life and Experi- 
 ences," relates how, after listening to several lectures 
 on the prophecies by William Miller, his wife said to 
 him while reviewing some part of the evening's lecture, 
 "Don't you bslieve that, husband?" He said, "Wife, 
 it is Bible, but I hardly think I believe it." She re- 
 plied earnestly, "Well, if it is Bible, why don't you 
 believe it?" To this he replied, "When I believe it 
 you will know it; for I will have to leave you and run 
 with the message." He felt within himself that there 
 was "salvation in it," and that he would "have to go."
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON, 19 
 
 So it was; the Spirit's power bore home the truth 
 to men's hearts; and many like Boutelle were forced 
 to leave home and run with the glad news of soon 
 coming redemption for the saved, but the judgment 
 of the world. 
 
 Some, like Boutelle, left the shoe-bench, others the 
 plow, the mill, the store, the farm, and went, carrying 
 the message which so gladdened their hearts. They 
 went as they were, not stopping to polish themselves 
 in school; went filled with zeal, fully believing the 
 evidences which their minds had grasped; went in full 
 faith, although not knowing where to lay their heads, 
 nor what would become of their families in their ab- 
 sence; yes, men went, impelled by a power more than 
 human. 
 
 They were sent of God to spread the tidings far and 
 near and to arouse the people to prepare for the judg- 
 ment. As a result of these efforts the country was 
 swept by revivals of the deepest nature. The proc- 
 lamation showed men the necessity of a speedy prep- 
 aration for the event proclaimed. 
 
 As illustrative of some of its results we quote the 
 words of one who was personally in the work, and who 
 speaks from experience : 
 
 "The tide of Millerism, as they called it, rose higher 
 and higher, until, like the rushing of many waters, it 
 swept over the land. There seemed to be little else 
 talked of. It was the theme of ministers, deacons, 
 class-leaders, and praying bands; some opposing, but 
 most impressed deeply with the subject. 
 
 "The spiritual in the churches fell in with it joyfully; 
 saying, 'This is the truth! Glory! Hallelujah!' 
 Such was the effect of believin": that message that men
 
 20 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 who loved the world and were covetous, became be- 
 nevolent and gave to the cause of Christ and to the poor. 
 Christ was a new Savior, the Bible a new book : so they 
 felt. The word of God seemed to electrify all who be- 
 lieved this doctrine of Christ's soon coming. They 
 saw a harmony in it, and an import they had never 
 seen before. The work of redemption, culminating at 
 the coming of Jesus Christ to judgment, was clearly 
 seen." — Life and Experiences of L. Boutelle, pp. 40, 41. 
 
 It is not our intention to present doctrinal argu- 
 ments here, but simply to relate circumstances and 
 events; leaving the presentation of doctrine to a later 
 part of this work, where it will be given in the words 
 of the subject of this memoir, so far as possible. 
 
 Having briefly stated the fact of the proclamation 
 of the message of Christ's near advent, and some of the 
 results attending this proclamation, which was made 
 far and near by those accepting it during those years, 
 gathering force and increasing in number of adherents 
 as time went on, until, in 1842, the messengers with 
 this glad news reached the -wilderness of northern 
 New York, about the time that the subject of this 
 sketch reached the age of twelve years.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 GETTING THE NEWS AND A BIBLE. 
 
 In 1842 a large union revival meeting was held in 
 Chateaugay, during which there were one hundred and 
 fifty professed conversions. These meetings were con- 
 ducted by Elder Hawkins of the M. E. church, and 
 Elders Isaac Adrian and Dudley, of the Baptist 
 church, who had heard and were preaching the speedy 
 coming of Christ. Many at this time embraced that 
 doctrine, among whom were William Sheldon's parents. 
 
 William was among those converted. Of this event 
 he has written: 
 
 "In 1842, being in my thirteenth year, I first heard 
 the Advent proclamation; was convinced and con- 
 verted, — subsequently went through the '43, and '44 
 experience with others, though young at the time." 
 Also, " When but a boy, in 1842, being in my thirteenth 
 year, I first heard the preaching of the Advent of 
 Christ at hand — was thrilled by it, and entered the 
 service of the Lord, believing the message was of 
 divine origin. In 1843, and again in 1844, with many 
 others we looked for the Lord, though but a lad." 
 
 In the spring of 1843 he was baptized by Elder 
 Hawkins of the M. E. church. He was persuaded 
 to enter the M. E. church as a probationer, but never 
 joined in full membership. He often referred to hav- 
 ing gone into "the porch" of the M. E. church. This 
 
 21
 
 22 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 was before believers in the Advent were expelled, and 
 compelled to be a distinct people, which came about 
 after the "disappointment." 
 
 From this time on William Sheldon became very 
 deeply interested in the study of the Bible. Boy 
 though he was, his Testament became his constant 
 companion. A short time ago a dear old lady of 
 eighty-nine years, Mrs. S. Stewart, who knew him 
 then, wrote us on learning of his death : 
 
 "How fast my mind went back to the time when I 
 first knew him and his father's family; when he was 
 converted; how he studied and improved his moments, 
 always with his Testament in his vest pocket; and 
 while plowing, when the horses would stop to rest he 
 would sit on the beam of the plow reading his Testa- 
 ment." 
 
 This fresh pen picture from one who knew him well 
 as a boy, shows his love for the word of God, his love 
 for study, and the element of perseverance in his 
 character. 
 
 Brother Wesley Day, also a neighbor during his 
 boyhood, recently related how he engaged William, 
 with others, to hoe corn; and how he would work just 
 as fast as he could to get through his row, and then out 
 would come his Testament, which he would read until 
 the others had finished their rows. While this amused 
 the men, they took pains to work slowly, so as to give 
 the boy time to-study his Testament. 
 
 The reader may be interested to learn how he came 
 into possession of his first Bible. He was not satisfied 
 with the little pocket Testament, but greatly desired 
 a Bible, and often prayed for one which should be his 
 own. This was not so easily obtained then as it is
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 23 
 
 now, but his desire was strong. And not long after 
 his conversion he was sent on an errand some distance 
 from home on foot, and to shorten the way he took 
 a footpath through the woods, instead of following the 
 road. When about a mile and a half into the woods, 
 he found lying directly in the path before him a dead fox, 
 which had been shot the night before. This he knew, 
 for the reports of the hunters' guns had been heard, 
 but the hunters were unknown to him. This fox had 
 been hit, but had gotten away from the hunters, and 
 there it lay in the path before him. 
 
 Fox skins were then in demand for furs, and in this 
 skin he saw the possibility of his greatly desired Bible. 
 He instantly grasped the thought that Providence had 
 directed the finding of the animal. But right here a 
 difficulty arose: he did not know how to remove the 
 skin without injuring it for the market. He thought 
 of a neighbor boy who had done such work, so he 
 shouldered the fox and retraced his steps. The 
 neighbor's son would not do the work for him without 
 promise of one-half of what the skin would bring, and 
 this promise was made, for that Bible was in his mind. 
 He had next to dispose of the skin, but the market 
 was eighteen miles distant, and to get there he must 
 walk. 
 
 Starting early one morning with the fur over his 
 shoulder, he footed over hills and through woods all 
 of the eighteen miles, and disposed of the fur; receiving 
 for it the sum of three dollars. To a boy in those days 
 this was an immense sum; but only half of it was his. 
 He hastened to a book store where he soon made pur- 
 chase of a Bible, paying for it the whole of his share of 
 the receipts, and the anxiously desired book was his.
 
 24 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 How happy he was ! He said it seemed as if he was 
 treading on air, as he commenced to retrace the long 
 homeward journey. He would sit down by the road- 
 side, not to rest but to read, and so absorbed was he 
 in this that it was long after dark before he reached 
 his home. His heart's desire had been providentially 
 placed in his hand, and he was satisfied and happy! 
 
 With such an early inclination to know and to love 
 the Bible, and to search for and find the precious 
 truths and beauties of that sacred book, it is no wonder 
 that as a man he became "mighty in the Scriptures," 
 and proved a blessing to many, being instrumental in 
 the hands of God in " turning many to righteousness." 
 Oh that we might to-day see more love for the 
 Bible in the young and the old! and that of many 
 more it could be said, "that from a child thou hast 
 known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make 
 thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in 
 Christ Jesus."
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE YOUNG MAN's EDUCATION. 
 
 Young and old alike are exposed to temptations, 
 and the manner in which we deal with them, and the 
 lessons for good which we learn from contact with 
 them, serve in the formation of our life character. 
 
 In the boyhood days of our subject, the use of 
 liquors and tobacco was a common indulgence, and 
 was considered no sin; even ministers joining with 
 their parishioners in taking a glass, it being considered 
 very uncourteous to allow a minister of the gospel, or 
 any respected visitor, to depart from the house witnoat 
 bringing out a mug of cider or a glass of liquor. 
 
 In early boyhood the use of liquors and tobacco 
 became to William Sheldon a sin, as contact with 
 either brought to him a realizing sense of their injurious 
 effects, hence leading him to consider indulgence in 
 them sinful, at least for himself. 
 
 As an amusement, the young boys sometimes got 
 up a hunt, in which all the boys around participated. 
 Once the boys of two adjoining districts planned a 
 grand rabbit hunt. They formed two companies, over 
 one of which William was made captain. The company 
 that was beaten was to treat the winning side. A 
 place of meeting was arranged and the companies 
 separated. 
 
 When the hunt was over it was found that William's 
 25
 
 26 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 company had thirty-six rabbits, while the other com- 
 pany had eleven less, and had to furnish the treat. 
 This was drink, something stronger than cider; and 
 of this all partook, and William with the rest. 
 
 Soon he found that something was wrong; every- 
 thing was in a whirl, and the ground seemed to rise up 
 and strike him as he went his homeward journey. 
 Having a mile and a half to go in this condition, he 
 learned a lesson, and never again did he let intoxicants 
 pass his lips. 
 
 So with tobacco. He was persuaded once to take 
 a chew and a smoke of the weed, and this trial made 
 him so deathly sick that he was convinced that it was 
 harmful, and also, to him, sinful. Never again could 
 he be persuaded to attempt its use. 
 
 Having once made up his mind as to the right or 
 wrong of a matter he was very firm in keeping to his 
 decisions, and could not easily be moved from what 
 he considered to be the right. The early develop- 
 ment of this firmness, in following decisions of right 
 and wrong, was an element of character which fol- 
 lowed him through life. 
 
 As a boy we have testimony that he was found to 
 be trusty, truthful, honorable, and very conscien- 
 tious, and these qualities made him useful to his teach- 
 ers and others, and he was often entrusted with matters 
 that could not be given to others with the same assur- 
 ance of safety. It need not be said that in his man- 
 hood these characteristics remained, and made him 
 a man of known integrity and sterling worth. 
 
 He was not satisfied with his early educational 
 facilities, yet he ever made the best possible use of 
 those he had at hand. He had an uncle, William
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 27 
 
 Sheldon, for whom he was named, who lived at Hamp- 
 ton, New York, and this uncle strongly urged him 
 to return to that vicinity, so as to obtain better school 
 privileges. This he was permitted to do; but he had no 
 money with which to obtain an education. His 
 uncle obtained work for him, and aided him what 
 he could ; and thus he was enabled to enter the Poult- 
 ney Academy, a good school, located in Poultney, 
 Vermont, just across the river from Hampton, New 
 York. He worked at anything he could get to do 
 that would aid him to attend school. During one 
 year of his study here he was taken into the family 
 of Dr. Beaman, of Poultney. It was through many 
 difficulties and hardships that he succeeded in laying 
 a good foundation here for his after studies and 
 work. 
 
 While at Poultney Academy he became acquainted 
 with two brothers, neighbors of his uncle, who were 
 college graduates and excellent instructors — Pro- 
 fessors Ralph and Rodney Richards. These men took 
 a great interest in him, seeing in him what they thought 
 to be more than common ability, and they offered 
 to assist him later in his studies. Remaining some 
 time longer with his uncle, he placed himself under 
 their instruction, studying Greek, Hebrew and other 
 branches. A deep friendship grew between them, 
 and the brothers were always held in loving remem- 
 brance by their pupil, who long afterward named one of 
 his grandsons for Prof. Ralph Richards. 
 
 By the time he was fifteen years old it was claimed 
 by some that he was better posted on the Bible than 
 many ministers. He often entered into conversation 
 with preachers and others, upon Bible themes, and
 
 28 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 always with his Bible in hand, ready to turn to a 
 "Thus saith the Lord." 
 
 Many incidents might be related showing the early 
 development of some of the elements which com- 
 bined to make him "the man for the place" he was 
 afterward to fill ; but we now leave the quiet child and 
 studious youth, with the prayer that some may be 
 helped and encouraged in fortitude and faithfulness 
 by this brief glimpse of the past. 
 
 We now proceed to relate some of the labors and 
 experiences of our subject during his years of man- 
 hood, and along the line of his chosen life-work, in 
 which his whole being was absorbed, and through 
 which his influence extended over a vast territory, 
 even reaching beyond the oceans — that work being 
 the proclamation by voice and pen of the dispensa- 
 tional and "present truth;" namely: the Imminence 
 of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ to this 
 earth; and the doctrines of the Nature of Man, and 
 of the State of the Dead, which are inseparably con- 
 nected with that of the Second Advent, as showing 
 its necessity; and also the exposition of the events 
 related to, and accompanying the Advent, such as 
 Eternal Judgment Rewards and Punishment; — and 
 by no means omitting the declaration of the Way 
 of Salvation, and the necessary Preparation in order 
 to be accepted by the Lord at his coming. 
 
 Having been converted under the preaching of 
 the Lord's soon coming, he accepted and loved that 
 doctrine as a youth, and his faith and love strength- 
 ened and deepened as the years rolled on, so enthus- 
 ing and thrilling his very being that he could not 
 help but devote his life to that cause; though had he
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 29 
 
 followed his natural bent he would have become a 
 lawyer, instead of a minister of the gospel, and of a 
 most unpopular and even despised message. It was 
 the late Elder Hiram I\Iunger, we think, who said: 
 "God spoiled a mighty good lawyer when he made 
 a preacher out of Sheldon."
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CALLED TO CARRY THE FLYING ANGEl's MESSAGE, 
 
 When the blessed hope of the Lord's near return 
 was first preached in this country, it so took hold 
 of large numbers of men that it resulted in the going 
 out of many to tell the story and carry the news, 
 and the holding of special religious services in many 
 different localities. Preachers would stay a few days 
 in one place and deliver the word, then pass on quickly 
 to another place; thus keeping actively in the field, 
 often until physically worn out. 
 
 The people also were so absorbed in the preaching, 
 that often they left home and went to attend the 
 meetings being held in some other town, so desirous were 
 they to hear more on this subject. One whom we 
 have talked with followed Mr. Miller's meetings for 
 six weeks, as a hearer only. The preaching was ac- 
 companied by such power that men were drawn to 
 listen, going for miles, on foot or otherwise, to get 
 to hear the Word. 
 
 It was then a common occurrence for William 
 Sheldon to go from one place to another to be in at- 
 tendance at meetings which were being held in differ- 
 ent parts of the state, here and there, just as places 
 opened, or could be opened. These trips were made 
 on foot, and he would even venture so far as forty 
 
 30
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 31 
 
 miles away on foot, so deep was his love for hearing 
 the gospel; and he soon became well known to 
 preachers of "the message" in northern New York, 
 and it was predicted by them that he would become 
 a preacher. 
 
 At a grove meeting, held in 1848, at Chateaugay, 
 New York, at which several ministers were present, 
 Bro. Sheldon was persuaded, at the age of eighteen, 
 to make his first public effort to preach. There was 
 a certain bashfulness and reserve in his character, 
 which made it very hard for him to think of speak- 
 ing in public, though he had some boldness in private 
 conversation, which led him to defend, if necessary, 
 what he believed to be true and right. 
 
 Up to the time of this grove meeting he said 
 he had never even given an extended testimony or 
 exhortation in public. He would always testify, 
 though in a few words, never to exceed two or three 
 sentences; his diffidence was so great that he could 
 not muster up courage to attempt more. 
 
 He was now urged to attempt to preach. "What 
 an undertaking! Yet his heart's desire lay in this 
 direction, and amid the prayers and blessings of the 
 ministers present he stepped forth with his little 
 Bible in hand — the same one before mentioned, and 
 which he continued to use during the early years of 
 his ministry — and commenced to speak to the gath- 
 ered people in the open grove, using as his text the 
 words: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." 
 
 He had spoken about fifteen minutes when a heavy 
 thunder-shower suddenly came up, causing all to seek 
 such shelter as there could be obtained, the audience 
 filling up the platform, which had been put up of
 
 32 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 rough boards and covered with the same for a shelter 
 for the speakers. 
 
 Here they waited, the preachers often expressing 
 the wish that it would stop raining so that Bro. 
 Sheldon could finish his sermon; while Bro. Shel- 
 don secretly hoped it would not stop raining then, 
 for he had gone as far as he could anyhow. The 
 rain continued, so he was saved the embarrassment 
 of a complete break-down in his first public attempt. 
 Possibly that shower was divinely directed. 
 
 His second attempt, made also there, was with 
 better success and without break. His third sermon, 
 given when just past nineteen years of age, was the 
 beginning of a series of over thirty sermons, one after 
 the other. 
 
 During this protracted effort a Mormon elder came 
 around to fill a forenoon appointment in the same 
 house he was occupying. This man made a raid on 
 the ''Millerites," and of course on what Bro. Shel- 
 don was preaching. This aroused him, and at the 
 close of the meeting he jumped up on a seat and gave 
 notice that the morning's discourse would be reviewed 
 that evening. This notice filled the house to over- 
 flowing that night, and he took up the subject, hold- 
 ing the audience two and one-half hours. 
 
 As a result of this, his first protracted effort, quite 
 a number were converted — over forty, if we correctly 
 remember the statement — and brought to see the 
 light of the truth. 
 
 From this on he entered fully into the work of the 
 ministry, visiting and preaching in many places in 
 northern New York and Canada West, answering 
 calls or tDpening up fields in which to labor.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 33 
 
 111 the summer of 1849 Eld. R. V. Lyon visited 
 Chateaugay and held a tent meeting which resulted 
 in a number of conversions. In this meeting Bro. 
 Sheldon assisted, and from that time on for a few- 
 years he was associated in work with Eld. Lyon, to 
 quite an extent, laboring in New York and Canada. 
 Eld. Lyon was a very peculiar man, somewhat 
 rough, perhaps, in his ways, yet he did a good work. 
 Riding along the roadway to fill an appointment, on 
 seeing a man in the field he would stop, hail the man, 
 call him to the road, and then give him notice of his 
 meeting something like this: "Say, there is a Lyon 
 going to roar down at the school-house to-night. Come 
 down and hear him." And then he would whip up 
 his horse and ride quickly away, leaving the man by the 
 fence too astonished to speak. He easily drew crowds. 
 
 In the year 1851 a conference of Adventist believers 
 was held in Chateaugay, at which, on the 21st day 
 of September, Bro. Sheldon was ordained to the 
 work of the gospel ministry. We give below a copy 
 of a document in our possession^ which speaks for itself; 
 
 "to all concerned. 
 
 "I do hereby certify that Bro. William Sheldon, 
 of Chateaugay, Franklin county, New York, was set 
 apart (ordained) by myself to the work of proclaim- 
 ing all of God's revealed truth, and to attend to all 
 those duties which the great Head of the Church has 
 enjoined upon those whom he has called to this work, 
 according to the rule given in his Word ; on the morn- 
 ing of the 21st of September, A. D. 1851, at Cha- 
 teaugay, Franklin county, New York. — R. V. Lyon, 
 
 "A proclaimer of the doctrine taught by one Jesus 
 of Nazareth, whom the Jews crucified."'
 
 34 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 The late Elder D. T. Taylor assisted in this ordina- 
 tion service, as may be learned from the following 
 extract taken from a communication written by 
 Bro. Sheldon and published in the Bible Banner, 
 when he and Bro. Taylor were appointed corre- 
 sponding editors of that paper, in 1876: 
 
 "We are glad that its pages are to sparkle with 
 productions from the able pen of Bro. D. T. Tay- 
 lor. If his pen is hereafter inspired by the spirit that 
 moved it in other days, many hearts will be com- 
 forted, and many minds enlightened. He held our 
 trembling hand over twenty-six years ago when we 
 entered the ministry, and we now cheerfully grasp 
 his editorial hand as a co-laborer in this new depart- 
 ment." 
 
 In giving himself to the gospel ministry, Bro. 
 Sheldon had first "counted the costs," and knew full 
 well that some of the experiences through which he 
 would pass would be anything but desirable. But, 
 "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people 
 of God," and "esteeming the reproach of Christ," 
 and last day truth, "greater riches than the treasures 
 in Egypt," he deliberately entered the work, and 
 gave a life-time to the cause he loved dearer than 
 life itself. 
 
 The upbuilding and defense of a cause lacking 
 popular favor, and whose advocates were looked upon 
 with contempt and treated with scorn, ridicule and 
 persecutions, was the work he chose, and ever sought 
 to accomplish; and the hardships and trials through 
 which he afterwards passed never once availed to 
 tempt him to desert the path of his early choice.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 EARLY WORK AND OPPOSITION. 
 
 For about three years after his ordination Bro. 
 Sheldon continued to spend most of his time in north- 
 ern Xew York and Canada West, preaching as the 
 way was opened to him, or himself opening up fields 
 in which to labor and spread the glad tidings of soon- 
 coming redemption. During this time he passed 
 through many remarkable experiences, some of which 
 showed that the savage in human nature had not 
 been all eliminated. 
 
 In three Canada towns he was forced to face mobs 
 composed of roughs and Roman Catholics: in Ma- 
 tilda, Whitby, and Merrimac. While preaching from 
 the chart, treating upon historical and prophetical 
 facts, mention of Rome and the papacy was, of course, 
 made. Opposers of the Word, some of whom were 
 members of churches, decided to use the references 
 to papal Rome as a means of inciting the Roman 
 Catholics to break up the lectures by violence; so 
 they made reports to some Romanists, and did not 
 hesitate even to misrepresent. The next night quite 
 a large number of that element were present, but 
 with no good intentions, for they came on purpose 
 to break up the meeting. Bro. Sheldon had on 
 a new suit of clothes, and as he stood in the pulpit 
 
 35
 
 36 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 declaring the Word, suddenly a shower of rotten 
 eggs flew around him, hitting him and the desk by 
 the dozen. His new suit was ruined. He remarked 
 that those were the softest arguments his opposers 
 had to furnish, and went on and finished the service. 
 
 Not having succeeded in breaking up the meeting 
 that night, they returned next night in greater force. 
 This night good eggs were thrown at him — the supply 
 of bad ones having been exhausted on the evening 
 before. Also a number of stones were thrown, but 
 none of these hit or hurt him, though one coming 
 within a few inches of his forehead dropped directly 
 down without touching him, as if it had there met 
 an invisible wall. These, he told them, were the 
 hardest arguments they could present. 
 
 He finished this service fearlessly, the mob hooting 
 around outside, and intending to do him bodily harm 
 when he should come out of the church. At the 
 close of the service a hurried consultation was held 
 by the brethren. All the lights were extinguished 
 at once, and gathering around him in numbers they 
 all stepped out together into the darkness, and min- 
 gled in the crowd without his being recognized by 
 the howling mob; and ''he, passing through the midst 
 of them, went his way," being taken to a house in 
 another part of the town to remain that night, where 
 no one suspected he would go. The mob, infuriated 
 because their plans were foiled, howled around until 
 near daylight, threatening to kill him if they but 
 found him. 
 
 Thus the Lord's protecting care was manifested, 
 and no harm was permitted to befall him for declar- 
 ing the Word of God.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 37 
 
 Again. Brother Sheldon was invited to the town 
 of Whitby, twenty-eight miles east of Toronto, and 
 arrangements were made for meetings, and a place 
 secured for three nights. Bro. J. D. Foster, who 
 entertained him during his stay there, and who made 
 the arrangements, furnished the following account 
 of another mob experience. He said : 
 
 "I Avas very much taken up with the young man, 
 and had high hopes of a good time on my part, and a 
 great treat for those who would come to hear. The 
 first evening he preached an impressive Bible sermon. 
 Some of the church-members heard it, and there was 
 so much Bible that contradicted their belief that they 
 made up their minds he should not preach any 
 more there; and they planned to break up the meet- 
 ings with eggs. We knew the leaders, who were sons 
 of certain pious ones whose faces were as long as the 
 names they bore. 
 
 "Well, the second night was a warm, pleasant 
 evening, the doors and windows were open, and, for 
 a small place, a large congregation gathered. Brother 
 Sheldon stood up with Bible in hand, and announced 
 his subject, and spoke for perhaps fifteen minutes. 
 He stood at the rear end of the hall, facing the door, 
 when suddenly there came a shower of eggs, many 
 dozens all at once. Two hit him about his shoulders, 
 and one on his forehead. It was a shock to me. The 
 congregation never moved. Bro. Sheldon took 
 his handkerchief and wiped his besmeared face, and 
 continued preaching. 
 
 "About half an hour afterwards the mob came back 
 and pounded on the siding outside, and tossed a stone 
 or two through the window. One stone hit my wife's
 
 S8 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 hand, which happened to be on her baby's head, as 
 he lay asleep on her lap. That hand saved the child; 
 and for some reason unknown and inexplainable it did 
 not injure her. I do not think they intended to hurt 
 anyone, but aimed for the space around the altar. 
 
 "Well, we stayed, and he finished his sermon with 
 the utmost courage and firmness. His voice did not 
 falter, yet he was compelled to dodge once. After all 
 these stones had been thrown, some one went and 
 stood in the door to protect him, and to watch. The 
 next day he went on his way." 
 
 Ministers of to-day know but very little what it 
 cost an half century ago for a man to step out and at- 
 tempt to "declare all the counsel of God." Per- 
 secutions of a violent type were then common, as 
 some living witnesses can still testify, and these know 
 that the above accounts are not overdrawn; and 
 much more could be added which would show that 
 it took men who could, and did, rely on a more than 
 human power to take them safely through the ex- 
 periences endured in the earlier days of our existence 
 as a "called of God" people. 
 
 We will here subjoin part of a letter written by 
 Elder D. A. Dickinson, then of Iowa, which records 
 another like instance. He wrote: 
 
 "... I must record this meeting at Dubuque. 
 There was one Adventist family that went from Cas- 
 cade, and there were a few Germans, Lutherans, I 
 think, who had become interested hearing Eld. Grant, 
 and it was thought best to get Bro. Sheldon and have 
 a tent meeting. So Eld. P. W. Hough and I went 
 to help. Bro. Sheldon came and we pitched the tent, 
 and he put up his chart, and for a few evenings we
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 39 
 
 had comparative quiet. But soon the Irish Cathohc 
 element got wind of what was meant in the chart, 
 and began to make a disturbance, and if ever I had 
 my hands full of business it was then while Bro. S. 
 was preaching. Of course, Bro, Hough helped all 
 he could, ... he stayed with me and slept in 
 the tent and took turns watching, for we expected 
 the tent would be torn down, in fact some guy ropes 
 were cut; but the greatest disturbance was made 
 during preaching. Bro. S. had at that time a little 
 impediment in his speech, and the young Irish girls 
 and boys would mock him, right to his face. He did 
 not mind it at all but went on pouring out the truth 
 of the little horn of Daniel. 
 
 "We made an appeal to the Mayor for protection, 
 but that functionary was himself a Catholic, . . . 
 and we concluded that the police would be Irish too, 
 and would not be any help to us. So the meeting 
 ran on over the next Lord's day, and such a time as 
 we had on that Sunday! . . , Elder Hough and 
 I went outside and walked around the tent to prevent 
 it from being torn down. I have often wondered 
 how we ever went through that evening and came 
 out as well as we did." 
 
 It may be in place here to insert a short extract 
 from The World's Crisis of March, 1866, to show 
 how these pioneers felt and reasoned concerning 
 
 "the advent people and faith. 
 
 "The Advent people are a distinct people, and came 
 into existence under a prophetic proclamation. That 
 proclamation portrayed the speedy termination of 
 all earthly kingdoms, and the establishment of the
 
 40 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 kingdom of God on earth. It is true that this event 
 was looked for at too early a date, but this did not 
 in the least invalidate the truthfulness of the great 
 proclamation — the nearness of the event, unmistaka- 
 bly indicated by the fulfillment of prophecy. And 
 if this proclamation, which gave us an existence as 
 a distinct people, was not all error, it is still a proc- 
 lamation due a slumbering church and sinful world. 
 If this is really so, we have a specific message to sound 
 in the ears of this last generation, and but a short 
 time to do it in. Let us, then, either conclude that 
 the proclamation which has given us birth as a dis- 
 tinct people is a delusion, or let us go to work in earnest 
 and sound the alarm, even if it does require a sacrifice 
 at our hand. If it is a truth at all, it is a truth of 
 unparalleled magnitude and interest involving the 
 return of Christ from heaven, the resurrection of the 
 sleeping saints, the end of mercy's day to the wicked, 
 and the introduction of Messiah's kingdom. And 
 with events like these but a step before us, can we 
 feel indifferent, and be inactive? For more than a 
 quarter of a century has this solemn message been 
 proclaimed, and we are now being crowded into the 
 extremity of the circle of time in which the prophetic 
 measurements must terminate. 
 
 "As a people we should now be all astir with heaven- 
 ly zeal, warning sinners to prepare, and feeding "the 
 household of faith with meat in due season;" for, 
 "blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he 
 Cometh, shall find so doing." Our duty is plain. 
 Our work is before us. Will we do it? God help us. 
 
 "Wm. Sheldon."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A LARGER FIELD. 
 
 Among Bro. Sheldon's early co-laborers in his home 
 vicinity were such men as D. T. Taylor, J. B. Cook, 
 O. D. Gibson, W. M. Sutherland, M. Batcheler, and 
 R. V. Lyon. But his labors were not to be long con- 
 fined to his home and its surrounding districts, he 
 was distined to extend his work into a larger field. 
 
 Mention has already been made of his association 
 in work with Elder R. V. Lyon, whose home was in 
 Woodstock, Ct. Elder Lyon arranged a preaching 
 tour which should take Bro. Sheldon into the East, 
 and they started together from New York state early 
 in January, 1853, to travel toward New England. 
 They stopped first at Hebron, N. Y., where Bro. S. 
 preached twice; thence went to Pownel, and other 
 points in Vermont; then into Massachusetts, preach- 
 ing at Northfield Farms, Springfield, Greenfield, 
 Worcester, and other places; also at several points 
 in Connecticut. 
 
 Returning, he preached in several other Vermont 
 towns, and again visited Hebron, N. Y., going from 
 thence to his old home at Hampton, where he also 
 preached. Here he visited the grave of William 
 Miller, who died on Dec. 20, 1849. Only a few weeks 
 before the death of Father Miller, Bro. S. had visited 
 him in his home for the last time. Here it will be 
 
 41
 
 42 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 interesting to read a brief record which Bro. Sheldon 
 has left, concerning his personal acquaintance with 
 that man of God. His account is as follows: 
 
 "My first remembrance of Wm. Miller of Hampton, 
 N. Y., dates back to 1837, when but a school boy- 
 living in the same town. I had previously heard of 
 the 'Prophet Miller' living in another part of the town; 
 but one day two teams were passing my father's 
 house, driven by boys: one tried to pass the other, 
 and in so doing one conveyance was capsized, and 
 Miller was thrown out, and slightly hurt; his sus- 
 penders being broken in the act; and he came into 
 my father's house for repairs, and to wait till his 
 boys captured the runaway horses, which they were 
 driving, I always remember the statement of Miller, 
 made on entering the house, — 'The boys deserve to 
 be whipped for running horses;' but I never learned 
 whether the boys got their deserts for the deed, or 
 not. This was my first sight of Miller. 
 
 "Subsequently my people moved to another part 
 of the state; and in 1840 a terrible tornado visited 
 the section, mowing down the forest like grass before 
 the scythe; and in witnessing the scene I feared that 
 Miller's prophecy was about being fulfilled. In 1842, 
 being then in my thirteenth year, I first heard the Ad- 
 vent proclamation; was convinced and converted — 
 subsequently went through the '43 and '44 experi- 
 ence with others, though young at the time. In 1847, 
 I went back to Hampton on a visit, and heard Miller 
 speak on Hampton Hill. In 1849 I went back again 
 (I had then commenced preaching), went to Miller's 
 house, and took dinner with him. He was then en- 
 tering his last sickness, though not confined to his
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 43 
 
 bed. He died the same year. So my ministerial 
 career began a few months before Miller's ended. He 
 was a man of God, having the message of God in the 
 main, minus a premature expectation. He sleeps in 
 Jesus, soon to awake." 
 
 In the early part of 1853, Bro. Sheldon also took 
 a trip to Rochester, N. Y., where the publishing 
 house which sent out the paper called the Advent 
 Harbinger was located. To this paper he early began 
 to send the productions of his pen, for when quite 
 young he had begun to develop his talent for writing, 
 and in this branch of the Lord's work he afterwards 
 became widely useful. At this time he arranged 
 there for the printing, later in that year, of his first 
 printed work, a pamphlet of 187 pages, entitled, 
 "The Gospel Vindicator." For a time after this 
 Bro. S. was associated somewhat with the labors of 
 Joseph Marsh, the editor of the Advent Harbinger. 
 
 In the latter part of this same year a second trip 
 into New England was made, and appointments were 
 arranged for some meetings in the city of Southbridge, 
 Mass., two and a half miles from the little village of 
 Sturbridge, the home of Sylvanus Stone, a man who 
 furnished a "pilgrim's home" for Adventists. This 
 Bro. Stone and his wife had early embraced the Ad- 
 vent views, and had been "cast out" from the Baptist 
 church as a consequence. Their home was always 
 open to those of "like precious faith," and many min- 
 isters and others were gladly entertained time and 
 again in that hospitable residence. 
 
 On January eighth, 1854, Bro. Sheldon wended his 
 way from Woodstock, Ct., to this Bro. Stone's home, 
 which was to be his stopping-place during his South-
 
 44 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 bridge appointments. When within a few steps of 
 the house, the door suddenly opened and there ap- 
 peared from within a young lady, a daughter of the 
 household, with a pan of water in her hands. Seeing 
 a young man before the door, she slammed it shut, and 
 rushed out of sight into a back room. 
 
 Some years ago, Elder John G. Hook, who in those 
 days frequented that home, described to the writer in 
 his own quaint style, this same young lady as she ap- 
 peared in those days, as being "young, and fresh, and 
 beautiful;" be that as it may, that young lady was the 
 one whose life was afterwards linked with William 
 Sheldon's, for a period of over forty-eight years. 
 
 To another member of the household who admitted 
 him to the house, the young man announced that he 
 was William Sheldon. Bro. Stone was sent for, and 
 came in and was introduced to "Bro. Sheldon." He 
 looked him over, and said, "This is not Bro. Sheldon 
 of the Harbinger." But he declared that he was. 
 Bro. Stone insisted that he could not be; for that Bro. 
 Sheldon was an old man, and that he must be a son of 
 the Harbinger Bro. S. But the young man persisted 
 in asserting that, "I am he." He had already be- 
 come widely known by his writings; and many who 
 knew him only by his writings had received the im- 
 pression that he was then a man well advanced in 
 years. 
 
 Up to this time Bro. S. had held somewhat to "Age- 
 to-come" views. These were advocated by the Har- 
 binger, and by several of his co-laborers at that time : 
 Bro. Stone also held to the same. 
 
 In his discourses at Southbridge our brother brought 
 in this theory somewhat, and when, after returning to
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 45 
 
 the hoiise^ the family talked over the sermons with the 
 young minister, the daughter before referred to spoke 
 out plainly against the theory of an "Age-to-come. " 
 Quite a family discussion followed, with the result that 
 from that time the young minister sealed his lips on 
 that subject. 
 
 About five years afterward, when he had been in the 
 West for some time, Bro. S. wrote a series of articles, 
 coming out clearly and entirely against a future proba- 
 tion for any; and from that time on he was fully com- 
 mitted to the opposition of that error. 
 
 This episode illustrates a strong characteristic of his. 
 If a doubt as to any point arose in his mind, he sealed 
 his lips on it until he had made a thorough investigation; 
 and not until he became thoroughly satisfied, after 
 careful and full investigation of the subject in all its 
 bearings, and prepared to defend his position on all 
 sides, did he proclaim his views regarding the matter. 
 But when thoroughly posted, and convinced as to the 
 right and wrong of a subject, he never hesitated to 
 speak out on it, and did so with much positiveness. 
 
 Elder O. M. Owen has written thus: 
 
 "I am so organized that I am specially drawn to one 
 who has positive convictions concerning what is truth; 
 and who has, moreover^ the courage to proclaim the 
 same. Such a man was our beloved Bro. Sheldon." 
 
 And we will just remark here that his well-known 
 positiveness was not mere wilfulness, or egotism, but 
 was because his convictions were not second-hand ones, 
 borrowed from somebody else, — as they too often are. 
 That kind of "views" can be easily taken up; and as 
 easily laid aside, upon occasion; but William Sheldon 
 was not that kind of a man.
 
 46 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 After examining and committing himself against the 
 so-called "Age-to-come" error, he was never "side- 
 tracked" by any of the various "-isms" which have 
 arisen to draw off, divide, and confuse the body of Ad- 
 ventists. All such points as the keeping of the "Sev- 
 enth Day Sabbath;" the "Non-Resurrection of the 
 Wicked Dead;" and so on, were thoroughly investi- 
 gated, totally rejected, and we think sufficiently refuted 
 by him. These theories have been dealt many a hard 
 blow by his voice and pen. We think it safe to say 
 that no one has kept more closely to the "main track" 
 of Adventism than Bro. Sheldon has, since his relin- 
 quishment of whatever Age-to-come-ism he had been 
 associated with.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MARRIAGE. REMOVAL WEST. 
 
 During the summer of 1854, Bro. Sheldon turned his 
 face Westward, and took a trip through the then new 
 country, looking over that field to see what prospects 
 there were for work, and for securing a home. Return- 
 ing late in November^ he spent a short time at the home 
 of his parents in Chateaugay, then wended his way on 
 into Massachusetts, to the home of the one he had 
 chosen to share with him his future life. 
 
 With Miss Areli M. Stone, of Sturbridge, Mass., 
 fourth daughter of Sylvanus Stone before mentioned, 
 he drove the few miles between Sturbridge and Wood- 
 stock, Ct., to the home of Elder R. V. Lyon, where, on 
 the thirteenth day of December, 1854, the ceremony 
 was performed by Elder Lyon which joined their lives 
 "for better or, worse," and "until death" should them 
 part. He was in his twenty-fifth year, and she in her 
 nineteenth; and in making this choice of a life compan- 
 ion he showed rare good judgment, and it proved to be 
 the best step for himself that he ever took, for in her 
 he found a companion most helpful, able, willing, 
 faithful, and sympathetic. 
 
 "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and 
 obtaineth favor of the Lord." "A prudent wife is from 
 the Lord." 
 
 47
 
 48 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 In his wife Bro. Sheldon found a companion who 
 became the uncomplaining, willing partner of his sor- 
 rows as well as of his joys. She left a home of comfort, 
 left father and mother, brothers and sisters, relatives 
 and friends, and went with him into a wild, almost un- 
 inhabited country, to aid in making a home for them- 
 selves, and in carrying the message of redemption to a 
 judgment-bound people. Together they shared the un- 
 inviting life of a pioneer in a new country, starting with 
 nothing but their hands and brains to do with. They 
 did not commence "where their parents left off," as so 
 many young people now think they must. 
 
 Many were the years of toil and privation, mingled 
 with sorrows and joys, until they secured for them- 
 selves a home with moderate comforts. Yet through 
 all these she proved herself the willing, uncomplaining, 
 devoted, true partner, such as is rarely seen under sim- 
 ilar conditions, for the lot of an Adventist preacher's 
 wife was then peculiarly trying. And when it came 
 down to the years of intense physical suffering which it 
 became his lot to endure for seven long years, never 
 could there be a more faithful, patient, willing com- 
 panion, helper and attendant than she proved herself 
 to be, by night and by day. Self was always her last 
 consideration, and no words of complaint at her lot were 
 ever heard to escape her; although at last she was phys- 
 ically entirely worn out, yet she was helped to continue 
 her ministrations so that no stranger was called to do 
 what had to be done for her husband, and which would 
 have been very repugnant to him. 
 
 In Sister Sheldon Bro. S. found one who was in per- 
 fect sympathy with him in his faith, and in his chosen 
 life-work, and who was always a helper and not a hind-
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 49 
 
 erer in his ministry, though he labored in an unpopular 
 cause, and she with him was in consequence subjected 
 to privations, hardships, and the lack of many com- 
 forts which might have been theirs had they taken 
 other callings, or connected with a more popular church. 
 Not every man is blessed with such a wife. 
 
 For about two years after their marriage they made 
 their home mainly at Sturbridge, from which point he 
 labored constantly in New England, taking his wife 
 with him on some of his trips. During this time their 
 first child, a daughter, was born, but she lived only a 
 week, and was buried in Sturbridge. 
 
 Together they spent some little time at North Adams, 
 Mass., and vicinity, and near that place he performed 
 the marriage ceremony for Bro. and Sr. Marshall 
 McCulloch. From this region a few families decided 
 to "go West," and settle, and Bro. and Sr. Sheldon 
 decided to turn their faces Westward also. 
 
 After farewell visits in Massachusetts and New York, 
 they took passage, in early spring of 1856, on an old 
 lake propeller at Ogdensburg, N. Y., on the St. Law- 
 rence river, proceeding upward through Lake Ontario, 
 "The Locks," and across Lake Erie, as far as Toledo, 
 Ohio. At Toledo, they took the cars to Chicago, 111., 
 then crossed the state of Illinois to Dunleith on the 
 Mississippi river, where they took boat passage up the 
 river to Hastings, Minnesota. It took about two weeks 
 to make this journey, travelling then not being so 
 speedy as now. 
 
 Their Massachusetts friends, Calvin and Luther Rice 
 and their families, and their sisters, Mrs. Duby and Mrs. 
 Cook and their families, had preceded them about a 
 month, and had settled in Dakota county, Minn., in-
 
 50 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 tending to make homes for themselves in that new 
 country. Not having decided where it was best to lo- 
 cate, Bro. S. left his wife in Hastings, with a family he 
 had known some years before in York State, and went 
 on a prospecting trip of some two hundred miles, on 
 foot. Returning, they decided to go to the settlement 
 made by their friends, the Rices; but the few goods 
 they had shipped from the East had not reached their 
 destination; so cloth for a tent was procured, and they 
 proceeded to the township of Vermillion, in Dakota 
 county, near to a point afterwards called Castle Rock 
 on account of a prominent rock standing there. 
 
 Here they took up a claim, living through the sum- 
 mer in a tent, and sleeping on the ground. During 
 the summer a "claim shanty" was built, of material 
 brought about twenty miles. This building consisted 
 of one room, 12x14, with one door, and a half window; 
 and only half of the space had boards for a floor. Later, 
 it was enlarged, making two rooms, in which were two 
 doors and four windows. 
 
 From this point we will let Bro. S. tell of his exper- 
 iences for a period of time, in his own words and style 
 of writing, which will be far more interesting and thril- 
 ling than we could possibly make it. This narrative of 
 experience which follows was written by him, as near 
 as we can estimate, sometime back in the "seventies," 
 probably twenty-five, or more, years ago, but it is 
 nevertheless just as interesting as it would be had he 
 only recently penned it. The reader will probably 
 wish with us that he had dwelt more fully on details.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 'western pioxeerixg in the advent cause.' 
 
 "Pioneering in almost any cause stands associated 
 with hardship, deprivation, and sacrifice, to a greater 
 or less extent ; and especially is this true in an unpopu- 
 lar cause, however good that cause may be; but more 
 especiall}' has this fact been demonstrated in promul- 
 gating the Advent doctrine in new fields throughout 
 Christendom. 
 
 "But this is too wide a field to survey at present, 
 so we narrow it down to the one single feature, — West- 
 ern pioneering, — as a mere sample of what has been 
 done in many cases, and as an exhibition of the princi- 
 ple put forth in the old adage: "Whatsoever has been 
 done, may be done.^' 
 
 "To-day we gaze upon an Advent cause in the West 
 which once had no existence; and though it is still 
 small compared with what we could wish to see it, yet 
 it is large compared with what it once was. This leads 
 to the query: Was this cause originated without a 
 struggle? — Far from it. 
 
 "It required pioneering interwoven with sacrifice, 
 poverty, privation and actual suffering. It was 
 planted by men who loved the truth of God more than 
 salary. They could not be deterred from their work 
 
 51 
 
 UNIVERSOY Of. 
 MJJNOIS UBRARM
 
 52 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 by pinching poverty, nor be turned aside by bitter per- 
 secution. Men of larger salaries and smaller brains 
 tried every means they could devise to hedge up their 
 way; but still they kept at their work, nor did they 
 work in vain, 
 
 "Wind and tide were against them, but they man- 
 fully struggled against all opposing elements and 
 planted the noble flag of unpopular truth here and 
 there; and leaving friends to defend it, they passed on 
 to plant it elsewhere. 
 
 "To illustrate the working of this pioneer principle, 
 a brief outline narrative of personal experience might 
 serve a good purpose, if it were not liable to be branded 
 as a display of egotism not in harmony with the mod- 
 esty that should characterize a minister of Christ. And 
 yet I cannot better convey a faint conception of 
 pioneering life in the West, than by an outline recital 
 of early labors in the midst of deprivations. 
 
 "In so doing, it would swell the narrative to too 
 great dimensions to relate the numerous instances in 
 which we waded the deep snows, through forests and 
 over prairies for long miles, to reach appointments ; 
 often breaking our own road from one settlement to 
 another; sometimes with the thermometer twenty 
 degrees below zero, freezing us on the trip; sometimes 
 receiving less than a dollar in money for a hard month's 
 labor, till an opening was made, and an interest estab- 
 lished. Often have we slept by our lone camp-fire in 
 the woods, — minus the camp, unless we could call 
 self a camp. And the recollections of such scenes 
 are sweet to-day, for the sacrifice was in a good cause. 
 But we proceed more definitely to give
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 53 
 
 "an outline reminiscence. 
 
 "In the spring of the year 1856, 1 removed from the 
 East to the great West, first locating in Minnesota 
 Territory, county of Dakota, settling in a townsliip 
 then called Vermillion, after having first taken an ex- 
 ploring trip on foot, of about two hundred miles; 
 preaching as the way opened, in private houses. This 
 trip on foot gave me a fair view of the new territory 
 and an insight into the sacrifices that must be made 
 to reach the destitute people, as not a penny was 
 received by way of remuneration for services. 
 
 "It was my fortune to lose my way in trying to 
 follow blind footpaths from one new settlement to 
 another; and in one instance, in the darkness of night? 
 I was lost while in the midst of a large forest. My 
 path became so obscure that it could be traced no 
 further, and to add to the terror of the situation, I 
 knew that the forest was filled with hungry wolves, 
 and other wald animals. 
 
 "I could do no better than to keep on my course as 
 best I could do in the darkness, hoping to strike some 
 settlement; and after struggling for a time between 
 hope and fear, my effort was rewarded by the glimpse 
 of a light in the distance, which increased in magnitude 
 as I cautiously approached it, to be sure that it was 
 not a camp of Indians, for the territory was then filled 
 with them, this being before Minnesota became a 
 state, and also before the great Indian massacre. 
 
 "The fire, however, proved to be the burning of 
 several log-heaps on a white man's claim. There, at 
 a late hour of the night, I found lodgings of a humble 
 nature; and there, too, I tarried several days and
 
 54 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 preached the word free of charge to the new settlers, 
 who gathered in from miles around. At a later date 
 a church was raised up near by. 
 
 "On my way I passed through Minneapolis, which 
 was then a little place with less than a dozen buildings, 
 but which has since become a large city, in which, at a 
 later date, I preached to large congregations, and 
 organized a church." 
 
 (In the Voice of the West, of February 19, 1867, we 
 find: "Eld. Wm. Sheldon closed a very interesting 
 series of meetings in Minneapolis. A church was 
 organized, and $500 pledged to secure a pastor.") 
 
 "After this long trip of exploring and preaching, 
 going on foot over prairies and through forests, I re- 
 turned to Hastings, the county seat of Dakota county, 
 where I had left my wife — for I had no children at that 
 time — preparatory to going to our new home in Ver- 
 million, about twenty miles westward, where for a 
 while we lived in a cloth tent and slept on the ground, 
 having brought a few blankets in our trunks with our 
 clothing, — our bedding which had been shipped by 
 freight not having arrived; and to make the matter 
 worse, it never came. After a while the tent was ex- 
 changed for a board shanty, 12 by 14 feet. 
 
 "At that time there was no schoolhouse in the 
 settlement, but I obtained permission to preach in 
 the private houses of some non-professors in different 
 parts of the settlement, which took in a range of a 
 dozen miles of sparsely settled territory eastward, 
 sometimes allowing several miles between neighbors. 
 Our congregations were good in spite of the distance 
 that hearers had to travel. Even in my own little 
 shanty did I appoint meetings, many being obliged
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 55 
 
 to stand up on the outside; and here too I organized 
 a Sunday-school. 
 
 "I borrowed money from a brother in the flesh to 
 purchase a piece of new land at $1.25 per acre, which 
 at a later date, by the rise in property, made me able 
 to procure a home for my family. 
 
 "Our meetings awakened an interest, and after a 
 while I organized a church of 22 members in the place. 
 I preached every Sunday, and wrought week days as 
 a day-laborer in the settlement, except what little 
 time it took me to cultivate a little patch on my land. 
 By days work I earned our bread and clothing, and on 
 Sunday I fed the people with the truth. Being the 
 only preacher in the place at the time, I was called 
 by everybody, 'Elder,' except by one old Dutchman 
 who wished to be polite and respectful, who called me, 
 'Mr. Elder.' 
 
 "Winter came, and by that time a school district 
 had been organized, and a school-house built. It 
 was decided that the 'Elder' must teach the school. 
 The school was accordingly commenced, and soon 
 after the meetings were removed to the school-house. 
 In a short time we began a protracted meeting there, 
 holding the meetings evenings and Sundays, while the 
 school continued in the daytime. A revival followed 
 — heads of families were converted, and also the oldest 
 of the scholars. Thus passed the first year. 
 
 "Our market meanwhile was about twenty miles away 
 — the unfenced road leading to it being over a large 
 prairie, from which many paths diverged to other new 
 settlements — and to this market place I often went 
 on foot for necessary supplies, sometimes getting lost. 
 One instance of this kind I shall never forget. Having
 
 56 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 put my supplies into a bag, which I slung over my 
 shoulder, I started for home. When about six miles 
 on my homeward way a very severe snow-storm came 
 on obscuring the faint path. 
 
