Words of Cheer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Sep 8, 1904

A WONDERFUL spirit of unity, of joy, and of courage seems to have come to our people in every part of the world as a result of the move to Washington. It seems to be regarded as a long day's march nearer home, yes, nearer to the great capital city of the universe. We have met constant difficulties and perplexities, and yet the Lord's providence has always cleared the way in his own good time. These letters bring to the workers in Washington great courage and blessing in the thought that God is going before, leading on to victory, and that his people, shoulder to shoulder, are following unitedly his leadings over into the promised land; and when we cross into the land of Canaan this time, we shall never fall again. Those who are weary with the burdens of cares and of many years seem especially cheered and comforted at the thought that we are almost home. These letters will be read with deep interest, I am certain.

“FRESNO, CAL., July 9.

“MY DEAR BRETHREN: I well know of your work. I am probably the poorest Adventist in Fresno, and about the oldest. I was born in 1828, April 22. I well remember the falling of the stars in 1833. I was five years old. We are in sympathy indeed with your move to the capital. Yes, there we shall face the enemy; but who will be afraid of man who will soon die and be as though he were not? Have you not a prophet? I say, Yes. Then follow the prophet. A prophet makes no mistakes; and when there is no prophet, the people perish. Yes, keep the law, and press the battle to a speedy finish. We are so proud as we look over the pages of those noble papers. Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret to his servants the prophets. I ask, What more could we wish? My courage is good. All Israel will soon be gathered. When I think of the terrible day just before us, I say, Let us be Christians, and go forward fearing no one but the Lord. Who can doubt that the end is near when he reads our papers? Yes, we know the Captain of our salvation. We see the gleams of the golden morning. Only a little step in the future, and the Lord will say, ‘Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’”

Another brother writes:—

“I have never felt more confidence in any move than I have in this one to Washington, nor more of a burden to lift than on this, which may be termed the closing step on the part of our people. Let me assure you of my prayers, sympathy, and means until the work at Washington is finished. I have had a watch in my possession which I have been telling the Lord that I would give to him for the Washington work. I bought it a little over a year ago. It is a Hamilton, twenty-three jeweled, railroad watch, and adjusted to five positions, and cost me twenty-nine dollars. I do not know that the watch has gained or lost a minute during a month since I got it. I hold this subject to his call. I think it ought to be worth twenty-five dollars. I may not get that much for it, but will do what I can to sell it. Pray with me that the Lord may help me to dispose of it.

“Your brother, hoping, with you, to see the cause soon triumph.”

“RANDOLPH, VT., July 17.

“I will say that I have done what I could to help the work in Washington, and have sent a list of names, also money, from this church for the work there. We shall be glad to do more when we can. As a church we all believe it was the right move, and also rejoice to see the work advancing. Soon the work will be over. O, what a day of rejoicing that will be! May the Lord bless all who are at the head of the work. We are ready to sell out and enter the work if it is the Lord's will, or willing to remain here on the farm, according to his will.

“Your brother in Christ.”

“SARTORIA, NEB., July 18.

“Your letter is at hand. When I had read it, I said to myself, ‘This is a call from God, and I will heed it.’ I pledged twenty-five dollars with the church here in Sartoria, to be paid Jan. 1, 1905. I have some land here in Nebraska, which I expect to sell this fall, and as soon as I sell it, I will give some more. . . . I will sell it cheap, because I want this property to be used in the cause of God before it is too late. May the Lord bless you and all the workers connected with the work in Washington is my prayer.

“Your brother in the blessed hope.”

“WELLS, MINN., July 17.

“DEAR BROTHER: I have recently received the communication sent from your office. I thank you for the same. I have read it with interest, nor does it cease here. I bear the Washington work up before the Father's throne. I love the truth, and am glad to know that the pillar of cloud has arisen and settled over Washington. I am sure it is time our people should arise too, and follow the leading of our light. . . . I hope to be able to give a material manifestation of my interest in the movement later on. . . . However, my children and I have a small garden from which we hope to realize something for the cause we love. My husband, a physician of four years' experience, and I hold ourselves ready for service in whatever way God can best use us. . . . The booklets you have sent, I have passed on to others. I know the truth will soon triumph, and I pray to so hold myself in relation to it that I may triumph with it.

“Yours in the hope of soon seeing the work finished.”

