Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 87, 1898

Faulkhead, Brother; Salisbury, Brother; Robinson, Brother

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

October 29, 1898

Portions of this letter are published in 3MR 247-248; 9MR 9.

Dear Brethren Faulkhead, Salisbury, and Robinson:

I have words to address to you. Brother Robinson, I received your letter, and read it carefully, and I see by it the spirit that is festering in your mind, and which would keep it in unrest and confusion, because the outlook is not just in accordance with your ideas. I have now some things to give you which were written Jan. 1, 1897. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 1

I have not been able to sleep after one o’clock. Through the night season, the light has been given me that it is not wise to keep ministers in the same locality year after year, that it is not right to keep the president of the conference in one place through a succession of years. His position as president should be carefully considered, and changed as soon as God shall open the way for another to take his place. It is not justice to have the burdens that must come upon the president of any conference placed upon one man year after year, for a condition of things will come into existence that will not be for his good or for the good of the conference. It is in this way that one man’s mind and judgment comes to be thought infallible. The work is in the Lord’s hands, and He will signify to us when He has a man prepared for the place. Until then we may let our minds rest. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 2

The work of God demands different elements. There are dangers connected with the work that all do not comprehend. There is danger that the one who serves will lose sight of the fact that he is only a man, and compassed with infirmities. The man who depends upon his own judgment will be inclined to place confidence in himself. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 3

The Lord has greatly blessed Brother Daniells in his ministry, and now he would have a change made in his location. There are altogether too many things connected with Melbourne that are no strength to Brother Daniells. There are large business interests, which he is not educated to carry, and which it is not his duty to carry. Yet he must act a part in the responsibilities of the methods and plans made. If he could give himself directly and decidedly to the work of preaching, and have his mind free from such a raft of little matters and difficulties as are constantly arising at Melbourne, it would be a great blessing to him. He needs to go where he can unload, and not be made responsible for matters in business lines that others are appointed to attend to. There are men who can do this work. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 4

Brother Michaels, if he will divert himself of himself, can stand as a business manager. Not that he knows all about this work now, but he can work in that line. His work for some time has been very meager as far as bringing to God the best results of his ability is concerned. But God has given him ability to act according to his appointment. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 5

Elder Daniells needs a change of surroundings, but nothing must be done rashly. The Lord sees that Brethren Salisbury and Faulkhead are carrying heavy responsibilities, but He has been and will be their strength. Let everything that is not essential be unloaded from them. Let every man stand in his lot and place. If some things do not appear as favorable as you could wish, do not begin to criticize and accuse, and cut right and left. Give no room for perverted ideas. Go forward in the strength of Israel’s God. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 6

You have felt, my brethren, as though Elder Daniells needed to be criticized. True, he has made mistakes, but if he makes his failures his victories, he will lose nothing. Just as long as he is connected with the Melbourne office, you will feel that his ideas and suggestions are essential. He does not always know when it is best to keep silent, and when it is safe to speak, but his words have been no more respected than if they have come from one bearing less responsibility. As soon as the time shall come when Brother Daniells can, to a large degree, disconnect from the Publishing House, the better will it be for his ministerial work. And the better also will it be for the Publishing House to have removed from it this supposed cause of irritation. To every man is given his work, and he must not get in the way of another. Let every man, as far as possible, carry his own responsibilities, and not the burdens of others. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 7

Elder Daniells must not be where he will have such heavy local responsibilities that he has all the time to struggle like a drowning man to keep his head above water. Already he has too many perplexities to meet. Let all engaged in the work be dependent upon God. No one should feel free to accuse or depreciate another. There has been enough done in this line already. Let us now work to harmonize one with another. Let us have faith in God. Just where Brother Daniells shall locate, I do not know; but when the time comes for a change to be made, he will feel and understand this for himself. God will direct by the workings of His providence. I have no liberty to speak with him on these points now, but he must unload, and when his surroundings are of a different character his work will tell to better advantages. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 8

Where there are so many things under special managers, and each feels that his own ideas are right, one seems to be in the way of the other, and the ideas of some are not in harmony with those who are managing their own appointed work. The minister who is depended upon to preach discourses in different places must have things new and old with which to feed the flock of God. He must be dependent upon God. If the church for which he labors will co-operate with him, and encourages him by being doers of the Word of truth presented to them, he will be uplifted. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 9

The one who labors in word and doctrine often receives letters of inquiry from those who want advice. Often these letters are of a character to tax the faculties of the mind, and bring a severe burden on the soul. If the ones who write these letters would only consider how many burdens are being carried by men in responsible positions, they would say, I have a God who has invited me: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 10

