Uriah Smith | A Life of Service Season 2 | Episode 19
West Wilton, New Hampshire,
here in this house, a giant of the faith was born.
His name is Uriah Smith.
At a young age he developed an infection in his left leg
and unfortunately at the age of 12
he had to have it amputated just above the knee.
This took place just up the road on a kitchen table.
It lasted 20 minutes and no anesthesia was used.
Like his sister, he was gifted with a brilliant mind
and attended Phillips Academy in Exeter, one of the foremost schools of his day.
When his father died suddenly,
it caused him to think about his own spiritual life
and study thoroughly the Adventist message
after having lost his zeal after the disappointment of 1844.
[music]
He went to hear James and Ellen speak
in Washington, New Hampshire for the first time
and was impressed by the explanation given for the Great Disappointment.
He went home and studied his Bible for three months
before making a commitment to renew his faith and rejoin the believers.
Soon after, he turned down a lucrative job offer
and moved here to Rochester, New York
to work for the newly-relocated Review and Herald offices.
He was 21 years old at the time,
and would go on to work for the Review and Herald for 50 more years.
At the age of 23 when it moved to Battle Creek, Michigan,
he became the resident editor.
[music]
The importance of the printed word at this time of history cannot be overstated.
The churches that were scattered around the country
would only hear from the travelling itinerant speakers
what was happening elsewhere every several weeks.
Uriah Smith, as the resident editor-in-chief of the Review and Herald,
was like the pastor of the whole church,
as people would read his editorials
and find out the news of what was happening elsewhere, such as who had died.
The Adventist Review was like the glue that kept the early church together.
[music]
However, he was more than an editor and preacher.
Uriah Smith had eight patents during his life,
one of which was a school desk that earned him $3,000.
He also patented a significantly improved version of the prosthetic leg.
He was also a prolific writer, completing 18 books during his lifetime,
the most famous and well-read being 'Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation.'
[music]
In 1903, tragedy would strike the Review and Herald
as it was burned down.
The insurance only covered a fraction,
and instead of rebuilding here in Battle Creek
the decision was made to relocate to Washington, D. C.
Uriah Smith, writing shortly after this tragedy said,
'In the shadow of great calamity we are of good courage.'
The Review and Herald under Uriah Smith's leadership
had gone from a small Washington hand press
to having hundreds of employees
using the best equipment and printing in six languages.
[music]
On the 6th of March 1903
he was walking to work here in Battle Creek
when he suddenly collapsed.
He was rushed to be seen by a doctor,
but unfortunately he died a few hours later from a large stroke.
A special issue of the Review and Herald was published
with his picture on the front
as well as a poem by his late sister Annie
that she had written years previously about him.
[music]
He was also a hymn writer
and his most famous hymn rings with words that echo to our time today.
'O brother, be faithful!
Soon Jesus will come, For whom we have waited so long;
O, soon shall we enter our glorious home,
And join in the conqueror's song.
O brother, be faithful!
For why should we prove Unfaithful to Him who has shown
Such deep, such unbounded and infinite love
Who died to redeem us His own.'