Duties and Dangers of Our Time.
By James White
It should not be expected that in a single article all the dangers and duties of our time would be noticed. We will call attention to some of the most important. And right here we will state that, as the already wide fields of labor are still opening to new fields, new responsibilities and duties devolve upon our people. And as the work increases in interest and importance, new dangers will beset the paths of the inexperienced and unconsecrated. 1. We have a world-wide message. The cause is one, on the Atlantic, or on the Pacific, in America, or in Europe. All should feel an interest in the great unit cause. While the boundaries of State Conferences may serve a good local purpose, they are not designed to shut up the interests and liberalities of the brethren of any State within the bounds of their Conference. Michigan has set a good example. She has more experienced ministerial talent on the Pacific Coast than at home, besides furnishing two of her best young men, one for Ohio, and the other for Indiana. And besides doing her share in the other charitable enterprises to advance the cause, she puts $1,000 or $1,500 into the General Conference treasury annually. The brethren in the several Conferences have local duties; and besides these they have important duties for the general advancement of the cause. 2. The cause of the third message, from its very commencement, has demanded sacrifices on the part of our people. It has been the duty of some to give their lives to the work of teaching the word. To do this successfully has required excessive toil, and patient, persevering, wearing labor. Our most successful ministers have put two years of wear into one. Here is a sacrifice that cannot be estimated by dollars and cents. And then add to this the privations of home, and the many unpleasant circumstances incident to an itinerant life, and the cup of blessed sacrifice for Christ and his cause seems quite full. And the precious duty of sacrifice is just as imperative upon the rank and file of the church, in all her membership, as upon her ministers. The same Heaven, the same palms of victory and crowns of glory, await both the membership and the ministry. And the same voice, full of love and benevolence, will soon thrill the heart of both the faithful minister and the faithful layman. “Gather my saints together unto me, those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” Ps. 50 : 5. The cause demands sacrifice of means just now. Here is a chance for all our brethren to have a part. Our people have been too slow to see the importance of new and broader plans for the extension of the work, constantly calling for new and greater sacrifices. This discourages our leading men from venturing out in those things which they know should be done, and we find ourselves to-day far behind the opening providence of God. But right here we must call attention to a danger that has threatened to empty the treasury, and greatly hinder the cause. It is a disposition on the part of young and inexperienced laborers to receive liberally for their feeble and imperfect services. There is a class of men who connect themselves with the cause who do not seem to regard it their duty to economize and sacrifice for the cause. They get their eye upon the treasury, and admire the unparalleled liberality of our people. These should understand that one cause at least of the willing sacrifices of our people is the unparalleled sacrifices of those who were first in the cause, and the care they have had to be true to those who have had confidence in them. There is a class of laborers among us who, if they could have their own way, would so appropriate the funds sacredly dedicated to the Lord for the advancement of his cause as to break down our system of benevolence, and dry up the free-will offerings of our people. Our leading men, and all our ministers and laborers, must take a course to preserve and increase the confidence of our people everywhere. We highly approve of the general course pursued by the President of the General Conference last season. “The laborer is worthy of his hire.” And it is just as true that an amount of hire is worthy of the accomplishment of a corresponding amount of good. The general rule may have exceptions where all the circumstances are taken into the account. And we wish to notice in particular those who are commencing the work in other languages. Brethren Matteson and Lee set these men a good example. And why should they not have the same spirit of sacrifice which those had who commenced the work in the English language twenty-five years since? When we call for means to publish in the languages of the Danes, Swedes, French, and Germans, we expect that means will be used with that economy, and those who connect themselves with the work will manifest that spirit of sacrifice which characterized the efforts of the pioneers in the cause. 3. One of the most important duties of our time for those especially who have had but little experience in the work, is to seek counsel of God, and also of those who are trusted with important offices. And one of the greatest dangers of such is in taking responsibilities readily and hastily, without prayer, and counsel with the proper persons. The General Conference Committee, two of whom are members of the Committee on Publications, or some person or persons whom they may appoint, should know beforehand what matter is to be translated into other languages. This is a matter of too grave importance to be left to men who have newly come to the faith. 4. We must give no license to that accusing spirit that charges us with denial of our faith in laying broad plans for the extension and accomplishment of the work. What a trick of Satan to lead our people to reserve their property to be consumed in the fires of the last day, rather than to use a portion of it to facilitate the closing work! If the work is to close in five or ten years, we should have $300,000 invested in the publishing work instead of $100,000. And we should have school buildings going up at three points at least, instead of one. How very consistent with our faith in the soon coming of our Lord to be using a small portion of our means to prepare men and women for the work, and to send our publications in the different languages everywhere. 5. We must humbly go before the public with our message in a manner to give the idea that we, at least, regard it as one of vast magnitude and importance. Very much as we give the impression, will it be received by the people. Some of our laborers are so fearful of appearing like the world and the popular churches that they shrink back to a position of inefficiency. The California tent is up in Oakland, the “Athens of California.” It is a city of schools, wealth, and popularity. Yet the brethren are having a good hearing. They seize hold of every lawful opportunity to advertise. They are getting brief articles through three daily papers. We have issued one number of a small sheet called “The Tent Meeting.” The battle is going well. With all such efforts and advantages there must be corresponding prayer and the spirit of true humility. The people must be reached where they are. The world must be warned, and a people gathered out of it for the Lord at his coming. J. W.