THE CAUSE IN NEW YORK by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 18, 1878

THE CAUSE IN NEW YORK.

By S. N. Haskell

APPARENTLY the cause is brightening in this State. The Biblical Institute held at Rome has developed a class of young men who design to give themselves to the promulgation of the truth. I arrived at Rome, Tuesday, April 2, and remained there until the close of the Institute. At a special meeting called for this purpose, twelve young men manifested a desire to give themselves to the work of God. It was evident, upon consultation, that four new tents were needed to meet the necessities of the cause, in addition to the six already in the field, thus giving them ten for the present season. Bro. Saunders spoke for Pennsylvania, stating that the brethren in that State would purchase one tent, and he thought two, providing they could be run in those sections of Pennsylvania where there was a call to hear on present truth. This was freely consented to by the President of the Conference. Bro. E. S. Lane spoke in the same manner for his district, as did also Bro. Foy and Wm. H. Brown for theirs. Hence it was decided that the tents could be purchased without taking any systematic benevolence funds. This is as it should be, as this fund is insufficient to support the ministers now laboring in the State.

There are many openings for the living preacher in different parts of the Conference, as the result of past missionary efforts. One danger in some localities in New York will be in flattering young ministers and expressing a feeling that they are having a hard time, etc. when really they are not doing more than one-half or one-third the labor which has been performed by the pioneers in the cause, who have labored more than a quarter of a century, year after year, with scarcely a day of rest. Bro. Smith gives two lectures a day, of one hour and a half each, including the time occupied in asking questions. He also devotes another hour and a half to rhetorical and grammatical exercises and giving such information as is invaluable to young preachers, besides keeping up his weekly correspondence for the REVIEW; yet he expresses no fears, and gives no special indications, of breaking down, and calls for no sympathy on that score. Others of our ministers have traveled thousands of miles during the past eight months, held not less than seven meetings every week, in some cases three meetings each day five days in the week, and they are in as good condition for labor as before. Preaching once each evening during the week and twice upon Sabbath and first-day leaves much time for visiting and study, without any danger of breaking down on the part of any able-bodied young man.

The labors of Bro. and Sr. White, year after year, without taking scarcely a day of rest, should be an example to young ministers. If we are inspired with a love of the truth and of the work in which we are engaged, it will elevate the mind and prove an antidote for bodily infirmities. It is better to show a few signs of wear than to show rust. In New York, much, at the present time, depends upon the young men who are already engaged in the cause, and those just entering the work. The finances in this Conference are not in as good condition as in some others. But there is a disposition on the part of most of the brethren and sisters to come up. We hope for better days for New York.

S. N. Haskell.