Vol. 1  The Symbolic Code  No. 6

                  THE SYMBOLIC CODE NEWS ITEMS
                                
                                
Volume One     December 15, 1934   
No. 6     Los Angeles, Calif.   
                                
                                
           In The Interest Of The S.D.A. Denomination
                                
                      A LETTER OF INTEREST

Dear Brother Lysinger:
   We received your circular letter dated Oct. 24, warning us against "The Shepherd's Rod," and
enclosing the little tract: "A Warning Against Error." I had already read the little tract and also the
booklet: "A Reply to the Shepherd's Rod." I have also corresponded with Prof. O.J. Graf, who
was so clearly the governing mind in both the Pacific Union Conf. and the Gen. Conf.
Committees. He being the chief author if not the editor of both of these pamphlets, my reply to
the little tract shall be to him and not to you.

   With no desire to question your sincerity, and with all due respect for your office, may I ask
whether you have personally made a prayerful investigation of the SRod message? Or is your
warning against it based solely on the investigation of another as given in the little tract? My
reason for asking this is that your predecessor also sent us a warning against the SRod message
based, as he later acknowledged, not on his own investigation, but on a warning received by him
from one in higher office.

   You say that "among the 2175 ordained ministers that we have in the S.D.A. denomination
there is one E.T. Wilson, who has accepted the teachings of the SRod." But is it safe to take this
as evidence against the SRod message or to condemn those who do accept it as heretics? We will
be better able to judge of this in the light of the following inspired quotations: "Have any of the
rulers of the Pharisees believed on Him?" John 7:48.

   "But beware of rejecting that which is truth. The great danger with our people has been that of
depending upon men, and making flesh their arm. Those who have not been in the habit of
searching the Bible for themselves, of weighing evidence, have confidence in the leading men and
accept the decisions they make; and thus many will reject the very messages God sends to His
people, if these leading brethren do not accept them.

   "No one should claim that he has all the light there is for God's people. The Lord will not
tolerate this. He has said: 'I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.' Even if all
our leading men should refuse light and truth, that door will still remain open. The Lord will raise
up men who will give the people the message for this time."  ("Testimonies to Ministers," pp. 106,
107.)

   In the light of these clear, positive warnings against rejecting truth because men in high office
do not accept it, may every Seventh-day Adventist minister and layman search his own heart in
the light of his own Bible, before condemning "The Shepherd's Rod"  Message as heresy. Have
the other 2174 ordained ministers made an earnest and prayerful investigation of "The Shepherd's
Rod" Message as has Elder E.T. Wilson? Surely, to be fair to themselves, honest with the people,
and true to God, they should do so before branding him as a heretic, and before barring him from
the homes of the people.

   This message will stand or fall on its own merits regardless of who may accept it or reject it. Let
no one stand by waiting for it to come to naught until they have investigated and proven it false.
     (Signed) A.E. Johnson.

LEARN TO TRUST IN HIM

   "Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip,
nor shoes: and salute no man by the way." (Lu. 10:3, 4.)

   In fulfillment of the above promise I wish to relate a few experiences showing His tender watch
care over the work and the workers. Early in the year, when beginning to labor in Loma Linda,
the first brother we met at that place told us that we had come to "the valley of dry bones." As the
days went by we realized more and more how terribly true this was. Nevertheless, we could see
occasional signs of life, and though at one time it looked as if we must move on to another field, 

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 1

we continued to work and pray, with the result that God rewarded us by resurrecting several for a
memorial as firstfruits in that locality.

   On one occasion those who were fighting the message tried to take our room from under us so
we would be compelled to leave. This failing, they started circulating malicious reports and tales,
but the Lord prevailed and we stayed.

   During this time my food and money ran out and things looked dark. I went into the field and
pulled a handful of alfalfa along with some mustard greens, enjoyed a good salad, and went back
to work. Thus I learned precious lessons in trusting in the Lord and of the possibilities in health
reform.

 "'The Lord can spread a table in the wilderness.' Under His direction food will go a long way.
When we place ourselves in right relation to Him, He will help us, and the food we eat in
obedience to Him will satisfy us. We can subsist on very much less than we think we can, if God's
blessing is on the food; and if it is for His glory, He can multiply it." -- "Counsels on Health," p.
495.

