EIGHT WEEKS AT BATTLE CREEK.
By James White
We reached Battle Creek, from California, in time to make some preparation for the extra session of the General Conference which commenced March 31. After that very pleasant and timely meeting was past, then came up nine hundred and ninety-nine important matters relative to the best good of our Publishing work, Missions, College, and the like. We never worked more hours in the day. We never labored with as little sleep, or crowded waking hours with mental and physical activity, as during the past eight weeks. And now that we are pleasantly located in a “Sleeper” on the Chicago and Quincy road, outward bound for the first of the season’s camp-meetings, in the enjoyment of health, and happy in the love and work of God, we look back with great pleasure upon the period afore-named. God is good. But these words do not express the present state of our mind and heart touching the gracious dealings of the All-wise and Merciful. Should we say that he is supremely good, the point is not reached. And when we say that he is inexpressibly good, we confess that human language can never tell the story of love, mercy, and goodness of God, through Jesus Christ, which the repenting, obedient, and trusting mortal shares. The goodness of God will find full expression only in the songs and hallelujahs of the ransomed and sinless in the eternal ages. Battle Creek is the place of great importance to our cause and people. And what makes it the point of the deepest interest to us at the present time is the fact that after twenty years of battling for the right on this old ground, during which we have received wounds, and have also experienced victories, there is no point in the whole field where we enjoy greater freedom than at Battle Creek. There is a covenant between us and that church, which to us is as solemn and sacred as any that has been made between men since time began. The events of the memorable visit made to Battle Creek from Colorado by Mrs. W. and the writer, nearly three years since, called out from representative men in that church statements of want of co-operation in the past, and pledges for the future, which were subscribed to by more than two hundred persons. How solemn was the hour when Elder U. Smith, before a full house, dedicated the roll containing the confessions, pledges, and the names, with the gold pen, and the ink fountain, which had been used to draw the articles, and with which each name had been signed, to be laid up as a memorial! That roll, that pen, and that ink-fountain are tastefully deposited in a mahogany box of appropriate dimensions, and fastened to the speaker’s stand in front of the large Bible. When in the house of God, addressing the audience, that covenant is literally between us and the people. But to know, whether with that people, or separated from them, that this covenant is in our hearts, both theirs and ours, affords us in our advanced position on our pilgrimage, greater happiness than anything else in this life can. We love to have full confidence in fellow-laborers and friends. And when forced to let go that confidence it is hard to confide again. But under the circumstances it would be cruel to question the faithfulness and integrity of our people at Battle Creek in the absence of the clearest evidences of unfaithfulness. The council held at Battle Creek before representatives from the Michigan churches last August resulted well. That gave good opportunity to bring out the real facts in the case, and gave confidence and stability to the cause and work at Battle Creek. And at the time of the great revival in September, Eld. Smith, Prof. Brownsberger, Dr. Kellogg, Mrs. W., and the writer entered into a solemn covenant before God to stand together for the right. We had retired to a grove a few miles from the city to enjoy a season of prayer. The Lord met us there. For want of time and tools to engrave the covenant upon the grand oak, we cut five notches in the sapling to mark the place where the covenant was made by the five. It is not expected that all our readers will comprehend the wants of the situation at Battle Creek, and see the necessity of fortifying so fully against disorganizing and distracting spirits, while it is expected that the friends of disorder will protest against such proceedings. Our people generally in the several States have no idea of the difficulties of the position at Battle Creek, and the amount of care and labor taken by those whose hearts are in the work. As proof of this we cite the disappointments and failures of most of those who have come from the different States as helpers in the cause. The past eight weeks we have labored most pleasantly with Eld. Smith. He has worked excessively hard since the close of last camp-meeting season, and needs the rest, and change which the labors of camp life will give. We shall be very happy to meet him at the Iowa meeting. Doctor Kellogg labors hard and to the point. He manages the HEALTH REFORMER ably and well, and he is producing new pamphlets on the great temperance theme, and others of inestimable worth. We were obliged to part with him the first of May to represent our publishing work at the Centennial, and to spend the summer in the preparation of still other works on the health question. The doctor has an extensive and important field of usefulness, and with the blessing of God will be both happy and successful. Prof. Brownsberger is very happy and hopeful in his work. Prof. Bell and the lady teachers in our school are true fellow-helpers, and all unite in words of commendation of the ability and deportment of the students generally. Our College is destined to be an unparalleled success. Mrs. W. meets us at the Kansas Camp-meeting the 26th, which doubtless adds to the inspiration of the journey. We have just left Kansas City, and are now speeding onward to Topeka, en route for the camp-ground, where we expect to have our good tent pitched and in readiness for lodgings to-night, the 25th. Time and space would fail to speak of the pleasant interviews with students at Battle Creek, of renewed acquaintance with Eld. Spicer and family, recently from Minnesota—who are giving themselves fully to the work—of the many social seasons with dear friends; and though mentioned last, not by any means the least, in the absence of the careful hand of Mrs. W., the lunch outfit by several, of good bread, raspberry turnovers, buns, northern spy apples, oranges, and nuts. We are forcibly reminded of the kindness of these good hygienic friends twice each day at least. Doubtless Paul would associate such acts from the sisterhood with being helped on his way after a godly sort. By incessant application to matters pertaining to our missions, school, and the publishing work, to the neglect of writing for our papers, we were able to leave them in good condition. Bro. H. W. Kellogg fills a place of care-taking at the Office. And, probably we shall not soon spend as much time at Battle Creek as we have this spring. The work is extending. General duties become more numerous and urgent. We hope to attend most of the camp-meetings, and have time to use the pen. More next week. J. W.