The following is an exchange of letters published in The Advent Harbinger
and Bible Advocate, Vol. V., New Series, March 5, 1853.
A certain J. B. Frisbie of Chelsea, Michigan wrote, asking about the current
views of the inventor of the Sanctuary doctrine, O.R.L. Crosier. To these questions
Crosier wrote a letter in reply.
Below are the portions of their letters most pertinent to the early Ellen
White. The reader wishing to see the full text of the two letters can do so by clicking here.
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INQUIRY -- THE SANCTUARY, &c.
Bro. Crosier:
1. Are your views the same
now on the sanctuary as published in the Advent Review? If so, will you
inform me by letter or other way through the Harbinger?
2. Tell us
whether you now believe that Christ entered into the most holy place on the tenth day of
the seventh month 1844. If so, how you obtain that knowledge, whether by a new
revelation or by the old one, and where?
* * *
4. We feel
somewhat interested in this, as our Sabbath (Saturday) keepers throw out that they do not
know how you would answer your own article on that subject. We should like to know
whether you are disposed to answer it or not?
* * *
Yours,
Chelsea, Mich.
J. B. FRISBIE
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ANSWER:
1. My view have
been somewhat changed on the subject of the "Sanctuary" since 1845,
when I wrote the article on the Law of Moses, from which the Sabbatarian Adventists quote
so often. As early as 1848 I saw enough of the nature of the coming Age to satisfy
my mind that our view on the Atonement needed some modifying. The above named
persons [the Sabbatarian Adventists] appear to me to be insincere in quoting from that
article, (1) because they know that it was written for the express purpose of
explaining and proving the doctrine of the "shut door" which they now, I
understand, disclaim. (2) The persons referred to never
received my views on the Atonement, as their leaders well know; and the points on which we
always differed were the means of leading me out from shut door errors.
2. I think we
have no means of knowing the precise time when the antitype of the ancient 10th
day of the 7th month service did or will begin; but we have evidence that it will not
close the "door of mercy" against all the previous impenitent.
According to the best light I can obtain from the Scriptures, I conclude that that service
will occupy the next age. I have no confidence in any "revelation" except
those contained in the Bible.
* * *
4. If they
consider that article unanswerable, why do they disclaim the doctrine of the shut door
which it teaches? Is it to shun reproach, and to get access to intelligent people
under false colors? I exceedingly regret ever having published the errors contained
in that article and feel thankful to our heavenly Father for the clear light of his word
which enabled me to see and renounce them . . .
O.R.L. CROSIER
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It is interesting that Crosier's article setting forth the
Sanctuary doctrine (a doctrine held by the SDA prophet to her dying day, and held by the
SDA church, at least officially, to this day) had ceased to convince even Crosier himself,
the doctrine's inventor. Also interesting is that he devised the idea to explain and
prove the Shut Door -- a doctrine not dropped by EGW & Co. until 1852.
(Compare Crosier's 1853 comment that "the doctrine of the shut
door" is one "which they now, I understand, disclaim.")
This double problem with Crosier's sanctuary idea -- that
it no longer convinced even Crosier himself; that it was devised to sustain the Shut Door --
casts an odd light on a supposed EGW vision:
The Lord showed me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the
true light, on the cleansing of the sanctuary, et cetera, and that it was His will that
Brother C. should write out the view which he gave us in the Day-Star
Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel fully authorized by the Lord to recommend that Extra
to every saint. --WLF, p. 12.
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