THE CAUSE IN THE WEST—INFORMATION WANTED.
By J. H. Waggoner
Bro. Smith:—I have lately seen a statement by Solomon Myers, of Plum River, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., in which he quotes from an article by Bro. White in regard to the former prosperity of the cause in the West, and its more recent decline, wherein Bro. White attributes the decline to the influence of the Age to Come. Mr. Myers says: “Our brethren West need no reply to such a statement, but those in the East, who are not acquainted with facts, may need to have the statement corrected. Through the agency of a number of Western lecturing brethren, a goodly interest had been awakened, and a spirit of investigation was generally manifested. Our brethren living West, then invited some of our Eastern brethren to come and labor with them, and be co-workers with them in the great harvest. But to our astonishment, when they came, they came not as equals and co-workers, but claimed to be guides and leaders; and we must receive their interpretation and peculiar views. Such movements so prejudiced the people, and discouraged the brethren, that it became necessary for the Western brethren to take decided measures with reference to such things: hence the necessity for the call for these Conferences last Fall in Wis., and the result has proved that they were not called too soon. Now for J. W. to charge the distraction and discouragements that the advocates of present truth have met with in the West, to Age to Come views, is very painful; and we hope that upon mature deliberation, he will acknowledge his faults and make no more such extravagant statements.” I must express my astonishment that any person should make such a statement as the above by Mr. M. I have been somewhat acquainted with the progress of the cause of the Third Angel’s Message in the West (and this is the cause of which Bro. White spoke) from an early date up to the present time; probably better than Solomon Myers or his informants. I say his informants, because I am unwilling to believe that he would willfully misrepresent things, and therefore conclude that he has been misinformed in regard to them. But I am anxious to ascertain where the error lies, and before I make any statement of my own concerning the cause in the West, I call upon Mr. Myers to state definitely what place or places he refers to where the interest has been awakened by the labors of Western lecturing brethren, who the Western brethren were by whom the interest had been awakened, who the Eastern brethren were that caused the prejudice and discouragement, and what “peculiar views,” the Eastern brethren tried to press upon them which the Western lecturing brethren did not believe. If his statements are true, I want to know it; and I shall wait a while to have this matter explained by the one who has tried to raise the fog, before I speak what I know. J. H. WAGGONER.
Tyrone, Mich., May 5th, 1856.