 "The wind blew furiously, and it rapidly grew 
 colder; and to add to the difficulty, night came on, and 
 darkness surrounded me while several miles away 
 from home. I lost the path, but tried to keep on in 
 the right direction, while the wolves howled over the 
 prairie, and the drifting snow impeded my progress. 
 It seemed difficult to stand it much longer, but, wearied 
 and cold, I plodded slowly onward in the darkness, 
 through snow about two feet deep. 
 
 " Not a house, or a light, could I see, still I felt sure 
 I had kept in the right direction. At the point of 
 perishing, being blinded by the snow that was being 
 blown furiously into my face, I stumbled over a log — 
 a strange thing to encounter on a prairie, — which made 
 me look around sharply, when about a rod off I dis- 
 covered a log house. At first I mistook it for a vacated 
 tenement that was situated about half a mile off the 
 unfenced road, and about two miles from my home. 
 
 "Thinking that if I had thus strayed half a mile out 
 of my course, and was still two miles from home, and 
 all exhausted, it would be impossible for me to reach 
 it that night in the darkness and deep snow; the 
 thought entered my mind that I had better go into 
 that shanty, and there, out of the wind, whip myself, 
 and stamp my feet to keep a circulation of blood to 
 prevent freezing, until daylight should come. 
 
 "With this thought in my mind, I approached the 
 house, when, lo, I found it was the house of a neighbor 
 living a mile west of my home; I having passed about
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 57 
 
 half a mile north of my own place, being unable to see 
 it for the darkness and the driving snow. And more 
 than all, this was the last house in the settlement in 
 that direction ; and if I had not stumbled upon that 
 block of wood, I should have passed it without seeing 
 it, and might have been eaten by wolves before morn- 
 ing. This is but one instance out of many similar 
 ones."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WESTERN PIONEERING IN THE ADVENT CAUSE: — 
 CONTINUED. 
 
 We here break in on the narrative long enough to 
 give the reader the outcome of that terrible night's 
 experience, for it is deeply interesting, and the account 
 is incomplete without it. His wife related it to one 
 from whom we now give the substance of some ad- 
 ditional details. 
 
 It happened that the woman of that house was 
 alone that night with her children, her husband being 
 away; but she gave him something to eat and some 
 warm drink, and after warming himself and resting a 
 little, he again started out in the darkness and blizzard, 
 to go across the prairie to his home. 
 
 Between that log-house and his place, and some 
 twenty rods from the corner of his land, Calvin Rice 
 had fenced in about four acres, within which was built 
 his house. He aimed for this fence, and by mere 
 chance (or providence rather) he touched the very 
 corner of the fence furthest away from the Rice 
 house and from his home. Had his steps carried him 
 but a very few feet out of the path he did take, he 
 would have missed that corner, for it was impossible 
 to see it ; and he would have wandered on, and probably 
 would have perished. (So near home, and yet 1-o-s-t! 
 What a sad fate ! May God grant that the reader who 
 
 58
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 59 
 
 is "homeward bound" and "almost there," may not 
 be turned aside one little step from the right pathway; 
 or by one little sin — if there be any such sins — be led 
 out of the narrow way at this important period of our 
 homeward journe}^, and be 1-o-s-t in consequence. 
 Let us look well to our lives, and keep close to the 
 Master's footsteps, with the "lamp to our feet," that 
 we may not be lost just in sight of home.) 
 
 Following the fence around to the proper point, he 
 got his direction again, and aimed for his own house 
 some twenty rods away, but which he could not see, 
 even though there was a light burning in the window, 
 placed there as a guide to him should he return that 
 night. 
 
 (Between the two places there lay a slough (slew), 
 which was afterwards dug out by him and some 
 brethren, and steps placed so as to be able to step 
 do\Mi into the water which collected there, and this 
 was used as a baptistry ; that being the best they could 
 do without going many miles to running water. Several 
 baptisms were afterward held there.) 
 
 This being frozen he crossed this slough, and was 
 fortunate enough to run against his own house. It was 
 a late hour and his wife had retired, but not to sleep. 
 She hoped he had taken shelter in some place on the 
 way, but was uneasy, fearing he might be lost in the 
 raging storm. 
 
 She quickly arose at his knock and let him in, to find 
 him in a deplorable condition. His clothes, for more 
 than two feet up, were packed with the snow through 
 which he had tramped, and which had melted and 
 frozen encasing his limbs with ice. It was impossible 
 to remove his clothing until this could be melted. He
 
 60 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 extended his limbs over the stove, and by degrees this 
 ice was melted, and removed piece by piece by his 
 wife, who worked thus for two hours before getting 
 enough removed to make it possible for him to re- 
 move his clothing and get into bed. The ice melting 
 thus gradually probably served a good purpose, 
 drawing the frost from his limbs by degrees, and 
 saving him from very serious after results. 
 
 How can we help but feel and believe that an over- 
 ruling hand directed his steps to safety that night, that 
 he might live a life of usefulness in the cause, for many 
 years to come? 
 
 We will let Bro. S. resume his narrative at this point. 
 
 "From this home I began to branch out into the 
 surrounding regions, to preach the gospel in new 
 fields of labor. Many were the long tramps taken on 
 foot during the next four years, sometimes wading 
 rivers with my pants rolled up and my shoes in my 
 hand, and carrying a package of tracts to scatter; 
 frequently taking trips of over a hundred miles into 
 Iowa and Wisconsin, planting the truth in new fields, 
 and organizing churches and conferences. In one 
 instance as a sample, travelling sixty-five miles on foot 
 through the "big woods," then having to stand on 
 blistered and sore feet while preaching, and having 
 learned how to sleep out doors in the woods on the 
 route. 
 
 "If in some instances we received five dollars for 
 two or three weeks' labor, we felt that it was a godsend; 
 but we principally relied on manual labor for support, 
 and preached abroad when the hurrying season was 
 past. Haying and harvesting brought the largest 
 wages, and we worked faithfully w^ith our hands then
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. Gl 
 
 to get funds to live on; then we devoted our time to 
 meetings: at all times employing our spare moments 
 and fragments of time in reading and study. 
 
 "To give a history of the fields broken would take 
 too long. But plenty of preaching, and a scarcity of 
 pecuniary aid, characterized the work in the main. 
 We lived in a scrimping way, in order to have funds to 
 spread the truth. Had we waited for a living salary, 
 darkness would to-day have prevailed where the light 
 of truth is shining. 
 
 "When we came West, knowing that Minnesota, 
 Iowa, and Wisconsin, were comparatively new fields, 
 it was our aim to make those states our main mission- 
 ary field. In these three states we early organized 
 churches and conferences. In spite of some disastrous 
 conditions since experienced, the work has assumed 
 conspicuous dimensions; and where we had at first 
 only two small churches, and three ministers, we now 
 have over a hundred churches and over a hundred 
 ministers. The work of organization, combining these 
 three states into one conference took place while we 
 were still in Minnesota. In after years, when the work 
 had enlarged, a separation was made by mutual con- 
 sent. 
 
 "In 1860 we moved from Minnesota into Wisconsin, 
 settling first in Badax county (now Vernon Co.); 
 afterward in Sauk county, and still later in Green 
 county. On my removal, arrangements were made 
 to preach one quarter of the time at home, and the 
 other three weeks of each month were devoted to 
 opening new territory, and holding protracted meetings. 
 
 "At first I established a circuitous route of about 
 one hundred and forty miles, to be gone over in each
 
 62 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 period of three weeks; on which line I finally opened 
 fifteen different preaching places; and for a while this 
 route was travelled regularly on foot. Subsequently 
 we were enabled to purchase a horse for the sum of 
 thirty dollars, and borrowed a saddle — for we had not 
 much funds, not having then sold our land in Minne- 
 sota, there being no sale for it at that time. At a 
 later date we obtained a single wagon for forty-seven 
 dollars. Both horse and wagon were literally worn 
 out in the cause." 
 
 (Just here the copyist cannot help saying: What 
 of the man? There is little doubt that Bro. Sheldon's 
 early efforts and exposures had to do with his years 
 of severe suffering at the last, and probably shortened 
 his days.) 
 
 "With that horse and wagon many new places 
 were visited. Many are the times that I have slept 
 under that wagon, in the woods, and on the prairies, 
 while the horse was eating his pail of oats near by; 
 and sometimes we have been driven out by wild beasts 
 in the dead of night, and sometimes disturbed by 
 rain, — often being wet through and through. All 
 alone I have gone through this experience time and 
 again, to carry the gospel where I was not able to carry 
 it otherwise. 
 
 "By sacrifice the truth has been planted where 
 otherwise it would not have gone. Churches, too, 
 have thus been raised up, where there would have 
 been none, had we pioneers waited for a liberal salary 
 before we commenced our work; and ministers have 
 also been enlisted to help, and started out in this cause, 
 
 "The truth was meanwhile defended against assault, 
 by entering the field as a debater, meeting in open dis-
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 63 
 
 cussion our strongest opposers in every direction — 
 perhaps sleeping under the wagon on the way to the 
 debate — till boastful Goliaths grew shy, and less defiant. 
 
 "Finally a tent was procured as a help to introduce 
 the truth into new places in the summer season. This 
 has accomplished much good, but is a severe strain 
 on the constitution. Meanwhile preachers of the 
 truth have multiplied, and the work must now be left 
 largely in their hands. Failing health keeps us now 
 comparatively inactive in the line of physical exertion, 
 while otherwise we would gladly work as in earlier 
 years. New territory on every hand remains to be 
 opened, and can be opened and cultivated. If what 
 has been done in the past can again be done in the 
 future, surely a proper amount of pioneering might 
 yet open up new fields all over this great West. 
 
 "Although failing strength now restricts us in our 
 labors, we do not regret the toil that has worn us out, 
 only regretting that we could not have done more. 
 Little as it has been, we can look back upon it with a 
 degree of satisfaction, when we remember that over 
 thirty western ministers claim to have been brought 
 into the faith through our humble efforts; and when 
 we call to mind the many churches that have also been 
 raised up under our ministration, many members of 
 which have already died in the faith, and are awaiting 
 the resurrection of the just. 
 
 "When in the vigor of health, it was nothing rare 
 to preach from nine to twelve sermons per week, and 
 to follow the practice. 
 
 " As a part of my western work, I have — (he is writing 
 this some time in the 70's) — issued about thirty 
 different tracts and books, the circulation of which
 
 64 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 has not been confined to the West — they have been 
 scattered to the four winds — but their preparation has 
 been Western work, 
 
 "In later years our work has been somewhat gen- 
 eralized among different states ; including several tours 
 to Southern states such as Missouri, Tennessee, 
 Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina; and as the 
 result of labor there bestowed, several ministers are 
 there to-day proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom. 
 To that field we have also sent hundreds of publica- 
 tions, which have brought many into the truth. In 
 this line of general work there may be included our 
 years of editorial work on our papers. All combined 
 have helped to make an active life, and it is hoped not 
 altogether a fruitless one. 
 
 "So much as an outline — details have not generally 
 been given, as they would have swelled this narrative 
 to too great dimensions. The door is still open for 
 pioneers. But lest I be misunderstood, let me say 
 that no church is justified in seeking to get its preach- 
 ing free, although pioneers have preached free in new 
 fields. Where churches exist, the gospel rule should 
 be observed — They that preach the gospel should 
 live of the gospel;' but where there are no churches 
 there is a work for pioneers. A wide spread new field 
 even now surrounds us, awaiting laborers. 
 
 ' Ho, reapers of life's harvest, 
 
 Why stand with rusted blade? ' 
 
 "As of yore, 'the harvest truly is great, but the 
 laborers are few.' Let us work while the day lasts — 
 not for money, not for popularity, not for salary, not 
 for sensation, but for solid good, in proclaiming the 
 undiluted Gospel of the Kingdom."
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 LENGTHENING THE CORDS. 
 
 During his residence in Minnesota, one of the numer- 
 ous places visited by Bro. Sheldon was Strawberry- 
 Point, Iowa, and here he succeeded in forming an 
 organisation of believers. Elders S. D. Deyo and 
 P. S. W. Deyo, father and son, resided here and later 
 both of them did much faithful work for our cause, 
 in Iowa and elsewhere. 
 
 In 1857, Bro. Sheldon made a trip from his home in 
 Minnesota to Strawberry Point, on foot. Here he, 
 and the Brethren Deyo organized the first Conference 
 of Advent believers in the territory now embraced in 
 the states of Iowa, ]\Iinnesota, and Wisconsin. At 
 that time three ministers, and two small churches: 
 Vermillion, Minn., and Strawberry Point, Iowa, 
 banded themselves together for mutual benefit and 
 strength, and from this small beginning a work was 
 started which has far outgrown its modest origin. 
 
 Other ministers came into the bounds of the Con- 
 ference, and still others were raised up in it. Churches 
 were organized of converts made by their efforts, and 
 joined the Conference, and the Word of truth was 
 carried to many other places in those states, for mission- 
 ary work was faithfully carried on by all; and the 
 truth took deep root in their hearts, and large numbers 
 
 65
 
 66 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 were converted and their lives brought into harmony 
 with God. As was once said of the Methodists, it 
 might have been said of the Adventists then in the 
 new West: "they were all at it, and always at it"; for 
 the faith of the Lord's coming, as near, impelled them 
 to work as they could, and what they could, while it 
 was yet day. 
 
 Among those who labored within this Conference 
 during the few years of its existence, were such min- 
 isters as George W. Turner, — who was ordained in 1859, 
 by Brn. Sheldon and Deyo,— G. L. Teeple, G. W. 
 Barnes, Moses Chandler, S. K. Gibson, P. W. Hough, 
 and others. The territory embraced in the Confer- 
 ence bounds was large, and as the work grew it became 
 a matter of convenience to divide the territory, on ac- 
 count of distance and the expense of travelling. So 
 by mutual consent three State Conferences were formed 
 in 1862. "So mightily grew the word of God and pre- 
 vailed;" and out of the vast wilderness there arose 
 many who embraced the preached Word and accepted 
 salvation's offer. 
 
 Moving to Wisconsin in 1860, Bro. Sheldon made 
 his home for two years at Springville, from which place 
 he worked in all directions. Sparta, Viroqua, Ironton, 
 La Valle, Baraboo, Merrimac, Reedsburg, Portage, 
 Prairie-Du-Sac, and many other places were visited 
 by him. Revivals followed his labors; and churches 
 were organized, and ministers were started in the 
 gospel work. 
 
 As illustrative of the conditions existing then, it will 
 be profitable to insert here some "Reminiscences of 
 William Sheldon," written by our aged brother: Elder 
 Geo. W. Turner, now of Springfield, Ohio; who was an
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 67 
 
 early co-laborer with Bro. Sheldon in this Wisconsin 
 field, and is a faithful and useful servant in our cause. 
 
 REPRINT FROM ''oUR HOPE,'' MAR. 19, '02, p. 9. 
 
 "Bro. Sheldon came from Minnesota to Wisconsin 
 about 1860, and located at Springville. Soon after 
 this he heard of us and came to our house. I had then 
 been at Ironton, Wis., about two years, doing what I 
 could to hold up the truth of God's Word. When 
 Bro, Sheldon came to us I had heard of only two 
 Adventists in that part of the state, one an old 'broad- 
 ax preacher,' as he got to be called, near Baraboo, 
 and a lay brother living on Sauk Prairie. Father 
 Barnes had been up there two or three times before 
 Bro. Sheldon came. At Ironton was the hardest 
 battle for truth in this part of the state, and from there 
 went out the truth in every direction, Bro. Sheldon 
 got to coming regularly, on his way to Baraboo and 
 Sauk, and always gave us a meeting. Ironton was a 
 new place, and a little strife arose among the different 
 denominations. We had some lively times, and a 
 great many were baptized. I will mention one amus- 
 ing incident that now comes to mind. The Wesleyans 
 had an odd, very uncouth brother, whose name we 
 will not mention. He was very ignorant, even in the 
 Scriptures, but was a sort of local preacher up in the 
 woods where he lived, and would do to amuse the 
 people and keep a better man out of the schoolhouse, 
 which was then the only place for all religious meetings, 
 and so they put him forward. One evening, some way 
 or other, his appointment clashed with ours, and Bro. 
 Sheldon was to be there. We decided to give way to 
 the Wesleyan, and I was to speak after him. Well,
 
 68 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 he started in and amused the people greatly by trying 
 to make fun of Bro. Sheldon, who in his last appoint- 
 ment had referred to the original words in Scripture 
 which are translated 'soul/ 'spirit/ etc. Other 
 ministers present joined in the f unmaking, but finally 
 they got through. The house was jammed full, and 
 as they stepped out of the desk without closing, Bro. 
 Sheldon stepped in and said: 'I hope that while we 
 continue the meeting for a short time we shall remem- 
 ber that we are not at a circus, neither is your speaker 
 a clown to be laughed at.' Nothing more was said, 
 or needed, on that subject. The old man was so taken 
 down that he stuck to it that Bro. Sheldon had called 
 him a clown. 
 
 "At that time Bro. Sheldon had no horse. I think 
 he came to our house at first on foot. We soon went 
 around with a subscription and got him his faithful 
 ' Toby ' and then for a time he rode horseback. When 
 spring came, brethren at Springville got him a buggy, 
 and then he could bring his wife and daughter Jennie, 
 who was then quite small. I think old Father Barnes, 
 Bro. Sheldon and myself went three times through 
 the woods to the ^lississippi river, over very bad roads, 
 and when we could hardly find a house where we could 
 stay over night. One night we stayed in the woods 
 and slept under our wagon, but we met old Father 
 Deyo and organized the Wisconsin, Iowa and Minne- 
 sota Conference, at Strawberry Point, where Bro. 
 Deyo then lived and had a little company of believers. 
 Finally we found a very kind family, with a small 
 house but large Christian hearts, near by a school- 
 house where we could have meetings when we stopped 
 over night. There was but one room in the house.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 69 
 
 with a fireplace on one side, and when strangers went 
 to bed the women stepped out doors for a few minutes. 
 The family were Disciples in faith, and one night as 
 we were on our way back, Bro. Barnes was to preach, 
 and it happened they had their minister there to meet 
 us. As Bro. Sheldon used to say, when Father Barnes 
 got a good chance he would preach two sermons in one. 
 He did so here, and then talked to the man a good part 
 of the night after he got to bed. 
 
 "On these trips Bro. Sheldon used to call me the 
 doctor, as I was a little more inquisitive than the 
 others in asking about the sick and prescribing for 
 them. At that time and for years after, when I 
 traveled alone through that country, as I did much, 
 to look after our cause in different parts, the people 
 would hardly ever make any charge to ministers. How 
 we did enjoy seeing them search for Bible truth! 
 Bro. Sheldon was always the one to settle all knotty 
 questions, and although he was not very social as a 
 visitor, he was a mighty man in the Scriptures. One 
 of our neighbors at Ironton used to say that when they 
 made a preacher of Sheldon they "spoiled a mighty 
 good lawyer." When he wrote his little tract called 
 "Ghostology," it was so sharp that some thought it 
 did more hurt than good, but I always thought it filled 
 its place and set some to thinking who would not be 
 touched by anything milder. Bro. Sheldon had an 
 iron will, to do and teach whatever he thought was 
 right, and nothing could turn him from his purpose. 
 Sr. Sheldon ought to have great praise for taking as 
 she has her end of the j^oke, and bearing what she has 
 borne for the cause of Christ. May the time speedily 
 come when our Lord will gather his jewels and reward 
 his faithful."
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A FIGHTING RECORD. 
 
 During the years of his earher labors Bro. Sheldon 
 was often engaged in debate with men of different relig- 
 ious denominations, and with IMormons, Spiritualists 
 etcetera, on different themes and points of doctrine, but 
 probably more frequently on questions relating to the 
 Nature of Man than on any others. Their views of 
 man's nature, and of points inseparably connected there- 
 with, form distinctive features of the faith of the Ad- 
 vent people ; and these views were, and are, greatly 
 opposed by all classes who hold in common the natural 
 immortality of the soul. Hence "orthodox," Spirit- 
 ualists, Mormons, and others, can unite in opposing, 
 misrepresenting, and persecuting those who deny this 
 daring dogma. 
 
 Many were the public discussions in which Bro. S. 
 was a principal. We remember hearing him state, 
 quite a number of years ago, that so far as he knew, 
 with the exception of Eld. Miles Grant, he had then held 
 more public debates than any one of our ministers. If 
 we remember correctly, the number up to that time 
 was over forty. But that kind of work proved too 
 great a strain on his nervous system, and for many 
 years, latterly, he was compelled to give it up. 
 
 The same year of his removal to Spring ville, Wis,, 
 70
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 71 
 
 he was brought into a debate with Elder Brooks, a 
 prominent ''Christian" minister, on the immortality 
 question. The debate was reported for the North- 
 Western Times, a local paper published at Viroqua, 
 Wis., from which we select a few items, ^\Titten by one 
 who says: "We admit that our early training, our ma- 
 ture reflection, and our life-long prejudices, are all 
 against the doctrines advocated by Elder Sheldon; and 
 we felt sorry when we saw him struggling like a giant 
 in debate, that his efforts had not a higher and nobler 
 aim than the maintainance of a theory which from 
 Scripture, reason, and analogy, appears to us to be at 
 war with the whole economy of God's moral govern- 
 ment. But this doctrine is preached ; it has many be- 
 lievers, and the number of believers is rapidly increas- 
 ing. Their books are broadcast over the land. Prob- 
 ably the doctrine will never be so triumphantly refuted 
 as to drive it out of existence. 
 
 "While Eld. Brooks, either presuming on the ignor- 
 ance of his audience, or through mistake, made asser- 
 tions which facts would not justify; we found nothing 
 to condemn in Sheldon in this respect. 
 
 "We listened carefully to the discussion of the first 
 proposition, and at its close were forced to the conclu- 
 sion that Eld. Sheldon had shown more skill, and 
 greater argumentative power than his opponent; but 
 we were unconvinced still of the truth of the proposi- 
 tion." 
 
 Doubtless that reporter would have been glad to have 
 seen him using his strength as a debater in the defense 
 of Satan's lie (Gen. 3: 4), and probably he would have 
 lauded him more highly had he advocated his view 
 of the question. But we are almost led to enquire if
 
 72 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 he did not speak prophetically when he said : " Prob- 
 ably the doctrine will never be so triumphantly refuted 
 as to drive it out of existence." What would he say 
 to-day? 
 
 Homer A. King, of Philadelphia, Pa., writes: 
 
 "During the war of the sixties, I arranged by cor- 
 respondence with Bro. Sheldon to participate in a de- 
 bate with an able disputant called 'The Great- Ax.' 
 The debate was held in a grove in Victoria township, 
 Knox Co., Illinois, on Wednesday and Thursday, and 
 was largely attended. He continued the meetings over 
 Sunday, when the extensive grove was full of people. 
 The results were very satisfactory. 
 
 "Wishing to report the discussion in The Bride of 
 His Palace [ — a book written by Bro. King], then near- 
 ing completion, I wrote Bro. S. about a year before his 
 death, and he answered the questions in articles; thus 
 enabling me to express (in the book) his views mostly 
 in his own words." 
 
 At that time Bro. King wrote: "We remember your 
 masterly arguments in the public discussion with 
 'Great- Ax,' in the grove near Victoria, 111., many years 
 ago. Though I seated the grove and made all arrange- 
 ments, I have forgotten your opponent's name, remem- 
 bering only his no7n de 'plume, 'Great- Ax.'" 
 
 (The articles with the arguments above referred to 
 appeared in The Crisis.) 
 
 While Bro. S. was on his way to the above men- 
 tioned debate he got into conversation with a fellow- 
 traveler who incidentally learned that Bro. S. was about 
 to debate with "Great- Ax." The gentleman inquired 
 if he knew the man he was to meet. He replied that 
 he knew nothing at all about the man; he had been sent
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 73 
 
 for to meet him in debate, but knew nothing of him. 
 The gentleman said he knew him well, and described 
 him as being the most able debater in the country, but 
 as also a most abusive man. He characterized him as 
 "a lion" who would have "no mercy on his prey." In 
 fact, he had always got the better of every opponent by 
 abuse, rather than argument. 
 
 With this information in mind, Bro. S. was on his 
 guard. When "Great- Ax" failed in argument, he 
 would resort to abuse and ridicule; to which Bro. S. 
 made no retort, nor lost his self-control, but attended 
 strictly to his argument. This ruffled the other, who 
 became more abusive. 
 
 It so happened that the closing argument fell to Bro, 
 S. In this, he referred to the conversation with the 
 gentleman, on his way to the debate, and told the peo- 
 ple he had prepared himself to meet a "lion," but he 
 had met only a "cur." This was the only cutting re- 
 tort he resorted to in that debate; and, in the face of 
 the abuse he had been subjected to, it had a telling 
 effect. 
 
 Bro. D. A. Dickinson, now of California, writes of 
 another debate, held in Cascade, Iowa, in 1863 or 1864. 
 The opponent was a Christian (Campbellite) preacher, 
 and proposed at the latter part of the third day of the 
 discussion to turn the debate into exhortation for sin- 
 ners to come to Christ. "With all my heart," said 
 Bro. Sheldon; and so ended that battle. 
 
 Says Bro. Dickinson: "We found that the cause of 
 truth did not suffer on account of that debate; and we 
 always felt a great love and regard for Bro, Sheldon for 
 the uplift he gave us at that time." 
 
 Another discussion was held at Sparta, Wis., April
 
 74 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 3, 1867, and was at the time reported in The Voice of 
 the West, by G. W. Turner. It " continued through four 
 sessions of four hours each, with eight 30-minute 
 speeches in each session. The first question, occupying 
 one-half of the time, was : 
 
 Resolved, That the Scriptures teach that man is con- 
 scious in the intermediate state, and that the soul is 
 immortal. 
 
 Second question: 
 
 Resolved, That the Scriptures teach that the future 
 
 punishment of the finally impenitent will be eternal 
 
 conscious misery. 
 
 * * * 
 
 "On the affirmative was the great champion of Im- 
 mortal-soulism, and Orthodoxy, who 'had annihilated 
 all such kinds of infidels in Canada,' and was to finish 
 up the work in the States. After the discussion, it 
 simply turned out to be our whole-souled and Bible- 
 believing Bro. Wm. Sheldon, on the negative; and an 
 immaterial-spirit-man (when unclothed), by the name of 
 Rev. J. B. Richardson, a Methodist preacher {when 
 
 clothed), on the affirmative. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 "I will give a sample of the arguments of the affirm- 
 ative. 
 
 "We are conscious in the intermediate state, because 
 a man may lose a leg, and still feel a sensation of heat or 
 cold in it though it is gone: and therefore may suffer, 
 as the rich man did in that state. Query. — Will the 
 spirit leg feel fire by holding it in that element? An- 
 swer. — No; we must hold the ' clothed,' or flesh leg with 
 it if we feel the fire in the ghost or spirit leg. 
 
 "Then we must have a flesh leg in order to feel the
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 75 
 
 fire : unclothe the whole spirit body and how will it feel 
 
 the fire? 
 
 * * * * 
 
 "We believe that this meeting will be of great good 
 to the lovers of truth in Sparta. There is an infant 
 church of thirty members just started there under the 
 labors of Elds. Hough and Sheldon, and others have 
 been undecided. And as the affirmative sustained by 
 one considered fully as able as any to sustain the old 
 theology introduced into the garden by the enemy — • 
 ''Thou shalt not surely die" — has failed, we trust that 
 God may bless the people, and lead them to Christ, the 
 great Life-giver, now; for it will soon be too late." 
 
 We have heard Bro. S. relate of this Sparta discussion 
 how his opponent made the statement that the "Ad- 
 vents" (as he called them) prepared their "ascension 
 robes " back in 1843-4, and that he knew they did, and 
 had seen over a hundred of them with them on, waiting 
 for the Lord to come. This "ascension robe" story 
 was got up to hurt our people, and was freely used for 
 that purpose for many years, and was one of the "per- 
 secutions " heaped upon us. But for years our people 
 offered $100 rew^ard to any one who could prove the 
 existence .of a single case of an Adventist preparing 
 such a robe for that purpose. 
 
 Well, this man had seen them, and knew all about it. 
 Bro. S. quickly informed him of the offered reward, and 
 told him this was his chance to make some money; 
 then proceeded to make inquiries which should pro- 
 cure for him the offered reward. 
 
 "Where did you know of the 'robes'?" 
 
 — "Back in Canada." 
 
 "Yes. I have been in Canada. What part?"
 
 76 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 —"In Canada West.'* 
 
 "That seems nearer home. What place?"" 
 
 — (He mentioned the name of a town.) 
 
 "Indeed. That is interesting. I have preached in 
 that town. So you saw over a hundred Adventists in 
 , with their 'ascension robes' on, did you?" 
 
 — "Well; there might not have been a hundred." 
 
 "Well, how many? Fifty?" 
 
 — "Can't say as there were." 
 
 "Well, how many? Please be definite, for there is 
 that $100 for you." 
 
 — Still he could give no number. 
 
 "Well then, tell me just where you saw them." 
 
 — "Well, at the house of Aunt Nancy Blank." 
 
 "Indeed! This is more interesting still. At the 
 house of Aunt Nancy ! I have been at her house many 
 times, and am well acquainted with her. Come now, 
 tell us all about it. There is the hundred dollars, you 
 know." 
 
 To sum it all up, this M. E. preacher had called at 
 the above mentioned house early one morning before 
 breakfast, on an errand of some sort, and before the 
 household were all out of bed. While in the kitchen 
 waiting, he saw through the crack of a door opening 
 into another room, a woman sitting on the edge of the 
 bed with her night robe on! 
 
 This was the "over a hundred" Adventists he had 
 seen with their "ascension robes" on! 
 
 The Principal of the Sparta High School at that time, 
 who attended the debate, said: "I will never again be- 
 lieve a word thai man says." 
 
 In every case where an "ascension robe" story was 
 ferreted out. it has dwindled down to similar dimen-
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 77 
 
 sions with the above ; and the offered reward was never 
 claimed, for there was never any truth in any such 
 stories. 
 
 A letter from Sister E. A. Rich refers to this debate, 
 and to other matters concerning the Sparta church. 
 She names Bro. Sheldon as ''being the first one who 
 ever preached the Advent doctrine here;" she having 
 sent him a request to come. He came and held meetings 
 in the school-house as long as he could have it; then 
 held them wherever they could get a place. Later, he 
 and Bro. Hough came with a tent; and "during those 
 meetings there was an M. E. Presiding Elder who hung 
 around the tent, but would not come in, (his name was 
 Richardson);" and as he boasted that he (Richardson) 
 "could silence him (Sheldon) in no time," the public 
 discussion was arranged for by leading citizens. " But," 
 writes Mrs. Rich, "instead of silencing the Advent 
 minister, he was the one silenced;" as from the fore- 
 going statements we can well believe. 
 
 She adds, "They continued holding meetings as best 
 they could. After a time a church was organized, a 
 noble self-sacrificing band of brethren and sisters; and 
 soon after a church building was erected. There was a 
 mortgage of a few hundred dollars on this building;" 
 and when it was about to be taken for the mortgage, 
 "Bro. H. Palmer and Sister C. Lowrie advanced the 
 money, paid up the mortgage, and so kept the church, 
 where the Advent Message has been sounded out in all 
 these years — almost half a century." 
 
 — So much for results in this case.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 BRANCHING OUT. 
 
 In the spring of 1862, Bro. Sheldon moved his 
 family from Spring ville to Merrimac, a little village 
 nestling on the banks of the Wisconsin river. They 
 had then two children, a daughter and a son. The 
 eldest, Jennie D., was born in Minnesota, and the son, 
 Simon Peter, was born the year before, in Springville. 
 For two years they made their home in this little place, 
 when they again moved, going to the pretty little city 
 of Baraboo, Wis., which is situated near to one of 
 nature's most beautiful and romantic spots, with 
 which the state of Wisconsin is much favored. We 
 refer to the Devil's Lake, with its surrounding rocks, 
 bluffs, pines, and vines. 
 
 Soon after their removal to Merrimac, the family 
 made their first trip to the East; Bro. S. going as 
 delegate to the annual meeting of the Advent Christian 
 Association, held at camp Wilbraham, Mass. 
 
 The journey was made by way of the Lakes, taking 
 boat passage from Milwaukee. This proved to be a 
 stormy voyage, and the boat was old, and sprang a 
 leak, and the boiler gave out in mid-lake where it was 
 too deep to anchor; so the boat drifted for some time, 
 while an attempt was made to repair the boiler. Thi§ 
 delayed their passage several days. 
 
 78
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 79 
 
 While on the water, the little boy, Simon, climbed 
 the railing of the boat, and was hanging down on the 
 outer side when he was discovered and rescued by one 
 of the boat hands. 
 
 They had for a travelling companion from Merrimac 
 through to New York, Sr. Julia Buswell, a well-known 
 lady preacher, who had been visiting friends and 
 preaching in Wisconsin, and was returning to her 
 home in New Hampshire. 
 
 They left the boat at Ogdensburg, N. Y., going from 
 thence to his old home for a short visit, then on to 
 camp Wilbraham (now Springfield camp). For about 
 three months Bro. Sheldon labored in New England, 
 while his wife and children visited relatives and friends 
 in Massachusetts. 
 
 From this time on, Bro. S. was associated, in some 
 capacity or other, with the national and general 
 interests of the Adventist body, and with the different 
 departments of its work as they arose and demanded 
 attention and oversight. Up to within five years of 
 his death he served this people in responsible official 
 positions to which he was elected, on Boards, and 
 Committees, as Editor, Instructor, and the like, 
 besides voluntary service in writing for our several 
 papers from week to week. He often served in several 
 capacities at once, both in the East and the West, thus 
 being in the largest sense possible, "a denominational 
 man;" for his work and influence were confined to no 
 one locality, though his home was in the West for the 
 larger part of his life. 
 
 Returning from New England to the West by rail, 
 instead of going direct to their home in Wisconsin, 
 they all went according to a previous arrangement,
 
 so LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 to the home of Elder C. W. Smith, south of Aurora, 
 IliinoiSj where they engaged in a protracted effort of 
 some weeks. Bro. Smith had but recently buried 
 his wife, and to his five young motherless children Sr. 
 Sheldon soon endeared herself by her motherly ways 
 and interest in them while there. 
 
 It was at the last of these meetings that Andrew 
 Armour first came into contact with Elder Sheldon, 
 and Elder Smith. A stranger in a strange country, 
 he heard that something called "a soul-sleeper" was 
 preaching in a school-house to the west, and concluded 
 to go. He remembers yet that Elder Sheldon preached 
 that day of the promise to Abraham, and that 1, a, n, d, 
 did not spell sky; all of which he already believed. As 
 that was the last of these meetings. Elder Smith ap- 
 pointed a week-night prayer meeting at his house; and 
 Bro. Armour attended there too, and so was led into 
 the truth on the soul question in course of time, and 
 into association with the Advent people. 
 
 After this meeting at Elder Smith's, meetings were 
 conducted at the home of Bro. King, father of Homer 
 A. King; and at Amboy, and at De Kalb, Illinois; 
 making it into the winter before they reached their 
 home in Merrimac, Wis. The fruits of these efforts 
 were more or less visible, there being conversions to 
 the Lord, and converts to the truth. 
 
 In 1867 Bro. Sheldon again went to the East, and 
 attended the meeting of the Advent Christian Associa- 
 tion, and that of the American Advent Mission Society. 
 At the organization of our mission work, in 1865, he 
 was appointed a Vice-President of that Society, and 
 was thereafter almost continuously connected with 
 its very important work; serving also as an official on
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 81 
 
 both its home and Foreign Boards ; and still being thus 
 connected with its work, as Vice-President of the A. 
 A, M. S., and Chairman of the Western Home Board, 
 even after his last illness came on and prevented him 
 from further active service. 
 
 Frequently, after 1867, he was in attendance at the 
 general meetings in the East, and also at the camp- 
 meetings and other services; though he was not ac- 
 companied by any of his family on these trips, except 
 in 1877, when his wife and youngest son went with 
 him; and in 1883, when he took his wife and youngest 
 daughter along, for a three months' visit. 
 
 Up to the organization of our Mission Societies, 
 workers all over the states entered mission fields with- 
 out financial aid, or any supervision from any organ- 
 ization, going out as they felt called, and trusting the 
 Lord for the support of themselves and of their families 
 during their absence. Theirs was a life of trust; and 
 often was their faith and confidence severely tested — 
 not alone in the ]\Iaster who would provide for the 
 necessities of his servants, — but also in their being 
 really called of God to this particular line of work. 
 
 Many an experience in this direction might be re- 
 lated, but we will content ourselves with giving one 
 instance, which was recently mentioned by Dr. J. W. 
 Emmons. 
 
 When the doctor was but a young boy, Bro. Sheldon 
 drove to his father's house, where he stayed over night. 
 As he remembers it, Bro. S. had come from some dist- 
 ance north, and was on his way to some point in 
 Illinois, where he wished to be present at some Spirit- 
 ualist convention. The next morning "Uncle John," 
 the doctor's father, felt impressed to inquire of Bro.
 
 82 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 S. whether he had sufficient funds to bear the expense 
 of the trip, and to keep him while at the convention. 
 He reluctantly admitted his lack of the funds necessary, 
 whereupon Bro. Emmons placed some money in his 
 hand as he said goodbye. After he had gone away a 
 short distance, Bro. S. looked at the money and saw 
 that it was twenty dollars. He was so sure that Bro. 
 E. had made a mistake — not being used to gifts of 
 such an amount — that he turned his horse and drove 
 back to the house, and told Bro. Emmons that he had 
 made a mistake. Bro, E. wished to know how; and 
 he said: "You have given me twenty dollars." 
 Bro. E. said that was what he intended to give him. 
 So Bro. Sheldon went on his way, no doubt rejoicing 
 and praising his heavenly Father in whom he had 
 trusted for supply. 
 
 On his return homeward Bro. S. again stopped over 
 night at Bro. Emmons' home; and as he started off 
 in the morning it was with another token of the Lord's 
 providing watch-care over him, while thus laboring 
 in His cause. 
 
 Those trusting servants could tell of many a dark 
 experience; and also of the great blessings which at- 
 tended those conflicts in which their faith and trust 
 were severely tested, but through which they were 
 brought off victors through faith, and were prepared 
 to follow their leader again, through the next dark 
 place. 
 
 We wish we could to-day see evidence of greater 
 trust in a Divine Leader displayed by His professed 
 followers. It seems that we are too desirous of walk- 
 ing by "sight," even forgetting that we are called to 
 walk by faith; and that we are losers by this attitude.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 83 
 
 because the blessings do not accompany the walk by 
 sight that attend the walk by faith. "Because thou 
 hast seen me thou hast believed: blessed are they 
 that have not seen, and yet have believed;" — that is 
 more blessed, emphatically blessed, in comparison with 
 seeing believers. It has been said that " many trust God 
 for their souls, who could not trust him for a shilling." 
 
 Although for many years connected with our Mission 
 Society and its work, he never depended on that; or 
 any other society for his maintainance while doing 
 what was really mission work for so many years; and, 
 with a few exceptions, he received no financial aid 
 from such organizations, general or state, but went 
 out into the vast mission field relying on the Lord; 
 being impelled by a more than human power to "Go, 
 work to-day in my vineyard," — "and whatsoever is 
 right that shall ye receive." 
 
 He has been instrumental in aiding many other work- 
 ers to a support, or a partial support, in the mission 
 fields, through our mission organizations, but relied 
 not on such helps for himself. The A. A. M. Board 
 urged him to go to the Southern field as their repre- 
 sentative, which he consented to do; making two trips 
 to that field, and accepting the support of the Society 
 for the time. These visits were in the winters of 
 1871-2, and 1872-3, and will be mentioned later on 
 in this narrative. 
 
 So he labored on in this broad field. Calls came 
 from all sides; the Macedonian cry came from far and 
 near, "Come over and help us;" doors opened to him 
 in larger numbers than he could possibly enter; and 
 time was never allowed to go to waste on his hands, 
 as his many writings witness.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 FAITHFUL TO THE MISSION, AMID TRIAL. 
 
 Although doors were being opened in all directions 
 by those desirous of hearing the prophetic word; and 
 of our hope of a future life through Christ, which is to 
 be bestowed upon the faithful at the resurrection and 
 the culmination of the prophetic events foretold in the 
 Word; the preaching of these truths was performed 
 almost universally in the face of opposition, open and 
 direct, or covert and underhand, — or often both of 
 these combined; and in the face of persecution, and 
 prejudice, and misrepresentation. 
 
 Often were the early workers published by press and 
 pulpit as being "Millerites," heretics, no-soulists, 
 infidels, semi-infidels. Modern Apostles, and so on. 
 They were spoken of as "getting up a new translation 
 to suit their theory," and many like charges, calculated 
 to prejudice the people and lead their minds astray. 
 People were advised, publicly and privately, to keep 
 away from those No-Soulists, etc. But often these 
 very warnings operated as advertisements, and gained 
 us listeners, proving in the end to the preacher's ad- 
 vantage rather than otherwise. 
 
 Our preachers of younger age experience but little 
 of what the old veterans of our cause had to meet and 
 overcome, along these lines. The fields of labor that 
 have been opened by the persevering efforts of the 
 
 84
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 85 
 
 faithful, God-fearing, and Christian-living workers 
 of former years, have been gained as the result of 
 many a conflict with error, many a struggle, many a 
 wound; and by "living it down," in the face of threats, 
 misrepresentations, and petty persecutions; through 
 the enduring of hardships, privations, toils, sufferings, 
 and many conditions to-day unknown. 
 
 Oh that we were able to picture, though but faintly 
 to your minds, the real hard struggle it has cost to 
 clear the ground now being occupied peaceably and 
 unmolested! Whence has come the change? Are 
 the Adventists of to-day as much on fire with zeal as 
 were the fathers? Are they as much alive to the im- 
 minence of the judgment as their predecessors were? 
 Are they more tolerated because they are more toler- 
 able — not quite so hot, but maybe of a comfortable 
 lukewarm temperature? Answer it yourselves. One 
 thing has been forced in upon us in perusing the old 
 records to obtain matter for this book, and lest you 
 may not read it between the lines we must here set it 
 down: the old hands were moved to do as they did by 
 a live faith that time was very short, and the judgment 
 very near. It is still nearer to-day, though we do not 
 jeel it as much as they did. Truly, "in such an hour 
 as YE think not, the Son of man cometh;" and so ac- 
 cording to prophecy he could not come when the many 
 were expecting him. But how is it now? 
 
 These fields opened up with so much toil and sacri- 
 fice are occupied largely now by those who know and 
 realize very little of the struggles through which others 
 in earlier days passed, that the truth might be estab- 
 lished there. It seems to the writer that the picture 
 of those early days will, — it cannot help but — put into
 
 86 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the hearts of many an ardent desire to go also, and 
 carry the message of speedy redemption to the many 
 still in darkness; rather than to settle down in com- 
 parative ease in an already opened field, the struggles 
 for the founding of which are but little known or 
 realized. 
 
 Oh that the old spirit of "Go," and of "Woe is me 
 if I go not," were felt to-day by our young men and 
 women in such measure that we should quickly see 
 hundreds of them out in the great mission fields which 
 are on every side waiting for reapers — both at home 
 and abroad — and thus reaping the results of their own 
 labors, and bringing many from darkness into the 
 light and liberty of the glorious gospel ! 
 
 There never was a greater need for zealous workers 
 in the field than exists to-day. We are in the midst 
 of the harvest. "The harvest truly is plenteous, but 
 the laborers are few;" especially in the line of the 
 Judgment Message. "Pray ye therefore the Lord 
 of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into 
 his harvest" (Matt. 9: 37, 38). "Put ye in the sickle, 
 for the harvest is ripe " (Joel 3 : 13). "I say unto you, 
 Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are 
 white already to harvest. And he that reapeth re- 
 ceiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: 
 that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may 
 rejoice together" (John 4: 35, 36). 
 
 Who, who, will go labor in earth's great harvest 
 
 field and win precious sheaves to bring with him in the 
 
 final "Harvest Home?" 
 
 "He that goeth forth with weeping, 
 Bearing precious seed in love, 
 Never tiring, never sleeping, 
 Findeth mercy from above."
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 87 
 
 God forbid that any to whom the Lord has said, 
 "Go," shall in the judgment hear the sad lament: 
 "The harvest is past, the summer is ended; and we 
 are not saved," — because they failed to go when sent, 
 or to labor faithfully when out in the harvest field I 
 (Jer. 8: 20). 
 
 "Lo! the field is white for harvest, but the reapers they are few; 
 
 And the hand that fields the sickle must be bold and strong 
 and true; 
 
 For the field in which we labor spreads far over sea and land, — 
 
 ' Preach my gospel to all nations,' was the Sa\'ior's great com- 
 mand . " 
 
 Though the early efforts to carry the light of life, 
 and the "gospel of the kingdom," were made under 
 such dark, undesirable conditions, and demanded of 
 the laborers such sterling qualities of character, and 
 strong faith in order that they might stand true to 
 their convictions, under such trying circumstances 
 (and not only stand, but push them), yet the faithful 
 laborers found also a bright, encouraging side, which 
 overbalanced these "light afflictions which are but for 
 a moment," by the knowledge that they were working 
 out for them "a far more exceeding and eternal weight 
 of glory," which was theirs in prospect, and was to be 
 received in actuality "at that day;" and they were 
 also cheered and encouraged by the visible results of 
 their efforts, which were seen as they labored. "Paul 
 planted, ApoUos watered, and God gave the increase." 
 
 The workers were themselves filled and enthused 
 with the message they bore, and their words, spoken 
 from their hearts, were powerfully accompanied by 
 the Holy Spirit, in convicting power which convinced 
 and converted large numbers of their hearers. Minds
 
 88 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 were enlightened, and many received the word with 
 gladness, to the joy of their hearts, and the rejoicing 
 of their souls. 
 
 Sinners, being brought face to face with the judg- 
 ment, were led to see their lost and dying condition 
 out of Christ, and to forsake their sinful ways, to ac- 
 cept Christ as their personal Savior and Redefemer 
 from sin and death, and to "turn to God from idols, 
 and to wait for his Son from heaven." Many who 
 were deeply sunk in sin and very far from righteous- 
 ness were brought up out of the horrible pit, out of 
 the miry clay, and a new song put in their mouth even 
 praise to our God. And many were made to tremble 
 under the power of the preached word, who were not 
 only awakened but stayed awake, and afterward lived 
 lives of consecration and devotion to the cause of 
 Christ and truth; having "put off the old man which 
 is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts," and having 
 "put on the new man, which after God is created in 
 righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4: 22, 24.) 
 
 Thousands upon thousands who heard and received 
 the word through these humble ministers, and who 
 lived consistent Christian lives thereafter, are now 
 laid away, sleeping in Jesus in the cold, silent tomb, 
 awaiting the sound of the last trumpet, which shall 
 arouse them from slumber to receive the touch of 
 immortality at the hand of the Life-Giver. "For the 
 trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised in- 
 corruptible. . . . Then shall be brought to pass 
 the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in 
 victory. . . . Thanks be to God, which giveth 
 us the victory through our Lord Jesiis Christ" (1 Cor. 
 15: 52-57).
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 89 
 
 All these converts will then be as bright shining stars 
 in the crowns of those who faithfully toiled on and 
 brought to them the word of life, notwithstanding 
 discouragements, darkness, and trials. Surely there 
 was a bright side which kept up the courage, zeal, and 
 faith of the former planters of dispensational truth. 
 Amid the clouds and storms, and above them, the 
 sun shone into their hearts, bright with visible results 
 of accomplished good, bright with the hope of glory 
 and everlasting life in the world so soon to come." For 
 what is our, or was their, hope, or joy, or crown of 
 rejoicing? Are not ye [these transformed ones] . . . 
 at his coming?" (1 Thess. 2: 19, 20). 
 
 Reader: should not we put our hearts and lives into 
 this service with all earnestness, so that we too may 
 come up before our Savior on that looked-for morning 
 with some precious sheaves to present before him, 
 gathered for earth's final harvest? This we may do 
 by the Lord's help, if we but remember and rely on 
 the promise: "He that goeth forth and weepeth, 
 bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with 
 rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psa. 126: 6).
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 EVANGELISTIC WORK. 
 
 The relation of some revival experiences will be in 
 place here, and we gladly insert the following account 
 furnished by Sr. Hettie Scott, daughter of that faithful 
 veteran of the cause of truth in Illinois, the late Elder 
 Larkin Scott. 
 
 She writes: ''In the fall of 1864, Bro. Sheldon came 
 to our place, — Denver, Illinois, and held a series of 
 meetings, continuing for three weeks, or more. The 
 glorious truths he proclaimed, and the plain, earnest 
 way in which he presented them, found the way to the 
 hearts of many of his hearers, who numbered hun- 
 dreds; and over forty came out on the Lord's side, taking 
 a stand for the truth : your humble writer being among 
 the number. Yes, under dear Bro. Sheldon's earnest 
 preaching I was truly converted to God; and many 
 were the precious souls buried in the watery grave, 
 and we came forth to walk in newness of life. I praise 
 God to-day that the steps of Bro. Sheldon were, ever 
 ordered this way. 
 
 "In all, he made three visits to this place. We 
 entertained him in our humble home, and his daily 
 life told for God and truth. His last visit was to 
 speak words of comfort and cheer over the sleeping 
 form of my dear father, and what cheering, comforting 
 
 90
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 91 
 
 words — they still ring in my ears — of the bright, glorious 
 hope of the resurrection from the dead, a hope that 
 reaches beyond this vale of tears, a promise to all the 
 faithful that we shall meet in the sweet bye and bye, 
 meet in God's kingdom, meet to part no more! " 
 
 In the Voice of the West there is a brief report 
 written by Bro. S. from Victoria, 111., Oct. 22, 1866, as 
 follows : 
 
 "Our tent meeting at Victoria is over; and I am now 
 going to the state of ^Missouri to give the judgment 
 alarm. Last night seven new cases arose for prayers, 
 and at the close of the meeting three more decided to 
 make a start. I intend to strike tent to-day and 
 preach in the school-house to-night ; and leave for the 
 South to-morrow." 
 
 His meetings in Missouri were reported by him in 
 the same paper, in the issues of Nov. 13 and 27, 1866; 
 being written from Bowling Green, Polk Co. 
 
