Battle Creek by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 11, 1875

Battle Creek.

By James White

BATTLE CREEK, Michigan, has been a very important point for the Seventh-day Adventists during the past twenty years. In the autumn of 1855 our Office of publication was removed to that place from Rochester, N. Y. Many and hard have been the battles for truth and the right on that old battle-ground, and it is encouraging beyond expression to know that victories turn gloriously on the right side. There our first College, our Health Institute, and our main Printing House are located. There is a church of more than two hundred members who regard us as their pastor, though we are from them six months at a time, and are with them only a few Sabbaths in a year. We can never have as much interest at any other point as at Battle Creek. In building up our fine and prosperous institutions located there, we have spent twenty years of the very best of our life. And now good news from that locality wakes up emotions of love and regard for the great work well founded and begun there, which have inspired our efforts during twenty years of labor and care.

An excellent letter from Bro. Wm. Ings of Battle Creek speaks of our labors with that church just before we left in September as follows: “There has been a great improvement since your labors here. Among the young a great degree of good is manifested. It can be seen in the deportment, and in the very countenance. There is more freedom in the social meetings, and the attendance is larger. The school, from what I hear, is doing much better than at any previous term. We have a good class of students, and there seems to be an effort on their part to make the most of their time. We may hope, I think, that many of them will make efficient laborers in the cause.”

Elder Smith has the work of two or three men on his hands. In his position, we know from experience, that no man can do justice to himself or his work. We shall help him on the Review all we can. And while there are many interests of our great work located in that city which have a strong hold upon our sympathies, it gives encouragement to know that our feelings of regard, and care, and love for our people, and for the work there are reciprocated by those on whose friendship we can rely. By our request on our refusal to act longer as President of our Michigan Association, Elder Smith was elected to that office. He has called an extra session, to resign, and elect the writer to his old position, which we shall not refuse under these circumstances.

The condition of our Pacific Association, and to avoid eastern cold winters, make it necessary for us to remain in Oakland until early spring, when we shall return, and make timely arrangements for the round of camp-meetings for 1876. Mrs. W. and the writer think we shall fill up the entire warm part of the season with meetings, one each week, and that we shall be able with the help of Elders Smith and Canright to attend all the Eastern Camp-Meetings. These are meetings of the greatest importance to our people, and each should be held at the proper time, and should have a full force of laborers. J. W.