A Children’s Meeting in 1844

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 17, 1910

A Children’s Meeting in 1844

By suggestion of Brother Chas. E. Sturdevant, of Illinois, we reprint the following description of a children’s service in the 1844 movement, taken from “Life Sketches,” by James White:—

“The first of May I received an urgent call to visit West Gardiner [Maine], and baptize. A messenger was sent twenty miles for me. He stated that there were ten or twelve children there, who were convicted by my lectures, who had held their little meetings by themselves, and sought and found the Lord, and who had decided to have me baptize them. Their parents opposed the idea, and told them that Elder Getchel, the pastor of the church, would baptize them. They held a little council, and decided that they would not go into the water unless they could have me to immerse them. Their parents yielded, and sent for me. But before I reached the place, an effort was made to intimidate these dear children, and, if possible, to frighten them, and thus keep them from doing their duty.

‘What kind of an experience does Mr. White suppose those babies can tell?’ said a Baptist minister of the most rigid stamp of past times.

‘The large schoolhouse was crowded at the time appointed, and there were three unfriendly ministers present to watch the proceedings. ‘Please vacate these front seats,’ said I, ‘and give those who are to be baptized a chance to come forward.’ Twelve boys and girls, from seven to fifteen years of age, came forward. It was a beautiful sight, which stirred the very depths of my soul, and I felt like taking charge of them as I would of a class in school. I was determined to help the feelings of those dear children as much as possible, and rebuke their persecutors.

‘After taking my text, ‘Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom’ (Luke 12:32), a text quite applicable to the occasion, I stated that I should not require the children before me to relate their experiences before the congregation. That it would be cruel to decide their fitness to follow the Lord in the ordinance of baptism by the confidence and freedom they might have in speaking before those professed Christians present who felt unfriendly toward them, and that I should, at the close of my discourse, ask them a few questions. The children were much comforted and cheered by the discourse. In fact, I was enjoying decidedly a good time with those lambs of the flock. They then arose in their turn and answered some questions, and related particulars as to their conviction of sin, the change they had experienced, and the love of Jesus they felt, until the congregation heard twelve intelligent and sweet experiences. . . .

‘I then called upon all present who felt opposed to the baptism of the little flock before me, to rise up. Not one arose. I stated to them that the present was the time to object if they had objections. But if they did not then and there object, to forever be silent. I then said to the children that no one objected, and that the way was fully open before them, and no person from that day had any right to object to their baptism. We went to a beautiful body of water, where I led those dear children down into the liquid grave, and buried them with their divine Lord. And as I led them to their parents, the children met them with a heavenly smile of joy, and I praised the Lord with the voice of triumph. This meeting and that sweet baptism are among my most pleasing memories of the past.”