   In opening my mail the next morning, there I found a one dollar bill! The Lord knoweth what
things we have need of before we ask Him. "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your
life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not
the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not
much better than they?...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do
they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into
the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought,
saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we clothed? (For after
all these things do the Gentiles seek:)." (Matt. 6:25-32.)

   Upon returning from a journey some time later, I again knew not whence, my next meal was
coming, and as I unpacked my books, there seemed to be a leaf turned down in my Bible. Upon
examining it, there I found two one dollar bills! And several times since, when just about at the
point of necessity, letters have come which, when opened, gave material assurance that God cares
for those who put their trust in Him.

   Upon a recent visit to Loma Linda, we left the little company there trusting in the Lord and
determined to press the "battle to the gate." -- M.L. Deater.

A TRUTH REFORMATION

   During the past four weeks which we have spent among our dear people in Virginia, we have
seen a longing of heart for a power that will save them from their sins, whether those sins be
lukewarmness, the attitude of being rich and increased with goods, addiction to cigarettes, love of
movies, display of jewelry, affiliation with lodges, robbing God of tithe, or whatsoever. The
message of present truth has fulfilled this very longing and has put a new song in their lips and
brought forth praises to God.

   About twenty precious souls at Meadows of Dan are rejoicing in the truths contained in the
SRod. This number comprises most of the little church there, and besides these, two in Richmond
have declared themselves anew in love with the Third Angel's message, and know for the first
time in all their lives that God has something for His people that will save poor, wandering,
discouraged S.D.A.'s from their sins. To God be all the glory for what has been accomplished in
this interesting field, and shall we not join these dear children of the Lord in most earnest prayer
to the end that they may be used to bring Present Truth to many others in the church before the
destructive judgments of the Lord fall upon the lukewarm professors therein? -- E.T. Wilson.

PRAISES TO HIM

   I love the SRod message and have loaned the books to several persons. I do not know how any
true Seventh-day Adventists could be against such a message, for it upholds and exalts all of Sr.
White's writings, which I love with all my soul,...I sincerely pray that all those who are fighting
against the truth may be led to see their mistake before it is too late. -- Mrs. E.E. Martin, Kinsale,
Montserrat, British West Indies.

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 2

   I have read, reread, studied, and prayed over the writings of the SRod, and I am convinced that
God has sent the message to enlighten our people at this time.

   I have wondered many times if dear Sister White had given us all the light that God had for us,
but I now see by her own teaching that there is much more light to come, and I truly thank God
for the new light in the unfolding of the prophecies.

   Praise His holy name. Now I love the truth and the people more and study every day. I have
been an Adventist 52 years and have never once in my life doubted the writings of Sister White,
but now they are more precious than ever.
     (Signed) Mrs. Olive, Perris, Calif.

   I find the SRod to be present truth. If the Montana Conference fights the message, you will
receive my tithe and offerings. There is another family here besides ourselves who have accepted
the message in the SRod. Surely the Lord is good to His people by showing us our true condition
that we may repent.
     (Signed) O.O. Callentine, Bozeman, Montana

VISITING FROM COLORADO

To the Symbolic Code, -- to those in the office, and those out in the field, and to those who are
halting between two opinions -- greetings:

   We came to Los Angeles from a distance of 1400 miles for the purpose of investigating more
thoroughly the claims of the SRod, to make sure that we be not led into error, and at the same
time to make sure of not being left behind in the darkness as were those who closed their ears to
the messages in the ages past.

   We find Bro. Houteff very earnest, sincere, and a deep student both of the Bible and the Spirit
of Prophecy. When questioned about a part of Scripture, he either explains it with convincing
evidence or else he says, "I do not know."

   Besides making this first hand investigation, I have studiously read Vol. 1 of the SRod
twenty-one times, and Vol. 2 about fifteen times. I have also read the four tracts that are now in
circulation, and I can testify that the reports we hear against him and his writings I have found to
be baseless and false. My investigation of the publications and the man convinces me beyond
question that God has given him a message for the S.D.A. church, and I want to be in line with
those who are endeavoring to bring it before the people.

   I find on the one hand that those who have investigated the message are convinced that God is
speaking to them while on the other hand those who have made no study of it, and who think they
are "rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," think themselves capable of
knowing without investigation, in spite of the fact that the Lord says to them, "Thou knowest
not." May God manifest His power and awaken His sleeping church before it is too late.
     (Signed) Arthur Carver, Cory.

