p. 170 | A Request to Those Coming to Otsego

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 14, 1882

A Request to Those Coming to Otsego.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

The State quarterly meeting is to be held at Otsego, Mich. We hope for a large gathering, the more the better. But there is one element often quite prominent in such a gathering, which we wish to avoid; that is, tale-bearing, backbiting and tattling. There is much talking about this brother or that sister, their peculiarities, weaknesses, or wrongs. Families are taken up and discussed, the trials of churches are laid open to all, the character and labor of ministers are made the topic of conversation.

Brethren and sisters gather in little companies and do this, do it on the way home from church, do it at the table, before the children, do it around the fire just before prayers. Often enough is done in this way to kill all the good of the meeting. Shame on such conduct! The Otsego church is at peace among themselves, having confidence in one another, in the brethren generally, in our institutions, and in the cause. They wish thus to continue. If any are burdened with complaints against anybody, or any church, or any institution, or any branch of the work, we want them to stay away or keep still. We have no need of such merchandise, and don't want them to peddle it in our church.

We expect our ministers who attend to set a good example in this respect. As they do, others will do. “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation,” Paul tells Timothy. 1 Tim. 4:12. This is the best kind of preaching. A sweet fountain does not send forth bitter water. Ministers should also be careful about cracking their jokes on other ministers, and laughing about them. It lowers and injures both. Don't do it before our children and our families, we beseech you. D. M. Canright.