CAUSE IN THE WEST by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 20, 1858

CAUSE IN THE WEST.

By James White

(Concluded.)

THIS leads to the consideration of another evil in the West, the past and present influence of which is like the pall of death wherever it is felt. We refer to the prevailing practice of owning too much land. This evil has been increased and strengthened by some who have moved from the East to the West. It was generally supposed that the brethren who moved West were actuated by a desire to serve God and his truth, and that their removal was but an effort to change their condition so that they could do more for the cause, and hold up the light to those who were in darkness. But what was our surprise and disappointment to see some of them either purchasing large farms, or else engaging in the most usurious practices in their worldly deal. The "warning" in a late number of the REVIEW will give some idea of the extent of these evils; but on some points they have scarcely been touched. And it is evidently the duty of some who have moved West, to acknowledge and confess their wrongs of close, penurious dealing, to remove the reproach which has been brought upon the cause. When men profess to resign the world and all its lusts to prepare to meet our coming King, and yet in the common transactions of life banter and cavil for the last penny, to buy at the cheapest rate, and sell at extortionate prices, to get gain and add to their earthly treasures, their course should be promptly rebuked and exposed, if they will not desist from their unrighteous ways. We have great reason to regret the want of consecration and of a spirit of sacrifice on the part of the believers in the West; but those moving from the East were looked to as examples in faith and practice, and with justice, too, as they had long enjoyed the light of the truth where its power had been wonderfully manifested, and the warnings and exhortations they received on going West were expected to have a salutary effect upon their lives. We are happy to know that these remarks will not apply to all who have thus changed their locations: some who have moved from the East are now striving to live out the truth; and may the Lord bless and direct their efforts to his own glory.

But the fact remains, and it is a general evil, too, that believers in the West, according to their means, own too much land. Many of them really suppose that they have not an acre too much; but they judge by a worldly standard, being guided by the practice of their neighbors who have not a faith and a hope like ours. In some cases the father owns to bestow on his children, thus bringing his faith down to their standard, and proving to them that he is not fully satisfied that the Lord will come and deprive them of its possession. In some cases the expectations of the children are placed on the land, and he dare not sell for fear of trouble; thus showing that he is not a follower of the faith of Abraham, who left all and commanded "his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord." Suppose we hold a conversation with some believing farmer; the result is likely to be about as follows:

A farmer must own a farm; without it he would be no farmer, raise no grain, and have no home for his family, or for a friend or brother on his way to and fro. All right, of course. "But tell us, brother Farmer, when a brother calls and stays with you, do you give him something to pay his Railroad fare, or to pay for his dinner when he stops among unbelievers?"

F. "Yes, if I have it. But times are hard, and grain is low, and it takes all I can spare to clothe my family. As for money, it is all I can do to pay my taxes. I owe on the Review, but hope to be able to pay it by and by."

"Taxes must be paid. How much land do you pay taxes on?"

F. "Eighty acres here and ten acres of timber." (The first item is often doubled.)

"How many acres do you cultivate?"

"I have forty acres improved." (This proportion is full large for men of limited means.)

"Now brother, look here. You believe the Lord is soon coming; you owe for your paper, and can do nothing for the cause. Your family is often deprived of the necessaries of life; it is hard work for you to pay your taxes, and if a preacher calls on you, perhaps he leaves without the means of getting to his next appointment, and yet you are paying taxes on forty (perhaps eighty or a hundred and twenty) acres of land that you never expect to use, and are deprived, yes, forever deprived of the use of the value of those uncultivated acres. Why do you not sell them?"

We shall not attempt to give the answer to this; for we know it would not be given without hesitation; and if he really knows his motive for keeping them, we fear the answer would be an evasion instead of a reason.

