Untitled article by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 1, 1867.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE, NO. 2.

By Editor

The Convocation Meeting in Wisconsin, is closed; and we now sit down to cull from its abundance of interesting features, enough to give our readers, who will be pleased to hear further from the meeting, a faint outline of the good season.

Last week's report brought us to the close of the first day. The numbers continued to increase till Sabbath, when there were nearly four hundred believers present; and nearly every one of them bore testimony at some point in the meeting to their love for the Lord and his truth. The social meeting Friday morning, and the forenoon of that day were principally taken up by Bro. and Sr. White in remarks upon some points over which queries and difficulties had arisen in many minds in regard to the Testimonies and the Dress Reform. The subject was made plain and freed from difficulty, apparently to the satisfaction of all present. The testimony borne was timely and important, as that always is which removes occasion for halting and helps minds which are in any measure in doubt and uncertainty.

In connection with this, it is proper to make special mention of a discourse delivered by Bro. White evening after the Sabbath, on the subject of murmuring, showing the evils of continually complaining of our lot, questioning the dealings of Providence with us, and thinking our situation and trials hard and burdensome above all others, instead of having a firm trust in God's kindness and care for us, esteeming our present afflictions light, in view of the eternal weight of glory to be given to the faithful by-and-by, and glorying in the cross of Christ, bidding it welcome to our embrace, and bearing it gladly and cheerfully for his sake. He showed the application of this to all circumstances of life, and especially to those brethren and sisters who meet with opposition in their own families from unbelieving companions or children. It touched a practice which has been a source of great spiritual weakness to the brethren; and the instruction and exhortation, if heeded, will result in much good.

We judge of the value of any testimony by the effect which it has, or is calculated to have, either immediate or remote; and the many allusions in the remarks of the brethren and sisters to the two occasions we have mentioned, and the benefit and help they had received from the instruction given shows their timeliness and importance, and makes them worthy of particular notice.

And in this connection we must not omit to mention another instance of a similar nature. A brother, almost overcome by the temptations of the enemy, bore an affecting testimony in reference to his tempted and perplexed state of mind, and his discouragements arising from doubts of his acceptance with God. And he even questioned whether he was ever converted, because he could not look back to any particular moment when he received a sudden and miraculous change. This gave sister White occasion to speak quite at length on the subject of conversion, showing what the heart is, in a Bible sense, the nature of a change of heart, or conversion, and the evidences by which we may test ourselves in the matter. We believe in a change of heart by the influence of the Holy Spirit; but it is not a change of the fleshly organ. It is the assent of the intellect to the claims of the truth, the yielding up of our wills to the will of God, and the change of the affections from things evil and worldly, to things heavenly and divine. It pertains to the mind, and is a progressive work, wrought by the influence of the word and Spirit of God upon the individual, resulting in a turning about of the whole man and all his powers from the service of Satan to the service of God. Conversion means a turning about. A converted man is walking in just the opposite direction from that in which he walked before his conversion. And that there are degrees, or successive steps, in the accomplishment of this change, is sufficiently evident from the case of Peter, to whom, when he was already a public and zealous follower of Christ, it was said, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren;” that is, when the change was so fully wrought in him that he could show them from his own knowledge and experience in divine things, how to resist temptation. When a person can say, Whereas I was once blind but now I see, and the things of the world, its errors and follies, which I once loved, now I hate, and the things of God, the truth and the way of righteousness with its humility and sacrifices, which I once hated, now I love, that person is converted, though he may not be able to point back to any particular moment when an instantaneous and remarkable change came over him. The brother was helped; but not he alone; for the remarks made were received with tearful gratitude by many present.

Thus point after point of interest came up in rapid succession through the meeting, upon which we might continue to dwell, till this report would be protracted beyond its proper limits. We must however mention one other item which was new and full of interest to us, as it was doubtless to the entire congregation. It occurred in the midst of an impressive testimony from sister White and consisted of a statement to the effect that “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, who prophesied of the coming of the Lord, was permitted to behold also the last generation of saints who would be ready for that event. Believers in the truth in these last days passed before him in vision, and were pointed out to him as those of whom he stood as a representative, and who like him were to be translated to Heaven without seeing death.” If he had been permitted to behold us, as we now are, we fear he would have seen a company bearing too little resemblance to him in character and consecration to God. Are we thus closely connected with Enoch, as to be of those of whom he stood as the special representative? Then what are we doing to keep ourselves from the world, and walk as he walked, with God?