 "I came to the state of Missouri, and commenced 
 a meeting in a house belonging to the Cumberland 
 Presbyterians. Prior to my arrival, notice of my 
 meeting was given in public, when an old church- 
 member arose and advised everybody to stay away from 
 my meeting, saying that I advocated a very danger- 
 ous doctrine: so the people were much prejudiced 
 against me before hearing a word, for our faith had 
 never been preached in this region. But prejudice 
 has been steadily dying under the shower of truth. I 
 have already preached twelve sermons, and last night 
 several arose for prayers. There is much feeling in 
 the community, both among non-professors and church- 
 members. My meetings have been among the whites, 
 including a sprinkling of the blacks, who are much
 
 92 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 interested. One black boy went home and told his 
 mother that the preacher looked like a young Jesus 
 Christ. I am finding homes among the different 
 church-members, who treat me with great kindness." 
 
 TWO DAYS LATER. 
 
 "Since writing the foregoing, the interest to hear on 
 the prophecies has steadily increased. One good old 
 brother belonging to the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 church, told me he had 'got the scales knocked off 
 his eyes right smart, on prophecy, and he reckoned a 
 heap of others had;' and also that he had 'talked with 
 a heap of people, and they were getting over their 
 prejudice right smart.' Yesterday (Sunday) the 
 ' Antioch church ' \vas filled all day with attentive and 
 candid listeners, while many white folks, and all the 
 negroes, had to remain on the outside, listening with 
 breathless attention. In the evening the white folks 
 filled the meeting-house to overflowing, while the 
 negroes built a big fire on the outside, near.<the window 
 back of the pulpit, and listened in quietude. This 
 was a novel idea to me, but no uncommon practice at 
 'big meetings' in this country. At the close of my 
 sermon I requested sinners and backsliders who were 
 determined to start for the kingdom to manifest it by 
 rising. Some twenty-three arose, all grown persons, 
 and mostly those who had never made a profession of 
 religion. How many on the outside would have started, 
 if an opportunity had been offered them, I know 
 not. I fear we shall soon have to close our meeting, 
 owing to the cold weather; as the church is in a di- 
 lapidated condition, it having almost gone to wreck 
 during the war, the windows and doors being broken,
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 93 
 
 making it unfit for meetings except in warm weather. 
 The sympathizers with the South, and the sympathiz- 
 ers with the North, were about equally divided in our 
 recent struggle, and could not worship together. The 
 bitterness has been such that some still sleep with fire- 
 arms by their bed. Some who have not attended meet- 
 ing since the war commenced are turning out to hear 
 the truth of the Lord's coming. May the Lord save 
 many souls here." 
 
 ONE DAY LATER STILL. 
 
 "Just as I am sending my letter to the office, I will 
 add that prejudice continues to give way, and the in- 
 terest to increase. Last night the house was filled 
 with candid listeners, and at the close of the sermon 
 some forty arose for prayers, and a goodly number 
 spoke with much feeling. It was a weeping time. I 
 am invited to preach in two other meeting-houses five 
 or six miles away in different directions; but if the 
 weather will allow, duty demands a continuance here 
 longer." 
 
 LATER. 
 
 "Four days have elapsed since I wrote last, and I have 
 preached each evening to crowded houses, and the 
 attention has been admirable. On an average about 
 forty a night have risen for prayers. The house has 
 been too full to get them forward, except one night. 
 Backsliders and non-professors are included in the 
 number, some of both classes have found peace. Others 
 are deeply serious. Among those who have set out are 
 C. Cheatham and wife — formerly from Minnesota. 
 Last night, upon asking the question how many wished
 
 94 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 to go to the Kingdom of God, nearly the whole house 
 arose. I then set forth the conditions upon which 
 the kingdom could be gained, and then asked all to 
 arise who had fully made up their minds to comply 
 with the conditions, when over 100 stood up. Several 
 have requested baptism. 
 
 "To-day has been a rainy day, the roads are getting 
 bad, and the meeting-house is leaky, so I fear that the 
 meeting will be partially a failure for the present. I 
 am to remain over Sunday. There is a deep anxiety 
 manifested to have me return again. Members of 
 different churches are getting over their fears, and are 
 giving me a warm welcome. The whole community is 
 roused up to hear, and the tide of influence is turning 
 in my favor, both among professors and non-profes- 
 sors. I learn, however, that some who have never at- 
 tended the meetings insist that I ' ought to be driven 
 out of the country with blood-hounds.' Others who 
 were once opposed, upon coming to hear, go away and 
 report, 'Any man who hears him once will want to 
 hear him again.' 
 
 "Friday evening, November 7. Notwithstanding the 
 rain and mud, the house was nearly filled. Several 
 new ones arose for prayers, as well as those who had 
 risen previousl3^ A solemn time truly. Many spoke 
 of their anxieties and resolutions. Some felt blessed 
 of the Lord. 
 
 "Saturday eve the house was filled to a jam. Candid 
 attention. Truth took effect. The people generally 
 feel that our faith looks reasonable. When they have 
 time to look the matter all over, it must be that scores 
 will fully receive the truth. May they also have the 
 spirit of worship. Mem-bers of different churches
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 95 
 
 feel in warm sympathy with the meeting. Prejudice 
 has died away extensively. 
 
 "Sunday the house was more than filled. Many, 
 both whites and blacks, stood outside. The truth took 
 effect. The general impression seemed to obtain that 
 the Bible had been preached in its purity. I am earn- 
 estly pressed with calls for meetings in different di- 
 rections. The message of the Judgment near must 
 be proclaimed in this state. Five meeting houses 
 have been offered me already. 
 
 "Monday. I preached again this morning, after 
 which I baptized five happy souls. Many more feel it 
 duty to obey, and will soon do so. I find I must return 
 to this state again to preach the truth. Bro. Shields, 
 v»^ho invited me here, feels much cheered. I am much 
 pleased with the kindness of the people here. Have 
 made it my home principally with Brn. Shields, 
 Cheatham, and Father Orr^ the deacon, or elder, of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church — an excellent 
 man. Many are under conviction. I have already 
 preached twenty-five sermons here. I must go home 
 now for a time. To-night I am to preach to the colored 
 people." 
 
 LATER STILL. 
 
 "Monday evening we met to preach to the Negroes. 
 Were much disappointed in seeing so few out. If the 
 appointment had been given for the whites, the house 
 would have been crowded. This was a misstep. It 
 was leaving a good interest to create a new one, without 
 time to accomplish it. Besides, I do not believe 
 that I have a gift to preach to that class of people. 
 Poor as my preaching is, I think it is better calculated 
 to do good among the v.'hites. Let those go am.ong
 
 96 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the blacks who have a better gift for the work than I 
 have. I can find open ears among the whites for ten 
 times more preaching than I can do." 
 
 SCENES IN MISSOURI. 
 
 "While visiting at Father Lee's I saw a flock of thirty 
 or forty wild turkeys, the first I ever saw. Of course 
 I had to go and help eat wild turkey, for two were 
 killed. It was the best meal of turkey I ever ate in 
 my life. Years ago it was nothing to see 500 in a 
 flock. Now they are not so plenty. Wild geese are 
 plenty. Went to Bro. Cheatham's to eat some wild 
 goose, the first I ever tasted. But I prefer the turkey. 
 "Grandma^Cheatham was here on a visit from Minne- 
 sota. She is seventy-five years old, but attended every 
 meeting. She thinks she will live to see Jesus come. 
 May the Lord preserve her. 
 
 "The common way of traveling in this state is on 
 horseback. Women may be seen by scores coming to 
 meeting on horseback — a novel sight for Northerners. 
 I have really fallen in love with the plain and kind 
 hearted people of this state. I wish them to hear the 
 good news of Jesus' speedy coming. I leave this place 
 with feelings of reluctance. May God bless the serious 
 ones that are seeking Jesus. Amen." 
 
 In a recent issue of "Our Hope," the editor, 
 Elder H. Pollard, makes the following mention: 
 
 "The writer first heard him (Bro. S.) in the winter 
 of '65-'66, at Carlinville, 111., where he delivered a 
 series of prophetic and doctrinal discourses in the M. 
 E. church, resulting in a church organization which 
 is still in existence. The writer then accepted the
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 97 
 
 truth presented, and was baptized, with several others, 
 by Bro. Sheldon, toward the close of the meetings." 
 
 This place (Carlinville) was the home of Bro. 
 Sheldon's family friends: Bro. and Sr. J. T. Sargent. 
 They, with their brother, Bro. Quimby, interested 
 themselves to obtain assistance to procure a tent to 
 put into the hands of Bro. Sheldon to use in carrying 
 the word of truth to the perishing. Through their 
 generosity and that of other friends, a large tent was 
 secured about this time, and during the tent season 
 was thereafter kept constantly in the field for many 
 years. As a consequence, thousands will be permitted 
 to share in the blessing of eternal life, "in that day 
 when the Lord shall make up his jewels."
 
 CHAPTER XVI . 
 
 TENT AND CHART WORK. 
 
 The tent mentioned in the preceding chapter was 
 a large, well-made, circular tent, sixty feet in diameter, 
 and was capable of easily seating one thousand people, 
 and more by crowding; and there are many still living 
 who know that it was not infrequently filled to over- 
 flowing. People would flock to the tent from miles 
 around, especially on Sundays, eager to hear the 
 preached Word. From this time on, for many years, 
 that grand old tent was used to herald the coming 
 judgment, and to prepare a people to meet that judg- 
 ment in peace. Bro. S. was always extremely careful 
 in caring for that canvas, so that it was preserved for 
 many years in active service, out-wearing tents put 
 into the field some years later. 
 
 He opened the summer campaigns early in May, 
 and would keep the tent pitched all summer, except 
 when it was being moved from place to place ; and until 
 late in fall, often until the last of October; and after 
 the weather had become so cold that stoves were set 
 up to make it comfortable for the people who would 
 turn out, even thus late in the season. His tenting 
 season was longer than we commonly see now-a-days. 
 And, besides, he always made his way with the tent, 
 to our state Camp-meetings, the management of which 
 
 98
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 99 
 
 was left chiefly in his hands for many years. He was 
 also chairman of the committee for the General West- 
 ern Camp-meeting, for quite a number of years. No 
 Western man has had a greater camp-meeting experi- 
 ence than he. 
 
 As a sample of a summer's contemplated work we 
 clip the following notice from a March, 1866, World's 
 Crisis: 
 
 "WESTERN TENT MEETINGS. 
 "All who wish my services with the tent this season, will 
 do well to inform me at once, so that I can arrange my summer's 
 campaign in the most economical style. Expect to pitch some- 
 where in the counties of Sauk, Green, Fond Du Lac, and Mon- 
 roe, Wisconsin, and probably in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and 
 possibly in Missouri. Speak in time, that you may be remem- 
 bered in the arrangement of the campaign. Wm. Sheldon." 
 
 The "remains" of that old tent are to-day lying in 
 the loft of our barn; and often a feeling almost akin 
 to reverence will creep over us as we approach it. How 
 we wish it could speak, and tell, so that we could write 
 it down, of the many, many words spoken with love 
 and zeal and heartfelt earnestness beneath that 
 canvas! Of the many saints who have worshiped 
 there in spirit and truth, and borne testimony to the 
 efficacy of saving power, beneath its shelter! — Of the 
 thousands who there have bowed their knees for the 
 first time, and sought for and found pardon of their 
 sins — Of the confessions and asking forgiveness for 
 wrongs done ; to each other by brethren and sisters ! — 
 Of the prayers which so earnestly arose, coming from 
 the very depths of the hearts of both saints and sinners 
 (for sinners were wont to plead in prayer and agony 
 in those days). — Of the shouts of praise: "Glory;
 
 100 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Hallelujah; Amen; Blessed!" which frequently arose 
 from all parts of the inclosure, even making the sur- 
 rounding woods ring, and echo, and re-echo, with the 
 praises of saints. — Of the battles fought and won with 
 sin and error; of the hundreds of thousands of pages of 
 tracts,* papers, and books there distributed, and of the 
 giving of money to aid in spreading the truth ; of the 
 thousands of hearts made glad because of clearer light 
 upon the Word, brought to their minds and hearts; of 
 the many, many experiences which, if written, would 
 make more than one large book: some of which were 
 joyful, some sorrowful, and some even amusing. But 
 with audible voice the old tent cannot speak of what 
 it might have seen and heard in its seventeen years of 
 regular service, and occasionally afterwards. 
 
 That tent, from whose center-pole floated the 
 banner with "Thy Kingdom Come," has been a means 
 used of God, by which Bro. Sheldon, sometimes with 
 others with him, was enabled to proclaim words of 
 truth and life, and carry the banner of the kingdom 
 gospel to many places which otherwise could not have 
 been reached. And there it was planted, not uncom- 
 monly, to remain and wave victoriously; some soldiers 
 being enlisted and left to hold the fort. 
 
 Were the old tent but able to speak and tell us of 
 all these things, it might reveal things that would 
 make some of us open our eyes in wonder, bring tears 
 both of sorrow and of joy, and touch the hearts of 
 others with a burning missionary zeal, which could 
 not be satisfied without going and doing likewise. 
 
 ♦■'Some of these [tracts] have been extensively circulated, 
 reaching over 50,000 copies on the free distribution list."
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 101 
 
 And our fields might quickly be crowded with laborers, 
 and the message ringing out from many a tongue 
 which is now almost silent. The tale of the old tent 
 would surely lead you and me to consecrate ourselves 
 more thoroughly and entirely to the Lord's service, 
 and fill our lives with deeds of devotion; giving each 
 of us more strength, energy, enthusiasm, and deter- 
 mination. 
 
 We can almost imagine that were the scenes and 
 experiences, which the old canvas could relate if it had 
 speech, — were these repeated in our day and accom- 
 panied by the same Holy Spirit, it would send a thrill, 
 an inspiration, and as it were so electrify this whole 
 body, that it would be productive of great good to this 
 people. It is with this view that we try to reproduce 
 as best we can some of these scenes. 
 
 In the latter part of the sixties Bro. Sheldon con- 
 ducted a tent meeting at Magnolia, Rock Co., Wis., 
 pitching the tent on the farm of John Emmons, now 
 M. D., near to "the corners." This meeting resulted 
 in establishing an interest; and a number of noble men 
 and women were led to embrace the truth. 
 
 Within a year or so arrangements were made to hold 
 a camp-meeting there. This was quite largely attended 
 by brethren and sisters from abroad, and by quite a 
 number of ministers besides Wm. Sheldon. There 
 were S. W. Thurber, J. V. Himes, Marshall McCulloch, 
 and his wife, Julia, who was a lady preacher, and others. 
 This was a good meeting, believers were strengthened, 
 and some converted. 
 
 In the winter following, Bro. S. again visited this 
 point to assist Eld. Isaac Adrian, who then resided 
 there, in a protracted efifort.
 
 102 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Brethren and sisters from the surrounding villages 
 gathered in to attend. Quite a number from Brod- 
 head, Monticello, Attica, Janesville, and other points, 
 came for a few days, as they could spare the time, and 
 added zest and interest to the services. 
 f* Brother Emmons' house was a small 12 x 16 struc- 
 ture, with two rooms below, and an attic above. Bro. 
 S. and wife occupied the small bedroom below, while 
 Bro. and Sr. Emmons and Eld. J. R. Preston, who 
 was also there, made temporary sleeping quarters in 
 the low attic; and the children found the floor in the 
 living room so comfortable a sleeping place, that when 
 they got home some weeks later, they even cried to be 
 allowed to sleep on the floor; as they had become ac- 
 customed to do. 
 
 "Hospitality" was a common virtue among Ad- 
 ventists in those days. The brethren were eager to 
 entertain those who came to the meetings. During 
 this meeting, "John," as Dr. Emmons was then com- 
 monly called, — or Mrs. Emmons should perhaps share 
 the credit, — would frequently provide a table for 
 twenty, thirty, and even over forty at a meal: and 
 that in such cramped quarters as are above described. 
 The injunction of 1st Peter, 4:9, "Use hospitality 
 one to another, without grudging," was cheerfully 
 carried out in those days ; and none were the poorer 
 for it. 
 
 A lesson might be learned to-day in this direction. 
 
 Bro. Sheldon hung up his chart, and declared the 
 prophetic word to large congregations. The novelty 
 of the chart drew in men who never attended meetings 
 of a religious nature. They labored on and on, faith- 
 fully proclaiming the word, and inviting sinners to
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 103 
 
 Christ; yet there was no move. The meetings con- 
 tinued for nine days, and the workers were getting 
 discouraged. Though power seemed to be resting 
 upon the people, not a move was made. The brethren 
 felt that it was best to close the meeting ; and intended 
 to do so that night, should there be no break. 
 
 In that place there resided a man who was universally 
 respected because he was an honest, candid, respect- 
 able man; but he was an open and pronounced infidel. 
 His influence in the community was large, because of 
 his virtues. He could not often be drawn into re- 
 ligious meetings, but hearing about that chart he did 
 go out of curiosity to see, — and he also heard. He 
 went again and again. His candid nature compelled 
 him to open a Bible and investigate for himself. He 
 did so, and his reason was convinced. Honesty com- 
 pelled him next to admit that he had investigated to 
 the satisfaction of his own mind, and that he believed 
 what he had heard presented. 
 
 On the night that the discouraged preachers were 
 about to announce the close of the meetings, this man, 
 George Howard by name, arose at the close of the ser- 
 mon, and manfully, candidly, and openly declared 
 before his neighbors and companions that he — the in- 
 fidel of the community — had investigated for himself 
 what he had been hearing of the prophetic Word, and 
 had come to the honest conclusion that he had been 
 hearing the truth; and that he now believed the Bible 
 to be the inspired word of God. He manfully gave 
 himself to the Savior right there, and entreated his 
 friends and neighbors to do the same. 
 
 This incident was the beginning of a great revival. 
 The power of God was visibly manifest, and the meet-
 
 104 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 ings continued until a large number found Christ 
 precious to their souls, and quite a number were 
 baptized. From this origin, in the spring of 1869 the 
 Magnolia A. C. church was organized. Few churches 
 have been blessed with members of such grand qualities 
 and noble lives as were to be seen in that church. Only- 
 three of the original members are now alive: Dr. J. W. 
 Emmons, and wife; and Sr. Charles Emmons; but 
 those who have fallen asleep are only resting for a 
 little while, having done well and faithfully their work. 
 The sleeping car goes through with the rest of the train, 
 and all will arrive at the terminus together. 
 
 As to the preaching of prophecy, which converted 
 Bro. Howard from infidelity, it is that which God him- 
 self appeals to, to prove that he is God. To the false 
 gods, or idols, he says, "Declare us things for to come; 
 show us the things that are to come hereafter, that 
 we may know that ye are gods." And again, "I am 
 Jehovah; . . . behold the former things are come 
 to pass, and new things do I declare : before they spring 
 forth I tell you of them." "And who, as I, shall call, 
 and shall declare it; ... and the things that 
 are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them." 
 "Ask me of things to come." "Who hath declared 
 this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that 
 time? Have not I, the Lord? and there is no God 
 else beside me." "Declaring the end from the begin- 
 ning, and from ancient times the things that are not 
 yet done." " I have even from the beginning declared 
 it to thee; before it came to pass I showed it thee: lest 
 thou shouldst say, Mine idol hath done them." Thus 
 God appeals to his foretelling events before they come 
 to pass, as a chief proof and demonstration that he is
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 105 
 
 God, and that he has spoken in his Word. And, now 
 that the fulfillment of Bible prophecy has piled up evi- 
 dence upon evidence, shall preachers of his Word not 
 make it plain, and press it upon a scoffing and un- 
 believing generation? To fail to do so would be great 
 unfaithfulness to the charge: "Preach the Word." 
 We thank God for this history of how Geo. Howard, 
 the infidel, was converted. It is not a singular case 
 at all. 
 
 When this Bro. Howard was enlightened and con- 
 verted, the first thing he did was to go to work. He 
 thought that all he would have to do was to tell his 
 old friends of his experience, and they would see the 
 truth too. So he started right out, going from house 
 to house to tell his neighbors about the light and 
 joy he had found. But, contrary to his expectation 
 the cold shoulder was turned to him, doors were closed 
 against him, and those who were once friends no 
 longer received him as before. 
 
 His was too deep an experience for these things to 
 make him "give it up." Though he was repulsed, yet 
 the Spirit of God was at work, and some of these soon 
 yielded to Christ; and joy and rejoicing ensued. Bro. 
 Howard felt that he must preach, and he became one 
 of our honored and beloved ministers, afterward filling 
 official positions in our Western body. He too now 
 sleeps awaiting the resurrection; and he will be then 
 among the saved, with his sheaves. 
 
 God has always honored the preaching of his pro- 
 phetic Word, and he always will. Nothing will take 
 hold of the infidel as will this preaching. With the 
 prophecies you can lay a firm foundation; establish 
 the truth of the Bible, yea, of the whole Bible. The
 
 106 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 declaration of the prophetic truths of the Bible brought 
 us out as a people, and without the prophetic light we 
 never would have been a people. Let us not hide our 
 light under a bushel, but rather let it shine, and study 
 to know more, of the prophecies. Brethren, preach 
 them; preach them often; preach them faithfully! 
 (and that means believingly) . 
 
 While a young preacher, Mr. Spurgeon preached a 
 sermon on Candles, illustrated by candles of various 
 kinds. For the bushel, to put one under, he had a 
 bandbox. He expected to show that the light thus 
 covered up would go out for want of air: that is what 
 the light under the bushel will generally do. But 
 there is another alternative; and on that occasion the 
 experiment did not work as expected, but the candle 
 set fire to the bandbox, and burnt it up! That is the 
 only other possibility when a light is covered up; and, 
 either way, the lesson is: Keep your bushels off 
 your lights !
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A TENT-MEETING EXPERIENCE. 
 
 Some time after his removal from Minnesota to 
 Wisconsin, Bro. Sheldon was invited to hold a tent- 
 meeting in Northfield, Minn., which he arranged to do. 
 
 When conducting tent-meetings it was his custom 
 to have a small tent pitched near the large one, in 
 which he lodged, and watched and guarded the large 
 tent; for he seldom had a tent-master. He also usu- 
 ally hauled the tent and its equipage from place 
 to place with his own horse and wagon, not shipping 
 it by railroad unless for long distances. Arriving at 
 Northfield with the tent, he labored hard putting it 
 up, and getting it ready for the meetings which were 
 to begin on the morrow. 
 
 At that time there had just been released from the 
 jail three or four prisoners, who had served their 
 time of punishment for a bank robbery committed 
 a year before, and these criminals were making things 
 lively on the streets that day. Late in the afternoon 
 they made their way to the tent, where Bro. S. was 
 still at work. They pushed in their heads and de- 
 manded to know when meeting was to commence. 
 He told them the appointment was for the morrow; 
 but they wanted to attend meeting, and thought 
 there ought to be one then. After looking around 
 a while, they disappeared. 
 
 107
 
 108 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 A little later a brother and his wife came by team, 
 to be in attendance at the meetings; and finding 
 Bro. S. very tired with his day's work putting up 
 the tent, arranging seats, and so on, and in need of 
 rest; they proposed that he should go to a house 
 near by, where they had intended to stay, and get 
 a good night's sleep before beginning the meetings 
 the next day. He objected, but finally consented to 
 do so; the brother and his wife taking his place in 
 the small tent. 
 
 They awoke early next morning to find that some- 
 thing had gone amiss during the night. The small 
 trunk in which his tracts were placed (a large supply 
 of which he always carried with him), containing also 
 some books, and some clothing, and which had been 
 placed at the head of his bed, — was gone; and in 
 its place there lay a strange ax. 
 
 They went over to the house and aroused Bro. S., 
 telling him that his trunk was missing. Being thus 
 suddenly aroused, he sprang out of bed, and was 
 half-way down the stairs before he realized that he 
 had not stopped to dress. 
 
 Immediately his encounter with the jail-birds the 
 day before came to his mind. They all believed from 
 the circumstances that those criminals had returned 
 that night with the ax, expecting to find him alone; 
 but finding the tent occupied by two, they had suc- 
 ceeded in removing the trunk without awaking them; 
 but, without doubt, they had intended using the ax, 
 had the guardian of the tent resisted them. Search 
 was made for the trunk in the vicinity of the tent, 
 but no trace of it could be found. 
 
 Later in the day, some brother attending the meet-
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 109 
 
 ing was watering his horses down at the river, when 
 he saw a package of letters tied together floating 
 down. These he secured, and found them addressed 
 to Bro. Sheldon. Following this clue, they started 
 up the river, and about a mile up they found the 
 till of the trunk in a clump of bushes, a few feet 
 from the shore. Further search revealed the fact 
 that the trunk, with most of its contents, had been 
 weighted with stones and sunk in the river. His 
 dress coat, which he had removed and placed in the 
 trunk the day before, while at work, and which had 
 contained the letters which were found floating down, 
 and also about SI 00, which was in the coat, was 
 missing. The convicts were seen no more in that 
 vicinity, and it was undoubtedly they who did the 
 mischief. 
 
 The trunk, with its books and tracts was raised 
 from the river bottom. These were considerably water- 
 soaked ; and to-day there are some books in his book- 
 case with the bindings loosened and the pages stained, 
 by their submergence in that Minnesota river. Among 
 these books was a Hebrew Bible, and other valuable 
 books, taken along for use in study. 
 
 It always seemed that Providence interposed and 
 directed that he should not stay there alone that night 
 in that tent; and it may be that his life was saved 
 by his going to that house to sleep; for he would al- 
 most certainly have awakened. And that ax showed 
 that they intended to make use of it, — at least to 
 defend themselves; and it might have been the in- 
 tention to use it if the sleeper only awoke. But, 
 "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them 
 that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psa. 34:7).
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 ANSWERED PRAYERS. 
 
 " And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord 
 shall raise him up." James 5: 15. 
 
 Does the Lord heal the sick in answer to the prayer 
 of faith? is a question of deep interest to many to-day. 
 That the Lord does hear and answer such prayer, is 
 an assured fact. As illustrative of this we will narrate, 
 as well as our memory will permit, an experience 
 which Bro. Sheldon had while he was holding meetings 
 in the state of Missouri, many years ago. The name 
 of the town we do not now recollect, but we, (and 
 others) remember hearing the facts related by Bro. 
 Sheldon. 
 
 The meetings were progressing well, and the interest 
 at high tide, there being numbers arising for prayers, 
 and a deep conviction resting upon the people. Near 
 to the place of service there lived a highly respected 
 lady who was very sick. She had a large circle of 
 relatives and acquaintances who were deeply interested 
 in her case. She failed rapidly, and sank into uncon- 
 sciousness; and the physician informed the family 
 that she could live but a short time; and that she 
 would be dead before certain relatives, a few miles 
 away, could reach her bedside. These were sent for, 
 and came, expecting to find her already dead. 
 
 When informed that she was not expected to live, 
 110
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. Ill 
 
 some of the family, not willing to give her up, insisted 
 that the man who was holding the meetings should 
 be sent for, to come and pray for her recovery. Hear- 
 ing of the doctor's decision, Bro. S. felt that it would 
 be useless; but they urged him to come. Here he 
 had an inward struggle. On the one hand, he did 
 not want to refuse to go; on the other, he felt that 
 if he went and prayed for her recovery, and she should 
 die, it would be detrimental to the further success of 
 the meetings. He was thus in a strait. He believed 
 that it would be useless for him to pray without 
 special faith that the prayer was according to the 
 will of God, and would be granted. 
 
 Being still urged, he went to the house, where quite 
 a number of friends were gathered expecting to see 
 the lady die. All this time Bro, S. had no faith. 
 Entering her room, he found the lady unconscious, 
 but the family there urged him to pray for her recov- 
 ery. He knelt down by the bedside and prayed, but 
 had no feeling of assurance. Not willing to give up, 
 for they had faith to believe the Lord would heal her, 
 the family urged him to pray again. Again he began 
 to pray; and soon faith began to be given him, and 
 he prayed on. He said it seemed as though he had 
 been carried above the earth, where he could reach 
 up and touch the very throne of God. The power 
 of God filled and thrilled him most wonderfully, and 
 was felt by all present. 
 
 Then the unconscious woman opened her eyes, 
 began shouting and praising God, and soon sat upon 
 the edge of the bed, while they had such a time of 
 rejoicing. Some of the relatives from a distance 
 arrived just then, expecting to find her dead; but
 
 112 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 there she was, sitting up, praising and rejoicing. After 
 a little time the room was vacated that the lady might 
 dress. This she did, soon after walking out into 
 another room, where she shook hands with the friends 
 there gathered, giving to each some word fitted to 
 their individual need. 
 
 There was no meeting spoiled that night on account 
 of an unanswered prayer for healing; no, indeed; 
 but the Spirit's power was there sensibly felt, and 
 a grand revival followed. The next night the lady 
 herself was at the service, and testified of the power 
 of God to heal. Several years afterward she wrote a 
 letter to Bro. Sheldon, and was then still rejoicing and 
 praising God. 
 
 Bro. S. sometimes expressed his thought regarding 
 "the prayer of faith," as related to such cases. It 
 must be where the healing will be to the glory of 
 God, that such prayer will be answered; and, that 
 there must not only be the faith in Christ which 
 is common to all Christians, but also a special faith, 
 on the part of some one concerned. In this case it 
 was not on the part of the sick one, for she was past 
 consciousness; it was not on his part, for he lacked 
 faith at first; but members of the family did have 
 that needed special faith, which was afterwards given 
 to him; and the result was, the sick one was healed, 
 to the glory of God. 
 
 There is a distinction between the grace of faith, 
 which relies upon Christ for salvation, and the gift 
 of faith for healing, and for other things, in answer to 
 prayer. Salvation is promised to "whosoever will," 
 therefore all may, and must, exercise faith upon this 
 promise, or testimony. But healing is not promised to
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 113 
 
 all, nor at all times, nor in all cases: there is no Bible 
 promise of this upon which to base faith; therefore 
 it cannot be exercised unless it is specially given for 
 each case, and to each person who thus receives it. 
 In the above case all did not have it; and even when 
 some (perhaps but one) of the friends had it Bro. 
 Sheldon had it not, even when praying and trying 
 to believe, — until it was infused into his mind by the 
 Holy Spirit. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but 
 the same Spirit. . . . For to one [brother or sister 
 in Christ, — he is not speaking of unbelievers,] is given, 
 by the Spirit, the word of wisdom, ... to another 
 faith, by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of 
 healing, by the same Spirit." See 1 Cor. 12:4-31. 
 We may, and should pray for these gifts, as we come 
 to need them; but we cannot command them from 
 God, or have them in every case. "Trophimus have 
 I left at Miletum sick."— Paul, 2 Tim. 4:20. 
 
 How does this statement of Paul compare with 
 modern, so-called "divine healing," practiced perhaps 
 by misled yet good people, but, also, in most cases 
 through the deception of the devil's agents? Accept 
 the Bible teaching of "faith healing;" give God the 
 glory; and give no heed to "seducing spirits and 
 doctrines of devils," or to the "false Christs" and 
 "false prophets," who "shall show great signs and 
 wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall 
 deceive the very elect. "-(Matt. 24:24.) 
 
 "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the 
 Lord shall raise him up;" — when God by his Spirit 
 especially gives the faith for this prayer. 
 
 Another case of answered prayer, for another kind 
 of healing — that of a sin-sick soul — comes to our mind
 
 114 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 now, having occurred in our home city, Brodhead, 
 Wisconsin. 
 
 For many years there had lived, six or seven miles 
 south of the city, a man who had become rather noted 
 in the country around as a rough, wicked character. 
 Before coming west he had been converted; but he 
 left the state of Maine when young, and settled in 
 Wisconsin when it was wild and new, and "lost his 
 religion;" becoming reckless and profane, and giving 
 up his hope in Christ. 
 
 At the time of his conversion, which was under the 
 preaching of the Advent message in Maine, he had 
 an experience the like of which was not then uncom- 
 mon. When he found peace in Christ he had the 
 impression that he saw a great light which shone 
 clearly to his natural eyesight, and which gave him 
 the assurance that he had received the pardon of his 
 sins. He lived a life of faithful service for a time; 
 but on coming West he was led astray from the path 
 of righteousness and thereafter lived a life of open sin. 
 
 When he had reached the age of about seventy- 
 five, his health having failed, he purchased a home 
 in town, and moved in to spend the remainder of 
 his days. About three weeks afterwards he was 
 taken seriously ill, and he realized that he was nearing 
 the end of life. His past ill-spent life came up before 
 him, as he said, like a great black cloud, through 
 which he could see no ray of light for his future, and 
 he was greatly distressed. That former Christian 
 experience came also to his memory; that light of 
 glory that had once surrounded him! could he ever 
 see that again, and once more feel the assurance that 
 his sins were forgiven? He reasoned with himself
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 115 
 
 that it was impossible. His sinful life disturbed and 
 distressed him; he could not rest nor sleep, nor could 
 he die thus. He tried to pray, but all was dark, 
 dark; and hopelessness took hold of him. 
 
 For years he had now and then heard Eld. Sheldon 
 preach. He believed the message was true, and had 
 been under conviction at times while sitting under 
 his preaching, but had not yielded. In his distress 
 of mind he sent for him to come to his bedside; and 
 he, being at home, went, as requested. 
 
 The old gentleman told him of his past history, 
 his early conversion in Maine, his having given up 
 his hope in Christ, and of his many years of sin, which 
 rose up before him like an "exceeding high mountain." 
 He bewailed his lost condition and feared there could 
 be no salvation for him; he could not sleep, nor 
 could he die, he said, with such a burden and weight 
 resting upon him. Bro. S. talked and prayed with 
 him, but he found no peace. 
 
 He visited him again the next day, and again talked 
 and prayed with him; also on the third day. Yet 
 the old man could obtain no rest nor peace ; nor would 
 he be satisfied with anything, unless he should again 
 see that light! Together they prayed, the old man 
 confessing his many sins, and pleading most earnestly 
 for pardon. That third night the peace of God rested 
 upon him, and he felt the assurance of having his sins 
 pardoned once more; and, yes, that light again shone 
 round about him; and he rejoiced and praised God. 
 
 Peace and quiet of mind were given him, and rest 
 came through peaceful sleep. He afterward talked 
 with members of his family, telling them of his peace 
 and joy, and entreated them to seek for and obtain
 
 116 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 pardon. The next morning, when Bro. S. called on 
 him, he requested him to deliver this as his testimony, 
 to his friends at his funeral service: "Tell them I am 
 ready to go. Glory to God! Ready to go!" 
 
 Now we must make a few remarks lest the above 
 should be taken in a wrong light. Anxious sinners 
 are filled with true "joy and peace" by believing in 
 Jesus, and in the record which God has given of his 
 Son. It is "by faith," that is, by believing the testi- 
 mony of God in his Word, and not by "feeling" at 
 all, that "we have peace with God, through our Lord 
 Jesus Christ." The thing for the anxious sinner to 
 do is to believe what God says — feeling or no feeling; 
 light or no light. Feeling will doubtless follow; still 
 it should not be made a pre-requisite to the acceptance 
 of God's promised pardon. 
 
 But we are poor creatures, and the Lord is very 
 pitiful. And he who wet Gideon's fleece for a sign 
 to him might cause a poor man to think he saw a 
 light; if that man could not be satisfied without it. 
 But do not from this demand a light, or anything 
 else, before you will believe God: "Thou shalt not 
 tempt the Lord thy God." 
 
 Yes; dear unconverted reader, if you are an awak- 
 ened, anxious sinner, there is pardon and peace, for 
 you just now, by only looking unto Jesus the Lamb 
 of God, slain for you. And it may be obtained even 
 at the closing hours of one's life; but then Satan 
 will do his best to hinder you, either by keeping you 
 asleep, or by leading you to despair; and you will 
 be weak, and hardly able to lift up the eyes of your 
 mind to the cross of Calvary. It is very dangerous 
 to put off this matter, and to say to God's Spirit
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 117 
 
 "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient 
 f:eason I will call for thee." 
 
 How much better it will be to stand before Christ 
 who died for you, and present to him a well-spent 
 life; and maybe some few sheaves of gathered grain; 
 rather than to give Satan our best days, and at the 
 close of a life worse than wasted in his service to cast 
 ourselves on the mercy and goodness of a slighted 
 Savior. Surely no young reader will be so mean as 
 deliberately to purpose this! Give yourself, your 
 all, to Christ now, now. "They that seek me early 
 shall find me," is a special promise to the young. 
 Will you? 
 
 There are several lessons to be learned from the 
 foregoing narrative of facts. Seek them out for your- 
 selves.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 FAILING HEALTH. 
 
 From the time that Bro. Sheldon came into pos- 
 session of his tent he labored hard during the tent- 
 ing season, often preaching twelve or fourteen ser- 
 mons a week; and more than once did he preach 
 four sermons on a Sunday, and baptize, besides con- 
 ducting social services ; and usually, when in new places, 
 he had to do his own singing. 
 
 Such tent work is hard on a preacher, even though 
 he is favored with a naturally strong constitution, as 
 Bro. Sheldon was. His natural vigor withstood well 
 the many exposures and wearing experiences of his 
 pioneer days, but these were so trying that it had to 
 yield, sooner or later, to the constant strain put upon it. 
 
 When the weather no longer permitted tent work 
 he began the winter campaigns; arranging preaching 
 appointments, and holding protracted meetings. One 
 winter in the later sixties he started out with his horse 
 and cutter, filling appointments; and in going from 
 Sauk City to Castle's Prairie, in Wisconsin, he was 
 overtaken by a severe, and blinding snow-storm, with 
 the thermometer registering more than twenty degrees 
 below zero. For some distance his way lay through 
 a strip of hazel brush, and when some distance into 
 the brush a blast of wind carried off his hat. He 
 
 118
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 119 
 
 stopped the horse, got out, and ran after his hat, which 
 the wind was blowing farther and farther away, until 
 he finally captured it; but, when he attempted to re- 
 turn to the horse and cutter he could not see where 
 they were, because of the blinding storm, and his own 
 footprints had been at once filled up by the drifting 
 snow so that he could not retrace them. 
 
 Though he took the direction back against the wind 
 the best he could, the storm was so bewildering that 
 he wandered about for some time in that hazel brush, 
 and was nearly frozen before he found his horse and 
 cutter. A drive of some four miles brought him to 
 the home of that good old couple, so well known then 
 in Wisconsin, Deacon Thomas and wife. Sister Thomas 
 had been a trained nurse in a hospital, in Worcester, 
 Mass., and she at once began to treat the nearly frozen 
 man, applying home remedies; thus making him com- 
 fortable, and averting, for that immediate time, a 
 sickness from the exposure. He was able to fill his 
 appointment the next day. 
 
 Another appointment was made for two weeks 
 ahead. This he managed to fill; but then found he 
 would be compelled to remain at the deacon's for a 
 time, for he there came down with a raging fever 
 which continued for three weeks. 
 
 Sister Thomas nursed him well, but he grew worse, 
 alarming them so that the deacon sent a team to his 
 home and brought his wife. He was so sick that he 
 was given up to die by the doctor, nurse, wife, and 
 friends ; but the Lord spared his life. 
 
 From the time of this sickness he was obliged to re- 
 main comparatively inactive until spring ; and it seemed 
 that his constitution was then weakened, so that he
 
 120 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 never entirely regained his former rugged health. Al- 
 though he labored hard and constantly in after years, 
 the work told on him more than formerly. 
 
 In the winter of 1867-8 he had another severe and 
 trying illness, brought on by overwork and exposure. 
 He was holding meetings at Postville, in Southern 
 Wis., and nights after being overheated by preaching, 
 he would ride some five miles to his stopping-place. 
 This exposure was too much for his already weakened 
 constitution, and a long sickness and nervous prostra- 
 tion resulted; after which his health was never good, 
 though it improved somewhat after a time. 
 
 The next spring, in May, 1868, he moved his family 
 from Baraboo, where he had resided for four years, 
 and where their second and youngest daughter was 
 born, to Brodhead, Green Co., a beautiful little town 
 in the southern part of the state, which was thereafter 
 his home. 
 
 He had labored more or less in Brodhead and vicinity 
 for two seasons, and had worked up an interest, and 
 the brethren strongly urged that he should locate 
 among them. Just south of the town, in the township 
 of Avon, he had labored and brought several strong 
 men and their wives out of the bondage of the law 
 (Seventh-day Sabbath keeping), into the freedom of 
 the gospel; also he had pitched his tent two summers 
 in Brodhead, and these meetings had resulted in re- 
 claiming some backsliders, enlightening the people, 
 bringing many to Christ, and establishing one of the 
 strongest of Western A. C. churches. This church 
 contained a large number of members of unusual moral 
 and intellectual strength, who were "rooted and 
 grounded" in the truths of the Word, and able and
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 121 
 
 ready at any time to give a Scriptural "reason" for 
 their hope. It was often remarked that this was "a 
 church of preachers," for most of them could discourse 
 intelligently, on many Bible subjects. 
 
 After the removal of the family home to Brodhead, 
 he spent a few weeks at a Water-Cure in Monroe, the 
 county-seat of Green Co., Wis., and was somewhat im- 
 proved in health by the treatment; a little later he 
 went to Dr. A. Spaulding's at Aurora, 111., and received 
 electrical treatment from him with further benefit; but 
 did not regain his former power of endurance. 
 
 In the summer of his removal to Brodhead a third 
 tent-meeting was held there, in which Elders J. V. 
 Himes and Wm. Sheldon labored side by side, and a 
 grandly successful meeting was the result. The 
 brethren and sisters were thoroughly awake, shouting 
 and rejoicing; and in this frame of mind quite a number 
 of them went on to the Southern Wis. camp-meeting, 
 which followed directly, and was held at Paoli, Wis., 
 some thirty miles distant. This camp was quite largely 
 attended by our people of the state, — many brought 
 the unconverted members of their families with them, — 
 and the fire and enthusiasm of the tent meeting was 
 carried to the campmeeting, and in turn carried to 
 their various homes by its attendants. At the camp- 
 meeting many were converted, and large numbers 
 baptized: at one baptismal service Bro. Sheldon led 
 twenty-nine down into the watery grave, among whom 
 was his eldest child, his daughter Jennie. 
 
 This was in '68, remember, when we were in ex- 
 pectation of the Lord's very soon coming. 
 
 With the break in his health, Bro. S. was compelled 
 to remain more at home than formerly, and though
 
 122 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 he often went out and held meetings, for a number of 
 years longer, yet his stays at home were more 
 lengthy, and evidences of poor health were plainly 
 visible. Yet his regret was not that he had worn him- 
 self out in the service of Christ, but rather that he had 
 not been able to do more; and that he was unable to 
 do then as he had "done formerly.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 STUDYING AND WRITING. 
 
 Even while closely engaged in revival and tent work, 
 Bro. Sheldon always spent considerable time in study, 
 and in writing; contributing reports and articles more 
 or less frequently to our papers. He also wrote, and 
 had printed, many tracts bearing on- points of our faith. 
 He always made it a point to be well supplied with 
 tracts, of his own, or others' writing; and thousands on 
 thousands of these has he distributed far and wide over 
 the Western prairies, and many have been led to see 
 and embrace the truths of God's Word through the 
 reading of some tract. 
 
 He felt that these little silent messengers were a 
 potent factor in the promulgation of the gospel in new 
 fields, and always made them prominent in his labors. 
 They were chiefly distributed gratuitously. It would 
 be gratifying to see much more use made of these 
 "printed preachers " to-day, for they would still ac- 
 complish a work that other means, without them, may 
 measurably fail to accomplish. They say their say 
 over and over, as often as they are called on; they 
 never get into a debate and get excited ; and their reader 
 can calmly study them, and their subjects, at leisure. 
 Thus they have some advantages over spoken words. 
 And the standard doctrinal tracts are as good to-day 
 as ever they were. 
 
 123
 
 124 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 The following letter, found among others, illustrates 
 the effect of tract distribution, and v,'e insert it to show 
 how even some weak, timid child of God may be in- 
 strumental in doing a great work for him, simply by 
 giving some little tract to a friend or stranger, "Cast 
 thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after 
 many days " (Eccl. 11:1). 
 
 "Normal, III., March 26, 1894. 
 " Bro. Sheldon: — Years ago, say perhaps from '64 
 to '66, I was visiting in Indiana, and while there my 
 brother and I were going along the road, and we met 
 a man, and he gave us some tracts. And among the 
 number was one entitled: Think For Yourself: 
 and it did set me to thinking; although it was years 
 before I took a decided stand. But I think that tract 
 was the entering wedge that finally landed me in the 
 Advent camp. 
 
 "I never forgot the title of the tract, but the author's 
 name was forgotten. The other day, an old A. C. 
 Times fell into my hands, and there I discovered who 
 was the author of the tract ; and after all these years I 
 want to thank you for writing it. 
 
 "Your Brother in Christ, 
 
 "T. B. Sturgis." 
 
 As inability to use his strength in the open field so 
 constantly as formerly, fastened itself upon him, 
 Bro. S., — never content to be idle for a moment — 
 gave himself up more fully to study, and the thorough 
 investigation of many points of teaching related to the 
 Word of God. His study was not just looking over 
 the morning paper; or reading a chapter in the Bible; 
 or bringing together a few items wTought out by
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 125 
 
 others' research, to make up a well-sounding thirty 
 minute essay, to be read on a Sunday morning; but he 
 gave himself up to research, going to the very founda- 
 tion of whatever subject he took up. 
 
 Days, nights, weeks, months, years, were devoted to 
 study, hard solid study. The " midnight oil " not only 
 burned at midnight, but frequently till two, or four 
 o'clock in the morning, so absorbed was he in the sub- 
 jects; then after a few hours he would be up and into 
 his study again. Many times has he risen after having 
 retired for the night, to write down thoughts that came 
 to him while still musing upon his bed, his mind too 
 active to sleep; and which he did not wish to risk for- 
 getting. 
 
 Many problems have been solved in this way. Nor 
 would he give up any line of research which he had be- 
 gun, (except it was temporarily), until he had mastered 
 it to his own satisfaction, though it took years to 
 finish it. 
 
 Points that he was unable to get a full knowledge 
 of through works at his command were made note of, 
 and when an opportunity presented itself other books 
 were looked into, and further information noted for 
 future use. In his travels he has consulted libraries 
 from Boston to San Francisco; and often, instead of 
 using time for recreation, sight-seeing, or pleasure, at 
 such places, he has used it to search through works not 
 to be found everywhere, to secure facts which have 
 afterwards been used with telling effect. Students of 
 his stamp and depth are not run across every day. 
 
 After weeks, months, and in some instances years 
 of research — which might be literally re-search; not 
 taking others' words for it, but verifying personally, —
 
 126 LIFE OF SHELDOX. 
 
 he has penned the results of his labors, — for labors 
 they were, just as really as any man's who ever labored 
 at manual work, — and thus has given and left to the 
 world what may without exaggeration be termed a 
 rich store of productions, published and unpublished; 
 in the form of tracts, pamphlets, books, articles, and 
 manuscript. In the production of these, research in 
 various directions was made, and language, history, 
 science, and astronomy, have been brought to bear in 
 establishing questions relating to Biblical knowledge; 
 so that, to his mind, many points were settled beyond 
 the possibility of a doubt. 
 
 The first tract that he vrrote was printed in 1853, — 
 49 years ago. It was called, "The Gospel Vindicator: 
 or Bible Truth-Defender," and contained 187 closely 
 printed pages. To show the scope of this work, and 
 the range of his theology at that early date, we give 
 its page headings: "Rules of investigation — death 
 and resurrection — immortality — man in death — in- 
 termediate state — time of reward — place of reward — 
 wages of sin — admonitions — Christ's coming — the four 
 kingdoms — the kingdom of God — premillennial advent 
 — apostasy — non-immortaUty of man — views of prim- 
 itive Christians — opinions of eminent men — Scripture 
 testimony — soul and spirit." This is quite a "body 
 of di\Tiiity ; " and no doubt did good work. 
 
 A 21 page tract comes next, on: "The Seven Seals: 
 with Scriptural facts concerning the Four Angels, the 
 Four Winds, the Sealing Angel, the Seal of the living 
 God, the 144.000. and the Silence in Heaven." This 
 is on the prophetic line, as you will see. A third tract 
 (perhaps) was "The Key of Truth," 12 pages only, but 
 which has done great service, — perhaps as much as
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 127 
 
 any one of his productions, — and it is yet in use. On 
 its cover page was printed: "For gratuitous circu- 
 lation;" and it was scattered by the tens of thousands, 
 gratuitously. 
 
 Among his other printed works; we mention, The 
 King of Glory;" a 48 page prophetic work; "The Com- 
 ing Judgment: its Necessity and Results;" "Christ's 
 Kingdom Not of This World;" " The Scriptural Doc- 
 trine of Eternal Damnation," 45 pages; "Rise of the 
 Man of Sin;" "Apocalyptic Symbols Examined," 71 
 pages; "The Next Dispensation, Viewed in the Light 
 of Revelation," 70 pages; "The Disembodied State 
 Examined," 42 pages; "What is the Soul?" "Immor- 
 tality: or Does Death Kill?" "Materialism, as Related 
 to the World to Come;" "Ghostology;" "The Visions 
 and Theories of the Prophetess Ellen G. White, in 
 Conflict with the Bible;" "A Sermon on Hell;" "Is the 
 Coming of the Lord Near?" "Dodging the Truth on 
 Prophetic Time;" "The Last Generation;" "The King 
 of the Jews; " " Seventh Day Sabbath Claims Refuted; " 
 "The Approaching Consummation;" "The Thousand 
 Years of the Dragon's Bondage;" "The Reign of 
 Messiah on the Throne of his Father, David;" "Daniel's 
 Drama;" "Symbolic Prophecy Explained;" "The 
 Kingdom to Come;" "Sabbatical Claims Not Valid, 
 and Valid Sunday Claims;" "Futurity: or the Here- 
 after of All Men;" "Immaterialism;" "Why Don't 
 God Kill the Devil?" "The New Jerusalem Sanctuary;" 
 "The Upper Sanctuary Cleansed on False Time;" 
 "Stop and Think." 
 
 Of a larger size, he wrote: " Adventism: What is it?" 
 a cloth bound book of 310 pages, published in 1868; 
 when it was spoken of as "the book for the times."
 
 128 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 "The very name, Adventism, sent a thrill through 
 the whole body." " 'Adventism' was published last 
 week, and in less than three days nearly every copy 
 was gone. We have never published any work for 
 which there was such a call, or so rapid a sale. . . . 
 It is the most important book we have issued from 
 the press. We have hitherto felt the need of a work 
 that we could hand to inquirers after truth: that need 
 is now supplied." — Voice of the West. 
 
 "We are delighted with it ('Adventism'). The 
 points are clear, and well put. It is just what is 
 needed for the present time." — Crisis. 
 
