HELP NEEDED IN TRENTON, N. J.
By H. W. Cottrell
The testimony to the church militant, written in 1856, is: “I saw that when the message shall increase greatly in power, then the providence of God will open and prepare the way in the East for much more to be accomplished than can be at the present time. God will then send some of His servants in power to visit places where little or nothing can now be done; and some who are now indifferent will be aroused, and will take hold of the truth.” — “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, page 149. Many people are watching every omen to see a literal fulfillment of this word. Simple, trusting faith that the message will return to the densely populated East with heavenly power, rejoices hearts, and solves many a difficult problem. One problem ever pressing for solution is, How will the busy multitudes in our great cities hear the special message of reform? When the servants of the Lord are willing to let the Lord work, then it will be with power. We can hear the “sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,” so we are sure the Lord has gone out before us. The work that has been done, and that is still being carried forward, in New York City, through Elders Franke and Haskell and their co-laborers, is certain evidence of the leading hand of the Lord. Seventy or seventy-five persons took their stand for the truth under the labors of Elder E. E. Franke, at Trenton, N. J., during the summer of 1901, and they have been organized into a church. Elders Daniells, White, Brunson, and Sister White, also the writer, have visited them, and found them to be a noble company. In the early days of the Church, when the Lord was accomplishing a great work for the people, Satan began waging a warfare of persecution against the advocates of unpopular truth. So it is to-day. There appears to be a determined effort on the part of many in Trenton to crowd out or crush out, and, if possible, destroy the hold present truth has on the people of that city. No hall of sufficient size to accommodate the people who desire to hear the message can be secured for either influence or money. At present the company have the use of a small hall, scarcely sufficient to accommodate our own people for Sabbath services; and as I understand, they cannot secure even this hall for any other day. So you see they are entirely shut out from doing aggressive work. This appears sad when so many people are anxious to know the truth. They have possession of the present hall under written lease, but are holding it under strong protest. The lease expires in the spring, and they have already been assured that they cannot hire it longer. The question naturally arises, What will they then do, even for a place for Sabbath service sufficiently large to accommodate their present membership? This question was considered and quite thoroughly discussed at the recent Conference held in New York City, when the following proposition was indorsed by the Conference: “That Elder H. W. Cottrell make an appeal through the REVIEW AND HERALD for donations to the amount of seven thousand dollars, to be used for building a church in Trenton, N. J.” So I need offer no apology for this article. The condition of affairs at Trenton, with seventy or seventy-five persons who have recently come to the faith, and have united with us as a people, and with prejudice so strong, that money will not induce hall-owners to let their halls, must appeal to the hearts of all. The better judgment of all lovers of the message must certainly respond to the plea that money be secured at once, and a church edifice erected there by the time the expiration of their lease excludes them permanently from their halls. Are there not persons scattered here and there throughout the United States who would esteem it a privilege to donate five hundred or one thousand dollars each toward this proposed enterprise, which will be of great aid in permanently establishing the work of reform in the densely populated eastern part of the United States? The message must return East with power. The teeming multitudes here know but little of the special message of reform and of the soon coming of Christ. In the near future, money will not be worth a great deal to those who are now laying it by. Let us hear from those who are ready to assist in raising this specified sum of money. Send the one hundreds, fifties, twenty-fives,—any sum the Lord tells you to send,—and enough of them will accomplish the work. Money should be remitted by check, draft, post-office or express money order to George W. Palmer, treasurer of the Atlantic Union Conference, South Lancaster, Mass., who will forward you a receipt for your money, and we will see that it is applied as already mentioned. H. W. COTTRELL,
President of the Atlantic Union Conference.