But we must leave particulars and content ourself with a few general statements concerning the meeting. It was a good representation of the cause within the bounds of the Ill. and Wis. Conference, the first Sabbath-keeper in each of those States being present, to behold the large company of strong men and women, who had been raised up as its devoted friends. Several were heard to remark, that it was the largest number of Sabbath-keepers they had ever seen together. Two sisters from different places were present and bore a fervent testimony to the truth, who were ascertained to be the fruit of meetings held two years since, and from which the preachers had long since given up looking for any result; but lo! it appears after many days. One of these sisters, after revolving the truth long in her mind, and after much conflict, struggling along alone for nearly two years, had only three weeks since, come to the determination to take a whole-hearted and unequivocal stand upon the truth, and now appeared, to make a public profession of her hope. May much fruit of other meetings, likewise in due time appear.

A young brother publicly confessed the truth for the first time, first-day afternoon, who became acquainted with it a short time since while working in the news depot, in Battle Creek, and there coming in contact with our publications. We trust he will become steadfast and endure to the end.

A fact worthy of notice here, is the promptness with which new converts receive the truth in all its particulars. Several sisters who have but recently professed the faith, appeared carrying out all the reform in dress and living, which now appears to be a part of our work of preparation for coming events; points which some who have long been in the way have not yet learned, and which it is feared some never will learn. Truly, as it is represented in the Testimony, what we have been years learning, they learn in a few months.

Social meeting Sabbath morning at 8 o'clock, of much interest. These meetings were all characterized by a tender, melting spirit. The testimonies of the brethren and sisters were well wet down with tears. Parents spoke with much feeling in regard to their children. It seemed indeed like a fulfillment of the prophecy of Malachi, that the hearts of the fathers should be turned to the children.

At the close of the services Sabbath forenoon, Bro. John Matteson was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands. Prayer by Bro. Sanborn; the right hand of fellowship, and the charge, by Bro. White.

Sunday morning twelve were baptized, going five miles to a suitable place for the ordinance, and returning in season for the social meeting at 9 A. M. Preaching at 10, by Bro. White on the Law and the Gospel, which he proposes to write out soon for publication. At 2 P. M. sister White spoke to the assembled multitude. This was probably the most numerously attended of any of the meetings. Extra seats were prepared outside of the tent walls, which were filled all day Sunday, and a crowd stood outside of them. It is estimated that at least twelve hundred persons were present. Sister W. commenced her remarks, laboring under much physical disability, with a soreness of throat and lungs. But by the blessing of the Lord, she was enabled to speak with ease and freedom till the close, feeling much better bodily at the conclusion of her remarks than at the commencement. The entire congregation gave most respectful and apparently candid attention.

On Sabbath we were favored with the presence of a number of Seventh-day Baptist brethren from the settlement of that denomination at Milton, seven miles north of Johnstown. The preaching in all the meetings was listened to with great interest. Bro. Steward preached at the commencement of the Sabbath, on the second coming of Christ, and Bro. Matteson Sunday evening, to close the series, on 1 Thess. v. 16–23. The other six of the eight discourses given through the meeting, were preached by Bro. White.

After the sermon first-day evening, Bro. R. F. Andrews presented the following resolutions, which were passed by quite a full vote of the believers present: “Resolved, That we hereby express our thanks to Bro. and sister White for their timely visit and faithful labors among us, and that we highly appreciate these dear servants of Christ for their works' sake, and they shall still have our prayers, sympathies, and co-operation. “Resolved, That we consider it a great privilege to be favored with a visit from our much-esteemed Bro. U. Smith, and that we will try to hold him up by our prayers, that wisdom from above may be granted him to fill the important place assigned him in connection with this cause. “Resolved, That we tender our thanks to the church in Johnstown Center for their kindness and hospitality shown us on this occasion.”

Thus closed the meeting, good throughout, and the best that many of those present ever enjoyed. Bro. and sister White had a testimony for the people, which reached the heart and was received. We trust the brethren and sisters have carried the spirit of the meetings to their several homes. We are assured if they have, that the cause will be much strengthened and advanced thereby.

We now start for Iowa, trusting that the Lord will give his people there also, a good season.