 He also wrote: "Mormonism Examined," a paper 
 covered volume of 184 pages, published in 1876. It 
 is an exposure of plain self-contradictions in the 
 Mormon inspired (?) books, and a refutation of their 
 doctrines. Every one in contact with Mormonism of 
 any kind should get it, and get posted. Of this work 
 Eld. D. T. Taylor wrote: "Mormonism is a stench in 
 the nostrils of heaven, and a stain on the nation's 
 honor. It is a huge imposture that only deserves to 
 die. Elder William Sheldon has done service to the 
 whole country in exposing the inconsistencies, con- 
 tradictions, and falsity of the claims of the Mormon 
 founders, and leaders, and his book should be widely 
 circulated and read by those who wish our land freed 
 from this polygamous system of error, lying and lust. 
 His sharp trenchant . pen will interest you. The ex- 
 pose is thorough and well done." 
 
 It is important to notice here the re-paging of the 
 Mormon books; so we add the following: 
 
 "When I wrote my review on Mormonism, I fre- 
 quently referred to chapter and verse as given in all
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 129 
 
 Mormon editions of the Book of Mormon then extant. 
 Of late a new edition has been issued, changing the 
 former divisions of the book, so that my quotations 
 cannot be found — being sometimes 40 or 50 verses 
 away from the one cited. Their ministers take this 
 new edition into the desk, read quotations from my 
 book, and then read the chapter and verse cited, from 
 the new edition, and accuse me of falsifying the Book 
 of Mormon, and ask anybody in the congregation to 
 come up and compare the works. Some of my own 
 brethren have been thus deceived. One Bro. (Eld. 
 Gardner) sent for my book to compare with this new 
 edition, finding all my quotations right but not to be 
 found by chapter and verse in the new edition. 
 
 "This was the best way they could escape th^ points 
 made against them. If they went to all this expense 
 in getting out a new edition to throw dust into the 
 readers* eyes who read my book, it will stick to them as 
 a dishonest trick. Look out for the trick. It will be 
 practiced till the trick is exposed far and near. w. s." 
 
 "Prophecy and Chronology Made Plain," is another 
 work of his, a cloth-bound book. 
 
 "Life Beyond Death, in the Home of the Holy," 
 was published in 1871, in paper covers. It was scat- 
 tered extensively, and has done much to bring many 
 into clearer light. Thousands of this work were 
 scattered by Bro. S. at his own expense, during mis- 
 sionary trips. Bro. H. A. King mentioned the fact 
 that this work "was the means of leading the Rev. 
 Geo. R. ICramer out of fable-land into the light of 
 truth." Nor was he the only minister who had his 
 eyes opened by it. In the South, a Baptist minister 
 undertook to review it publicly, and gave notice that
 
 130 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 he would do so at a date two weeks ahead. He com- 
 menced his preparation, but before the two weeks 
 were up he handed the work over to a second Baptist 
 preacher, requesting him to review it at a certain 
 time. He undertook the work; but finally he too 
 passed it on to a third, with a similar request. The 
 like was done again and again, until the book passed 
 through the hands of six Baptist ministers, none of 
 whom "reviewed" it; but each of whom began to 
 preach the truths learned from the book in their efforts 
 to refute its arguments. Here we cannot but insert 
 the following extracts : 
 
 "This morning. May 4 (1875), we came back with 
 Brn. Bankson and Livingston" [the latter father of 
 Elder Milton M. Livingston, now at Mendota College, 
 111.] . . . "The truth here [—Spring Creek, Ala.] 
 has spread like wild-fire, just from that one copy of 
 'Life Beyond Death.' There are five ministers 
 already breasting the storm, and they will not flinch 
 for love or money." ( — Cargile's Autobiography; 
 p. 259.) 
 
 "Shortly after the war a ripple of excitement blew 
 over the religious waters in this section, caused by 
 some religious tracts circulating, which proclaimed 
 the speedy coming of the Savior to earth. Soon after 
 this Adventism began to be preached. A worthy 
 Baptist minister, Rev. J. J. Smith, being among its 
 earliest advocates. . . . 
 
 "About a year ago Rev. Hezekiah H. Davis came, 
 with a lady preacher, Mrs. Hattie B. Hastings, who re- 
 vived things wonderfully. . . . After them came 
 Rev. William Sheldon, of Wisconsin, who was many 
 heads and shoulders above his predecessors. He was
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 131 
 
 a scholar as well as an orator, and a man of decided 
 ability." (From Stevenson, Ala., New Era, 1873; in 
 Cargile's Autobiography, p. 86.) 
 
 In this connection we extract from an old Crisis, 
 as follows: 
 
 "news from the south. 
 
 "I am receiving good news from the South; not only 
 from Bro. Bowman, but from other portions of the 
 South. One brother, to whom I sent 'Life Beyond 
 Death,' sat up nearly all night to read it through, and 
 then carefully re-read it afterwards, and is now re- 
 joicing in the truth. In another section several have 
 already been turned out of the Baptist church for 
 advocating our views on the soon coming of Christ 
 and kindred doctrines, including one Baptist minister. 
 Another Baptist minister writes me — 'I think it prob- 
 able that we will have a stir in our Association before 
 long;' and this minister has already come out clear 
 on the whole truth, and is calling for works on the life 
 and death theme to scatter, which I am sending him. 
 It will be time to make his name and locality public 
 when they turn him into the gospel field more fully. 
 God bless him. I am still sending works south, and 
 shall continue to do so as long as I can get funds, for 
 my heart is moved for that poverty-stricken and 
 destitute field. May God water the seed. 
 
 "I reserve other items of news for another note, only 
 adding that in some parts the clergy are stirred up 
 to preach 'against us, but none who have read the 
 lyor/cs sent are affected by it. "w. s." 
 
 "A Convert to the Truth. — At our recent camp- 
 meeting in Western Wisconsin, I formed the acquaint-
 
 132 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 ance of a Bro. Foster, who has been for thirty years an 
 efficient Methodist clergyman, and who has recently 
 embraced the truth held by our people, and has avowed 
 his intentions to leave that church, and unite with us 
 without delay. Nor has he stepped out so boldly with- 
 out candid deliberation. In a public discourse he gave 
 the following outline of his experience, which is calcu- 
 lated to encourage others to sow the seed of truth by 
 scattering reading matter, though they may not always 
 witness present results. 
 
 "Some twelve or fifteen years ago he was invited to 
 read some tracts which I scattered in the western part 
 of this State. He hated the doctrine they set forth, and 
 was determined not to believe it. The tracts presented 
 such strong arguments, however, that he was fully 
 convinced that he could not meet them ; so he resolved 
 to lay them aside only partly read. He did so; but the 
 impressions then made were never shaken off. Within 
 the past year or two he has been reading other produc- 
 tions, and has accepted the truth, and commenced 
 preaching it, and a part of his congregation have also 
 embraced it. We are glad to welcome to our midst a 
 man of so much experience, and so good a talent, to 
 help us. 
 
 "Let others take courage in the work of tract distri- 
 bution. These tracts may, as in this case, if they do 
 not produce present results, pave the way for future 
 good. Scatter the seed everywhere. If some 'kick 
 against the pricks,' and get hurt, and grumble about it, 
 and splash around like a whale with a harpoon in him, 
 for a time, they may yield after a while. Keep sowing 
 the seed of truth in the form of tracts. " w. s."
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 133 
 
 "A Note from Georgia, — I did not know but my 
 labor was lost in one Southern town till I received this 
 note : — 
 
 " 'Mr.Wm. Sheldon : — Dear Sir, and Bro. in Christ : — 
 It has been, as near as I can remember, about eighteen 
 months since your visit to this place, and ever since then 
 I have read and studied those tracts you gave me, with 
 great pleasure, and find that they have given me more 
 light upon Scripture than any other work I ever read; 
 for they have filled me with fresh hopes, life and vigor; 
 and they are to me as a crutch is to a lame man; and 
 with that crutch and God's Word and the spirit of love, 
 softened and purified by the Holy Ghost, I think there 
 is no man on earth who can disprove their teachings. 
 Dear brother, I feel that the veil is withdrawn, and the 
 true light now shineth. Glory to God, for 'Ghostol- 
 ogy,' 'Kingdom to Come,' 'Death and the Dead,' 'Im- 
 materialism,' and the 'Coming Judgment;' they are all 
 so brimful of light and truth that they have opened my 
 mouth, and caused gratitude to flow from my heart 
 day and night ; not at the family altar alone, but also in 
 my work-shop, to my customers, friends, and neigh- 
 bors, and there are some who hear the words of eternal 
 life through Jesus who alone is the life-giving power, 
 and some who reject and are hewing out for themselves 
 cisterns that hold no water. I am rejoicing in the 
 hopes of shouting glory over death, and him that hath 
 the power of death, that is, the devil. Then our mortal 
 body will be changed to one that cannot know grief, 
 suffering or death; then shall we be fitting subjects for 
 our immortal King when he comes to take his king- 
 dom; then with all the redeemed shall we shout ho-
 
 134 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 sannah to the Son of David. Men talk about the beau- 
 tiful music now, what will it be to that of the just made 
 perfect? 
 
 "I hope you will excuse me for writing to you, but I 
 want you to know your labors are not lost, and also to 
 pay for my paper; and I want you to select me some 
 more of the most heart-searching tracts you can get, 
 not forgetting your own, for my others are all dis- 
 tributed.' 
 
 "May God bless this brother in his efforts to sow the 
 seed in the South, to enlighten others. 
 
 "w. s." 
 
 We also take the liberty of here giving the following 
 recent letter: 
 
 "St. Louis, Mo., June 22, 1902 
 
 "Miss Lucy Sheldon: Dear Sister: — I feel moved 
 to express at this late date, a few of my thoughts in re- 
 gard to your dear father, in connection with my con- 
 version to the doctrine of conditional immortality, 
 
 "In February, 1868, some tracts of his early writings 
 chanced to fall into my hands; principally on the sub- 
 jects of the Time and Place of Reward. Also the 
 'Reign of Christ on the throne of his father David.' 
 After five years of investigation I became convinced of 
 the truths taught by the A. C. Church; but for twenty 
 years questions pertaining to the meaning of certain 
 passages of Scripture would come to my mind, and my 
 first thought always was, to write him my question; 
 but I never had to do it, for in a few days, or weeks at 
 the farthest, on turning to his department of our church 
 papers my thoughts or questions would be expounded 
 to my entire satisfaction; until I quit thinking of writ-
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 135 
 
 ing my questions, knowing all that I had to do was to 
 wait a little while, and everything would be made 
 plain to me. 
 
 The only time I ever met him was at Forreston, lU., 
 
 in June, 1881 His last article, 'A Stroll 
 
 through Paradise,' impressed me greatly. 
 
 "May God grant that we may meet and enjoy that 
 stroll, as well as bask in the sunshine of the kingdom 
 nder the whole heavens, is my prayer. 
 
 "J. Harvey Melven." 
 
 Many more cases might be recorded here of indi- 
 viduals being enlightened, or started on the way to en- 
 lightenment, through the reading of a tract. It seems 
 that to-day we are in general too neglectful of this 
 means of scattering the words of truth and salvation. 
 In former days some always had a selection of tracts 
 in their pocket, to hand out whenever there was a good 
 opportunity. Even a weak child of God can hand 
 out an appropriate tract; which is better than indis- 
 criminate scattering. "Blessed are ye that sow 
 beside all waters" (Isa. 32: 20), — that is, in favorable 
 locations.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 EDITORIAL WORK. 
 
 For many years our brother had been a frequent 
 contributor to our denominational papers : The World's 
 Crisis, in the East; and The Voice of the West, in the 
 West; and his writings came to be in demand, so that 
 he was afterwards placed in an editorial relation to 
 several papers. 
 
 In 1870 he was elected to the position of Corre- 
 sponding Editor of The World's Crisis; later he was 
 Western Corresponding Editor; and his department 
 in the Crisis was headed, "Western Editorials." This 
 official connection with the Crisis was continued until 
 the fall of 1889 (when the Western territory was set 
 off, with "Our Hope" as its organ); with the excep- 
 tion of about two years when he was the Office Editor 
 of the A. C. Times. 
 
 He was always a staunch friend of the Crisis. Many 
 years of labor in writing articles were given to our 
 people through that national, and later. Eastern organ. 
 Eld. F. L. Piper, the present editor of the Crisis, says: 
 "No paper has been placed under such long-standing 
 obligation for his writings as has The World's Crisis. 
 Soon after the paper was established in 1854, Bro. 
 Sheldon became a contributor. First he appeared in 
 brief letters and reports, and later in articles." 
 
 136
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 137 
 
 During his editorial connection, through seventeen 
 years, with that paper, he labored conjointly with Miles 
 Grant, John Couch, and E. A. Stockman, who in 
 succession were its Office Editors during that time. 
 
 The Adventist interests of the West, on account of 
 growth and geographical position, came in time to 
 need an official organ which should be sent out from 
 its own territory; and The Voice of the West, first 
 published at Buchanan, Mich., in 1863, by Eld. J. V. 
 Himes, was in Dec. 1864 made the denominational 
 organ for the West; at which time the Western Advent 
 Christian Publishing Association was organized. This 
 was on the basis of individual ownership, the shares of 
 stock being ten dollars each. In 1869 the name of this 
 paper was changed to The Advent Christian Times; 
 and in 1871 its office was removed to Chicago, 111. 
 
 In 1873 the basis of its ownership was changed from 
 the "stock" individual ownership to that of delegates 
 chosen by the Conferences, and the name was changed 
 from "Association" to W. A. C. P. Society. 
 
 While at Buchanan, this office did a very large 
 printing and publishing work, issuing many tracts, and 
 pamphlets, and some books, the weekly issue of the 
 A. C. Times at one time was more than 5,500 copies. 
 After the removal to Chicago the paper encountered 
 some most unfavorable conditions, and lost ground 
 very largely. It was finally purchased by The Bible 
 Banner, and merged into that paper, in 1879. 
 
 In 1873, Bro. Sheldon, who had been serving the 
 Western body as Corresponding Editor of the A. C. 
 Times, was elected as its Office Editor. This position 
 he accepted "with unfeigned reluctance re- 
 ceiving all the votes cast for editor but two, he con-
 
 138 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 sented to act for a time." In the fall of 1874 he de- 
 clined to serve longer, and Eld. F. Burr succeeded him 
 in that position. Thereafter he was a contributor to 
 its columns, as he had been for years before. 
 
 During these latter years there had been another 
 Adventist periodical started, as a monthly; and its 
 chief founder, Eld. Homer A. King, writes thus of its 
 establishment : 
 
 "After publishing periodicals on Apiculture a few 
 years in New York, I wrote to a number of leading 
 Adventist brethren asking their co-operation, as an 
 editorial corps, on a religious monthly; to which all re- 
 plied favorably, Wm. Sheldon suggesting two names, 
 one of which I chose: thus he gave it its name, — The 
 Bible Banner." Its first editorial staff consisted of 
 John Couch, Wm. Sheldon, and A. A. Phelps; and its 
 first number was issued in Jan. 1871, from New York. 
 For seven years Bro. Sheldon was editorially connected 
 with this publication; and for a time after it became a 
 weekly paper, in 1877, he was also listed as one of its 
 "special contributors." 
 
 When "Our Hope and Life in Christ" was started, 
 and a new Western Advent Christian Publishing 
 Society organized, in 1889, Bro. Sheldon was chosen 
 as one of its Associate Editors. From this time he 
 served that body, under the name either of Associate, 
 or Corresponding Editor, until his last sickness came 
 on; — and even after that he was quite a regular con- 
 tributor to its columns up to the time of his death; 
 having material prepared and on hand at the time 
 when he was laid away to rest. 
 
 Other publications also were glad to obtain and use 
 his writings. Messiah's Advocate, the organ of our
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 139 
 
 people on the Pacific coast, and in which he held a 
 deep interest, was remembered frequently by him 
 with articles for its columns ; as was also the Prophetic 
 and Mission Quarterly, the organ of our A. A. M. 
 Society; and Present Truth, the organ of the Southern 
 field. 
 
 For some thirty years he was constantly before our 
 people as a writer in some special capacity in our 
 papers. The signature " w. s." became well known and 
 looked for. Many of these writings were copied into 
 other papers, outside of our denomination, and often 
 the identity of the writer was lost, as frequently such 
 clipped articles would be credited to "Exchange," or 
 "Selected," and the "w. s." left off Some of the 
 good things he has written have thus run through 
 several papers, and been read by many readers outside 
 of our own ranks; and we sincerely trust many have 
 been benefitted. 
 
 In his early years he often used his talent in the ^vrit- 
 ing of verses. Some of his poetry was printed in early 
 issues of the Crisis, and the Harbinger. He contributed 
 quite a number of pieces to an early-published hymn- 
 book, and the words of some of the songs we sing to-day 
 are of his composition, though his name as their author 
 was lost long ago. In later years he seldom gave his 
 mind to verse-making. We have heard him say that 
 he realized that his forte lay in prose rather than in po- 
 etry, so he devoted his pen to prose during the greater 
 part of his work. 
 
 Some of his writings have been translated iixto other 
 languages, and have been scattered thus among other 
 nationalities in this, and in other countries. 
 
 We insert here an editorial from a February, 1902,
 
 140 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 issue of the Crisis, as it expresses well, in the words of 
 Elder Piper, an estimate of the qualities of Bro. S. as a 
 writer: 
 
 "elder WM. SHELDON. 
 
 "Last week several of Bro. Sheldon's old friends 
 were given space in these columns to speak their trib- 
 utes of appreciation to his personal worth, and to the 
 value of his long service by tongue and pen among us. 
 Though we have not been able to claim the pleasure of 
 a close personal acquaintance with Bro. Sheldon, it may 
 be fitting that we speak of his long and honorable con- 
 nection with this paper as a contributor. 
 
 "In the death of Eld. Wm. Sheldon The World's 
 Crisis loses a life-long friend and supporter. And those 
 connected with the present management of the paper, 
 in common with its readers^ East as well as West, have 
 been mourners at the news of his death. While, since 
 the starting of the Hope in the West, Bro. Sheldon has 
 properly gravitated to its columns as the natural outlet 
 for the great body of his writings, it is nevertheless true 
 that no paper has been placed under such long-standing 
 obligation for his writings as has The World's Crisis. 
 
 "Soon after the paper was established in 1854, Bro. 
 Sheldon became a contributor. First, he appeared in 
 brief letters and reports, and later in articles which, at 
 that early date, were marked by a clearness and decis- 
 iveness both of conviction and utterance which have 
 characterized his writings through the nearly half a 
 century which has elapsed. 
 
 "As a writer, Bro. Sheldon possessed the rare faculty 
 of always making himself understood. And this is high 
 praise when one considers the wide range of his re-
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 141 
 
 searches, the abstruse subjects he often treated, and the 
 many 'knotty' questions which were, from first to last, 
 thrust upon him for answer. Where other expositors 
 stirred up mud, and not infrequently confused honest 
 seekers for truth, Wm. Sheldon was always clear in his 
 own apprehension of truth, and no question, seemingly, 
 was too intricate or mystical to receive illumination 
 from his tongue or pen. 
 
 "A study of his writings will also reveal a trait which 
 is worthy of emulation by all writers. Wm. Sheldon 
 used no superfluous words. Whatever he had to say 
 was aimed for at once. Some writers, unfortunately, 
 cultivate the habit of using a page or two for intro- 
 ductory matter, and in getting ready to say something. 
 One did not have to read through any introductions to 
 find what Wm. Sheldon was writing about. He was 
 a master in the art of presenting a subject in brief 
 form, but yet clear, concise, and usually convincing. 
 
 " But his active tongue and pen have ceased to speak 
 their message, and a true and good man has passed to a 
 well-earned rest among the comrades who have shared 
 his conflicts during the last half century. He sleeps 
 well, and in honor! At last he rests from the strife for 
 God and truth, which in life he never shunned. Others 
 better fitted by their long acquaintance will rehearse 
 his personal virtues, but throughout our body, all who 
 have known him or been familiar with his long labor 
 and its influence, will tenderly cherish his memory, and 
 wiU continue to wait, as he waited, the consummation 
 hour, when the 'quick and dead' shall assemble for the 
 'marriage of the Lamb.' "
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 FAMILY AFFLICTIONS. 
 
 There came a time when Bro. Sheldon's quiet home 
 was invaded by the enemy, and the family circle was 
 broken, leaving the rest of them in a state of sorrow 
 such as is well known to those who have experienced 
 the same, but can hardly be described to others. 
 
 The eldest son, Simon Peter, a lad in his thirteenth 
 year, but giving promise and evidence of remarkable 
 powers, and naturally the hope and joy of his parents, 
 and very dear to them, was suddenly stricken down by 
 the dread disease, cerebro-spinal meningitis; and suc- 
 cumbed to it after three days' illness, during which his 
 sufferings were very great. He died on May 20, 1873, 
 and to his parents the stroke of his sufferings and death, 
 coming, as it were, together, was almost unbearable. 
 The following, from the Bible Banner, tells some of the 
 story : 
 
 "affliction. 
 
 "The deep waters of affliction have submerged my 
 soul. On the 20th of May, my son, Simon P. Sheldon, 
 fell under the power of death, after a short but distress- 
 ing sickness, which culminated in brain fever. He was 
 but twelve years and three months old, but will be re- 
 membered by hundreds on the different camp grounds 
 
 142
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 143 
 
 in Wisconsin and 111. Last winter he gave his heart 
 to God, and was baptized by Elder George Howard. 
 He often gave testimony in our social meetings. 
 He was contemplating our coming June camp-meeting 
 with interest — but he sleeps, and we sorrow. Bro. 
 Burr, of Chicago, attempted to respond to a telegram 
 to attend the funeral, but was prevented in the manner 
 specified in the following note, after getting within 
 twenty miles of my place: 
 
 "'Janesville, Wis., Thursday Morning. 
 
 " 'Dear Bro. Sheldon — I write to inform you that I 
 am at Bro. Clow's, where I stayed last night, and that I 
 shall be unable to go on to Brodhead to attend your 
 son's funeral. The R. R. accident near here last night 
 was to the train which I was on. The train ran off the 
 track and turned a complete somersault down a high 
 bank near here. Some of the passengers were much 
 hurt, and some not at all. I received a severe cut in 
 my head over my right eye, just in the edge of the hair, 
 two inches long, which had to be sewed up ; also a severe 
 bruise on my right side, just above my hip. The latter 
 pains me much. I am not at all presentable, and am 
 very weak. 
 
 " 'I did want to go to your place and sympathize with 
 you in your sorrow; but now it is best I get home as 
 soon as possible. I pray God to bless you in your af- 
 fliction, and your dear companion also. 'All things 
 work together for good to them that love God,' and 
 these things will in some way. The grace of God be 
 with you. 
 
 " 'Frank Burr.' 
 
 "Elder Howard preached the sermon. This stroke,
 
 144 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 falling so suddenly on me, at a time when I was over- 
 worked mentally, nearly threw me into brain fever; 
 but by the help of a physician, and the care of kind 
 friends, I hope to ward it off. Hoping to recover, and 
 praying for grace in this afHiction, I close. 
 
 "w. s." 
 
 Elder Burr to-day carries a scar as the result of his 
 effort to carry words of gospel comfort and resurrection 
 hope and Christian sympathy to that sorrowing family ; 
 and it is not to be wondered at that he holds a place in 
 the heart of the family, nor that he was always held in 
 the highest esteem, and considered as a personal 
 friend by William Sheldon. 
 
 This unexpected death was such a severe shock to 
 Bro. S., that for a time it was feared by his family, 
 brethren, and physician, that he would become un- 
 balanced in mind; and every effort had to be exerted 
 to prevent such a calamity. The Wisconsin state 
 camp-meeting came on in early June ; and the brethren 
 forced him to go to this meeting, though he was in- 
 clined to stay away; the brethren desiring to get his 
 mind turned into another channel if possible. So, 
 with his remaining family, he went to the camp-meet- 
 ing, which was at Merrimac that year. 
 
 On the first Monday of camp, to the dismay of all, 
 their youngest child and only remaining son, then three 
 years old, was taken very sick with the same dread 
 disease. This nearly broke up the camp, and sorrow 
 and anxiety were everywhere felt. A friend coming 
 in from the country that morning to attend the meeting 
 remembered having just read an article in the Crisis, 
 descriptive of Dr. Jackson's treatment for that disease;
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 145 
 
 and — there being no physician in the little place — this 
 treatment was immediately applied. With its faithful 
 application, and the Lord's blessing upon the treatment 
 in answer to the many prayers offered, the boy was 
 brought through this terrible disease; and, on the last 
 Sunday was able to be brought to the camp-ground. 
 
 Four years later, affliction again visited that home. 
 Bro. Sheldon was in Chicago at this time, and just after 
 boarding a train to go to the Wisconsin state camp- 
 meeting, he was alarmed to see Bro. Burr rush aboard, 
 for he had left him but a short time before in the A. C. 
 Times office. Bro. Burr handed him a telegram, and 
 had to run, and jump from the already moving train. 
 The telegram brought word of the serious sickness of 
 his son, Willie. It flashed over him in an instant that 
 this meant death. His train brought him in reach of 
 his home, where he arrived that evening, after dark. 
 As the train whistle was heard, Willie wished to be 
 raised up and taken to the window so that he could 
 "wave at father," as had always been his practice 
 when he knew his father was on the train which 
 passes in sight of the house before reaching the station, 
 
 A messenger met him at the train, telling him there 
 was no hope that his only boy could live; but that 
 for his wife's sake, he must not enter the house until 
 he could do so in a perfectly calm manner. This he 
 nerved himself to do; but when he reached the bedside 
 the child was past knowing him, and he died at two 
 o'clock in the morning; having been sick just three 
 days and two hours, with that dreaded disease, scarlet 
 fever. 
 
 Thus did the enemy, death, deprive that family of 
 both its sons, in so short a time. William Paul died
 
 146 IIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 June 2, 1877; aged seven years and a little more than 
 two months. He was born in Broahead, in March, 
 1870. This blow left the family reduced in number, 
 leaving only two daughters to the parents who had 
 cherished such hopes for their two promising, gifted 
 sons. And there was such an empty space ! 
 
 This blow fell most heavily on the mother, the 
 father bracing himself against a repetition of a con- 
 dition similar to that which so nearly overcame him 
 at the time of the former bereavement. 
 
 These two boys were as different, apparently, as 
 it is possible for brothers to be. The elder was natur- 
 ally a wide-awake, active, busy boy, full of fun and 
 frolic, always delighted if he could get a joke on some- 
 body. And he had talents which showed decided 
 development toward leading him into public life, had 
 he lived. Indeed, he was a boy, "once seen, always 
 remembered." 
 
 When but a little boy, he would get boys of his age 
 off into the woods at camp-meeting and preach to them 
 regularly. This made a great deal of amusement for 
 older people, who would often secrete themselves near 
 to his "preaching" place, to listen to what he would 
 say. When a little older and in school, he would gather 
 the boys of the neighborhood into some empty barn, 
 and deliver to them a political speech. Had he lived, 
 he would doubtless have made a public speaker of 
 some sort, for his whole trend seemed to be that way. 
 
 When the boy was converted, however, there was 
 as radical a change in him as there ever was in any man;, 
 and this was remarked by his teachers, neighbors, and 
 men on the streets. His influence was always great 
 among his associates, and his example led others to
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 147 
 
 accept of Christ. He was baptized, with about twenty 
 others, when the thermometer was about 20° below 
 zero, a stinging cold time. 
 
 The younger boy was a very different kind of person. 
 He was sober, quiet, thoughtful, studious, and naturally 
 religious; besides being very devoted to his mother. 
 What he would have been, had he lived to manhood, 
 was not yet so plainly to be seen; though doubtless 
 the ministry would have been his choice for a life's 
 work. 
 
 As he died of scarlet fever, no public funeral service 
 was held at the time; but Eld. Howard came to the 
 house and offered prayer before he was carried to rest 
 beside his brother. At a Quarterly meeting held 
 afterwards in the place. Eld. S. W. Thurber preached 
 his funeral discourse. 
 
 "Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes 
 from tears . . . they shall come again from the 
 land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end 
 [acharith, 'latter part,'] saith the Lord, that thy 
 children shall come again to their own border" (Jer. 
 31: 16, 17).
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 NOTES OF HIS FIRST SOUTHERN TOUR. 
 
 We have already referred to Bro. Sheldon's mission 
 tours in the South. It may be of interest to give here, 
 more at large, some notes and incidents of those visits. 
 True, the times are changed — somewhat — now; but 
 we may look at them as they were then, and mark 
 the progress made. 
 
 Bro. Sheldon left Brodhead, Jan., 14, and preached 
 in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 15, 1871, where he was de- 
 tained over Monday by a snow blockade of the rail- 
 roads. Starting Tuesday, he writes: 
 
 "Though Chicago was well snowed under, only 
 twelve hours' ride brought me out of sight of snow; 
 and twelve hours more brought me where they were 
 busily engaged in plowing. * * * * 
 
 "So many come from the North, and take impru- 
 dent steps, that a northern man is looked upon with 
 great suspicion. It will require much time to rise 
 above it." — He was writing from Macon, Georgia. 
 
 "What I was well aware of before, I am now enabled 
 to realize; namely, the poverty of the southern people. 
 War has produced its work of ruin. I am now put- 
 ting up with a man who was dispossessed of about 
 $60,000. Of course, the remembrance of all this 
 augments the bitterness of feeling toward northern 
 
 148
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 149 
 
 men. It is useless to try to conceal the point from 
 which one comes, for a plain question evaded, leads 
 to suspicion that cannot be allayed; and the truth 
 told, makes every man brace up against you. It is 
 a work of time to inspire confidence, and calls the gift 
 of caution into exercise. 
 
 "One of the amusing features of southern peculiari- 
 ties is negro preaching, which is a strange mixture 
 of deep ignorance and strong imagination. As a 
 sample, a noted negro minister recently told his hear- 
 ers — "Peter am got the keys of heaven and hell. 
 And how did he get them? Why, Jesus Christ had 
 them first, and the devil got them away from him; 
 but Peter stole them away from the devil, and Peter 
 has got them now strung on a cord, tied around his 
 neck, and he keeps the keys in his pocket, so the devil 
 can't get them away from him; and if you don't do 
 right, Peter will take the key of hell out of his pocket, 
 and open the big door of hell, and say, 'Go in dare, 
 you mis 'able sinner;' and you got to go. When a 
 good man come along, Peter takes the key of heaven 
 out of his pocket, and unlocks the door of heaven, 
 and lets him in." Again in describing the crucifixion — 
 "Christ had to tote his own cross up the hill, and it 
 was a mighty heavy cross, and he couldn't tote it 
 alone, so he hollered to Simon — 'Simon, come hep 
 me tote dis ere cross up the hill.' So Simon come 
 and took hold of the leetle eend of the cross, and made 
 Christ tote the big eend. Then they drove a ten- 
 penny nail in his right hand, and a ten-penny nail 
 in his left hand." 
 
 There is quite an excitement among the colored 
 people over my preaching on the prophecies. It so
 
 150 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 stirred them up, that after the close of my meeting 
 the other night, they held a meeting b}^ themselves, 
 and had a boisterous time, and could be heard shout- 
 ing and singing for over a mile, till past one o'clock. 
 They pay me great respect when they meet me, by 
 taking off their hats and saluting me, "How d' do, 
 Marster?" — a practice laid aside since they were 
 freed, except in cases they regard special exceptions." 
 
 Such was the South, in some parts, when Bro. 
 Sheldon was laboring there in 1870. Surely it was 
 missionary ground. He had some success, even with 
 these unpromising conditions. 
 
 "I had a free time in preaching, and at the close 
 of the sermon some twenty persons requested prayers, 
 and the congregation was filled with weeping during 
 the season of prayer. One woman said, 'That man's 
 preaching has scared me, and I mean to live better, 
 and I don't mean to get over the scare.' 
 
 "There are no hymn books used in this place, except 
 by the minister, who lines the hymn, singing two 
 lines, and then reading two lines more. I am strongly 
 urged to revisit the place, and think I shall do so. 
 The Methodist minister is intensely anxious to have 
 me return ; but I fear when the Presiding Elder comes 
 around, he will change his mind; for it is hard to 
 believe that a Yankee can be good. They are even 
 bitter against northern Methodist ministers, and they 
 are watched by the 'K. K. K.' 
 
 "Instead of stoves, fire-places are used in this State, 
 from the house to the city depot, reminding me of 
 my boyhood days, when I used to play on the hearth, 
 before a bright fire. I have seen but one stove in 
 the State; that was in the capital.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 151 
 
 "I mean to keep up an agitation by means of reading 
 matter, to some extent, though the majority of the 
 people are illiterate, even among the officials. As a 
 sample, the Methodist steward informs me that he 
 holds a note against a man recently elected to the 
 State senate, who could not sign his own name, but 
 had to make his mark. In the cities there is more 
 education, but very limited compared to the north. 
 It needs a man to settle down and hold all the ground 
 that is gained, and live himself into the confidence of 
 a suspicious people, which will require time and cau- 
 tion. 
 
 The above notes were "first impressions" written 
 from Central Georgia, up to Feb, 1st. Then he re- 
 moved to Southern Georgia. 
 
 "Upon reaching Brunswick, in Southern Georgia, 
 I found I had got out of the strong "K. K." current. 
 Its stronghold appears to be in Central Georgia, so 
 far as this state is concerned. The weather here in 
 February is as fine as May weather in New England. 
 At the present time (Feb. 8th), plum trees and peach 
 trees are in blossom, and the leaves begin to put forth. 
 Winter exists here nominally only; snow is a strang- 
 er." 
 
 Here he had access to various church pulpits, and 
 preached in them Sundays for the pastors, besides 
 having his own meetings. He was treated better 
 here, meeting and talking with ministers on friendly 
 terms. But he says: 
 
 "The south is a very hard place to conduct a 
 revival meeting, owing to the cold state of ministers 
 and church members, disqualifying them for labor, 
 throwing all the work at the altar upon me. I have
 
 152 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 had as many as twenty take the anxious seat in a 
 night, at some of my meetings in this state, and have 
 tried to have several prayers offered, but have never 
 been able to get a single prayer from minister or mem- 
 ber, except when personally invited to pray, and then 
 there is a great lack of zeal. It is hard to get the 
 stream to rise higher than the fountain. Religion 
 is very low. Many southern deacons and officials 
 never pray in public, if anywhere else. Of course 
 they have very poor prayer-meetings, the minister 
 doing nearly all that is done, no other one to speak, 
 and seldom over one prayer offered, as a general 
 rule. It is a far greater task to get professors into 
 working order, than it is to get sinners to move. 
 
 "In addition to preaching, I am trying to scatter 
 a few publications on the most judicious principle — 
 putting them into the hands of those only who can 
 read, and who will be apt to exert an influence over 
 others who cannot. My supply is not large enough 
 to scatter in a wasteful manner. Readers are not 
 as numerous in this country as in the north. Even 
 in this city, as well as in the villages, ministers line 
 their hymns, that is, read two lines and sing them, 
 then read two lines more, and sing them, etc. On 
 the night of Feb. 16th, I attended prayer-meeting 
 at the ]\Iethodist church, and the pastor invited me 
 to open the meeting. I had a free time in exhorta- 
 tion. Some of the people in the city are grumbling 
 because I teach contrary to their early views of the 
 kingdom; and others contend with them, saying, 
 ' He proves his views by the Bible, any way.' 
 
 "Though some thought that my sermons had cut 
 the theology of those ministers 'into shoe-strings,'
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 153 
 
 they, in common with the rest of the people, listened 
 with great candor; and, greatly to my surprise, the 
 Baptist minister complimented me on having preached 
 a 'very convincing sermon.' The elements of oppo- 
 sition are being stirred up, but the opposition is under- 
 current in its operations, repudiating 'Yankee the- 
 ology.' 
 
 "There is a strong undercurrent opposition now 
 developing itself, and every string is being pulled 
 to hedge up my way, such as the following: (1) The 
 circulation of reports about our breaking up churches, 
 stories about ascension robes, no-soul doctrine, and 
 similar things. (2) ]\ly being a northern man is made 
 a great scare, as so many preachers of their own de- 
 nominations have proved treacherous, and after get- 
 ting the confidence of the people, have turned out 
 to be 'carpet-baggers;' and they secretly insist that 
 a man of my talent will yet work them some injury. 
 (3) After long and strong invitations to preach to 
 the colored people, and after submitting the matter 
 to the decision of several of my friends, including 
 the Baptist minister, I have promised to preach one 
 sermon in the colored church, and that is deemed a 
 sufficient pretext for a hue and cry against me; but 
 after having made the promise, I will not betray 
 cowardice in recalling the appointment, if they cut 
 off my head; for to recant now would be worse than 
 to bear the reproach of being called a /nigger preacher.' 
 The Baptist minister promises to accompany me, 
 and aid in the services. But if I were to try to hold 
 a series of meetings among them, my friends would 
 all bolt, and I should shortly be waited upon by a 
 committee requesting me to leave town, which I
 
 154 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 would have to do, or place myself under the protec- 
 tion of the colored people and their sympathizers. 
 
 "Sunday afternoon, accompanied by the Baptist 
 minister, I went to fill my appointment in the colored 
 Baptist church, where I was heartily welcomed by 
 the pastor. As the people came flocking in, I con- 
 cluded that the statement of a colored friend was 
 not far from correct, 'A heap of us wants to hear 
 you preach powerful bad.' For some nights past, 
 a goodly number of them had ventured to creep into 
 the Baptist church, occupying a back seat, and the 
 result was, the colored people were already much 
 excited by my preaching, by mere hearsay. As they 
 took their seats by the hundreds, I gazed upon their 
 countenances, and recognized all grades of colors — 
 white, whitish, blackish, black, very black, blacker, 
 blackest; and their extravagance in dress was really 
 amusing — ribbons, flowers, silks, etc. They will de- 
 prive themselves of a thousand comforts to get some 
 showy article of dress; and if they can get but one 
 article, they will wear that with their rags, thus 
 making a laughable contrast. 
 
 "When the people got in, the Baptist minister, 
 at my request, opened the meeting, and I preached 
 to them on the judgment and its nearness. I knew 
 they were an emotional people, but sometimes I was 
 both startled and bothered by their responses; and 
 such a swinging of themselves on their seats, swaying 
 to and fro, and nodding of heads, as I witnessed, 
 mingled with symptoms of grief and signs of joy, 
 were proofs that I had the attention of all. At the 
 close of my sermon, I inquired how many sinners 
 and backsliders desired prayers, and, to my surprise,
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 155 
 
 over one hundred and fifty arose. I had been told 
 that such sermons as I had been preaching would 
 move the blacks by the hundreds, but did not believe 
 it. But I presume the larger share of them had once 
 been professors; for they are famous for backsliding, 
 and being often reclaimed again. We had a season 
 of prayer, and closed, I was at once surrounded by 
 colored friends, giving me a large job of hand-shaking 
 to do, importuning me to preach more for them. 
 
 "Sunday evening I preached again in the (white) 
 Baptist church to a large congregation, and the Lord 
 helped me to give the judgment alarm to this people. 
 Everybody, so far as I can hear, seems to acquiesce 
 in the preaching for the time being, ministers and 
 people alike; and doubtless some reporters of meet- 
 ings would represent the whole city in sympathy; 
 but I prefer to speak modestly, and await the final 
 result, instead of relying on present appearances, 
 feeling confident that though the seed is extensively 
 scattered, much of it will not fall on good ground. 
 The old Quaker said. 'It is not the much money thee 
 gets, but the much money thee keeps that makes thee 
 a rich man;' so it is not the many that are pleased 
 to hear the truth preached for the time being, partly 
 owing to its novelty, and partly because they fancy 
 the address of the preacher, but the few who receive 
 and obey the truth, who are to be benefitted by it. 
 Some here, out of many listeners and admirers, be- 
 lieve and love the whole truth, so far as they have 
 learned it. 
 
 [ "March 1. Seeing I am through preaching in this 
 place for the present, I am scattering publications 
 preparatory to my departure to another point. Some
 
 156 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 have promised to subscribe for the paper before I 
 leave, but it is a task to get the warmest friends to 
 subscribe in this land of extreme poverty. There 
 are but few papers of any kind taken in this part 
 of the south. Seed has been sown that will produce 
 fruit. Truth will find some good soil. 
 
 "I had arranged to return to Central Georgia, where 
 I first preached in the State; but just a few hours 
 before I was about to start, I received the following 
 note from the Crisis office, written by a Methodist 
 minister living in South Carolina, which induced me 
 to change my program: 'If you have sent one of 
 your preachers to the South this winter to proclaim 
 the acceptable year of the Lord, do write to him, 
 and tell him not to return until he shall give me a 
 call. I wish to take him around on my circuit.' So 
 instead of returning to Central Georgia, I at once 
 started for Darlington, South Carolina, in compliance 
 with the above request from Bro. Bowman, who has 
 been a minister in the South Methodist Conference 
 for nearly forty years, and a believer in our faith 
 for several years past, having twice been arraigned 
 before the conference for preaching it. He is a man 
 who will not wear any theological hand-cuffs, and 
 will preach what he believes, and has done it fearlessly 
 in South Carolina, and is listened to with deep in- 
 terest, being a man of talent. I reached the place 
 last night (Mar. 3d), and preached my first sermon 
 to-day to a candid congregation. Bro. Bowman is 
 destined to open a wide door for the truth in this 
 State. He cannot be either driven or coaxed to 
 smother the truth; and if they turn him out, he has
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 157 
 
 multitudes of friends who will stand by him. I am 
 to preach for him several days longer." 
 
 (The above Bro. Bowman was Eld. P. G. Bowman. 
 In August following he was arraigned for preaching 
 heresy, and in September, 1871, he united with the 
 Adventists.) 
 
 "On the previous evening two or three negroes 
 were out to hear me discourse on the metallic image, 
 from the chart, and carried the news among the col- 
 ored people that I was exhibiting the devil; that he 
 was an awful looking fellow, having a gold head, 
 silver arms, brass belly, and iron legs, and looked 
 like a great man — it was the devil sure. So to-night 
 twenty or thirty negroes came out, but some feared 
 the devil might get away from me and catch them 
 on their way home, and feared to come, I told Dr. 
 Bowman that the negroes were not so far wrong about 
 the matter after all, for although that metallic man 
 was not the devil in person, he had been full of the 
 devil all his life, having already lived nearly three 
 thousand years, and having always been devilish. 
 But though he has lived so long, he will not live 
 always, for by and by God will throw a big stone at 
 him that will kill him, crushing him from foot to 
 head, and plunging him into dark oblivion. 
 
 "The South contains many noble people, though 
 now enveloped in poverty, who ought to hear the 
 truth, and who would receive it gladly. We ought 
 to do mission work in that field. People will hear 
 and believe, if the right kind of men are sent among 
 them. I regard it decidedly the field for missionary 
 labor, if cautious men are sent.
 
 158 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 "Some of our northern friends entertain erroneous 
 views concerning the southern people, thinking them 
 all ignorant. I find a large class of intelligent men 
 in the south, fully capable of appreciating the deepest 
 reasoning, and will compare favorably with, or even 
 surpass, northerners of the same educational advan- 
 tages. It is true that the system of schools in the 
 north has reached a higher state of perfection than 
 south; but they are not all illiterate: some of them 
 in various localities are pretty well schooled; others 
 are men of intellect, though illiterate. Their phras- 
 eology is a little amusing at first, using the word 
 'tote' for carry, 'sorry' for poor, etc.; but I soon got 
 so I could talk the same language. They are not 
 so full of egotism and bigotry as northerners are, as 
 a rule." 
 
 (He returned to Chicago, Mar. 19th.)
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 NOTES OF HIS SECOND SOUTHERN TOUR, 
 
 In the following winter: the end of the same year, 
 1871, we find Bro. Sheldon again in the South, on a 
 missionary expedition. 
 
 After his first meeting, Dec. 13th, at the house 
 of Eld. Smith, a Baptist, on Sand Mountain, Alabama, 
 the people took pine torches as substitutes for lan- 
 terns, to light themselves home through the dark, 
 as in the early days of New England settlers. I have 
 sent scores of works by mail into this region, and 
 many have been much enlightened by reading, and 
 are prepared to listen to preaching. 
 
 Sunday, Dec. 17th, I preached at Carpenter. The 
 crowd was such that the windows of the house were 
 taken out, and the doors thrown open to accommo- 
 date the people. Solemnity pervaded the congre- 
 gation. The interest to hear is deep. Many seem 
 almost ready to seek the Lord. God helped me preach. 
 Sunday evening the house was packed to its utmost 
 capacity, and the people outside, who could not get 
 in, thronged the doors and windows, (it being a mod- 
 erate night), and listened with the deepest attention, 
 while I reined them up to the judgment. I called 
 upon sinners and backsliders to start for the kingdom, 
 when over forty requested prayers, many of whom 
 
 159
 
 160 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 had never before made a start in religion, all adults, 
 and some of the most prominent citizens in the place. 
 It was a melting time. 
 
 It seemed too bad to leave this interest, but having 
 previously complied with an earnest request to send 
 an appointment to a place about fifty miles away, 
 I could not do otherwise than to leave for a time. 
 But every person in the house arose to signify their 
 anxiety to have me return again as soon as I had 
 met my engagement. The poor condition of the 
 meeting-houses in this region makes them unfit for 
 meetings except in a warm spell. Were it not for 
 this, I should consider matters ripe for a sweeping 
 revival here. Thus my first five days have been spent 
 in Alabama, during which I have preached eight 
 sermons, to interested congregations. 
 
 In the early part of Januarj^, 1872, he was at Car- 
 tersville, Georgia, preaching. "Here," he says, "I 
 conversed with the Methodist pastor, who has just 
 finished reading my 'Three Works in One,' which I 
 gave him recently, and he confesses that he sees no 
 way to escape my reasoning, and that I have given him 
 a great deal of light; but said that the case of the 
 rich man and Lazarus appeared to favor the doctrine 
 of a disembodied state. I told him that we could 
 squeeze that doctrine out of that case just as we 
 could squeeze cider out of cotton. 
 
 "Can you squeeze cider out of cotton?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Well, I will tell you how to do it; just put cider into 
 it first, and then you can squeeze it out; so just put a 
 disembodied soul into this text, and then you can get 
 that doctrine out of it, and not till then. The text
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 161 
 
 does not mention a disembodied soul; and the hell 
 (hades) to which the rich man went is a realm where 
 there is 'no knowledge, nor wisdom' (Eccl.'_9: 10); and 
 even if a disembodied soul should go to that realm, it 
 would be unconscious; besides, its occupants remain 
 unjudgcd till the resurrection. Rev. 20: 13. In this 
 case, Christ, on the principle of parabolic personifica- 
 tion, attributes speech and sight to the unconscious 
 dead, to indicate the regrets that the unholy dead 
 would feel for a past misspent life, if they were con- 
 scious; — thus making the dead themselves speak to 
 the living, but not their souls. Lazarus (not his soul) 
 was carried by messengers (not heavenly angels) to 
 Abraham's bosom (not to heaven), to become a com- 
 panion of Abraham in death. To these dead ones, too 
 (not to their souls), is attributed speech; they ended 
 their lives in comfort and peace, and if they could feel 
 at all, they would feel peace. The same method of 
 speech is used in the case of Pharaoh, who went down 
 to hell (sheol), not in a disembodied state, but 'with 
 weapons of war,' and 'bones,' being 'slain;' and yet to 
 him and his fellows is attributed speech, sight, hearing, 
 comfort, and shame, showing how they would feel if 
 they could feel in death. So the rich man and Lazarus, 
 though dead and unconscious, by personification are 
 represented as seeing, feeling, and talking, — thus 
 making the dead speak to the living, as they would if 
 they could." 
 
 Jan. 18th, commenced meetings at Long Island, Ala. 
 Eld. Smith, a Baptist minister holding our views, lives 
 a few miles distant, but was present to aid in the ser- 
 vices. A worthy Baptist, Bro. C, about six miles from 
 here, holding our views, has already gone to preaching
 
 162 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the faith in earnest, having held several meetings near 
 home. He is a man of mind, of firmness, and kindness. 
 I formed his acquaintance when I first came to Ala., 
 and had previously sent him publications which helped 
 him into the light. He is out clear. 
 
 (The above Bro. C. was Elder John A. Cargile.) 
 Jan. 27th, took cars for Stevenson, Ala., and was met 
 at the depot by Eld. Cargile, a Baptist minister of 
 promising talent, who has fully come into the truth, 
 life and death included, and has commenced preaching 
 it out squarely to his people. His term has expired as 
 pastor of the church here; and he told them plainly 
 that if they re-elected him as their pastor, he should 
 fully preach his views of truth. But they insisted he 
 must serve another year. He thinks the whole church 
 will embrace the truth within the year. He has not 
 embraced it hastily, but has taken time to fully inves- 
 tigate. The first publication he ever saw on the ques- 
 tion was my "Sermon on Hell," a tract of sixteen pages 
 which was lent to him by a soldier. After reading it 
 he tried hard to get it of the soldier to keep, but he 
 would not part with it; so Bro. Cargile wrote the whole 
 tract in a blank book, and took time to compare it with 
 the Bible faithfully. Since then he has read several 
 larger works, and is now settled in the truth; and more 
 than that, he has fully counted the cost, and is resolved 
 to preach it if expelled for it. 
 
 Bro. Cargile was recently conversing with a Metho- 
 dist minister on this question, and offered him a copy 
 of my recent work, "Life Beyond Death." He replied 
 that he had a copy at home which he got some months 
 before. Bro. Cargile asked him how he liked it. Said 
 he had not read it through. Bro. C. asked him why he
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 163 
 
 had not read it. Said he dared not read it. Bro. C. 
 asked him why. Said he was afraid he would have to 
 believe it. Bro. C. told him if he was afraid to believe 
 the testimony of the Bible, he had better stop preach- 
 ing. Upon reflection, he said he would go right home 
 and finish reading it. "We await the result. 
 
 I was a little amused at the remark of an honest 
 man who had heard that we were preaching about the 
 judgment from a chart, when he came to look at the 
 chart for the first time. Said he, 
 
 "If a man has got to meet all them kind of animals 
 at the judgment, he has surely got a hard row of stumps 
 before him, and he had better repent before getting 
 there." 
 
 The New Era thus speaks of my preaching. "Rev. 
 Wm. Sheldon preached here Sunday night. As he 
 stepped into the pulpit, he sang the old chorus, 
 
 ' Oh, you must be a lover of the Lord 
 If you want to go to heaven when you die.' 
 
 changed thus — 
 
 ' If you want to reign with Jesus when he comes.' 
 
 This was a foreshadow of his sermon, which was to 
 prove that none of earth's inhabitants have entered 
 heaven; that this earth is to be the heaven for the saints' 
 everlasting rest." 
 
