p. 189 | Committee Men by J. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 16, 1865

Committee Men.

By J. Clarke

WHEN you speak of committees and their labors, you are probably thinking it not very important as to who they are, or what they do.

Committees are generally chosen to arrange plans, to investigate causes, to mature unripe schemes, to forward business arrangements, to settle perplexing questions, or to take charge of business matters.

Political, legislative, religious, scientific, educational, and financial bodies of men, throw the most arduous and difficult labors upon committees, often clothing them with ample powers.

In our public buildings in Washington, are many committee rooms where the most important business for the country is transacted, and perplexing cases are put in shape for legislation.

In the committee rooms of the Bank of England, decisions are often made, affecting in a greater or less degree, the interests of towns, cities, states, and even empires.

When you choose, or appoint men to act as committees, you seek plain, candid, intelligent men, who are well posted upon those matters about which they are expected to deliberate, and you feel a sense of relief when you have committed your case to a committee, upon whose judgment you rely.

The great work of reform now in progress in the movement of the S. D. A. church, is much of it intrusted to committees: General Conference, and State Conference committees, whose duties are extensive, laborious, and responsible.

Sometimes a committee may labor (in the fire, as it were) in the midst of opposing elements counteracting evil influences which have become serious hindrances to the cause, and silently removing obstructions, so that the car of reform may move on, and seem apparently to do nothing; at least it appears so to those who do not look carefully and consider what they affirm.

But your committee men must be patient, devoted to the cause, willing to suffer reproach, looking to Him who takes note of every hour, every tear, every pang, every prayer, devoted to the cause of God.

When you would build upon the margin of a lake or stream, you drive spiles into the ground, and there completely buried out of sight, they humbly perform an important part. Even so must some labor, content to stand firm, immovable, even doing much with the gratitude of but few. But thank God, their work is registered in his book. J. CLARKE.

Portage, Ohio.