p. 14 | Encouraging Progress in Tennessee by J. S. WASHBURN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 25, 1912

Encouraging Progress in Tennessee

By J. S. WASHBURN

MEMPHIS.— The experiences in the work in this thriving Southern city have been an additional proof to me that God is directly leading this people through the spirit of prophecy. Before coming here my mind was not clear that it was best to come, and circumstances led me to do that which I had never done before, appeal directly to the one to whom God had given the gift of prophecy. The answer was clear and definite, “Go to Memphis.” While there have been difficulties and conflicts in the work, yet we have seen remarkable evidences that that message was from God.

One hundred fifty have signed the covenant to “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” As usual, of course, a few have not proved faithful, and some have moved away from Memphis; but the church, which was very small indeed, has now one hundred members, and others are coming into the light.

Last Sabbath, March 30, we baptized, among other converts, a brother who learned the truth in the far Northwest, though a Southern man by birth. He will, we believe, be a help to the church in Memphis. The marked presence of the Spirit of the Lord at the baptism brought several others to a definite decision, who will also help to strengthen the work here.

Some of our brethren hold important positions in the offices of leading wholesale sale firms and of the great railroad companies. Memphis is one of the greatest railway centers in the South. The wives of some of the leading business men and merchants of Memphis are members of the church here.

An earnest seeker for light and truth, a member of an educated Southern family, found the truth through reading the book “Daniel and the Revelation,” and began to keep the Sabbath before she knew there were any other Sabbath-keepers in Memphis. In a remarkable way she found the church, and rejoiced greatly in the new-found light. Her married daughter and her son thought she had lost her mind, and the son came home from New Orleans to persuade his mother to give up the strange doctrine that he thought had unbalanced her reason. They came to the tent-meetings to get a clue to use against the mother’s strange delusion. They became interested at once, and soon fully accepted the great truth that had so completely taken possession of their mother’s mind and heart.

The transformation wrought in the life of the young man has been truly miraculous. There was a fearful struggle with the drink habit, and especially with the habit of smoking. His brother, a cotton merchant of New Orleans, a worldly man, evidently tested the new “strange notions” of this brother to the utmost. We earnestly prayed that the Lord might keep him from falling, and the prayer was answered. He was more than a conqueror. His brother declared at last that the change in him was wonderful, past all understanding. “He is simply a miracle.”

This young brother has become a successful worker, having been granted a ministerial license by the conference. Among others who have been brought into the truth by his life and his earnest work, are his mother’s sister, for many years a confirmed Christian Scientist; and her married daughter, the wife of one of the business men of Memphis, is now keeping the Sabbath.

His mother, the first of the family to accept the third angel’s message, has brought into the truth another sister; and her husband, an old Confederate veteran, is also keeping the Sabbath. Their son also, one of the respected physicians of Memphis, and his wife have united with the church, and he is now one of its officers. Other members of the family are interested. The sister who first accepted the truth is still working most earnestly for other relatives and friends. For several months last year she was in Manchester, England, on a mission for the truth with relatives there. To give the message is the all-absorbing passion of her life. Ought it not to be so with all our people? Should they not all be workers?

The papers in this city have widely advertised the meetings, and have been

most favorable and friendly, especially the Commercial Appeal, which for months at a time has published brief daily reports of the tent-meetings. The editor of this paper is a Catholic, yet he has always treated us most kindly.

Three years ago it became necessary, against our choice and wish, to hold a ten days’ discussion with J. S. Warlick, a noted no-law and no-Sabbath champion of the Disciple Church. The city was thoroughly stirred, a Catholic reporter writing up flaming head-lines for the daily reports. Two editorials favorable to us also appeared. The Commercial Appeal showed up the tactics and wicked arguments of the no-law theory in such an unfavorable light that Mr. Warlick publicly denounced the editor, and later stated that the reports were written by Adventists, and that the wife of the editor was an Adventist. The no-law advocate made an appointment for a great series of meetings in Memphis, but failed to keep his appointment, and has never been in Memphis since the discussion, to the great disappointment of his friends.

Several excellent persons have united with us as the result of the discussion, one of them being one of the present deacons of the church. The people of the city were favorably impressed with the truth as the result of the discussion. While we believe discussions should be avoided if possible, they may sometimes be necessary, and this is stated by the spirit of prophecy:—

“Whenever it is necessary for the advancement of the cause of truth and the glory of God, that an opponent be met, how carefully and with what humility should they (the advocates of truth), go into the conflict. With heart-searching, confession of sin, and earnest prayer, and often fasting for a time, they should entreat that God would especially help them, and give his saving, precious truth a glorious victory, that error might appear in its true deformity, and its advocates be completely discomfited. . . . If it can not be well avoided, enter the conflict, but enter upon it with firm trust in God, and in the spirit of humility, in the spirit of Jesus, who has bidden you learn of him who is meek and lowly in heart.”—“Gospel Workers,” page 195.

The wife of one who held an important position in the office of the Commercial Appeal is a member of the church. Her husband died last summer fully in the truth, and his funeral was attended by the editor in chief and members of the staff, who listened with apparent deep respect to the Scripture reading and teaching of the blessed hope. This great paper, one of the strongest papers in the South, has helped our work very much. Our people ought to appreciate the great power for good the newspaper can and must be in the closing work of the message. We are thankful to see the General Conference making newspaper reporting one of its regular departments, and giving our city workers training for this important work under the influence and guidance of experienced newspaper men.

Our canvassers and Bible workers have helped greatly in the work in Memphis. Brother F. T. Wales, who died last summer at the advanced age of more than eighty years, has left here bright jewels that will shine in his crown forever and ever.

The church in this city is made up almost entirely of Southern people. There are no people in the world more loyal and firm in the message than our people in the South, and the South is an excellent training-ground for missionaries. From this immediate field one earnest Christian young man and his wife have been laboring with success for some time in southern India, and other Southern workers have gone to other fields. The work in the South is developing in a most encouraging manner; and while there are serious conflicts before us, yet the immediate future looks bright and hopeful. Who will join the army of workers to labor with love and tact and earnestness in this important field to whose needs our minds have so often been called by the spirit of prophecy? J. S. WASHBURN.