Permanency of the Cause.
By James White
The most encouraging feature of the cause at the present time is the fact that efforts are being made to establish it upon a permanent basis. This has been true in a degree ever since our organization under the name of Seventh-day Adventists; but we refer particularly to the efforts to bring representative men to Battle Creek to guard our institutions established at headquarters. From the very first, our people have been confident of the truthfulness of our position, and as the rise of the cause, its progress, and final glorious triumph, are clearly marked in prophecy now fulfilling, they have also been confident that the cause would certainly come out right in the end. And while a very few persons among us may have been too cautious in their efforts, and have not trusted the results of their best efforts with the Lord as fully as they should have done, others have acted under a sort of reckless confidence, or, for want of real, careful interest in the cause, have not acted at all. In order for complete success, a careful interest should be felt by all our people. In the rapid work of disseminating unpopular and stirring truths, and bringing out of all positions and classes of people men and women to compose a unit body, and to bring them up to united action upon the best plans to advance the cause of God, there has been a struggle of which but very few among us have any just conceptions. Our people’s history should be written, for the benefit of those who now come to the faith. But, even then, the efforts to bring the cause to its present prosperity and permanency could not be fully realized. With the very ones who felt the burden of the work in the commencement, the enterprise was nearly an experiment. They dared not, and did not, follow the course of other religious bodies. Their friends, supporters, and their publications, they made, as they arose to efficiency and strength, under the most discouraging circumstances. And while, in the very struggles to establish order and united action, by simple yet complete organization, they were terribly hindered by some of the very men who should have helped them. God has had those to lead out in this work who could foresee the wants of the cause, and suggest new and more extensive enterprises and missions. But the body of our people have ever been too slow to move out, which has increased their labors. And some of our preachers have ever considered it a virtue to be so very cautious as to stand directly in the way, and make the work of those whom God was impressing by his Spirit to take larger views of our work, and to lay broader plans for its advancement, tenfold harder than if they had been on the right side. For an example of the limited views some of our people have taken of the work, when the few friends in Battle Creek built a house of worship, eighteen years since, at the cost of three hundred dollars, one of our eastern brethren, passing to a Western State, called to spend the Sabbath with us. And, as we were with him before service commenced, he looked doubtfully all around the interior of our little sanctuary, and said, “I don’t know about this, Bro. White. This building meeting-houses is just like all the other churches.” At a later period, our people built a second house, at the cost of about one thousand dollars, and very many honest souls took fright at that. Our people at Battle Creek worship in a plain house of sufficient size to cost, including bell, not far from eight thousand dollars, and now the question is agitated, as their congregation increases, what they shall do next; whether to enlarge it, or do the best they can until they can build a fourth house of sufficient capacity. Now, dear reader, before you stop to smile over our statement relative to the fears of the eastern brother of conforming to other religious bodies in building a house of worship, eighteen years since, 1855, at the cost of three hundred dollars, we wish to state that we solemnly believe that the Seventh-day Adventists are farther behind the opening providence of God in 1873, than this good brother was in 1855. True, mistakes were made in the establishment of our Health Institute, and both the Publishing Association and the Health Institute suffered in consequence of bad management from 1865 to 1869. But if our ministers and leading men had had anything like a just appreciation of the labors and cares and privations and sufferings of those who had in the name and strength of God brought the publishing work from nothing to the good condition it was in when, in consequence of sickness, it fell into other hands, they would have carefully watched the course of things then in new hands, and would not have suffered the losses to have occurred, among which the financial was the very least. The great loss, which is indeed a terrible loss, is the loss of implicit confidence which our people had in the management of the interests of our cause established at Battle Creek. This has been a cruel loss. But thank God, we as a people, by his signal blessing, are fast recovering our confidence again. We should have had a denominational school of some magnitude, for the education of young men and young women, preparatory to engaging in the several departments of the great work, when the subject was first agitated in 1869. Who can estimate