John N. Andrews: Scholarship and Mission

John Andrews was a unique blend of scholarship and mission. He was the first serious theologian/scholar in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. His work set the standard for later crucial work. He wrote many books and tracts substantiating numerous doctrinal positions of the fledgling Church in the 1850s and 1860s. His list of articles numbers in the hundreds; and he served as editor or associate editor of the Review and Herald, the leading magazine for the Church. But scholarship can often run contrary to administrative and mission work. Time involved in these activities often takes away from the time available for scholarship. It is a rare individual who can successfully marry these often opposed activities. John Andrews was one who filled both roles and performed them with distinction.

This series of letters show the tension between scholarship and administration in the mind of John Andrews. In the first one James White and others at the General Conference asked Andrews to move from Rochester, New York, to the GC office in Battle Creek. They felt it would be best for the work at that point in time for this move to occur.

Andrews wrote back asking that he be allowed to stay in Rochester where he had access to a fine theological library. He wanted to revise his History of the Sabbath to make it more accurate and less assailable by foes due to inaccuracies in the first edition. He felt he could make more of a contribution through his writings at that point in time. He was, however, willing to do what the brethren want him to do for the cause.

White and George Amadon responded that Andrews could remain in Rochester for the time being.