Developments of the Work in the East
By A. G. Daniells
In the early part of 1902 our sanitarium and hospital buildings in Battle Creek, Mich., were destroyed by fire. A year later the main building of the Review and Herald publishing plant was laid in ashes. The destruction of these large and important buildings seemed like a great calamity to our cause. It made us all think seriously, and when messages came through the Spirit of prophecy telling us that these great fires were judgments from the Lord, we sought the Lord earnestly to know what was wrong, and what should be done to correct the wrong and meet the mind and purpose of God. In our perplexity and our search for the right way the definite message came, telling us that instead of rebuilding the publishing house in Battle Creek, we should remove the headquarters of our work to some suitable place in the Eastern States, on the Atlantic coast. This message was a surprise to the majority of our people. To some it brought a sense of relief and encouragement; to others it brought great perplexity and regret. In our study of the problem, our attention was called to the message given in 1856, stating that when the cause had become strong in the West, the movement would turn eastward, and that power would attend our labors in the East. As we put these two messages together, the way became clear, and with assurance and courage we took up the task of removing our headquarters from Battle Creek, where they had been established for nearly fifty years, back to the Atlantic coast. We moved to Washington, D. C., in August, 1903. In connection with this removal to the East, earnest messages began coming to us through the Spirit of prophecy in behalf of the cities in the Eastern States. These messages directed our attention to these populous cities, and gave well-defined reasons why immediate, strong, efficient efforts should be made to give our message to the masses in these cities. One of these messages was entitled “A Present-Day Work,” and from the following may be seen, in part, the deep solicitude it expresses for the millions in these cities who know not that the day of their visitation is at hand:—
“More and more, as the days go by, it is becoming apparent that God’s judgments are in the world. In fire and flood and earthquake, he is warning the inhabitants of this earth of his near approach. The time is nearing when the great crisis in the history of the world will have come, when every movement in the government of God will be watched with intense interest and inexpressible apprehension. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another,—fire and flood and earthquake, with war and bloodshed.
“O that the people might know the time of their visitation! There are many who have not yet heard the testing truth for this time. There are many with whom the Spirit of God is striving. The time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who have had no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; his hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. . . .
“Behold the cities, and their need of the gospel! The need of earnest laborers among the multitudes of the cities has been kept before me for more than twenty years. Who are carrying a burden for the large cities? A few have felt the burden, but in comparison with the great need and the many opportunities, but little attention has been given to this work. . . . ‘Repeat the message, repeat the message,’ were the words spoken to me over and over again. ‘Tell my people to repeat the message in the places where it was first preached, and where church after church took their position for the truth, the power of God witnessing to the message in a remarkable manner.’
“For years the pioneers of our work struggled against poverty and manifold hardships, in order to place the cause of present truth on vantage ground. With meager facilities, they labored untiringly, and the Lord blessed their humble efforts. The message went with power in the East, and extended westward until centers of influence had been established in many places.
“The laborers of today may not have to endure all the hardships of those early days. The changed conditions, however, should not lead to any slackening of effort. Now, when the Lord bids us proclaim the message once more with power in the East, when he bids us enter the cities of the East, and of the South, and of the West, and of the North, shall we not respond as one man and do his bidding? Shall we not plan to send our messengers all through these fields, and support them liberally? Shall not the ministers of God go into these crowded centers, and there lift up their voices in warning the multitudes? What are our conferences for, if not for the carrying forward of this very work?”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IX, pp. 97-99.7 It will be noticed that this message given in 1909 calls our attention to conditions and experiences back in the pioneer days. It almost repeats some of the things said in the message given in 1856, which contained the promise that an active movement would at some future time return to the East. It connects that return movement to the East with most serious conditions prevailing in the land. This recent message not only directs attention to the Eastern cities, but it names some of them, and gives specific instruction regarding the efforts that should be made for them:—
