THE DON'T-BELIEVES

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 3, 1879

THE DON'T-BELIEVES.

There probably never has been any good enterprise carried forward in this world which did not have among its professed friends a greater or less number of persons who did not believe in the measures adopted for its advancement. The cause of Seventh-day Adventism has, perhaps, had as few of this class as any cause; yet they have all along been present to make themselves known by their words, not by their deeds, for they don’t believe in doing anything except to furnish their quota to the ranks of the tribe of Meroz.

Under the experience through which we have passed, this class should have become extinct among us long before this; but a remnant still remains, and the topic of their discourse is now the new tabernacle—“We don’t believe in building great big meeting-houses!”

What have been their texts in times past?—They have been these: “We don’t believe in organization;” “we don’t believe in systematic benevolence;” “we don’t believe in large publishing houses with power presses;” “we don’t believe in camp-meetings;” “we don’t believe in establishing a Health Institute;” “we don’t believe in founding a college;” “we don’t believe in tract and missionary operations;” and now, “we don’t believe in building tabernacles,” and if we do, “we don’t believe in Christmas trees to raise means to pay for them;” and if ever these dear “don’t-believes” get through to the kingdom, we expect to hear them say, as the great multitudes come up from land and sea, “We don’t believe in such a great big crowd;” “we don’t believe in making such a stir to establish the kingdom of God.”

Where would the cause have been now, if the views and feelings of these persons had prevailed? There would have been no organization, no system of raising funds, no efficient printing office of our own, no Health Institute, no college, no T. and M. work, and no need of any very large houses of worship. Our forces would have consisted of only a few chaotic fragments wandering through the land, and the cause would not yet have been an inch and a half from its place of beginning.

And now, after time has demonstrated the wisdom of the moves that have been made, and vindicated the views of the faithful many against the non-believing few, and the battles have been successfully fought on the points in our previous history above named, it is strange that this spirit of hesitation about advance moves should still linger in any heart. The General Conference Committee thoroughly canvassed the subject, and decided what was needed here as a house of worship. Have you any confidence in these men? What would our friends have us do? Here was a weekly congregation of about eight hundred, to be convened in a house which would not conveniently seat six hundred. Should we turn away a part of those already here, and erect an effectual barrier against all future increase? Perhaps you say, Build a new house, but confine it in size to present wants. This we have already done three times in Battle Creek, and the reality in a few years outstripped our faith. To commit the same error a fourth time would be unpardonable stupidity; for unless our institutions shall prove a failure, there must still be a large increase in numbers here before the work shall close.

“Well, then, do not build so expensively.” Do these persons know how expensive a building is erected? How much have they an idea that a building should cost which will accommodate over three thousand persons? The building committee are just as much opposed as any one can be to any extravagant outlay, or expense for mere show; but they believe there is some regard to be paid to propriety, and we do not think our friends anywhere would have had us erect a mere barn in which to worship the Lord. What may have been said abroad in regard to it, we do not know, perhaps not all that may have been said here; but no one has made any complaint to us, who has seen the building. Some have entertained unfavorable views before coming here, but have become entirely satisfied after seeing it. So we believe it will be with all. We are at any rate willing to venture the assertion that the most conservative would not be willing that changes should be made from its present construction by which a saving of even two hundred dollars might have been effected on the whole building. And if this is so, no great dissatisfaction or misgivings ought to exist.

The tabernacle is satisfactory. The committee will be able to make a satisfactory showing as to its cost and construction. It is just what is needed. We believe in it as an advance step in the onward progress of this cause, due at this time. We believe in this cause, in its growing prosperity and final and speedy triumph. We believe, by-and-by, in a Scott or Bullock press in this office, which will turn off thirty thousand impressions per hour, instead of the ten to fifteen hundred which our best presses are now able to do. We believe in the speedy coming of the time when the whole earth shall be lightened with the glory of this message. We believe in a great multitude at the resurrection of the just, at the inauguration of the King of kings, at the marriage supper of the Lamb; and we mean, like a drop in the ocean, to help swell the happy throng. But we don’t believe in the “Don’t-Believes.”