p. 4 | Mutual Obligation by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 20, 1871

Mutual Obligation.

By James White

THE cause of present truth is one. Its work is a labor of love for God, and for souls. Wherever work may be done that will glorify God, and save men, whether it be in Maine, Minnesota, Michigan, California, or in Europe, all who love the work of God, and value the salvation of men, should feel an equal interest.

We know of no people who manifest the missionary spirit as do Seventh-day Adventists. They do not settle their ministers over churches. In fact, their most efficient workers seldom labor in the same State more than two or three successive years. They do not suffer themselves to be turned from their missionary labors by the entreaties or the liberal offers of the people of any locality. They certainly should labor with this noble idea ever before them that the cause is the Lord’s, and is one. They should hold themselves ready to labor in that part of the field where Providence shall indicate their duty.

We look upon our simple form of organization with great pleasure. Individual members are responsible to churches, churches to State Conferences, and our State Conferences to the General Conference. If sound upon the great subject of mutual obligation, this system will be viewed of vast importance, and truly beautiful. Our system unites the members of all our churches to the great cause everywhere, and is calculated to cultivate in the minds of all, broader feelings of noble interest for the good of the cause everywhere. But many do not see anything of the cause out of their own State. And some confine their interest for souls to their own immediate vicinity, and their own little church. These, however, may be greatly benefited by correct views of mutual obligation.

God has made use of means to spread the truth, and all who have been benefited by these means, should hold themselves under the most sacred obligations to make proper returns. The work first started with a few penniless men in New England. With great sacrifices they let the light shine in Western New York, and in Michigan. Self-sacrificing men in these States helped nobly to push the cause still further west, and the results of the sacrificing toil of those early in the cause may now be clearly seen, east, west, north, and south.

Only three years since a mission was instituted in California. A few liberal friends donated to purchase a tent, pay the expenses of the journey of missionaries to that distant State, and supported them there for only about one year, when the mission became self-sustaining. And now California invites more ministerial labor, offering not only support there, but to pay traveling expenses. We look back with no small degree of pleasure to the hour when we drew up the subscription paper in behalf of this mission, and headed it with $25.00. We regard that as a good investment. That capital stock is not for sale at any price.

And shall this noble work of sacrificing, missionary work, stop here? Shall it not be extended to still more distant and destitute fields? And will not those who have had the precious truth brought to them with great sacrifice, feel that they are not only under obligation to help extend it to others, but, also, feel it their duty to sustain the worthy institutions which stand at the head of this great work?

“What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” should be the inquiry of every grateful heart. And the answer of the Psalmist should be their answer: “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.” Ps. 116: 12–14.

But we see men of money, who have been blest with the labors and sacrifices of others, and who might help in the work if they had a heart to, sitting in idleness, so far as the cause of God is concerned, and hoarding their cash. These know nothing of the true spirit of this work; and unless they are converted, can be of no use to the cause. There are others who will do something, if it can be bestowed in their own immediate neighborhoods. These seem to forget that they are united to the great cause everywhere. They should take broader views. They should study well the question of mutual obligation.

At a certain time, in the providence of God, our publishing interests were located at Battle Creek, Michigan. Our publications have proved to be the right arm of our strength. By reading only, without having a single sermon, very many who now stand united with us, embraced the unpopular views we hold. And beside this, when our ministers have broken new ground, our publications have done, to say the very least, one-half of the work. Without the living ministry to address and arouse the people, but little can be accomplished by the press. And without the press, the work would move very heavily and slowly. With a devoted, fervent, laboring ministry, and our periodicals and publications all aglow with heavenly light and truth, the cause will move forward.

With our people, Battle Creek, the seat of our cherished institutions, becomes an important point. Here burdens have been borne, battles have been fought, and victories have been gained. And if we hold that Satan makes war on those who do and teach the commandments of God elsewhere, we shall certainly conclude that his special forces are brought to bear against those who stand at the very heart of the work. The nature of the case then demands picked men at Battle Creek. Veteran troops are needed at this important post. We do not hesitate to say that Battle Creek is a very hard place for unconsecrated, selfish men and women to live and professedly serve God. If there is any one position more than another calculated to test the moral worth and Christianity of men and women, it is a connection with the work at Battle Creek. Some fifty families of Sabbath-keepers have moved from Battle Creek during the past two years, and there are still others who can serve the cause of God better by occupying a less important post. And that which would most benefit the cause, not only in Battle Creek, but everywhere through the influence of our institutions, would be the removal to the immediate vicinity of Battle Creek, thirty or forty families of moral worth and godly life, such as can be a blessing to the cause anywhere. But those men of sufficient energy, calculation, and real worth, such as are needed at the very heart of the work, have acquired wealth, reputation, and friends, in the localities where they have made life a success, so that to remove them is like removing the sturdy oak by the roots. It has been found to be no small task to induce such to move to Battle Creek; while it has at the same time been difficult to keep away those who could sell out and pack up between sunset and dark, ready for a start to Battle Creek the next morning.

It is admitted that during the change of administration in affairs at Battle Creek, grave mistakes were made. But probably the very ones who now draw back from sustaining our institutions because of these mistakes, would have made greater ones themselves had they stood in the position of those they now blame. We recommend to all that charity which will forgive past errors, thank God that they are fully corrected, and will take hold of the work with renewed confidence and zeal. No one has suffered for the errors of unconsecrated persons at Battle Creek, to the extent we have, unless it be Mrs. W. For all this we did not forsake the cause; but at the hazard of our lives we put ourselves into the gap, and have labored until the cause at Battle Creek, with the blessing of God, is on better footing than at any other period. The present is not the time to draw back the hand of liberality, but rather to open our hands wide to the cause of God, as the best way to overcome existing embarrassments.

