Battle Creek by U. S.

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 7, 1875

Battle Creek.

By U. S.

(Copied from the Review and Herald.)

LEAVING the N. Y. Camp-ground Monday evening, Sept. 13, in company with Bro. and sister White, we reached Battle Creek, Tuesday, the 15th. As Bro. and sister W. designed to leave for California on the 16th, they had only 48 hours to spend there, but had about two weeks' business in connection with the institutions at Battle Creek to accomplish in that time. This did not promise them much rest preparatory to their long journey to California.

But an interest soon arose overshadowing in importance all business considerations, and that was the spiritual condition of the church. Meetings were held Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and the interest had then arisen to such a degree that Bro. and sister W. felt unwilling to leave it. They therefore concluded to remain over Sabbath and take the cars the evening following.

For the benefit of the young, some of whom were falling into the snare of the devil, the effort was especially directed. Some of the church felt the importance of making the most of this timely visit of the servants of the Lord, having once more the benefit of their experience and labors before their long absence on the Pacific Coast, and took hold to second their efforts. The Spirit of God was present to help. The hearts of the young were powerfully wrought upon. Many who had never made a profession, and for some of whom but little hope could be entertained, so wayward were the tendencies they manifested, made a move. The servants of the Lord were led out in exhortations as powerful and labors as earnest as any we have ever heard or witnessed. It was a visitation of the Spirit such as any people are rarely blessed with.

Meetings were held Thursday evening, Friday morning, the evening commencing the Sabbath, Sabbath morning, forenoon, and afternoon. At the conclusion of the afternoon service, twenty-three were baptized by Bro. W. in the Kalamazoo, which has witnessed so many scenes of this kind, yet none so remarkable as this. With but few exceptions, the ages of those baptized ranged from 12 to 17. This was an astonishing result to reach in so short a time. Yet we believe a genuine commencement of the work has been made, which may be cultivated to permanent and most happy results.

A responsibility is thrown upon the church which we hope will be realized by them. These lambs of the flock are to be cared for and taught self-reliance and an individual experience in the Christian life. They are now in a position to be led forward to positions of stability and usefulness in this work. We pray that this duty may not be neglected.

The experience of the past few months in B. C. can but have opened the blindest eyes to the fearful effects of the spirit of recklessness, insubordination, and complaint and murmuring against those who are bearing the responsibilities of the cause, which has prevailed with some. Such a spirit very easily affects and leavens the whole mass, and especially the young. Some are fully aroused to the evil of this thing, and fired with a determination that in the fort at Battle Creek it shall hereafter find no quarter.

No further evidence could be needed that God is with his servants. Only with his help could they endure such intense and unremitting labors as those to which they willingly and cheerfully subject themselves in behalf of the cause of truth and perishing souls. Only with his help could they labor with such power and such marked success. Yes, God is with them; and this fact ought to shame the murmurer and caviler out of his nefarious work. Yet with all this evidence there are some who seem to think, or act as though they thought, that the cause would not be safe unless they watched these veterans in the message, to criticize, object, and steady them in their labors. And some will hold themselves aloof from the cause for fear that they will, contrary to both theory and experience, have too much power in their hands. We wait to see on the part of these some such work of the Lord as we see in the hands of Bro. and sister W. We want to see them laboring with such zeal for the good of souls, to rescue and build up the cause. And we want to see such marked operations of the Spirit of God in connection with their labors as we have just witnessed in Battle Creek. But significantly enough, these things do not appear on that side of the house. It will be well for us to look facts in the face, and take our stand as those who have some idea of what pertains to the spirit and work of true Christianity. U. S.