Western Tour by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 13, 1871

Western Tour.

By James White

At eleven A. M., June 1, we reached our western home at Washington, Iowa, and remained twenty-four hours, when we took the train for the Knoxville Camp-meeting. When we reached the ground, we were disappointed in meeting so large a gathering of brethren and sisters. Sabbath afternoon, we spoke upon mutual obligation, to a very attentive congregation. The subject took a strong hold of the people; and when we set before them the duty of all our people to help build up our institutions located at Battle Creek, they were ready to respond liberally, as will be seen by the report of that good meeting given by Brn. Canright and Littlejohn.

We were sorry to learn from these brethren of the treacherous course of some in Missouri, who received us with Christian courtesy when we were with them last autumn. From us these persons learned our true positions when we were with them, and they recognized us as the servants of God. Some of their number confessed with tears their opposition to Mrs. W., and the hard speeches they had made while in ignorance of her work and the spirit with which she labored. Mr. Goodenough has been among them, and has affected a change in their feelings toward us and the people we represent; so that when the General Conference sent Elds. Canright and Littlejohn to hold a camp-meeting among the Sabbath-keepers of Missouri, this faction showed their real position in warring against the body of Seventh-day Adventists generally, and Eld. White and wife in particular. This they did in the circulation of a deceptive work at the meeting, in which the writer labors to point out serious defects in our Christian character.

When we were in Missouri, we labored to do away the prejudice which separated Sabbath-keepers in Daviess Co. We succeeded, and left them united. We parted in union and love. They acknowledged us the servants of God, and heartily bid us, God speed. We preached to them the several points of present truth, as far as we had time, and did not urge them to believe this or that. We did not ask them if they believed that Mrs. W.’s special views were of God, and much less did we urge them to believe them. And until they should drink in, and manifest, a spirit of war against these views, neither would their silence nor profession of faith upon the subject, make any difference in our feeling toward them. And we know that we speak the views and feelings of our people upon the subject.

It is not Seventh-day Adventists that are pressing the people upon this subject. They believe in the perpetuity of spiritual gifts. They believe that the spirit of prophecy has rested upon Mrs. W., and that she is called to do a special work at this time, among this people. They do not, however, make a belief in this work a test of Christian fellowship. But, after men and women have had evidence that the work is of God, and then join hands with those who fight against it, our people claim the right to separate from such, that they may enjoy their sentiments in peace and quiet.

While we commend the decision of the brethren in Missouri in separating from those who, while acting under a profession of union, were in a more secret way laboring against them, we do sincerely hope that we may yet meet some of them, at least, standing on the same ground on which we and they stood when we affectionately left them last fall.

In the providence of God they have had an opportunity to hear for themselves, so as to be left without excuse. If they now follow those who are at war with the body of Sabbath-keepers, instead of being instructed and helped by those who have done them good, and nothing but good, and now feel the deepest interest in their prosperity and the cause around them, we cannot help them. Our people in Missouri cannot help them. And while we cherish feelings of sympathy and pity for them, on account of the deceptive power of Satan that is brought to bear upon their minds, we feel called upon to say that the history of a few years past shows that those who deliberately and determinately wage war with the work of the Holy Spirit, in the face of clear light, cannot be reached. Judging from the past, we conclude that they must run their career, shorter or longer, as may be, till they come to naught.

God blesses his people most, and prospers them best, in doing the work he has called them to do. The leaders of factions, whose greatest objection to the sentiments of the body generally, is in relation to the perpetuity of spiritual gifts, and the manifestation of the spirit of prophecy among us, would be gratified in calling us from our work to meet their opposition. They are doing little or nothing to lead men to the truth. They have no reason to believe that they can build up their cause by converting men and women to the truth. Their only hope of adding to their numbers, and building up their cause, is in causing divisions among our people, and in leading some of them to doubt in regard to fundamental points of doctrine. They generally begin with the subject of the gifts; and they succeed best by using smut and blacking, attacking the reputation of Mrs. W. and her husband. And notwithstanding “their stock in trade” of old falsehoods may have been shown up forty-nine times, they will repeat them with as much confidence and delight as if Satan had coined them but yesterday.

