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With My Brethren in the East

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 22, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 25.

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With My Brethren in the East

By Daniel Nettleton

For many years my field of labor has been in the Middle West and on the Pacific Coast. In former years we held many ministerial institutes and tract and missionary conventions; but in late years, this kind of meetings has been discontinued. I am glad, however, that we are going back to some of the good old ways; for those meetings were blessed seasons of instruction and encouragement to us as ministers, and a great help to our cause and people.
When I read in the REVIEW the announcement of the ministerial institute at Philadelphia, Pa., there came into my heart a desire to attend this assembly of the Lord's ministers. It seemed to me I could hear a voice saying to me, as Jacob said to Joseph: “Go, . . . see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks.” So, following what I believe was the leading of the Lord, at my own expense I have come to visit my brethren in the East, and to see their flocks. I find my brethren few in numbers, but their flocks are very great. O where are the shepherds for these multitudes of lost sheep? So many people, and so few to preach the word!
Others have written of our good meeting at Philadelphia, and I will only say it was much like our institutes and general conferences of twenty or thirty years ago, when our numbers were much smaller, and our ministers and institutions were few. We did not have much business to discuss at this meeting, or many conference matters to take our time and attention; so we could “give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” As a result we had a season of great refreshing, showers of the latter rain. God visited and redeemed his people. The children of Zion were made glad by the presence of the Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, granting forgiveness and saving from sin. It was an “Ebenezer,” and many could say, with Israel of old, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” Omay the Lord make us all “able ministers . . . of the spirit: for . . . the spirit giveth life.”
From the meeting at Philadelphia I went to Washington, D. C., and visited our institutions at that place. I found them all busy in the work for which they were established. Our school, Sanitarium, and publishing-house, all urged on to earnest effort by the demands of the hour, are doing consecrated, effectual work to seek and save the lost.
Sabbath, April 29, I spoke in Memorial Church, Washington. It was a pleasure to see this monument for present truth which our people all over the country had helped to secure for our work in this beautiful city. After the sermon, several responded to a call to consecrate themselves more fully to God. Not only the church, but the meeting with the believers in Washington, will long be a memorial to me.
From Washington I went to New York City, the great modern Babylon of business and sinful pleasure. I had a blessed season of prayer and study with the mission workers. It gave me much joy to spend a few days with these strong young men, with whom I have labored in the West, and whom God has now sent to this city as he sent Daniel to Babylon of old. New York City is a magnificent monument of the skill, power, pride, and wisdom of man. Men are saying what Nebuchadnezzar said of his city: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” But the awful fate which overtook Babylon awaits this great city. After spending a few hours looking at the mansions on Fifth Avenue, Brother R. D. Quinn and I sought a retired place in Central Park, and there we prayed that God would give his missionaries in New York City the wisdom and the “excellent spirit” that he gave to Daniel and his companions for their work in ancient Babylon. As we wept and prayed in secret, we thanked God that we could be, like Abraham, pilgrims and strangers on earth, looking for a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. I would rather have my place with the Lord's dear ministers than have the mansions and luxuries of those who do not know the riches of his grace.
From New York City, in company with Elder W. H. Holden, I came to New England, visiting several churches in Vermont and New Hampshire. These visits were seasons of refreshing and revival. While in Vermont, I had the pleasure of visiting an aged sister who saw the stars fall in 1833. She was sixteen years old at that time. I also had the pleasure of assisting in the dedication of the White Memorial Church in Portland, Maine. In company with Elder W. B. White, I reached Portland, May 25. Our meetings began Thursday night, and closed Sunday night. There was a good attendance of our people from adjoining churches, and several of the ministers of the Maine Conference were with us. We now have a beautiful monument for present truth in this city. I am glad that all our people can have the privilege of helping to establish this memorial of the present truth in this city.
The church building contains a room for church-school and one for prayer-meetings, besides the main auditorium. The building is neat, comfortable, and an honor to the cause of God. Our meetings were seasons of blessing. Sabbath was a good day for us all, especially our praise service on Sabbath afternoon. We wished that the old pioneers of our work in this city could have been with us. I am sure they would have been happy to have united with us in praise to God. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Elder W. B. White, on Sunday at 3 P. M., to a large and attentive congregation, the text of the discourse being, “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Ex. 25:8.
I was very deeply impressed as I visited some of the old landmarks of our message in Portland,—the place where, in 1840-43, William Miller delivered his lectures on the coming of the Lord; the Methodist Episcopal church from which Sister E. G. White was expelled for believing and talking about the second coming of Christ; the old schoolhouse where she attended school; and the ground where she was injured on her way from school. All these places seem like sacred ground to me, and I thank the Lord that I have a part and a place in this message. The work of the advent message has had a wonderful growth since those days, and we know that it will continue to go on with great power to final victory.
I now go to attend the Southern New England camp-meeting. DANIEL NETTLESON.