Elder Butler's Address.
By George I. Butler
DEAR BRETHREN: My mind has been exercised much of late in reference to your work in the cause of God, as I have heard from the Pacific Coast, and conversed with those who have recently been there. I have thought possibly that it would be proper for me as one whom our brethren have entrusted with responsibilities, to write a word of encouragement to you at this juncture. I can realize you feel somewhat disappointed that Eld. Haskell should not be at your next Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Association. I know he has your confidence and that you will feel his absence. He has labored ardently among you, with a spirit of self-sacrifice, and you will miss him. I know also that he feels deeply interested in the welfare of the cause in your midst and loves you all with deep affection. For many reasons he would much enjoy being with you at this important time, and help you by his counsel and words of encouragement. And nothing but most important reasons would keep him away. You must know, many of you, how long this proposed visit to Europe has been deferred. Several years since, he expected to start. At one time in a few weeks, and it has been talked of much. Our beloved Bro. Andrews is very feeble, and there are many important reasons why he should visit these missionary fields. We hope for great good to grow out of this visit. We long to see the cause growing in all these countries, and it seems to me and to others that this long deferred visit should now be made. We hope your loss will be the gain of our beloved missionaries, and that our blessed Lord will more than make up for his absence by his special blessing.212 One special reason why I write you is the interest I take in the enterprises now taking shape on the coast. Some of us here who have been long engaged in the work will remember the trials and difficulties we experienced when the institutions in our midst were brought into being. It was a great struggle then. Some of these, like the Sanitarium and the College, were new enterprises among us. There was a degree of prejudice on the minds of some, which tended to hinder the work. All were inexperienced in the management of them. They took a large amount of funds. And in short it required a long and strong pull to bring them into a state of efficiency. But since that time these institutions have done a useful and noble work. Thousands of poor, diseased, and suffering invalids have been relieved, and other thousands of young people have had a chance to improve their minds and prepare themselves to fill some useful place in society; while many who have had the privilege of attending the college, are now preaching the truths of the message. Not only do these results offer, but others besides. They have greatly added to the intelligence and elevation of our people. We have a far better understanding of the nature and proper treatment of disease, and are better prepared to protect ourselves from its approaches. The great principles of temperance are better understood, and much light has shone upon us on many points. Our college has had a refining influence upon the young, and tended to create an interest all through our ranks to read and cultivate the mind. I feel that the value of these things cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. We have not obtained all the benefit from them either that we might if the light the Lord has given us had been better heeded. We have had special difficulties to contend against, which I trust the Lord may spare you from experiencing. We hope yet to obtain greater good from them in the future than we have had in the past. But these institutions which cost so much labor to establish, we could not now think of losing. We do not regret the efforts we have made to create them, and sustain them. We cherish them as among our dearest treasures. You who have lived at such a distance from them and us, could not, of course, be greatly benefited by them. So you are now taking steps to establish such institutions in your midst. In this I think you are taking a noble course. Knowing as I do, some of the difficulties which surround the initiation of such enterprises, I feel anxious to say something to encourage you to go on without faltering, till you see the triumph of your hopes. It often seems hard, I know, to take of our earnings which have cost so much toil, economy, and planning to obtain, and give it away where it may never personally benefit us. But what use can we put our means to that will be so satisfactory in the end? We could buy land or stock or put it into a fine house or fine clothes, or use it for some passing pleasure. But would we feel as well about it when we looked back at it in after years, or from a sick-bed, or when Christ shall come? The alleviation of pain and suffering, and the curing of disease; the cultivation of the mind, and a preparation for usefulness; and the education of the rising generation under wholesome religious influences where they are likely to become "intelligent Christians,"—these seem to me to be high and noble objects worthy the means of honest men who have something else in view better than mere passing pleasure. I think it is self-evident that we should labor for those ends which will afford us the most satisfaction when we are prepared to view this world at its proper value. These are the objects aimed at by those who are trying to establish these new institutions in your midst. They have no selfish end in view, but a noble one of benefiting you and yours and advancing the cause of God. You will no doubt meet with many difficulties. There is no excellence in this world without labor, sacrifice, and patient perseverance. It will require a sacrifice on your part to perfect the work already begun. But I cannot believe you will falter now. We have heard and known so much of your liberality and energy in the past, that we shall expect much of you now that such important measures are being started in your midst. It seems to me you could never commence under more favorable auspices. You have those of experience among you to instruct and encourage you. In your school you have the presence and counsel of Professor Brownsberger, for eight years at the head of our College. He comes to you with all the ripened experience of this long time in teaching and in discipline. Our great loss of his services is your great gain. I greatly hope you will make his presence among you a blessing to yourselves and the cause. May God help you to rally around the work in this time of need, and place these young enterprises in a position of prosperity and usefulness. GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres. of Gen. Conf.
Battle Creek, Mich., April 11, 1882.