Untitled article by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 22, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 12.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. No. 2.

By Editor

THE fickle Eastern weather has treated us to all kinds at its disposal, and has presented a large variety. Zero weather, and warm days; beautiful sunshine, and dark clouds; heavy snow, and warm rain, even to an electric storm, thunder, and lightning. Streets frozen yesterday, and wet and slushy to-day. One day plowing through snow, and the next wading through water.

But the weather has not been indicative of our conference. There has been no excitement, no turmoil; and only occasionally has come in a spirit of debate, soon to be suppressed by some gentle, persuasive remonstrance and the sweet spirit of Christian courtesy and brotherly love. Strong, true things have been said, but strong things do not always make the most noise. The great surge of the sea distributes its millions of tons force along the miles of sea beach with scarcely a sound. Silently the moon lifts the tides in their billions of tons; no noise is heard. The mighty forces of silent life are continually lifting and developing untold organisms in the plant and animal world. God by the mighty power of His Word holds on their course through the ages the innumerable spheres of light, with their attendant satellites, but we hear no voice.

So God works among His people. The mightiest battles are fought to a finish, not with sword, or shot, or shell, or shrapnel; not with loud words and heated gesticulation, but in the silent recesses of the soul. The great battles of character are waged within the heart when principles do battle, when the forces of Good and Evil, Christ and Belial, Right and Wrong, strive for the mastery. Blessed is the soul that takes his stand under the banner of Him who has not only inherited but won the right to be King. Blessed is he, tho he be only able to flee from the avenging enemy and cast himself, all weary, torn, and bleeding, and utterly hopeless in himself, at the feet of that mighty Conqueror, to clasp in his arms the staff above which floats the banner of deliverance and righteousness.

The battles in this conference, the pivot upon which its decisions have turned, have been largely of principles. Sometimes the more obvious fact has hidden the mightier principle. Precedence has been inclined to point still the older, harder way, and prejudice has closed with imaginable briars and thorns and difficulties the brighter, better way of God. But grand, commendable progress has been made, for which all praise God and take courage.

The one central thought of the teaching of this conference has been oneness with God, with God that ONE; God the great center, from whom flows, in never-ceasing tides of life, goodness and mercy and power. Men have looked upon the glory of God, and seen Him in His majesty, His glory, and His love, and, broken in heart and contrite in spirit, they have welcomed Him, we trust forever, as an abiding life and power.

Thus seeing and knowing in themselves God's power, men see His power in everything. Through the food which He supplies God gives to His children His life day by day. It is their privilege, nay, their life to so receive it. True health reform looks beyond the mere natural thing. All that it desires to know as regards that thing is, Has God appointed it for food? If so, faith takes it and appropriates it as one of the means by which God pours out His life to His children. "Eat ye that which is good; and let your soul delight itself in fatness."

Union with God means union with each other. Union with God means love to God. Union with God means love for souls, for whom Christ died; and therefore a deep missionary spirit has pervaded the conference. The delegates were not wealthy men, but in a short time one day, with no excitement, or attempt to "work up" a meeting, over $3,000 was raised, which was supplemented by a gift of $5,000 by a single individual. All this was a special donation for the Australasian field. Other parts of the world will receive attention later.

Unity with God, God the Teacher and the Power, has been the keynote of the educational question. The great center of life, of power, of knowledge, is God; knowing God is not a knowing of God; it is knowing His power in one's own life; it is lifting one out of sin and above it; it is bringing one into harmony with God; it is partaking of the divine nature, drinking in His life. It is educating in principle, the molding power, not in dead apparent facts.

All parts of the work have been considered in general, officers of various boards elected, and definite steps taken in different directions. These will be given in another column.

The chief instructors of the meeting have been the following: A. T. Jones, editor Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.; Prof. W. W. Prescott and Dr. E. J. Waggoner, of London, England; Mrs. S. M. I. Henry, Drs. J. H. Kellogg, and D. Kress, and other persons. The preaching of Brethren Brunson and Ballenger has been greatly appreciated and uplifting.

The conference has been a glorious success. Will the delegates maintain the glorious victories gained, the progress made, by winning still other victories, making still more progress? Only so will the ground be held. If there is no advance, there is retrogression. If we halt, God's advancing column goes on before.