ATTEMPTS TO DEPRIVE THE SHEEP

   The church at Muncie, Indiana, has made another drive against the members who are studying
the SRod. The first two were made by the Indiana Conference president. He came to the church
under the impression that the entire membership was being led astray, and seemed astonished
when he learned that only one member was studying the SRod. But in his attempt to stamp out
present truth, he suggested this member be given 30 days in which to renounce the SRod. A vote
was taken and carried in his favor. However, as in the end of the "30 days" the one in question
was still studying, the Conference president called another meeting and disfellowshipped this
member on the former vote.

   Nevertheless, instead of crying down the SRod it just gave it a good start. Several meetings
have been held with a goodly number present. Books and tracts have been distributed and there
are several interested ones weighing the claims of the SRod. The church elder and deacon, like the
Jesuits in the days of the Inquisition, and the Pharisees of old, were spying to find out who were
studying the SRod. They called another meeting, at which portions of the Bible and Testimonies
were read by the accused, but the reading made no effect. The church officials would try to turn
the readings around and use them against the accused. They finally made a call for all who were
against the SRod to move to one side of the room and the command was obeyed. Besides the
ones who were studying the SRod, three others remained seated, feeling they could not
intelligently say they were against a thing that they had not studied and knew nothing about.
Nevertheless they were all given the customary 30 days.
     (Signed) R.H. Smith, Muncie, Ind.

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 3


ANOTHER EVIDENCE OF HOW THE MESSAGE GOES AND HOW IT REFORMS

   It has been about sixteen months since I got hold of the first volume of the SRod. I have read it
along with the other publications several times, and the more I read the clearer it becomes, and
my heart is filled with gratitude to God for the wonderful truths I have found.

   A certain family came recently to Hartford City. I called on them but found they had never
heard of the message. So I gave them the SRod and the tracts. Now they are rejoicing in present
truth and are having a real reformation in their home, what with restoring the family altar,
observing the principles of health reform, returning to the system of tithing, and ordering their
conversation.

   The church voted my name off the books two weeks ago, and last Saturday night there were
two ministers here and they surely did preach against the SRod. At that time they took away from
another sister all her church responsibilities because she was reading the book and gave her the
usual 30 days to renounce the SRod.

   Sr. Sebring, from Hartford City, Indiana, who wrote the above, and the other sister were simply
complying with the instruction given by the Spirit of God in the following injunction:

   "When a message comes in the name of the Lord to His people, no one may excuse himself
from an investigation of its claims. No one can afford to stand back in an attitude of indifference
and self-confidence, and say: 'I know what is truth. I am satisfied with my position. I have set my
stakes, and I will not be moved away from my position, whatever may come. I will not listen to
the message of this messenger; for I know that it can not be truth.' It was from pursuing this very
course that the popular churches were left in partial darkness, and that is why the messages of
heaven have not reached them." -- "Testimonies on Sabbath School Work," p. 65.

   Mark how positively the above proceedings are reproved by the Spirit of Prophecy in the
following quotation:

IN THE TRACK OF ROMANISM

   "Those who are enjoined to represent the attributes of the Lord's character, step from the Bible
platform, and in their own human judgment devise rules and resolutions to force the will of others.
The devisings for forcing men to follow the prescriptions of other men, are instituting an order of
things that overrides sympathy and tender compassion; that blinds the eyes to mercy, justice, and
the love of God. Moral influence and personal responsibility are trodden underfoot.

   "The righteousness of Christ by faith has been ignored by some; for it is contrary to their spirit,
and their whole life-experience. Rule, rule, has been their course of action." -- "Testimonies to
Ministers," p. 363.

   It is fearful irony to see the tyranny of popes being cradled anew in the lap of the "Mother" of
religious liberty! Yet it is doubted by many that the deadly wound is healed! Not only does this
sort of action leave no such possibility of doubt, but almost convinces one that it is more than
merely an old wives' tale that there are papal agents throughout our ranks, disguised as angels of
light (Seventh-day Adventist ministers).

   "O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion." (Isa. 52:2.)

A SAD BUT HAPPY EXPERIENCE

Sr. Knudsen from San Diego relates the following experience:

   "After the Seventh-day Adventists destroyed my faith in the prophet Joseph Smith, I ceased to
believe in the doctrine of Latter Day prophets, and accepted the advent message while wholly
ignorant that they, too, had a prophet.

