Elder Butler’s Personal Experiences
By George I. Butler
RECENTLY I was invited to write an article for our church organ, the dear REVIEW, relative to myself, my present experiences and conditions. It was expressed that I had formerly written considerably, and that my many friends would be glad to know more about my personal experiences, hopes, and views. I thought perhaps it would be best to accept this kind invitation. It is true that of late I have written little, much less than formerly. But I assure my many friends that it is not because of any hurt feelings, or personal discouragement, or lack of faith in the groundwork of the message. My faith in this movement was never stronger than now. My interest was never greater nor my hope in God brighter. “Why, then, this protracted silence?” you ask. A train of circumstances and conditions seems to be responsible for it. My last work officially in the cause was in connection with the Southern Union Conference, embracing nine large Southern States. I labored exceedingly hard during the six years I was president of that union, and came near suffering another nervous breakdown as I closed my labors there, and was very glad of some rest. Because of my absence from home so much in my work as president of the Southern Union Conference, my affairs became involved in debt. Hired labor costs much and is not always successful. So I have remained at home very busy. Recently I have been trying hard to sell my home place, praying much for the Lord’s help to dispose of my property. As yet I have not been able to do this. It would be a great relief to me and to my good wife if we could do so, but until we can I know of no other honorable way than to labor on. But I want all my brethren to understand that I am not in love with this poor world of sin and death, where Satan is god and the mass of mankind is following his leadership. My hope is over yonder. I want to live in a better world than this, I assure you. I feel truly like a pilgrim and stranger here, and long for the coming of our Lord and Saviour. The numerous signs of his coming fill my heart with great joy. I can think of nothing in this poor world which I should be more delighted to do, if it were God’s will, than to be out with a tent proclaiming this glorious truth to those who have never heard it. I received this truth from the real pioneers in this movement, I mean Joseph Bates, Elder James White, Mrs. Ellen G. White, J. N. Andrews, Uriah Smith, J. N. Loughborough, and J. H. Waggoner. Elder S. N. Haskell and I came in later. These pioneers were God’s servants who laid the foundations of this glorious work. I received the truth through their labors, and have believed it ever since, and expect to do so while life lasts. I believe this message without a doubt. I have never been one of the fickle-minded, changeable people, seeking for new paths. I stand firm on the old fundamental doctrines. Elder J. N. Andrews, one of the strongest men in doctrine we ever had, used to say in the later period of his life that it was a great comfort to him, after many years of burden bearing and arduous labor in the cause, that we as a people had never yet been forced to give up a position or doctrine we had accepted as truth. Not every people can say that. This fact loudly proclaims that God is in this work, and is leading this people on in the full establishment of this cause. That servant of God whose ardent labors in this cause are now closing in the weakness of eighty-six years, has spoken of the excellence and perfection of that pioneer work. God was with her, giving through her heavenly light of vast importance in the development of this work. I have been very familiar with her labors for nearly seventy years, having labored with her in many meetings, and received many letters from her. I have been well acquainted with her writings, and have the most perfect confidence in their value. I know the purity of her spiritual life, the power of her prayers, and am greatly indebted to her for many counsels of great value. It is to me a very sad thought that she cannot be in our councils hereafter; but her precious writings are left to us as a people. It is natural for one like me, who has labored long and earnestly, to look back over the past and scan our history with deep interest. Every work or movement which God has originated to accomplish his great designs has been best and purest at its beginning, when he himself was developing it by his own chosen agencies. As such works develop and pass into history, earthly influences more or less affect them, and they are in danger of being controverted by human influences. The great gospel movement was so affected. Christ and his chosen apostles laid a glorious foundation. Error soon crept in. One writer clearly presents this matter:— “Toward the latter end of the second century most of the churches assumed a new form, the first simplicity disappeared, and insensibly, as the old disciples retired to their graves, their children, along with new converts, both Jews and Gentiles, came forward and remodeled the cause.”
In the great Reformation the same process appeared, and so in the rise of Methodism. It is very doubtful whether, if Luther and Wesley should rise from the dead, they would recognize the churches they originated. Are Seventh-day Adventists in no danger of being affected by similar influences? May God help us to cling to the old paths. He has led in the establishment of this work, and we believe he will continue to lead us if we humbly follow in the steps of the old pioneers.