Brakes by John N. Quinn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 21, 1911

Brakes

By John N. Quinn

JOHN N. QUINN

The timely application of a brake has prevented many a serious accident; the failure of a brake to work at a critical moment has sent many a soul into eternity. A newly appointed brakeman had just entered on his duties in connection with a steam railroad running through a rural district. A rather steep hill was crossed each day by the train, and if the steam pressure in the boiler was lower than usual the engineer found it difficult to bring the train over the hill. One day the train moved with greater difficulty than usual; a glance at the steam-gage showed sufficient steam in the boiler, and the engineer was at a loss to account for the slow and difficult movement of his train. At last the top of the hill was reached, and thrusting his head out of the window, he called to the brakeman, “Well, lad, we had a hard time crossing over to-day.” “Indeed we did, sir; and had it not been that I put on the brakes, we should have gone down the hill,” was the reply which came to the ears of the astonished engineer.

We smile at the stupidity of the brakeman, yet possibly we are doing a similar work. The superintendent of the Sabbath-school is putting forth Herculean efforts to make the weekly teachers’ meeting a success, and you, although one of the teachers of the school, assume an attitude of indifference to the superintendent and his work. In so doing, you have put on the brake on the up-grade. The officers of the school are earnestly striving to begin the Sabbath-school with each member in his place when the opening bell rings. Five minutes later you saunter in, and leisurely take your place in a class. You may be a teacher or a church officer or a scholar in the class,—it makes but little difference,—you have the brake on while the train is going up-hill. The librarian of the church feels a burden that a spirit of activity shall permeate the entire church. He spends hours in prayer and in arranging plans for labor. He presents his plans, and many sit and listen, believe the plans to be good, and quietly pass out of the church without even a look at the tract-rack. The librarian is the last one out of the room, and as he notices how few take with them a supply of tracts, he is tempted to feel discouraged—so many in the missionary society with brakes on, while he is earnestly striving to bring the church up to God’s ideal.

There may at times be a tendency in the church, in the Sabbath-school, or in the missionary society for things to “run wild.” Then is the time to apply the brakes and save the day. It may require fortitude and a spirit of determination to do so, but it is essential to the welfare of the work. There is a purpose and a time for everything under the sun; but it is not the time to use brakes when the work of God is surmounting difficulties. Then is the time when the divine Engineer is crying out, “All brakes off!” Off with them, then, and thus help the work of the Lord upward and onward.