 My experience in laboring in the South, in the winter 
 where there is a continual alternation between cold 
 weather and rainy weather, prepares me to appreciate 
 the following remark published by a Methodist editor 
 in the South: — 
 
 "What a sudden falling off in the revival influence in 
 all the churches of the South since cool weather set in ! 
 It is said, with truth enough in the remark to make the
 
 164 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 sarcasm of it pungent and withering, that the 'first 
 white frost kills all the revivals in the South.'" 
 
 The time for southern meetings, if we would get the 
 multitudes to hear, and not have our meetings partially 
 broken up, first by rain, and then by cold weather, is be- 
 tween July 1st and Oct. 1st. This is the leisure season 
 for southern farmers, besides being free from frequent 
 rains and cold spells. 
 
 He held meetings in Nashville, Tenn., Feb, 8-25, 
 
 A goodly number were interested to hear the reasons 
 for our hope, and treated us with great kindness, and 
 some subscribed for the Crisis and Banner. I have also 
 left works in their midst setting forth the different 
 features of our faith. It has not been my object on 
 this mission to organize churches, but to spread the 
 light among all churches, without waging war on their 
 organizations, leaving all free to enjoy the new light 
 where they are, as long as they can feel liberty to do it, 
 with the special caution never to smother the truth of 
 God to please men. But I am receiving news from 
 different quarters indicating that a line must be soon 
 drawn. 
 
 One Bro. writes: "A cloud of opposition seems to be 
 rising against those who are searching the Scriptures 
 for the truth." I have news that one minister expects 
 soon to be tried for believing and preaching this system 
 of truth. Another minister thus writes me: "We 
 now feel sure that sooner or later we will have to sep- 
 arate and organize for ourselves." 
 
 During my stay South I scattered many works 
 among a class who were likely to read, and obtained 
 over sixty subscribers to different periodicals, but
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 165 
 
 mostly on the free list. These will keep the truth be- 
 fore their minds, and benefit others. 
 
 A "ministerial Editor," in one place where meetings 
 were held, said in his paper: 
 
 "Some of his views are peculiar, new, and somewhat 
 startling to us in this latitude. He thinks the day of 
 judgment is close at hand, and undertakes to demon- 
 strate the fact by pictures and arguments. The Rev- 
 erend gentleman's conclusions may be correct, and it 
 would be well for us all to 'watch and pray' and be 
 ready for whatever may happen, but at the same time 
 we are inclined to think that he knows about as little in 
 regard to the time when the 'great and notable day of 
 the Lord ' will come, as the rest of us. We have listened 
 to some of Mr. Sheldon's discourses with considerable 
 interest, and have determined not to condemn him 
 unheard; but now we object to certain views which he 
 set forth on last Sabbath evening, in regard to the state 
 of the soul after death, as we regard them unscriptural, 
 unsound, unwholesome and unsafe. We warn our 
 people not to be deceived and driven away by this 
 *\\'ind of doctrine' from the north." 
 
 On returning home Bro. Sheldon wrote: "I intend 
 to continue sending reading matter the coming season 
 as I did last year, as the door may open to do so, es- 
 pecially to the three States that I visited on this tour, 
 Ala., Georgia, and Tenn., and also to some extent to 
 five or six other Southern States to friends of inter- 
 ested ones who have given me their names. If as large 
 a proportion of the seed takes effect as did last year, I 
 shall feel repaid for the effort. Reading matter is so 
 scarce in many parts of the South that works are far
 
 166 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 more apt to be read than in the North, and being read, 
 they produce an impression, 
 
 Feb. 27th, I turned my back on the South for the 
 present, and was flying homeward. The first of March 
 found me at home, after an absence of over twelve 
 weeks. During this time many have heard the gospel 
 of the kingdom for the first time, many have rejoiced 
 in new Ught, many have requested prayers, some have 
 been converted, others reclaimed, while some few have 
 opposed, mostly in an under-current way. I leave some 
 bold advocates of truth, who know both what they 
 believe, and why they believe it, and are able to meet 
 opposition.
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 A GLIMPSE INTO HIS DIARY. 
 
 Thursday, January 1. — New Year, 1880, found me 
 at a hotel in Alexis, Warren Co., Illinois, to which place 
 I came on the previous day. Here I wait for a team to 
 take me to Ionia, 111., to hold meetings with Bro. M. 
 McCuUoch for a few days. 
 
 About noon a team took me to Bro. Richardson's 
 to dinner, about a mile and a half out of town. Then 
 we went to Ionia, and I preached in the evening. 
 Found that Bro. McCulloch had been holding meetings 
 about two weeks, and four had risen for prayers. We 
 had a good attendance for a damp evening. Am to 
 make my home mainly with Bro. Jas. House during 
 my stay. A good social meeting after sermon indi- 
 cated a hopeful prospect. Wrote home to-night. 
 
 Jan. 2. — Awoke refreshed after my first night's 
 sleep in Ionia. To-day I spent in Astronomical and 
 Biblical study. The weather being damp, the roads 
 thawed out, and being in the dark of the moon, the 
 prospects are somewhat against a large attendance. 
 
 Had a fair turnout to-night, in spite of darkness 
 and muddy state of roads, but had a poor time in 
 preaching, from a good theme — The love of Christ. 
 No move as yet on the part of non-professors. A real 
 January thaw. 
 
 167
 
 168 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Jan. 3. — Spent a busy day in study. Did not light 
 up the church to-night, it rained so hard. 
 
 Sunday, Jan. 4. — Very muddy roads. Less than one 
 hundred out to meeting in forenoon. They gave ear- 
 nest attention to my sermon on "God's voice to the 
 world in ancient and modern times." 
 
 Good attendance at night and solemn attention. 
 We have a good-sized house in Ionia, which would be 
 more than filled each night if the weather and roads 
 were good. Text to-night: "Be not conformed to 
 this world." So passed my first Sunday in this little 
 village of Ionia (sometimes called Shang-hai) — the first 
 Sunday also of 1880. 
 
 Jan. 5. — Mud, mud, all mud. Am improving my 
 time in study, as getting out among the people is out 
 of the question. A goodly number came out to-night 
 on foot, and we had a good meeting — candid attention 
 to my sermon on Salvation, Trust some seed will 
 spring up. 
 
 Jan. 6. — Another day of hard study. A better 
 gathering to-night, in spite of mud and darkness, and 
 attention was excellent. Preached on Christ as our 
 High Priest and Savior. A deep feeling pervaded the 
 assembly. An excellent social meeting followed my 
 sermon — all hearts seemed stirred, and sinners seemed 
 melted. 
 
 Jan. 7. — Excellent attention again to-night, and 
 some new hearers, in spite of dreadful traveling. Much 
 conviction is being stifled by several. Preached on 
 The *' great multitude" of saved ones to-night. Deep 
 interest to hear. The seed sown will not be all lost, 
 even if not quickened till a future day. 
 
 Jan. 8. — To-night I preached from these words:
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 169 
 
 ''There shall in no wise enter into it anything that 
 defileth." It seemed to reach many hearts. Fol- 
 lowed by a general social meeting. Some who had 
 been in the background taking part, and starting 
 afresh in the work. Going is still bad. 
 
 Jan. 9. — Our congregation was larger to-night than 
 it has been before. Had solemn attention to my 
 sermon on, "The great day of wrath." One man 
 made a start to serve the Lord, — a prominent citizen 
 of the town. Others are feeling deeply, and seem 
 almost at the turning-point. New hearers are com- 
 ing in, and it takes time to reach them. 
 
 Jan. 10. — Had a meeting at 2 o'clock. The man 
 converted last night came out and spoke. Preached 
 to-night on "Being justified by faith." Good attend- 
 ance, though roads are still bad; and attention was 
 excellent. Another started to-night, a lady of good 
 standing in society. Others are holding back who 
 ought to move. 
 
 Sunday, Jan. 11. — Preached this a. m. on "De- 
 parting from the living God," to a good congregation. 
 Excellent attention. 
 
 At night preached on "The lively hope," to the 
 largest congregation we have had yet in Ionia. Evi- 
 dently a deep feeling pervaded many hearts, and 
 some of the seed sown must spring up. Sermon was 
 followed by a good social meeting in which converts 
 took part. This ends my second Sunday in Ionia. 
 
 Jan. 12. — Wrote letters in p. m. To-night preached 
 from, "Occupy till I come." Deep impression. 
 Many exhortations given after sermon. Two men 
 started, and others are feeling. Congregation in- 
 creasing. We are praying for greater victory.
 
 170 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Jan. 13. — At two o'clock attended a funeral service 
 in our church. 
 
 "Be ye also ready," was my text to-night. A good 
 houseful, and excellent attention. Several seemed 
 almost to the moving-point but not quite. We hope 
 they will yet yield to be saved in heaven's own way. 
 
 Jan. 14. — Spent a sleepless night, owing to hard 
 work. Feel old. Spent the day in rest and study. 
 Weather fine. A nest of Mormons are living in this 
 region — Josephites. Preached to-night upon the Saints 
 taking the kingdom. An excellent social meeting. 
 No new ones started to-night, but some are feeling 
 deeply. Time will tell whether they have too long 
 resisted conviction; we pray that others may yet 
 submit. 
 
 Jan. 15. — Passed the day in study. Good con- 
 gregation to-night, and attention to sermon on being 
 "Sons of God." One young man made a start to 
 serve the Lord. Others are strongly comdcted but 
 do not yield. Hope several more will decide to come 
 to Christ. To this end we pray. 
 
 Jan. 16. — "Who shall abide the day of his com- 
 ing?" A well-filled house, and candid attention. Con- 
 viction has evidently been doing its work on many hearts, 
 though not yet ripened. Had one of our very best 
 social meetings. Converts growing stronger, doing 
 duty. Appointed baptism for next Sunday. 
 
 Jan. 17. — A well-filled house to-night, and excellent 
 attention to my sermon on these words: "As for me, 
 I will behold thy face in righteousness." A widowed 
 lady about sixty years of age rose for prayers and 
 came to the anxious seat. The meeting is about over, 
 and it remains to be seen whether others will yield.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 171 
 
 Sunday, Jan. IS. — Preached to a largo congregation 
 this A. M., from Rev. 21:4, "God shall wipe away 
 all tears." Best of attention. After sermon five 
 were baptized, four men and one lady. 
 
 To-night my text was, "Fight the good fight." 
 Two arose for prayers. House full. Seven were re- 
 ceived into the church. Good social meeting; and 
 also had the Lord's supper. A profitable day; deep 
 feeling in the community. 
 
 Jan. 19 — The meeting w'as to have closed last night, 
 but an appointment was finally given out for to-night, 
 but it being so rainy, the church was not lit up, and 
 we had no meeting. Hoped to have reached other 
 serious ones. Others are to be baptized, and join. 
 
 Jan. 20. — Preached to-night from, "If any man 
 thinketh he standeth, let him take heed lest he fall." 
 Was surprised to see so many out, in consideration 
 of the deep mud, such as Illinois is famous for. Ex- 
 cellent social meeting. 
 
 Jan. 21. — In spite of the mud a goodly number 
 came out to meeting, to whom I preached from the 
 admonition to "Remember" gospel admonitions and 
 instructions. Some have arranged to be baptized 
 next Lord's day. Still we hope others may start. 
 
 Jan. 22. — Had a free time to-night in preaching on 
 "The hope of the gospel " to a good full house. Anoth- 
 er man arose for prayers to-night. Am feeling 
 well worn by my labors, but hopeful to hold out over 
 Sunday. The people seem inclined to come out in 
 spite of the roads. Hope to see more good accom- 
 plished. 
 
 Jan. 23. — "That ye may be counted worthy of the 
 kingdom of God," was my text to-night. The social
 
 172 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 meeting was one of our best, nearly every professor 
 taking part. Am getting quite hoarse from so much 
 preaching and exhorting. Young converts nearly all 
 take part in meeting. To baptize again Sunday. 
 
 Jan. 24. — Another day of study. To-night I 
 preached on prophecy: "When I had seen the vision." 
 An attentive congregation present. To-morrow is to 
 be our last here. Am nearly worn down, having 
 preached twenty-five times already, besides having 
 given several lengthy exhortations. 
 
 Sunday, Jan. 25. — Preached to a full house this 
 A. M., on "The dispensation of the fullness of times." 
 After sermon three more were baptized — all heads of 
 families. Indeed, of the eight baptized in all, six 
 were heads of families. Great turn out for the bad 
 going. Many have been set to thinking in a new 
 direction. 
 
 To-night closed our meeting. A full house. Good 
 attention to sermon on Christ's confirming the prom- 
 ises of God. Three more joined the church to-night; 
 making ten in aU. Much undeveloped good has been 
 accomplished, no doubt. Thirty-four testimonies after 
 sermon. 
 
 (The foregoing may give the reader an idea 
 as to the scope of the subjects handled in these meet- 
 ings, over four Sundays. He preached the gospel, 
 as well as "Life and Death," and "Prophecy." All 
 may also see that, though the elements were against 
 a successful meeting, yet he breathes no discouraged 
 word to himself, but rather is hopeful all through. 
 This diary was only written for his own eye, not for 
 the public.) 
 
 We now give the diary notes during his attendance
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 173 
 
 at a Conference meeting and church dedication, at 
 Galesburg, Mich., in March, 1880. 
 
 Mar. 24. — To-day leave Nevada, Ohio, for Gales- 
 burg, Mich., to attend the dedication of their new 
 church. Reached Galesburg after dark. 
 
 Mar. 25. — Preached my first sermon in Galesburg 
 to-night, this being the beginning of conference. It 
 was followed by many warm testimonies. Meeting 
 was held in the new meeting-hoase which is to be 
 dedicated next Sunday. Bro. T. C. Grundy is pastor. 
 
 Mar. 26. — Meetings forenoon, afternoon, and even- 
 ing. I preached to a large congregation at night. 
 Deep interest. Many brethren from abroad and 
 seventeen preachers present. 
 
 Mar. 27. — Meetings all day of an excellent type. 
 In the evening I preached again: after the sermon 
 one started to serve the Lord — a business man of 
 some note; others rose for prayers. 
 
 Sunday, Mar. 28. — House crowded to overflowing 
 for the dedication. Had a free time at ten o'clock. 
 Then we raised over $800 to pay off the debt; getting 
 more than $100 over what was called for. 
 
 Baptism in the p. m. I preached again in the even- 
 ing to a packed house, and after sermon several rose 
 for prayers. Others have asked for baptism. Lord's 
 supper at close. 
 
 Mar. 29. — Preach my last sermon in Galesburg 
 to-night, — the sixth discourse. Several to be bap- 
 tized. Had a good meeting.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 MENTION OF OTHER TRIPS. 
 
 It was no uncommon thing for Bro. Sheldon, in 
 taking his evangelistic trips, to be kept away from 
 his home and family for three months at a time; 
 though in his early Wisconsin history his wife often 
 accompanied him, to assist in the work, especially 
 in the singing, — and even six and seven months have 
 passed while he was thus from home, engaged in the 
 Lord's work from place to place. 
 
 One trip into Missouri has already been mentioned. 
 Later, he again visited that state, extending his jour- 
 ney to several points in Kansas, where success at- 
 tended his efforts. He was in Kansas when it was 
 visited by a large army of grasshoppers. When in 
 motion they appeared like a cloud, and would actually 
 obscure the sun from vision; when they settled to 
 the ground everything of a green nature was devoured 
 in a brief time. 
 
 While traveling on the railroad his trains were more 
 than once brought to a complete stand-still because 
 the grasshoppers had covered the rails in such num- 
 bers that being crushed they made the rails and 
 driving-wheels of the engine so oily that they had 
 no friction to pull the train; and the engine- wheels 
 flew around so that it was unsafe to try to move, 
 even slowly. He saw men shoveling the 'hoppers from 
 the railway tracks, so that the cars might proceed. 
 
 174
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 175 
 
 It was prooably during this trip that the following 
 incident occurred, recently related by Elder Virgil 
 F. Hunt, now of California. Elder Hunt says: 
 
 "I remember a tent-meeting held in Topeka, Kan- 
 sas, many years ago, when I had just commenced to 
 speak in behalf of the great truths of Adventism, 
 which I have ever since cherished and loved. Bro. 
 Sheldon occupied the desk in the tent every night of 
 the week. One afternoon I spoke, relative to matters 
 of the faith, and afterwards Bro. S. cautioned me 
 about being rather severe on some of the errors of 
 popular theology. I replied to him, saying, 'Bro. 
 Sheldon, that comes with a poor grace from the author 
 of the tract Ghostology.' He laughed long and 
 heartily, and then said: ' Bro, Hunt, that is my 
 quicksilver dose. I give it to my patients when nothing 
 else will do — it either kills or cures.' I have never 
 forgotten that incident." 
 
 In 1889, he again spent some time in the South, 
 where he visited churches and conferences which were 
 brought into existence as a result, directly or indirect- 
 ly, of his former labors there. He wrote thus: 
 
 "At the Alabama Conference we met over twenty- 
 five ministers, several of whom were once Baptist 
 preachers, and who came into the truth by reading 
 our book, 'Life beyond Death.' Of course we were 
 mutually glad to meet each other. What a theolog- 
 ical change in the State since my first visit here, seven- 
 teen years ago. Then Bro. Cargile was a Baptist 
 minister, having then received a little truth; since then 
 he has been more fully illuminated, and has not put 
 his light under a bushel. The result of his work can 
 now be seen far and near. We are to visit several
 
 176 LIFE OF SHELDON, 
 
 churches before going to the Georgia Conference." 
 
 He was quite a frequent visitor in the East, during 
 all these years ; often going as a delegate to the Asso- 
 ciation and Mission Society meetings, with which he 
 was usually officially connected. His last visit to the 
 East was in 1892, when he went as Fraternal Delegate 
 to the Eastern meetings from the Western A. C. P. 
 Association. 
 
 During the winter of 1882-3, in company with his 
 old-time friend, Bro. William Watson of Illinois, he 
 first visited the Pacific coast; hoping there to regain 
 or improve his health to some extent; and he labored 
 among our churches there, as his health would permit 
 but was not able to go into new fields and "break 
 the sod," as was formerly his way of doing. 
 
 The ground on the Pacific coast was broken by the 
 exertions of Elder D. D. Reed and wife, who went 
 there in 1869. The fruits of their "pioneer" work 
 are seen to-day, all along their 1,300 miles of coast 
 Eld. M. Grant, and Dr. O. R. Fassett, also did mission 
 work there as early as 1870 and '71; and Dr. H. F. 
 Carpenter settled and labored there later, establishing 
 the "Pacific Mission Advocate," now "Messiah's 
 Advocate," in 1881, and he was for some time its 
 editor, and still is one of its most valued contributors. 
 
 Bro. Sheldon spent some three weeks at one time 
 at the home of Dr. Carpenter, in Santa Clara, and his 
 stay there was made most pleasant by the doctor and 
 his family. He visited points in both northern and 
 southern California, extending his stay some seven 
 months. 
 
 What he wrote in the Crisis at the time is appro- 
 priate in the history of his life; so we give it here.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 177 
 
 A RECRUITING TRIP TO CALIFORNIA. 
 
 For several years, as a result of overwork in the 
 gospel field, poor health has been our portion. At 
 times we have partially regained vigor, but overaction 
 has again and again brought us to realize that there 
 is a limit to human strength. After repeated draw- 
 backs, first from one ailment and then from another, 
 we have for some time past been the subject of a 
 complication of troubles, rendering labor in a connected 
 form entirely out of the question, preaching only oc- 
 casionally, and then to our physical detriment. Hav- 
 ing tried various prescriptions from different physi- 
 cians, reaping a little benefit at times, but not being 
 raised to a rugged phase of health, and having been 
 repeatedly advised to try a different climate that 
 should combine warm weather with sea breeze in 
 winter — such as can be found in Florida, or in Southern 
 California, we finally determined to make the trial, 
 though not feeling financially able to undertake the 
 costly experiment. After some deliberation we de- 
 cided to try the benefits of the Southern California 
 climate, hoping to be able to preach more after a 
 little rest, provided the climate should prove to be 
 beneficial, and we are fondly hoping that it will. 
 
 Our calls for help in the gospel field in various States 
 much nearer home have been both pressing and nu- 
 merous; but for the want of requisite health to per- 
 form the work desired, we have reluctantly said ''No," 
 just at the time our strong anxiety prompted us to 
 be in the field — for now, so near the close of this age, 
 every one who can work should be doubly active. 
 Nor should any able or healthful worker wait for 
 doors to open of themselves, but pry them open with
 
 178 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the gospel lever — doors into missionary fields, we 
 mean; not into churches. When a church needs a 
 pastor, they will take steps to obtain one, but mission- 
 aries are needed often just where the truth has no 
 friends to invite them, and the gospel message must 
 be pressed upon their attention before they will be 
 interested in it. Fields of this description lie all 
 around — in some of the older States over half of the 
 counties contain not a single church of our distinctive 
 faith, and many of them not a solitary believer. 
 There is still a vast area of unexplored mission ground, 
 (and too little is being done to arouse an interest), al- 
 most in our midst. A man of health need not travel 
 far to find work in fields that would doubtless repay 
 his efforts with far better success than can be expected 
 in worldly California. 
 
 On our California trip, (starting from home Dec. 
 11), we passed through Milwaukee, the largest city 
 in Wisconsin, at which point we had to change cars 
 for Chicago. Being late, we hurriedly blundered into 
 Baal's sanctuary where his disciples were devoutly 
 engaged in burning incense to his majesty. This 
 sanctuary is sometimes labeled "smoking car." We 
 sought to retreat from this kind of devotion, but 
 finding the other cars crowded, we were compelled 
 to attend the meeting of Baal's burners, and see them 
 pufi and blow in chorus, and see them spew and spit 
 in concert, from the gray headed man down to the 
 little boy. We notice that devotion to Baal — the 
 god of smoke — is a stepping-stone to the service of 
 Bacchus, the god of wine. Bacchus, however, has 
 a few disciples who have never served Baal, but they 
 are very few. These two gods are in warm sympathy.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 179 
 
 Reaching Chicago, we were joined by Bro. Watson, 
 the eight minute preacher, who will go with me to 
 the Pacific coast. We tarried over night with Elder 
 Fellows, and then took the train for California. The 
 cars rolled us on through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyo- 
 ming, Utah, Nevada, and California, till we made a 
 brief halt at Vallejo to preach our first sermon in the 
 Golden State, before proceeding further. We stood 
 the journey pretty well most of the way, but was quite 
 sick a part of the time, and so arrived somewhat en- 
 feebled, but hope soon to feel a recuperating infiuence. 
 
 We shall not attempt to entertain the reader with 
 a detailed account of our trip, and the romantic scen- 
 ery that attracts the traveler's attention on the way, 
 nor with a full record of matters of interest on the 
 Pacific coast, as others have repeatedly reported 
 these things. This world is somewhat like a fractured 
 and shattered mirror, presenting here and there some 
 lovely fragmental reminders of its primitive splendor; 
 and California, sometimes said to be next to Eden, 
 is an illustration of this matter in its physical phase; 
 but from a moral standpoint we could not say so 
 much, for the devil long since found his way to Cal- 
 ifornia, and seeks to monopolize the ground. And 
 is there a fair place on earth where Satan has not a 
 strong foothold? Look at Constantinople, where 
 Mohammedanism is seated. Look at Salt Lake re- 
 gion. Yes, the devil would monopolize even California 
 too, if possible. Sin looms up on every hand, in spite 
 of the lovely climate and fair surroundings ; and death 
 is not a stranger to this coast, but his footprints are 
 seen all around. 
 
 This, after all, is not the promised land. Westward
 
 180 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the emigrant takes his line of march, till the mighty 
 Pacific stares him in the face, assuring him that the 
 continent has a limit; and westward, too, the gospel 
 message travels, till the new home of roaming man 
 is explored, and the sweet tidings of salvation from 
 sin and mortality salute his ear. The Pacifie coast 
 has already been favored with the sacred Maranatha proc- 
 lamation to a limited extent; but here, as elsewhere, 
 there is unexplored territory where this message ought 
 to be sounded out distinctly among all classes of people, 
 not only by word of mouth, but by the distribution 
 of suitable printed documents — among foreigners as 
 well as among English speaking people. Probably 
 no one State in the Union, and possibly no one country 
 on the globe, furnishes a better representation of a 
 multitude of nations than California. Long years ago 
 the gold mania drew them to this coast, and multitudes 
 of them still remain here; and here, by proper efforts, 
 many of them may be reached, and through them a 
 wave of influence may be rolled to their former coun- 
 try. Of course, everybody will not be benefitted by 
 our efforts; nor was this the case in the days of the 
 apostles and of Christ; but we should not fold our 
 arms and refuse to help anybody, simply because 
 everybody will not accept proffered aid at our hand. 
 California already contains several Advent churches, 
 which serve as torches in this morally benighted corner 
 of the earth; and has also several excellent ministers 
 of the true faith, two or three of whom we assisted in 
 ordaining; and some of these have sacrificed much 
 to plant the truth in this new field, besides enduring 
 the general indifference of the world and the oppo- 
 sition of formal and prejudiced church members.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 181 
 
 A noble beginning has been made in spite of Satan's 
 various attempts to forestall and neutralize the work; 
 and it is hoped that from this small beginning the cause 
 of truth may speedily assume larger proportions under 
 the Divine blessing. 
 
 While spending the winter months in this State with 
 a view to improve our health, it would be a great 
 pleasure could we enter the field as a constant worker, 
 preaching every day, as in earlier years; but we must 
 content ourselves with doing what our limited store 
 of health will permit without thwarting our principle 
 object in coming to this coast — the improvement of 
 health, as a prerequisite to the accomplishment of 
 more work in the gospel field. This makes twenty- 
 two States in which it has been our privilege to preach 
 the immediate coming and kingdom of Christ; and 
 we are more than ever convinced that this is no cun- 
 ningly devised fable, but Heaven's own truth. May 
 the tidings swiftly fly over the earth! 
 
 Later, he wrote: 
 
 FOUR MONTHS IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Over four months have rolled away since we reached 
 this state, on the Pacific coast. Though we have 
 somewhat improved in health since our arrival, the 
 process has been slow. We have, however, gained 
 nearly five pounds in flesh during the four months. 
 Doubtless we might have gained more rapidly if we 
 could have contented our mind with less preaching, 
 having preached once or twice every Sunday since 
 coming to the state, which has sometimes given us 
 a back-set. We have been kindly received by Elds. 
 Carpenter, Reed, Howell, Carey, Abbott, Godfrey,
 
 Ig2 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Chandler, Hunt, Field, and Judge Bronaugh, who is 
 now more interested in the gospel faith than in Caesar's 
 affairs, and is aiding us in sounding out the Word 
 of the Lord. We have also received a warm welcome 
 from the California churches, and have in turn tried 
 to do them good, and not without some degree of 
 success, we trust. 
 
 The two Conferences which we have attended in 
 the State were seasons of profit. Something is being 
 done to sound out the judgment warning on this 
 coast, but far too little — the harvest is great, and the 
 laborers few here, as elsewhere. May prayer arise 
 for more laborers. 
 
 During his second visit to California — in 1886 — 
 his stay was mainly in the northern part of the state. 
 Here he had painted a large prophetic and historic 
 chart, which measures thirty feet in length, by five 
 feet in height. This he used to quite an extent while 
 he labored with some of their churches. 
 
 Of this trip he wrote: "I shall not soon forget the 
 kindness shown me by the California friends, especially 
 in San Francisco. Here I met some that I had bap- 
 tized over a quarter of a century ago, and others that 
 had been my nearest neighbors for years, or had heard 
 me debate publicly with the opposers of our faith 
 over twenty-five years ago. I was often surprised 
 in different parts of California to meet somebody 
 who had heard me preach ' in the States ' — as California 
 parlance has it — long years ago." 
 
 One or two brief items of his experiences while 
 there may be of interest. 
 
 "During the New- Year holidays of 1886, and the 
 'week of prayer,' we remained in the region of San
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 183 
 
 Francisco, preaching in the city on Sundays, making 
 our home partly with Bro. Walker, and partly with 
 Bro. Snow and Bro. Griffin. On the 30th of Dec. 
 an extensive earthquake was felt, the severest for 
 several years, and the only one I have felt here this 
 season. It was accompanied with a rumbling noise, 
 and shook the houses about as much as very heavy 
 thunder. As a rule, they are less dreaded here than 
 thunder storms are in the East, and far less than the 
 cyclones of the East, for these do not visit this region 
 for some reason. 
 
 On the second day of Jan. 1886, in company with 
 Bro. Griffin, I surveyed that part of the city known 
 as Chinatown, which is about the same thing as visit- 
 ing China itself. I had no desire to be conducted 
 into their opium dens, for the scent of opium met me 
 at almost every turn; but I had the curiosity to visit 
 one of their Josh houses, and see their gods. Before 
 each god is an altar, on which fire is kept constantly 
 burning, and the smoke continually rising. Here 
 the heathen Chinese come to pay their blind devotion, 
 prostrating themselves before their idols. One need 
 not take a journe}^ to the old world to learn what 
 idolatry is, for we have it here in full bloom. 
 
 CAUGHT HIM WITH GUILE. 
 
 A curious case of conversion to the truth was re- 
 cently related to me in California by a Bro. Thompson, 
 who had a friend whom he wished to lead into the 
 truth that so cheered his own heart; but that friend 
 was so wedded to novel reading that he couM not get 
 him to read anything else. After repeated trials, 
 and numerous failures, he devised a singular plan
 
 184 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 to get him to read. Obtaining one of my books, he 
 took its cover off, and neatly enclosed it in the cover 
 of a new novel that was highly recommended by the 
 press; then he presented it to this friend, making 
 him pledge that he would read it all through, which 
 pledge he was more than willing to make when his 
 eager eye had scanned the title page. He had not 
 read far till he thought it was "the strangest novel 
 he ever read," and could not see how it was related 
 to the title page, but was told he would find that 
 out further on. As he was pledged to read it through, 
 he kept on reading till he found himself actually in- 
 terested, and the result was his conversion to the 
 truth, and to Christ. He was caught in this novel 
 way, and gospel reading subsequently took the place 
 of novel reading to the joy of many hearts. 
 
 Another incident, recently related by Bro. V. F. 
 Hunt, will be pleasing. He says: 
 
 "I was pastor of the Tustin City, Cal., A. C. church, 
 for some twelve years; and while there Bro. Sheldon 
 visited and held a series of meetings in the church, 
 much to my delight and to the edification of all lovers 
 of God's truth. His voice rang out stoutly for God 
 and truth in many places on the great Pacific coast. 
 While he was with us in Tustin, he desired to visit the 
 ocean, so we organized a company of brethren and 
 sisters and spent a day on the beach. Bro. Sheldon 
 wanted to be the first man to cast a hook into the 
 great deep, so he had his pole all ready, hook baited, 
 and when the teams arrived at the water he imme- 
 diately started for a place on the rocks and cast in 
 his line. He had been apprehensive that he might 
 get wet and contract a cold, so he intended to be very
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 185 
 
 careful about wetting his feet; but somebody came 
 along and said something to him which caused him 
 to turn his eyes away from the tricky breakers, and 
 just then an unusually large one came in and took 
 Bro. Sheldon midway, filling his overcoat pockets 
 wnth the water, and of course drenching him to the 
 skin. Salt water, however, does no harm; so he 
 escaped any evil results, but all had a good laugh 
 at his expense." 
 
 This last visit to California lasted six months. 
 
 In all, his public labors in preaching the Word of 
 God have extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 
 from the Lakes to the Gulf; having preached and 
 labored more or less extensively in twenty-four States 
 of the Union, and in the Canadas. We find no record 
 of the number of converts, or baptisms, funerals at- 
 tended, or marriage ceremonies performed. It would 
 be interesting indeed to know how many churches 
 were organized by him, or by others as the result of 
 his efforts; and how many church edifices dedicated, 
 or ministers ordained by him; but these, and many 
 other items unknown to us are well known to the 
 One whose eye seeth all things. 
 
 "About fifty ministers claim to have been led to 
 the light of life by my efforts — of whom a goodly 
 number were converted under my preaching, bap- 
 tized by me, and ordained under my hand. Some 
 have deserted, more have died, and others are still 
 at work."— W. S.
 
 GHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 HIS LAST EFFORTS. 
 
 In June, 1893, an educational institution was 
 opened at Mendota, Illinois, by the Western Ad- 
 ventists. It was at first called Mendota Seminary, 
 but soon after it became Mendota College. During 
 that summer Eld. Sheldon and Dr. 0. R. Fassett 
 spent some months there as instructors in the Bible 
 Training department, and in aiding to establish that 
 school. They entered the work under the most dis- 
 couraging circumstances, and stood shoulder to 
 shoulder in the effort to establish the long-desired 
 training school for our young ministers, and Christian 
 workers. 
 
 He also spent the following summer, 1894, in the 
 same work; then having Eld. A. W. Sibley as colleague 
 Instructor in the Bible school. 
 
 Bro. Sheldon was always a helper to young min- 
 sters. Many young men have been directed, encour- 
 aged and helped into the work through his instru- 
 mentality, and many others have received instruc- 
 tion, light, and help through his personal efforts 
 with them. A few were brought under his instruc- 
 tion for a short time during his connection with that 
 institution, and they still testify to the help he was 
 to them. His brief connection with that school as 
 
 186
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 187 
 
 an instructor may be classed among his latest efforts 
 in the cause of Christ. 
 
 The last protracted meeting in which he labored, 
 doing the larger part of the preaching, was held in 
 January and February, 1895, at Muscotah, Kansas, 
 where he had been invited by Eld. W. O. Tingle. 
 The meetings lasted about four weeks; and although 
 other meetings, medicine shows, and other attractions 
 were constantly going on in the town, they gained 
 a hearing and attention, and quite a work of grace 
 followed. 
 
 During this series of meetings he enjoyed great 
 freedom in presenting the Word ; preaching over thirty 
 sermons in succession. But the effort was hard on him 
 physically, and he was obliged to disappoint others 
 who had called for his help at that time in other places 
 in Kansas. 
 
 The following report of that meeting is from Our 
 Hope: 
 
 "good news from muscotah, KAN. 
 
 "We wish to make a short report of our meeting, 
 which we have so recently held here. We commenced 
 the evening of Jan. 20th, and held four weeks. The 
 church was much strengthened, and many who had 
 once started in the service of the Lord, but had gone 
 back into the world, were reclaimed; and some w^ho had 
 never known the Lord were persuaded to start on the 
 pilgrimage to the kingdom. In all thirty or more 
 confessec. their Saviour anev, or for the first time. When 
 we consider the reaction of a great revival, held in the 
 modern style; (that is singing and praying men into 
 conversion, and pulling them to the mourner's bench
 
 188 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 by physical force), we feel well pleased with the effort. 
 Eld. Wm. Sheldon was with us, and under God has 
 done a work here that will last until the coming king- 
 dom is ushered in. We are now established as a 
 people in this community as we never were before. 
 Many Bible truths have been made plain to the people 
 of Muscotah and vicinity, and many who were once in 
 darkness are now rejoicing in the glorious light of the 
 gospel. To God be all the glory. 
 
 "W. 0. Tingle." 
 
 In January, 1896, Elder A. J. Bolster, at that time 
 pastor of the churches at Alexis, and Mineral, 111., was 
 called to serve the cause for a time by going into the 
 field at large for purposes connected with our de- 
 nominational interests; and he arranged with Bro. 
 Sheldon to take his charges at those tv/o points during 
 the six weeks of his absence. This he did, though he 
 was quite poorly during his stay there. His services 
 at those places at that^time are also among his last 
 public labors for the Master. 
 
 During the preceding fall, the pastor of "All Souls," 
 The People's Church, in the city of Janesville, Wis., 
 had opened a correspondence v/ith Bro. Sheldon, in 
 which he made inquiries r-s to the Adventist faith, 
 practices, history, and so on; and he stated that in 
 connection with his church they had a ''Culture Club" 
 which met on Sunday afternoons, and which was 
 seeking to arrange with representatives of different 
 denominations and sects for some of their represen- 
 tative men to present to the Club the distinctive fea- 
 tures and special doctrines of the denominations which 
 each speaker represented; and having been correctly
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 189 
 
 informed by a representative, the club discussed the 
 views he had presented. 
 
 Before the return of Bro. S. from Alexis to his 
 home, the following letter from this pastor was re- 
 ceived : 
 
 "Janesville, Wis., Feb. 10, 1896. 
 
 "Eld, Wm. Sheldon: — We are exceedingly anxious 
 to find a representative of the Advent Christian 
 church to speak to the Culture Club on Sunday, March 
 1st, at five o'clock in the afternoon if possible, if not, 
 at seven in the evening. Can you come? or will you 
 find some one to come for me? 
 
 "This series of lectures has proven a great success 
 and is doing a world of good in our city by creating a 
 sweeter spirit among those of the sects which are rep- 
 resented here. What we want is a stirring address 
 on the History, Doctrines, Aims, and Methods of 
 Adventism, from some one who loves its truth and can 
 speak from the heart. Come if you can. 'Behold, I 
 set before you an open door.' 
 
 "Kindly let me know as soon as possible. 
 
 "Always heartily, — V. E. Southworth." 
 
 In accordance with this request, Bro. S. promised to 
 go to that city on that date and there present "to the 
 culture and intellect" thereof, the fundamental doc- 
 trines of the faith and hope held by our people. 
 Rapt attention was given to his address, and when his 
 allotted time had expired he was urged to go on and 
 finish, as they wished to hear him through. During 
 the discussion which followed it was admitted that — 
 "// we accept the Bible — the principles laid down by 
 the speaker must be accepted."
 
 190 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 As an outline of this address was preserved, we will 
 give our readers the benefit of it: this being almost his 
 last effort at public speaking, as he preached only once 
 thereafter: it seems very appropriate to insert here 
 this comprehensive statement of his faith; which, for 
 important reasons, was published as editorial in Our 
 Hope, — he being associate editor of that paper in 1896. 
 
 CARDINAL ELEMENTS OF ADVENTISM. 
 
 (Outline of an address given March 1, 1896, in the 
 Unitarian church at Janesvillc, Wis., by request of the 
 pastor.) 
 
 Mr. Chairman and Hearers: It gives me pleasure 
 to comply with the pastor's gentlemanly request to 
 give you the reasons for our distinctive faith, subject to 
 candid criticism; or, in the words of the pastor, in his 
 generous invitation, to give you an address on the 
 "history, doctrines, aims and methods of 
 adventism." 
 
 In introducing this theme, I would reiterate the 
 salutation of the Apostle Paul to Israel: " Men, brethren, 
 and fathers, hearken,'^ and then judge, instead of being 
 in haste topre-judge the matter; for it is not an act of 
 wisdom to judge a matter before critical investigation, 
 on mere suspicion that it is untenable. "Men, breth- 
 ren, and fathers, hearken" dispassionately, and then 
 judge candidly and calmly. 
 
 I. Adventism, from a true historic standpoint, in- 
 stead of being a modern innovation, is of ancient date, 
 though it has a formulation less than a century old. 
 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, thus prophesied: 
 "Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his 
 hagion to execute judgment on all" (Jude 14), — tan- 
 tamount to saying that "all" remain unjudged till
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 191 
 
 that event arrives — the Advent and the judgment being 
 inseparably coupled together: and reward is due after the 
 judgment, and not previous thereto. So the heart and 
 core of Adventism was operative over five thousand 
 years ago, recognizing a future coming of the Lord, and 
 a future judgment interwoven therewith. 
 
 II. Adventism in general unfolds several dis- 
 tinctive and distinguishing features of doctrine out of 
 harmony with current theology, as, for instance: 
 
 The Advent Question, or return of Jesus. 
 
 The Resurrection of the dead saints. 
 
 The Immortality theme. 
 
 The Kingdom to come. 
 
 The Death state in general. 
 
 The Soul's nature in life and death. 
 
 The Annihilation of all evil. 
 
 The New Earth-home of the redeemed. 
 
 These are prominent links in the one great chain 
 of Adventism, some of which will now claim our at- 
 tention : 
 
 1st. We glance at the Advent question from our 
 stand-point — the great question of Christ's coming 
 from heaven to earth — "the second" coming of Christ. 
 Is it a literal event? Paul testifies: "Unto them 
 that look for him shall he appear the second time," 
 (Heb. 9: 28), in contrast with the first appearing thus 
 named in the context: "Once in the end of the world 
 hath he appeared." As in a series of steps, the second 
 step is the next after the first, so this second "appear- 
 ing" of Christ is the next after the first, the second 
 being as literal as the first. 1st. This second coming 
 cannot mean a second spiritual coming, for that claim 
 would make his first coming a spiritual event, which
 
 192 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 all know to be averse to historic facts. The claim 
 that Christ comes spiritually at conversion, cannot 
 set aside the predicted "second" appearing, since 
 there are many conversions, and they cannot all be 
 second in the divine series, there being but one "sec- 
 ond" in heaven's count. 
 
 The claim that Christ comes the second time at 
 the death of his saints, cannot fill the sacred contract 
 for a "second " appearing, since there are many sainted 
 deaths, and they cannot all be "second" in the sacred 
 series. More than this, at death the saint goes to 
 sleej), but at Jesus' coming he wakes up — two different 
 events entirely. His coming can not be realized by 
 a Holy Ghost proxy, since that is pronounced "another 
 Comforter" — not identical with Jesus. He is to come 
 as the "Son of man;" and the Holy Ghost is not 
 the Son of man: "The Son of man shall come." Matt. 
 25:31. He will come as the Son of God; and the 
 Holy Ghost is not the Son of God: "Wait for his 
 Son [God's Son] from heaven." 2 Thess. 1: 10. He 
 will come visibly; hut the Holy Ghost comes inv^isibly: 
 "Every eye shall see him." Rev. 1: 7. 
 
 2nd. Then how will he come? 
 
 "They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds 
 of heaven with power and great glory." Matt. 24: 30. 
 
 "If I go away ... I will come again, and receive 
 you unto myself." John 14: 3. 
 
 "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on 
 the right hand of power, and coming." Matt. 26:64. 
 
 "This same Jesus which is taken up from you shall 
 so come in like manner." Acts 1: 11. 
 
 "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven." 
 1 Thess. 4: 16.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 193 
 
 "Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also 
 we look for a Saviour." Phil. 3:20. 
 
 "Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with 
 me." Rev. 22:12. 
 
 These are sample statements 
 
 3rd. Why will he come? 
 
 (1.) To judge the race. If so, then no judgment 
 till he comes; and no reward till the judgment. 
 
 "God . . . hath appointed a day in the Vv'hich 
 he will judge the world." Acts 17:30. 
 
 "Judge nothing before the time till the Lord come." 
 
 1 Cor. 4:5. 
 
 "Time of the dead that they should be judged" 
 (Rev. 11:15-18) due at the seventh trumpet — not at 
 the dying hour. 
 
 "Judge the quick and the dead at his appearing." 
 
 2 Tim. 4:1. 
 
 "A fiery stream issued and cam.e forth from before 
 him" (Dan. 7: 10), then comes the judgment. 
 
 "Judge him in the last day." John 12:48. 
 
 "I saw the dead small and great stand before God." 
 Rev. 20:12. 
 
 "Did eat and drink with him after he was raised 
 from the dead, ... to be the judge of quick and 
 dead." Acts 10:41, 42. 
 
 (2.) Coming to rei'g^n on earth. Preparatory to this, 
 he "went into a far country to receive for himself a 
 kingdom, and to return." Luke 19: 12. Daniel in a 
 vision of the future saw the return. "One like the 
 Son of man came with the clouds of heaven" (Dan. 
 7: 10), having received the kingdom; in agreement 
 with Jesus' statement: "Hereafter shall ye see the 
 Son of man sitting on the right hand of power [kingly
 
 194 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 power], and coming in the clouds of heaven." Matt. 
 26:64. The prayer, "Thy kingdom come" (Matt. 
 6: 10), when the "kingdoms of this kosmos" will have 
 become the kingdom of the Messiah, will be verified. 
 Till then, earth is to be reserved unto fire against the 
 day of judgment" (2 Pet. 3: 10); and then "he shall 
 reign on the earth;" and then "the rebuke of his 
 people shall be taken away from off all the earth." 
 (Isa. 25:8.) Then "the Lord of hosts shall reign in 
 Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem," saying to the faithful, 
 "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 
 prepared for j'ou from the foundation of the world " — 
 the new earth then being the home of the redeemed, 
 containing the imported new Jerusalem; this being 
 the promised kingdom "under the whole heaven" 
 (Dan. 7:27), after "the former things are passed 
 away." 
 
 The resurrection., in the light of Adventism, is deemed 
 a literality — a release of physical men from literal death 
 by deific power — instead of being a mere spirit elim- 
 ination at the epoch of death. The resurrection of 
 Christ himself is presented as the divine sample or 
 "first fruits" of the sainted slumberers: "Christ the 
 first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his 
 coming." 1 Cor. 15:20. And Paul affirms, "Christ 
 being raised from the dead, dieth no more: death hath 
 no more dominion over him" (Rom. 6: 9), not Christ's 
 spirit, but Christ himself: "I am he that liveth, and 
 was dead, and am alive forever more." Rev. 1: 18. 
 
 "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even 
 so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with 
 him." 1 Thess. 4: 14.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 195 
 
 "Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, 
 shall raise up us also by Jesus," 2 Cor. 4: 14. 
 
 "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead 
 body shall they arise." Isa. 26: 19. 
 
 "This mortal must put on immortality." 1 Cor. 
 15:57. Here we "groan — not that we would be 
 wn-clothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might 
 be swallowed up of life." 2 Cor. 5:4. 
 
 "If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the 
 dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the 
 dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies." 
 
 "We which have the first fruits (Rom. 8: 11) . . , 
 groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, 
 . . . the redemption of our body." 
 
 God made man with a body capable of elevation 
 to a deathless state, with a conditional provision for 
 that elevation — but rebellion plunged the race into 
 degradation, and flooded the realm with death: thu3 
 the first Adam and his race were engulfed in death. 
 But the last Adam having already triumphed over 
 death, and having the keys of death, offers immor- 
 tality to the race on stipulated terms, to be bestowed 
 at his return from heaven to awaken the sleepers. 
 Here we can secure or forfeit the prepared prize. 
 
 The theme of immortality is not only one of wide 
 range, and of various phases, but it has a prominent 
 place in Adventism, being one of its fundamental 
 principles — immortality for the right class, at the right 
 time. 
 
 In the light of Adventism, immortality is not an 
 inherent principle possessed by all men regardless of 
 character or conditions, but is rather due the saint
 
 196 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 only, at the resurrection, when "this mortal must put 
 on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:51), till which time we 
 must "seek for" immortality "by patient contin- 
 uance in well doing," as we read in Rom. 2:7. As 
 sinners either refuse or omit to seek for it in the divinely 
 specified way, they cannot claim it; and without it, 
 they cannot have endless life, but must ultimately 
 perish under the penal stroke of Divine wrath in the 
 day of doom. 
 
 Soul immortality, so much talked about by modern 
 theologians, is not once named in the Bible: that simply 
 tells us that " This mortal must put on immortality," 
 instead of saying the very reverse — this immortal must 
 put off mortality. "Put on" — not put off; and this 
 change is due at the resurrection, and not at the hour 
 of death — due the physical saint, and not the soul only. 
 Then, "Neither can they die any more." "To him that 
 overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which 
 is in the midst of the paradise of God." Rev. 2:7. 
 
 Adventism deems death an "enemy" which de- 
 prives man of both life and consciousness — thus render- 
 ing a resurrection necessary to future life and future 
 reward. The statement of the wise man, "The dead 
 know not anything" (Eccl. 9: 10), means something. 
 But what does it mean? It means either the soul only, 
 or the body only, or else it means both combined; and any 
 of these interpretations would prove unconsciousness 
 in death ; for only that part of man which has know- 
 ledge in life can lose it in death, or retain it after death. 
 
 1st. If the statement, "The dead know not any- 
 thing," refers to the body only, then the body only 
 possesses knowledge before death, for death can de- 
 prive nothing of knov/ledge which never had knowledge :
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 197 
 
 and if the body only has knowledge in life, then the 
 soul has none to retain in death. 
 
 2nd. If the soul only has knowledge before death, 
 then the body has none to lose in death — and the know- 
 ing part must cease to know in death. 
 
 3rd. If both combined constitute the knowing, the 
 conscious being, then when death dissolves that com- 
 bination, the consciousness produced thereby is extin- 
 guished. 
 
 Adventism regards the "everlasting destruction" 
 due the incorrigible sinner at the judgment day, a 
 literality, instead of meaning everlasting preservation 
 in misery — it being a punishment everlasting in its 
 results, and not in the process of infliction; culminating 
 in "the second death," amid the judgment fires of the 
 last day, leaving a purified universe to be filled with 
 purity only — a purified world to be filled with saints 
 immortalized, and rendered equal to the angels, this 
 being the promised restitution, or world to come. 
 
 Adventism places the perpetual bliss of purity, not 
 in heaven above, for disembodied souls, but in the new 
 earth, after the judgment day, for physical saints, 
 resurrected, immortalized and glorified, with bodies 
 like Christ's glorious body, such as he has to-day in 
 heaven; for he sends back word, "I am he that liveth 
 and was dead, and am alive f orevermore ; " and Paul 
 affirms: "We are members of his body, of his flesh, 
 and of his bones." Eph. 5 : 30. Peter places this "new 
 earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," on the other 
 side of the great conflagration (3:7). 
 
 The new Jerusalem to be imported from heaven, and 
 to be coupled with the new earth, is deemed a literal 
 city, measured by furlongs, and cubits. "Jerusalem
 
 198 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 which is above " is to come down; then the saints "enter 
 through the gates into the city" — not a symbol of the 
 church, to enter through itself into itself; it is called 
 the "Tabernacle of God." Then, "No more death" 
 on earth: God says, "Behold I make all things new.'" 
 Rev. 21: 5. Jesus, as King of kings, in his beauty 
 will then "reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem." 
 Isa.24:23. 
 
 The gathering of the saints is to be simultaneous, 
 instead of being by piecemeal — to be after the judgment 
 arrives, instead of being before the judgment comes — 
 to be the gathering of the saints themselves, and not of 
 their specters — to take place, not at the coming of 
 death, but at the return of Jesus; for the record reads: 
 "They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds 
 of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall 
 send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and 
 they shall gather together his elect from the four winds." 
 Matt. 24:30, 31. 
 
 The aims of Adventism are to lift men out of carnality 
 and tradition into divinity in this life, that they 
 may finally be lifted out of mortality into the immortal 
 state — out of this fallen world into the restored world. 
 The unadulterated gospel message is deemed a means 
 to this end — a gospel to be believed and obeyed, involving 
 an unconditional surrender to Jesus Christ, and an 
 enlistment in his service, to do his revealed will. 
 
