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Lessons From Past Experiences

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 22, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 43.

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Lessons From Past Experiences

By GEO. O. STATES

—No. 27

GEO. O. STATES
I WAS deeply interested in studying the world-wide report of our work in the REVIEW of September 17. It brought to mind forty years ago, when I was living in Lapeer, Mich., and we saw by the REVIEW that the General Conference had invited Elders J. N. Loughborough and D. T. Bourdeau to go to California to open up the work there. I remember it as if it were yesterday, and we talked of how the message was spreading, and would soon swell into the loud cry; that very soon all the earth would be warned, and we should “see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” We used to watch the REVIEW for their reports of the first tent-meeting, which, if I remember, was at Petaluma. We talked about it in our homes; and when we gathered in our Sabbath meetings, the spread of the message was our theme. Little did any of us think that time could possibly continue more than a few years.
It was not long after this when Elder S. N. Haskell began to discuss the plan of organizing tract and missionary societies in our churches. How anxious we were to have him visit our church and tell us all about it. And when he finally came, we dropped our business for a few days, and were enthusiastic in the work, and thankful we could have a part in proclaiming the message. In those days we used to study the Testimonies to see what they said on these things. In No. 7 we found these words: “The signs of Christ’s coming are too plain to be doubted; and in view of these things every one who professes the truth should be a living preacher. God calls upon all, both preachers and people, to awake. All heaven is astir. The scenes of earth’s history are fast closing. Greater perils are before us, and we are not awake. This lack of activity and earnestness in the cause of God is dreadful. This death stupor is from Satan. He controls the minds of unconsecrated Sabbath-keepers, and leads them to be jealous of one another, fault-finding, and censorious. It is his special work to divide hearts, that the influence, strength, and labor of God’s servants may be kept among unconsecrated Sabbath-keepers, and their precious time be occupied in settling little differences when it should be spent in proclaiming the truth to unbelievers.”
After reading this, we thought, “The Lord wants us, as well as the ministers, to be awake, and it will not do for us to be jealous and fault-finding of one another, for the coming of the Lord is near.” In those days we used to enjoy having our ministers visit our church, and when they brought out things from the late Testimonies, we drank in the precious truths, and felt that it would not do for us to have our hearts divided so as to take up the time of God’s servants in settling our differences when they should be out preaching the coming of the Lord to the world.
I well remember the means the Lord used in first raising up Sabbath-keepers in Switzerland, and of Brother Erzenberger’s coming to one of our camp-meetings near Battle Creek, Mich. I remember our interest as we read in the REVIEW of Elder J. N. Andrews’ going to Europe, and we used to talk of how the truth was fast going to all the world.
As I read the report in the REVIEW of September 17, and saw that our membership was nearly one hundred thousand, I thought, “If every Sabbath-keeper was as much in earnest as we were back there, the message would soon swell into the loud cry, and the work be finished.” In our organization we have nearly every country in the world represented. We are increasing in membership wonderfully. Our tithes are over a million dollars a year. Foreign mission offerings and other funds amount to hundreds of thousands. “Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” “In the church to-day brotherly love is greatly lacking. Many of those who profess to love the Saviour neglect to love those who are united with them in Christian fellowship.” That is what is hindering the work.
Cedaredge, Colo.