A WORD IN GENERAL by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 25, 1877

A WORD IN GENERAL.

By Uriah Smith

Worcester, Mass., Oct. 19. We left Battle Creek the morning of the 18th, to assist in the Biblical Institute which commences in South Lancaster, Mass., the 20th. That place we reach this afternoon, nothing preventing.

To meet this appointment we were obliged to leave the Office, without making any special provision for the paper, further than is guaranteed by the faithfulness of those left in charge. But they do not consider it their special province to write, and we shall be able to do but little in this direction while the Institute continues. Therefore, if those who are accustomed to write for the Review, especially for the editorial columns, will do a little extra duty in this line, just at this time, it will be considered a special favor.

Our cause has reached so interesting a stage in its progress, there is so much to be reported of what the message is accomplishing through the different agencies already in the field, so much to show the clearness and power of the truth, so much to stir us in the movements of the nations, and the general aspect of the world in this closing prophetic era, that there is not much danger that any number of the Review will in these times be dull and uninteresting. But where by special effort additional vigor, and freshness, and strength, and power to impress, can be worked in, that we want, so that the whole paper may bristle in every line with sharp points for the truth, and glitter like a casket of pearls, with its record of stirring facts, and words of good cheer.

It may not be out of place in this connection to caution some who write for the Progress Department, not to be too lengthy. We do not mean this for those who already write brief reports, but for those who do not. There is power in condensation. Look at that volume of steam which has just issued from the engine. It fills a large space and makes a great show, but it has no power. The wind blows upon it, and it vanishes. But where was it a moment before? Compressed in a little cylinder which one might clasp in his arms. And whereas when expanded in the open air, it has no power, before it was doing the work of a hundred giants.

And when we say, Be brief, we only mean, do not use any unnecessary verbiage to state the facts to be presented. If you have separate interesting facts enough when stated in the most concise and telling manner to fill a column, state them all and fill the column. That report is not half so lengthy as another which uses a quarter of a column of words, and says nothing.

We anticipate an interesting Institute at South Lancaster.

The cause is onward, and is destined to triumph gloriously.

“How vain is all beneath the skies”—that attempts to oppose it. U. S.