Untitled article by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 24, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 15

LIFE INCIDENTS.

By James White

BY ELDER JAMES WHITE.

CHAPTER SIX.

Second Advent Conference at Poland, Me.—The Conduct of a Fanatic.—He is Reproved and Humbled.—Satan Works when the Work of the Lord Prospers.—The appearance of Fanaticism evidence that the Advent Faith is from Heaven.

In the month of June, 1844, a second-advent Conference was held at Poland, Me., which Eld. White attended in company with Eld. Pearson. He had traveled extensively in the heat and dust of summer, until his plain clothing was much soiled and worn. And not enjoying his usual freedom of spirits, he chose to remain silent and give others the time. He, however, enjoyed the preaching, and the social seasons of this excellent Conference, and at its close felt his usual spiritual strength and freedom.

There was, at this Conference, an Eld. H., from Eastern Maine, who had much to say in his peculiar, noisy style. He professed to be a man of great faith, wonderfully filled with the Holy Spirit. If noise, harsh expressions, rough language generally, and frequent empty shouts of, “Glory, hallelujah,” constitute the sum total of the fruits of the Spirit, then this Eld. H. was a very good man. But if love, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness and temperance, are among the fruits of the Spirit, this poor man was sadly deficient. In fact, these precious fruits were not exhibited in him. He enjoyed a shout with those who would join with him, and ever appeared to feel strong and sure of Heaven. Self appeared in this man, and not Christ. He had much to say of humility; but his was evidently on the outside. His style of worship, and pretended humility, are well described by the apostle as “voluntary humility, and will worship.” At times he was so very humble (?) that he chose not to seat himself at the table with others to take food; but, forgetting the words of the apostle, “Let all things be done decently and in order,” he would take food from the table and go behind the door and eat it, attracting attention to his wonderful humility by shouts. But if corrected for his faults, however noisy, the demon in him was aroused at once. This man had no words of tenderness and comfort for the weak and fainting. So far from this, he even boasted of running over, as he expressed it, this one and the other. He spoke and acted as if he regarded himself as being on exhibition, at that meeting, as a wonderful specimen of faith and goodness. His career since that time, in following the spirit that seemed to possess him at that Conference, has proved that the man was laboring under the sad mistake of supposing himself led by the Spirit of God, while being controlled by Satan.

The reader may be disappointed at the introduction of this unpleasant matter, choosing to read only of those incidents with which are connected the victories of the work and honor of God. But it may be for the safety and sure advancement of young disciples, and those of little experience in the conflicts of the Christian life, to learn of the trials of the way, and of the wiles of the Devil, as to know only of the power and love of God, and the triumphant victories of his truth and people. The various attacks of Satan in order to mislead and finally destroy even honest men and women, may, with propriety, in consequence of their numbers, bear the name of legion. And the duty of all, as stated by our Lord, is, Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

But he who is filled with pride in spiritual things, and is unteachable—thinks himself especially led by the Spirit, and understands all about the work of the Lord, who regards himself an eminent Christian, yet is easily tempted, and becomes jealous of being slighted, and even ugly, if he does not receive a large share of attention—is a tool for the Devil, and an exceedingly dangerous man. He is a medium in the hands of Satan through which to affect and mislead the precious flock of Christ. Let all beware lest they, in some way, be brought more or less under the influence of such, and, in consequence, weave into their experience uncomely stripes of vain religion.

Such things ever have existed, and ever will exist, during the entire period of Satan’s efforts to wrest precious souls from the hands of Jesus Christ. “For there must be also heresies among you,” says Paul, “that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” These, in the Lord’s providence, constitute a portion of the fuel to heat the furnace of affliction in which the true Christian loses his dross, and is refined, so as to reflect in his life the meekness and purity of the loving Lamb of God. Therefore let not the beloved of the Lord think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try them, as though some strange thing had happened unto them. But rejoice, inasmuch as they are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, they may be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Pet. iv, 12, 13.

