GEO. I. BUTLER by George I. Butler

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 11, 1916

GEO. I. BUTLER

By George I. Butler

Early Experiences of the Advent Believers, as They Entered upon the Time of the Saints’ Patience

(Continued)

GEO. I. BUTLER

It is almost impossible for any one to realize the great change in the condition of the advent people in the few years following 1844. Previous to that time they were a united, earnest, devoted host, full of hope, buoyant with enthusiasm, and most earnestly seeking to help those not in the light. After the time passed, disappointment brought discouragement, and great changes occurred, as we have stated in previous articles. However, there were scattered here and there those who, while they could not explain the disappointment, fully believed that God was in that great movement.

As the light regarding the third angel’s message and the sanctuary question came, those who had received it began to communicate it to these faithful few. Joseph Bates, of New Bedford, Mass., who had been a sea captain for many years, was prominent among those who went from place to place, seeking out these faithful ones, and giving them the new light. This brother, who had gathered a little property, and retired from active service because of advancing age, was a firm believer in the first message. He spent almost all his substance in its proclamation. I was but a youth when, in 1848, he came to my father’s house in Waterbury, Vt.

My parents and the older members of our family were strong believers in the 1844 movement, and were greatly disappointed when the time passed. Brother Bates, as he was familiarly called, found mother in the house, but the rest of the family were out. He introduced himself and his mission, hung up his prophetic chart, and proclaimed the third angel’s message and the seventh-day Sabbath, and explained the great disappointment. This was meat in due season to mother, just what she was waiting to learn, and she believed every word of it. At once she began to keep the unpopular Sabbath all alone. Father thought the law had been abolished, but he became a believer in 1857.

Elder Bates traveled a great deal. His whole burden was to find the old, devoted believers who had retained their confidence in the great advent movement and the first angel’s message. So the light explaining the disappointment went forth.

Conspicuous among the early laborers in the third angel’s message was Elder James White. He was a young man, a school-teacher in the State of Maine. He was a very earnest Christian, and became a zealous preacher of the first message. He had strong faith that God was in the message, and he traveled much, and labored hard and faithfully among the scattered believers throughout the New England States in the early days of the movement. His labors were successful in establishing the faith of many.

Another very remarkable laborer in this early period of the movement was a young lady named Ellen G. Harmon. Her parents were prominent Methodists of Portland, Maine. They embraced the first angel’s message under the labors of William Miller and his associates, and were later dismissed from the Methodist Church, when the advent believers became unpopular because they would cling to that faith. Their daughter Ellen had a great misfortune when quite young. Returning home from school one day, as she crossed the common, another girl became angry at some trifle, and threw a stone, which struck her nose, and she fell unconscious. She was carried home, and for three weeks lay in a stupor, after which she became very ill. She did not remember the accident, and for some time did not know the cause of her illness. Many thought she would never recover, but she slowly gained strength, though her health was sadly broken. This was a very severe trial to her, for she longed to get an education. She sought God in deep humility, and he gave her a remarkable experience in spiritual things. Soon after the great disappointment of 1844 she had her first vision. A few of the believers who remained steadfast, her special friends, were having a little prayer meeting together. As they were thus engaged, seeking God for light, she was taken off in vision. She says:—

“I seemed to be surrounded with light, and to be rising higher and higher from the earth. I turned to look for the advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, ‘Look again, and look a little higher.’ At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path cast up high above the world. On this path the advent people were traveling to the city which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the ‘midnight cry.’ This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet, so that they might not stumble.”—Life Sketches, p. 64.

Following this quotation, she gives a full statement of the view given her, from which the reader can readily see that in this vision there was light given through Miss Harmon for the encouragement of the disappointed, earnest believers. She was then but seventeen years old, but her religious experience at that time had been very remarkable.

She at once began to travel more or less among the believers, rehearsing what the Lord had revealed to her. Her testimony was a wonderful encouragement to many. Thus began that earnest, devoted life work for the salvation of souls, which lasted seventy years. After a time she was united in marriage with Elder James White, and their united labors brought a great blessing to the cause of God.

From time to time other laborers assisted in the work. J. N. Andrews, a young man of marked ability as a writer and preacher, was a most important helper, and a few years later Uriah Smith connected with the work. There were also many others.

Bowling Green, Fla.

(To be continued)