What we See in the Review.
By James White
1. We have seen in the REVIEW AND HERALD the excellent articles from the pen of the editor on the immortality question. They are excellent, and should, when completed, appear in book form, a condensed edition on comparatively thin paper, in paper cover, and a complete edition on thick paper, in bound volume. A large edition for wide circulation is wanted. 2. We have been very much interested in the progress department, and we hope that each one of our preaching brethren in all parts of the field will contribute to it as often as once in two weeks. Our young, wordy preachers, especially when they have nothing of interest to say, should use the precious space of the progress department very sparingly. Nothing can be more out of place than for a licensed stripling to occupy nearly a column of this department in stating how “I went,” or “we saw” and “I spoke,” and “we felt,” and “we hope some were,” or: “will be benefited by our labors.” We recommend that those who have anything to report, say it in few and becoming words, taking as little space as possible to express the important ideas they have on hand. If they have nothing of importance to say, only that their name appear in print, we hope they will not write for the REVIEW. Or, if they do, the editor will spare the feelings of the very large portion of his readers who are anxious that every line of the REVIEW should contain some precious thought, new if possible, or words of consolation and strength. The brethren in California would not give a three-cent postage stamp to read reports from Wisconsin, Michigan, or any other of the States, from young men who have held a license merely, only a few months, giving the particulars of where they went, when they started, how they felt by the way, when they reached the place, how many times they spoke, what they hoped as the result, when they left that place, and when they reached home—especially, if they have no real good and cheering result to report. Now, if the President of the General Conference, the editor of the REVIEW, father Bates, if living, or others of the pioneers of the cause, who really have something to say, and know how to say it in few words, and then quit, should give some of the above particulars, their position might make it very proper, and very necessary. But in the name of reason and religion, we plead that the progress department be spared from the wordy, wishy-washy, shallow matter with which it is sometimes threatened. As it is, by ministers of other denominations, the REVIEW is said to be one of the ablest and best religious journals in our country. It should excel all others. May God, by his Holy Spirit, fire the mind and the heart of the editor, and the minds and the hearts of all the contributors, with intelligent zeal to make the REVIEW what it should be. It is the only preacher which thousands of precious souls have. It must be right. It must be the very best. It must be truly able, sound, interesting, stirring, convicting, comforting, and go everywhere to meet the wants of the thousands who are hungering and thirsting for the pure bread and water of salvation. If there is a want of original matter of the best sort, select the most precious things from religious papers. Or, go back and gather from the writings of Luther, Whitfield, Wesley, Miller, and a host of others who wrote with the fire of reformation ever burning upon the altar of their hearts. Let the REVIEW ever blaze with the light and fire of truth, and light and burn its way through the moral darkness of this time to thousands of honest minds. 3. We see by the REVIEW that there is a general interest in the several States, in regard to the work of the Tract and Missionary Societies. The present is just the season of the year for our people to take hold of it everywhere. We confess that we have been greatly disappointed in the receipts in the REVIEW of stock taken in our institutions, especially in the Health Institute, and the Hygienic Book Fund, and we must here recommend the work entitled, An Appeal to the Working Men and Women in the Ranks of Seventh-day Adventists. Get the work, friends. Price, post-paid, 25 cents. The officers of our Tract and Missionary Societies, should read the book, circulate the book, and labor to carry out the worthy plans set forth in that book. All our people who have hitherto excused themselves, should now come up and take stock in these noble institutions and enterprises. Let there be equality in bearing the burdens of the way. 4. We read with interest the faithful statements of Eld. Butler in reference to the church, school, &c., at Battle Creek, and rejoice to know that the Lord has hold of this matter. And we have been astonished above measure that the calls for men to move to Battle Creek, and the statements in relation to what is wanted at headquarters, have not moved the members of that church to do something in the matter. Men are not called to Battle Creek because there is a want of men in that large church. And they are men, too, who have real ability, if it could be called out, and sanctified to the work which has so long suffered for want of their interest and care. Some have been held, and nearly ruined, by unconsecrated companions. Others suffer themselves to be so far engrossed in business that they have no time to spend for the general good of the cause. And there are some of the finest young men in that church, who could come up and bear burdens; but the spirit of inaction, so prevalent in that church, has seemed to bind them hand and foot, and some of them are forming relations in life which promise to blight their future usefulness. And yet, no one in that church seems to feel responsibility