It Is 'Too Bad! by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 30, 1858

It Is 'Too Bad!

By James White

What is too bad? Well, there are many things which may be said to be too bad: but we wish to refer to the case of some who rob their brethren of a chance to speak in social meetings, by spinning out a long, dry story, which is not in harmony with the spirit of the meeting, and which is so tedious that it is tires every body, wearies the Lord, and grieves good angels. Imagine the feelings of one who has the charge of a meeting, who has come a long, wearisome journey to try to help the dear saints, who sees by his watch that there are but twenty-five minutes of the precious time for social meeting left, and there are thirty who want to speak, who would speak, but alas! some brother gets up and talks and talks—time flies—many warm-hearted souls want to speak a half a minute each—and the brother talks on and on. What a relief it would be to say amen at the close of his painful story, but he talks on. Now we wish to enter our protest against such testimonies, especially in our conferences, where many must speak, if they speak at all, in a very limited time.

Those who love the cause, love their brethren as themselves, and wish to see them benefited and blessed, will give them as much precious time as they take themselves. A general conference is no place to give long, made-up testimonies, or go back twenty years in experience and come all the way down, giving the particulars. Not come to meeting with your heart warm with a daily experience, and in humility and simplicity say a few words from the warmest spot in your heart, and stop when you have got through, and give place to that brother or sister who longs to speak and be refreshed. If humility reigns in the heart, there will be no danger of fanaticism. If the heart is subdued by grace, Jesus will keep it. We are not speaking of an outside humility, but that which exists in the heart. A voluntary humility is classed by the Apostle with will-worship. God save us from it! A truly humble spirit will rejoice when the servant of the Lord shall "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." The true spirit of the gospel will be in perfect harmony with the order of the gospel. Amen. J. W.