p. 3 | The Spirit of the Council by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

The Spirit of the Council

By F. M. W.

Notes From the Field—No. 4

The Spirit of the Council

ONE has only to listen to the stirring appeals of our brethren from lands outside of the United States, and to witness the hearty response which these appeals awaken among the delegates, to feel the thrill of our great missionary activities throughout the world. The past week Elders R. C. Porter and R. F. Cottrell have spoken of the triumphs of the gospel message in the great Chinese mission field. Prof. H. R. Salisbury has reported the progress being made in India. Prof. G. W. Caviness has told of the trials through which stricken Mexico has been passing, and the wonderful care exercised by God over his work and children.

In all these fields the harvest is awaiting the reaper. Openings exist on every hand. In new and unvisited quarters the gospel seed has in some unknown manner been sown, and hearts are open and hands are outstretched to receive a fuller knowledge of the way and coming of the Lord.

The organization of the great mission fields of Asia and South America into division conferences will require the strengthening of the work in both these continents. Who will go to answer the calls? Several times during the council, Elder Daniells has asked the delegates to consider their personal relation to the calls being made for workers, and to volunteer their services if the Spirit so impressed their hearts. And hearts have been impressed, and several we know have volunteered to go wherever the providence of God and the judgment of their brethren may indicate.

We are realizing as never before that the message of Christ’s soon coming is to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. How our conceptions have grown with the years! How heavily the burden of the world’s evangelization is resting upon our home conferences, our churches, our brethren and sisters individually! Some years ago many of our conferences were self-centered. Their funds were consumed almost wholly in local work. Their sympathies were confined within conference lines. They reluctantly surrendered their workers for other fields. But a change has been wrought. Our people have lifted up their eyes and beheld the fields afar off. They have come to recognize that they are debtors to all men. A liberal portion of the funds of our conferences is dedicated to the missionary cause, and their most efficient workers are placed on the altar of missionary advance.

This spirit presages the speedy triumph of the message. God’s people are to be made willing in the day of his power. That day has been reached, and we see a spirit of consecration possessing his servants.

A Mighty Forward Movement

The second Sabbath of the council was a day of spiritual blessing. The workers’ meeting, at eight-thirty, in charge of Elder A. G. Daniells, sounded the keynote of the day’s services, and for that matter the keynote of the entire council. As a text for his remarks, he read Isa. 54: 2, 3:— “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall in-

herit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.”

The speaker called attention to the prophetic nature of this promise concerning the development that is to attend the church in her onward progress from age to age, especially to the growth that will come under the loud cry of the third angel, when God is finishing his work in the earth.

This prophecy was fulfilled in part during Pentecostal times, and yet we have still to see its fulfillment in an even more remarkable manner during the times upon which we are entering. We are to spare not; we are to lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes, in co-operation with heavenly intelligences. As we do this, we shall see of the salvation of God, and many souls will be won to the truth.

“It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” Isa. 49:6. Another translation reads: “I will also give thee as a light of the nations, that my deliverance may be to the end of the earth.”

That is our program. Our work can never be a failure, for God has said: “In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. . . . And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.”

When these words were penned, God was looking upon every corner of the wide world; and, among other places, he saw the land of China, and this land he named in this very connection; for in the next verse we read, “Behold, these shall come from far; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.”

It is only today that we begin to see the fulfillment of this ancient prophecy. The disciples did not see it. It was not seen in the Middle Ages. It has been but a few years, comparatively, since China has been wide open to the gospel. We today are seeing hundreds and thousands of precious souls coming into the fold from the land of China. And yet these scriptures are all-inclusive, and mean every nation. Micah prophesied: “The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.” The threefold message of Revelation 14 is to be proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Elder Daniells emphasized the necessity of putting forth superhuman efforts in the work of God—of linking the human with the divine, and of permitting God to work mightily through his chosen messengers. He urged the brethren to enter heartily into the carrying out of the courageous program adopted by the North American Division Conference for a general advance in every union conference throughout the Division. If all rise to the high standard of efficiency called for by the Lord himself and by the increasing demands of the world upon those who believe, we may soon see a hundred thousand Sabbath keepers in America alone.

Shall we not give our lives to God? Not sentimentally; no, no! It is a sturdy service to which we are called, and it is a sturdy courage and determination that we are to maintain. Shall not every conference president here this morning definitely take his stand to build up his conference in a stronger way than he has ever labored to do before, to lead the preachers, the church elders, the brethren and sisters, in a great forward movement for the winning of souls and for the finishing of God’s work in the earth?

