The history of most peoples, nations, and organizations is preserved in libraries. This is certainly true of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination and its history. For some years it has been the plan of the library of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary to preserve artifacts and books illustrative of the progress of the denomination. The most notable collection helping to accomplish this aim is known as the Advent Source Collection, built up by L. E. Froom in connection with his writing of the four-volume set The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers. While this collection goes far beyond strictly Seventh-day Adventist materials, it is rich in these as well. The library has received many interesting and worth-while additions through contacts made by Pastor Froom.
Bibles of the Pioneers
Among the most fascinating books in our possession are the Bibles of the pioneers. An accompanying picture shows Bibles that once belonged to Mrs. William Miller, Pastor Joseph Bates, Rachel Oakes Preston, D. T. Bourdeau, J. N. Andrews, and S. N. Haskell. Looking over such priceless materials gives one a deep sense of responsibility to make his own contribution toward the heralding of the three angels' messages. These early pioneers played their role with fervor. They gave much to the cause—many of them their whole lives. What a challenge to us!
Armies of earth have gone forth to battle singing as they marched behind the banner of their king. No less is true of those making up the Advent Movement. In the Seminary library there is a choice collection of Seventh-day Adventist hymnals, dating back to the first one, published in 1849: Hymns for God's Peculiar People That Keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This was advertised in the Review and Herald at the price of eight for $1! Also included in the collection is a children's hymnal, Hymns for Youth and Children, compiled in 1854 by Anna White, the sister of James White. The hymnal collection includes books through the years, down to our present excellently compiled Church Hymnal.
Museum Pieces
Aside from book materials, there are a number of odd and interesting items, such as the hatbox in which William Miller carried his black silk hats as he journeyed from place to place to preach the soon coming of Jesus. This was given to F. D. Nichol for the historical collection by Mrs. William Adams, a granddaughter of William Miller.
The pioneers took literally the verse that says "make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it" (Hab. 2:2). There are still in existence some of each of the prophetic charts used by William Miller and his followers. Most of them were designed and printed by Joshua V. Himes at his printing establishment on Devonshire Street in Boston. Some time ago M. L. Andreasen presented to the Advent Source Collection an 1843 chart.
One of the fascinating chapters of Seventh-day Adventist mission history concerns the collection of dimes to build the Pitcairn. Through the interest of the late Claude Conard, for many years statistical secretary of the General Conference, the Seminary library came into possession of the ship's log kept by Capt. E. H. Gates on the first journeys of the Pitcairn. Included also with the log is the inkwell used on the captain's desk.
Hand-written Mongolian Bible
Another product of pioneer Seventh-day Adventist missions work is a hand-written Mongolian Bible. When Otto C. Christensen and his wife went to Mongolia to labor, they found that practically all copies and plates of the Mongolian Bible printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society had been destroyed by hostile people. Pastor Christensen borrowed an office copy from the Bible Society. The first woman convert to our faith worked eight hours a day for eight months during 1932-33, to copy the Old Testament. For this purpose Pastor Christensen had bought American bond paper, which was folded in signatures, so that when completed the Bible might be bound as a book. At the conclusion of this project, which included many hours of painstaking proofreading by Pastor and Mrs. Christensen, the signatures were sent to Peking and bound in a fine grade of morocco leather. The beauty of this book is a constant source of amazement to visitors.
In the picture of the Bible on the next page it will be noted that it is written in vertical lines. It reads from left to right, down each line. The Bible is opened to Psalm 119, and the favorite lines, "Thy word is a lamp . . ." are side lined, instead of underlined!
When Adventist work in Mongolia was closed, Pastor Christensen presented this Bible (Old Testament) to the Seminary library together with the case in which it was strapped to his back as he bicycled to his appointments. It was left in the library on loan with the idea that should the work be reopened in Mongolia, the Bible could again serve its appointed purpose.
Only a sampling of the rare and interesting books and objects in the Seminary library has been mentioned. A great many interesting and scarce items have been photostated and thus preserved for us. Undoubtedly other things of historic interest to the denomination will become available in the future. It is hoped, also, that in the future there will be a more suitable place in which to display these treasures.
