Alonzo T. Jones
Encyclopedia
A.[lonzo] T.[révier] Jones (1850–1923) was a Seventh-day Adventist
known for his impact on the theology of the church, along with friend and associate Ellet J. Waggoner
.
in 1850. When he was 20 years old, he joined the United States Army
, serving until 1873. While serving in the armed forces Jones spent his spare time poring over historical works, primarily of ancient history. Applying the knowledge thus gained to the prophecies of the Bible, Jones later wrote three large volumes dealing with the subject of Bible prophecy (The Two Republics, 1891; and The Great Empires of Prophecy, 1898; Ecclesiastical Empire, 1901; The Empires of the Bible, 1897).
Upon discharge from the army, Jones became a baptized
member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and began preaching in California
. His proclivity for writing lead him to connect with the editor of Signs of the Times magazine, an evangelistic periodical published by the church. In May 1885, he became assistant editor of that publication. A few months later, he and Dr. E. J. Waggoner became co-editors; Jones held this position until 1889.
In addition to this position, together with E.J. Waggoner, in 1887 Jones also became editor of the American Sentinel, the official organ of the religious liberty department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (later known as the Sentinel of Liberty, and finally simply Liberty magazine). Jones served as editor of this publication until 1896. In 1897 Jones was voted into the General Conference
Committee, serving until 1899. Also in 1897, he was appointed editor of the church’s flagship publication, Review and Herald magazine (now the Adventist Review), where he served until 1901 with Uriah Smith
as his associate editor.
Jones’s most significant contributions were his sermons on Christ and His righteousness presented at the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference
session, as well as General Conference sessions in 1893 and 1895. He is also known for later writings on that subject, and his work in preserving the liberty of conscience guaranteed under the First Amendment
.
In 1889, A.T. Jones spoke before a United States Congress
ional subcommittee; the topic of discussion was the “Breckinridge Bill” which proposed the compulsion of Sunday observance
in the Washington, D.C.
environs. Jones’s testimony helped to defeat this bill, and Jones became known for his abilities in defense of and knowledge regarding freedom of religion
. In 1892, he was again called to speak before the U.S. Congress regarding the Sunday closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, known as “The Columbia Exposition
”.
From 1901 to 1903, Jones served as president of the California Conference of the church. Leaving this position, he accepted an invitation to work with Dr. John Harvey Kellogg
at the Battle Creek Sanitarium
at Battle Creek
, Michigan
, which was under Kellogg’s directorship. Because Kellogg was at that time in conflict with the leadership of the church, Jones was counseled not to pursue this course. Coupled with tensions arising from theological opposition that had dogged him since the 1888 General Conference session, Jones’s association with Kellogg soon soured his allegiance to the Church and ceased his denominational employment and fellowship.
Though separated from fellowship, A.T. Jones remained loyal to the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church until his death in 1923.
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
known for his impact on the theology of the church, along with friend and associate Ellet J. Waggoner
Ellet J. Waggoner
E.[llet] J.[oseph] Waggoner was a Seventh-day Adventist particularly known for his impact on the theology of the church, along with friend and associate Alonzo T. Jones.- Biography :...
.
Biography
Jones was born in Rock Hill in Lawrence County, OhioLawrence County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile...
in 1850. When he was 20 years old, he joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving until 1873. While serving in the armed forces Jones spent his spare time poring over historical works, primarily of ancient history. Applying the knowledge thus gained to the prophecies of the Bible, Jones later wrote three large volumes dealing with the subject of Bible prophecy (The Two Republics, 1891; and The Great Empires of Prophecy, 1898; Ecclesiastical Empire, 1901; The Empires of the Bible, 1897).
Upon discharge from the army, Jones became a baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and began preaching in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His proclivity for writing lead him to connect with the editor of Signs of the Times magazine, an evangelistic periodical published by the church. In May 1885, he became assistant editor of that publication. A few months later, he and Dr. E. J. Waggoner became co-editors; Jones held this position until 1889.
In addition to this position, together with E.J. Waggoner, in 1887 Jones also became editor of the American Sentinel, the official organ of the religious liberty department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (later known as the Sentinel of Liberty, and finally simply Liberty magazine). Jones served as editor of this publication until 1896. In 1897 Jones was voted into the General Conference
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is the governing organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, where it moved in 1989...
Committee, serving until 1899. Also in 1897, he was appointed editor of the church’s flagship publication, Review and Herald magazine (now the Adventist Review), where he served until 1901 with Uriah Smith
Uriah Smith
Uriah Smith was a Seventh-day Adventist author and editor who worked for the Review and Herald for 50 years....
as his associate editor.
Jones’s most significant contributions were his sermons on Christ and His righteousness presented at the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference
1888 Minneapolis General Conference
The 1888 Minneapolis General Conference Session was a meeting of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists held in Minneapolis, Minnesota in October of 1888. It is regarded as a landmark event in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Key participants were Alonzo T. Jones, Ellet J....
session, as well as General Conference sessions in 1893 and 1895. He is also known for later writings on that subject, and his work in preserving the liberty of conscience guaranteed under the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
.
In 1889, A.T. Jones spoke before a United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
ional subcommittee; the topic of discussion was the “Breckinridge Bill” which proposed the compulsion of Sunday observance
Blue law
A blue law is a type of law, typically found in the United States and, formerly, in Canada, designed to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping...
in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
environs. Jones’s testimony helped to defeat this bill, and Jones became known for his abilities in defense of and knowledge regarding freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
. In 1892, he was again called to speak before the U.S. Congress regarding the Sunday closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, known as “The Columbia Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
”.
From 1901 to 1903, Jones served as president of the California Conference of the church. Leaving this position, he accepted an invitation to work with Dr. John Harvey Kellogg
John Harvey Kellogg
John Harvey Kellogg was an American medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan, who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas and exercise. Kellogg was an advocate of vegetarianism and is best known for the invention of the corn flakes breakfast cereal...
at the Battle Creek Sanitarium
Battle Creek Sanitarium
The Battle Creek Sanitarium, in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States, first opened on September 5, 1866, as the Western Health Reform Institute, based on the health principles advocated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1876, John Harvey Kellogg became the superintendent, and his brother, W....
at Battle Creek
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, which was under Kellogg’s directorship. Because Kellogg was at that time in conflict with the leadership of the church, Jones was counseled not to pursue this course. Coupled with tensions arising from theological opposition that had dogged him since the 1888 General Conference session, Jones’s association with Kellogg soon soured his allegiance to the Church and ceased his denominational employment and fellowship.
Though separated from fellowship, A.T. Jones remained loyal to the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church until his death in 1923.
See also
- E. J. Waggoner
- 1888 Minneapolis General Conference1888 Minneapolis General ConferenceThe 1888 Minneapolis General Conference Session was a meeting of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists held in Minneapolis, Minnesota in October of 1888. It is regarded as a landmark event in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Key participants were Alonzo T. Jones, Ellet J....
- History of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchHistory of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church had its roots in the Millerite movement of the 1830s and 1840s, during the period of the Second Great Awakening, and was officially founded in 1863. Prominent figures in the early church included Hiram Edson, James Springer White and his wife Ellen G. White, Joseph...
Further reading
- National Sunday Law, The Argument of Alonzo T. Jones before the United States Senate Committee on Education and Labor Dec. 13, 1888.