Those who truly love our Lord Jesus Christ, and have the cause at heart, will see in the history of changes at the head of the work for the last six years new evidences that the hand of God is in this work. These will come up to the work in faith and courage; while the unconsecrated and worldly will probably make these mistakes an excuse for being exceedingly careful in giving of their abundance to build up our institutions at Battle Creek.

Admitting that the $32,000 raised for our Health Institute might have been laid out, and might have been managed, so that the property would be worth nearly twice its present value, what then? Shall we let our hands hang down in discouragement because of these comparatively trifling misfortunes? No; this would please the devil exceedingly in that he had gained his object in bringing around a state of things that had weakened the hands of the faithful, and had made the lovers of the things of this world still more fearful and stingy.

Rather let us, with faith, courage, and hope in God, “come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” We put into the Health Reform Institute $1,000 as a donation. In consequence of bad management in the past, and the urgent demand of more room, making it necessary to purchase cottages, and enlarge the main building, the Institute needs $15,000 to place it on good footing, free from all just demands. Well, we decide to take stock as a matter of donation to the Institute to the amount of $500 more. This may be a little more than our proportion, according to the amount invested, of the property recklessly squandered. But we cheerfully make sure the full amount, and cherish feelings of gratitude that it is no worse.

Probably there is nothing that Satan takes so great advantage of to dry up that which may remain of liberal feelings in the hearts of worldly members of the church, as a reckless use of means donated to charitable purposes. The disposal of such means is a sacred trust. And no man is worthy of it, unless he has the fear of God and the good of man ever before him. And he should know that the liberality of the people depends very much upon the manner in which he fulfills his office. In this matter, however, we design to disappoint the devil, and would be glad to shame those who have taken but twenty-five, or fifty, or one hundred dollars, in the Institute, quite out of their horrid temptations and trials because it was not all managed properly. If some of these very men should lose three times as much in some miserable patent right, they would console themselves with that good maxim, “It is no use to cry for spilt milk,” and then would go to work to make up the loss, may be, whistling to keep their courage up.

While we have to admit that selfish men have for a time occupied responsible places at the head of the work, it is a pleasure to know that persons have stood in responsible places to whom the cause of truth was of more value than life. These have faithfully toiled, and suffered, and borne a plain testimony; and in return have suffered under the murmurings of the people, who desired to be taught by those who would not reprove them for their errors. And for a time the reprovers were silent, and many thanked God that a better state of things had come; but the better state of things that followed has been more than hinted at in this article.

Did God give the murmuring house of Israel quails to eat to teach them that he knew best how to select their food? And was that sad lesson designed for the good of his people from that day to the present? So would he teach our people a similar lesson in the mistakes of those men among us who were the idols of the murmuring ones during the very period of their reckless career. If this sad lesson can cure the murmurers among us of their cruel murmuring, and convince them that God knows best how they should be led, it will prove of infinite value to the cause in the end.

God delights to lead his people by lessons of love and prosperity. But if they will not be thus led, he sometimes instructs them by painful admonitions of judgments. It is most blessed to know that the hand of God leads and prospers; but it is a terrible thing to awake from deceptive slumbers to know and feel that the hand of God is stretched out to teach submission to his will by adversities.

These sad things ever occurring in the history of God’s people, are the result of selfishness and unsanctified independence; and we recommend, as the best remedy, correct views and feelings upon the subject of mutual obligation. In it is seen the principle of love which lies at the foundation of God’s moral government, and binds the members of the entire body into one humble, holy, loving brotherhood. It leads directly to supreme love to God, and to love others as ourselves. To this happy state of things the apostle exhorts in these precious words:—

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Pet. 5:5–8.

We have, perhaps, dwelt too long upon the disagreeable side of these matters in this article. There is a brighter side. God has ever blest his people when they have been true and faithful. And when the erring have returned with full purpose of heart, he has graciously restored to them the joys of his salvation.

Our institutions at Battle Creek are prospering, and with the prompt support of all their friends, will overcome past misfortunes, and accomplish all that has been hoped of them. There need be no failure. They have strength within themselves to stand and grow, when free from embarrassments brought upon them by reckless management. And we are confident that the valuable, though painful experience of the past will prove a lamp to the feet of those who manage for the future.

Already the fort at Battle Creek is being reinforced by veteran soldiers. And the scheme which constitutes a firm basis of hope for the future success of the Publishing Association and our Health Institute, is the removal of a liberal selection of best families from several States to headquarters. Their moral and religious influence is needed at this fort. Men of judgment and experience are needed here to act as trustees of the Publishing Association, directors of the Health Institute, and as counselors and helpers in the cause generally.

And we know of no better locality to obtain a livelihood, and to enjoy health and prosperity, than Battle Creek and vicinity. We know of no more active and prosperous city, of its size, than Battle Creek, or of a more vigorous and flourishing farming country than Calhoun Co., Mich. For sixteen years Battle Creek has been the point where the hottest of the battle in defense of truth and the right has come. Some are worn and weary, and need succor. In the period of their activity and strength they held themselves under most sacred obligations to labor for the good of the cause everywhere. But obligations of this kind are not all on one side. They are mutual. Our people in the several States should now fulfill important obligations on their part, and send certain of their best families to help keep the fort at Battle Creek.