A Visit to Battle Creek, Mich.
By George B. Thompson
It was my privilege to spend the week of prayer and the few weeks following with the Battle Creek church. Nearly four years had passed since I was there before. I observed many changes. Commercially, the city seemed to be growing; business appeared brisk.16 Many changes, of course, are seen in our work. Business houses cover the former site of the Review and Herald. The sanitarium and college, once a part of our work, now have no connection with it. The removal of our headquarters to Washington, together with other conditions which exist, has caused many to move to other fields of usefulness. The Tabernacle is no longer filled each Sabbath, as it once was; yet there is a congregation of seven hundred or more on the Sabbath, sufficient to comfortably fill the main auditorium. Among these are quite a number of the aged pioneers in the message, some of whom for half a century have been waiting for the coming of the Lord; and their faith in no wise wanes. But we have nothing to regret that the headquarters of our work have been moved to the capital of the nation. This change was in the order of God. I know not what we would do if still here. I confess to feelings of sadness as I met those who were once closely identified with the message, but who have wholly, or in part, lost their connection with it. Criticism and doubt concerning the closing work of God abound. Subtle influences have been at work to uproot faith in some hearts concerning the message. Some have lived in this atmosphere so long that their spiritual eyesight has become dimmed, and their feet have slipped. Some have wholly given up and gone to work on the Sabbath. Various shades of belief seem to spring up and flourish for a time. Some question this point of the truth, some that. A few have cast away the light upon the sanctuary, which clothes the types and shadows of Holy Writ with life, and reveals the priesthood of Christ in all its splendor; and are seeking to walk in the fog of a “fourth angel’s message.” The seeds of disorganization have been zealously scattered, and the baneful fruit is found in some hearts. It is quite clear to the most casual observer now why this is not a proper place to send the young and inexperienced to receive a training as Seventh-day Adventist missionaries. But these conditions which I have mentioned are largely outside the church, having become separated from the body. Notwithstanding all the conditions here, a faithful, loyal church still remains, with a resident membership of about five hundred. Many rumors go out from here, but it is well that our people should understand that the church here as a church is standing faithful. As in other churches, there are those who need the work of God deepened in the heart, but as far as I could see from my stay here, the church as a body are as loyal to the organized work of God as other churches. I do not remember spending a week of prayer with a church where there seemed to be more of God’s blessing manifested than on this occasion spent with the Battle Creek church. While all was not accomplished that ought to have been, new courage and strength were brought to many. The offering given to missions amounted to about four hundred dollars. Nearly nine thousand dollars tithe was paid by the church during the past year. An excellent church-school is maintained here, in charge of Prof. Clifford A. Russell and his band of faithful teachers. The enrolment is about one hundred twenty-five. Special services were held with the school during the week of prayer, and some of the pupils gave their hearts to God. This school occupies an important place in our school system, and should be remembered in the prayers of God’s people. What further changes the future may have in store for the church and people of God here, none of us know. Never, as in the past, will this place be the headquarters of the work of God. The time may come when the large Tabernacle, so long the central place of worship of this people, and around which so many sacred and holy memories cling, will be a burden to the church here, and will have to be sold, and an edifice better adapted to the needs of the church erected. But this is a matter of no ordinary importance. No hasty action should be taken in disposing of this ancient and memorable landmark of the message. Such a move requires careful and prayerful counsel. And no step we feel sure should ever be taken to let this world-wide memorial of the message, where nearly all the oldest and ablest laborers in the message have proclaimed the truth, pass into unconsecrated hands until God’s faithful people who worship here are counseled with, and after prayerful consideration are convinced that it is the best thing to do. The quarterly meeting occasion was blessed with much of God’s presence. A good degree of harmony prevailed in the business meeting, and a faithful corps of officers was chosen for the church, Sabbath-school, and young people’s society. The biennial session of the Lake Union Conference, to be held here February 8-18, is welcomed by the church, and they will do what they can to make it a success. There has been no general meeting of any kind held here since the session of the General Conference in 1901. I feel sure this meeting will be a great blessing to the church here.