As for Mr. Carver’s pamphlet, we have read it with feelings of painful regret that a man of his ability, and his knowledge of the facts in the case, should so deliberately set himself about the work of deceiving the reader. Three things have kept us from noticing his work: first, its limited circulation; second, not wishing to give it notoriety by calling attention to it; and third, a want of time. But if our people in any locality are annoyed with its influence, and regard its apparent candor dangerous to deceive, while the unscrupulously false statements of the writer are calculated to mislead, we will see that the matter has that attention that will set it in a proper light.

But what seems most astonishing is, that these men will repeat with all apparent confidence that Seventh-day Adventists are crumbling and dwindling in numbers and influence, when at the same time they know that they are uttering falsehoods. We have nothing to boast of; but by the grace of God, Seventh-day Adventists never were so firmly united, and so prosperous, as at the present time. The circulation of the REVIEW, which is a very correct indication of the state of the cause, has had a permanent increase during the last eighteen months of one thousand. Prosperity attends every department of the work, and a brighter day the cause never saw than the present. Our statistics give no real idea of our standing. We are so singularly scattered that but a portion of the believers are represented in the reports of the membership of our churches. And the numbers given are affected very much year after year by the fact that in some cases, a number of churches have not entered into the number, not being reported.

There never has been a time when union of sentiment, and harmony in energetic action, existed among us as it does at the present time. Our camp-meetings have a strong influence to produce this happy state of unity. And at these grand, annual gatherings, Mrs. W.’s testimony is received by the brethren, and respected by the crowds that assemble on such occasions.

This state of union and prosperity is seen in the fact that the growing interest, calling for a wider circulation of our periodicals, and of our publications generally, has so far increased the work in our large two-story printing house, as to make it necessary to duplicate it, and build another the same in size and style, the present summer. And for this one object, the brethren at one of their two camp-meetings in Iowa this season, June 5, 1871, pledged the sum of $2,000.

It is evident that God’s providential hand is in this work. Providence is his supervision over angels, men, and devils. It must needs be that heresies should come, but woe to that man by whom they come. We should not be as anxious to close the mouth of the heretic, as to speak and act right in the fear of God in reference to blighting heresy. Something of this kind is as important to the church of Jesus Christ as the sink is important to the good house-keeper’s kitchen.

Let the people of God keep at the work, and let those whose very existence depends upon contentions and distraction do the work permitted them to do. Our work is to teach the truth, and in our lives to honor the truth, and when it will best serve the cause, expose the deceptive efforts of those who would sow seeds of discord among us, that we may save the honest from deception and ruin. God lives and reigns. Error may for a time blind the eyes of the honest, and the deceptive power of error may for a time hold them in bondage; but in due time God will deliver the sincere seekers for truth. Dr. Wm. Russell is a happy illustration of this fact. Satan took advantage of the unfavorable circumstances under which this dear brother was placed for a time, on account of the wickedly selfish course of some who were prominent actors in the cause at Battle Creek, and Dr. R. was overwhelmed with doubts for a time. But, thank God, he has seen the deceptions of those who would mislead him, and is now happy at his post at the Health Institute at Battle Creek, sharing the confidence and love of the people of his choice. Yes, God lives and reigns, and he will work to his own glory, and for the good of those who love him.

In company with Brn. Canright and Littlejohn we left the Knoxville camp-ground the 6th, and came to Monroe, and spent one day with Bro. and sister Canright, and friends. There we enjoyed rest, and shared the delicious fruit and products of Bro. C.’s newly cultivated, extensive fruit and vegetable garden. If the people will but put forth a well-directed effort, they may in a short time enjoy an abundance of most delicious fruits, which, with reformers, will very gracefully take the place of swine’s grease and the like.

On the 7th, Brn. Canright and Littlejohn came on with us to our home in Washington where we write. We enjoyed a day with them here, when they left on the 8th for the Illinois Camp-meeting. May God bless their labors in that meeting. In consequence of hoarseness, much neglected writing that should be done, and not being fully instructed in regard to the route to the Illinois meeting, we decided to remain here one week, and be rested for the La Porte, Iowa, Camp-meeting.

Washington, Iowa, June 9, 1871.