   "The day I was to be baptized, a visiting elder spoke on the Spirit of Prophecy, on which
occasion I learned for the first time that they had a prophetess. Then my heart truly ached and my
mind was confused and I refused to be baptized. But when the evangelist who killed my prophet
learned of this, then more studies were given me, but they failed to convince me that Sr. White's
writings were inspired. Finally on the strength of the Sabbath truth the evangelist persuaded me to
be baptized, leaving me to be converted later to the Spirit of Prophecy.

   "Eight years after I had joined the church I went to a meeting where the message of the SRod
was being presented. In the course of the study, facts were brought out which proved the
inspiration of Sr. White's writings, and before the close of the study I was fully convinced to the
Spirit of Prophecy, for which I have ever since been increasingly thankful, not only because of the
great blessings deriving there-from 

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 4

but also because I now know I am a genuine Seventh-day Adventist.

   When I was an unbeliever in the Spirit of Prophecy -- that which made the Seventh-day
Adventist church -- and was an Adventist mostly in day and in name, I retained my membership,
but when the SRod converted me to the Spirit of Prophecy and made me a true Seventh-day
Adventist, my membership was deprived me! But I thank God for the privilege to be cast out for
the Son of man's sake."

   We cannot think of any greater irony than that of the foregoing experience, which is typical of
more than one such incident in the church today. We simply cannot understand how our brethren
in the church can sleep complacently on through such irrational, outrageous proceedings. To
retain one's membership for eight years while that one is but half converted to its doctrines, and
then to disfellowship this person when fully converted is the most appalling inconsistency
imaginable. And yet this is the precise thing that God's church is about today.

   "Too much hasty work is done in adding names to the church roll. Serious defects are seen in
the characters of some who join the church. Those who admit them say, We will first get them
into the church, and then reform them. But this is a mistake. The very first work to be done is the
work of reform....Do not allow them to unite with God's people in church relationship until they
give decided evidences that the Spirit of God is working upon their hearts. Many whose names
are registered on the church books are not Christians." (Mrs. E.G. White, in, Review and Herald,
May 21, 1901.)

   Then when they finally become converted, the church repents itself of having brought them in
and straightway sets about to disfellowship them!

   Sister Palmer of Red Cloud, Nebraska, sends this most cordial invitation: "We came here the
middle of October and would be glad to have any SRod member stop with us if in this vicinity."

VERY IMPORTANT

   Carelessness on the part of some has cost them a good deal, and much mail has gone astray,
never reaching the office. Our correct address has been published in the past, but some have not
given it any consideration. Please remember to address any member of this office in the following
manner:

     Universal Publishing Assn.
     Station K, Box 68
     Los Angeles. California
     Person's name

   Do not place currency in common mail. Send either P.O. Money Order or a bank check. Make
sure that your return address is given on all mail.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WAS CHRIST ARRESTED AND CRUCIFIED THE SAME DAY?

   "In reading The Desire of Ages it seems that Christ was taken by wicked men on Thursday night
and His trial rushed right through, and from what I am able to understand, His trial from the time
He was taken in the garden till His crucifixion took about twelve hours. Am I right in this?"

   The apostle, Mark, emphatically states that Christ was crucified at the third hour of the day
(Mk. 15:25), which is but three hours after sunrise, as proven by the fact that the Bible is dealing
with the ancient time piece. Let the questioner carefully follow the diagram in page six --
appended to facilitate comprehension.

   In those days, and even now, in some of those countries, the time piece is regulated so that
when the sun sets the clock hand points to the twelfth hour. The sixth hour in the night part
always ended at midnight, and the sixth hour in the day part always ended at noon. Thus the Jews
divided the day into two equal parts of 12 hours each, from sunset to sunrise, and from sunrise to
sunset.

   Matt. 15:33 reveals that while Jesus was on the cross darkness covered the land from the sixth
hour (noon) to the ninth hour (3 P.M.), and that when He died the darkness disappeared. (Matt.
27:46-50.) Then Luke adds that the Saviour was buried by the twelfth hour (sunset), at which
time the Sabbath drew on. (Lu. 23:52-54.) Here we see that the chronological record of the
events proves that from the time He was 

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 5

crucified to the time He was buried -- the hours between three A.M. and twelve P.M. -- were
consumed about 9 hours.

