Further Incidents of the Early Days by George Ide Butler

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 1, 1916

Further Incidents of the Early Days

By George Ide Butler

GEO. I. BUTLER

As we carefully consider the various movements in this great message, we can discern the wisdom of God in molding the work. It was very important that experienced, devout believers should form the nucleus of this great movement. Novices would hardly meet the demands of so difficult an undertaking. The last days are the most perilous days of all the ages. Every wind of doctrine is blowing, and most trying experiences must necessarily be met. Satan’s power is wonderfully manifest.

Where should we look for more suitable ones to meet such a crisis successfully than those stanch, faithful believers who could hold steadfastly to the truths of the first message in one of the most terrible disappointments that ever befell God’s people? They were experienced, devout Christians. They had faced a scoffing world. They had been slandered, ridiculed, cast out of the popular churches, considered foolish fanatics, and despised beyond measure. Every ridiculous charge imaginable was hurled at them. One of them which was generally believed, was that they had made ascension robes to go up in when the Lord should come. What could be more preposterous? In many places preachers of the gospel hurled this baseless charge from their pulpits. Our people, to show its malice and folly, offered a reward of hundreds of dollars for a single instance of making ascension robes, but such an instance has never been found.

The true believers patiently bore all this slander and abuse in a Christian spirit, and still walked on in humility, rejoicing in God’s blessing and favor. They lived down these slanders and showed themselves to be honest, faithful Christians; earnest, devout followers of Christ. They formed a splendid nucleus for a mighty movement, seeking precious souls all over the world, and warning all of the coming of Christ. Well do I remember the passing of the time when these believers looked for their Lord. I dreaded to go to the village post office for the mail. The urchins along the way would cry out, “When are you going up?” “You haven’t gone up yet.” To a boy of ten years these cries were not inspiring.

In the early days of the third message great efforts were made by the pioneers to hunt out the old advent believers everywhere. Father Bates, Elder and Mrs. James White, Elder J. N. Andrews, engaged in this work. Long trips were taken to find here and there one who clung to the belief that the first angel’s message was of God, and to explain to such the certainty of the third angel’s message following the first and second messages. The words of Scripture are positive on this point: “And the third angel followed them [that is, the first and second], saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image,” etc. Just as surely as the first and second had been given, the third must follow. They were all one series, and a great work must follow, for the angel spoke “with a loud voice.” Thus began the third angel’s message, the closing work to prepare a people for the coming of Christ.

And so the work of gathering out the old, faithful, much-tried believers went on. Fresh courage came into their hearts, and all their past was made plain. In this work Elder and Mrs. White were conspicuous. They worked very hard, in much poverty, and under very discouraging circumstances. Elder White saw the necessity of publishing a small

paper. It was very small at first, and it might truly be said of it that it was issued semioccasionally, so great was the poverty of that little company of scattered believers. But it grew, and continued to go forth on its errands of love and mercy, until it finally developed into our grand old REVIEW AND HERALD, our oldest periodical, known to every Seventh-day Adventist. Our little band of believers were encouraged by the visits of this paper, filled with present truth from warm hearts. They contributed small sums as they could from their own meager funds, till after a while the paper came out weekly. It was not long till the Youth’s Instructor began its visits.

In those days whenever a little company of believers was raised up, they were sure to be soon visited by Elder and Mrs. White. Through their faithful labors these believers became established in the faith. In the very earliest period of this movement the doctrine of the perpetuity of spiritual gifts was firmly believed and taught. The Scriptures clearly teach that the gifts of the Spirit will be continued in the true church of Jesus Christ when it stands in the light, humble and devoted to Christ.

It is well known that the visions of Mrs. E. G. White have been believed among Seventh-day Adventists from the very first existence of this people. This gift of the Spirit was one of the most powerful agencies connected with the beginning of this work, and did much to unify the faith of the believers. Sister White’s labors and her writings have helped to establish thousands in the advent message, and are a source of spiritual strength to large numbers of our people.

Bowling Green, Fla.