 The methods adopted by Adventists in doing their 
 work, are mainly borrowed from those recorded in the 
 Bible, acting discretionally where we find no Bible 
 pattern to follow, but deeming ourselves incompetent to 
 improve on the Bible pattern where it has been clearly 
 stated. We do not expect to fully revolutionize the
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 199 
 
 world theoretically or experimentally, but aim to do 
 what we can on this line, and leave the result with God. 
 We do not pretend to know with infallible precision 
 how near we are to the end of time; but fulfilled and 
 fulfilling prophecy shows our proximity to "the great 
 and notable day of the Lord." All we know about the 
 matter is just what the Lord has revealed; and that we 
 have a right to know; nor have we any right to be in 
 darkness where light is given for our benefit from the 
 "sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye 
 take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, 
 until the day dawn." 
 
 CONTINUATION OF NARRATIVE. 
 
 By request of the Magnolia, Wis., A. C. church, 
 Bro. Sheldon filled that pulpit on Sunday, April 19, 
 1896; and this was the last time that he ever stood in 
 a pulpit to declare the word of life. He had been in 
 quite poor health for over a year; but from the time of 
 his return from this last preaching appointment we 
 count the beginning of his long, last illness. 
 
 Being then Associate Editor of Our Hope it had been 
 arranged that he should take charge of the office for a 
 few weeks, that spring, while Eld. H. Pollard, the 
 office editor, should be relieved and set at liberty to 
 give his time to other things, in the interests of our 
 cause; but Bro. S. became so seriously afflicted that he 
 had to cancel that engagement. 
 
 The time for the Wisconsin June camp and confer- 
 ence meeting arrived that year, and he was unable to 
 attend, for the first time during all the years of its 
 existence: except one year when he was in California
 
 200 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 at the time of our state meeting. This year it was 
 especially hard for him to be obliged to remain away, 
 for Wisconsin was always very near to his heart, and 
 "Wisconsin's cause, people and ministers, were precious 
 to him. 
 
 Never was there a State Conference blessed with a 
 ministry possessing more unity of spirit, love and 
 faith. Never any — "isms "crept into divide and dis- 
 tract, and a feeling of brotherhood was ever a prominent 
 characteristic of the workers in this conference. Dur- 
 ing the more recent years, Bro. S. was the only "old 
 hand" left in the conference; and the younger min- 
 isters came to give him the title of "father" in the 
 work, and he in turn called them his "boys." We 
 wish there could ever be a similar spirit of fraternity 
 displayed in every conference, and may Wisconsin be 
 spared from ever seeing any other than such a spirit. 
 
 Though unable ever to meet his beloved brethren 
 again in conference session, he always wrote a few lines 
 to them at these meetings. The last report, or com- 
 munication, he made to his state conference was given 
 in the words following : 
 
 "ministers' report, 
 "By Wm. Sheldon. 
 "For the year ending Nov. 30, '01. 
 "To the Brn. of Wis. A. C. Conference, in session at 
 Magnolia: — You are already aware that owing to sick- 
 ness I have no preacher's report to make — that is, no 
 report of preaching, unless I shall report the many 
 sermons delivered in my dreams, sometimes several a 
 week; but nobody hears them. What little I do is
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 201 
 
 ^4th my pen, which reports itself, and need not be 
 repeated here. As to my faith it is unchanged, and 
 my interest unabated ; and I never desired to be in the 
 field of labor more ardently than now; but you are 
 already aware that my condition renders this impos- 
 sible, I watch your movements with interest, and 
 pray for your success, even though in the furnace of 
 afiliction. 
 
 "Brn., press the battle, and float the flag of truth in 
 kindness, but firmness. Our message is either of God, 
 or it is not; if it is, stand by it, if you stand alone with 
 God ; but above all things have the spirit of the message 
 in good hearts, while you have its theory in your heads. 
 God bless you all. 
 
 "William Sheldon." 
 
 As that summer wore on, desire got the better of 
 prudence and he planned to attend Camp Mendota in 
 August. As he had seen some little improvement 
 during the summer he attended that meeting; but he 
 was unable to get around and enjoy the meetings as 
 had always been his habit; yet the meeting with old 
 friends cheered and encouraged him at the time. 
 
 In the early part of October following, his disease 
 assumed a very critical form, prostrating him com- 
 pletely; and it then seemed an impossibility that he 
 could ever rise again. Jhe physician called it an at- 
 tack of acute Bright 's disease of the kidne3''s; combined 
 with a complicated bladder trouble, from which he 
 had been suffering for many years. He was confined 
 to his bed for six weeks at this time. With his shat- 
 tered nervous system, which had become so as a direct 
 result of his life-work, it was hard to tell from which 
 he suffered most: nervousness, or his kidney and blad-
 
 202 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 der trouble. The nervousness made the other trouble 
 harder to bear; and again that trouble directly en- 
 feebled the nerves. 
 
 When it became known that he was in this very 
 critical condition, it was very gratifying to himself, 
 and to the family, that they were the recipients of 
 letters from prominent brethren, which breathed such 
 sincere regret at his condition and were filled with 
 prayers for his restoration, and also contained words of 
 love, appreciation, encouragement, and so on. Such 
 men as Boutelle, Stockman, Taylor, Burr, Bolster, 
 Forester, Fassett, Armour, Pollard, Wait, Carpenter, 
 the McCullochs, and many others who will please ex- 
 cuse the omission of their names here, wrote to him. One 
 noticeable fact was that several of these writers were 
 carried down into the cold, cold ground before he was, 
 while he lived on and suffered for so long. 
 
 With the care of a very competent physician, T.'W. 
 Nuzum, M. D., who has obtained a far more than local 
 reputation in his line of practice; and also with the 
 excellent nursing of his wife, who is a natural nurse; 
 he astonished everyone by rallying from that severe 
 attack, so as to be up and around the house again; 
 though a constant sufferer, and requiring constant 
 attention and watch-care. 
 
 The next summer he seemed to gain somewhat, and 
 as the time for another general camp-meeting drew 
 near, he determined to go once more. This was a very 
 venturesome undertaking for one in his condition, but 
 he had determined to go, and so he went to camp 
 Mendota for the last time; and it was also the last time 
 that many of our dear people ever saw him. 
 
 The trip was an injury to him, and in October fol-
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON 203 
 
 lowing he was again confined to his bed, and again no 
 one thought it possible that he could ever rise there- 
 from. He even gave up himself; and for the first time 
 he spoke of dying, and left a few directions. When 
 asked if he was willing to die, he replied: "I do not 
 want to die ; I never can want to die. There is so much 
 w^ork to be done that I want to live to help do it." 
 
 His strong constitution and iron will supported him 
 remarkably; and, together with the excellent care 
 taken of him, served to carry him through most terrible 
 sufferings; and after ten long weeks of indescribable 
 agonies, lying on his back, he again rallied enough to 
 be up and around the house, for a few weeks; but only 
 to be again prostrated in the February following, with 
 influenza, which aggravated his old troubles, prostrat- 
 ing him again for some eight or ten weeks. 
 
 It was marvelous beyond comprehension how he 
 lived and suffered as he did. No pen could possibly 
 describe the intense sufferings of these years, and it 
 would be a useless task to undertake it; nor would it 
 be likely to benefit the reader, could they be described. 
 Oh, that those who cared for him so constantly through 
 these years could blot the memory of those sufferings 
 from their minds. Hundreds of times it seemed as if 
 they could no longer endure to see the severe anguish 
 which they could not much alleviate with all that they 
 could do, and all the care that could be bestowed upon 
 him. Many were the times when it seemed that hu- 
 man endurance had reached its limit, but at every 
 time when that point was reached, a sustaining power 
 which was far beyond any human agency was mar- 
 velously provided ; and the family were enabled to care 
 for him, themselves, even to the last.
 
 204 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Being once again on his feet, and around the house 
 and door-yard, he resumed his pen, doing his writing 
 in the intervals between the severe attacks of pain and 
 nervousness. Many have supposed that his daughter 
 did his writing for him : this was a mistake, his writing 
 was done with his own hand; except in cases of replies 
 to personal letters, which at times, he left to his daugh- 
 ter or dictated to her. 
 
 From April, 1896, until he died in February, 1902, 
 the only preaching he did was v>rith his pen. And 
 when he attempted to take up the pen again after his 
 first serious break-down, his family tried to dissuade 
 him from attempting any more v/riting, thinking it 
 would be too much of a strain on his nervous system 
 (his life then seeming to be measured by days, or 
 weeks at most) ; but they soon saw that it was best for 
 him to occupy his mind in that way. He always had 
 concentrated his mind entirely upon his subject when 
 studying, and this habit enabled him to do so still; 
 and they soon observed that while his mind was occu- 
 pied with work and writing on Bible themes he, for the 
 time, forgot himself and his suffering ; which they con- 
 sidered far better than otherwise, and so they made 
 no more objection to his efforts in that line. 
 
 Indeed, it sometimes seemed that he was inspired 
 when he wrote, and his writings showed a clearness 
 and firmness up to the very last which was reall}' 
 wonderful. Different ones wrote to him expressing 
 the thought that some of his articles written during 
 his last sickness were the strongest and best he had ever 
 written. 
 
 Some of his articles published in Our Hope and in 
 Messiah's Advocate, during this time upon the per-
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 205 
 
 plexing ''Thousand years" question, "Probation," 
 and other such subjects, called out letters of gratitude 
 and rejoicing from leading men East, and West, and 
 Far "West. One dear brother said he felt that he could 
 see why the Lord had spared him, even in suffering, and 
 that it was that he might serve our people and our be- 
 loved cause by thus writing upon those themes. 
 
 One brother wrote: — "Dear Bro. Sheldon: I want 
 to thank you from the bottom of my heart for that ar- 
 ticle on "The Kingdom Age" which you sent to Mes- 
 siah's Advocate. It expresses our mind fully in every 
 particular. Every point you made was well put, and 
 we don't see how any one can successfully evade the ar- 
 gument, and be honest with themselves. ..." 
 
 Another letter is as follows : 
 
 "Chicago, 111., Aug. 1, 1899. 
 
 "M}" dear Bro. Sheldon: — The time has been when 
 all your friends could not see how you could live and 
 out-ride the days, months, and years of so much con- 
 stant suffering, day and night, for so long a time. 
 
 "But I, for one, can tell you why you have been 
 spared to the church for such a time as this; and here 
 let me say to you, with tears flowing freely while I 
 write, that God has spared you to do for the church, 
 with your pen, what no other man could see or know 
 how to do; I mean on the thousand year question, 
 that has led astray so many innocent ones, who have 
 been led into error for fear they might be on the wrong 
 side. . . . 
 
 "Don't you remember the solemn warning that our 
 beloved Bro. Miller gave us in the early time? In a 
 letter to the brethren his words were: 'Never plant a
 
 206 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 doctrine on a parable, metaphor, figure of speech, or 
 symbol; but first find two, or more, positive state- 
 ments.' I have been governed by this rule all my life. 
 We are well as usual. Be of good cheer and look up 
 to the hills from whence cometh our help. 
 
 "Much love to all. D. R. Mansfield. " 
 
 A letter from the (then)business manager of the West- 
 ern Advent Christian Publication Association shows 
 an interest in having this subject brought more fully 
 before the people. (And we here state that we find 
 considerable unpublished matter along this line among 
 Bro. Sheldon's papers.) The above mentioned lettei is 
 as follows : 
 
 "Mendota, 111., Dec. 4th, 1900. 
 
 "Dear Bro. Sheldon: — I have been very much in- 
 terested in your articles on the thousand years, and am 
 glad to note in this week's Hope that you are contem- 
 plating putting out a tract on this important subject. 
 
 "Should you do so, I would like very much to have 
 the honor of printing it for you, for various reasons: 
 1st. I consider your position the correct one, and as 
 manager of this office would like the truth to be spread 
 from here. 2nd. Our people need a tract from you 
 on this question. 3rd. This office should be able to 
 get out as good a tract, do it as well and as cheap as any 
 publishing house, and supply all our Middle West with 
 tracts coming from our own press. 
 
 "Hoping to hear from you favorably, I remain, with 
 kindest regards, your brother in labor, 
 
 "J. O. Staats, Mgr." 
 
 Bro. Sheldon was so active with the pen, even up to 
 the very last, that many had come to suppose he was a
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 207 
 
 comparatively well man; and but a very few realized 
 the conditions under which he performed that writing. 
 
 For a year and a half, or perhaps longer, he had a 
 difficulty which made it almost impossible for him to 
 be seated; and the outlines and notes for his articles 
 were made while walking the floor, or the sidewalk in 
 front of the house, with scratch-book in hand ; or while 
 standing and leaning on the fence, thus making note of 
 his thoughts, so that when it was possible to get down 
 at his table, on a stool, he would write them out. 
 
 The very last daj^ he was up, he stood at his table, 
 writing an article, which remained on his table, never 
 finished. Its title is: "Organized Beings Material." 
 That unfinished article probably was intended to suc- 
 ced the "Contemplated Stroll Through Paradise," 
 which appeared in Our Hope of February 19, 1902. 
 along with the announcement of his death on the 11th. 
 Singularly appropriate ! The last article published from 
 his pen, sent during his life-time, was one looking for- 
 ward, to the life beyond death, in the home of the holy. 
 We subjoin it here. 
 
 Contemplated Stroll Through Paradise. 
 
 The contemplated entrance into the "Paradise of 
 God" is one in which the expectation is less than the 
 realization. 
 
 "We speak of the realm of the blest, 
 Of that country so bright and so fair, 
 
 And oft are its glories confessed, 
 But what must it be to be there?" ' 
 
 To be there in reality, to be there ourselves, as real
 
 208 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 beings, in a real paradise, beyond the reach of death, 
 free from pain, invested with unalloyed pleasure as an 
 eternal state, is no trifle; and its contemplation is en- 
 trancing; but the reali ation will be supremely trans- 
 porting, and divinely exhilarating. To really be there, 
 after a life of trial, and perhaps after reposing for a 
 time in the dark bed of death — to be there really alivs 
 forevermore — is to be there as the result of Deific 
 power displayed in our behalf, awakening a strain of 
 gratitude to our great Redeemer, ever gushing from 
 the heart, and finding vent in songs of praise and 
 shouts of delight. 
 
 We start with our sweet contemplation at the 
 epoch of our entrance into Paradise, the judgment 
 then having passed, the resurrection having brought 
 the saints from the dust of death, the angels having 
 gathered them to meet the descending Saviour, with 
 whom they have descended to the earth made new, 
 in obedience to Jesus' invitation, "Come, ye blessed 
 of my Father, inherit the kingdom." 
 
 Spread out before us is a world of fadeless splendor, 
 and ravishing beauty, inviting inspection: and we 
 have an eternity before us in which to survey its 
 beauties. Several things attract our attention: 
 
 1st. A "great multitude that no man can num- 
 ber," all with happy countenances, and ecstatic hearts. 
 We pause to look them over. Not one in a million 
 have we ever before seen, or even heard of. We feel 
 inclined to make their acquaintance; but it is the 
 work of centuries. But stop, there are some among 
 them whom we knew in the mortal state: we must 
 greet them, and briefly talk over the past — oh, what 
 a greeting that will be! We are not scrimped for
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 209 
 
 time, for eternity is before us. I look again: there, 
 to my joyful surprise, are some I feared would never 
 get there; but there they are, clothed with immor- 
 tality. 
 
 2d. Among them are others that we have heard 
 about — ancient prophets and apostles. We want an 
 introduction, that we may talk over their past fiery 
 trials; but the glory so fills their hearts that they 
 tell me they only endured light afflictions, of mo- 
 mentary duration: the glory of the present eclipsing 
 the sorrow of the past. Though once clad in sheep- 
 skins and goatskins, hid away in dens and caves of 
 the earth, being destitute, afflicted and tormented, 
 they now shine as the sun, without a menacing enemy 
 in the vast domain — they are triumphant! 
 
 3d. Interspersed among them I behold a class of 
 shining messengers, such as I never saw in mortal 
 life. Who are they? I am told, "These are the 
 angels of God." Though millions of years have 
 elapsed since they began their brilliant career, they 
 look young still — one of them being taken for a "young 
 man" at the tomb of Christ. No signs of decrepitude 
 or declining age to be seen about them : how fresh and 
 vigorous they look! 
 
 4th. But in my enthused stroll over the vast do- 
 main of Paradise, I begin to look for some of the 
 old men of God that I have read about, wearing gray 
 locks, with bent forms; but as I scan the ranks of the 
 vast throng for old Father Abraham, I am struck 
 with the recollection that I have not seen a single 
 old man in the ranks of the redeemed: but the angel 
 Gabriel, reading my anxiety, says to me as he points, 
 out a young man of vigor, "that is Abraham." I
 
 210 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 look him over, and fail to find a single gray hair on 
 his head, or a wrinkle on his face, erect as an arrow. 
 Reading my surprise, Abraham tells me that one 
 touch of divine power removed all these marks of 
 age, and clothed him with immortal vigor. 
 
 5th. Wherever I stroll through Paradise, east, 
 west, north or south, the society is uniform — all good — 
 no bands of thieves to waylay — all know the Lord 
 from the least to the greatest. Every man met is a 
 brother to be trusted. All are members of one divine 
 family. No fear of foes on my journeys, no hostile 
 tribes to fear — all are servants of Christ. Home, 
 sweet home, and holy society is found everywhere. 
 All enemies are extinguished in the closing up of the 
 age of mortality; and the age of immortality ushered 
 in Paradise free from carnality and mortality — Para- 
 dise then being, not on the preparatory platform with 
 its subjects a "little lower than the angels," but on 
 the elevated basis, with subjects "equal to the 
 angels." 
 
 6th. Wherever I roam, the country is lovely, with 
 a genial climate from pole to pole, as earth will doubt- 
 less then revolve in its orbit without its present angle, 
 as it evidently did before the flood; and the present 
 marks of the curse at the fall, and the breaking up 
 of the fountains of the great deep at the flood, caus- 
 ing an additional physical curse, will be repaired by 
 the coming renovation, making earth again a lovely 
 realm, without its excessive frigid and torrid zones, 
 dotted with lovely groves and fruitful fields, free from 
 the blighting curse that now seeks monopoly, every 
 detrimental germ in earth or air or water having been 
 obliterated in the great conflagration, leaving no
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 211 
 
 weeds, thorns or thistles to curse the inhabitants of 
 earth renewed. 
 
 7th. The headquarters of the future Paradise of 
 God — ^the new Jerusalem — will be imported from 
 heaven, where it is now reserved, to which the saints 
 will ascend at their translation to meet the Lord, and 
 where they will remain "till the indignation be over- 
 past;" then with this capital of the coming kingdom 
 they will come to Zion, and the new Jerusalem will 
 doubtless occupy the site of the old, for "the Lord 
 of hosts will reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, 
 and before his ancients gloriously." This will be in 
 advance of Adam's probationary Paradise, that hav- 
 ing no city, with inmates a "little lower than the an- 
 gels;" while this will start with the immortal Adam, 
 with all its inmates "equal to the angels" — Paradise 
 restored and elevated to the immortal basis, w. s. 
 editor's note following. 
 
 [Since writing the foregoing, which was received 
 Feb. 8th, our beloved Bro. Sheldon has fallen asleep, 
 in hope of a better resurrection to the immortal life 
 and new earth home he so glowingly depicts. A tele- 
 gram of the 12th apprises us of his death. With 
 saddened hearts we mourn death's cruel stroke, but 
 yet, when we think of the daily and hourly torture 
 he endured from a most painful disease, we sympa- 
 thize with the pathetic words of the wired message — 
 "Father at rest." A noble life of stern integrity and 
 severe toil, as well as of great power and usefulness 
 has ended — no, not ended; has lapsed into the dream- 
 less sleep of the grave for a brief time, soon to awake 
 in immortal youth and vigor when our Lord returns. 
 May we, too, be there. Editor.]
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 CLOSING HOURS. 
 
 The sickness which ended Bro. Sheldon's days of 
 mortality and suffering confined him in bed at the last 
 just eleven days. These were days of most excruciat- 
 ing pain, and he required constant attendance. 
 
 The immediate cause of the trouble which resulted 
 in his death was a cancer. This had eaten into an 
 artery, causing hemorrhage in the bladder, and the 
 blood clotting there closed the passage, producing 
 most intense agony. From the effects of this he never 
 rallied, but sank rapidly; and for some days he was 
 mostly unconscious, or semi-conscious, there being 
 but very brief intervals when it seemed that he was 
 rational. 
 
 He took to his bed shortly before noon, on the last day 
 of January. That noon he was the recipient of the 
 following letter, which was read to him when he first 
 aroused from the stupor which came over him after 
 he had been relieved from his great agony. 
 
 "ViLLiscA, Iowa, Jan. 30, 1902. 
 *'Bro. Sheldon: — It has been so long since we heard 
 from Brodhead that we are lonesome. How are you 
 standing the winter? Do you suffer much pain, now? 
 There was a time when I could drop in and see you, 
 but that is now cut off, by both distance and health. 
 
 212
 
 Family Group. 
 
 Mother. I'atlier. 
 
 Jennie. Lucy.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 213 
 
 I have been practically disabled since the first of 
 November, Can you write much of the time? Or, 
 can you read to pass away the hours? You have, 
 indeed, been housed a long time. But I am so glad 
 that you have been able to speak once in a while to \\\ 
 God bless you, and still spare you to family and friends. 
 
 "We have been telling the people that Jesus wr.^ 
 coming to restore all things, and now we are anxiouslj' 
 waiting His return. Then, my Bro., we will be free 
 from pain and sickness. Halleluiah! The gospel hope 
 never seemed more precious to me than now. Be of 
 good cheer, and we will meet 'in the morning' to enjoy 
 the kingdom. I have tried to portray the beauties of 
 that kingdom, but 'the half has not been told.' We 
 often think of you and your wife and Lucy. May the 
 Lord richly bless you all. . . . 
 
 "Would be pleased to hear from you if not too much 
 of a task. 
 
 "In Christian Bonds, — A. J. Bolster." 
 
 When this was read to him he choked and the tears 
 started, and he said: "Lu, you write to Bro, Bolster 
 and tell him I greatly appreciate his letter, but am 
 unable to answer it." Some days later he roused up 
 and called: "Lu, did you write to Bro. Bolster?" 
 We felt that we knew what was in his mind, but we 
 could not bring ourselves to draw him out. 
 
 Another letter which was received at that time from 
 Bro. W. M. Stuckey, asking for some light on a certain 
 passage of Scripture, and containing some words of 
 appreciation, caused him to turn his head regretfully 
 away, while a moan escaped him, which seemed to say, 
 "Alas! I can no longer be of use in that way,"
 
 214 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 When he had been in bed just a week, he called his 
 daughter and directed her to go to his table and get an 
 envelope which he described, and bring it to him. 
 This she did, and when it was placed in his hand he 
 inquired if it was the first envelope in that pile; and 
 being assured that it was, he sealed it without opening 
 it — an unusual act for him, as he always looked over 
 his mail for the papers the last thing before posting 
 it — and he directed that it be sent to the office. This 
 was done; and the issue of Our Hope which contained 
 his obituary also contained the article which was in- 
 closed in that envelope. It was headed, "A Con- 
 templated Stroll Through Paradise;" and according 
 to the expression of many afterwards, it seemed "in- 
 spired," and "prophetic." 
 
 For the last few days of his life he w^as ixdldly de- 
 lirious, most of the time. The day before he died 
 another letter came, and was read to him in a little 
 interval when it seemed that he might appreciate it, 
 as he had apparently come to himself for a brief time. 
 That letter will ever be cherished by the family, for it 
 turned his last conscious moments back to his happy, 
 young manhood days; and for a few moments he was 
 enabled to think and speak of those times in a way 
 that showed that for that little time he knew; though 
 soon after his talk gave evidence that his mind was 
 again wandering. 
 
 "WiNDOM, Minn., Feb. 3rd, 1902. 
 
 "Elder Wm. Sheldon, Dear Bro.: — By the blessing 
 
 of memory we are glad to write you a few lines, recalling 
 
 things which happened in our school days, with our 
 
 four little sisters at home. Especially once when we
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 215 
 
 came home from school, and a dear Mother was getting 
 our supper, with her face all aglow with pleasure, it 
 seemed from having a young man visiting us. And 
 Father seemed to be getting a share of comfort in 
 talking of Bible themes of truth. This young man 
 was studying his Bible, and would close it and put it 
 under his arm, and walk across the kitchen floor back 
 and forth for a little time, and then go to studying 
 again, as our memory serves us. Well, in a few days 
 Eld. R. V. Lyon comes and visits, and calls this young 
 man his 'son Timothy,' and takes him to his home. 
 The visits were not as frequent as my parents wished, 
 for they seemed to like the Advent faith, and I am 
 so glad of it. Well, a little more about this young 
 man is pleasing to memory. He found a wife on 
 Sturbridge hill. I have been there with my father at 
 an Advent tent-meeting. We had a good meeting, 
 all was good, but some were afraid to believe the truth. 
 
 "I cannot recollect much more of this young man 
 for some years, as I stayed at home until 22 years of 
 age; then I went to farming near my father's, and as 
 my wife enjoyed reading the World's Crisis, I have 
 taken it ever since; so we have kept well acquainted 
 with the pen of one that we enjoyed so much, who 
 signed, 'W.S.' ... 
 
 "Please find enclosed a small testimonial from Wife 
 and myself for your comfort and needs, freely bestowed 
 by us, ^vith pleasure. 
 
 "Yours in hope of meeting in the New Jerusalem. — 
 
 "Henry Sherman." 
 
 Bro. Sheldon was asked a few questions in connec- 
 tion with this letter, and he spoke of some things about
 
 216 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the boyhood home of Bro. Sherman; and it will always 
 be a comfort to think that his mind was thus actively 
 directed toward pleasant memories, during his last 
 conscious hours. 
 
 After a short slumber he wanted to see that letter 
 again, and it was handed to him. He held it up, 
 turned it this way and that; but finally handed it back, 
 saying he would have to wait till daylight. It being 
 then sunlight in the room, we realized that he could 
 no longer see distinctly. This was the last that he 
 realized, except it be for an instant. 
 
 The next morning, a little before six o'clock, a 
 change began to creep over him, and it was realized 
 that he was dying. Once he called, "Lu, water — 
 milk, " — the last words he spoke. Surrounded by his 
 most faithful wife, his two children, his seven grand- 
 children, and a kind neighbor who was with them for 
 a couple of hours, he quietly and gradually sank, until 
 ten o'clock in the forenoon, when, after two quite 
 severe struggles, his earthly career and his sufferings 
 peacefully closed. 
 
 On the 11th day of February, 1902, at the age of 
 71 years, 2 months, and 26 days, William Sheldon died 
 at his home in Brodhead, Wisconsin. 
 
 He always looked upon death as being an "enemy," 
 and a great enemy to mankind; and he fought that 
 enemy strongly and manfully to the end. Though he 
 was overcome at last, he fell facing the foe; though he 
 was conquered for "a little while," he will soon, thank 
 God soon, see that enemy conquered: nevermore to 
 triumph over God's children. "The last enemy that 
 shall be destroyed is death" (1 Cor. 15: 26). Soon he 
 that can say, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and,
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 217 
 
 behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the 
 keys of hell and of death," will come and open up the 
 graves of all God's sleeping, faithful children who have 
 fallen with their armor on, and will bestow upon them 
 that life, that eternal life, for which they lived and 
 struggled. Oh, blessed hope, wonderful consolation, 
 greatly desired consummation! "Behold, I come 
 quickly," "Amen. Even so come. Lord Jesus." 
 
 He sleeps the sleep of the just; he rests in hope of a 
 future endless life; he reclines in mother earth's bosom, 
 free from torturing pain and suffering; he awaits the 
 trump of God, which soon shall sound and release 
 earth's sainted millions from their dusty beds; when 
 he, and they, and those that are His at His appearing, 
 shall put on immortality, glorious, longed-for, im- 
 mortality ! 
 
 "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 
 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last 
 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall 
 be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For 
 this corruptible must part on incorruption, and this 
 mortal must put on immortality. So when this cor- 
 ruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this 
 mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be 
 brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is 
 swallowed up in victory." 
 
 Though the "Enemy" holds him down for a little 
 while, soon will the Savior " raise him wp ; " and then 
 shall he leap, and shout, and rejoice, and triumphantly 
 sing, "0 death, where is thy sting? O grave, where 
 is thy victory?" and then will he joyously exclaim, 
 "Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ."
 
 218 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 He was noted for leaping, shouting, rejoicing and 
 singing while in service in this life, and methinks such 
 past demonstrations from his heart will be mild in 
 comparison with the manner in which he will leap, re- 
 joice, shout and sing, when the last enemy is destroyed. 
 
 " Fly, lingering moments, fly, O fly, 
 Dear Savior, quickly come." 
 Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time, 
 And bring the welcome day! 
 
 "The saints of God, from death set free. 
 With joy shall mount on high; 
 The heavenly hosts with praises loud 
 Shall meet them in the sky. 
 
 "Together to their Father's house 
 With joyful hearts they go; 
 And dwell for ever with the Lord, 
 Beyond the reach of woe. 
 
 "A few short years of evil past, 
 We reach the happy shore, 
 Where death-divided friends at last 
 Shall meet, to part no more."
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 During the attack which ended his days of suffering, 
 Bro. Sheldon said nothing about dying, nor anything 
 pertaining to arrangements for his funeral, nor con- 
 cerning other matters which one naturally desires to 
 hear spoken of at such a time. Some four or five 
 years before, he had expressed a wish that Eld. A. J. 
 Bolster should be sent for to preach his funeral sermon. 
 Some years ago Bro. Bolster lived within ten miles of 
 Bro. Sheldon's home, and was then a frequent guest 
 there. And later, when illness confined Bro. S. to his 
 home, Bro. Bolstc had on different occasions put him- 
 self out to visit and cheer him in his trials. And he 
 seemed to the whole family as almost one of their 
 number, so their thoughts naturally turned to him in 
 that sad hour. Responding to a message, he immedi- 
 ately started from his home at Villisca, Iowa, arriving 
 next day at the home of the sorrowing family, much 
 to their comfort and satisfaction. 
 
 Also on the day of his death, in response to a tele- 
 phone message, one of Wisconsin's noblest young 
 ladies. Sister Sinda Clarke, of Monticello, came to the 
 assistance of the already worn out household, assisting 
 and comforting them in many ways, and remaining 
 nearly a week with them. 
 
 219
 
 220 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 The funeral services were appointed to be held on 
 Friday, the 14th, and the house not being in convenient 
 form to accommodate a number of people, it was 
 thought best to obtain the use of a church building; 
 and the Congregational church was kindly offered for 
 use — the same building in which the funeral discourse 
 of his youngest son was preached. 
 
 Friends came from a distance, and ministering 
 brethren also came to help lay him away to rest for a 
 little while. Some disappointment was felt that the 
 two of our ministers living nearest his home, Eld. A. 
 E. Bloom, of Monticello, and Eld. J. H. Berkey, of 
 Monroe, were both away at the time, filling engage- 
 ments previously made, and at such a distance that 
 their presence was impossible ; yet the Lord sent others 
 to perform every needed service. 
 
 At one o'clock a short service was held at the home. 
 Elders H. Pollard, B. Forester, W. M. Stuckey, and 
 A. J. Bolster, whose voices formed a male quartette, 
 sang sweetly and impressively, "Look to Jesus, weary 
 one; " and Eld. Forester offered a petition to the throne 
 of grace for help, strength and grace. It seemed that 
 every word was uttered from the very depths of his 
 heart. The undertaker, a fine Christian gentleman, 
 afterward stated that he never, in all his life and ex- 
 perience, heard such a prayer before. The four 
 ministering brethren then tenderly lifted the casket 
 containing the silent, peaceful form, and carried him 
 out; out from the place he had called "home," for 
 nearly thirty-four years ; out, nevermore to return. 
 
 " Ah, sad nevermore ; " 
 leaving behind an empty place which nothing can ever 
 fill.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 221 
 
 The friends wended their way to the Congregational 
 church, where were held the public services over the 
 form of the loved husband, father, and grand-parent; 
 over the form of one who had stood for fifty-five 
 years as a representative of this "last day people;" 
 one who was looked up to as a leader, as an example, 
 and as an authority by that people. 
 
 Upon the casket lay his Bible — the open Bible — that 
 book which spans the chasm between this life and the 
 life which is to come, and gives to us and the church 
 the hope and assurance of a life beyond the present, 
 which shall be an endless life; when the saved of all 
 ages and climes shall meet, nevermore to part, never- 
 more to know sorrow, trial, suffering or death; when 
 all will be joy, peace, beauty, and glory evermore. 
 
 Upon the casket there were also laid some beautiful 
 floral tributes of roses, ferns, carnations, etc., presented 
 by the faithful physician, the local editor, a teacher in 
 the High School, and a young lady visitor in the city 
 whose parents were converts under his labors years 
 ago. 
 
 The service opened with the singing of that beauti- 
 ful, comforting hymn, "Comfort in Affliction," by the 
 quartette of ministers, after which. Eld. H. Pollard, 
 Editor of "Our Hope," read strongly and impressively, 
 the Scripture lesson, from 1 Thess. 4: 13-18, and Rev. 
 21:1-7. 
 
 This lesson was followed by a prayer suited to the 
 occasion, by Eld. W. M. Stuckey, of Kansas City, after 
 which Eld. Pollard, in his clear, rich voice, sang as a 
 solo that beautiful piece entitled, "Gone." "Gone, 
 and the world to go on as before," — accompanied on 
 the organ by Bro. Stuckey.
 
 222 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Elder George De Beer, pastor of the A. C. church of 
 Magnolia, was present; and he and the Congregational 
 and Baptist pastors of the city were seated on the 
 platform, with the others of our ministry here men- 
 tioned. 
 
 At the conclusion of these preliminary services Eld. 
 A. J. Bolster spoke words of gospel hope, cheer, and 
 comfort to the sorrowing family, brethren, sisters, 
 neighbors and friends. In his opening remarks he 
 stated that, if feeling were a safe criterion, he would 
 take his seat with the dear, mourning friends; but, 
 he said," We come, in the name of the Lord, to pay a 
 loving tribute of respect to a recognized leader, and 
 to voice the faith for which he so nobly stood. We 
 desire to make this occasion an expression of the deep 
 love and reverence of the ministry for the departed 
 brother. He has been a leader among us, and we 
 believed him to be a wise and safe expounder of the 
 Word of God. It would be possible to spend the time 
 allotted to this service in eulogizing one who is loved 
 from Maine to California, but we are reminded by that 
 open Bible upon his casket that Bro. Sheldon would 
 say: 'Spend no needless time in mere eulogy, but 
 give the people the Word.' 
 
 We would be glad to insert here the sermon which 
 followed, word for word as it was there uttered, so 
 full was it of truth, hope, inspiration, and comfort, 
 and spoken from so kindly a heart; but a brief synopsis 
 only can be given at this date, as our Bro. kept only 
 a brief outline of the discourse. 
 
 Text Prov. 14: 32.— "The righteous hath hope in 
 death." He divided his subject into three parts,
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 223 
 
 dealing with them in the following order: I. The 
 Righteous. II. Death. III. A Biblical Hope. 
 
 1. The Righteous. — 1. Qnc who is free from 
 sin. See 1st John, 1: 7-9. Thank God for a com- 
 plete cleansing ! Our brother knew much of the sweets 
 of redeeming love, and the efficacy of the blood of our 
 divine Lord. 
 
 2. One who has the witness of the Holy Spirit. 
 See Rom. 8: 9, 16. In these days of so much laxity 
 in Christian experience, we desire to emphasize this 
 very important point. May His soothing influence 
 be ours on this sad occasion. 
 
 3. One who loves Jesus' words. Some who 
 heartily endorse the other propositions, may hesitate 
 before fully accepting this one. Hear what Jesus 
 says in Mark 8: 38. Add to this the testimony of 
 Paul in Rom. 1: 16. It would prove a rich blessing 
 to the church, if all who profess to love Jesus had 
 sufficient respect for His words to believe, and obey 
 them. 
 
 Notwithstanding the fact that there is perfect salva- 
 tion in Jesus Christ, yet it is solemnly true that right- 
 eous people do actually die. This brings us to our 
 second point, namely: 
 
 II. Death. — Death means cessation of life. When 
 we consider the meaning of life, all is plain. "Life is 
 that condition in which animals and plants exist with 
 capability of exercising their natural functions." 
 Theologians do not readily accept this plain fact, but 
 the Bible is in perfect accord therewith. Death is a 
 sad subject to consider, but to Scripturally compre- 
 hend it, is calculated to magnify Christ.
 
 224 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 According to Gen. 3: 16 to 19, death is: 
 
 1. A returning to the earth. The motherhood of 
 our race can testify to the literality of the penalty in- 
 flicted upon the woman. Man's penalty was exactly 
 as literal. 
 
 2. It is called sleep. See 1st Thess. 4: 13-18. 
 Christ calls it sleep. See John 11: 11. Sleep and 
 death are synonyms. See Psa. 13 : 3. All undisturbed, 
 natural sleep reduces one to unconsciousness. Cer- 
 tainly death can accomplish as much. In fact, the 
 Bible expressions teach : 
 
 3. An unconscious state. See Psa. 6: 5; Eccl. 9: 
 5, 10; Psa. 146: 4. Here the dark scene closes. If 
 there is no interposition of divine power, death will 
 prove an endless sleep. Thank God, there is a bright 
 side to this picture! Our third point is: 
 
 III. A Biblical Hope. — 1. The only basis for 
 true hope, in this case, is a resurrected Christ. See 
 1st Cor. 15: 12-18. It was the same Jesus. Proof: 
 Acts 10: 40, 41 ; Luke 24: 36-43. A positive testimony 
 that he actually arose. 
 
 2. This re-living Christ is an exact sample of what 
 believers will be. See 1st Cor. 15: 20. Do not hesi- 
 tate to believe that the harvest will correspond with 
 the sample. 
 
 3. He has power to raise sleeping saints. Proof; 
 Rev. 1: 17, 18; Rom. 14: 7-9. All power is given unto 
 Him, and in due time He will exercise it. 
 
 4. He will fashion them like unto Himself. See 
 Phil. 3 : 20, 21 ; 1st Cor. 15 : 49-56. We must not over- 
 look the fact that we must be like Him morally now, 
 if we expect to be made physically like Him then. 
 
 5. Then there shall be no more death. See Rev.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 225 
 
 21: 1-4. Oh, glorious hope! It is (a) Sure. (6) 
 Purifying, (c) Nearing fruition. 
 
 Bro. Sheldon has stood for it for many years, and 
 we are satisfied it will be a source of strength to these 
 stricken hearts, for they, too, love the precious words 
 of Jesus. 
 
 Dear Sister Sheldon, daughters, and' grand-children, 
 we now commend you to God, and to the Word of 
 His grace. ]\Iay you form an unbroken family when 
 the Master comes. My dear brethren in the ministry, 
 let us close up our seriously depleted ranks, as best we 
 can. Let us be inspired by the faithful example of 
 our heroic leader, to never forsake these Biblical teach- 
 ings, but declare them lovingly, yet fearlessly, until 
 Jesus comes. May each present on this denomina- 
 tional mourning day, so live as to meet our esteemed 
 brother in that tearless, painless, deathless, "world 
 to come." Amen, and Amen! 
 
 At the sermon's close Eld. DeBeer offered prayer- 
 after which the male quartette again sang a most ap- 
 propriate song, the words of which are the composition 
 of our dear Bro. Bolster. This had been written a 
 few months previous, at the special request of the 
 writer of this narrative; and, by request, Eld. A. E. 
 Bloom had furnished a most suitable melody for it. 
 This song became a great favorite with Bro. Sheldon, 
 and it fitted in very appropriately after that sermon. 
 As was remarked by an outsider, "It seemed as though 
 it had been composed expressly for this occasion." 
 (The hymn will be inserted at the end of this chapter.) 
 It was very effectively and impressively rendered by 
 the quartette. 
 
 Sadly, yes, sadly! we wended our way to the "city
 
 226 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 of the dead," Brodhead's "Greenwood," where had been 
 prepared the last resting place of the sleeper, by the 
 side of his two sons, who for some years had been sleep- 
 ing there. Though the ground was covered with snow 
 and the wind blew chill, the family, brethren, and 
 friends surrounded that "bed," and the dear form was 
 lowered lovingly, tenderly, sorrowfully, by the quartette 
 of ministers; there to rest until the " Life-Giver" comes 
 and gives him, and all saints, the touch of immortality. 
 
 The words, "Wait a little while; Then we'll sing the 
 New Song, " rang out clearly and comfortingly on the 
 chill winter's air, sung by the ministers gifted with 
 song; and Bro. Bolster committed the sacred form to 
 the care and keeping of the heavenly Father, and in- 
 voked the Father's blessing upon one and all. 
 
 It seemed that the presence of these four ministers 
 and of the other friends imparted strength to the im- 
 mediate family, which enabled them to bear up at the 
 time, and made the sting less sharp. The gospel hope 
 was set before them, in song, prayer, and in the sermon, 
 and they were enabled to "lay hold of the hope set 
 before them," realizing in their hearts that only a 
 little in the future their hopes will be realized and the 
 broken family circle will again be complete. 
 
 Of his father's family there is but one left, his 
 brother Dillon D. Sheldon, of Minnesota, who, on 
 account of poor health, and the distance, was unable 
 to be present. 
 
 Methinks even now we can see him as he will come 
 forth, robed in immortality, freed from pain, sickness, 
 and death. How he will rejoice and sing! how he will 
 shout, and clasp glad hands with the redeemed hosts! 
 Yea, what will he not do? for there will be, not time
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 227 
 
 but an Eternity before him; and no ache, nor pain, nor 
 sorrow, nor memory of these earthly woes, will ever 
 come up to mar or molest. For that day he prayed, lived , 
 "endured hardness, "and "fought the good fight." And 
 that day will soon, thank God, soon, fore verbe his. That 
 hope is the consolation of his family; and his church, 
 his conference, his people, claim it as their comfort. 
 
 WE SHALL RISE. 
 
 On the promised third day morning, 
 
 Jesus walked from Joseph's tomb. 
 Thus on Satan he served warning 
 
 Of an everlasting doom; 
 For the grave could not retain him, 
 
 Though the human path he trod; 
 But the bands of death must yield him, 
 
 As he was the Son of God. 
 
 Chorus : 
 
 We shall rise, we shall rise; 
 In the resurrection morning we shall rise^ 
 
 We shall rise, we shall rise; 
 Hallelujah, hallelujah; we shall rise. 
 
 This gives hope in Jesus' coming 
 
 For the saints who sleep in him; 
 They shall waken in the morning, 
 
 Then their eyes shall ne'er grow dim] 
 Though by nature they are mortal 
 
 And are subject to decline, 
 They shall then be made immortal. 
 
 And in Jesus' image shine. 
 
 When the graves give up their treasure, 
 And the dead to life are brought, 
 
 Then their joy no one can measure 
 Who Avith Jesus' blood were bought;
 
 228 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 For the prophets have been writing 
 
 Of that day so soon to come; 
 And a few are still delighting 
 
 In the thought of home, sweet home. 
 
 Glory, glory be to Jesus! 
 
 For this resurrection hope; 
 How it thrills, and tends to shield us, 
 
 In the midst of much false hope; 
 We will tell it, we will sing it. 
 
 While we wait the day foretold; 
 Still we'll tell it, and we'll sing it, 
 
 When we walk the streets of gold. 
 
 Bass Chorus: 
 When the trump of God shall sound and the dead in Christ 
 
 shall rise. 
 In the resurrection morning we shall rise, we shall rise; 
 Oh then let the trumpet sound, and the dead in Christ arise; 
 Hallelujah, hallelujah; we shall rise.
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 WORDS OF SYMPATHY. 
 
 A few extracts from letters of condolence and 
 sympathy are given here, as examples only. It would 
 be too saddening to give all ; and for the same reason these 
 are not given in full. The writers not mentioned here 
 must not feel slighted, as these are taken almost at 
 random. All are highly appreciated and do us much 
 good. 
 
 Bro. Chas H. Woodman of the Crisis Office, Boston, 
 wrote : 
 
 "The death of your father will cause a deep shadow 
 to fall over our entire denomination. My own heart 
 sometimes nearly breaks, when I see our older preach- 
 ers falling by the cruel hand of death. I often wonder 
 who will, or can, fill their places. You have my 
 sincere sympathy and earnest prayers that the God 
 of all grace may sustain you in this sad hour." 
 
 Eld. Geo. E. Tyler, Bristol, Conn., wrote: 
 "I must communicate to you my sense of sorrow 
 occasioned by the sad tidings from your Western 
 home. Every Adventist from shore to shore must 
 feel a sense of great loss at the death of your dear 
 father. I have met him and with great pleasure have 
 heard him preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. 
 His writings also have been a great help to me, and 
 
 229
 
 230 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 they have afforded great light and instruction to thou- 
 sands, upon the truths held particularly by the Ad- 
 ventist people. Yourself and family have our pro- 
 found sympathy; and may grace be given in your 
 present affliction, that 
 
 'Though seen through many a tear, 
 Your star of hope may not grow dim or disappear.' 
 
 "Sincerely yours in the Hope." 
 
 Eld. F. A. Baker, Mendota, 111., wrote: 
 "We read the sad telegram in our prayer-meeting, 
 and many prayers were offered for your family. Also 
 many spoke of the great and efficient labors of Bro. 
 Sheldon. I have just been down to the office, and 
 learned from Bro. Pollard all about the last sad rites. 
 Please accept our sympathy and condolence in this 
 hour of your deep affliction. Deeply as you may 
 sorrow, you have the supreme comfort to know that 
 the beloved, so widely known, so highly respected, 
 and so sincerely loved, rests from his arduous toils and 
 severe sufferings." 
 
 Eld. J. August Smith, of Rockford, 111., wrote: 
 "This is indeed a great loss to us all, and we have no 
 one to take his place. I am sorry I was away, so that 
 I could not be present at the sad services. May our 
 heavenly Father support you in this sad bereavement, 
 and give you strength to endure this sad affliction." 
 
 Eld. William McCulloch and wife, Red Oak, Iowa, 
 wrote : 
 
 "It is with deepest feelings of sadness and sorrow, 
 and sympathy for you and family, that we learn of 
 the death of Bro. Sheldon. And may the God of all
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 231 
 
 grace and mercy have compassion; and grant you and 
 all interested all the grace and strength necessary to 
 bear the heavy stroke that has fallen upon you. 
 Please accept our sympathy and condolence in this 
 very sad affliction. Please accept the enclosed as a 
 token of our regards and sympathy." 
 
 Eld. Marshall McCulloch, Roslyn, 111., wrote: 
 " For a week or more I had been feeling quite sorrow- 
 ful on account of my brother, H. G.'s death, two years 
 ago to-day. And on going to the post-ofhce yesterday 
 I received Our Hope, and by it I was apprised of the 
 death of our dear Bro. Sheldon; and as I read in the 
 office I turned my back to the people to conceal the 
 tears which I could not keep back. My mind ran 
 rapidly back over the past forty-seven years, to 
 the time when he married me at North Adams, Mass. 
 Since that time we have been as closely connected as 
 brothers could be, with fields of labor so far apart. 
 And I owe it very largely to him that I am what I am, 
 and the success I have had in my gospel labors, — 
 though small compared with his own and many others'. 
 I have considered myself his student, and carefully 
 read and re-read his many publications; and I have 
 now quite a number of his tracts and pamphlets, 
 which I prize very highly. But my dear Brother 
 sleeps: your beloved husband is at rest; his agonies so 
 excruciating are now ended. He will need no more 
 the tender care of a beloved companion, for he quietly 
 sleeps. But, thanks be to our God, the morning will 
 dawn ere long; and then \vith him your 'Stroll through 
 Paradise' will commence. Oh what a thought! What 
 a hope is ours! What a meeting, and what greetings
 
 232 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 there! What a rapture! Blessed be God, who giveth 
 us the victory (over death) through our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. And I can but write Rev, 14: 13, "Blessed 
 are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: 
 Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their 
 labors; and their works do follow them." Oh, how 
 true of our Brother! His work was well done, and 
 many will rise up and call him blessed." 
 
 Elder J. H. Berkey, of Monroe, Wis., wrote from 
 Boston, Mass.: 
 
 "I only wish that I could say something that would 
 help you, but in the great trial that has come to you 
 we are all helpless. We can only do what Jesus did — 
 weep. I want you to know that you have my Christian 
 love and sympathy; and may the God of consolation 
 sustain you and help you to be patient." 
 
 Rev. G. W. Nuzum, Viroqua, Wis. ; formerly Method- 
 ist pastor in Brodhead, and still earlier having been 
 with Bro. Sheldon in Springville, wrote : 
 
 "Doubtless you feel lone and sad, and I thought I 
 would drop you a few lines to say my prayer is that 
 'the Judge of the widow' may be your daily comfort. 
 And I know he will, for I felt in my soul you were both 
 his dear children, though your path has been thorny. 
 You and Bro. S. were inspirations to me when I was 
 pastor there. Your and his testimonies and prayers 
 did me good; and he preached for me more than one 
 good sermon. May God bless and comfort you and 
 his dear children."
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 233 
 
 COPY OF RESOLUTIONS 
 ON THE DEATH OF ELD. WILLIAM SHELDON, 
 OF BRODHEAD, WIS. 
 
 Whereas, the enemy, death, has taken from our 
 ranks our beloved brother, and pioneer standard- 
 bearer. Eld. William Sheldon, of Brodhead Wis.: 
 therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved: That in his death the cause of Ad- 
 ventual truth has lost a consecrated leader, and an 
 able defender. 
 
 Resolved: That we extend to the family of our 
 deceased brother our heartfelt sympathy and high 
 appreciation of his sterling worth and scholarly ability. 
 For half a century he labored incessantly for the pro- 
 motion and growth of Second Adventism. And after 
 all those years of trial we have ever found him to be, 
 in the highest sense of the word, a Christian, kind in 
 his home, public spirited in the community, sincere 
 in religion, useful in society, and as an exponent of 
 God's Word, a workman that needeth not to be 
 ashamed. Though for many years afflicted by disease 
 and pain, he continued to earnestly labor with his pen, 
 when his voice could no longer be heard; ever patient 
 and never complaining of his lot. 
 
 Resolved: That we point our ministry to our de- 
 ceased brother as an example of what a godly man 
 and a Christian minister should be. 
 
 Resolved: That these resolutions be spread upon 
 our records, and that copies be sent to our denomina- 
 tional press, and to the local papers of Brodhead, Wis., 
 for publication.
 
 234 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Passed by the Western Advent Christian Publica- 
 tion Association, at its Annual Meeting, on Mendota 
 camp-ground. Illinois, on the 21st of August, 1902. 
 Geo. E. Pullen, Secretary. 
 