Here is a courageous statement left us by the servant of the Lord:— “Let the members of the church have increased faith, gaining zeal from their unseen, heavenly allies, from a knowledge of their exhaustless resources, from the greatness of the enterprise in which they are engaged, and from the power of their Leader. Those who place themselves under God’s control, to be led and guided by him, will catch the steady tread of the events ordained by him to take place. Inspired by the Spirit of him who gave his life for the life of the world, they will no longer stand still in impotency, pointing to what they cannot do. Putting on the armor of heaven, they will go forth to the warfare, willing to do and dare for God, knowing that his omnipotence will supply their need.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IX.

Brethren, is not this the language of Canaan? Is not this the true courage for us to have? Let us unite in sounding the note of advance. Let us enlarge the place of our tent, and stretch forth the curtains of our habitations; let us spare not, but rather lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes, for the finishing of this work.

A Hearty Response

These earnest words awakened a hearty response from the delegates present. From Brother C. C. Crisler’s stenographic notes we make the following extracts from the testimonies:—

J. N. Loughborough: I praise the Lord for the Spirit of God, which is moving upon the Lord’s people all over the world, and for the close co-operation of the holy angels with those who are called to be laborers together with God.

I. H. Evans: My heart responds to the words of cheer and courage we have heard this morning. I believe, brethren, that we are on the eve of a mighty forward movement, when the whole rank and file of our people are going to consecrate themselves to the one purpose of winning souls to Christ. There will be a thousand things to swing us back and forth from the straight path of duty, but like the helmsman of a mighty ship during a storm at sea, let us keep in a straight course forward until we shall reach our haven.

R. F. Cottrell: My heart is deeply touched this morning as this message comes to me, and I realize that I am a part of the work that is triumphing in all the world. As taught us in Rev. 21:5, the Lord is making all things new. Even the hearts of sinners in darkest heathenism are wonderfully transformed; and, brethren, I believe that if Seventh-day Adventists in America expect to have a part with the redeemed in the new earth, we as individuals must be renewed in heart and mind, as verily as are the heathen. As I come back to the homeland and see the advance moves that are being taken in the North American Division, I see my brethren and sisters dedicating themselves anew to the Lord’s service, and I realize that God is indeed working upon the hearts of his people in the homeland as well as across the seas.

F. M. Wilcox: At one time during their wanderings in the wilderness the Lord spoke to ancient Israel: “Ye have compassed this mountain long enough.” I feel that God is giving that message to Israel today, and to me as an individual. I feel that in my own personal experience I must reach a higher plane of consecration and devotion to the service of God.

R. D. Quinn: My heart responds to every word this morning. We have a very resourceful God, and I believe there are great things ahead of us, and that we are entering upon them even now.

H. W. Cottrell: I am persuaded that there is no power on earth that can hinder or prevent in the least degree the onward progress of this truth, except selfishness in the individual heart. We sometimes think of the great battle front presented by the warring nations of Europe, but let us remember that there is an even greater battle front presented by the servants of God all over the earth, and let us pray that victory may come speedily.

E. T. Russell: The text chosen this morning was that used by the cobbler, William Carey, in Nottingham, England, over a hundred years ago. May not these words of Scripture be prophetic of a great missionary movement among us?

J. B. Locken: I am glad to be connected with the greatest movement in this earth. My heart burns to proclaim the truth in the State of North Carolina. This year, by God’s assisting grace, we shall bring the people up to the colors. My goal is five new churches in North Carolina this next summer.

L. Johnson: What I have listened to during these meetings is meat for my poor heart.

P. T. Magan: The words spoken this morning have been to me a great inspiration. I have been deeply impressed with the thought that the preparedness of some of the warring nations of Europe should be a solemn lesson to us. In every little detail of our lives, as well as in the greater matters, we must be ready to act when God speaks the word of advance.

M. C. Wilcox: I thank God this morning again for the tone of triumph and hope and courage that we hear. In other conferences we have sometimes heard notes of courage mingling with undertones of discouragement and depression, but not so at this time. During this meeting we have been taken up into the mount, and we have been shown visions of God—visions that have caused us to humble our own hearts and put away petty selfishness, and to gain larger

clearer conceptions of God’s purpose for this people.

C. F. McVagh: I want to join in this reconsecration to the work of God. I am confident regarding the final triumph of this movement, and I desire to keep step with God’s people, and triumph with them.

