EAST AND WEST—PAST AND PRESENT.
By Joseph H. Waggoner
Though I accepted all that Bro. White wrote during his sojourn in Colorado, on “Broader Plans,” I must confess I was one of those who had some doubts of the expediency of starting the SIGNS OF THE TIMES in California at the time it was started. But all such doubts have long since been dispelled, and I must confess to the wisdom of the faith with which it was undertaken. It was truly a work of faith, and in the undertaking, Bro. White showed that, not only in plans, but in execution, he was taking in the future wants of the cause, while we doubters had our vision circumscribed by the narrow limits of the present. The year preceding that just passed was not a bright one for California. Many in the churches in that State had fallen into habits of doubting and fault-finding, and this spirit largely leavened the camp-meeting of 1875. This threw discouragement on the servants of God, and they were greatly crippled in their labors. Those who truly loved the cause were made to mourn; and the fear was freely expressed that the SIGNS would go down. This was the condition of things when Bro. White was called East, in the spring of 1876. At the meeting of the Pacific Publishing Association of that year, I improved the opportunity to present some facts given by the publishers of other religious weeklies showing the amount and kind of patronage needed to make them self-sustaining. All could readily see that the SIGNS could hope for only a tithe of that amount, rejecting advertisements also, for several years. But I did not regard the case as hopeless, and felt free to say that if they would cordially second Bro. White’s efforts, and thereby secure his continued interest in the SIGNS, he would bring it through successfully. A close acquaintance with him and with his work for over twenty years gave me confidence to speak thus. And the event has shown that this confidence was not misplaced. The friends took hold of the work anew, the grumblers were converted or weeded out, and the light of Heaven shone upon the churches. Willie C. White had, almost from a child, entered into the counsels of his father, and was, better than any other, enabled to carry out the plans of his father. He was called to the charge of the Office, and by efforts and a consecration to the work very rarely found with one of his age, he kept the paper up until the return of Bro. White in the fall. And at the last spring meeting, the friends of the cause were agreeably disappointed to learn that the SIGNS Office was actually paying up its past indebtedness. Such a result, under such circumstances, cannot be shown by any other office in the land, and gives assurance, not only that great financial skill has been manifested in the work, but that the hand of God is in the work, and his blessing is with those who walk in his counsel, for without this such a result could never have been reached. How far we, as a people, have learned the lesson of the past, time will show. We have constantly stood trembling lest those called to lead out in the work would move in advance of the openings of Providence. But when we consider the progress of the cause East and West, the wide field of the Southern States waiting to be improved, the calls among the Swedes and Danes in our own land and in Europe, the progress of the cause in Switzerland, France, and Germany, the increasing demands of the Health Institute, the growing importance of our camp-meetings, etc., we must confess that it will take breadth of plan and more than human energy and wisdom to keep up with the openings of Providence. Our Tract and Missionary Societies are doing a great work. In another direction the Biblical Institutes are doing a work equally great. That lately held in California did more to develop and call into activity the resources of the cause than could have been done by months or years of ordinary labor. The manifest blessing of Heaven attending the closing exercises did much to strengthen confidence in the cause, and to bind together the hearts of those who there consecrated themselves to the work. Such an Institute is needed in every State. I most heartily indorse the suggestion of Bro. White that a paper will be needed in the very near future in the Shenandoah Valley or some other eligible place in the Southern States. And we have no time to spare. Perhaps it is because we are learning the lesson of the past, but it certainly seems that the call is as urgent (if not more so) to establish a press in the South or South-east, as it was a few years ago to establish one in California. Happily the number of laborers is being greatly multiplied. But it will be found necessary for all these to drink in the spirit of “broader plans,” and to stand ready ever heartily to second the efforts of those who are called of God to lay these plans and to lead out in their execution. I feel the most firm assurance that the time is not very far distant when Bro. and Sr. White will be called to visit Europe, to meet the wants of the growing cause there. “The field is the world.” And it is white to the harvest in every direction. We need faith, earnestness, and complete union in purpose and action, and success will crown our efforts. The third angel will speak “with a loud voice” as sure as the words of inspiration are truth. And may the Lord hasten the day, and grant us all a part and place in the work.