the loss to the cause sustained during these four years? There should be immediately raised $50,000 for our first school, and $50,000 more to locate our Health Institute where it should be, with a capacity to receive from two to three hundred patients. The eight Institute cottages can be sold for residences, and the Fair Ground can be purchased for the Institute and school grounds. The citizens are interested, and offer assistance. One says he will give $500, many others will help liberally. But in obtaining a charter for a medical department of our school, &c., they can help us more. We hope to see the Battle Creek Fair Ground thus occupied, and buildings and improvements located to the amount of $100,000 in 1874. If it can be done, the friends at Battle Creek may count on us for a hundredth part of the sum. Before a single dollar was laid out for the Institute, Mrs. W. plead with the men in power at that time to purchase the Fair Grounds, and when they rejected her pleadings, she wept bitterly. In consequence of a terrible sickness, we could not stand by her side in the work. We have put more of our means into the Institute than any other one, besides our unwearied care and labors for the past four years. And now, if our people will come up nobly to the work, and locate the Institute and the school where they should be, we will add one thousand more for each. But if they are willing that our Institute shall cripple along, able to receive only sixty or seventy patients, then we can have no further to do with it. We believe God abhors our stingy way of doing his great work. We have children that we might curse with the very means we wish to put into the cause in a proper way. But, after giving them some educational privileges, Mrs. W. agrees with us in giving them the blessed chance our parents gave us, of working our own way. And the present policy, of calling one or more of our best men from the several States to guard our institutions at Battle Creek, and to represent our people in the different States, will not fail to establish that complete confidence in the minds and hearts of our people everywhere, that no other means can. Bro. Abbey has stood faithfully at his post of duty, nearly alone, for two years. Brethren Lindsay and Gaskill moved to Battle Creek last winter, and prove to be good men for the place. Bro. Comings came from New Hampshire last spring, and is regarded as a man of good judgment. Brethren Merriam from Ohio and Ings from Iowa are highly valued. And we are glad to see the Iowa Conference willing to part with Bro. Benn Auten, one of their best men, to come and help keep the fort. This is just as it should be. And when these men of God, after prayer and careful reflection, say to our people in the several States that one, or two, or three hundred thousand dollars are wanted for the glory of God and the advancement of his cause, it will be forwarded without delay. Whatever lack of confidence there may have been in the minds of any, in the management of affairs at Battle Creek, up to the present time, under the present policy, such doubts will simply be unreasonable. The men who have come to Battle Creek have done so, at no small sacrifice, for the sake of the cause. And these are our best men, and the very last to be called in question. If we cannot confide in the men appointed to this position by the State Conferences, we cannot confide in any. But before feeling too deeply over past losses, the reader is invited to the consideration of a few figures and facts in the case. It has been just twenty-two years since our press was established in the city of Rochester, N. Y. Then the very first call was made for donations, amounting to $700, to purchase hand press, a few types, &c., to print the REVIEW. Every dollar that has been donated since that time for presses, types, and other material, and all that has been paid in on shares to erect buildings, and increase the property, and all received in legacies from first to last, has been receipted in the REVIEW, and amounts to $36,000. It is admitted that this was all consecrated money from faithful friends, and should be conscientiously handled. And we have ever maintained that it has been thus used, with the exception of four years, from 1865 to 1869, as before stated. And notwithstanding the loss during those four years, the inventory of the property, at the meeting of the stockholders of the S. D. A. Publishing Association, in March, 1873, including that of the Health Reformer and Hygienic Book agency, which had not been separated from it in any other invoice, was $73,000. While all our people have given of their abundance only $36,000, the persons who have borne the responsibilities and burdens of building up our publishing interests have added the sum of $37,000 to the $36,000. And besides this $37,000 earned since our return to the Office in 1869, the sum of $5,000 has been paid by the Association to the writers of new books, it being half the profits on them. And, further, be it understood that this does not include the value that there is in our subscription lists, and the right to reprint our numerous valuable publications, which, when viewed in the light of the rapidly growing cause, and increasing patronage, represent a value that can be better estimated when it is understood that the business, properly managed, pays $1,000 each month above all expenses. When the Association was formed in 1861, we gave the property then in subscription lists, and the right to republish our works, to the Association, which left to us only a few hundreds of dollars, in a humble home. The trustees of the Association, at one time within the two past years, have offered us $3,000, and at another time, $3,500, for what we gave when the Association was formed. But Mrs. W. has stood firm with us in refusing pay in this life. We will take it in the next. That which cost us all that makes this life desirable, as we suffered under the jealousies of an ungrateful people, cannot receive its recompense here. And now, while viewing these figures and facts from our prostrated condition, in consequence of the toils of these very years, which, with the especial blessing of God, have brought prosperity to our publishing work, we deeply regret our course of toil, economy, and privation, which has brought us where we cannot attend the yearly gatherings of our people in camp. And as our people now learn that, for the period of twenty-two years, they have furnished $1,000 less to the institution, which is the right arm of the strength of Seventh-day Adventists, than has been earned and saved by those who have thus toiled and worn, God grant that they may see their mistake in withholding their means, and in sympathizing with the cry of speculation that has followed us, which has led us to take the course we have taken to save the cause as far as possible from reproach. Eld. White and his wife are reproached, from Maine to California, as taking a money advantage of the supporters of the cause. And for this impression, the unbelieving world is indebted to professed Sabbath-keeping friends who have stood in the way of the work all along the way for twenty-two years. And while we regret an impression so detrimental to our influence, we cheerfully submit to suffer it for Christ’s sake, and kindly exhort those who have injured us to settle the matter with the Master who has called us, while he intercedes for sinners. While we are in the Rocky Mountains, kept away from the annual gatherings of our people, there will be a good opportunity for such to reflect, and put away their sins. A third Office building is going up the present season, to be used for the school while buildings can be put up more suitable for that purpose. The third building will be very much needed for the business of the Association when the school is done with it. Then the Publishing Association can purchase it of the School Board. We have no language to express the sorrow of heart we feel that we are not able to attend our camp-meetings, and assist the brethren at Battle Creek in the important enterprises in hand. But there is, mingled with the sorrow of leaving those institutions which have been dearer to us than life, a feeling of pleasure that we leave them in charge of faithful men, in the best condition possible. These men will handle the work there, not only for the sake of the cause, and for Christ’s sake, but also for our sake, as they know that our life is in it. We say to them, in the fear of God, Act up to your sense of duty, and leave the result with God. He will sustain the right. The reason why there are those among us who appear to be almost void of judgment in the things of God, and are inefficient, when they should be strong men, in whom our people could put confidence, is because they have suffered themselves to be turned from their sense of duty by unconsecrated friends, and have run into darkness and blindness, and, while professing to do the work of God, were simply the tools of Satan to tear down the cause and shake the confidence of our people. Our people generally, at Battle Creek, have so long sympathized with the wrongs committed in their midst, that they cannot be trusted in council with the men who are sent there to take charge of our institutions. God grant that these picked men may stand firm and free in him. We hope to be able to travel as far as Colorado, from the 23d to the 26th. We purchase tickets to California, with the design of spending the hot season in the cool of the Rocky Mountains, and the winter in California. And we design to leave our cares and sorrows all behind, and make the most of the remainder of 1873 for health. As we review the past, we see that we have made mistakes, which we here notice in order, thus:— 1. In laboring beyond measure, the last twenty-five years, which has finally prostrated a powerful constitution. Mrs. W. and myself have labored and cared for others’ good, and have economized, and suffered for want of rest, and the comforts of life, to help others, and push forward the cause, greatly to our own loss, and to the loss of the cause that now needs our experience and help. The jealous eye with which we have been watched in the use of means, and the cry of speculation, have had too great influence upon our sensitive natures, and we have let these drive us to an extreme position of industry, and labor, and economy, which we now regret. We have sinned against God, ourselves, our offspring, our brethren, and a world of sinners, in not using money more freely, and our own strength less. This is our confession in this matter, as we are compelled to retire from the work at present. 