Early Methods of Labor by J. O. Corliss

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Sep 22, 1904

Early Methods of Labor

By J. O. Corliss

The Experiences of Former Days—No. 9

Early Methods of Labor

J. O. CORLISS

IN the early days of the message, no local “pastors” of churches were recognized, but every preacher was an evangelist, pure and simple. Public meeting rooms, indeed, were scarce. The first company of Sabbath-keepers to possess a house of worship was the one at Buck’s Bridge, in western New York. Theirs was erected in the summer of 1855. The following year a small house, eighteen feet by twenty-four feet was erected in Battle Creek, Mich. The walls of this structure were about ten feet high, and were formed of upright boards, having the openings between covered with battens.

Most of the preaching services of that time were held either in private dwellings or in country schoolhouses. When a “messenger” came into the neighborhood where a family of Sabbath-keepers resided, the largest room in the house

was generally fitted up for an evening meeting, by resting the ends of planks on chairs, or blocks of wood, thus providing seating accommodation for all who might come to the meeting. Every other business was then laid aside, and a personal invitation was extended to every one for miles around, to come and hear about the Lord’s coming.

Few fine-spun theories were then brought forward; for they were unknown. But in the most simple manner attention was called directly to the prophecies, tracing events from ancient times to the present. By the aid of a chart illustrating the prophetic symbols, which every preacher carried with him in those days, these things never failed to create a deep interest. If more than one meeting was held, the signs of the times were canvassed, bringing the little audience to see themselves facing a crisis which could be met only by a great moral reform. The results following those meetings were generally good. For example: One minister, whose name may properly be withheld for the present, had, on one occasion, a regular nightly attendance of eleven persons for two weeks. On Sundays thirteen were present. Yet a company numbering fifteen souls was organized soon after at that place. Glorious days! May the power then attending the message soon return to lighten the earth with glory.

There were men among those pioneers who occasionally dreamed to some purpose, in the Lord’s work. Many illustrations of this might be given from the experience of Elder White and others; but for the intent of these articles one case must suffice. In the year 1852, Elder Joseph Bates was holding meetings in South Bend, Ind., and as his work there matured, he dreamed of going northeast by stage to a village the name of which was not revealed to him in the dream. He awoke, however, with the impression that he must go there immediately, as the Lord had precious souls there who would thus hear the truth. Suiting his actions to his impression, he left the next day on the stage going to the northeast. He told the stage-driver that he did not know how far he wanted to go, but would pay the amount demanded when he arrived at his destination. The driver accepted the peculiar situation, keeping his eye, however, on his eccentric passenger. At every village of prominence along the route Brother Bates was asked if that was the place where he wished to stop. He would then get out of the stage, look around, and return a negative answer. But upon coming in sight of Jackson, Mich., he said, “This is the place where I wish to stop.”

Having paid his fare, he soon found the home of Brother Dan R. Palmer, a blacksmith of the village, and meetings were started in his house. At that time Brother M. E. Cornell and his wife were passing that way, with horse and buggy, to some point where he was to be the pastor of a First-day Adventist company, on a salary of three hundred dollars a year. He heard that Brother Bates was holding meetings there, and determined not to hear him. But after driving through the town, he became so troubled over the matter that he turned about, and went to the meeting. It happened that Brother Bates was just talking on the Sabbath question. After listening for a few minutes, he turned to his wife, and said: “Angie, this is the truth; I must obey it.” “But,” she said, “what about your engagement for the year to come?” “That will have to be canceled,” he said, characteristically, and so the matter was settled.

He then started north for Tyrone, the residence town of Sister Cornell’s parents. Arriving in the neighborhood, he saw John P. Kellogg (the father of Dr. J. H. Kellogg) in the field raking hay. “Hold the horse,” he said to his wife, “while I go and give Brother Kellogg the light.” Jumping over the fence, he ran to the place where Brother Kellogg was working, exclaiming, “I have light for you, Brother Kellogg.” “Well,” said Brother Kellogg, as he leaned on his rake, “what is it?” In a few moments the simple story was told, Brother Kellogg was convinced, and had resolved to obey.

Turning as abruptly as he had come, Brother Cornell rejoined his wife, telling her of the victory just gained for the truth. Before reaching home, another neighbor was met, and he also promised to obey the truth. Arriving at the parental home, nearly the first thing was to repeat the simple message to the inmates, with the result that the next Sabbath quite a company of the neighborhood met together for worship.