   John 19:14 states that about the sixth hour Christ was in Pilate's judgment hall. This sixth hour
could not be the sixth hour after He was crucified, for at that hour He was hanging on the cross.
Therefore, the closest sixth hour preceding His crucifixion was the one at midnight, the dawning
of Friday morning. Thus we see that there are on record at least 18 hours from the time Christ
was brought before Pilate to the time He was buried. Study the diagram herein and you will be
convinced of the impossibility for one to entertain a different view and yet be in harmony with
Biblical reckoning of the event.

   The foregoing facts prove positively that half of a twelve hour night and one whole day of
twelve hours were consumed by the Roman Judiciary, crucifixion - death - and burial - of the
Saviour.

   As it was prohibited by the Jewish law to try one by night, and as Christ was judged by the
Sanhedrin before He was taken to Pilate's judgment hall, it proves that Jesus stood before the
Jewish tribunal the day before He was crucified. Moreover, the words of Jesus: "That this night,
before the cock crow thou shalt deny Me thrice" (Matt. 26:34), proves that He was taken from
the garden at night. Therefore, from the time Christ was brought before the Sanhedrin to the time
he was buried there were 36 hours, for the circumstances were such that the Jewish dignitaries
were urged to arraign Him before their highest court as soon as the sun arose. Study the
illustration and you will see how accurate the above explanation proves to be.

   Was He crucified Friday or some other day?? -- Mark says, "It was the preparation; that is, the
day before the Sabbath." (Mk. 15:42) It would be erroneous for one to conclude that "the
Sabbath," above mentioned, is some other that "the seventh-day Sabbath." It could not have been
the Passover day itself -- the day the lamb was eaten (Ex. 12:3, 6) at the beginning of the seven
days of paschal feasts -- for the Sabbath mentioned by Mark came after Jesus died, whereas on
the first of the feasts (Ex. 12:3, 9; Num. 28:17), on the Passover day itself, Jesus was yet alive and
celebrated it with the twelve. (Lu. 22:7-12).

   Again, we read that after He was buried "they returned, and prepared spices and ointment; and
rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment (Lu. 23:56), and not that they returned
and ate the Passover. Furthermore, the day in which they rested was followed by the first day of
the week, for Luke says: "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning they
came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared." (Lu. 24:1).

   Consequently, Jesus was arrested on Wednesday night, after which He was tried twice before
the priests, twice before the Sanhedrin, twice before Pilate and once before Herod (D.A. 760) --
seven trials in all

[CHART OF 3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS]

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 6

which denotes completeness.

  Moreover, in view of the hours that are recorded in the Bible, only a mind wholly devoid of the
sense of time in measuring the natural duration of events could conclude, after shown, that the
seven trials, the crucifixion, and the burial, all took place in one day.

   John 19:31 says, "That Sabbath day was an high day," because it was a Sabbath within the
Passover week -- a Sabbath within one of the paschal feasts, occurring only once a year.

   Matt. 28:1, 2 proves that the Lord arose on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday,
for it is stated in these verses that, "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first
day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold,
there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and
rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." As the women came to the sepulchre just
before the rising of the sun (John 20:1), and as the "earthquake" occurred while they were on their
way to the place, it shows that the angel descended from heaven and rolled away the stone just
before they arrived. Mark also testifies that "Jesus was risen early the first day of the week."
(Mark 16:9.)

   Hence from the time Jesus was taken before the priests to the time He arose, there were exactly
three days and three nights, fulfilling the words: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in
the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth"
that is, in the hands of sinful clay. (Matt. 12:40.)

   This study proves Sr. White's exposition of the subject correct, and the fact that she has
enumerated His trials before the priests, Pilate, and Herod, shows that she is not teaching that it
was all accomplished in one day as some think her language seems to imply.

   The statement, "Later that same day" (D.A. 722), has no reference to the day Judas betrayed the
Lord but rather to the day when he exclaimed, "It is too late! It is too late! "for the expression of
Judas' consternation, not the event of his betraying the Lord, is the antecedent event of the
statement, "Later that same day."

