The Story of our Health Message

Bold With His Pen

Perhaps some devotees of the weed who read their church paper during the spring of 1856 were somewhat perturbed at the boldness of the position taken by Elder J. N. Andrews, who, in the heading of an article, characterized the use of tobacco as “A Sin Against God.” In lifting his voice in protest against the continuance of tobacco-using among those who claimed to be commandment-keepers, he said, in commenting on 1 Corinthians 3:16-18 and 2 Corinthians 7:1: SHM 67.5

“Answer before God, would not the use of alcohol, opium, or tobacco, defile the temple of God? And of the three, is not tobacco the most filthy, both in itself and in its use? ... SHM 68.1

“Do you indulge in this inexcusable worldly lust? If so, let me beg you to consider that you cannot thus be presented without spot or wrinkle or fault before God. Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 14:5. Deceive not yourself. If you would stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, you must cleanse yourself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and perfect holiness in the fear of God.”—Ibid., April 10, 1856. SHM 68.2

Steady progress was made in cleansing the company of believers from tobacco, but the work of reform required time and patient education. Elder James White, in June, 1856, estimated that there were probably “no less than one thousand families who have left (or should immediately leave) the use of tobacco and tea.” Nevertheless he deprecated the “shameful fact” that “there are those among us” who are “too poor to pay for their paper,” but who “contrive to raise the cash to purchase tobacco and tea.”—Ibid., May 1, 1856. SHM 68.3

The churches in Vermont had evidently found it difficult to enforce their ruling that persistent tobacco-users were to be disfellowshiped, for at the next annual meeting they rescinded their former action and passed the following as a substitute: SHM 68.4

“Resolved, that the use of tobacco is a fleshly lust, which wars against the soul; and therefore we will labor in the spirit of meekness, patiently and perseveringly to persuade each brother and sister who indulge in the use of it, to abstain from this evil.”—Ibid., March 5, 1857. SHM 68.5

In the discussion of the use of tobacco by members of the church some evidently sought to justify its use, citing the words of Christ, “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth.” Matthew 15:11. Elder J. H. Waggoner gave a good answer to this with Scriptural arguments (The Review and Herald, November 19, 1857), but perhaps the most pungent reply was made by a correspondent who said: SHM 68.6

“We also feel it a pleasure to heartily sustain the uncompromising course the Review has taken, to suppress the use of that noxious weed, tobacco, among Sabbathkeepers. If any take the ground that it is not that which goes into the man that defiles, but what comes out of him—that is the very reason why we protest against the use of tobacco: for no man can use it without defiling himself, the place he occupies, and also be in danger of defiling those with whom he associates.”—Ibid., October 7, 1858. SHM 69.1