 "The Savior died, but rose again 
 Triumphant from the grave; 
 And pleads our cause at God's right hand, 
 Omnipotent to save. 
 
 "Who then can e'er divide us more 
 From Jesus and his love, 
 Or break the sacred chain that binds 
 The earth to heaven above? 
 
 "Nor death nor life, nor earth nor hell, 
 Nor time's destroying sway, 
 Can e'er efface us from his heart 
 Or make his love decay."
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 AN UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT. 
 
 This book would be incomplete without some 
 specimens of his writings — which reproduce their 
 author's well known and characteristic style, and also 
 his religious views. Therefore we give here a hitherto 
 unpublished manuscript on The Two Adams; which 
 will appropriately be followed by some of his editorial 
 or contributed articles on Christ, some on Prophecy; 
 some Expository; and some on Practical subjects. 
 To these we add a table of Chronology, believed to 
 embody the results of his latest researches. 
 
 It should perhaps be stated that his editorial con- 
 tributions In our papers were signed "w. s.," and 
 some readers were not aware that this stood for 
 William Sheldon. 
 
 Many pointed, pithy paragraphs, as well as more 
 lengthy essays on various Bible subjects, appeared 
 from his pen; and by many he was best known as a 
 writer. We must, therefore, reproduce him as an 
 author, to some limited extent, to do justice to his life 
 and his life-work. 
 
 235
 
 236 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 THE TWO ADAMS; 
 AND OUR RELATION TO THEM, 
 PAST AND FUTURE. 
 
 The First Adam's History. 
 
 1. His Trial State. — That we are the posterity 
 of the first man named in the sacred record, called 
 Adam, and also styled, "the first Adam," is a conceded 
 point. 1st. Let us glance at him in his preparatory 
 nature and home. 
 
 Some theologians affirm that he was created im- 
 mortal; others, that he was created mortal; and still 
 others claim that he was neither mortal nor immortal. 
 We cannot admit that he was created immortal, or 
 death-proof, for God would never have announced 
 the doom of death to a death-proof man, in case he 
 should eat of a prohibited tree! Nor would he have 
 assured him that he might "live for ever" by partaking 
 of another tree! On the other hand, if he had been 
 created mortal, the forbidden tree could not have 
 reduced him to a dying state ; seeing mortality culmi- 
 nates in death, without receiving the death element 
 from any other source. But when we are told that man 
 was created neither mortal nor immortal, we confess 
 that we do not like this way of stating the primitive 
 nature of man in Eden, while a candidate for immor- 
 tality, since there are different conceptions of the 
 meaning of the term, "mortal," — some using the term
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 237 
 
 in one sense, and some in another; thus inaugurating 
 confusion of thought, instead of rendering the matter 
 clear to the inquiring mind: for we sometimes hear the 
 term "mortal" used to express a capability of death; 
 and at other times subjection to the necessity of dying, 
 a death-doomed state, or a death tendency. If we were 
 to use the term, mortal, in the first sense here named 
 (a death capability), we should say that man was 
 made mortal; but if we were to use the term in the 
 second sense here specified, as indicating a death 
 tendency, we should say that he was not created 
 mortal, or was not a death-doomed being constitu- 
 tionally. 
 
 The sacred record forces us to the conviction that 
 primitive man was created with a constitutional 
 capacity for perpetual longevity, if not interfered with; 
 and yet with a capability of having death imparted to 
 him, or inflicted upon him ; else the statement that the 
 eating of the interdicted tree would bring death to him 
 would have been incorrect; for no being could be 
 reduced to a dying state who was already in that state : 
 nor can we make the death announced to Adam for 
 disobedience signify moral death, without involving 
 the salvation of the race, regardless of character, since 
 Paul affirms: "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ 
 shall all be made alive," 1 Cor. 15: 22. This involved 
 conclusion of universal salvation nullifies the claim 
 that the death incurred by Adam was moral death. 
 In Christ, or by Christ (as the phrase means), all shall 
 be made alive literally; just as "in Him we live, and 
 move, and have our being " (Acts 17: 28). 
 
 If Adam had not eaten of the death-dealing tree, he 
 could have lived on unlimitedly, just as the demons
 
 238 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 now do, who, though they have not the corrupted 
 human nature, are capable of having death inflicted 
 upon them (for the devil is to be destroyed), which 
 could not be the case if demons were death-proof in 
 nature. 
 
 On the other hand, if Adam had been created im- 
 mortal, that is, by nature incapable of dying, he could 
 have laughed at the warning that he would incur 
 death by eating of the forbidden tree; and could have 
 told the Lord that he should live forever without the 
 tree of life, being already death-proof. 
 
 Man's primitive or preparatory nature, therefore, 
 was neither a death-proof one, nor a dying nature; 
 but rather a nature of unlimited longevity if not inter- 
 fered with, but capable of elevation or of degradation 
 — capable of having death inflicted, or deathlessness 
 imparted. In the tree of life was miraculously deposited 
 an element that would mparf deathlessness, and in the 
 other tree an element that rendered man a death-doomed 
 being. That the tree of life contained an element 
 that would render man death-proof, all admit; but 
 some fail to grasp the fact that the prohibited tree 
 just as really contained a death-dealing element that 
 should impart the dying nature. 
 
 God did not threaten to inflict death upon Adam 
 for eating of the forbidden fruit, but simply told him 
 what the result would be — namely, death — and to 
 forestall that result, he made a law against his eating 
 thereof; and the transgression of that law was sin; 
 therefore Adam could not partake thereof without sm; so 
 "Sin entered into the world, and death by sin" in 
 eating of the death-dealing tree — not as a penalty, but 
 as a calamity or result that would just as surely have
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 239 
 
 been involved by eating of this tree had there been no 
 law against it. The act was sin; but death was an 
 imparted result, nevertheless, instead of a penalty; 
 and it is in the world still, as a transmitted result, and 
 not as a penalty. 
 
 But the objection is blindly raised that man could 
 not have been created "neither mortal nor immortal" 
 in any sense of the term, mortal, since he must neces- 
 sarily have been one or the other. When the different 
 senses of the word, mortal, are kept in mind, this is a 
 shallow dodge: ignoring the fact of a preparatory 
 nature. To illustrate: Adam was created neither 
 dead nor alive, in spite of the claim that he must have 
 been one or the other. Before "the breath of life" 
 was given him he was not alive; nor, having never lived, 
 was he then dead, having never died: he was only 
 lifeless, inanimate, ready to be made alive. He 
 could not die before living, nor be dead before dy- 
 ing. "While a dead thing is lifeless, all lifeless things 
 are not necessarily "dead," in the strict sense of 
 that word. So in one use of the term "mortal" to 
 signify death-doomed, Adam was created neither mor- 
 tal nor immortal; but in another use of the same 
 term, indicating a capability of having death imparted 
 or inflicted, he w^as created mortal, or capable of hav- 
 ing his preparatory life abridged by eating of the for- 
 bidden tree which would cause men to "know good 
 and evil," — evil being here used to signify calamity 
 (as in, "few and evil have the days " been, Gen. 47 : 9) — 
 a calamity which has not only been manifested to, 
 but experienced by the race. 
 
 2. Adam's Home. Man was formed on earth, 
 and of earth, and for earth — not in heaven, nor for
 
 240 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 heaven. Earth was the place of his abode: "And 
 the Lord God planted a garden [Douay, a paradise] 
 eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom 
 he had formed. And out of the ground made the 
 Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the 
 sight, and good for food. . . . And a river went out 
 of Eden to water the garden [or paradise]; and from 
 thence [from the garden] it was parted, and became 
 into four heads" (Gen. 2:8-10), these four rivers 
 gracefully flowing out of the paradise, coursing their 
 way through different portions of the then lovely 
 world. But sin came, and expulsion from paradise 
 soon followed; and man having imbibed the dying 
 nature, and having been expelled from his lovely 
 home, is confronted with the stern fact that the very 
 ground was cursed on his account: ''Cursed is the 
 ground for thy sake" — thorns and thistles rendering 
 human toil necessary to procure a livelihood. 
 
 Many scientific facts indicate that the earth once 
 revolved with its axis perpendicular to the plane of 
 its orbit, thus giving the world a genial climate from 
 pole to pole; modified and equalized by the waters 
 which were placed "above the firmament," (margin, 
 "Hebrew, expansion," Gen. 1:6), or atmospheric 
 heaven at creation, producing a filtered light; per- 
 haps revolving in the form of rings or belts like Sat- 
 urn's; and doubtless this genial and healthful climate 
 continued till the flood, in spite of the fact that the 
 ground was cursed. Then, at the flood, a new in- 
 stallment of the curse overtook the world by up- 
 heavals and outgushing waters, besides those from 
 above; since which time the earth has revolved at 
 an angle of 233^ degrees, producing the different
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON, 241 
 
 zones, and the variety of climates now existing, ren- 
 dering a large portion of earth uninhabitable; besides 
 changing its once fair face, obliterating the site of 
 paradise, blotting out the original source of the one 
 grand river of Eden and its four divisions into four 
 streams — "the fountains of the great deep" being 
 then "broken up:" this probably being inaugurated 
 by a change of our earth in its orbit to its present 
 angle; for such a change would produce just such 
 a result; as is claimed by scientists: nor could zones 
 be formed otherwise. 
 
 Adam, before the fall, had "dominion . . . over 
 all the earth" (Gen. 1:26). He was an embryotic, 
 or prospective king. Though possessing only unlim- 
 ited constitutional life — capable of being changed to 
 the mortal or to the immortal state — he was on trial 
 for endless life. How long that trial state lasted is 
 not certain; possibly for the same length of time that 
 was subsequently given to the Second Adam for his 
 trial. 
 
 Adam had no posterity before leaving paradise, his 
 third son, from whom came Noah, and all after the 
 flood, being born when he was 130 years old: so 
 his race have only the dying nature, and as a conse- 
 quence the world is flooded with death. 
 
 In spite of the impartation of the death-element 
 from the forbidden tree, a lingering relic of man's 
 constitutional longevity in a genial climate before 
 the flood, enabled him to live, on an average, over 
 912 years, in spite of the slow-working death-element. 
 These favorable climatic conditions were doubtless 
 changed at the flood; for immediately after that 
 epoch human life was wonderfully diminished, so
 
 242 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 that Abraham, though born less than 300 [? — com- 
 mon date is 352] years after the flood, died at 175 
 years of age, and was pronounced "an old man, full 
 of days;" whereas, the ten generations from Adam 
 to Noah, averaged a life of over 912 years. This 
 fact is a rebuke to the claim sometimes made, that 
 Adam had eaten of the tree of life before his fall, 
 producing long life; and that its influence was grad- 
 ually diminished in each succeeding generation, mak- 
 ing life shorter and shorter; for the tenth generation 
 (Noah) lived twenty years longer than Adam himself. 
 — twenty years longer than the first generation. 
 
 And this claim is also nullified in the state- 
 ment made by the Lord subsequent to the fall of 
 man: "And now, lest he put forth his hand, and 
 take ALSO of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever : 
 therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the gar- 
 den of Eden" (Gen. 3:22, 23). If once eating of 
 the forbidden fruit would cause man to die, and if 
 once eating of the tree of life after the fall would 
 render man deathless, then once eating before the 
 fall would have done the same thing — so he did not 
 eat thereof before the fall. 
 
 Observe carefully this fact: the text does not read, 
 Lest he put forth his hand and continue to take; 
 or, take again of the tree of life; but it reads, "take 
 also," and the Hebrew word (gam) here rendered 
 "also," is said by Prof. A. [Pick in his Concordance, 
 to mean "even" so; and in our version it is rendered 
 "even, also, alike, likewise, in like manner," — see 
 under these several terms in Young's Concordance. 
 We repeat, if once eating after the fall would have 
 rendered Adam deathless, then likewise once eating
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 243 
 
 before the fall would as really have rendered him 
 deathless, or immortal; so it is clearly evident that 
 he had not eaten thereof previous to the fall. If 
 he must have eaten for ever in order to live for ever 
 before the fall, the same must be the case after the 
 fall — which would prove only a contingent life, in- 
 stead of endless life, making the life only successive 
 new installments of temporal life or a life liable to 
 end, without a new supply ever and anon. This 
 kind of immortality would be a misnomer — a kind 
 of deathlessness that needed constant propping up, 
 to keep it from failing. This is not the immortality 
 of the Bible, but only of sickly speculation. 
 
 II. 
 
 The Last Adam's Mission. 
 
 Paul affirms that the last Adam is "the Lord from 
 heaven" — the Lord Jesus. 
 
 L His Trial. He, too, was on trial, but not in 
 paradise. He came to a ruined world, and in his 
 infinite stoop to reach fallen man, he " took not on 
 him the nature of angels," but came down still lower, 
 saying, "A body hast thou prepared me," being "made 
 like unto his brethren" — a dying, mortal being; 
 humanity and divinity being so blended that he was 
 "God manifest in the flesh," or, "Immanuel, God 
 with us;" not as a dual being, but as a unit, composed 
 of two natures through a miracle; thus rendering it 
 possible for him to die for the race, to secure their 
 exemption from penal death, and their redemption 
 from the temporal, or calamity death. So he 
 
 " Entered the grave in mortal flesh, 
 And dwelt among the dead."
 
 244 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 He triumphed in his trial, and finally triumphed 
 over dark death; being quickened "after the power 
 of an endless life/' at his resurrection, 
 
 2. His Destiny. The last Adam was born a pros- 
 pective King; and at his birth wise men came from 
 the east, inquiring, "Where is he that is born king of 
 the Jews?" Matt. 2:1, 2. He was divinely "ap- 
 pointed heir of all things;" and the Father said to 
 him in this appointment, "Thy throne, God, is 
 for ever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the 
 scepter of thy kingdom" (Heb. 1:2, 8). Gabriel 
 said, "The Lord God shall give unto him the throne 
 of his father David, and he shall reign over the house 
 of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be 
 no end." Luke 1: 32, 33. At his return from heaven 
 he is to say: "Those mine enemies, that would not 
 that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay 
 them before me." Luke 19: 27. He, therefore, has a 
 threefold claim on the kingdom; first, by birth; 
 secondly, by divine promise; thirdly, by majestic 
 conquest. At first the friends of Jesus thought that 
 his kingdom would begin at the first Advent; but 
 his foes ridiculed his claim to kingship, and in derision 
 crowned him with a crown of thorns, and nailed him 
 to the cross, where he died, to the dismay of his dis- 
 ciples who had looked for him to reign. 
 
 But on the third day he emerged from the gloom 
 of death, and he "dieth no more: death hath no 
 more dominion over him" (Rom. 6:9). Then for 
 forty days he discoursed with them about the com- 
 ing kingdom; and at the end of that time they began 
 to get impatient to have the kingdom begin, and 
 came to him with the earnest query, "Lord, wilt
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 245 
 
 thou at this time, restore again the kingdom to 
 Israel?" The coming kingdom was the last thing 
 the eleven talked to Jesus about before his ascension, 
 and also the last thing he talked to them about, be- 
 fore his departure from earth, saying to them, "It 
 is not for you to know the times or the seasons wliich 
 the Father hath put in his own power;" and while 
 uttering these sacred words, he went up from their 
 midst into heaven, with his hands lifted up in parting 
 benediction; the Father having said to him, "Sit 
 thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies 
 thy footstool." And he is there still, "From hence- 
 forth expecting till his enemies be made his foot- 
 stool" (Heb. 10: 13); then he wiU return from heaven 
 as "King of kings and Lord of lords," defeating his 
 foes (Rev. 19: 11-16). "Then shall the King say 
 unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of 
 my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you 
 from the foundation of the v/orld" (Matt. 25:34). 
 
 As the Second Adam he is now waiting for his 
 kingdom, and while thus waiting he is officiating as 
 our Highpriest, j\Iediator, and Advocate. The first 
 Adam stood at the head of a dying race. The last 
 Adam will stand at the head of a deathless class — 
 a redeemed multitude rendered immortal; "and as 
 we have borne the image of the earthy" Adam, "we 
 shall also bear the image of the heavenly" or immor- 
 talized Adam. Paradise restored will again bloom 
 on earth — not as a trial paradise, for the last Adam 
 has already passed through his trial; but paradise 
 restored shall be advanced into the perfect state, — • 
 its occupants all being then "equal to the angels," 
 and not like the first man, "a little lower than the
 
 246 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 angels." This will be paradise advanced and per- 
 fected, under an immortal King. 
 
 3. His Judgeship. But prior to his reign he must 
 officiate as Judge, having been "appointed" to offi- 
 ciate in that capacity. For the sacred record reads, 
 in speaking of the resurrected and ascended Jesus, 
 "And he commanded us to preach unto the people, 
 and to testify that it is he which was ordained of 
 God to be the Judge of quick and dead " (Acts 10: 42) ; 
 and while Peter makes this statement Paul confirms 
 it in saying, "God now commandeth all men every- 
 where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, 
 in the which he will judge the world in righteousness 
 by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he 
 hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath 
 raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:30, 31). Here 
 we are twice told that the Judge to officiate has al- 
 ready been "ordained" of God: that Judge being the 
 resurrected Jesus; and we are also told that the day 
 for him to officiate has been "appointed;" and again 
 Paul says: "Judge nothing before the time, until the 
 Lord come:" and surely he will not disregard this 
 divinely-specified time himself — he will not nullify 
 his own arrangement by judging men previously. 
 Hence, the current notion of a judgment of disem- 
 bodied men at the epoch of death, preparatory to 
 entering a paradise of disembodied spirits, is both 
 un-scriptural and anti-scriptural. 
 
 The first Adam's trial paradise preceded judgment; 
 but the Second Adam's paradise comes after judg- 
 ment, and after by our trial we have overcome: "To 
 him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree 
 of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God "
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 247 
 
 (Rev. 2:7); and the same tree of life, here connected 
 with the future paradise, is also coupled with the 
 river of water of life on the new earth: "On either 
 side of the river," there flowing, "was there the tree 
 of life" (Rev. 22:2). The last Adam, already im- 
 mortal, will never fall, nor will his immortalized 
 friends. That will be a state of deathlcssness and 
 perfection combined. 
 
 Coupled therewith will be the city of God, called 
 the new Jerusalem, which is now above, and is des- 
 tined to "come down from God out of heaven;" and 
 it is written: "Blessed are they that do his com- 
 mandments (or, wash their robes, R. V.), that they 
 may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in 
 through the gates into the city" (Rev. 22: 14). 
 
 From the foregoing evidence we discover: 
 
 1st. That the paradise of God is to contain the 
 tree of life. 
 
 2nd. That the tree of life is to be in the new earth. 
 
 3rd. That it is to be in the Celestial City, the new 
 Jerusalem, to be imported from heaven, as the capital 
 of the world to come. 
 
 Possibly, that one feature of paradise, the tree of 
 life, was taken to heaven by a miracle, to be pre- 
 served till the restitution, and is already in the city 
 awaiting its importation; and that when Paul (or 
 some other man) was "caught up into paradise," 
 or the "third heaven," it was to this exiled paradise, 
 or to that part of paradise now in blissful exile (2 Cor. 
 12:2). 
 
 "Thou exiled Paradise, 
 Oh, how we long for thee I" 
 
 "Whether in the body" — that is, whether physic-
 
 248 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 ally transported — or, ''whether out of the body" — 
 that is, whether mentally transported — Paul could 
 not tell; but he certainly could tell that he was not 
 physically transported hundreds of years into the 
 future, to the new earth: for he well knew that to be 
 an impossibility, for any man. He was transported 
 to the third heaven either mentally or physically, 
 he could not tell which; but not having his spirit 
 leave the body, since "the body without the spirit 
 is dead" (James 2: 26); and Paul certainly knew that 
 he had not been dead and resurrected again: so the 
 text teaches nothing about the state of the spirit 
 after death; the narrative is all about a man while alive, 
 and not after death. 
 
 That new Jerusalem paradise is not due till after 
 the resurrection and judgment; and then it will "come 
 down" to the restored earth, as "the tabernacle of 
 God," which is to "be with men;" including in it 
 "the paradise of God," with the tree of life in the 
 midst thereof; under the last Adam's supervision.
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 CHRIST. 
 
 The Christ of God. — When Jesus inquired of his 
 disciples, "Whom say the people that I am?" the re- 
 ply was given, "John the Baptist; but some say Elias; 
 and others say, that one of the prophets is risen again." 
 Then Jesus inquired, "But whom say ye that I am?" 
 Peter made answer, "The Christ of God." The 
 Christ of theology is not in all respects the "Christ of 
 God." Theologians assign to him a literal birth, a 
 literal death, a literal resurrection, and a literal ascen- 
 sion to heaven, but often deny his literal return, and 
 literal reign upon earth hereafter. But "the Christ 
 of God" is the "Anointed of God" — anointed to be 
 a King — to "reign upon the throne of his father 
 David;" but not till the seventh trumpet sounds shall 
 "the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of 
 our Lord and his Christ;" so his reign is yet future: 
 but "when the Son of man shall come in his glory, 
 and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon 
 the throne of his glory." Till then he will officiate as 
 our High Priest at the right hand of God. 
 
 The "Christ of God" is a 'prospective King, destined 
 to reign on earth over resurrected people, instead of 
 being a present King in heaven, reigning over the 
 shades of the dead. He said to his disciples just before 
 
 249
 
 250 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 his crucifixion: "I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my 
 Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and 
 drink at my table, in my kingdom. [And he will keep 
 that appointment, and at his return from heaven he 
 will make a separation between the just and the unjust.] 
 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, 
 Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 
 prepared for you from the foundation of the world," 
 which Gabriel says shall be "under the whole heaven." 
 When the restitution comes, the Christ of God shall 
 "reign over all the earth" as "the King of glory." 
 
 To literalize the Christ of prophecy in his entire 
 history from his birth in the manger to his ascension 
 into glory, and then attempt to spiritualize his coming 
 and kingdom, as some do, is to do violence to the 
 rules of interpretation. He "shall judge the quick 
 and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom." 
 Will he literally judge them? Then he will literally 
 appear to do this work, and his kingdom then due will 
 also be literal. It will be peopled with a class who 
 were once "dead," and only literal people can die — 
 ghosts never die, do they? — and that class remain un- 
 judged till he appears to judge them, together with 
 those then found living: and certainly the living ones 
 then to be judged will be literal; so the kingdom, to 
 contain these literal ones, must be a literal kingdom. 
 
 To endorse Christ in his ministrj^ in his crucifixion, 
 in his resurrection, in his ascension, in his intercession, 
 is all well so far as it goes; but this does not go far 
 enough; let us endorse him in his return to judge the 
 race, and to reign on earth when redeemed from the 
 curse. Till he comes, the slumbering saints will sleep 
 on. Till he comes they will remain unjudged. Till he
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 251 
 
 comes death will reign, and saints will continue to 
 fall into his hands. But when he comes he will verify 
 the promise made to the believer, "I will raise him up 
 at the last day," and then the deathless era will dawn — 
 a deathless King shall eternally sway his sceptre over 
 a multitude of deathless subjects too numerous to be 
 counted, 
 
 " King of glory, reign forever, 
 Thine an everlasting crowTi." 
 
 When the "Christ of God" shall make his second 
 visit to our world, it will be to obliterate sin, and take 
 the reins of government into his own hands forever. 
 Then comes the age of immortality, and the end of 
 death's domain over the saints. 
 
 King of the Jews. — At the birth of Jesus wise 
 men came from the east, inquiring, "Where is he that 
 is born King of the Jews?" Not born an actual 
 King then reigning, but born as a destined King, was 
 the thought in their minds. And Herod so under- 
 stood them; nor did he imagine that they meant a 
 King over disembodied Jews in some remote realm; 
 for first he knew that he would not need to be born in 
 order to such a Kingship, since a King without a body 
 would be better adapted to reign over bodiless sub- 
 jects ; and secondly, if he were to reign in some foreign 
 world it would not have troubled him, as he had no 
 territory there, and did not expect to reign over spirit 
 men in any realm; but knowing that they were talking 
 about the birth of a prospective King to reign on earth, 
 he thought it might interfere with his reign, and conse- 
 quently it greatly troubled him, and he began to 
 devise means whereby he might ward off the danger; 
 and to begin with, "When he had gathered all the
 
 252 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 chief priests and scribes of the people together, he de- 
 manded of them where Christ [the anointed One] 
 should be born?" Then he sent executioners to de- 
 stroy this contemplated King, If Herod had supposed 
 that Jesus was to be born King beyond the skies, and 
 was simply to reign over disembodied Jews there, he 
 never would have called that council of priests, nor 
 have sought the young child's life. But he knew 
 that the Messiah was expected to reign on earth, and 
 thinking that he would assume kingship in close con- 
 nection with his manifestation among men, he thought 
 to nip the arrangement in the bud by killing him 
 before he began to reign. Matt, 2: 2, 16. 
 
 While Jesus hung upon the cross, the inscription, 
 "King of the Jews " could be read over his sacred head 
 in three different languages. This was the leading 
 charge made against him — seeking to make himself a 
 King — saying, "We found this fellow perverting the 
 nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Csesar, saying 
 that he himself is Christ a King," Luke 23: 2, The 
 only foundation for this charge of forbidding to pay 
 tribute to Csesar, is founded upon the following con- 
 versation between Peter and Jesus: "What thinkest 
 thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth 
 take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of 
 strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers, Jesus 
 saith unto him, Then are the children free," But to 
 prevent "offence" he wrought a miracle to furnish 
 the tribute money, Jesus' reply was tantamount to 
 an affirmation that they were not strangers, but 
 really the children of the kingdom in consideration of 
 their heirship. 
 
 Now if these enemies of Jesus had supposed that
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 253 
 
 Jesus was only aspiring to be King of disembodied 
 Jews beyond the clouds, they would never have ar- 
 raigned him. They understood that he contemplated 
 real Kingship, If his friends had believed that he was 
 expecting to be King beyond the etherial blue, they 
 would never have arranged to " come and take him by 
 force to make him a King." John 6 : 15. They 
 thought only of his reign upon earth. And he never 
 rectified that impression, but plainly intimated that 
 he must first go "into the far country to receive for 
 himself the kingdom" [or the right to reign] and then 
 "return" before the overthrow of his foes. At his 
 return the resurrection takes place, for he "shall 
 judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and 
 kingdom ; " so his kingdom is not due till the resurrection 
 and judgment shall come; then only those Jews 
 judged worthy of the kingdom will enter, and all the 
 worthy ones will then be immortalized, together with 
 the ingrafted Gentiles; so he will not reign over the 
 mortal Jews, but over the immortal ones, and likewise 
 "reign over the Gentiles" who shall then put on im- 
 mortality. This will be a Je\\dsh kingdom, under the 
 supervision of a Jewdsh King on the immortal prin- 
 ciple, the prospective King having already been im- 
 mortalized. In other words he will not be a mortal 
 "King of the Jews," nor reign over mortal Jews; but 
 he will be immortal "King of the Jews," reigning over 
 immortal Jews. 
 
 The time of his kingdom is subsequent to the age of 
 mortality, and after the judgment, thus excluding both 
 carnality and mortality. It will be an "everlasting 
 kingdom," having an everlasting King and everlasting 
 subjects. He who was crowned in mockery at his
 
 254 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 first advent, will be crowned in glory at his second 
 advent, and "of his kingdom there shall be no end." 
 Then saints, and not sinners can say, "Hail, King of 
 the Jews. " 
 
 Only Begotten Son. — It is sometimes said that 
 Christ had no pre-existence except in the purpose of 
 Deity, or as the "Word," till born of Mary. John 
 tells us : " God sent his only begotten Son into the world, 
 that we might live through him." 1 John 4: 9. 
 Again: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt 
 among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the 
 only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." 
 John 1: 14. Let it be observed that the "Word" 
 here spoken of is not only called the Son of God, but 
 his "only begotten Son;" so if this Word was not a 
 personality with God, but merely an ordinary word 
 or purpose, then it is the "only" word God ever ut- 
 tered or ever will utter, or the "only" purpose. This 
 will not do; he is "the only begotten" personal Word 
 or Son. 
 
 1. Christ is still called the "Word of God." Rev. 
 19: 13. If because he was primarily called "the 
 Word," it meant that he had no existence except in 
 purpose; then because he is still called "the Word," 
 it as really follows that he has now no other existence, 
 and is not a personality now. 
 
 2. But that is his name: "His name is called the 
 Word of God;" and if it is his name now, as a per- 
 sonality, why not then? 
 
 3. Not only did he have an existence, bearing the 
 name "The Word," but he was alive: "In him was 
 life." John 1: 4. An ordinary word or purpose has 
 no life, but a person has.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 255 
 
 Even the kosmos on which we live was made by this 
 Word (John 1: 10), and he was also the maker of the 
 ages (Heb. 1: 2), and therefore must have preceded 
 earth and its ages as an active personality. God 
 created the world by him in the past, just as he will 
 judge men by him hereafter. 
 
 Seeing the Father. — Said Jesus, "He that hath 
 seen me hath seen the Father." John 14: 9. This 
 passage is frequently quoted to prove that Jesus was 
 his own Father, and God was his ow-n Son, by insisting 
 that Jesus meant that whoever had literally seen him 
 had literally seen the veritable Father. But this 
 claim proves too much, and hence proves nothing in 
 the line intended; for the only thing proven from the 
 assumed premises is that the Father is a being of mortal 
 flesh instead of the "invisible God;" for the only part 
 of Jesus seen by his disciples was his fleshly body, so 
 far as literal sight is concerned. If there was really 
 inside of Jesus another invisible personalitj', they 
 never saw that; they saw only the body, the mortal 
 body, the very body that subsequently died ; and if to 
 literally see that was to literally see the Father, then 
 the Father is thus shown to be a fleshly being that 
 could and did die; and this proves too much, and 
 thus shows a defective premise in the argument. 
 
 Then what did Jesus mean? It would be far more 
 reasonable to conclude that as Jesus was "the express 
 image of his person" (Heb. 1: 3), he could mean in 
 point of resemblance, — "He that hath seen me hath 
 seen the Father." But the context does not demand 
 even this construction, but simply the sense of God- 
 likeness, or assimilation to the Father, to be seen in 
 his life of divinity; for he immediately adds the follow-
 
 256 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 ing explanatory remarks: "And how sayest thou, 
 then, show us the Father? Belie vest thou not that 
 I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words 
 that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself: but the 
 Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Be- 
 lieve me that I am in the Father, and the Father in 
 me, or else believe me for the very works' sake." They 
 could see divinity in his words, in his works, and in 
 his character; but they could not look through the 
 flesh as a transparent covering, and behold a personal 
 Father within. 
 
 Though Jesus was ''God manifest in the flesh," 
 they could literally see only the flesh; but they 
 dould see the assimilation to the Father. In this 
 way could they see the Father in seeing Jesus — 
 *'God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself." 
 How in Christ? Just as Christ is in his saints: "Abide 
 in me, and / in you." Christ in God, and God in 
 Christ. The saint in Chi'ist, and Christ in the saint. 
 And to-day the world can see Christ in the saint, 
 just as the disciples could see the Father in seeing 
 Christ — divinity exhibited through humanity in its 
 assimilation to the Deific character. 
 
 COME IN THE FLESH. 
 
 Question. — Will you please explain 1 John 4:2, 3. 
 Some people claim that the word is, preceding the 
 word come, makes it refer to the future and should 
 be rendered coming instead of come; that if it is 
 in the past tense the word has should have been used 
 in the place of is. 
 
 Reply. — The text reads: "Every spirit that con- 
 fesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 257 
 
 God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus 
 Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God." Dr. Mac- 
 knight renders it "hath come," instead of "is come;" 
 so does Prof. Whiting. The original would hardly 
 stand the strain necessary to make it read "coming." 
 Of course the confession named, is not a mere nominal 
 confession, of the surface type, but the hearty, gen- 
 uine article that is inseparably coupled with obedi- 
 ence. That spirit is always of God, but the opposite 
 is not of God. A mere verbal admission that Christ 
 has come in the flesh does not cover the ground. 
 
 Jesus' Sonship. — Too many, while professing to 
 revere Jesus, really demean him, though not always 
 so outspoken as the Progressive Thinker, when it 
 avers that Jesus was "a son of God, as all of us are 
 sons of God, no more, no less." But Jesus is Divinely 
 pronounced "the only begotten Son of God." God 
 has no other sons of this particular order. He is 
 just what he proclaims himself to be, if he is worthy 
 of credence. In a moral sense, God has many sons 
 among men; but in a higher sense Jesus was his 
 "only" Son: so we are not sons of God in the same 
 sense that Jesus was. The Progressive theory, un- 
 masked, is but the digressive substitute for truth. 
 
 Christ's Good Confession. — The apostle Paul gives 
 our Saviour the credit of having made a good con- 
 fession; not a confession of wrong, but of right — a 
 right to come and reign on earth. The record reads: 
 "I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quick- 
 eneth all things, and before Jesus Christ, who before 
 Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that 
 thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebuka- 
 ble, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
 
 258 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed 
 and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of 
 lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the 
 light which no man can approach unto." 1 Tim. 
 6:13-16. 
 
 This "good confession" was made by Jesus while 
 on trial before Pontius Pilate, so it will be an easy 
 matter to find out its nature. That trial before this 
 Roman governor had been preceded by one before 
 the high priest, and both had been inaugurated by 
 the allegation that he contemplated assuming king- 
 ship. After the church trial before the high priest 
 was over, where he was accused of blasphemy for 
 affirming, "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man 
 sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in 
 the clouds of heaven," the exasperated opposers 
 proposed a civil trial; so "the whole multitude of 
 them arose, and led him unto Pilate. And they began 
 to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting 
 the nation, and forbidding to give tribute unto Caesar, 
 saying, that he himself is Christ, a king" (Luke 23: 2), 
 critically rendered, "That he himself is the anointed, 
 a King to be." So Pilate said to him, "Art thou a 
 king then? Jesus answered. Thou sayest that I am 
 a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause 
 came I into the world, that I should bear witness 
 unto the truth" (John 18:37), or this truth. 
 
 Here Jesus makes the frank confession that he 
 was born to be a King, coupled with the additional 
 statement: "My kingdom is not of this world [not 
 of the carnal age and type]: if my kingdom were of 
 this world, then would my servants fight, that I should 
 not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 259 
 
 not from hence" — not from this time forth. And 
 this is the only confession Jesus ever made before 
 Pilate — a confession that he was a prospective King, 
 though his kingdom was not to begin then, and con- 
 tinue thenceforth, was not to belong to this age of 
 carnality. And to Caiaphas he more than hinted 
 that he must leave this world, and return again, before 
 being "seated on the right hand of power." 
 
 This confession of future Kingship was a "good 
 confession;" and his claim is a valid one — being en- 
 titled to the Davidic throne and crown; first by birth, 
 as he was the last heir, leaving no posterity (Herod 
 and his sons not being in the regular line); secondly, 
 his claim being confirmed by divine promise: "The 
 Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father 
 David;" and thirdly, he will demonstrate the validity 
 of his claim by conquest, capturing the beast and 
 the false prophet alive, and casting them into the 
 lake of fire, together with all whose names are not 
 written in the book of life; and thus he will show 
 who is the blessed and only Potentate entitled to 
 kingship on the earth. King of kings, and Lord of 
 lords, who only, among them all, hath immortality, 
 and is now dwelling in the light which is inaccessible 
 to mortals, in which condition no man has seen him 
 or can see him; but "in his times," or in the "times 
 of restitution," he will manifest himself to the joy 
 of his friends, and to the confusion of his foes, as the 
 King of glory, in glorious verification of his "good 
 confession." He is now in the far country, offering 
 an armistice to his enemies; but at its close he will 
 return with conquering power, and begin his reign.
 
 260 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 FAITH IN CHRIST. 
 
 Faith that simply recognizes the fact of the ex- 
 istence of a divine personage called Jesus Christ, does 
 not comprehend enough. True faith accepts him to 
 the full extent of his claim — for just what he pur- 
 ports to be — for if his claim is not correct in full, 
 it may not be correct even in part. He is either what 
 he assumes to be, or his claim is unreliable. His 
 immediate friends claimed for him an origin, a mission, 
 a character, and a power superhuman in its nature, 
 and we are not prepared to abridge their record. Full 
 faith in Christ involves much more than current 
 faith recognizes, as will be seen in the propositions 
 appended. 
 
 1. Full faith in Christ not only recognizes him as 
 a Saviour of sinners from sin on stipulated terms, 
 but also as a Saviour of mortal saints from mortality. 
 
 While Jesus affirmed: "I came down from heaven," 
 and "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners 
 to repentance," he also asserted: "1 am come that 
 ye might have life;" and then, addressing sinners, 
 made the sad announcement: "Ye will not come 
 unto me that ye might have life." What life did he 
 offer to the race? Some affirm that it was only spir- 
 itual life, or a life of faith. But Jesus knew just 
 what kind of life he came to offer, and he plainly 
 tells us in these words: "And this is the will of him 
 that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, 
 and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and 
 I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40. 
 What kind of life? "Everlasting life." When to be 
 bestowed? Jesus answers: "I will raise him up at
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 261 
 
 the last day;" then begins another life of an "ever- 
 lasting" duration; and Gabriel corroborates this view 
 when alluding to the many now sleeping in the dust 
 of the earth, who shall hereafter awake, "some to 
 everlasting life." So the class to whom this life is 
 to be given is a class of mortals that can sleep in the 
 dust of the earth; and the time when it shall be given 
 is when they "shall awake." It is then that "this 
 mortal shall put on immortality." Wonderful salva- 
 tion, that shall change our body, and fashion it like 
 Christ's glorious body! Said Jesus: "I am the res- 
 urrection and the life." Resurrecting power is in- 
 vested in him, and he is the Life-giver: "I give unto 
 them eternal life." When, Master? "In the world 
 to come eternal life." 
 
 2. Full faith in Christ not only recognizes him 
 as the predicted Messiah in point of name, but also 
 in reality. When the Samaritan woman said to Jesus, 
 "When the Messiah cometh, he shall tell us all things," 
 Jesus replied: "I that speak unto thee am he." If 
 his claim was right, we must accept the result of the 
 claim, be that what it may, or else we have not full 
 faith in him as the ]\Iessiah of prophecy. The angel, 
 in telling Daniel that the Messiah should appear among 
 men, was very careful to inform him that he should 
 be "Messiah the prince" — that is, an heir to a throne; 
 a prospective King, or destined Ruler; but did not 
 then inform him what particular throne he should be 
 heir to; but long years afterward he visited earth 
 again to talk about the same Messiah, and said to 
 Mary: "Thou shalt . . . call his name Jesus. He 
 shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the 
 Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the
 
 262 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 throne of his father David; and he shall reign over 
 the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there 
 shall be no end." Luke 1:31, 32. 
 
 Here the same angel who told Daniel that the 
 Messiah should be a "prince," or an heir to a throne, 
 but omitted to state what throne he should be heir to, 
 now definitely tells Mary that it should be the "throne 
 of his father David." It was not ready for him at 
 his first advent. It received its last overturn about 
 forty years after he went to heaven "to receive for 
 himself the kingdom," in the sense of having the right 
 to reign officially conferred upon him; and now that 
 throne "shall be no more till he come whose right it 
 is;" and, says Jehovah, "I will give it him." And 
 God will keep his promise, and the Messiah of prophecy 
 shall yet "reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, 
 and before his ancients gloriously," as the "King of 
 glory" — "the King in his beauty" — the "King of 
 kings," as David's great Heir, on David's throne; 
 not as a mortal king over mortal subjects, but as an 
 immortal King over the immortalized "house of 
 Jacob;" for Jesus, "the King of the Jews," shall 
 fashion the bodies of his saints like his own glorious 
 body. 
 
 Since "they are not all Israel who are of Israel," 
 and since "he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 
 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly," this Davidic 
 kingdom wiU not be composed of carnal Israelitish 
 subjects, but wiU include only those Israelites who 
 are "Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile," 
 and such will be invested with immortality when 
 Jesus comes, as well as the ingrafted Gentiles; so 
 he will "reign over the house of Jacob," and also
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 263 
 
 "reign over the Gentiles;" but not over the mortal 
 or carnal ones of either class, for he will be " King of 
 saints," and not of sinners; and only " the nations of 
 them that are saA^ed [or the saved of the nations] 
 shall walk in the light of" the coming city, "and the 
 Lamb is the light thereof." 
 
 3. Full faith in Christ recognizes him as the des- 
 tined Judge of the race — a Judge to officiate, not at 
 the hour of death, but at his future coming. 
 
 The apostolic admonition, "Judge nothing before 
 the time, until the Lord come," indicates that the 
 Lord has a time for judging men, and that this time 
 is when he comes, agreeing with 2 Tim. 4: 1, "Christ 
 . . . shall judge the quick and the dead at his ap- 
 pearing." This testimony nullifies the current notion 
 that men receive their judgment when the angel of 
 death deprives them of life, and if they are not judged 
 at this epoch, they certainly cannot then receive 
 their reward, which is the appropriation of the judg- 
 ment decision; consequently all this talk about enter- 
 ing glory before the coming of the Lord is but wild 
 speculation. The divine Judge must render his de- 
 cision before a passport to glory can be obtained, 
 nor will he do that before the divinely specified time — 
 "at his appearing" — for he will not invalidate his 
 own arrangement, or forestall his own revealed plan. 
 
 A faith in Christ that recognizes him as a present 
 Judge of spirit-men, instead of a future Judge, to 
 officiate at his coming, then judging resurrected and 
 living personalities instead of myths, is a faith radically 
 defective. It makes him a Judge at the wrong time, 
 in direct antagonism with his own arrangement, and 
 also makes him judge the wrong class — a class of
 
 264 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 disembodied men. We never read in the Book of 
 Heaven about judging spirit men, but we do read 
 about the judging of the "dead." And if Christ is 
 really to judge the "dead " at his appearing, so truly 
 the dead will remain un judged till then, and conse- 
 quently unrewarded till then. So full faith in Christ 
 as a Judge of the race in harmony with his own plan, 
 involves a repudiation of the doctrine of rewards this 
 side of our Saviour's return to earth; and subsequently 
 soul and body will exist together; hence, no rewards 
 in a disembodied state.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 PROPHETIC. — THE REASON WHY. 
 
 "If the prophetic numbers are ever to be under- 
 stood, why did not the apostles explain them?" This 
 question is sometimes propounded with an air of tri- 
 umph, as though it had invalidated all efforts to ex- 
 plain this branch of prophecy. Let us see. If the 
 metallic image is ever to be understood, why did not 
 the apostles explain it? But they did not. Again; 
 if the four beasts are ever to be understood, why did 
 not the apostles explain them? But they did not. 
 Sometimes the government sends a ship to sea with 
 sealed instructions, not to be opened till reaching cer- 
 tain points of latitude; then the seal is removed, and 
 the instruction comprehended. So in the prophetic 
 programme — certain things were sealed up till the 
 time of the end; and the church has been carrying 
 sealed instructions for centuries in the past ; but having 
 reached the latitude when "knowledge should be in- 
 creased;" implying a gradual unfolding; prophetic 
 truth is coming more and more to be comprehended; 
 and a few discordant notes concerning the details, 
 is no proof that it ought to be discarded as a worth- 
 less and dangerous article. Prophecy, like other fea- 
 tures of truth, may be turned into a speculative channel 
 by its mistaken friends; but should it therefore be 
 abandoned? No ; prophecy is God's light to the church, 
 and must be allowed to shine. 
 
 2G5
 
 266 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Important Things. — Granting that prophecy is im- 
 portant, it is useless to declaim against history as 
 unimportant, for how can we decide about the fulfill, 
 ment of prophecy, except by the aid of history? And 
 history is of no value without chronology, for this 
 enables us to determine when the things recorded oc- 
 curred; and the worth of prophecy also depends very 
 largely upon chronology, for without it we could not 
 tell whether the event predicted transpired before or 
 after the record claimed as its fulfillment. Chronology 
 approximately correct will generally determine this; 
 but some prophecies that give measurements of time 
 from specific events cannot be fully understood with- 
 out the light of accurate chronology. To start any 
 measurement with the wrong chronology is to end 
 it at the wrong time. This is the basis of our past 
 mistakes, making the vision appear to lie; but it 
 will finally speak, and not lie. 
 
 The End Approaching. — Jesus said, "This gospel 
 of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, 
 for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end 
 come." We have frequently presented testimony from 
 various authentic Protestant witnesses, showing that 
 to a limited extent the gospel has already become a 
 witness to all nations; in the spread of Bibles in all 
 languages, as well as in missionary efforts. 
 
 The Watching Time, — The true watching time 
 comes after the omens of the Saviour's return are 
 seen, and consequently we are living in the watching 
 time to-day. But watching precludes an absolutely 
 definite knowledge of the time of the advent; for to 
 know that Jesus would come on a certain specified 
 day, would be to know just as positively that he
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 267 
 
 would not come till that day arrived, and it is impos- 
 sible to watch for what we know will not come. Jesus, 
 after carrying us down past the signs of his coming, 
 makes a statement which too few have comprehended 
 in full in saying: "Watch, therefore, for ye know 
 not what hour your Lord doth come. But know 
 this, that if the good man of the house had known 
 at what watch the thief would come, he would have 
 watched, and would not have suffered his house to 
 be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in 
 such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." 
 Matt. 24:42-44. 
 
 To know as definitely as the "watch" in which the 
 event is due, and not as definitely as the hour in the 
 watch, would necessitate watching each hour; just 
 as a man would do if he knew the "watch" in which 
 the thief would come to his house, without knowing 
 the hour in the watch. Prophetic measurements are 
 sufficiently definite in their commencements and 
 terminations to give us a clear clew to the "watch," 
 but not sufficiently definite to point out the hour in 
 the watch; so we must watch each hour. 
 
 Or, to take another illustration, to know as definitely 
 as the night of the event, and not as definitely as the 
 watch in the night, necessitates watching in each 
 watch of the night, as stated in Mark 13: 35: "Watch 
 ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the 
 house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock 
 crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he 
 find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say 
 unto all. Watch." 
 
 This watching is for the Lord, and that, too, after 
 the precursors of his coming are given; and what he
 
 268 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 says down here to the saints, he says also to all men, 
 " Watch " — let all look out for the event, and get ready 
 for it. He could not have meant that those who lived 
 before Jerusalem was destroyed, and who had been 
 told that it should be destroyed before his coming, 
 must watch for Christ before this destruction should 
 occur, nor that they should watch for his coming before 
 other foretold events to precede his coming. But as 
 we have got past the signs of his return, we are in the 
 watching time; and although we cannot tell the time 
 in the watch with precise definiteness, we can under- 
 standingly watch each hour. 
 
 THE TREADING DOW^N. 
 
 The treading down of "the sanctuary and the host," 
 mentioned in the eighth chapter of Daniel, has a spec- 
 ified beginning and ending. When was it to begin, 
 and when was it to end? Concerning its beginning 
 some expositors are certainly mistaken who make it 
 commence with the 2300 days, and continue to their 
 close. There is not even a hint given in the prophecy 
 that the treading down was to begin at the commence- 
 ment of the 2300 days, but it is distinctly stated that 
 it should begin with another epoch and at another time. 
 Daniel sees no treading down of the sanctuary till he 
 beholds the rise of the Roman horn; then he sees that 
 horn confronting "the prince of the host," or standing 
 up "against the Prince of princes;" next he sees the 
 same Roman horn take away "the daily sacrifice," 
 and "cast down" "the place of his sanctuary:" then, 
 and not till then, begins the treading down of the 
 sanctuary. "By him [by this horn] the daily sacrifice 
 was taken away, and the place of his [the Messiah's] 
 sanctuary was cast down. And an host [or army]
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 2G9 
 
 was given him [given this horn] against the daily- 
 sacrifice by reason of transgression/' or because the 
 Jews had transgressed in rejecting Christ. Dan. 8: 
 11, 12. 
 
 At the time Daniel saw this vision there was no 
 sacrificial worship in Jerusalem, nor sanctuary either, 
 for Nebuchadnezzar had previously destroyed their 
 sanctuary, and had carried the Jews into captivity, 
 and they were even then captives in Babylon; but 
 Daniel in vision beheld a future sanctuary, and a future 
 sacrificial worship in Jerusalem, and finally beheld 
 this horn arise and take away this (then) future "daily 
 sacrifice," and "cast down" this (then) future sanc- 
 tuary. And this led to the question: "How long shall 
 be the vision [not concerning the ram, or the goat, or 
 the four horns, but] concerning the daily sacrifice 
 [which he saw the horn take away], and concerning 
 the transgression of desolation [then to overspread 
 Jerusalem] to give both the sanctuary and the host to 
 be trodden under foot?" How long the two things — 
 1st. The history of the then future "daily sacrifice" 
 and sanctuary, till ended by that horn; 2nd. The 
 history of the horn's treading down of the sanctuary 
 — how long the vision spanning the continuance of 
 the two? The reply is, "Unto 2300 days; then shall 
 the sanctuary [once cast down and trodden down by 
 this horn from the time he took away the sacrificial 
 worship] be cleansed." The treading down of this 
 sanctuary does not begin till this horn casts it down; 
 and that was not at the beginning of the 2300 days, 
 but in the "week" of Jerusalem's war: "In the midst 
 of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation 
 to cease." Dan. 9: 27.
 
 270 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 It is sometimes said that the term sacrifice is not in 
 the original, but in this text it certainly is in the original, 
 and in the others it is implied by "the daily" — the 
 sacrificial daily being the only one coupled with the 
 sanctuary worship. "By reason of transgression" in 
 rejecting Christ, Jerusalem, its sanctuary and sacrificial 
 worship, was given over to the Romans for destruction; 
 and when the sanctuary and sacrifice thus came to 
 an end, the treading down began. The sanctuary 
 was included in the words of Jesus; "Behold, your 
 house [temple, including the sanctuary] is left unto 
 you desolate." Matt. 23: 38. "When ye shall see 
 Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that 
 the desolation thereof [including the sanctuary] is 
 nigh. . . And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of 
 the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be ful- 
 filled." Luke 21:20-38. "And when he was come 
 near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, 
 If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy 
 day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now 
 they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come 
 upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about 
 thee, and compass thee round about, and keep thee in 
 on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, 
 and thy children within thee ; and they shall not leave 
 within thee one stone upon another; because thou 
 kne west not the time of thy visitation. ' ' Luke 1 9 : 4 1-44. 
 
 They had rejected the Messiah, and in due time the 
 Great King who ruleth over the kingdom of men 
 "sent forth his armies and burned up their city," 
 including their sanctuary, since which time it has 
 been trodden down of the Gentiles, and will continue 
 to be till Gentile times come to an end, and that will
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 271 
 
 not be till the body of the "fourth beast" shall be 
 given to the "burning flame." Dan. 7: 11. After 
 that, God will beautify "the place of his sanctuary." 
 From Jerusalem shall radiate the glory that shall 
 fill the whole earth: "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; 
 he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest 
 forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." 
 