   In reference to the question as to "how can we harmonize the statement, 'On the second day of
the feast, the first fruits of the year's harvest were presented before God,' (Patriarchs and
Prophets, 539), with the statement, 'The sheaf offering...was to be offered before the Lord on the
morrow after the Sabbath,' (The Shepherd's Rod, Vol. 2, p. 20)" we answer as follows:

   The fact that the author says, "On the day the Passover was eaten He was to be sacrificed,"
proves that she does not mean the second day from the feast which Jesus celebrated, but rather
from the paschal feast on Friday night, which actually falls on the Sabbath, for the Passover on
Friday, before He was crucified "the second day of the feast," would not fall on Sunday but rather
on the Sabbath, and as her position is that Christ arose on Sunday, on the day the sheaf was
offered (D.A. 785), it is evident that the statement in "Patriarchs and Prophets" must be
understood to refer to another than the second day from the first feast -- the real Passover. In
other words if she means that which seems to appear on the face of it, the second day of the
feasts, according to what she has written elsewhere, would fall on the seventh day Sabbath instead
of on the day the resurrection took place.

   Page 6 of this issue, in answering a question in regards to the length of time from the day Jesus
ate the Passover to the crucifixion, proves that He ate the Passover feast with the twelve on
Wednesday night and that He was resurrected on Sunday morning; that is, on the day the sheaf
was to be presented before the Lord. This proves that the words, "On the second day of the feast,
the first fruits of the year's harvest were presented before God" (P.P. 539), could not mean the
day after Jesus ate the Passover. However, thus far we are not able to give a better explanation of
P.P. 539; nevertheless, the facts herein prove the SRod correct.

"THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY" OR "THE GATHERING CALL"--WHICH?

   From Colorado comes a question concerning the warfare waged against the Spirit of Prophecy,
by the publication, "The Gathering Call."

   Having read a number of E.S. Ballenger's Tracts, we are compelled to say that we have not
found a message in any of them. Their chief aim is to overthrow our faith in the writings of Sr.
White. They seize upon everything and anything they can find a chance to talk about. Not once
have we seen them successfully refute any of the doctrines which Sr. White teaches in her
writings, and the means which they employ to destroy her teachings are as weak as a spider's web
suspended to catch an eagle.

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 7

   We note on page 24 of our copy of "The Gathering Call" for Sept.-Oct. an article written
against the sanctuary truth as taught by Sr. White. Therein we see that the article does not refute
her position by Bible truth but attempts to do so by making light of what actually took place in the
earthly sanctuary. The author endeavors to convince us that the "holy place" is not in this
connection the first apartment of the sanctuary, and because he cannot prove this by the Bible, he
tries to explain away the truth with his darkened mind by reasoning along the following tenor:

   The Bible says, "Thou shalt take the ram of the congregation, and seethe his flesh in the holy
place." (Ex 29:31.) Her interpretation he questions by asking, "Was the first apartment a boiling
kitchen?" Again he quotes, "In Lev. 16:24 Aaron is instructed, after he has sent the scapegoat into
the wilderness, to 'wash his flesh with water in the holy place.'" He thinks the holy place here
mentioned cannot be the first apartment, and therefore he again makes light by asking the
question, "Was the first apartment turned into a bath room?" Now he quotes from Lev. 6:27,
"When there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment thou shalt wash that whereon it
was sprinkled in the holy place." Then he asks, "Where do you suppose they put a laundry tray in
the first apartment of the tabernacle temple?"

   What proof has he given us that the holy place is not the first apartment? -- Not the slightest.
"The Gathering Call" in the above expresses a carnal human mind which is unable to comprehend
that the ceremonial system with its daily sacrifices in every aspect was symbolical, and that the
cooking of the flesh in the "holy place" and the washing of the priest's flesh and of his holy
garments had to be done in the "holy place" though contrary to human reason.

   Human beings without divine enlightenment, as the case is with "The Gathering Call," can see
no reason at all for all those daily sacrifices of bulls, goats, rams, lambs, pigeons, turtle doves,
some of which were to be males and others females, sometimes a year old and sometimes three
years old, each offered in a special way by meat and drink offerings; and for the many other rituals
of the Jewish economy. If we were to employ the mind of "The Gathering Call," our demeanor
would not be that of making light of the services in the "holy place" only, but of the ceremonial
system also. Human judgment would compel us to decide that the entire ceremonial system was
devised for nothing else but to wear out the people, bring them to poverty, and make them think
that God was some kind of being, blood-thirsty, flesh-hungry, and cruel to animals.

   Had the advocates of the "The Gathering Call" lived in Moses' time, and had they been in the
same frame of mind then as they are now, they would have found a thousand times better reason
to find fault with what he was teaching then than they now have for finding fault with Sr. White's
writings, and if God was to deal with them now as He would have dealt with them then, He
would destroy them as quickly as He destroyed those who found fault with Moses.

