The Church in Battle Creek.
SUFFER us, brethren and sisters abroad, to say a word concerning ourselves. As a church, we doubtless have the worst things thought of us, and perhaps the best things, of any church in the land. We have a class of bitter and virulent enemies. We also have a class of sincere and fervent friends. Both these classes may be in danger of going to extremes. Our enemies may think too ill of us, and our friends too well. We do not wish to be looked upon in the extreme light either way. We trust we are not the worst folks in the world; and, on the other hand, we are well aware that we are not perfect. But we wish to speak more particularly here concerning our friends. What our enemies think or say of us, we care very little. We shall endeavor so to live that what evil they have to utter shall be false, and that those who know us, will not believe it. But we do not wish our friends to get too high an opinion of us, and then, when they learn our true condition and Christian standing, be disappointed. Very many apparently think that Battle Creek must be the gate of Heaven; that the fervor of the church here will always be found up to the boiling point; that there can be no careless or indifferent ones here, no dull meetings, no draw-backs to the Christian life; and that if they can only come to Battle Creek, they will find an easy road thenceforward to the kingdom of Heaven. Such greatly misapprehend the spirit and tactics of the Enemy. If you wish to find a place where he plants his heaviest batteries, and makes his fiercest assaults, and encamps his most experienced legions, it is here. Would not this naturally be so? The office of publication being located here, and more recently the Health Institute, make this an important place; and the enemy well knows that whatever wounds he can inflict here, and whatever victories gain, the effect will be more wide-spread than if accomplished in any other place. Hence he strives hard to exert his cruel power here. We do not plead this as any excuse for neglect of duty on our part; but simply to remind those not already aware of it, that there are trials and conflicts with the powers of darkness to be met here, fiercer and more numerous, doubtless, than at any other point along the line of battle. At the same time, we hold neglect of duty to be as heinous a crime here as in any other place, and even more so; for here it is more important that all such remissness should be guarded against. There are great responsibilities resting upon us here. The various enterprises connected with the cause of truth, which are located in our midst, bring these responsibilities. They are daily increasing. And there are some who realize them, and are endeavoring with all earnestness to meet and bear them as they should be borne. There are members of this church who are striving as zealously and persistently to live the life of the true Christian, raise high the standard of piety, press toward the mark, and be overcomers, as can anywhere be found. But yet there are others who seem to have but a faint idea of the responsibilities resting upon them, who take upon themselves no special burdens, and whose efforts to do duty are few and feeble. And doubtless some from this church, as well as from others, will meet the fate pronounced against the lukewarm in Rev. iii, 16. Brethren connected with small churches of from ten to twenty-five members, where all take part in every meeting, making the meetings lively and free, sometimes think if they could come to Battle Creek, what good meetings they should have. They come, and perhaps find the meeting not so lively and spirited as with their own little church at home; more time running to waste, more of a restraining influence, and numbers who take no part at all. They do not know what to make of it; and it is so different from what they expected, that they feel greatly disappointed. The cause of this we have partially stated above. Another cause of no little weight, may perhaps be found on the part of those who come in. It may be that they come with the idea that there are plenty of workers here and hence they can sit as spectators. This is not right. Now we ask all who come here either as visitors or to locate, to come to help; not to look at those who hold back, but at those who are struggling to urge the work forward; not to be disappointed and surprised to find poor meetings, but to take hold to help make them as good as possible; come as fresh recruits to the aid of those who have long been warring against the powers of darkness. It was the remark of one of the best of judges in spiritual things, who lately spent a few weeks in this place, that no person had any business in Battle Creek who was not a worker. In that remark we heartily concur; for if there is a church in all the ranks where there is need of every one's standing at his post, instant in season, out of season, it is here. And at times we do have most cheering and refreshing seasons. A series of meetings is now in progress, under the superintendence of Bro. Loughborough, in which good advancement has already been made. With great unanimity of effort, the church is laboring to reach a better state. Those who have been upon the back ground are beginning to come up; and all are encouraged. The prospect before us was never better. We should not pattern after one another; yet we admit that the brethren abroad have reason to expect great things of us here in Battle Creek; and while we earnestly endeavor to meet our great responsibilities, we ask the sympathy and prayers of all who hold with us the like precious faith, and are engaged in the same great work.