BATTLE CREEK by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 9, 1876

BATTLE CREEK.

By James White

Twenty-one years since the Review and Herald press was moved from Rochester, N. Y., to Battle Creek, Mich. Here we have battled for truth, and the manifestation of true and undefiled religion among our people for more than a score of years. Here we have witnessed the growth of our publishing work with deepest interest. Here we have seen the establishment of our Health Institute and the planting of our first College. And we are happy to record that prosperity attends all these institutions.

At Battle Creek there is a large membership with whom we have during the last seven months enjoyed the happiest days of the past twenty-one years. We have never enjoyed so great freedom in preaching the word to this people or to any other, as to the Battle Creek church since our return from California last April. This church has had trials, and has made mistakes. But having acknowledged those wrongs, and having entered into a most solemn covenant to stand unitedly for the right, the blessing of God has been returning, and last Sabbath morning was the best and happiest service we have ever enjoyed with this people.

The Battle Creek College was never as prosperous as at the present term. There are about one hundred and fifty students in attendance. And we shall be disappointed if this number be not increased to two hundred and fifty for the winter term. There should be a class of not less than one hundred at the Biblical Lectures the next term. Eld. Smith is eminently qualified for this important work. All our State Conferences should be represented in his classes by those who have the ministry in view.

The Battle Creek Health Institute is poor from bad management, so bad that we have refused to be a director the past two years; but with the change of physicians we have taken hold again with perfect confidence that the Institute will see better days, and rise to the position which God designed that it should occupy in his cause. Our publishing work has not been so seriously affected by unfortunate changes as our other institutions have. This grand institution has been doing its work with prosperity and efficiency.

A prosperous and happy era for our institutions and cause at this post has come. The wonderful blessing of God has come upon his servants and upon his cause in standing fearlessly and firmly for the right, and in dealing with wrong and sin with a prompt and decided hand. And as an act of justice to this church, we here state the fact that nearly all the obstacles which have been thrown in the way of the cause here at head quarters during the past four years and nearly all the disgrace that has been brought upon the cause here during this time have been by those who have come here from other States under the profession of helpers of the cause. If the Battle Creek church failed in the past to stand with those whom God was leading—and no one acquainted with the facts in the case will deny this—then those who fell under the power of Satan so soon after coming to the rescue, and turned their hands to tear down the ones they professed to have come to help, made a terrible failure.

Many things in the past have been very unpleasant and harmful to the cause. And some movements which seemed necessary, and which partook very much of the nature of experiments, have been pretty clearly demonstrated. And the result strongly impresses our mind that the members of the Battle Creek church are entitled to our confidence as fully as those of any other church on the Continent. There was a time when we suffered much from this church. But as the members fully cleared themselves from the wrongs by confession, and as the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon us and the congregation as we have spoken the word of God to the people, our union is stronger to-day than it could have been had we suffered no injustice at the hands of this church.

We would not represent those who came to Battle Creek as helpers, and who made a failure, and now refuse to see, and neglect to acknowledge their wrongs, as correctly representing their brethren in the several States from which they came. And yet, no doubt very many of our brethren in the several States know so little of the trials which Satan presses upon us who stand at head quarters of the cause, that should they come to Battle Creek as helpers in the work here they might fall under the power of Satan, and make greater failures than others have made. But few of our people understand anything of the labors, trials, and sacrifices of the Battle Creek church. And we settle here, after seeing what we have seen, and knowing what we do know, that there is more practical experience, power of endurance, and real moral reliability, in the Battle Creek church than can be found in the same number of persons composing whole churches in any of the States. Some will say that we state this matter in too strong and decided terms. They may be correct. They doubtless think they are. But should they pass through what we have, they might view this matter as we do. This, however, we may safely say, that as things have been working out for a few years past, complaints come with an ill grace from the other States against the Battle Creek church, which has redeemed the past, and is now coming up to the help of the Lord.

The good news of prosperity and freedom at the very heart of the work will send a thrill of joy through the entire body. God is working for our cause here and elsewhere gloriously; and our weary heart revives, and our spirit is triumphant in the mighty God of Jacob.

We soon leave this dear people to return to the Pacific Coast, where we shall probably remain over two winters. The Lord sent us to Battle Creek in early spring last; he has been with us in power on the complete circuit of the camp-meetings east of the Rocky Mountains, and has given us the strongest consolations of his grace and power while laboring to set things in order at head quarters. We have labored as never before, even in our more youthful strength, and are in better health and heart to labor than at any time during the past ten years. God has wonderfully sustained us under a tremendous pressure of care and toil at Battle Creek, and we feel that we honor God and do justice to this dear people in the foregoing frank statements.

Mrs. W. and the writer are growing old, and without special advantages and care from our people, it would be preposterous for us to undertake the round of all our camp-meetings for 1877. And as we are well aware that but very few of our people have a just idea of the strain of care and of labor of one-third of the whole year in camp-meetings at our age of life, we decide to rest from this kind of labor one year, and if it please God, we hope to visit the camp-meetings for 1878, refreshed by the Pacific climate and that rest which change gives. And as we are about to leave the seat of battle, these words press themselves up from the depths of the soul, “If I forget thee,” O Battle Creek! Here we have spent twenty-one years of the very strength of life. Here we have fallen low beneath the pining stroke of disease. Here we have felt the slight and oppression of those we loved. Here the hand of God has lifted us up. Here we have known the joys of forgiving and being forgiven. And here we have felt that inexpressible satisfaction and holy, confiding joy that is the fruit of divine grace, which more than heals, in our feelings at least, all the errors and sorrows of the past. God bless the church at Battle Creek. J. W.