“In Portland, Maine; in Boston, and the towns round about; in New York, and the populous cities close by; in Philadelphia and Baltimore and Washington, the Lord desires us to proclaim the third angel’s message with power. We cannot exercise this power ourselves; but we can choose men of capability, and urge them to go into these avenues of opportunity, and there proclaim the message in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must plan to place in these cities capable men who can present the third angel’s message in a manner so forcible that it will strike home to the heart.” A year later another communication came, addressed to the leaders in the Maine Conference. This message contains the following instruction:—
“DEAR BRETHREN: The importance of the work in Portland, Maine, is kept before me. I am glad that a house of worship is being erected in that city. The Lord will be pleased if all our brethren in the Maine Conference will make a solemn covenant with him and work unitedly to complete this building. . . . The Lord does not require means of those who have it not to give. Poverty is not so great a difficulty in the advancement of the Lord’s work as is the manifestation of self by men. The living Christ alone can deal with the selfish dispositions of men who are determined to have their own way. The Lord is waiting to see self-esteem and self-confidence broken down. I beseech of our brethren to fast and pray, if necessary, till every difference be removed, till self is subdued, and there results a sweet spirit of harmony. . . . A new era is to begin for the Maine Conference. . . . It is for the glory of God that the work in Maine shall go forward with increased strength.” These messages and others of a similar character led to earnest, conscientious efforts in behalf of the cause in Maine. Elder and Sister Haskell were especially moved upon to carry out this instruction. They went to Portland and labored untiringly for the church, and also for the people of that city. They met with many perplexities and discouragements, but they held on. Others united with them in faithful, persistent effort. They endeavored to comply with every detail of the counsel given. The church appointed seasons of fasting and prayer. The members put away differences that separated them, and prevented the fullest Christian union. The Lord kept his promise to work in their behalf. The year 1915 was a most encouraging one for the workers and the believers in Maine. Nearly one hundred members were added to the Portland church. The eight thousand dollars of indebtedness on the church building was paid. Having no conference office and needing a baptistery and more room for Sabbath school purposes, a neat addition was made to the church building, at a cost of $1,700, all of which was paid by the time the work was completed. Further than this, an encouraging change came over the cause of present truth throughout Maine. The brethren all over the State began to seek the Lord earnestly and to do more active work. Their tithes increased, and they came to the front in all their offerings. They took first place in the Harvest Ingathering work. From one of the most backward conferences in the whole United States, the Maine Conference has stepped into the front ranks. The brethren do not boast of this progress; they give thanks and praise to God for it all. We heard about these things, and some of us could hardly believe all we heard, knowing quite well the former conditions. On invitation I visited Portland, and found everything there as reported,—a greatly increased membership, a nice new church building, new conference offices, and not a cent of indebtedness. The spirit of the people was warm, joyous, courageous. A new life had taken hold of all. While at South Lancaster during the last week of prayer, Elder A. E. Sanderson, who has acted as pastor of the Portland church during the past year, expressed to me his belief that there was yet much more to be done for the city of Portland and the State of Maine. He quoted the instruction that had been given us with reference to holding large meetings to arouse the people. He suggested, further, that I assist by giving three addresses in Portland, and I reluctantly agreed to do so, feeling, however, a large degree of uncertainty as to the part I could fill. The Portland city hall is one of the finest civic auditoriums in the United States, the one thing of which the people of the city are especially proud. This hall was secured for three nights. Thorough work was done in advertising the meetings, utilizing neat show-window cards, large, nicely painted signs in prominent places, and a liberal amount of newspaper space. All the advertising was of a creditable, high-class character. The Sabbath preceding the first meeting was appointed a day of fasting and prayer. The brethren were expecting an audience that would fill the hall, and were praying and working for it. Personally I felt that if five hundred persons came to hear us, I should feel encouraged. My burden was not so much for a large attendance, as that God would speak to the hearts of the people and cause them to think very seriously. The church from which Sister White’s parents were excluded still stands, and is on the same street as the city hall. The building where Sister White attended school when she was a child is still there. The little hall, about eighteen by thirty feet, where Brother and Sister James White and Brethren J. N. Andrews and J. N. Loughborough used to meet with a little handful of people, is there now, being used as a paint shop. As I thought of the dear old pioneers, standing loyally and courageously for the truth when it had no standing of its own, amid prejudice and ridicule, I was made to feel very serious indeed, and was led to pray earnestly for that loyalty and courage that filled the hearts of the pioneers in those dark days. A. G. DANIELLS.