p. 118 | THE CHURCH IN LAPEER

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 6, 1869

THE CHURCH IN LAPEER.

By H. S. Gurney; Hiram Perkes; W. W. Lockwood

As the deep trials which the Lapeer church have been suffering for many years are more or less extensively known, it may not be out of place for us, as a committee, called to assist in the investigation of a long list of grave charges brought in against the elders of that church, to make a report through the REVIEW.

It appears that the first and leading cause of trial has ever been through the influence of Geo. Wright, who was for a number of years a member of this church, and although he has long since apostatized and gone over to the first-day Adventists, yet he has some sympathizers, prominent among whom is one Mr. Demill, who it appears has long been in trial and under censure in the church, and was finally expelled about the first of December last, consequent upon which there were preferred against the elder, Bro. Higley, nine charges for dishonesty, and four for slander. They spared no effort nor pains. They had written to different parties in this State, and Iowa, and have made extensive inquiries through the town where the accused has lived for more than twenty-five years, and called upon some of our bitterest opponents, to assist them in making and sustaining charges.

A careful and thorough investigation commenced evening after the Sabbath, and continued until late Tuesday night, making three day, and four evening, sessions, in which the committee gave the broadest opportunity to secure a full, free and satisfactory investigation; and yet they failed to sustain even one of their charges; while in the defense, two of the darkest charges were rolled back upon the accusers.

Unchristian as the whole affair has been on the part of the accusers, we believe and hope that under the overruling of the Lord, it will prove a very great blessing to the church, it having exposed a great amount of tattling and backbiting, which is one of the most effectual ways that the adversary has of destroying our churches. He knows that it will separate very near friends.

From the spirited testimonies and confessions that were borne at the close of the meeting, we believe that a large majority of the church are in union with their elder in trying to rise and keep pace with the message of the third angel, which the following resolution quite unanimously adopted near the close of this investigation, will show.

“Resolved: That on reviewing the past history of this church, and considering our present difficulties, we feel it our duty to confess that we have not followed our Lord’s directions given in Matt. xviii, given especially for our good, and for the peace and prosperity of the church of Christ; and that we feel that our sin in this respect has greatly increased our trials, especially with Bro. Higley, and has stood in the way of a proper understanding of our trials; has been and is a source of wounding the cause, and justly merits the displeasure of God, and calls for confession, humility, and repentance on our part. And we take this opportunity to confess to Bro. Higley as a brother, and to God as our Judge, that we have sinned, and pledge ourselves to try to come up to duty from this time forward.”

Bro. Higley said that he wished to be numbered among those who voted for that resolution.

The darkest and most cruel of all is, that a part of the disaffected persons were not satisfied in trying to destroy a brother’s influence here, where he is known.

They signed a letter of defamation, and sent it to Nora, Ill., where Bro. Higley expects to move in a few weeks, poisoning the minds of community in advance of his arrival there, thus destroying his influence and usefulness, and making the cause to suffer and bleed in that part of the great harvest field.

From the circumstances in this case we feel called upon and esteem it a privilege to testify that from the long acquaintance which we have had with Bro. Higley, we believe he is moving in the light of the third angel’s message, and that for the past ten years Bro. and Sr. Higley have been burden-bearers, large burden-bearers, in the Lapeer church. And we can confidently recommend them to the confidence and watch care of the friends of the cause in Illinois, hoping that the Lord will overrule the dark designs of their enemies, and open a field of usefulness before them.

H. S. GURNEY, Memphis, HIRAM PERKES, Rochester, W. W. LOCKWOOD, Holly, } Committee.

P. S. I never saw a more solemn and impressive work than was manifest during the trial. It seemed that the angels were present to record for the Judgment. And the greatest care was used to move impartially in the investigation. Although, as stated, the charges could not be sustained, yet Bro. Higley, in common with others, stood ready to confess that he had, amidst a pressure of circumstances, not always moved right. Perhaps but few would have done better under the same circumstances. It was very apparent that in the trial, testimony was forced, even from outsiders. I never was more forcibly reminded of Job, before his friends. We were very much cheered in the end, when Bro. Higley’s son, Walter, melted before the Lord, with humble confessions and firm resolutions to serve the Lord more faithfully. Others followed in the same spirit. Thus the efforts were crowned with the blessing of God.

H. S. GURNEY.