“The Permanency of the Cause.”
By George I. Butler
It is with feelings of real joy that I read the article thus headed, from the pen of Bro. White, in this week’s REVIEW. I wish to express my most earnest interest in the plans there suggested, and shall try to give my hearty co-operation in carrying them out. The work in which we are engaged is either the special work of God for the last days, or it is one of the greatest delusions the world has ever seen. It is one thing or the other. Many around us, no doubt, believe it is the latter. Some in our own midst seem to be undecided which it is. My mind is made up, that it is what it professes to be, a warning message preparatory to the coming of Christ. Who are to be warned by it? “Peoples, nations, tongues, and kings,” the Scripture says. It is not, then, to be done in a corner. It is surely to be a great thing, in the fullest sense. We have been at work about twenty-five years. Our system of theology is well developed. It is plain, reasonable, and consistent, carrying conviction to every mind that will take time to listen to it candidly. Our organization is quite well perfected. It is simple, and well designed to accomplish what we want it to do, and oppressive to none, and republican in its character. Our plan of raising means for the support of the cause has been in operation for years, and works well, and we can safely say it is the best in the world; light and easy upon the poor, and not oppressive upon the rich, and equal in its workings. Our tract societies are getting into successful operation, which are designed to make our people a unit in acting and carrying out the plans which our own chosen leaders shall inaugurate, as well as to see that our tracts, pamphlets, books, and periodicals, are circulated in all directions. Thanks to the wise management of those who have had charge of it, we have, under God, a Publishing Association capable of flooding the land with documents setting forth the reasons of our faith. We have a Health Institute already in working order, and which is doing much good, but should do tenfold more, and will, when it is set upon the basis indicated by Bro. White in the article under consideration. We must have our school, and we shall, with the blessing of God; for this cause is not going backward. For twenty-five years, it has stood up under the bitterest opposition, and it has been gaining in volume, in spite of foes without and unconsecrated influences within. It is not going to stop now. And I rejoice to see steps contemplated which will enlarge its basis and put it in a position to do the work it professes to have in view. The moving of men to Battle Creek is, in itself, an evidence that this work is no common matter. It costs sacrifices to thus take men of influence and means away from their associations, and move them there at a great pecuniary loss. But it should be an evidence to our people that we intend to leave no stone unturned to place this work on a right basis. If right influences do not exist at head-quarters, they must be created, and they will be, too, with God’s blessing. This cause is not going to stop. We greatly regret that cares and labors have broken down Bro. White’s health so that he cannot personally oversee the work at present. It becomes us who have helped to bring him there by our murmuring or holding back or casting a wrong influence, to deeply repent and reform, and no longer stand in such a position. I feel no doubt but God will, in due time, raise up his servant; and, in the meantime, when we miss his help so much, instead of sinking down in discouragement, let us take hold with increased energy. In no other way can we do our duty. If the work goes hard, we must put forth the greater effort. Every important work seems to move slowly at first. So it was with the anti-slavery movement; but the crisis came at last, and the hydra-headed system went down with a crash that shook the nation. The time has fully come when we must broaden our work and get out of our little, half-bushed circle. This message is a world-wide message. Let us act as though we believed it. If things are not right, we must cry aloud and make them right. If abuses exist, we must give them no quarters. If dear friends get in the way of the work of God, they must get out of the way. If somebody’s feelings are hurt, we cannot stop. Souls will be lost by procrastination. We expect murmurers, grumblers, fault-finders, and unbelievers will always exist, as they always have. We must simply tell them we cannot stop, we cannot come down from our important work. The work of God for the last days is committed to our hands as a people; let us attend to it. We must be terribly in earnest. It is no time to talk discouragement or darkness; there will be plenty of both anyway. The ten spies who brought back an evil report gave quite a correct account of the difficulties that stood in the way. Why were they destroyed? Because they discouraged the people. Courage in the Lord, should be our watch-word. We want an intelligent zeal that moves right forward; and if danger confronts it, and darkness envelops it, and trials surround it, it must then be the more active. This fair-weather religion is hardly the thing for these times. This spasmodic zeal, that goes ahead now and then by a sudden dash, to slacken and give up ten times as long, will never do. Let us move forward intelligently, judiciously, but firmly and earnestly. GEO. I. BUTLER. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, July 11, 1873.