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Appreciation

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 27, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 21.

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Appreciation

By GEO. O. STATES.

DURING the long years that I have been deprived of attending most of our camp meetings and other public gatherings, being much of the time unable to attend the Sabbath services, I have often thought I was in danger of not keeping up with the message.
There have been times when it has been hard to keep from yielding to feelings of discouragement. During all these years I have been a constant reader of the REVIEW. Many times, when the waters of affliction seemed to overwhelm me, I have opened the REVIEW, and found some encouragement in the editorial section, or in some general article by our aged veterans, that seemed just what I needed.
At times it has seemed to me that our people were conforming more and more to the customs of the world, and I have felt that I myself was imperceptibly backsliding. Then I have taken up our church paper and read something that had the old-time ring, and have said in my heart, “God has not forsaken this people. He will guide the old ship Zion through all the breakers into the haven of rest; and whether waiting or sleeping, I propose to stay with the message.”
My health was such that I could not attend the quarterly meeting the last Sabbath in March, and I was wondering why I was deprived of that blessing. Sabbath morning, April 1, I opened the REVIEW dated March 30, and to read so many interesting articles was certainly inspiring. I thought, “Why not write a few words? Maybe there are others whom the Lord is allowing to pass through the deep waters whom I might help.”
A few articles in that REVIEW helped me so much that I will briefly mention them: First, “The Conversion of Peter.” His following afar off, his denial, his fall, his weeping, and the tender message, “Tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee,” have always appealed to me. My life being so full of mistakes, it has always been such a comfort to read the account of Peter’s mistakes, and how the Lord accepted him, and made of him a powerful laborer.
The article, “Two Discarded Practices,” brought to mind the time when, over sixty years ago, my mother, who is awaiting the first resurrection, used to walk into the little schoolhouse in Jackson County, Michigan, and quietly lead my brother and me to our seats. The leader of the meeting would read a few verses, and talk to us about the present truth and the nearness of the coming of the Lord. Oh, it was a living reality back in those days!
Dear brethren and sisters, I am glad I can truthfully say that I can see a change for the better coming over our people. For some time I have heard “the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees.” Let those of us who have regretted what seemed to us a departure from old-time godly customs, be careful not to get too much into the habit of faultfinding, but stand by right principles, and try to bring about a change as God sees best.
“Developments of Our Work in the Eastern States,” was certainly an inspiration to me. I will remember when that article, “The East and the West,” was first read to our little companies, and the counsel was followed by removing the office from Portland, Maine, to Battle Creek, Mich. “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” Certainly as we as a people have followed the counsel given through the Spirit of prophecy, we have prospered.
Although I had read Sister White’s article, “Secret Societies,” a number of times when it was first published, I read it again with deep interest. I am free to admit that I have seen nothing among our people that I have worried over more than what seemed to me a departure on this question. I have not had the patience to wait for the Lord to bring about the needed changes, but have had too much of the spirit of steadying the ark, instead of waiting to let things work out.
Dear brethren and sisters, I never expect to engage in active warfare as in the years gone by, but one thing I can do, and that is, abide by the stuff and pray for those who are carrying heavy burdens.
GEO. O. STATES.