THE WORK AT BATTLE CREEK.
By James White
At no period in the brief history of our work in this city, has there been as lively an interest as at the present time. The labor put forth about the time of the General Conference last November, proved salutary and its influence has been felt up to the present time, in our College, at the Sanitarium, the office of publication, and in the church generally. The baser sort have tried to take advantage of the plain testimonies, and earnest warnings given to this people, and of the efforts to maintain proper discipline and order in the College. This is what might be expected in the usual course of things. When the work of the Lord revives, Satan and his dupes feel disturbed. If a respectable agent cannot be found, the services of one of the baser sort are accepted. As a good illustration of this point, we notice a dream; whether the gentleman was asleep or awake, the reader may judge. The illustration, however, is a good one. In his dream, he was passing by a church. Upon a gate-post, Satan was sitting sound asleep. Shaking him gently, he inquired, How is this? You have the reputation of being very active in your work, walking to and fro in the earth, seeking whom you may devour; but here you are sound asleep. To this his satanic majesty replied: The people in the church back there are asleep, and the minister is asleep; and I thought it a good time for me to take a nap. The work in the congregation last Sabbath was deep, and we have reason to hope that it will be lasting. The old hands in the church have been pressing their way to the light for months; and freedom is coming into their hearts, and into our meetings. Changes, happy changes, in the condition of things here, are working changes in our plans. God is giving us the ears of the people, great freedom before them, and sweet and heavenly power in prayer. At present, we are very happy in the enjoyment of these precious seasons, with Elders Whitney, Stone, Decker, Corliss, Colcord, Tenney, Lane, and brothers, Covert, Sharp, Owen, Fulton, Burrill, and Smith, who are attending the Tract and Missionary Institute, and also the Professors of Battle Creek College. We are looking forward with lively anticipations of good, to the General Conference, after which we shall probably visit some of the churches in Michigan, before going to Colorado. From that point we shall decide whether to go to the Pacific coast, or to attend some of the camp-meetings. If Mrs. White decides to remain in California, we may spend the summer on the Pacific coast. At present, however, our work at this important post is plain before us. The Tract and Missionary Institute, conducted by Elders Whitney and Stone, is proving a great success; and Eld. Whitney is arranging for classes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Kansas, to follow immediately after the General Conference. The work of the Tract and Missionary Societies, which is the absorbing subject at this time at head-quarters, is second to no other. But little has been done in the past without our publications, and proper missionary work. This is being systematized, and the workers are being educated for their great work. If it be true that our ministers can add nine-tenths to their success by their efforts in properly circulating our periodicals and books; and if it also be true that men and women of a good degree of intelligence can be educated and trained as colporters and missionaries so as to accomplish as much real good as our active ministers, what a force of laborers can be thrown into the field at once through the instrumentality of the Tract and Missionary Institutes which are being held, and which should be held in the future throughout the length and breadth of the land. It is very generally known by our readers, that from the very beginning, the publishing department of the great work has claimed our first attention. To this branch of the work we have given life's best years and strength; and it is with no small satisfaction that we look upon our extensive list of publications, admirably adapted to the wants of our growing cause. We need not say that the systematic effort on the part of thousands of tract and missionary workers, who are preparing to send our publications in different languages to every part of the world, makes our joy nearly complete. We are happy to report more students, and a better state of things at the College, than at any previous winter term. The Sanitarium has a larger patronage also than at any winter previous. And the empty condition of our book-shelves at the publishing house seems truly fearful. Not less than twenty tons of publications have been sent out from this office by mail, express, or as common freight, during the past three months. J. W.