Minnesota by B. H. Palmer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1916

Minnesota

By B. H. Palmer

BLACKDUCK.—Seventh-day Adventists are quite generally commented upon for their zeal. As a people we feel, however, that we are not doing all that we might do. We know that we have not accomplished all that we might have accomplished in the past. What is worst of all is the fact that we have failed to save many of our own children and young people. We have been forced to witness the heart-rending spectacle of Adventist young people dropping off the narrow path to the world below. Why this terrible loss, and what is the remedy? One reason for the loss is this: We spend too much precious time sowing the seed, and not enough time reaping the ripened grain. Too often by far we spend our time marching up and down the Lord's great harvest field sowing the precious seed into soil that is already supporting a bounteous crop of matured wheat, white for the harvest; and from timidity, embarrassment, lack of time, or from some other insufficient reason, we do not make any effort to induce a soul to take a definite stand at a definite time, and thus fail to bring a golden sheaf into the Lord's great glorious storehouse.

As the leaders of our young people's societies have been calling our attention to these important facts, we decided to hold a special consecration and reconsecration service here at Blackduck, a few Sabbaths ago. Among us were several children who had just come to the age of accountability, and a few considerably older, who as yet had never taken a definite public stand for the Saviour. The older church members all felt the urgent need of reconsecration in the service of the Master. Accordingly the leader set the day for the service, and conferred with several members of the church as to ways and means of making the proposed service a success. As a preparatory step, the children were carefully instructed in regard to the importance of the soon-coming time of special consecration. They were even informed of the exact purpose of the meeting, and an effort was made to impress them with their personal need and responsibility and the importance of making an early choice.

At the appointed time the officers met to invoke the power of the Holy Spirit in this time of need. They then opened the service, trembling betwixt hope and fear. The leader gave a short exhortation on the text, 'Suffer little children to come unto me.' After a few words of counsel by other members, an opportunity was given for all who would to take their first public stand for the Saviour. Imagine the unspeakable joy of those parents present at seeing every child of accountable age rise to his feet.

Who will be the next to try the special consecration service and receive the Lord's richest blessing, the conversion of the children in Israel?

B. H. PALMER.