Christ is more deeply interested in the men who need help than any human agent can be. Then will they not take it all to the Lord in prayer? They will find that His arm is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear. The apostle says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience,” if you will only let it have this influence upon you. [James 1:2, 3.] But if you look at your difficulties, and talk of them, they will magnify before you. If in the place of going to the Source of all grace and sufficiency, you look to your fellow men, and carry your burdens to those who are weighed down on every hand, from what source do you obtain your knowledge? “Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect, and entire, wanting nothing.” [Verse 4.] 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 11

“If any of you lack wisdom,” God says, “let him ask” of his overburdened brother? No; “let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him; but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” “Do not err, my beloved brethren; every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights in whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” [Verses 5-8, 16, 17.] 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 12

Here then is the door that is open to all. No one need to send across the continent, and knock at the door of human, finite wisdom. Bow upon your knees before God, and ask Him who is nigh for the things you need. Christ is nearer to you than you think. Then do not pour out your complaints to human ears, that you may receive some word of wisdom from human channels. “Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creation.” [Verse 18.] Then He hears us, and knows all about our burdens. He would have all who believe the word practice the teachings of the word, and have faith in that God who is back of every promise He has made. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 13

The apostle admonishes us, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” [Verse 19.] God would have all who seek knowledge of Him, to hearken with attention, submit one to another. If some expression of another does not meet your mind, wait. Do not be in a hurry to express your difference of opinion in matters that perplex you, lest you yield to the temptation to become irritated in spirit and speak unadvisedly. You have no right to be angry with the Lord’s workers because your mind is not prepared to harmonize with their plans and methods. Until you know of a surety that they are not making straight paths for their feet, wait. In patience possess your soul, and cleanse the soul temple of the passion which so easily springs into life, and which will hinder you from receiving the word with meekness of wisdom. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 14

Under all circumstances we are to be doers of the Word. “For if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deeds. If any man among you seemeth to be religious and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” [Verses 23-27.] 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 15

My brethren in Melbourne, I have words to speak to you. God says to you, “Be still, and know that I am God.” [Psalm 46:10.] I was the first one who wrote to Brother Tenney. I had light in regard to his returning to Australia. I knew that his advice and his testimony in the churches would be a blessing to them. But I had no light in regard to its being his duty to take the editorial chair, and for reasons which I do not feel that it is required of me to give, I advise that it is not his duty to locate in Melbourne. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 16

My brethren, make a clear path for Brother Robert Hare. Do not let him be trammeled by your imaginings and suspicions, or what you have heard or suppose. Let Brother Colcord help him to get hold of the work, and it may be that God will qualify Brother Hare to do the work that is essential to be done. By following your own imaginings, you can bring about a condition of things that will make his way very unpleasant, but it is your privilege to lay right hold and help him all you possibly can. Do not stand aloof and criticize anything which you suppose is not exactly as it should be. The Lord has followed Brother Hare with testimonies, showing him where his mistakes and errors have hurt himself and the cause of God. He was tempted to go out of the ministry, but he did not do this; he reformed. These testimonies have made him, as they should have made others who have been reproved, less self-sufficient. He has less confidence in his own ways and methods. Now he should be placed where he can best serve the cause of God. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 17

Brother Hare is a hard worker. There are many places where his work would be acceptable, but you need a man there who can work in editorial lines. Brother Colcord needs a change, and this he should have after he has interestedly initiated Brother Hare into the work. Let his brethren, Brother Robinson, help and encourage, in the place of putting on their criticizing glasses and magnifying every defect. The Lord wants him to have room to work, that He may place His estimate upon him. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 18

This testimony is needed in Melbourne: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up. Speak not evil one of another brethren.” [James 4:10, 11.] Those very things that are now being expressed by you are the very things which the Lord presented to me when W. C. White was in Melbourne, and these things will prove a hindrance to you unless there is a humbling of the hearts of ministers and people—in the office of publication, in the church, and in the different branches of the work. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 19

The Lord is soon to come. He has an interest in you all, every worker, from the highest to the lowest. Your souls should be pervaded with a deep, abiding sense of the importance of the work, with the sanctity and the authority of the Master Manager of the firm. The heart, the understanding, should be in the most intimate connection with the pure sacred springs of life and power. It is not enough for our ministers to know much even of the good books which wise men have written. We are walking away from the things which have been supposed to be safeguards against erroneous doctrines. In the great conflict before us, the educated men of this age will be called to take their stand far higher, far in advance of where they now stand. He who would keep His sayings unto the end must penetrate deeper than the habits, the customs, the opinions, the authority of worldly wise men. Our only safety lies in living in hourly contact, in conscious communion with God. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 20