J. I. Taylor: I have never taken myself off the altar, but I wish to renew my consecration this morning.

E. K. Slade: My heart responds to the plea that has been made. We have all looked forward to the time when this movement would swell into a movement of greater power. I believe we have reached such a time. Yet mere activity will not avail. We must know the secret of having God’s power with us. “Not by might, nor by power,” the Lord declares, “but by my Spirit” shall the work advance.

J. L. McElhany: When I hear the trumpet giving a certain sound, as during this morning’s meeting, my heart says, “Lord, I will respond.”

G. W. Caviness: I have gathered courage from the reports of progress in foreign lands, and especially in the homeland. In Mexico we have seen of the salvation of the Lord. God is in his work.

R. W. Parmele: I have received an inspiration at this meeting, and I propose to return home with renewed consecration.

H. C. Hartwell: I am thankful for the program set before us at this meeting. For us who are in densely populated centers in the East, our only hope is in the Lord. For a number of weeks I have been praying to God that he would be unto me a mighty, wonder-working God, doing things far beyond what I could expect from a human point of view.

G. W. Wells: I am thankful for the new vision that comes to me concerning the willingness of God to do great things for his children in these times.

J. H. Morrison: I have enjoyed a great privilege in being among you and hearing your testimonies, and listening to the presentations of God’s Word, and gathering inspiration from this meeting.

W. H. Branson: I am especially glad we can have a part in the work in the great Southern field. God is with us, and he is working mightily among the people.

O. Montgomery: I am thankful for the inspiration, the larger vision, that comes to us in this meeting. I want to be in the forefront of the battle—wherever the Lord can use me in the saving of souls and for the finishing of his work.

G. F. Watson: Every day since I have been here, I have been made glad. This morning I have been made doubly glad. I am glad that six of my colaborers have had the privilege of being here, gathering strength for days to come, in our Southwestern field.

J. H. Rogers: I esteem it a precious privilege to be with you, brethren. I rejoice to see the organized work going forward with success. God is rising and showing favor to Zion. I desire to keep step with the procession that is setting out for the holy land.

E. W. Farnsworth: I am glad in God that I can be here. My heart is filled with courage and hope as I see his cause advancing. He has been very good to me for the past two or three years, and I have rejoiced greatly in his strength and light.

Charles Thompson: I stand ready to testify to you of the loyalty of the Northern Union Conference in this call for a forward movement for the finishing of the work.

In closing, those who for lack of time were not permitted to speak, were given the privilege of signifying, by rising, their determination to unite with their brethren in a rededication of life and heart to God for the finishing of his work in this generation.

Sabbath Morning Sermon

Elder S. N. Haskell preached Sabbath forenoon. He showed how Satan in every age of the church has sought to circumvent the work and purposes of God. He has tried to blind the minds of men so that they would fail to recognize the times in which they lived, and the character of the work to be done. But however specious the enemy’s workings, God has never been surprised. His purposes may apparently be thwarted or turned aside for a time, but they will carry in the end.

The Lord sent Moses to deliver Israel as the messenger of the great I AM, the self-existent, ever-living One, the Source of all light and power and blessing. To Israel he was a God of power, of love, of compassion. He will be to us a Friend, a Saviour, a mighty, wonder-working God, if we receive him for this and believe in him.

An Aged Pioneer Speaks

The Sabbath afternoon service was conducted by Elder J. N. Loughborough. He spoke of some things connected with the beginnings of this movement, and of the trials through which the early pioneers passed. He related the history of the oppositions which at times had threatened the work of the message. Several papers, under various names, were established for the ostensible purpose of opposing the organized movement. These organs became oftentimes very abusive in their language, and malicious in their statements. At first the brethren felt that they should meet these attacks publicly, correcting the wrong impressions created by their misrepresentations and falsehoods, but they were advised by the spirit of prophecy to enter into no public controversy with these opposers, but to go forward with the great work committed to them; and were assured that they would find, when the work of the opposition had run its course, that the strength of the work had been increased and the number of believers doubled. This was actually demonstrated later. The noble answer of Nehemiah to those who were seeking to weaken his hands in God’s work and lead him to compromise his position, is worthy of study by the church of God in every age: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?”

Elder Loughborough was assisted in the service by Elders G. I. Butler and S. N. Haskell. It was an inspiring sight to see these three godly men, who have done so much for the upbuilding of this work, standing side by side in the service of God, their faith still undimmed, and their faces still set as a flint toward Zion. May God grant that they may be spared to us many more years, to bless and strengthen us with their faith and courage.

Following Brother Loughborough’s remarks, Elder A. G. Daniells conducted a short praise service, which closed a blessed Sabbath day experience. Further notes from the council will be given next week.

F. M. W.