in these matters. And during the several years that the call has been made for help in Battle Creek, that church, instead of arousing to duty, has been falling into a condition to be less, and still less qualified to cherish and build up existing institutions at Battle Creek. This lethargy under the circumstances, and apparent willingness for others to come in and do the very work which they have neglected to do, and which they will have to give an account for not doing, forms the strongest evidence possible that the members of that church are utterly disqualified to be located around our institutions. To illustrate the blindness of that people as to the real wants of the cause at Battle Creek, and the little care and the great selfishness that exists, we mention the case of one, who, when the subject of exchanging Sabbath keepers in Battle Creek for a few reliable families was first urged, rashly exchanged property with a family in Ohio, without counseling with the proper persons, bringing a family to Battle Creek he very well knew could not be of any help to the cause in Battle Creek. If this brother had fully received the true testimony setting forth the failures of the church to sustain and stand by those who were exerting themselves to build up our institutions, and the cause generally, and had taken hold of the work, he was just the man that was wanted at Battle Creek. But instead of this, he left his post, in the inglorious manner above stated; and we are not a little surprised to see him accepting very important and responsible positions in another State Conference. If he is the man to bear responsibilities, why should he leave Battle Creek, and that Conference have to appoint others to come to Battle Creek. We wish it distinctly understood that the call for men to come to Battle Creek is not because there are none in that large church who can bear the burdens. It is because they will not take hold of the work in a proper manner, as illustrated in the case above mentioned. In that church are mechanics and business men of real ability. It is true that they constitute but a small proportion of the church, and these feel that they must give their time to their business, to support their families. But how will these men and their families feel when they awake from their stupor and lack of faith to find twenty families in their midst, some of them at great sacrifices, to do the work they refused to do? It seems to us that such an event would mark a terrible era in their religious life. What would their prospects be in pursuing the Christian life, and what could, in such an event, sustain their hope and faith of hearing, at the end of the Christian journey, the Master saying, “Well done?” And what will be the loss to the cause in the different States for twenty of our best families to tear away from their churches and Conferences at home, and come to Battle Creek, to do the very work the active business men of that church have neglected, and have been dying for want of the healthful mental and spiritual exercise which it would give? In the final summing up, all this loss will be set to the account of those who have failed to do their duty, and who have brought about the existing state of things at headquarters. If nothing is done by the Battle Creek church to meet the pressing wants of the cause at headquarters, as many as twenty families should remove to Battle Creek, to form a strong influence for the right in the Publishing Association, the Health Institute, and the Denominational School, and also to be able to stand against the influence of an unfaithful church. Bro. Butler’s statement in REVIEW for October 15, of his visit to the Battle Creek school, of Bro. Smith’s first Biblical lecture, &c., has stirred our soul to the very depths. There might165just as well be three hundred students at Battle Creek as fifty. Bro. Smith might as well have one hundred in his class as twenty. We know of no branch of the great cause that is suffering a tithe as much as the proper education of young men and young women, to teach the present truth. No language can express the loss the cause is sustaining. No amount of wealth can estimate it. And this loss will be chargeable to the neglect of the Battle Creek church. If they had followed the light, they might now be in condition to throw a good influence around such a school. When that church can care for the dear orphans we have tried to save, and have brought in their midst, then we can hope they will have a good influence over two or three hundred students. When the Battle Creek church so far understand their past failures in not standing for God, his truth, and his servants, so as to understandingly reform, and brings forth proper fruits of reform, then fifty thousand dollars can be raised in ninety days to erect proper school buildings in the city of Battle Creek, and in six months from that happy day for that church, two hundred students, one hundred of them for the theological class, can be in attendance. It is for that church to now say whether such a school shall be immediately established in their midst—whether others shall be compelled to leave important positions in the several Conferences to move to Battle Creek, to do the work God demands at their hands. We are as willing to serve the cause at head-quarters as at any other point. And it is in the power of that church to prepare the way for us, and make the battle ground at head-quarters a free and happy place to employ to the best advantage our little remaining strength. That church can, by vigilant action, avert the terrible results that must follow unfaithfulness in the most sacred trust ever in the hands of men and women. Woodland, Cal., Oct. 25, 1872.