 Again, "The moon shall be confounded, and the 
 sun ashamed, when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in 
 Mt. Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients 
 gloriously." Isa. 24: 23. "And the ransomed of 
 the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs 
 and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain 
 joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee 
 away." Isa. 35: 10. God says, "I will set my sanc- 
 tuary in the midst of them forevermore." And again: 
 "Behold I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people 
 a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my 
 people." Isa. 65: 18. And this scene is divinely 
 assigned to the new earth state, or age of immortality. 
 
 The Sanctuary of Daniel VIII. and IX. — 
 Without discoursing upon the typical and antitypical 
 sanctuary, we here call attention to the fact that 
 the "sanctuary" mentioned in the 8th and 9th chap- 
 ters of Daniel is positively a literal sanctuary — nothing 
 more nor less than the veritable Jewish sanctuary, 
 where the "daily sacrifice" was offered by divine ap- 
 pointment till the antitypical Lamb was slain, when 
 this should have ceased; but nevertheless did not 
 cease till the Roman horn destroyed the sanctuary, 
 and thus ended the sacrificial worship. When Daniel 
 had seen in the vision of the 8th chapter a certain horn 
 casting down the "sanctuary" (v. 11), and had heard
 
 272 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the angelic question about the treading down of the 
 "sanctuary" (v. 13), and had also heard the predic- 
 tion concerning the cleansing of the "sanctuary" 
 (v. 14), he evidently understood that the veritable 
 sanctuary at Jerusalem was meant, for in the 9th 
 chapter he begins to pray for the then obsolete sanc- 
 tuary at Jerusalem: "Cause thy face to shine upon 
 thy sanctuary that is desolate" (v. 17), and "Let thine 
 anger be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy 
 holy mountain" (v. 16); but he had probably imbibed 
 the incorrect impression that the promised cleansing 
 of the sanctuary w^as then near by, and the angel rec- 
 tifies him. by informing him that previous to this work 
 there should be — 
 
 1. A restraining of the transgression of desolation 
 that should finally tread down the sanctuary, and that 
 this preceding restraint should last long enough to give 
 the Jews and Jerusalem a future history of 4D0 years. 
 
 2. That preparatory to that future history a com- 
 mandment should go forth to restore Jerusalem then 
 in ruins, and also that in 483 years from that edict, 
 Messiah should come. 
 
 3. That the then ruined wall of Jerusalem should 
 finally be built again, and in 434 years after this eventi 
 Messiah should die for men. 
 
 4. That after all this a certain Prince should come 
 with an army, and again "destroy the city and the 
 
 SANCTUARY." 
 
 5. That in the midst of the last seven years of this 
 then future Jewish history, this Prince should again 
 "cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease," and 
 thenceforth "make it desolate, even until the con- 
 summation."
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 273 
 
 Here Daniel was enabled to see that the sanctuary 
 was not to be cleansed in the then near future; but 
 that it must be restored, and subsequently be de- 
 stro3'ed by the prince represented by the horn seen in 
 the vision. And when told, " He shall destroy the city 
 and the sanctuary," he knew, and we know that the 
 sanctuary was just as literal as the city, and there is no 
 use in trying to figure out any other meaning; and if 
 a literal sanctuary was cast down by the Roman horn 
 when Jerusalem was destroyed, that is the sanctuary 
 to be trodden under foot from that epoch to the end 
 of time, when God "will make Jerusalem a rejoicing," 
 even in the new earth, and also "beautify the place of 
 his sanctuary." 
 
 A restored sanctuary does not involve a restoration 
 of sacrifices — a typical appendage that has already 
 had its day, — any more than sacrifices were necessary 
 in heaven when the Lord looked down from the height 
 of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the 
 earth." He established a branch of his heavenly 
 sanctuary in Jerusalem in ancient times, and he will 
 re-establish it in the future on a grander scale, minus 
 of its obsolete appendages. His "sanctuary shall 
 be in the midst of them forevermore." Jerusalem 
 entire, "shall be a rejoicing, and her people a joy" — 
 not before the restitution, but in the new earth. Then 
 the cleansing will be a reality. 
 
 Jerusalem's Future in Prophecy. — Jerusalem, 
 once recognized as "the city of the great King," has 
 had a gloomy past, but will have a glorious future. 
 ^^^len Jesus said, "Jerusalem shall be trodden down 
 of the Gentiles till the times of the Gentiles be ful- 
 filled," he uttered a truthful prediction. But when
 
 274 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the times of the Gentiles expire — which will not be 
 till the fourth Gentile beast shall be "given to the 
 burning flames," or last clay fires — Jerusalem shall 
 experience a change in her history, and shall be peo- 
 pled again in fulfillment of prophecy; not, however, 
 in a mortal state as some theologians have claimed, 
 but in the new earth, where mortality and carnality 
 will be unknown. 
 
 On this very point the Lord himself thus speaks: 
 "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and 
 the former shall not be remembered, nor come into 
 mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that 
 which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a 
 rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice 
 in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of 
 weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice 
 of crying." Isa. 65: 17-19. Here is a glorious future 
 for Jerusalem, but it is connected with the new earth, 
 when weeping and crying is over. "Her people" will 
 not be carnal; and all who are previously divested 
 of carnality, are invested with immortality at the 
 Lord's coming. So Jerusalem's future will be in the 
 age of immortality, and on the permanent basis of 
 immortality. 
 
 Jerusalem's down-trodden condition will end when 
 Gentile times shall end; and then comes Messiah's 
 times, and he will then show himself to be the "King 
 of kings, and Lord of lords" — an immortal King, 
 ruling over immortal people. The "restitution" will 
 give us a new earth, and a new Jerusalem on the site 
 of the old, adapted to the improved condition of an 
 improved people.
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 275 
 
 THE GREAT MEASUREMENT, 
 
 In speaking of the 2300 days, the Jingel Gabriel 
 said to Daniel, "At the time appointed the end shall 
 be;" but as he had previously spoken of "the last 
 end of the indignation," some have claimed that 
 reference is made to the end of the Roman horn's 
 indignation; but this claim, even if granted, would 
 as certainly carry the measurement to the end of time, 
 as the other view, since this horn is composed of the 
 Pagan and Papal elements of Rome, reaching clear 
 dowTi to the time when that Rome is "given to the 
 burning flame;" and in its Papal phase it was to "pre- 
 vail" against the saints "until the Ancient of days 
 came;" and that prevailing, even when not by blood- 
 shed, is the horn's indignation; so its indignation 
 will continue till Christ shall come in glory. The 
 angel thus plainly speaks of the indignation of the 
 Papal power: "And he shall exalt himself, and mag- 
 nify himself above every god, and shall speak marvel- 
 ous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper 
 till the indignation be accomplished" (Dan. 11: 36), 
 while Paul quotes this very prediction, and applies 
 it to the "man of sin," and tells us he shall prevail till 
 he is consumed by the brightness of Christ's coming: 
 "For that day shall not come, except there come a 
 falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the 
 son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself 
 above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; 
 so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, show- 
 ing himself that he is God. . . . And now ye know 
 what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his 
 time. . . , And then shall that v/icked be revealed, 
 whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his
 
 276 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his 
 coming." 2 Thess. 2: 3-8. 
 
 Gabriel makes him prosper "till the indignation be 
 accomplished," and Paul makes him prosper till 
 Christ's coming, and Daniel makes him prevail till the 
 Ancient of Days shall come; so the Papal indignation, 
 in some form, goes to the judgment day. Then comes 
 God's indignation against that horn, and it shall be 
 "broken without hand," or by divine power. This 
 is "the last end of the indignation," and is realized 
 at the end itself; and the great measurement runs clear 
 down to this epoch — till the horn is "broken without 
 hand," for till thus broken it will continue its work of 
 treading down the "sanctuary and the host" — not 
 the church and the church, which would be tautology. 
 
 THE 2,300 DAYS. 
 
 "It is claimed by some that the 2,300 days mean 
 2,300 lunar years, equivalent to 2,230 solar years, and 
 that they begin with the supremacy of the Grecian 
 kingdom in 3,666 A. M. (B. C. 333), and reach from 
 thence to the close of Gentile times. Is this claim 
 tenable?" 
 
 Investigator. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 1st. This effort to reduce the 2,300 to 2,230 solar 
 years by claiming ordinary lunar years, is assumption 
 without proof, and totally averse to Bible practices, 
 and in positive conflict therewith; for such a count of 
 continuous ordinary lunar years is nowhere found in 
 the Bible, and is positively forbidden by it, as God 
 said: "This month [Abib, or Nisan] shall be unto you 
 the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of 
 the year to you." Ex. 12: 2. Then God enjoined on
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 277 
 
 them the duty of slaying the Passover lamb on the 
 14th day of this month every year "at the season that 
 they came out of Egypt" (Deut. 16: 6), at the time of 
 "the first fruits" (Lev. 23 : 10), or "when thou beginnest 
 to put thy sickle to the corn;" thus every year was 
 to begin with the first month, which was kept connected 
 with the time of "the first fruits; " and as a prerequisite 
 to this, an embolismic year, or year of 13 moons, was 
 necessary about every third year, otherwise the first 
 month would fall in every month of the year within 
 about 30 years, instead of being restricted to the 
 "season" of the Exodus; so a continuous count of 
 twelve moons for a year is positively forbidden. 
 
 Every year began with Nisan, and every Nisan 
 came in time for the "first fruits;" and God does not 
 outrage his own rule in giving the 2,300 days. The 2,300 
 years of lunar time with its interspersed lunar em- 
 bolismic years, is about the same as 2,300 solar years, 
 there being but a slight fractional variation; but a con- 
 tinuous count of ordinary lunar years, without the 
 lunar embolismic years interspersed, was unknown in 
 Jewish history, and is in square conflict with the Bible. 
 Lunar and solar time in all long cycles approximately 
 agree, being adjusted by intercalation. 
 
 2nd. This measurement of 2,300 days does not 
 begin with the rise of the Grecian kingdom, but simply 
 spans the "daily sacrifice and transgression of desola- 
 tion," and therefore must begin with the successful 
 restoration of that sacrificial worship, then span- 
 ning its duration, together with the duration of 
 the subsequent " desolation " — the two in succes- 
 sion aggregating a measurement of 2,300 days of 
 prophetic time; for the question that called forth this
 
 278 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 statement of time was, "How long shall be the vision 
 concerning [or measuring] the daily sacrifice, and the 
 transgression of desolation?" (Dan. 8: 13) — the two 
 things coming in succession, the latter beginning 
 when the first ended; and the question was prompted 
 by what was seen in the vision, namely: a certain 
 horn taking away the daily sacrifice (which did not 
 then exist, but was to exist), and then inaugurating a 
 subsequent desolation. 
 
 As the thing to be measured must come into existence 
 before the beginning of the measurement, we only need 
 to learn when this Jewish "daily sacrifice" was suc- 
 cessfully restored, it not being then in existence, the 
 Jews being then in captivity. We say when it was 
 "successfully" restored, as several unsuccessful efforts 
 were made to restore it; and we must not begin the 
 measurement at these epochs. One effort was made 
 to restore it at the return of the caravan under Cyrus, 
 but it failed. Another effort was made under Darius, 
 at the erection of the temple, but it soon relapsed into 
 a signal failure. Another under Artaxerxes by Ezra, 
 but this utterly failed. Another effort was made by 
 Nehemiah, which at first proved unsuccessful; but a 
 second effort of Nehemiah was successful, this second 
 effort being made after his twelve years' governor- 
 ship was over, and after he had gone back to Babylon, 
 and subsequently returned to Jerusalem. 
 
 During his absence after the twelve years were out, 
 and while Nehemiah was in Babylon, Eliashib the 
 priest inaugurated ■ an apostacy, culminating in the 
 abandonment of the temple worship which Nehemiah 
 had before tried to establish. Nehemiah thus reports 
 the matter : " But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem,
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 279 
 
 [Why?] for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes 
 king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain 
 days, obtained I leave of the king : and I came to Jeru- 
 salem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for 
 Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of 
 the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore 
 I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the 
 chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the 
 chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of 
 the house of God, with the meat offering and the 
 frankincense. And I perceived that the portions of 
 the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites 
 and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one 
 to his field. Then contended I ^\ith the rulers, and 
 said. Why is the house of God forsaken? And I 
 gathered them together, and set them in their place. 
 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn" (Neh. 
 13: 9-12). Then he put in new officers, and adds 
 concerning them: "They were counted faithful." 
 
 This was the successful restoration of "the daily 
 sacrifice," from which to measure the 2,300 days. If 
 we are right in making the 32nd of Artaxerxes to be 
 405 B. c, we have here found a cycle of nine years 
 within which this restored sacrificial worship began, 
 for it was during the reign of the king Artaxerxes, as 
 well as after his 32nd year; and history gives him 41 
 years, down to 396 b. c. It is possible that Nehemiah 
 was absent from Jerusalem after his twelve years, or 
 after Artaxerxes' 32d year, but a few months, and 
 also possible that he was gone a few years, during 
 which time this worship was abandoned; but it is 
 certain that it was restored during the kings' reign — 
 that is, between 405 b. c, and 396 b. c, thus ending
 
 280 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the 2,300 days between 1896 a. d., and 1905 a. d. 
 Here is a cycle of nine years ; but the early part of the 
 cycle is the more probable point. Perhaps a little 
 indefiniteness is purposely left in the record to agree 
 with the waiting attitude of the church. 
 
 It is sometimes objected that the word "sacrifice" 
 in the vision is supplied; but it is correctly supplied; 
 for in speaking of the same power symbolized by the 
 "horn/' the angel told Daniel, "He shall cause the 
 sacrifice and oblation to cease" (Dan. 9: 27), and here 
 the word "sacrifice " is not supplied, but is in the original 
 text. 
 
 Sanctuary Cleansing. — "Dear Bro. Sheldon: Will 
 you please state what you understand by the cleansing 
 of the sanctuary? Dan. 8: 14." 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 The sanctuary to be cleansed, or "justified," Margin, 
 is the particular one under consideration in the prophecy 
 — not a sanctuary, but the sanctuary distinctly named 
 in the prophecy, as being desecrated by a symbolic 
 horn: "He magnified himself even to the prince [High 
 Priest] of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was 
 taken away, and the place of his sanctuary cast down. 
 And a host [an army] was given him against the daily 
 sacrifice by reason of [or, because of] transgression, and 
 it cast truth down to the ground, and it [the horn] 
 practiced and prospered." This description of the 
 desecrating work of a certain horn that should rise, 
 and obliterate the Jewish sacrificial worship after it 
 should again be restored (for it had no existence then) 
 prompted the query, " How long shall be the vision con- 
 cerning the daily sacrifice [that this horn should take
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 281 
 
 away], and the transgression of desolation (produced 
 by this horn) to give both the sanctuary and the host 
 (Jewish host) to be trodden under foot?" The reply 
 is, "Unto 2,300 days; then shall THE sanctuary be 
 cleansed," — the very one under consideration, and no 
 other — the sanctuary in Jerusalem. 
 
 In this vision the prophet saw that the daily sacrifice, 
 which was then extinct, was to be restored for a time; 
 that a certain horn should subsequently rise and take 
 it away, and cast down the sanctuary where it had been 
 so long offered; that all this was to be because of the 
 transgression of the Jews; that thenceforth a long 
 desolation should follow. How long the two then 
 future events — the daily sacrifice to be restored and 
 then taken away, and the desolation to follow? The 
 aggregate is given as 2,300 days. Then the desolation 
 should end. 
 
 The term here rendered sanctuary, means a "place 
 set apart" — set apart for divine worship; set apart 
 for that kind of worship required by God after the 
 typical law has expired; set apart as the place for 
 the manifestation of the shekinal glory among men; 
 and will hereafter be the central point of divine mani- 
 festations, enclosed by the new Jerusalem, shrouded 
 by the glory of God, shining over the earth at large. 
 
 The sanctuary was pre-eminently the divinely ap- 
 pointed central place of worship; but its restoration 
 will not involve the restored typical form of worship 
 which has served its purpose. Even after the resur- 
 rection, God says: "I will set my sanctuary in the 
 midst of them forevermore" (Ezek. 37: 26); but pre- 
 paratory to this, another prophet foretells the oblit- 
 eration of carnal kingdoms on earth, saying: "For
 
 282 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall 
 perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted: 
 (then) the glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, 
 the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beau- 
 tify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the 
 place of my feet glorious." Isa. 60:12, 13. This 
 cleansing is due when the judgment comes; and then, 
 though the restored sanctuary will be in Jerusalem as 
 of yore, the kingdom will be "under the whole heaven," 
 occupied only by saints immortal. The King of glory 
 will have his central seat in the cleansed sanctuary 
 forever. 
 
 This Jerusalem sanctuary was then spoken of by 
 Moses at the beginning of Israel's nationality: "Thou 
 shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain 
 of thine inheritance, in the place, Lord, which thou 
 hast made for thee to dwell in; in the sanctuary, O 
 Lord, which thy hands have established" (Ex. 15:17); 
 and David adds: "And he brought them to the border 
 of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his 
 right hand had purchased" (Ps. 78:54); and there 
 God dwelt among men for centuries in the shekinal 
 glory between the cherubim in Mount Zion, which 
 mount is here styled "the border of his sanctuary," or 
 its outskirts — the container of the sanctuary, instead 
 of being the sanctuary itself — and there the Lord 
 wiU hereafter dwell in person when the sanctuary 
 shall have been cleansed: "For the Lord hath chosen 
 Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is 
 my rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." 
 Ps. 132:13. 
 
 Not as it is, in its polluted state, but as it will be, 
 delivered from usurpers, and "cleansed" from its
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 283 
 
 pollution. And when the cleansing time is due "He 
 will thoroughly purge his floor" (Matt. 3: 12) — not a 
 little part of it, but the whole — purge it from death; 
 then, though the cleansed sanctuary will be in Jerusa- 
 lem, all its surroundings will be adapted to its 
 restored state, when "the Lord of hosts shall reign in 
 Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients 
 gloriously" — the whole earth will be new, and freed 
 from pollution. 
 
 The Little Horn of Daniel VIL 
 
 When did it rise? That is, when did it reach its 
 supremacy? Various dates have been assigned by 
 honest prophetic students, but they all cannot be 
 right, and yet some date must be right, and when 
 found will throw light upon our pathway, enabling us 
 to see our proximity to the coming of the promised 
 kingdom, provided this horn really symbolizes the 
 power that was to persecute the saints for 1260 years. 
 
 Let us read the prophecy carefully concerning its 
 rise and character. Said Daniel: "I considered the 
 horns [the ten horns], and behold, there came up 
 among them another little horn, before whom there 
 were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: 
 and behold, in this horn there were eyes like the eyes 
 of man, and a mouth speaking great things." Dan. 
 7:8. Here we simply learn that this horn arose 
 among the ten, and plucked up three of the ten to 
 make place for its own supremacy. In the angel's 
 explanation it is said: "And the ten horns out of this 
 kingdom are ten kings that shall arise; and another 
 shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from 
 the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he
 
 284 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 shall speak great words against the Most High, and 
 shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think 
 to change times and laws: and they shall be given 
 into his hand until a time and times, and the dividing 
 of time." 
 
 Here we have the following order: 1st. This horn 
 should arise after the ten. 2nd. It should next pluck 
 up three of the ten. 3rd. Next in order should be 
 its career of blasphemy and butchery for a "time, 
 times, and the dividing of time." 
 
 In the light of this divinely specified order, is it 
 not our duty to begin this prophetic measurement 
 after the work of plucking up of the horns is com- 
 pleted? These horns appear to have stood in the 
 way of his supremacy, and we must begin the meas- 
 urement with its supremacy instead of its incipient 
 stage; for if we should begin with its incipient stage, 
 we would have to begin away back in Paul's day, as 
 Paul then affirmed: "The mystery of iniquity doth 
 already work: only he who now letteth will let [or 
 hinder], until he be taken out of the way." 2 Thess. 
 2:7. 
 
 Paganism was the first form of the hindering power, 
 and Arianism was the last, through the three Arian 
 horns, the last of which was plucked up at least as 
 early as a. d. 554, as all agree. When these hindering 
 horns were uprooted, his supremacy was fairly estab- 
 lished. Now his path is clear, and he can change times 
 and laws without opposition, and blaspheme the God 
 of heaven, and begin his war on the church; in short, 
 the hindering power being removed, which had so 
 long held him in check, he can have his own way 
 without restraint. This is his supremacy. Why not
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 285 
 
 begin the measurement here? If we begin it with 
 the first persecution that we can find prior to its su- 
 premacy, it would certainly have ended the 1335 days 
 Icng ago, if they begin with this measurement. The 
 last horn contested the supremacy of this power for 
 about fifteen years before being exterminated in the 
 contest; then the hindrance was removed, and Papal 
 supremacy was established by force of arms, and a 
 stake is driven from which to reckon. 
 
 If we begin the 1260 days with the extermination 
 of the last of the three horns in a. d. 554, they would 
 close in A. d. 1814, when the Holy Alliance proclaimed 
 universal religious toleration — thus legally taking the 
 saints out of the hands of the papacy. Local edicts 
 of toleration had been previously issued — as, for 
 instance, that of Austria — but these local decrees were 
 not general, but limited affairs: but this was issued 
 by a combination of the strongest powers on earth. 
 This looks like a fit place to end the 1260 days. 
 
 If we begin the 1335 days at the same starting 
 point, we see not how to carry them beyond 1889 at 
 the furthest. While we would be neither too definite, 
 nor too sanguine, we would concede to God his right 
 to put prophetic measurements into the Bible, and 
 admit the right of the saints to respect them in spite 
 of past incorrect calculations. 
 
 We deplore the efforts of some to depreciate, and 
 even to abrogate Heaven's time measurements. If 
 our eagerness to learn the earliest possible time for 
 redemption has led us to begin our measurements 
 with plausible starting points which were really too 
 early, and consequently to end them too soon, this 
 in no way invalidates the fact that such measurements
 
 286 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 are really in the Bible, and placed there for a purpose 
 too; not to prove forever a blind enigma to the church, 
 but to benefit it by throwing light upon its pathway 
 sufficiently strong at least to augment her watchful- 
 ness, and to remove extreme indefiniteness. We have 
 not been mocking the world with cunningly devised 
 fables in presenting the prophetic programme, even if 
 we have been premature. The end is surely upon us.* 
 
 The Two-horned Beast. 
 
 "Bro. Wm. Sheldon: — I want to know what you 
 consider to be the fulfillment of the ''two-horned" 
 beast of Revelation. Do you consider it to be the 
 Popes? Some claim one thing and some another. 
 
 "V. F. Hunt." 
 Reply. 
 
 For long years we have believed, and still believe, 
 that the civil and ecclesiastical elements of Papacy 
 are presented by a double symbol in Rev. 13 — the 
 civil element being foreshadowed by a ten-horned 
 beast, and the ecclesiastical element by a two-horned 
 beast — just as a double symbol is employed in the 
 17th chapter for the same purpose; a ten-horned^beast 
 to represent the combination of civil papal powers, 
 and a woman seated upon this civil beast, to guide it, 
 being a symbol of the ecclesiastical or church power, 
 "reigning over the kings of the earth." 
 
 The two horns doubtless indicate the spiritual and 
 
 * "The three kingdoms 'plucked up' by this ' little horn,' as 
 all prophetical expositors agree, were, . . . ' the Exarchate of 
 Ravenna, Lombardy, and the State of Rome,' which fell into 
 the hands of the Papal See . . . respectively in a. d. 730, 755, 
 and 774." — Shimeall, p. 157. We here suggest, only, that 
 " the little horn " must already have been up, when " before 
 him there were three plucked up."
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 287 
 
 civil power of this church beast; for it had a temporal 
 kingdom — including "the territories of Ravenna, 
 Bologna and Ferrara" — over which the head of the 
 Papal church ruled as a temporal prince for centuries, 
 besides exercising spiritual authority over other king- 
 doms. This beast existed in the days of the ten- 
 horned beast, for he "exerciseth all the authority of 
 the first beast in his sight" (Revision), and makes 
 an "image" early enough to "cause that as many as 
 shoiild not worship the image of the beast should be 
 killed;" so the two-horned beast does not rise after 
 the persecution, but before it. 
 
 The Time of Trouble. 
 
 1. Will it be upon the saints, or only on sinners? 
 "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great 
 prince which stand eth for the children of thy people: 
 and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never 
 was since there was a nation even to that same time: 
 and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every 
 one that shall be found written in the book." Dan. 
 12:1. As the saints arc "delivered" when Michael 
 stands up, and as deliverance will not bring trouble, 
 the trouble must be on the class not delivered — on 
 the wicked. There is no intimation that the saints 
 shall share this trouble for a while, and then get de- 
 liverance out of it, but the deliverance comes at the 
 time the trouble comes. 
 
 2. The time of trouble does not precede the stand- 
 ing up of Michael, but commences at that very time, 
 and is caused by that remarkable event that also 
 brings deliverance to the saints, in agreement with the 
 words of Jesus: "And then shall all the tribes of the
 
 288 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man com- 
 ing in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 
 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a 
 trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from 
 the four winds." Matt. 24:30. Here is trouble on 
 the wicked produced by the same event that brings 
 deliverance to the saints. The saints do not share 
 the trouble at all, nor does the trouble exist along 
 time before the deliverance; but the trouble for one 
 class, and the deliverance for the other class, come 
 simultaneously — one event bringing both results. 
 One shall be taken and the other be left — left to ex- 
 perience this trouble; for when he comes "every eye 
 shall see him; they also that pierced him: and all 
 kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." 
 This will indeed be a time of trouble hitherto unpar- 
 alleled in this world's history. It is the day of wrath. 
 The saints have all left. Sinners only remain. 
 
 At the destruction of Sodom Lot must flee to Zoar 
 before the outpouring of wrath, for the angel said to 
 him: "Haste thee, escape thither; for I can do nothing 
 till thou be come tliither." So the saints will leave 
 before the sinners' fiery ordeal is inaugurated. At the 
 time of the flood Noah must enter the ark before the 
 terrible storm began. So the saints will first enter 
 the New Jerusalem chambers — then the wrath of God 
 will be displayed against his enemies. When sinners 
 see that the day of wrath has dawned, their trouble 
 will begin; but it will culminate in the second death, 
 in the lake of fire.* 
 
 *Editor Stockinan endorsed this article, quoting twelve lines 
 of it.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 ON ADVENTISM. 
 
 The Advent Movement, Was It of God? 
 
 Men of the world propound this question, and have 
 a right to do so. Our ecclesiastical neighbors pro- 
 pound it, and it is their duty to ask the question, 
 and also to wait for an authentic reply. Shallow 
 Adventists sometimes reiterate the question in doubt- 
 fid tones — Was the Advent movement of God? While 
 we would not for a moment insist that everything 
 that has been coupled therewith has had the stamp 
 of divinity upon it, but freely grant that many human 
 appendages, needless excesses, disastrous extremes 
 and ruinous abuses have been grafted on to it through 
 the blind zeal of misguided friends, still we insist that 
 the message itself was of divine origin. Without 
 arguing the question fully, we here hint at some of 
 the reasons for our conclusion. 
 
 1. It was in fulfillment of prophecy. Before the 
 coming of the heavenly Bridegroom a cry was to be 
 given, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out 
 to meet him!" And not only was this cry to be given 
 before the coming of the Bridegroom, but long enough 
 before for all of the virgins to trim their lamps, or 
 to investigate their Bibles — a work preceding the 
 close of probation, and doubtless covering a term of 
 
 289
 
 290 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 years, while oil is to be obtained, some wisely obtain- 
 ing it, others foolishly omitting to do so till too late. 
 Analogous to this proclamation is the announcement 
 of the symbolic angels between the sixth and seventh 
 trumpets, "Time shall be no longer." Such a thrill- 
 ing message was due, and such a message accom- 
 panied the Advent movement, and this message was 
 either the genuine or the counterfeit; if it is the coun- 
 terfeit, then the genuine, a similar move, is yet to 
 come; and if it is the counterfeit, it is not a strange 
 thing to have counterfeit put in circulation before 
 the genuine is issued? But if the Advent movement 
 is of God, we should not belittle it because of its un- 
 popularity among men, nor fail to do all in our power 
 to give it the impetus due the last sacred message to 
 mortal men. We are the custodians of this great 
 message, and must not put it under a bushel. 
 
 2. It was a movement needed to rectify the con- 
 fused and benighted eschatology of the church — to 
 count out the traditions that had been so extensively 
 substituted for truth, concerning a disembodied em- 
 igration to glory before the judgment, and inherent im- 
 mortality independent of Christ — and to restore the 
 good tidings from God to men the promise of a king- 
 dom to come on earth after the resurrection and return 
 of Christ, by virtue of a restitution, when the new 
 heavens and new earth shall be enjoyed by the saints 
 of every age, clothed with immortality. These God- 
 given truths, so long obscured, belong to the true 
 gospel; and this great announcement of the coming 
 King to establish his promised kingdom, has led to a 
 separation of the chaff from the wheat, or of tradition 
 from the gospel, and that work is still progressing, and
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 291 
 
 will progress till the end. The Advent movement 
 is not ended, but is onward. Let its friends pause 
 to inquire, Is it of God? and then act their part well. 
 We have work to do, from the least to the greatest 
 in the list, and should be about it everywhere and 
 constantly. 
 
 An Ancient Doctrine. — Men are anxious to es- 
 tablish the antiquity of human systems. So while 
 the land is being flooded with modern substitutes for 
 truth, we call to mind the fact that rejected truth 
 bears the infallible brand of antiquity — especially that 
 despised truth of the Lord's coming. Instead of 
 being originally a New Testament doctrine, the theory 
 of the Lord's coming shines out in distinctive clear- 
 ness even in the Old Testament as well. It is the 
 most ancient theory on record. 
 
 1. It is hinted at in the first promise that saluted 
 the ears of fallen man, that the seed of the woman 
 (Christ) should bruise the serpent's head; for though 
 that seed appeared over eighteen hundred years ago, 
 the bruising is yet future; and this bruising involves 
 the coming back of the now absent Seed. And he will 
 return with deific power to crush the foe of fallen man. 
 
 2. Enoch made a clearer prediction in the seventh 
 generation from the creation of Adam: "Behold, the 
 Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to exe- 
 cute judgment upon all." Here Enoch not only 
 announces the fact of his coming, but also the object 
 of it — "to execute judgment" — thus rebuking the 
 theory which places the judgment this side of his 
 coming. The faith which couples the judgment with 
 the Lord's coming is thus shown to be as old as the 
 announcement of his coming itself.
 
 292 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 3. Job, too, foresaw this event, and cried out, 
 "He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth," 
 and then he affirms, "In my flesh shall I see God." 
 The "latter day" will bring the Redeemer to awaken 
 the holy sleepers. "Thou shalt call," said Job, "and 
 I will answer thee." What a "call" that will be 
 that shall break the slumbers of death; and what 
 an "answer" that wUl be, too, ringing through the 
 vast empire of hades — not from the lips of a resur- 
 rected Job merely, but also from the lips of all the 
 awakened saints, like "the voice of many waters," 
 combined with the voice "of mighty thunderings," 
 saying, "Alleluia." 
 
 4. Another Old Testament prophet inquires: "Who 
 may abide the day of his coming?" The fact of his 
 coming is here set forth, with the intimation that some 
 will be found unready for the event. And elsewhere 
 this is more than intimated: he comes to the joy of 
 his friends, and to the dismay of his enemies. 
 
 5. In vision Daniel beheld "one like the Son of 
 man," who "came with the clouds of heaven," to 
 whom there was given a "kingdom" of perpetual 
 duration. He is elsewhere called by David "the 
 King of glory," and by Isaiah "the King in his beauty." 
 Though now in heaven, he is destined to come back 
 to earth, and "reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, 
 and before his ancients gloriously;" and then will be 
 fulfilled the prophetic statement made in the second 
 Psalm, and made applicable to Christ by New Testa- 
 ment writers: "Yet have I set my King on my holy 
 hill" of Zion. 
 
 6. The prophet Zechariah also cries out, "The 
 Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee;"
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 293 
 
 and affirms, "The Lord shall be King over all the 
 earth." This statement recognizes the fact that 
 earth's future King is now in heaven, and destined 
 to come therefrom hereafter. 
 
 7. And the Lord speaks through the prophet 
 Malaehi concerning the day when he will gather the 
 obedient ones as his treasure, saying, "They shall be 
 mine in that day when I make up my jcAvels, and I 
 will spare them as a father spareth his onl}'- son that 
 serveth him;" and then says to the wicked, "Then 
 shall ye return and discern between him that serveth 
 God, and him that serveth him not." When the saints 
 shall be robed with immortality, and be caught away 
 to meet their Lord, the wdcked will discern a differ- 
 ence between the destiny of him that serveth God, 
 and him that serveth him not. 
 
 We have thus presented a sample of Old Testament 
 Adventism, without reference to New Testament testi- 
 mony. In consideration of the abundance of testi- 
 mony on this topic, so clear and positive, it is a wonder 
 that everybody is not looking for a King to come from 
 heaven to reign on the earth hereafter forever. Nor is 
 this doctrine new to the Christian church in its earlier 
 history, though so extensively repudiated at the 
 present day. The poetic Wesley could sing — 
 
 "The church in her militant state 
 
 Is wearj', and cannot forbear; 
 The saints in an agony wait, 
 
 To see him again in the air: 
 The news of his coming I hear, 
 
 And join in the catholic cry. 
 Lord Jesus in triumph appear, — 
 
 Appear in the clouds of the sky."
 
 294 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 And Dr. Watts could cry out — 
 
 "Lo, what a glorious sight appears 
 To our beheving eyes; 
 
 The earth and seas are passed away, 
 And the old roUing skies. 
 
 The God of glory down to men 
 Removes his blest abode — 
 
 Attending angels shout for joy, 
 
 And the bright armies sing, 
 Mortals, behold the sacred seat 
 
 Of your descending King." 
 
 Finally his poetic spirit thus gave vent — 
 
 " How bright the vision, O how long 
 Shall this glad hour delay? 
 Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time, 
 And bring the welcome day." 
 
 More of this scriptural enthusiasm is needed in the 
 church to-day. 
 
 Is There A Cause? — We are standing out before 
 the world as a distinct and peculiar people in point of 
 faith — a "spectacle to the world/' a "sect everywhere 
 spoken against," with every man's hand against us 
 — an unpopular people. Is there a cause why we 
 should occupy this position? Are we really the cus- 
 todians of a sacred message that cannot receive due 
 prominence without this stand on our part? A mes- 
 sage that cannot be made aggressive on any other 
 principle—that ignores hand-cuffs, gags, bribes, com- 
 promises — a message that is due this last generation, 
 has compelled us to take this stand that it may be 
 made duly conspicuous. If there ever was a reason 
 why we should become a distinct people, in order to
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 295 
 
 properly proclaim a smothered message, that reason 
 still exists. The fact that we have fought ourselves 
 into favorable recognition by our former opposers, in 
 no way argues that we should merge into their bodies, 
 to carry dark lanterns, to put our light under a bushel 
 nine-tenths of the time, to violate our own sense of 
 duty in order to keep peace, or else to fight the old 
 battle over again, and finally to come out anew where 
 we now stand to have hberty to preach our faith fully 
 and faithfully. 
 
 A brief reminiscence will refresh the mind with the 
 struggle we had for the right of free speech upon the 
 nearing Advent, compelling us to take an independent 
 stand, even before we had seen the light on the life and 
 death question — a theme hated even worse by our op- 
 posers — and the church cannot be found on earth 
 where these principles would long be tolerated in their 
 full strength continually, proclaimed as among our 
 people. If w^e were right in taking the stand we did, 
 we are right in maintaining it, and wrong in deserting 
 it. It is true that we could get more human honor 
 and salary on another line; but is fame and finance 
 the potent consideration? If we were wrong in taking 
 an independent stand at first, in order to proclaim our 
 convictions concerning the nearing Advent, instead of 
 allowing gags to be put into our mouths, then our early 
 foes were right in opposing this message, and trampling 
 it into the dust, and consec^uently the message itself 
 was wrong. But if the message itself is right, minus 
 its human appendages, the stand taken against it was 
 wrong, and the stand taken for it was right; and if 
 right then, it is still right, and ever will be right. 
 
 There is, therefore, a cause for our distinctive stand.
 
 296 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 Our work is not yet done, nor will it be ended till the 
 Master comes. He would have us faithfully giving 
 meat in due season to the household of faith: "Bless- 
 ed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh 
 shall find so doing." If found crying, "My Lord de- 
 layeth his coming," the devine anathema will be in- 
 curred instead. It is not a matter of indifference with 
 Christ whether his friends are indifferent to the question 
 of his future coming or not. Having taken so much 
 pains to present signs of his near return, he would not 
 have his friends close their eyes to the evidence thus 
 furnished. And this evidence must not be kept in a 
 corner, but sounded out, not faintly and fearfully, but 
 as a sacred message which has the right of way, and 
 not to be subordinated. 
 
 We are glad to recognize the fact that there are some 
 individuals in the ministry connected with the various 
 religious bodies who are more or less interested in the 
 themes of conditional immortality, and the return of 
 Christ to reign on earth renewed ; but usually they are 
 like chickens just hatching out, having just picked 
 their shell enough to peep a little, or perhaps are run- 
 ning with the shell on their backs, but seldom get out 
 far enough to crow much — and if they do, an ecclesias- 
 tical rumpus is pretty sure to be inaugurated; but a 
 man with this Advent faith can be tolerated in some 
 localities, provided he holds it secretly, or at least pre- 
 sents it but meagerly. While some in these bodies are 
 seeing the light, as bodies they will never herald the 
 Second Advent near, any more than the Jewish church, 
 after having once committed themselves against the 
 first Advent message, would subsequently as a body 
 accept it — "many of the priests became obedient to
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 297 
 
 the faith," but the body at large never changed their 
 standing; and those priests finally had to join the new 
 interest, instead of wasting their time in attempting 
 to reform the old; and indeed, the modern religious 
 bodies will not tolerate much of an effort for their re- 
 form — it is about all they can do to tolerate a belief 
 in these sentiments, without allowing them to become 
 aggressive; so our existence as a body is necessary to 
 an aggressive spread of the great message which has 
 made us a prophetic people. Yes, there is a cause why 
 we exist, and why we should continue to do our specific 
 work, and do it earnestly, for it will soon be finished.
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 CONDENSED TABLE OF BIBLE CHRONOLOGY. 
 (From manuscript in Eld. Shelbon's Bible.) 
 
 EVENTS. 
 
 INTERVALS. 
 
 YEAR A. M. 
 
 YEAR B.C. 
 
 Creation 
 
 
 
 4093 
 
 Flood 
 
 1656 
 
 1656 
 
 2437 
 
 In Ark 
 
 1 
 
 1657 
 
 2436 
 
 Terah's death 
 
 427 
 
 2084 
 
 2009 
 
 Abram migrates 
 
 1 
 
 2085 
 
 2008 
 
 Covenant of circ'n 
 
 24 
 
 2109 
 
 1984 
 
 Exodus 
 
 430 
 
 2539 
 
 1554 
 
 Temple f 'nd'd (full) 
 
 579 
 
 3118 
 
 975 
 
 Rem'd'r Solomon ^ 
 
 
 
 
 and kings, to Je- |- 
 
 417 
 
 3535 
 
 558 
 
 hoiachin, 3mo. ) 
 
 
 
 
 Captivity- 
 
 70 
 
 3605 
 
 488 
 
 Cyrus' 1st year 
 
 1 
 
 3606 
 
 487 
 
 The 69 Weeks 
 
 483 
 
 4089 
 
 4 
 
 To A. D. Era 
 
 4 
 
 4093 
 
 Era Begins 
 
 Messiah's Birth in August, B. C. 4. 
 
 Messiah's Baptism in February, A. D. 28, when 30 and a fraction over; 
 thus,— 3 y. 4 m. in B. C, and 27 y. 1 m. in A. D.— 30 y. 5 m. of age. 
 
 Six thousand years from Creation ends in a. d. 
 1908 (apparently at the Vernal Equinox, March 21), 
 thus: 
 
 298
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 299 
 
 6000— 4093 + 1--1908. Or, as the creation year be- 
 gan at the Vernal Equinox, 4093 full years from thence 
 reach to Vernal Equinox in a. d. 1; and 1907 years 
 more (to bring the 4093 up to 6000) give V. E. 1908 a. d. 
 
 Christ's birth, August b. c. 4. 
 
 Christ's baptism, February. . .a. d. 28. 
 
 Crucifixion a. d. 30 — a. m. 4121. 
 
 Jerusalem's Fall a. d. 70 — a. m. 4161. 
 
 The above is taken from Eld. Sheldon's manu- 
 script tables pasted in his Bible. Now the writer of 
 these pages is going to state a very remarkable thing, — 
 the thing he finds in another manuscript table in that 
 Bible, — but with no remarks on the significancy 
 of it. These tables and notes were intended for Elder 
 S.'s own use, only; and he would understand their 
 significance without having it written out there. 
 
 The writer thinks he does also. He does not agree 
 with Eld. Sheldon (at least as yet) as to the year of 
 creation, and consequently the end of the 6,000 years; 
 but, while having fixed upon a different year, he had 
 arrived at the conclusion that, almost certainly, the 
 true creation year would be astronomically marked. 
 In this way: when the earth was started, at the be- 
 ginning of "the years of the generations of Adam," it 
 would be at an appropriate astronomical starting- 
 point. Such a point has been universally considered 
 to be an equinox; and there the years of the most 
 ancient history were begun. Whether it was the 
 spring or the autumn equinox, authorities are about 
 equally divided. But let that point rest, for the 
 present. 
 
 It also seems almost certain that the moon, also,
 
 300 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 would then be at her proper starting-point; namely, 
 that it would be new moon; that is to say, the moon 
 would be in conjunction, or in line with the sun. 
 And, thirdly, it would be on the first day of a week. 
 Not necessarily that the six days of creation were 
 24-hour da3^s; but that, whatever they were, it would 
 be so arranged that six 24-hour days back from the 
 end of the sixth creation day would measure back 
 to the beginning of a Sunday, on which it was both 
 new moon and an equinox. "As for God, his way 
 is perfect" (2 Sam. 22:31; Psa. 18:30). 
 
 Therefore, when I saw Eld. Sheldon's creation-year 
 marked as having "V. E.", that is, vernal (or spring) 
 equinox; and "N. M.", that is, new moon; both on 
 "Apr. 23," I understood its significance. 
 
 And more. His Exodus year, a. m. 2539; and his 
 Crucifixion year, a. m. 4121, are also marked as hav- 
 ing the new moon and the spring equinox upon the 
 same days; namely, Apr. 4, and Mar. 23, respectively. 
 
 I have "assayed" to test the correctness of the 
 above; but not being familiar with "Saul's armour" — 
 or Eld. Sheldon's books — I cannot detect any error, 
 yet, in the above astronomical statements. From 
 the data at hand, they seem to be possibly correct: 
 so we think it duty to give them here, that they may 
 be examined and tested more thoroughly by others. 
 
 As to the period of 6,000 years, Mr. Shimeall, in 
 "Our Bible Chronology," has said: "It is fundamental 
 to a correct understanding of the subject," — of the 
 claims of the Hebrew and Septuagint chronologies, — 
 "that we show, by scripture, that all God's purposes 
 relatively to the world and the church, as connected 
 with the developments ... of the great plan and
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 301 
 
 work of human Redemption, were, in the purposes 
 of God, to be limited to the precise period of 6,000 ijears. 
 . . . The predicted events which follow those that 
 terminate 'the times of the Gentiles,' at the end of 
 the 6,000th year from the creation and fall, relate, 
 for the most part, to those which fill up a short un- 
 CHROXOLOGICAL interval that is to elapse — a season 
 of unparalleled tribulation, for which see Dan. 12:1; 
 Mark 13:19, 20; and Luke 21:25, 28— between the 
 close of the 6,000th year, and the final establishment 
 of the [universal] reign of Christ during the seventh 
 thousand years of Sabbatic rest." (p. 80.) Mr. 
 Shimeall proceeds to quote from the Jews before 
 Christ, and the early Christian fathers, etc., showing 
 their understanding of the Scriptures on this subject; 
 and that though the Scriptures do not give direct 
 testimony to this, yet they do give typical and veiled 
 testimony which is sufficiently conclusive. 
 
 In fact, the times and seasons of the second Advent 
 were designedly veiled in obscurity at first, and were 
 to be so — "closed up and sealed till the time of the 
 end;" and even then, "none of the wicked shall under- 
 stand; but the wise shall understand:" not by a 
 light blazing forth all at once, but "knowledge shall 
 be increased," gradually. That is, to those who 
 have ears to hear, "the wise," or instructed. Dan. 
 12:10— A. A.
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 CLOSING WORDS. 
 
 In closing this volume we are especially impressed 
 to address a few words to our young people, on 
 whom will soon fall the responsibility of keeping the 
 gospel banner of last day truth afloat. 
 
 The pioneers of our cause are nearly all dead. To 
 those still living who will read this narrative, memo- 
 ries of by-gone years will be revived by its perusal, 
 and possibly a longing for "the good old times" of 
 youthful vigor may come to their hearts. Our 
 heart goes out in deepest love to all the veterans of 
 our God-given cause, and if any such be helped or 
 blessed in any small degree by this narrative, the 
 Lord will have the praise. 
 
 Our middle-aged have a work still before them, 
 and we shall be glad if by perusing this volume they 
 receive a lesson of loyalty, steadfastness, and a deep- 
 ened love for the prophetic and other present day 
 truths, which Providence to-day entrusts to their 
 care. Give the trumpet no uncertain sound, but 
 faithfully and earnestly continue to help warn the 
 people of their nearness to earth's final doom. 
 
 Dear young readers : much of this book was written 
 with you in mind, especially to benefit you. Shall 
 not its lessons by example, in devotedness, diligence, 
 
 302
 
 LIFE OF SHELDON. 303 
 
 and perseverance in furthering our precious truths 
 (though more unpopular then than now), help you to 
 follow in the -same pathway? Young ministers! 
 young brethren! young sisters! how we pray that 
 you may so study and know the Word of God that 
 its light may shine out brightly in your daily life, 
 and so fill and thrill you, that you will be, in the 
 future days of time left to us, zealous, earnest, fear- 
 less advocates of the distinctive truths held so dear 
 by our forefathers, and which are now being left to 
 our care for promulgation. 
 
 Do they mean anything to you? Is there any- 
 thing in them that appeals to you, inviting, urging, 
 demanding, your best energies, talents, time, money, 
 influence? May the Spirit of the living God so rest 
 upon you, dear young people, that it may show you 
 what these truths mean to you and to the world, and 
 help you to realize your responsibilities to your God, 
 yourself, and to those around you; thus fitting you 
 to perform the coming duties in a manner that will 
 assure this people that our precious cause will not 
 be allowed to suffer in your hands, but will still be 
 advanced and extended. 
 
 Oh, that the lessons of the life and labors of William 
 Sheldon might be so impressed upon your minds as 
 to lead you all out into the Lord's service, in just 
 the manner and place the Lord would have you! 
 Then should his life still be fruitful of good. 
 
 Young people, in William Sheldon you had one 
 of your best friends. When, in 1891, at Savannah, 
 111., the denominational young peoples' work for 
 Adventists was organized — the Society of Loyal 
 Workers — he was the first to advocate its formation.
 
 304 LIFE OF SHELDON. 
 
 the first to encourage. He always looked on you 
 with a heartfelt interest and watch-care, which never 
 abated, but deepened while life was his. Your prog- 
 ress was a cause of rejoicing to him. When others 
 were fearful he did nothing but encourage. In his 
 death you lost a personal friend and brother. May 
 the record of his life be an inspiration to each of you, 
 leading you to be Loyal Workers in the fullest 
 sense of these words. Loyal Workers: love, cherish, 
 respect, and lighten the hearts and burdens of all the 
 veterans of our cause, who are still spared to us. 
 May this be to you a pleasure. They have borne 
 what you and I know little or nothing of : honor them 
 for it, with all sincerity. 
 
 To our readers, one and all. May the Lord's bless- 
 ing attend this simple narrative, written under cir- 
 cumstances of a discouraging and even trying nature; 
 but may the Lord over-rule all to the everlasting 
 good of our readers. 
 
 "And they that be wise shall shine as the bright- 
 ness of the firmament; and they that turn many 
 to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever." 
 Dan. 12:3.
 
 C(^N»^(/Ni> ^/N> ^/\> ^(/N> s</ V ^^^% ^/^^ %/\. 
 
 4^44^44^'^^'4^i4v^4^44^4-44-4H 
 
 4^«^^4^44^44^4-4^4-44-44"44"4^4 
 
 4^44^€.4^4-44-44"44-44-44-4«l 
 •••^^^••■^^^•■^^'^^•••^^^^••■^^^•^^••■^^••^^(^•■^^^ 
 
 .•444^444-44-4^^-44-44-44-4H 
 
 .•44-44-44-44-44-44-44-44-4^ 
 
 .4^44^44^44^44^4-44-4#44-4^« 
 .•4vi-4vi-4v^-4v^-4v^"<M.-4^^ 
 
 -^vvtg^ -^vv^^ *N:y^^c^ -n:^^^^^ s^'^^?- -^^^t^ s:^^^'^ 's:^'"'^ -n:^-^ 
 
 r4v^4^44^4-4^^-4>4-4>4-44-44-4^« 
 ••■^^^•■^^^^••■^^^•^^^•■^^^^••■^^(^^•■^^^^"^^^^^ 
 
 :-44-44-4^4-44-44-44-44-44-4v« 
 .•44-44-444v^-4^t^-44-44-44"4^^^
 
 ,/Nr "cV ^ 
 
 p^%^-^^^-'n>^--'p^^--n^-'p^--'m---w-'^^^ 
 
 ^^^■^(^^■^^^■^^^•■'p^--f-p^-^^^'^d^-'?(?^-'^M 
 4vM^4-44-4^4-4^4-4v^-4V^4%4%^% 
 
 4Wj--444^'^4-444^4-4v^-4^^^-4%-4^^^"4V^ 
 
 4^M%44-44--^^#4%-^^^^"-^%^%#l' 
 444^44^4-4^4-4^4---#^^-4^^-4^^^-4%4^4
 
 
 V'*»^>^-^H5* 
 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 BS5441SM C001 
 
 THE LIFE AND LABORS OF WILLIAM SHELDON 
 
 3 0112 025409035