p. 102 | Untitled article by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 5, 1867

Report from Bro. White. No. 4.

By James White

In our last, we promised to give a dream which we recently had, and which we regard as strikingly illustrative of the condition of things here. We dreamed of a successful fishing excursion, in which Mrs. W. participated.

If this was our first dream of fishing, however striking might be the fulfillment in another kind of fishing, we might not think it worth telling; but during the time of our entire ministry, for twenty-four years, we have probably dreamed of catching fish a hundred times, just before an ingathering of souls. The size of the persons, and their moral worth, is generally represented by the size and value of the fish.

But what makes our present dream more forcible at this place is, that just before we visited this church four years since, we dreamed that Mrs. W. and self caught a large number of small, plump, and valuable fish. The tour that followed was wonderfully blessed in the conversion of the youth. At Monterey, almost the entire Sabbath School was converted, in a few days, and seventeen were immersed. Next week, we saw the same work here in Wright, where we baptized ten or twelve of the youth. The very next week, we saw a similar work at Greenville and Orleans; and with our own dear people at Battle Creek, there followed, under our labors, a glorious work among the youth. Here we baptized thirteen of the youth, our own two sons among the number. We dreamed of catching many small fish, and we saw, in fulfillment, many young persons converted.

In the recent dream, Mrs. W. and self were fishing, and with much effort caught large fish. But four of the fish caused us much trouble. They were restless, and would get out of the boat into the water, when we would with difficulty pull them into the boat again. This was repeated several times, and we caught no more large fish. We saw no small fish, as they were kept away by the large ones. But when the large ones were all caught out of the way, the water was immediately alive with small fish, plump and beautiful, which we readily caught. I awoke, and behold it was a dream.

If the small fish in a previous dream represented children and youth, the large fish of the recent dream must represent grown persons. And here has been the burden of our labor, for the older members of the church. They have stood in the way of the young, and we have felt that we could not reach them, until the old members were first converted anew. The four large fish that caused us so much trouble, is a part of

the dream most strikingly fulfilled. But the waters are moved, and the work goes on well. And we hope yet to see it extend not only to the youth of the church who need a fresh conversion, but to quite a flock of children still remaining out of the church.

The following resolutions touching different points of importance, which were unanimously adopted, will give some idea of how things are moving here.

1. Whereas, The explanations which Bro. and sister White have given of the Reformed Female Dress are consistent, and their reasons for its being healthful, convenient, and modest, are satisfactory; therefore, Resolved, That it is the opinion of this church that the sisters should adopt it.

2. Whereas, It has been a common thing for persons in different churches, who have been reproved by the visions, to make bad use of such testimonies, to their own injury and the injury of the church; therefore, Resolved, That it is the opinion of this church, that persons corrected by the testimonies should not have said testimonies in their possession, in writing; but they should be deposited with the elder or elders of the church of which they are members; and if they wish to read them, to refresh their memory, they should do it at the house of the elder or elders, and not take a copy of any part whatever of the testimony, in writing, away with them.

3. Resolved, That it is the duty of our churches, when sending, as delegates to our General Conferences, their poorer brethren, to pay their traveling expenses, and also moderate wages for their time.

4. Whereas, We consider the plan of Systematic Benevolence, adopted by our churches, to be reasonable and scriptural, imposing no burden, either on the poor or the wealthy; and, Whereas, In this church some have failed, not only in giving in their property at its full value, but also in punctuality of payment, therefore, Resolved, That we, the church at Wright, to encourage uniformity, promptness, and a faithful discharge of our duty, will put in our property at what we would ask the buyer for it, if we wished to sell it, and come up to the figures generally adopted on all that we are worth, including both real estate and personal property of every description, and will make it among our firm efforts to bring our tithes and offerings into the treasury of the Lord, with promptness.

Sabbath morning, Jan. 19, we opened the meeting at the usual hour, and spoke half an hour, and Mrs. W. followed for an hour, with great freedom and good effect. In the afternoon, the brethren enjoyed a social meeting. Mrs. W. spoke about an hour. She spoke particularly of the great sacrifice Christ had made for us, yet so few of his professed people were willing to sacrifice for the good of others. Good confessions were made, and there seemed to be a breaking away, and the dawning of better days to this church. Mrs. W. had told certain ones in the church that they needed converting. Some who had relied on an old experience were tempted, saying, “If I have not been converted, it is of no use to try to go further.” Mrs. W. told them they needed converting every day they erred from the truth. The following is to the point:

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James v, 19, 20.

These brethren acknowledged new light, and took fresh courage. The labor has been wearing here, with burdens from some who should, from long experience, be in a condition to help.

Sabbath morning, Jan. 26, we were all happy to meet Eld. Loughborough at the house of prayer. We opened the meeting, and spoke a short time, when Eld. L. gave a timely discourse. In the afternoon he spoke on the subject of health, and was followed by Mrs. W., on this, her favorite theme. First-day, Eld. L. spoke twice. In the afternoon we spoke a few moments, appealing to those who felt that they occupied an unsaved position, and wished to seek the Lord, and wished the prayers of God’s servants, to manifest it by rising. Old and young arose. Then we bowed in prayer with the weeping company of aged, middle aged, and youth, and there we mingled our prayers and tears. Several have started anew to seek the Lord and keep the commandments. The way is now open, we trust, for the precious youth.

To-day, Monday 28, has been a good day. The meeting lasted five hours. From present figures, Systematic Benevolence will be raised to ten or eleven hundred dollars. Brethren heartily confessed, and

our company returned to Bro. Root’s with cheerful countenances.

We now feel free to leave this place for the present. May the good work still go on. And here we would express our gratitude to this dear people, who, among other smaller acts of liberal kindness, have given us a comfortable sleigh worth $75, and Bro. Root has kept three of us and team six weeks, worth at least $60 more. It is good to be strong-handed in point of means, when the impulses of a sanctified heart open that hand freely for God and truth.

JAMES WHITE.

Wright, Mich., Jan. 28, 1867.