Communication from Bro. Phelps.
By W. Phelps
Bro. Smith: It has been a long time since I have written anything for the Review, and I have felt for some time past like writing a few words that the brethren may hear from me once more, and especially my old friends in the present truth, with whom I formed a happy acquaintance years ago. And having seen my name recently mentioned in the Review, and learning from that that the brethren have not understood the facts altogether as they exist in relation to my leaving the field, it makes me feel the more like speaking a few words and saying that it has not been altogether through discouragement that I have left the field. Let me give a little of my experience in the cause of present truth. I with a few others embraced the present truth in the Spring of 1851, when Bro. Case took his first tour to Wisconsin. I directly commenced preaching those precious truths contained in the Third Angel's Message, and commenced traveling in the Winter following. It is well known that the friends of the cause in the West at that time were few and far between. I traveled on foot until I was so worn down with traveling and preaching, that I could travel on foot no longer; then through the assistance of kind friends, I obtained a horse and buggy and traveled with that and preached until I was taken with bleeding at the lungs, and my health became so impaired that I was obliged to leave the field entirely, and having a large family, and no home for them in this world, I commenced laboring with my hands when I could do but two or three hours' work in a day, to obtain a home and subsistence for them, and my health has been gradually improving. But my lungs are much impaired yet. I have not preached but very little for two years, but I have so far recovered my health that I think I could now enter the field once more. I would here say that since seeing the course of Stephenson and Reed, I have felt my zeal increasing for the Third Angel's Message. I feel it is high time for every lover of truth to be up and doing, and trying to counteract the work of death that is going on in Wisconsin by those who have made shipwreck of their own faith, and are trying to overthrow the faith of others. In some few instances they have succeeded in turning some from the holy commandment, and persuaded them to transgress God's divine Law. It shows they have a carnal mind which is not subject to God's Law, neither indeed can be. It proves they are enemies of God. O what an account they will have to give. I feel like confessing all my faults and consecrating all to God and entering the field anew to spend and be spent in defense of the truth. I would here state that the time has been when I had confidence in Hall, Stephenson and Reed, and sympathized with some of their views; but I have lost all confidence in them, and do not know of but very few in Wisconsin that have any confidence in them as ministers of the gospel. How can they, while they ever have been changing their views, until they have finally ignored the most sacred obligation which men can be under to their Creator, their obedience to the Ten Commandments. The first step to all this has been in denying the gifts of the Spirit, promised by the great Head of the church. Mark xvi, 17, 18; 1 Cor. xii, 7-10; James v, 14, 15. The next step was to deny the movement of 1843-4 as being a fulfillment of the judgment hour cry of Rev. xiv, 6, 7. Then of necessity they must deny the present application of the Third Angel's Message; and when they had gone thus far, who could expect they would stop short of taking one step more, and abandoning the Sabbath, and going over to the enemies of the Lord. O how dangerous to deny the work of the Lord, lest he should leave us to wander in the dark and be destroyed by the enemy. Lord save the remnant of thy people. My heart sickens when I look over the fields of labor where the messengers of the Lord have worn themselves nearly out in getting the present truth before the people, and so many have rejoiced in the present truth, and see the precious cause nearly a wreck. I have no sympathy for any view that militates against the Third Message, and feel to ask God to forgive me wherever my influence has operated against it, for I have no hope out of it. I think the prospect is better for good to be done in Wisconsin now than it has been for two years past. This State is a great field of labor, and there are many honest souls in it that would obey the truth if they had a chance to hear; but how can they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? Rom. x, 14, 15. I hope every lover of truth in Wisconsin will feel the responsibility that God has laid on them, and move with the message, and come up to the standard of truth. O how necessary that we have self and all upon the altar, and try to become an acceptable sacrifice to God, that we may be found of him in peace when he comes. In hope of eternal life when Christ comes. Hebron, Wis., Feb. 26th, 1858.