To show that we do not misapprehend the matter we will relate the facts of a case that came under our notice. A farmer professing the truth owned a farm of a hundred and sixty acres in Wisconsin. On the end of the uncultivated part a neighbor wished to buy twenty acres, which was the poorest part of his farm, but its situation made it desirable as an addition to his neighbor's farm. But this man professing a firm faith in the Lord's coming, at a time when the cause needed help, knowing that he could never cultivate all his land, refused to sell twenty acres for money, but would exchange it for twenty acres of richer soil joining another part of his farm! His reason was, that he did not wish to decrease the number of acres, as a hundred and sixty was small enough for a good farm, which, of course, was no reason at all. What we can actually use is what we actually want.

"If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him?" Surely Satan triumphs. The deception is complete. Our master would not swerve from duty for all the world and all its honors; these jeopardize their eternal interests for a very small part of it. Nothing but zeal and repentance will save them from the dreadful fate of being spued out of the mouth of the Lord.

The question has been asked, Will there be a tent in Wisconsin this season? We do not think it at all probable. Unless they who have the ability to do something in that State, will take hold of the work and carry it on, we do not think such an enterprise can be sustained. Many in Wisconsin say they are, and have been, neglected; that the cause has been suffered to die out there for want of attention; while Michigan and some other States have more than a fair proportion of ministerial help. The consideration of a few facts may be profitable to such.

The cause in Michigan has been sustained by the sacrifice of some of the best farms in the State. Brethren were not content to bestow what they did not need, and retain for the world all they could use, but their entire possessions were sold and put into the cause. This was deemed fanaticism by some; but it is the kind of fanaticism that Christ and the apostles taught, that the primitive church practised, that will glorify God, advance his cause, and secure salvation. It is grievous in the extreme to hear brethren lament the low state of the cause in their neighborhood, and then talk of the folly of those who have sacrificed all for Christ. Those who give all for the truth may be counted fools here, but the following scriptures will show the company they belong to. Mark x, 29, 30; Heb. x, 33, 34; xi, 35, 37.

Again, the truth was first sent to Wisconsin by the friends in Michigan, and they have, to a great extent, sustained it there since, while it was sustained at all. A great many books have been purchased in this State, and sent there and circulated free, while the expenses of those who carried them were mostly paid here also. It has yet to be shown that a laborer can go there and devote himself energetically to the cause, going from place to place as the work demands, and have his expenses paid. How the cause can prosper so is a mystery. We verily believe God is ready to work, and will work for the West. But there must be a rising on the part of those that believe or the crown will be given to others who will bring forth the fruits of the kingdom.

Many really think that money cannot be raised on property in Wisconsin as it can be in Michigan. But facts prove the contrary. For selfish and worldly purposes very large sums of money are raised there. Within a few years there have been more miles of Railroad laid in that State, and the lines put in operation than the whole number now in operation in Michigan; and much of the money has been raised on the credit of the farmers. Some professed Advent believers have taken R. R. stock, by mortgage on their farms, for sums of from $500 to $1500. On these mortgages the money has been raised by which the roads have been constructed. "But R. R. stock is at a great discount." Yes, and so it will remain with all honest and sensible people. And how can it be otherwise? The mortgages are sold far below their face value. This shows that men are willing to risk their property in a speculation on a great shave; but are generally unwilling to "take a little stock in heaven" unless their possessions here can be thrown in at the highest value. Whether the pledge of a R. R. Company is better security than the word of God the "time of trouble" will determine.

There is no part of the country in which we feel a deeper interest than in Wisconsin; and every indication of a better state of things there we hail with joy. But we are well satisfied that the truths we speak must be appreciated and acted upon before the cause can prosper there. God will have a willing, a consecrated, a self-sacrificing people. "The great decisive day is at hand." It is too late to hold the truth in unrighteousness: to be satisfied with the theory without having it affect the heart. It must renovate and transform our whole being, or it will not preserve us from the tempter's snare, or shield us in the day of wrath.

We hope the waiting, scattered ones, who are "sighing and crying for the abominations done in the land," will steadily hold on to the promises, assured that they will soon see the salvation of God, and reap a rich reward if they faint not. And we hope the church at large will begin to earnestly pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into the harvest, for the harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. May fervent, effectual prayers be offered to that end. J. H. W.