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GEO. O. STATES

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 2, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 31.

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GEO. O. STATES

By GEO. O. STATES

Lessons From Past Experiences—No. 1

GEO. O. STATES

In the summer of 1853 some meetings were held in a new barn, in Sylvan, for the believers in Jackson County, Mich. This meeting was conducted by Brother and Sister White, and most of the Michigan ministers were present. My mother had but recently begun to keep the Sabbath, and I think was baptized at this meeting.
On this occasion Sister White was taken off in vision, and was shown some things relating to the work in Michigan. She had a personal testimony for H. S. Case, which he rejected. In those early days of the message we had no organization, and any one who felt he had a call to give the message would simply get some minister in good standing to give him a written statement to recommend him to our people. In this way there came in among us some poor representatives of the truth they were preaching. In this vision Sister White was shown that some of the ministers were using tobacco, and they were reproved for so doing. One minister got up and argued in favor of tobacco, saying it was a help to him, that some had declared how good one of his sermons was, but the fact was when he preached it he had a piece of tobacco in his mouth that had been soaked in brandy overnight. Brother White remarked that he must have preached under the inspiration of tobacco and brandy instead of the Spirit of God.
My mother explained to me about Sister White’s visions, that she was for some time without breathing while her eyes were open, the same as were the prophets in Bible times. Although I was only a child, these things made impressions which are still very vivid upon my mind. As a result of that Testimony, it was decided that the use of tobacco was not in keeping with the message which was to prepare a people to “stand without fault before the throne,” and that hereafter no one would be recommended to preach who used it. Those who cared more for their tobacco than for the truth left us when this test of loyalty to God was brought to bear upon them.
Cedaredge, Colo.