2. In moving from Greenville, in 1869, to Battle Creek, and accepting burdens then urged upon us. We had retired in consequence of the first shock of palsy, and had become nearly restored, and should have turned a deaf ear to the entreaties of friends to return to Battle Creek. We were influenced to leave the place where we had been greatly blessed, by promises which were never kept. 3. In consenting to accept of offices and responsibilities in the cause, two years last February, after we had fully decided to refuse them. As the result, we had a second shock, though light, from which we did not fully recover. 4. In manifesting the same weakness, a year ago last January. By the entreaties of friends, though we plead long and earnestly to be released, we again consented to remain in Battle Creek, and manage our interests there. And a third slight shock followed the arduous labors of that Conference, which brought us still lower, so that we were compelled to leave and spend the summer in the Rocky Mountains, and the winter in California. 5. In returning from California. We felt sure that we should have strength to refuse all positions of care and responsibility. We stood firm for two weeks, refusing to serve, after the brethren of the Publishing Association had elected us to the offices of President, and one of the editors.29They refused to elect others, and so our meeting was adjourned to the call of the Chair, from time to time, for two weeks. We finally yielded. And as we can never accept responsibilities without taking on the burden of them, the result was a fourth shock of paralysis, greater than the two preceding ones. Our right arm fell, and we were unable to speak so as to be understood. A few brethren were immediately called, and God heard their prayers. Speech returned, and the arm gradually returned to its usual strength and feeling. But dyspepsia, of a dreadful form, has set in. We would be very happy to enjoy the benefits of our own Health Institute; but our feelings and interests and labors, for a quarter of a century, have been so identified with the work there, and our people have such a habit of coming to us with matters, that we could not find place there for an hour’s rest from care. 6. And last, but not the least, we have made a sad mistake in letting our trials and griefs sink us in discouragement, and separate us from sweet communion with God. In this state of mind we have dwelt upon the course of those who have injured our influence, and made our labor hard, to the injury of health, and hope, and faith. This state of mind, in connection with feebleness, has made us appear to disadvantage. In this condition of body and mind, we were poorly prepared to meet the state of things we found in San Francisco last winter, and some other places in California. We thank God, with deepest gratitude, that Bro. Cornell accepted our faithful labors under such circumstances, and is now in the confidence of his brethren, and that the brethren generally had good sense and good religion enough to excuse what resulted from our depressed condition. May God bless his dear people in that distant State. Brethren, we expect to rise again. We lay down all sad thoughts and feeling of the past, and rise by faith to dwell upon the unseen glories of the reward of the faithful and the true. God lives and reigns, and he will make all these things right in the end. And here let us warn you, dear brethren, to avoid the error into which we had fallen of suffering discouragement to separate from the love of God. There is no apology for this under the most aggravating circumstances. Says Paul, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38, 39. Discouragement is the leading temptation of the present time. If you suffer discouragement to separate you from the love of God, next, you will be tempted to murmur against your brethren, and you will become fault-finding and sad. God lives and reigns. Let his love come into your hearts, brethren, and drown out your sadness, and feeling to complain of others. On our return from California to our General Conference, we had a spirit of labor and tenderness for those who should have stood more faithfully and closely with us during the period of our labors and care. We feel that we have done our last duty to them. One resisted our efforts. With others, we prayed and wept and rejoiced. May God bring them all out to the clear light, and may we yet, according to the will of God, stand together in the power of the truth, in health, strong to fight the battles of the Lord. As we read such reports as Bro. Maxon’s from Washington Territory, and private letters from Brethren Loughborough, Cornell, and others, in relation to the progress of the cause, and the great goodness of God, feelings of love and gratitude kindle in our heart; and we hope to be able to do something in the cause soon. We shall be glad to receive letters of encouragement from friends, and ask the prayer of faith for speedy recovery to health. Let those who offer prayer for us feel assured that ours are united with theirs in unwavering confidence. We have reached a most interesting era in the cause. God is giving us the field. Success attends all our efforts put forth in faith and in earnestness. Be strong, brethren, be strong, and the Lord our God will fight for us. Until further notice is given, our address will be Black Hawk, Colorado. J. W.