The reader will please return to Poland Conference, to the case of Eld. H. One morning, about forty brethren and sisters bowed at the family altar, at the house of Bro. Jordon, while Eld. H. led in prayer. A portion of that strange prayer was in substance as follows:

“O Lord, have mercy on Bro. White. He is proud, and will be damned unless he gets rid of his pride. Have mercy upon him, O Lord, and save him from pride. O Lord, have mercy, and wean him from the pride of life. Break him down, Lord, and make him humble. Have mercy upon him. Have mercy.”

He went on telling the Lord a long story about Eld. White, who was present, informing him of his pride, and how sure he was of destruction unless he should speedily repent, and closed up with vehement cries of “Have mercy! Have mercy! Mercy! Mercy!” This was his way of treating those who did not seem to receive him with feelings of great reverence for his special humility, and extra holiness. His object in this was to cast fear upon those around him, and thus bring them directly under his influence, that they might show him all that respect which his especial endowments demanded.

But he did not succeed in the case of Eld. White. After the company had arisen to their seats, and had for awhile painfully pondered in silence what these things could mean, he drew his chair beside Eld. H., and in a kind manner said to him,

“Bro. H., I fear you have told the Lord a wrong story. You say I am proud. This I think is not true. But why tell this to the Lord? He knows more about me than you do. He does not need to be instructed in my case. This was not your object. But you wished to represent me before these brethren and sisters as proud, and have chosen to do so through the medium of prayer to God. Now, sir, if I am proud, so much so that you are able to give the Lord information on the subject, you can certainly tell me, before these present, in what I am proud. Is it in my general appearance, or my manner of speaking, praying, or singing?”

“No, Bro. White, it is not in those things.”

“Well, is it manifested by these worn and soiled clothes? Please look me over. Is it in my patched boots? my rusty coat? this nearly worn-out vest? these soiled pants? or—that old hat I wear?”

“No, I do not see pride in any of these things you mention. But, Bro. White, when I saw that starched collar on you, God only knows how I felt.”

And here the man wept as though his heart would break. This was for effect. It was his usual resort when he had points to carry in a difficult case. In an extremity, tears are not unfrequently woman’s closing and most powerful argument. In her, if her cause be just, they are excusable, and even appropriate and beautiful. But to see a coarse, hard-hearted man, possessing in his very nature but little more tenderness than a crocodile, and nearly as destitute of moral and religious training as a hyena, shedding hypocritical tears for effect, is enough to stir the mirthfulness of the gravest saint.

“But let me explain to you, Bro. H., about this starched collar. I may be able to help you. When I came to this Conference, Sr. Rounds offered to do my washing, and as I had no clean change, she kindly lent me her husband’s shirt, which, unfortunately, has a starched collar. Mine have only a narrow binding round the neck. I wear no collars only in cases of necessity like the present. It is this, sir, that has given rise to all your ado this morning. I usually wear a black, alpaca bosom, but am not the owner of a single collar. You have certainly told the Lord a wrong story about me, under circumstances the most inexcusable. And I think your first and most important work is to settle this matter with him.”

Eld. H. dropped upon his knees, and said, in substance,

“O Lord, I have prayed for Bro. White, and he is displeased with me for it. Have mercy upon him! Have mercy! Mercy! Mercy!”

And seeing that none joined with him, not even so much as to kneel, he felt that his effort was proving a failure, and in a subdued tone came to Eld. White and said,

“Why did you not kneel with me? O Bro. White, I have felt for you, prayed for you, and have wept over you, and I hope you will not be offended.”

Certainly I am not offended. There is nothing in all this to offend a Christian. I pity you. You are suffering from unsanctified feelings arising from an unfortunate application of false ideas. Your prayers are no more to me than the howling of the winds. And when you, under such circumstances, plead your tears, feelings of shame and inexpressible disgust, and pity for you, come over me. I advise you to carry this matter no further. And I hope you will learn a good lesson from the folly you have manifested this morning.

By this time Eld. White was fully aroused, and seemed to lose sight of that gloom and despondency under which he had been suffering for several days. He enjoyed the closing portion of the Poland Conference exceedingly well, and from that time felt his usual freedom of spirits. This was his first experience in meeting and rebuking fanaticism, which served to prepare him to deal with it in its ever-varying forms in after time.