   We are sorry that we must speak in such plain terms but, as we realize that we are dealing with
a life and death problem, for Bro. Ballenger's sake we are compelled to make ourselves as plain as
we know how, and hope that he will reconsider his views.

   We say again that "The Gathering Call" has not refuted a single thing. For example we call
attention to how it tries to prove that Sr. White was wrong in believing that probation had closed
in 1844. We quote from page 7: "...A letter written to Elder L. by Mrs. White in which she says,
'With my brethren and sisters, after the time passed in forty-four I did believe no more sinners
would be converted."

   By the above statement "The Gathering Call" is trying to prove that Sr. White was teaching,
some years later, the probation had closed in 1844 and that there was no more probation for
sinners after that date. But note carefully what she says: "With my brethren and sisters, after the
time passed...I did believe;" that is, she believed that which Wm. Miller taught, and when the time
set for Christ's coming had passed in 1844 she, with the Millerites, believed that probation had
closed for all. But she does not say that she was teaching this after she became God's messenger.
Now we ask "The Gathering Call" to tell us if her belief in Miller's message would disqualify her
from becoming a prophetess after the disappointment, and would her belief before 1844 make the
pioneers of the S.D.A. denomination wrong in their doctrines after they had more light? -- Not at
all. Rather, it proves Sr. White right and "The Gathering Call" wrong for using such a weak
argument against a proven fact.

   In part Two of a paper entitled, "The Doctrine on the Investigative Judgment," by W.W.
Fletcher, an ally of "The Gathering Call," the author quotes from "The Advent Review," Aug.
1850 (which our efforts fail 

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 8

to verify), where Elder James White is speaking of the judgment of the wicked during the
millennium, and is using for his proof Dan. 7:22, which scripture applies to that event. The article
misconstrues both Elder White's statement and the scripture, in trying to make us believe that
Elder White is teaching that the investigative judgment is to begin after the second coming of
Christ.

   It then asks: "At what time do you expect the judgment of Daniel 7 to take place?" In answer, it
quotes from Elder White's writings this statement: "'Daniel,' in the night visions' saw that
'judgment was given to the saints of the Most High,' but not to mortal saints -- not 'until the
Ancient of days came,' and the 'little horn' ceased prevailing, which will not be until he is
destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming.

   As by the above statement Elder White is not explaining the investigative judgment but rather
the one during the millennium, and as the article tries by the quotation to make out, contrary to
fact, that he did not believe in the investigative judgment as now taught, the charge can
unfortunately be only a boomerang to the hand of its author.

   When one is compelled to resort to unfair dealings in order to disprove the writings of Sr. White
or the doctrines of the denomination, one only proves that her writings are inspired and that her
opponents find themselves at a loss honestly to refute what she has written.

   On page 8 of "The Gathering Call" of Sept.--Oct. appears the following quotation from Sr.
White's writings: "'I was shown in vision, and I still believe, that there was a shut door in 1844.
All who saw the light of the first and second angels' messages and rejected that light, were left in
darkness.'" Then "The Gathering Call" asks the question: "We would like to have the editor of the
Review and Herald point out any light that was presented in the first and second angels'
messages."

   The trouble does not lie in what Sr. White is teaching but rather in the exceeding spiritual
darkness that surrounds those who are kicking "against the pricks," for they see only one close of
probation, whereas the Bible teaches a close of probation after every message that God sends. As
there was a close of probation for the antediluvians, for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah,
and for the Jewish nation, Just so there is a close of probation for each individual at the moment
that individual rejects the message. Therefore after the first and second angels messages were
presented to the people at that time, their probation closed and their destinies were unalterably
fixed either for eternal life or eternal death, as was the case with Saul, king of Israel.

   The prophet of God informed Saul, saying, "Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord
(message), He hath also rejected thee from being a king" (1 Sam. 15:23.) Though Saul pleaded
and "said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord. And
Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord,
and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel....The Lord hath rent the kingdom of
Israel from thee this day,...for He is not a man that He should repent." (1 Sam. 15:23-26, 28, 29.)

