Labors in Battle Creek by E. W. Farnsworth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 22, 1906

Labors in Battle Creek

By E. W. Farnsworth

We know our people everywhere are anxious to learn of the developments taking place in the work in this city. Some time ago I was invited by the General Conference to go to Battle Creek and labor for a few weeks, and accordingly I went there the last of January and remained until the sixth of March, with the exception of one week when I was absent attending general meetings.

It had been fifteen or sixteen years since I had been in Battle Creek to labor, and, of course, one might expect to see many changes. Where the Review Office had stood with its three hundred busy workers, there is to be seen to-day only the tall smoke-stack, naked foundation walls, and ruins. The old sanitarium and hospital, too, are gone, and an immense structure fills the place, and large factories where health foods are made stand near by.

But the changes in these external things seemed more marked than the faces in the congregation that welcomed me. The audiences attending our meetings were large, numbering from two to three thousand on the Sabbath. So many acquaintances of former years were there, that it seemed like meeting those from whom we had been separated but a brief time.

Never before had I received so hearty a welcome from the church in Battle Creek as on this occasion, and the people seemed greatly to appreciate every effort made in their behalf. It is well known by those best acquainted with our work, that there are in Battle Creek a large number of Sabbath-keepers who do not belong to the church there, nor do they seem to belong to any other, and how this element stands at the present time it is not easy to state.

It is a pleasure to say that in the controversy that has arisen, the Battle Creek church, as a body, stand like a rock in defense of the truth and the message as it has been proclaimed the past fifty years, and as it is being now, and will continue to be proclaimed until the end of time, with its enlargement of scope, its development of light, and its increase of power. The brethren and sisters are united in the message, and with the people giving the message. We believe them to be as loyal as any church in any place, and this is true under very trying and perplexing circumstances.

We did not go to Battle Creek to engage in controversy. It seemed wiser and better to call attention to the special features of truth, its development in the past, and its present progress. We therefore preached “the present truth” for the present time to the best of our ability. It was encouraging to note how heartily the message was received by the great congregation.

The labors of Elders Daniells and Irwin had prepared the way for this. They had read the messages sent to the church, and had labored earnestly for the people, and their labors were effectual in arousing the church to a sense of the true situation.

With reference to the controversy past and present, connected with the sanitarium and its management, I wish I could write more hopefully. We have longed to see evidence that the Testimonies recently sent were received and believed by those prominent in the work there, but we have no encouragement to think that they have either been received or believed.

In a general way it is admitted that things are not as they should be; but that there is anything vitally wrong as set forth in the words of counsel and warning sent them, they do not admit, as far as we know. The very points the Testimonies emphasize and severely reprove, are passed over, and we heard nothing to indicate that they were believed or accepted. Some affirm that they believe the Testimonies, but at the same time declare that they do not think we have had a Testimony given for twenty years. Whether these sentiments are generally entertained, the writer will not say. It did seem to be quite generally believed, however, that all the later messages sent forth were written under the inspiration and influence of men, that they are therefore full of error, misrepresentation, and contradictions, and are wholly unreliable as messages of instruction or guidance.

It seemed strange to the writer to hear, as he did in numerous conversations with different ones, that they believed the Testimonies, and at the same time they would say that these Testimonies were unreliable, and they would immediately proceed to try to prove that they contradicted themselves and were wholly untrue. Those who took this position seemed to see no inconsistency in it.

While I was in Battle Creek, there seemed to be a rapid increase in a spirit of opposition to the truth on the part of some. Before we left, an address lasting two hours was given in the chapel at the sanitarium, dealing with the present issue. The larger part of the address had reference to the General Conference and its organization in 1901 and 1903. It consisted largely of an arraignment of the General Conference and its work for the past six years. One would suppose from listening to the description given, that the organization recognized among Seventh-day Adventists is a system of tyranny, and the people composing it are in the most abject slavery. The references made to the Testimonies, and the use made of them was of such a character as to give the impression that they were unreliable.

We could but query what the result would be of listening to such teaching, and what impression would be left on the minds of young or old who might be placed under such instruction for three years in a course of study. They certainly could have little or no faith in the truth or message, and for our people to place their children or youth under such influences to be educated could end only in disaster and ruin. If the address to which we listened is in either spirit or letter a fair sample of what is being taught to our young people in Battle Creek, then the sooner they are removed, the better.

The Testimonies made no mistake when they gave us the instruction to move the college away from Battle Creek. They made no mistake when they opposed the reopening of the college, or any similar institution there. They make no mistake when they tell us that it is not a proper place to send our “children of whatever age, to be educated.” The Testimonies have made no mistake in describing the condition of things as they exist in Battle Creek.

Many who are there and are true to the message, declare that the reading of these Testimonies is like the reading

of an open book. Some who have never before believed that God has spoken through his servant in these last days, have seen that the Testimonies sent have so accurately described existing conditions that they have received the messages sent, and have obtained a new spiritual experience. The warnings sent are having a deep and abiding influence. Many are preparing to leave Battle Creek as soon as they can arrange to do so.

The church at Battle Creek appointed a week of prayer with fasting, which began the day we left. We are sure God will hear and answer the petitions of those who are seeking him with all the heart, and his arm will bring salvation. With his infinite resources God may see a way out, and we believe his arm is not shortened that it can not save, neither is his ear heavy that it can not hear.

In closing, I will say that I enjoyed great freedom in speaking the truth while in Battle Creek, and we were never more conscious of the blessing and presence of God than while laboring there. This was in harmony with a message sent us before we went, and to his name be all the praise.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.