A True Picture by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 5, 1871

A True Picture.

By Editor

We have received a very important communication from Eld. Geo. I. Butler of Iowa, in which he states many very important things. And although he designed it simply for our eye and benefit, we take the liberty to lay the true picture he has drawn in a portion of his communication before the readers of the Review. He says—

“Perhaps while I have my hand in, I will speak freely of the tendency of our people—I mean the whole body. It has seemed to me for years past, that we, as a body, have been making great progress toward the same worldly standard that is manifest in other denominations. We are becoming a very respectable people. We are making a great effort to be so, and make others think we are so, more and more; and, if we keep on, the prospect is very promising that we shall soon have a good name in the earth, and be as much thought of as others. This seems all right; but to me there is one discouraging feature. It seems to me that, as we move in this direction, in about the same ratio, the Spirit and power of God is gone.

“I do n’t know as the two things are connected; but, with my observation, this seems to me to be about the actual condition of matters. I turn my thoughts to the past. Every denomination has gone over this ground: at first zealous, the Spirit of God with them, self-sacrificing, wealth of small consequence, plain in dress, simple in tastes, and devoted. Gradually there was a change. No one could discern any particular point where it took place; but after a series of years, one looking back could discern a great difference. So it seems to me events are shaping their course among us.

“We are becoming more and more wealthy every year; and it seems to me, wealth gives a standing to a certain extent. Our wealthy men quite generally cast an influence because they are wealthy. The love of the world is fearfully on the increase among us. We look into our assemblies—the collar pins glitter, the long ribbons flutter, the dainty hats, adorned with artificials, gratify our taste for the beautiful, and bead collars, and dresses of the richest pattern, ornamented with tasty velvet, satisfy our love for the elegant. Where is the plainness of dress that was seen ten years ago? Here and there a sister with a conscience, or prejudice perhaps, stems the tide, and goes on the even tenor of her way, regardless of the mighty pressure tending world-ward.

“For my part, I confess I am nearly silent on the dress question. I tried it awhile till I became satisfied it was doing no good, and only bringing myself into trouble; and since that, I have only spoken upon general principles. The fact is, there are none of our country churches where these things are seen to the extent they are in Battle Creek itself, whether they are right or wrong. And when any of our young sisters, who love dress, are questioned, they always point immediately to those who have come from there. And I can but admit they do not exceed their standard. Now I do not think I carry this matter of dress to an extreme. It comes more to me as a straw showing the direction of the current than as a great sin.

“But I must say this, I never saw great piety, and humility, and other Christian graces, growing on a tree bearing such leaves. And I never expect to. I am well aware there is not much use in picking off the leaves without killing the tree that bears them. Every denomination in the days of their piety were a plain people. It always will be so; for the Bible gives special directions about the matter.

“We see a great deal of ‘style,’ and put-on veneering, called by many, I suppose, good manners, but according to my notion, about as far from the genuine article as light is from darkness. All these things seem creeping in, and in about the same ratio, that religion which affects the heart, and melts it down into tenderness and contrition, goes out. Devotion is decreasing. Praying is becoming less and less. Perhaps a mechanical going through the forms of speaking and praying is common enough. But prayer, with the spirit and power in it, is growing rare. Praying for the sick, with any expectation of effecting anything more than comfort and edification, is obsolete.

“I know our churches and conferences are growing, and the outside machinery seems to be working well; but that alone will never satisfy me. The Methodists and others would beat us out and out in that part.

“In reference to the Advent doctrine: The coming of Christ is not believed to be as near as it was fifteen years ago, and there is not as much said about it. And so I might go on ad infinitum. But may be you think I have already said far too much, and that I am looking on the dark side. Well, I wish it were so. I confess frankly that the separation from my family and all the burdens, labors, and crosses, I have to bear, do not trouble me one half as much as these things. The Bible looks as plain as Heaven; but when I look around us awhile, my soul sinks. Blame me as you may, I believe these things are so.”

Whether our people at Battle Creek, as a body, are sinners above others on the dress question is a matter of doubt with us. Our congregation is large. But a small portion are members of the church. Fashionable people will come to meeting dressed fashionably. We have preached pointedly to them, and we do not see that we can do more for them. But so far as the members of the church are concerned, we do not believe that they take the lead in dress. No man has a better chance to know of this matter than we have. We wish our people at Battle Creek were simpler, and more uniform in dress, and that there was more humble, heartfelt piety among us, and less of the spirit of the world. But we will here suggest that our brethren and sisters from abroad sometimes make a mistake in supposing that the more dressy portion of our congregation are members of the church. Our congregation numbers three hundred, while the church membership is less than one hundred and fifty.

But what Eld. Butler says of the tendency of our people is true everywhere, Battle Creek not excepted. And now for the remedy. When the physician has examined the case, and has stated the disease, his work is not more than half done. He has really accomplished nothing until he has given the remedy. It is comparatively an easy task to set forth our deplorable condition, but to state definitely what shall be done to improve the state of things is neither easy nor pleasant.

Twenty years since, when members were very few, we bore a plain, free testimony, and the power of God was with us. And for bearing this testimony a spirit of hatred was kindled that has followed us. We could have stood up under this, had it not been for the influence of those who have nearly all the time for twenty years occupied a middle ground, giving a hundred times more strength to those in rebellion than our bitterest opponents.

It was this middle-ground influence that laid the foundation of our difficulties at Battle Creek, the results of which have had so saddening an influence on the cause everywhere. It has been the influence of the middle position that has taken the edge from the several testimonies that have gone out to our people relative to dress, covetousness, and conformity to the world. And we here confess that we are weary of contending with the spirit of this middle position, and are now, physically and mentally worn with it, more than all else. As we lay the armor off to rest awhile, we are glad that Eld. Butler feels the burden. The Review is open to him. Our past sufferings have been such, and our present relations are such, that we dare not speak and act freely. We cheerfully give others the field.

But we do not feel free to close these remarks without confessing that in consequence of the pressure against us, sustained by the spirit of the middle position, we have gradually yielded, and have tempered our testimony to be in harmony with the body, and for this we have been losing strength, faith, and courage. We want to rest and ponder these things in the fear of God.