That fanaticism did arise about this time, and labor to attach itself to the Advent cause, he would not deny. He, however, by no means admits the truthfulness of the highly-colored reports of the bitter enemies of the cause. Not more than one in ten of the slanderous reports had the least semblance of truth in them. Men filled with prejudice, and with bitterness against the proclamation of the immediate second advent of Christ, mingled with fear that it might be true, were totally unfitted to fairly represent the faith, motives, and actions of believers.

And there are no good reasons why he who gives a faithful sketch of Advent history, should hesitate to admit all the facts relative to fanaticism which have arisen from the bigotry and blind zeal of such men as Eld. H. and those more designing and shrewd, who have borne the Advent name, and have professed the Advent faith. Is it not one of the plainest facts in sacred history, that when God has especially wrought for his people, Satan has ever improved the opportunity to make especial efforts? And, during the entire period of the controversy between Christ and his angels, and Satan and his angels, when the sons of God come to present themselves before the Lord, may they not expect that Satan will come also? Has not this ever been true in the history of the people of God? And does not the sad experience of the church of Jesus Christ since the time where sacred history leaves it, agree with that of patriarchs and prophets?

We read of Luther’s perplexities, and of his anguish in consequence of the conduct of fanatics and the terrible influence the course of these men had on the great reformation, and count these things among the evidences that God was especially with Martin Luther. And there were the Wesleys, and a host of other good men, who have lifted at the great wheel of reform, and have blessed the world with the inspiring influence of their living faith. These men, who kept pace with the spirit of reform, have, in their turn, been annoyed at every step by Satan close at their heels, pushing unguarded souls, over-zealous and illy-balanced ones, into fanaticism. The experiences of these men are in harmony with that of holy men of old, and attest the fact that when and where God works for his people, just there is the time and place for Satan to practice

his impositions upon those he can get under his foul influence.

Did Satan stir up fanaticism in connection with the Advent movement? This is one of the proofs of the genuineness of the great movement. What! He suffer the world to be warned of their and his approaching doom, and he not be stirred in consequence of it? The church be aroused to action, and to readiness for the day of God, and sinners by thousands leaving his ranks and seeking a preparation to meet the King of kings, and he remain quiet? No. He knows his time is short, hence not only his wrath, but his wiles in all their forms. This is well illustrated by what is said to be a dream. A traveler saw Satan seated upon a post, in front of a house of worship, asleep. He aroused him, and addressed him as follows:

“How is it that you are so quietly sleeping? This I conclude is unusual for you, considering your reputation for activity in your kind of work. Is it not?” “Yes,” was the reply, “but the people in this house of worship are asleep, and the minister is asleep, and I thought this a good time for me to take a nap.”

Let the people be aroused to the living truths of the word of God, and to a life of faith and holiness—let them with gladness receive the news of the return and peaceful reign of the Just One—let them consecrate themselves and all they have to the Lord, and with one united voice swell the note “Behold he cometh”—and you will have good evidence that the powers of darkness are all astir. Satan will not sleep then. With vigilance will he manifest his wrath, and, calling to his aid all the fallen angels of his realm, his wiles will be imposed upon all connected with the people of God, who are not properly instructed and guarded.

But it should be distinctly understood that the proclamation of time is the message symbolized by the announcement of the first angel of Rev. xiv, 6, 7, and in the cry of “Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him,” given in great power, in the autumn of 1844, did not produce fanaticism. In those solemn movements, believers were sweetly united in the one blessed hope, and the one living faith. It was when they were left without definite time, during the summer of 1844, that extravagant views of holiness, and being led by the Spirit, prevailed, and brought in, to some extent, fanaticism, division and wild-fire, with their blighting results, among the happy expectants of the King of glory. But when the proclamation of definite time came in the autumn of 1844, fanaticism, ultra holiness, unhappy divisions, and their results, melted away before it like an early autumn frost before the rising sun.