Looking Backward by M. E. Olsen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 14, 1913

Looking Backward

By M. E. Olsen

SOMETIMES it is well for us to look backward. When the Israelites of old were established in the land of promise; when they had entered into full possession of those houses which they had not built, and of those vineyards and olive groves which they had not planted, they forgot God, the Giver. And so it often is today. When the way is hard, we are tempted to complain; but when the early hardships are over and we are enjoying a season of prosperity, then we forget the God who delivered us, and in forgetting him put ourselves out of the channel where he can use us.

We have come to a time in the history of this denomination when it is helpful for us to look back a little and recount the many providences of God in connection with the advent movement; yes, and to dwell on the spirit of earnest devotion and cheerful sacrifice that was manifested by the pioneers. Our work has grown to large dimensions. We have a strong organization, and we have large, well-manned institutions; but these things, however effective they may be as

means and instrumentalities, cannot in any way supply the place of personal initiative and personal devotion to the cause. The great thing today, as at the very beginning of the work, is the development of a people prepared for their Lord, and in this all-important matter we younger men and women can learn precious lessons from the fathers and mothers in Israel who are yet with us.

During the last few weeks it has been my privilege to visit some of our oldest churches in order to interview old Sabbath-keepers and gain information to fill certain gaps in the denominational history upon which I am at work, and I have been repeatedly struck with the richness of the material which has never come to light in any of our books and papers. Truly we have a precious heritage in these noble pioneer workers and lay members, whose lives, some of them covering more than fifty years in this message, are still spared to remind us of the simplicity of aim and high-minded devotion to the work which characterized the founders of this movement.

It is my warm appreciation of the help already received from these sources, and my desire to obtain more information and to get in touch with still others of the pioneers, that lead me to write this article. The book upon which I am at work will be our first complete denominational history, giving in their proper order all the most significant facts and incidents in the rise and development of this people from the first preaching of William Miller up to the present time. But the history aims to do more than this. It aims to give these facts in their proper setting, to give some insight into the spirit of the work in early days, and to show the providence of God guiding the minds of those who were called to be leaders in that critical, formative period, and thus placing a divine mold on the work. In fact, the book will be essentially an account of how God has called out a people in these last days, and how he is fitting them in a special sense to represent him in the world. Obviously, for such a history to be even reasonably complete and satisfactory, it is necessary that the writer should obtain the fullest possible information from the pioneers in the work, and from the old members of our churches throughout this country and in certain other parts of the world where the message had an early beginning.

I would, therefore, earnestly request of members of the REVIEW family who have personal knowledge of incidents in our early work that throw light on those times and on the spirit of the workers, that they write out such experiences, however roughly, and send them to me. In many cases the incidents themselves may be trivial, but often little things are interesting because of the light they throw on matters of larger importance. I have received in response to the note appearing on the last page of the REVIEW some months ago a number of interesting communications, some of them from obscure members of the denomination whom I should otherwise not have come in touch with; and I feel sure that there is much other material of this character that ought to be sent in. I should be glad to have the writers, as far as possible, give dates and names of places and of persons involved, though in some cases the names may not be used in the history. I shall be especially glad to hear from such as have personal recollections of Joseph Bates, James White, J. N. Andrews, and others of our earliest workers.

Another matter might be mentioned: It is perhaps not generally known that the General Conference is making a collection of old books, papers, photographs, and prints that have a connection with the beginnings of our work. These rare reminders of an earlier period are carefully arranged, and classified, and kept in a fire-proof vault, where they are accessible to those who wish to consult them. Any of our brethren and sisters who have any such articles in their possession and would like to have them placed in this little museum at the headquarters of our work are cordially invited to send them in. The photos and prints will be helpful in illustrating the history, and the publications will be of use as throwing light on the early phases of the message.

Any information sent in response to the foregoing request should be addressed to the writer, at Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C., in care of the General Conference, under whose auspices the book is to be published. The work on the history, as well as the plans for illustrating it, being well under way, promptness on the part of our brethren will be appreciated. Let us unitedly pray that God's blessing may attend the effort to give this full and connected account of his dealings with this people, and that the book, when it comes out, may be a means of enlightenment to many honest inquirers as well as a source of encouragement to our own people, and a stimulus to greater endeavor on their part to give the message to the world.

M. E. OLSEN.