   The reprint of the "Jones Letter," as I see it, proves nothing. The weightiest item "The
Gathering Call" has in it is that Sr. White did not reply to the letter. However true that may be it
does not prove her wrong. They must have been debating over those controverted points for
some time before that particular letter was written, and God only knows the number of letters and
counsels Jones had received treating on these points before he wrote that particular letter.
Evidently she saw no reason why she should waste her time any longer in an unprofitable way, for
those men, like "The Gathering Call," were determined to destroy the faith of the people in her
writings. The writer, himself, many letters has not answered, not because they could not be
answered, but because they were not worthy of his time.

   Though all the quarrels against the Spirit of Prophecy are the result of misunderstanding and
misjudging, dishonesty has been the leading factor in most cases. The strongest arguments against
Sr. White's writings we have ever heard or read are weaker than the weakest ones used against
the Sabbath truth.

   In a letter under date of April 4, 1933 to a certain sister, the editor of "The Gathering Call"
says, "...No one can get the truth of God's Word until he abandons the inspiration of Mrs. White.
One that follows her teaching will always be in darkness."

   By the fact that "The Gathering Call" has no message at all, though it has abandoned "her
inspiration," and as "The Shepherd's Rod" is full of present truth, radiating unparalleled light from
the Bible to the people, while being at the same time in perfect agreement with 

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 9

"her inspiration," proves the assertion in the "April 4" letter false.

   Page 9 says of "The Gathering Call" for Sept.--Oct. says, "We would like to have the editor of
the R. & H. point out any light that was presented in the first or second angel's messages. The
first angel's message taught at that time was that Christ was coming on Oct. 22, 1844, to deliver
the saints, and destroy all the wicked....Was there any truth in that? It was all error."

   It is true that the Millerites understood the event of Christ's coming to His temple in heaven to
be His final coming to earth "to deliver the saints and destroy the wicked." Nevertheless, the
interpretation of the 2300 days as pointing to that event in 1844 is correct.

   Hence, if we must reject the announcement of the investigative judgment on account of the fact
that the nature of His coming was misunderstood, then what right have we to accept John the
Baptist's message, for John also preached that the Messiah was at that time to set up an earthly
kingdom? If "The Gathering Call" had been in existence in John's time, it would have surely
rebelled against the teachings of his and thus against Christ.

   Moreover, who were the better prepared to meet the Lord in 1844, those who believed that the
Lord was coming then, or those who put His coming afar off? -- Most assuredly the ones who
were waiting in solemn expectancy for His momentary coming.

   Brother Ballenger thinks he is positively right and the Spirit of Prophecy positively wrong in
that, for one thing, the leaders of the denomination cannot successfully refute his arguments, but
though this may be the fact of the matter, it means nothing, for how can he expect a "wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" Laodicean angel to show him anything? This is
taking an unfair advantage of the "Spirit of Prophecy" in measuring it by the angel's unconscious
blindness. Brother Ballenger should take the Lord at His word when He says of the angel, "Thou
knowest not," and should fear to judge the light by the darkness, lest he incur the anger of the
Lord.

   God has never yet revealed the whole truth to any one person. But He expects us to keep pace
with the ever increasing light, and though each advancing truth at first dawning seem more or less
hazy as to its real essence and magnitude, we shall see it more and more in its true character the
nearer we come to it, for the prophecies of the Bible stand as a road map to the kingdom.

   Let no one discourage another in the 1844 movement. God has an awful surprise in store for all
who are misusing their time in trying to overthrow the truth of the Millerite and 1844 movements,
for "We have also a more 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, and the day star arise in your hearts:
knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved
by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:19-21.)

   The above mentioned surprise the Lord will present in soon coming publications.

   "Are we giving the 11th hour message now or will it not be given until after the fulfillment of
Eze. 9? Has the angel that is to lighten the earth with his glory (E.W. 277) already come? If the
questioner will consult the chart on page 224 of Vol. 2 of the SRod, he will observe that the
angels of Rev. 7 and 18 are represented as coming at the 11th hour, and as we are in the sealing
time, it proves that we are now in the 11th hour.

   Concerning the angel of Rev. 18:1, with whose glory the earth is to be lightened, we do not
claim to have as yet all his light, nor do we believe that the earth is at present lightened with his
glory. But we do maintain that a large part of that light has already been revealed and that as soon
as the 144,000 are sealed and the church is purified by the separation of the sinners from "the
midst thereof" by the men with slaughter weapons as described in Ezekiel's vision, the earth will
then be lightened as the 144,000 go forth proclaiming the message to all nations. (Isa. 66:19, 20.)

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 6         pg. 10

