An Explanation | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 29, 1871

An Explanation.

It will be observed that this page contains a notice of an extra session of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association. It appears in the call, that one object of this meeting is to fill offices to be vacated by resignation.

We very much regret the necessity of this extra session. But we see no way that it can be avoided. We had hoped to be sustained through another conference year. But in consequence of failing health, we hasten to lay our burdens down.

In consequence of several deserting the work at Battle Creek last autumn, a two-fold burden came upon us on our return from Kansas and Missouri. At the very time when we should have had complete rest for awhile, we were compelled to do the work of two men. General Conference was called in February, one month early, that we might find relief. In our worn condition, our strength gave way before the pressure of labor at that Conference. On returning to our home, one day, in an almost fainting condition, we had a second partial shock of paralysis.

Almost unconscious for a moment we prevented falling to the side-walk by seizing the fence. We were able to reach Bro. Lockwood’s door. Here we received kind attention, and revived, and, with difficulty in the head, continued to labor some to the close of the Conference. We have labored from that time to the present with increasing difficulty in the head, increasing nervousness, and an increasing pressure upon the spirits. We sleep imperfectly, and not more than one half as much as we should.

We suffer much pain in the arm and hand that were paralyzed six years since. In consequence of severe brain labor, and nervous action, dyspepsia is returning, sleep is departing, and our right hand is decreasing in size and strength.

It is not expected that all our friends can understand the difficulties of our position, and the necessity of the proposed change. This we judge from the criticizing, exacting style in which some review our hasty, nervous movements, while pressed with toil and care. We frankly confess that in our state of failing health, we are illy qualified to do anything.

We immediately put ourself under the care of the worthy physicians at the Health Institute, in hope that time, treatment, and rest, may partially, at least, restore head, stomach, and hand, so as to be able, at some future time, to give attention to a single branch of the work. We did hope to attend the camp-meeting, and spend the winter in California, but must be content to take the invalid’s position at present. Mrs. W., accompanied by our son Willie, is attending camp-meetings in New Hampshire and Maine. She may be able to attend others; but we have reason to fear that our labors are at an end, at present, to say the least.