To the Brethren of the Illinois and Wisconsin Conferences.
By R. F. Andrews
DEAR BRETHREN: You are aware that we are now divided into two Conferences. The object of this division was, to advantage the cause, and better accommodate you. Now if we all take hold of the work in earnest, our being divided may accomplish the object designed; but if we become careless and indifferent, our being divided will most assuredly weaken us. I earnestly hope that we may be kept from a spirit of strife and rivalry. The apostle says, “Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory.” This will apply to our Conferences as well as to individuals. I do not wish my brethren to think that I have seen anything like strife or selfishness on the part of my brethren of our sister Conference; for I have not. And for one I know that my interest in the prosperity of the cause in the Wisconsin Conference, is no less than when it was a part of our own Conference. I often think of my dear brethren and fellow-laborers in Wisconsin, and my earnest prayer ascends daily, for the blessing of God upon them and his cause; and I believe that our brethren in Wisconsin, have no other feelings than that of love toward us in Illinois. Now what I desire is that these brotherly feelings may be strengthened; and in the language of the apostle, Phil. 1:9, and 1 Thess. 3:12, that our “love may increase, and abound toward each other more and more;” and that our interest in the prosperity of the “cause of truth” may also “increase and abound more and more.” But talk and good wishes are cheap things, and if we stop here, this cause that we so much love will certainly languish. My dear brethren, “let us not love” the cause of God in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” At our last Conference, I was surprised to find some of our churches so far behind on their S. B. This is not as it should be: Solomon says, “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase.” Prov. 3:9. I think the Lord has the greatest claims upon us, and we ought to discharge the duties we owe to him and his cause, before we attend to our own personal concerns. In fact the true principle is, we should have no interest apart from his cause! Now I think when brethren use their means to add to their farms and stock, and neglect to pay what they have secretly pledged to the cause of God, and then tell of their interest and anxiety about the cause, that they resemble very much the character spoken of by James, chapter 2:15, 16: “If a brother or sister be naked, or destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto him, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” In like manner if all we do for the cause of God is in “word and tongue,” “what doth it profit.” But you say you are in debt, and the Bible says “Owe no man anything.” But you feel perfectly safe I suppose while you owe God. I would ask what right have we to run in debt to man, and then make that an excuse for not meeting cheerfully the claims that God’s cause has upon us? The Lord has never said that he releases us from honoring him “with our substance” till we complete paying for the farm that joins us; and when we reason ourselves into this belief, we are blinded by the devil. No my brethren, God’s cause comes first, the debt we owe to him is the most important; and when we neglect to faithfully meet it, and let it run for one, two, or three years, and are all this time laboring to add to our worldly interests, we demonstrate to a certainty that our treasures are here on the earth; no matter if our profession is to the contrary: “Talk is cheap” and “actions speak louder than words.” But you ask, Whom do you mean? I answer, You; if you are the individual described in this article. I tell you there is no consistency in urging the injunction of the apostle, “owe no man anything,” while we owe God so much, and feel so perfectly at ease over it. The claims of God are paramount to all others. I would to God that we could feel over them as intensely as we would over a worldly debt, upon which the Sheriff was about to execute judgment; and there is no reason why we should not be even more anxious. But you say, I am pleading for self. I answer No. And if you are acquainted with the action of our Conference toward its preachers, you know that I am not; but I have an increasing desire for the spiritual and financial well-being of our Conferences, and I know that as Conferences or as individuals we cannot prosper spiritually, while we ignore the claims of God’s cause financially. But there are special reasons why we should at the present time make an earnest effort to straighten up the past. We have now commenced as separate Conferences. Now we do not want to have these old matters hanging over us, to weigh us down and discourage us. Besides there are some claims upon us that existed before we were separated, that have not yet been met, that we unitedly have an interest in seeing settled. And last, though not least, the means is needed to use in the cause. I would, therefore, urge it upon you, my brethren, to attend to this business at once; and in order that it may have immediate attention, I would suggest that each church treasurer do his duty; and faithfully bring this matter before the brethren individually. Do not let this appeal pass unheeded, time is short, and we have none to lose, and there never can be a more favorable time to commence the work than the present. The time is coming when the gold and silver will be cast into the streets, and the rust of them eat the flesh of the possessor “as it were fire.” See Eze. 7:19, and Jas. 5:3. Do we believe this? If we do let us act accordingly. I will close by asking you to turn and read Matt. 6:19–34, (notice particularly verses 19, 20, 21 and 33) and Luke 12:31–40. These are the words of Him of whom the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, hear him,” and the “soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” Acts 3:23. The testimony of the apostle Paul is also right to the point: 1 Tim. 6:17–19. Now take up your Bible, and look at these instructions, and ask yourself candidly whether you are carrying them out or not. May the Lord help us to present ourselves (with all that we have) “a living sacrifice” upon his altar; and may we heed the instruction of our blessed Saviour, and “make to” ourselves “friends” (out) “of the mammon of unrighteousness that when” we “fall they may receive us into everlasting habitations.” Northville, La Salle Co., Ill., Sept. 13, 1870.