p. 1 | The Moving Fever by George I. Butler

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1872

The Moving Fever.

By George I. Butler

It may be thought strange that I should give this article such a title as the above, but it describes a condition of things that has come under my observation as well as any I can think of, so I use it, and I wish to give a few reflections upon the subject as it is forced vividly upon us in this State. It is a fact that quite a number of our oldest churches have been much thinned out in numbers, while the very existence of some is threatened by the moving away of members. If this is the order of the Lord, of course it is all right, and should be encouraged; but if otherwise, it should be discouraged; at any rate, it demands consideration at our hands. As the result is a serious one, the motives and principles which lead to it should be seriously contemplated.

If by moving we can do more for the cause of God, or be the means of saving more souls, or of introducing the truth to new communities which would not otherwise receive it, it would be a justifiable step, unless our leaving our former home would do a greater damage in some other direction. And if our circumstances in life were such that we were dependent upon others and could not support ourselves comfortably where we were, and there was a reasonable prospect of placing ourselves in a condition of independence where we could benefit others and the cause of God, in this case, moving might be justifiable.

But it is very evident to me that many of the moves that are made are prompted by no such motive as the former, and there is, in many cases, no reasonable prospect of bettering one's condition even in worldly things. I have often thought that could we find men of devotion, energy, and ability, who would move into new communities where the present truth had never been heard of, and then, while carrying on their business, would strictly carry out the principles of the truth in their daily lives, and, as the way opened, would busily circulate tracts and papers, such moving would be most acceptable to God. In this way they could prepare the way for the living preacher, and no doubt churches would spring up rapidly in this manner. It has seemed to me that we should see such moving before the end comes, with the love of souls the real motive that prompted to it. And I have no doubt that some who have moved have thought of this.

But if this is the case, the course that many pursue seems a very strange way of carrying it out. The most that sell, strike out at once for the borders of civilization, where the land is cheap, and where it will take years to get even as comfortably situated as they were before they sold. It is pretty evident in such cases that speculation is the main object, and not the advancement of the truth. It is very easy to be deceived even in our motives.

A community just settling up a new country is not a favorable one in which to propagate the truth. There is generally such a spirit of speculation, and such hopes are entertained of making sudden fortunes by the rise of land and improvements, that this world, and not the future one, engrosses the attention of nearly all. And Sabbath-keepers generally find themselves unable to resist this tendency, even when they desire; and I am sorry to say that many of them find this spirit the most congenial to their feelings of any they can cherish, and so enter into it with perfect recklessness.

Again, in such communities, the people have not had time or ability to erect houses suitable for religious meetings, and they are generally so much scattered that it is hard to get a large attendance of the people, and every power of the being is strained to the utmost to get improvements, so that they can live, even comfortably. These things make such countries a very hard field for the truth to flourish in.

If the readers of this article could travel in western Kansas or Nebraska, where the country is just settling up, they would realize more the force of this. Thousands of people live in what are called “dug outs,” that is, a hole dug in a side of a hill far enough so that a man can stand up, then a front, of one thickness of boards, as high as the back part, then sides, of boards, sufficient to form an inclosure, then a roof formed of poles upon which dirt and sods form the shingling, and a window with four panes of glass in it, the sides looking out into the sky, and a small door for entrance. Here people stay until they can get means to put up a better house. Of course they hope not to stay long in such places, but some do for years. And many a man lives in a house a long time that he would not have thought fit for his cattle or horses when he sold out and started for the far West. Poor people who have no homes and who expect time to continue, may be justified in enduring such privations in hopes of a homestead or farm of their own in a few years. But can those who are well situated and have the means of living comfortably, and who profess to believe the Lord is soon to come, be wise in placing themselves where they are liable to be brought into such circumstances? And is it not an absolute denial of Advent faith for people to do so?

It is very evident that many expect to really better their condition and live more easily by moving to some new country where land is cheap. They think they have enough property to start them well in their new home and have a surplus left to use in other ways. But I have seen very many make poor calculations in this respect, and find their money all gone before they were half as well fixed to live comfortably as they were in the place from which they had gone, and not a few who were entirely broken up by it. People almost always find things that they have to buy, in their new homes, higher than they expected, because there are always many others in similar circumstances, just starting, which creates a great local demand, which they did not expect. A thousand unforeseen contingencies occur that call for means, and the money is soon gone, and but few of the improvements they left behind have they obtained. They must then run in debt and work excessively hard to get in a condition as favorable as before. And all through the West are many persons who had been well off that have become poor; especially is this liable to be true of those past the middle age of life who have spent their best days in getting them a good home before.

It does seem to me nothing short of folly for people who have everything around them they need, to sell out and have to go all through the hard work of getting buildings, fences, and other improvements, the second time, when they already have these to start on.

