The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

V. Preble-Introduces Sabbath to Bates and Andrews

THOMAS M. PREBLE, of East Weare, New Hampshire, ¹⁶ was in charge of the Free-will Baptist church at Nashua from 1842 to 1844. He likewise espoused the Adventist faith, and had a somewhat prominent part in it, itinerating with Miller as well 1899, p. 350; see also C. K. Farnsworth’s account of the church in History of Washington, New Hampshire, From the First Settlement to the Present Time, 1786, 1886, p. 119. For variant views on the date, see Spalding Captains, pp. 108, 674 as preaching alone in 1844, including the time of the great seventh-month phase. His proximity to Washington and Hillsboro is presumptive evidence that he had his first contact with the seventh-day Sabbath position through Rachel Oakes Preston in nearby Washington, beginning its observance by August, 1844. Preble was the first to advocate it in printed form. This was on February 28, 1845, through an article in the Hope of Israel” ¹⁷ Adventist periodical of Portland, Maine. This article was then reprinted in tract form in March. It kindled an unquenchable flame in the heart of forthright Joseph Bates and influenced several others, including J. N. Andrews, who also became a strong Sabbath champion. But Preble observed the Sabbath for only three years. ¹⁸ PFF4 951.3

J. B. Cook, ¹⁹ still another talented Adventist minister who accepted the Sabbath a few months after Preble, during 1845-1846, preached and wrote articles on the seventh-day Sabbath which were published in the Day-Dawn and the Day-Star, the two papers then favorable to the doctrine. Cook had a thorough theological training and was an effective preacher, exerting a strong influence in the 1844 movement. Preble and Cook both had the gift of presenting their newfound Sabbath light effectively to others, and their acceptance of the Sabbath gave some publicity to the issue and led a number to begin its observance. But while they caught the facts and arguments of the teaching, they somehow missed its real spirit. It became an academic question rather than a living, vital, spiritual thing in their lives—the sign of the Creator’s power. And so they soon gave it up. ²⁰ PFF4 952.1

But there were others who sincerely accepted the seventh-day Sabbath, and soon this unpopular doctrine found substantial supporters and gained ground in various sections of New England. Let us first note the development in Washington, New Hampshire. PFF4 952.2