The principles of Bible truth will be set before every man. We must work, and watch, and wait, and pray. We must, and you in Melbourne must, as workers together with God, reach a higher standard. We must work out of self into the undying principles which connect us with firm bands to the Infinite. Every worker can obtain a deep experience in the things of God, if there is less of self, and more of Jesus Christ. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 21

The work is one, the cause is one, all over the world. You have a plant in Melbourne. You have increased your facilities. You have a standing there, and if you seek wisdom of God, you will have a mighty strength back of your efforts. When your last meetings were held in Melbourne, many prayers ascended to heaven in your behalf. There was great feebleness upon me, but I was so worked upon by the Spirit of the Lord that I could not sleep. In the night seasons there was presented before me the many personal feelings that existed, and that every man needed his character molded and fashioned after the divine similitude. There was need of the fragrance of the Spirit of God in your midst. If things did not appear prosperous, in the place of looking to your own individual selves to see where the fault lay, you were charging the lack where it in no case belonged. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 22

For years the Lord has been rebuking this spirit. Let every worker heed the words of God. He has given you evidence that if you will co-operate with Him, He will work with your efforts. “Wherefore the Holy Spirit saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness; when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their hearts; they have not known my ways. ... 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 23

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. While it is called today, harden not your hearts as in the provocation.” “Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” [Hebrews 3:7-10, 12-15; 4:1, 2.] 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 24

My brethren, what has Elder Daniells or W. C. White done to make you feel annoyed at them? The work that God would have built up in Sydney, and the work that He would have done in Cooranbong, in Newcastle, in Maitland, and among the people scattered in all that vicinity, has been hindered greatly by the want of money and men, and still the lack of means and workers is a great hindrance. We want God’s own plant in Cooranbong. There must be something more there than there has been. And there is need of hard toilers to get the work started. Now, my brother, keep hold of God for yourself. Stand at your post of duty, and know that it [is] not what you do that tells, but what an abiding Christ can accomplish. Take firm hold upon God. Let no murmuring and fretting and chafing over other men’s work be heard, but see that your own duty is not neglected. Then the Lord God of Israel will be acknowledged as all-sufficient. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 25

Everyone who is engaged in the work of serving God must put his trust in God. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” [2 Timothy 2:12-15.] When you get into perplexity, my brother, do not go to any human source, but to the living God. Trust in Him, lean upon Him, and you will not feel as you have expressed yourself in your letter. If you decide not to receive and give Brother Robert Hare a trial, but follow out the impulse of your own minds, do so. You are not compelled to have him in Melbourne as an editor. We need just such a man as Brother Hare for the work here in its various branches. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 26

Brother Colcord, the Lord give you of His Holy Spirit to understand the will of the Master. But knowing that which I do, I know that Elder Tenney, if he works in the order of the Lord, will not locate in Melbourne. We can do a much more all-round work in some other localities. We will write no more on this subject now. Be careful, how you charge your brethren, Elder Daniells, and W. C. White, with wrong motives and lack of judgment. You do not understand that God works by whom He will. He does not ask any man how He will carry forward His work. He has the supervision of His work in its every phase, its every department. Elder Daniells can serve the cause better, at present, in other localities. He must do work in different connections, where he will have a change of thought and associations. If he had continued in Melbourne, the words in the first portion of my letter would have come to him, for the time has come for him to do the work which he could not possibly do in Melbourne. The Lord understands all about this matter. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 27

I read in your letter dissatisfaction with Elder Daniells and W. C. White. Leave W. C. White to do his work in connection with his mother, for this is his appointment. The time he spent in Melbourne was a great drawback to the work that needed to be done in preparing my writings in connection with Sister Peck and Sister Davis. W. C. White has an unselfish interest in the work all over the field, and especially in Melbourne. He has devoted time and strength to the work in Melbourne, which has taken help from me. I needed every hour that he has spent there. He knew this, but he felt so much interest in Melbourne that he has given his time to it. He has as great interest in all the branches of the work in that city as in any other. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 28

We must all pull together. I have consented for him to go from the work in New South Wales, from my work, to help you in Melbourne. May the Lord clear the fog from your spiritual vision, that you may discern all things clearly. I see that I must have help, that I must be more decided in retaining my help. I must not suffer as I have done in the past. I sincerely hope that W. C. White will be permitted to work with his mother, especially as the work that takes him from me is unappreciated and regarded as a harm instead of a benefit. 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 29

My brother, let us as servants of Christ strive to do the will of God from the heart, “with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. ... Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and flood, against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.” [Ephesians 6:7, 8, 10-14.] 13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 30