Especially does this seem to be so in the case of Adventists. They claim to believe that time is short. For them to place themselves where it is morally certain they must be overrun with business and hard work for a half dozen years ahead before they can see out, seems foolish in the extreme. Adventists are expecting great troubles and commotions in the earth, and that God's judgments will fall heavily upon this nation. Those who live on the extreme border always feel hard times and a stringent money market more than in the other States. If our views are correct, we are not going to have a long time of prosperity. The popular preachers are crying, “Peace and Safety,” but we do not expect to see such times, but rather, troubles, and suffering, and perilous times. If there ever was a time when our people should be taking in sail, getting out of debt instead of cherishing a speculating spirit, that time is now. The spirit of speculation, of running in debt and living on the future, is one of the worst evils among our people. It grows out of covetousness, a desire to have that which has not been fairly earned, and it prompts us to make promises which we do not know we can meet. What moral right has a man to make promises to pay a certain sum of money on uncertainties? He certainly runs a risk of telling an untruth, to say the least, and if I am not much mistaken, much of the running in debt of the present day will be found of this character. There is a terrible amount of trouble growing out of the common practice of running in debt, and very much of the disgrace to the cause brought upon it in many places can be traced to this source.

This speculative spirit is going to ruin thousands. It leads to running in debt, and to an unsettled state of mind that can't be contented anywhere. People will labor hard to improve their places, erect buildings, have their fences in good repair, have fruit around them, and succeed in getting all the comforts of life within their reach, and as soon as they have accomplished these objects, and seem to be in a position where they might give liberally to the cause of God every year, instead of being obliged to apply it to making improvements on their places, become unsettled in their feelings and nothing will satisfy them but to sell out and go over all this labor again. I do not believe God is pleased with this, and many times his judgments follow this course.

There are many who become involved, and lose all they have, and see no peace of mind, as the result. People have always plenty of plausible excuses on hand to justify their course. Some do it to buy their children cheap farms, and to help them; but really curse their children, by placing means in their hands that they never have learned to manage properly, which is soon fooled away by poor management and running in debt. It would have been far wiser had these children been left to learn the value of property by earning some themselves. And when they had shown a talent for proper management, judicious assistance could be given. People act as if what they had was all their own, not realizing that God has merely made them stewards of it, and that by-and-by they will have to give a strict account of their stewardship. I fear it will be hard for some to give such an account, where thousands have been thrown away thoughtlessly if not recklessly.

Our people in many places are getting a reputation for being an unsettled, speculating, and moving people. This seems strange when we think of the doctrines they hold. One would naturally think those who believed in the soon coming of Christ and the destruction of all worldly property, would be just the contrary. Is it not then because Satan excites us to covetousness? Has he not a desire to destroy us and lead us to deny our faith? Yes, we know he makes a special effort to destroy God's people in this direction. Should we not then make a special effort to cultivate peace and contentment of mind? We shall find this by considering the value of eternal life, the vanity of worldly goods, and by securing God's blessing in our hearts. How many I have known who regretted, when it was too late, that they had not been more contented. They would give much could they be back where they were. It seems hard for people to learn that happiness after all is mainly internal. Untoward circumstances will not make us happy. “A contented mind is a continual feast.” Paul and Silas were happy, and could even sing the high praises of God in prison with their backs raw and bleeding, while many a man is wretched with wealth and luxury around him. That “peace that passeth all understanding” is not found with those who are full of the spirit of speculation and desire to get somewhere else, that they may heap up treasures for the last-day fires to consume. It is strange how this moving fever runs in a community or church. It is as catching as the small-pox or measles. The spirit of the Lord will not remain with it, so far as I have observed.

I would say, in summing up, then, that while it is in some cases right to move, persons should be sure that they are actuated by right motives, and that there is at least a probable prospect of accomplishing the good they desire. The advancement of the cause of truth and the salvation of precious souls is first in importance of all, and we fear but few have changed locations with this the main motive in their hearts. Our temporal good, may also be a proper motive if it does not involve us in greater loss spiritually. But to leave all spiritual privileges for the sake of doubtful, temporal benefits, is not wise. This motive should never be primary. “Seek first the kingdom of God,” our Saviour declares. Never should moving be entered upon without earnest prayer, and seeking after light and duty. Neither could we advise those who have always been in trouble where they are, and brought reproach upon the cause, to go somewhere else and bring another stain. Better stay where they are, and redeem the past. And above all should we beware of the speculating, unsettled spirit of the age. It is sure death to piety, and will certainly lead to ruin. Troubles are before us, and the truly wise will be preparing for them, by keeping out of debt and having their affairs on a sound basis, and above all by seeking God and having the mind of the Spirit.

GEO. I. BUTLER.

Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Feb. 23, 1872.