Revival and Reformation at South Lancaster

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 22, 1914

Revival and Reformation at South Lancaster

THE last meeting of a series which continued for ten days with the church at South Lancaster, was held on Sabbath afternoon, January 3. From the very beginning these meetings were of an entirely unusual character. While there was freedom from excitement and impulsiveness, a deep sense of God's presence and of the demands of the times in which we are living rested upon those present. These were indeed solemn assemblies. Conviction took possession of strong men who had stood unmoved for years. Heartfelt confessions were made, with corresponding reformations in the life.

One backslider who for ten years had refused to bow and offer prayer to God, and who had fully determined to give himself to this world and his business, was reclaimed. He has made wrongs right as far as is in his power, and the Spirit of God has come into his life and home. He and his wife have dedicated themselves and all their possessions to God. It is an inspiration to hear the testimony of this man.

Another brother, who was once a laborer in the cause, but who, through offense and discouragements, had given up all hope of eternal life, refused to attend religious meetings, and said he wanted nothing further to do with Seventh-day Adventists, was sought out and invited to "come and see." He came to the meeting. At the first service he appeared to feel out of place, but at the next one the Spirit of God rested upon him, as with tears and a broken and contrite spirit he made his confession.

It is difficult to explain these meetings; they were so much out of the ordinary. The work done went deep, and was not of a superficial nature. The victories gained carried with them in a peculiar sense the assurance of permanency.

At one of the closing meetings, fully thirty confessed their unfaithfulness in the payment of tithes. When the question was asked in regard to how many were neglecting to live up to the best light they had on the principles of health and felt under conviction because of it, and wished to confess and make reform, scores arose. It was a heart-searching time. Every one went about the work of sweeping the rubbish from the heart in a calm, deliberate, and businesslike manner. Considerable house-to-house labor was done, and prayers were offered for the physically and spiritually afflicted in these homes.

At the young people's consecration meeting on Sabbath afternoon, when the invitation was extended for those who desired the baptism of the Holy Spirit for service to come forward, almost the entire congregation arose to press toward the altar. Possibly not more than a dozen were left on the back seats. It was a most impressive scene. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was earnestly sought by mothers for patient, cheerful service in their homes; by teachers for efficiency in their teaching. A deep conviction was felt that the time had come for a united forward movement in God's work.

This church is returning to her first love. We shall expect to see her first works. The hearts of parents are in a special manner turning toward their unsaved children. This movement resulted from the giving of the message addressed to the Laodicean church: "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

Night after night this message was dwelt upon. At first the people sat quietly, seeming to feel that this message did not apply in any special sense to them. But as new features were brought out, and the standard of true piety as revealed in the life of Christ was dwelt upon, the feeling came: "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."

It has been demonstrated that there is vitality in this message. We must have a knowledge of ourselves, a knowledge that will lead to contrition of soul, before we shall feel the need of pardon. We must understand our danger, or we shall not flee to the Refuge. This knowledge must come through the message to the Laodicean church, since no man can of himself understand his errors. "We must behold Christ. It is ignorance of him that makes men so uplifted in their own righteousness. When we contemplate his purity and excellence, we shall see our own weakness and poverty and defects as they are. We shall see ourselves lost and hopeless, clad in garments of self-righteousness, like every other

sinner." "At every advance step in Christian experience our repentance will deepen. We shall make the apostle's confession our own: 'I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing,' and 'God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.'"

We are told that "it was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the promised blessing and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and he will finish his work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it." "If we do not place ourselves in an attitude to receive both the former and the latter rain, we shall lose our souls, and the responsibility will lie at our own door."

Everywhere earnest prayers should ascend to God for the baptism of the Spirit. A new and richer experience awaits the praying ones. R. D. QUINN, D. H. KRESS, K. C. RUSSELL, H. C. HARTWELL.