As Viewed By the People
By Arthur G. Daniells
I WISH to express through the REVIEW the deep gratitude of our staff of workers at the general office for the good letters our dear brethren and sisters are sending us. While we have all felt so sure that God was leading in this move that we have been refreshed in spirit every day, yet these words of assurance, encouragement, and hearty co-operation from our people have greatly cheered us. When one of these letters was read at our Sunday morning worship, it caused tears of joy to flow, and led to the suggestion that it be given to the readers of the REVIEW. Here are brief extracts from a number of these good communications:— A secretary of the missionary department of a State conference writes as follows:— We have been praying that God would especially guide you, brethren, in the location of the new headquarters, and I wish to assure you that we believe he has heard prayer, and that divine guidance has been afforded in this critical and important time. How good God is to direct his people, and how wisely he does it! A president of a union conference says:— Now a word in regard to your moving the headquarters to Washington: I believe I can see, by faith, the hand of the Lord in the move because there is located there the headquarters of the Catholic Church in America, and the National Reformers are locating their headquarters there. The controversy is going to be between the Seventh-day Adventists on the one hand, and the National Reformers and the Catholics on the other. Another reason why I believe it is wise to move is because the REVIEW AND HERALD has never met with that degree of favor in the South that it would have met had it been printed on Southern territory, and as Washington is a semi-southern city, I feel confident that the REVIEW, going out from there, will be acceptable to readers in the South as well as in the North. A State conference president writes:— You have my prayers and loyal support in the moves you are making. I am going, by the help of the Lord, to follow the light in this matter. I’m sure the movement to the East is all right. All in this field, so far as I know, are in hearty accord with it. An editor of a union conference paper has this to say:— This move is significant. Vital interests on both sides of the great conflict are now centering at Washington. Quietly but rapidly the National Reform movement has been entrenching itself there. Through its quiet but persistent efforts, and recent liberal donations of friends, it is now erecting large office buildings in that city. . . . We can but believe that the Lord has directed us in locating our headquarters at the national capital, and that all these things indicate that we are entering upon a new era of our work, and that the closing and final conflict is just ahead. We are glad also that a good church building, in a favorable locality, has been purchased in Washington, and that it is so nearly paid for. We feel certain also that, situated as it is in its relation to North and South, Washington will be a far better place from which to have our denominational paper, the REVIEW AND HERALD, issued, than its former place of publication. Let all take fresh courage in the Lord. Let all consecrate themselves and their all to God, and renew their covenant relation and allegiance to the closing message. “The battle’s almost o’er,
The race is nearly run,
Then with our glorious, conquering King,
We’ll sit down on his throne.” A devoted, influential member of one of our churches in the East writes these stirring words:— “How wonderful is this removal to Washington,” I find myself saying over and over again. There was a time when I hoped that the General Conference and publishing plant would remove nearer me in the vicinity of New York; but when I read the story of the removal to Washington, my heart rejoiced, and it seems that I can not thank God enough for these evidences of his guiding hand. The angels seem to be all about us, glorious, and sending peace to our soul. The outpouring of the latter rain must be near. We can almost feel that it is. Prejudice is melting away suddenly without anything apparently to cause it, except the unseen influence. May God bless you all, prosper the cause in Washington, and bring about the pentecostal shower and the speedy termination of all things. These letters reveal the character of the communications we are receiving from our people all over the United States. Not a discordant note has yet reached our office. Brethren, this helps us. We appreciate your Christian sympathy and co-operation. Pray for us. God bless you all. A. G. DANIELLS.