The Cause of Present Truth.
By James White
THE cause, of what Seventh-day Adventists choose to call present truth, had a humble and small beginning, and its growth, up to within a year or two, has been slow. In its earlier years, the work would seem to stand still in some parts of the field, or really appear to grow feebler. But in many instances, when the prospect looked darkest, the Lord would send the right kind of help, and prosperity unlooked for would attend the work. And so has the cause moved on from the very first. There are some of our Conferences which show but little progress from year to year. We might here mention Maine, Vermont, New England, and New York. There are, however, as good and true and faithful brethren in these Conferences as in any others. There is no mystery connected with the want of progress in these Conferences. These brethren must not be blamed. They need encouragement rather than censure. And the best way to encourage them is to send them the right kind of help. Maine had the labors of our ablest and best men, such as Loughborough, Cornell, Andrews, Canright and others. But unfortunately it was at a time when their efforts to build up the cause in Maine were valued by only a few. There rose up a number of little preachers in Maine, some of whom regarded the men who were sent from the West by the General Conference as a kind of invaders. These Maine preachers did next to nothing themselves, excepting to stir up jealousy among the brethren against the very men who did about all that was done, and who would have done much more to build up the cause in that good old State had not these short-sighted, unreasonable, jealous men hindered the work. A very few, however, have done well, and still receive credentials. Probably others should be encouraged. While it is a grief to all true friends of the cause in Maine that such a state of things should exist in the past to discourage our best and ablest men, and lead the General Conference to call them to other parts, they should be encouraged with the fact that God is blessing their labors in other fields. The cause of present truth is moving forward under their labors elsewhere, and when things have reached their level in Maine, God will send help to that field. We are sorry to learn that the brethren of the Maine Conference are dropping off in their Systematic Benevolence. But who can blame them? Some saw that their money was paid out to those who had done very much more in tearing down and discouraging than they had done to build up. And they quit paying. Who will blame them? But our brethren in Maine should not carry matters too far. Now that their means is being used properly, they should all come up on their figures, and thus encourage the help from abroad the cause in that State so much needs. We believe that the Atlantic States are quite as good a field of labor as the Pacific. Our brethren of the New England Conference have stood by the cause nobly, and they must have help. The same can be said of old Vermont and the New York Conference. There has been very bad management in both these Conferences. In the first, a sort of colonizing at Bordoville was exceedingly narrow policy, and in the latter, their ministers have succeeded far better in obtaining money from the brethren to purchase them homes than they have in converting men to Christ and the truth. And yet these faithful brethren are true to the cause of present truth. And we solemnly believe that the time has come that these eastern Conferences should have help. They are all ready to co-operate with our well-tried ministers in the most confiding manner. It should be, and will be, the policy of the General Conference to send help where it shall be appreciated, and where it will receive the most hearty co-operation. Should there be want of appreciation on the Pacific, their lack of effort would doubtless prove the riches of Maine and other Eastern Conferences. It was a mistake in the General Conference Committee in keeping our ablest men so long in Maine, laboring under great disadvantages and discouragement. They could have done tenfold more with the same labor where the brethren could have valued their labors, and unitedly worked with them. But a change has come, and Maine must be helped. The fields are all white. Calls for help multiply. In many cases the outside world raise the Macedonian cry. Come over and help is heard from all quarters. We have not one man to spare where twenty are needed. This want is more than painful to those who have felt the power of the great commission, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.” It is agonizing. Eld. J. N. Andrews, who has nobly defended the truth from his very youth, leaves for Europe, probably before these lines shall meet the eyes of the patrons of the REVIEW. God bless him! Our brother leaves behind him the results of a quarter of a century of toil in the cause of present truth. And while he takes with him his son, Charlie, and his daughter Mary, he leaves nearly half his family behind in the silent grave. God bless him and his dear children, and give them the hearts of the people, and great success in their mission. The reward of the faithful will soon be given. The gathering time is not far off, when Christ will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather the elect from one end of heaven to the other. Reunions of families and friends will then take place, and the reward will be given according to each man's work. God is doing a great work for his dear people. The cause of present truth is onward, but it calls for men of mind, of courage, of judgment, and of willing hands. It does not call for those who are short in intellect, faint at heart, and too lazy to work. Our school should now be full of valuable young men and women preparing to act a part in the cause. The world must be warned of its coming doom in an intelligent manner, and the trusting and true ones sheltered before the vials of Jehovah's wrath shall be poured out, and Christ come in his glory. J. W.