We have greatly appreciated the many donations that have come to the work from our friends in Battle Creek. While from a human standpoint the removal to Washington might seem a loss in numbers and finances, yet God's will is always good, and great blessing will come to the work, not only in Washington and in the whole field, which is the world, but even in Battle Creek. This blessing is being realized by many of the loyal friends there, who are giving to support the work. Following is one of the many letters received from the old headquarters of the work:—

“DEAR BROTHER: Enclosed please find draft for ten dollars to apply on the $100,000 fund to establish our institutions in Washington. I am very glad to have a part in this work. I have been connected with the Review and

Herald for seventeen years. I have all along systematically put my wages into the cause; consequently I can not make very large donations. I am satisfied that our people everywhere will sense the situation, and come forward in this crisis. I am satisfied that the Lord has indeed set his hand to close up the work, and all these recent developments are but the consequence of the Lord's word to us that there shall be delay no longer. I praise the Lord that it is so, and that no longer shall our lack of zeal and consecration trig the wheels of the work. When the Lord said through his servant that he had a better place for the publishing house, I felt that he would indicate where that place is. We are sorry that the whole plant can not be moved to Takoma Park at once, but wait patiently. In the office and at the family altar the brethren and the work at Washington are daily remembered as we come before the Lord in prayer. My wife joins me in prayer that you may be of good courage and rest in the good promises of our God.”

“OBERLIN, CONN.

“MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: O, how I wish I had means to donate to the blessed cause in Christ! but I am a poor widow without means. I make my home with a married invalid daughter. I do not receive wages. My health is not good; consequently I can not do the work which I would like to do. I am over sixty years of age, but do all I can to lighten the burdens of my sick daughter. I feel such a thrill of pleasure when I think of the work which is being done at Washington, D. C. I firmly believe that the Lord is leading his people in this move, and that his blessing will attend their faithful labors as they walk in the light which he is giving them. I hope and pray that we shall soon meet in a better and brighter land. I will enclose twenty-five cents, the widow's mite, toward the help of the cause there. I wish it were twenty-five dollars. May the Lord abundantly bless you in your labors of love for him.”

“CORINTH, MISS., July 21.

“I am here as a pioneer, self-supporting medical missionary, and it is a new field where nothing has been done to proclaim the message; so I am pressed beyond my means to do a small part of what must be done soon. My wife and three children and I are the only Seventh-day Adventists in this county. I have boarded two canvassers two months and a half free of charge, to encourage workers to labor here. Then I have spent two hundred and ninety-five dollars' worth of my time in treating the poor since last October. My dear brother, I need help to fit out treatment rooms here, but I hold my pen from writing for help because on every hand there are calls for help financially. I am a poor man with no money ahead; but I am interested in the work in Washington. We do not cease praying for the work there.

“Yours sincerely in the work and truth.”

“PIPESTONE, MINN., July 13.

“I pray that he who has all power will bless the work and the workers mightily. You may be glad to hear that at the time of the removal from Battle Creek a few in our little company were filled with unspeakable joy, and we all thanked and praised God. Our prayers ascend to God each day for the prosperity of the work there. . . . I rejoice to see the work advance, and feel that I must tell you so. May God give you power and strength to go forward.

“Your sister in Christ.”

“LUTHER, MICH.

“DEAR BROTHER: I will send you — as soon as I get my pension in September. I can do nothing until that time. I am past seventy-four years old, and in very poor health, and am living by myself. I lost my wife four years ago. Since that time I have not been able to earn anything toward a living. I assure you I would be glad to help more. . . . I do hope and pray that success may attend every effort put forth for the raising of the money required.

“Yours in the love of God.”

“WILLIAMS, NEB., July 19.

“Your letter concerning the work of building at Takoma Park, and soliciting means for the work, is at hand. I trust to be able to send — dollars soon, and some more later. I am thankful to be privileged to have a part in the work of God. I know it will go forward without my aid, but I desire to have a part in all the work of God going on now. Surely the shout of a king is among us.”

“CHEHALIS, WASH.

General Conference,

“MY DEAR BRETHREN: God will surely bless you as you go forward to build. How we do long to see these buildings go up! God is in the midst of his people. As I remember the work in Washington, my heart is full of joy, and faith is growing stronger and stronger; for I know, if faithful, we shall soon be home. I praise my Heavenly Father for his goodness and mercy to us.”

J. S. WASHBURN.