Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Lt 74, 1892

White, W. C.

Adelaide, South Australia

October 10, 1892

Portions of this letter are published in FBS 8.

Dear Willie:

Sabbath and Sunday have passed. We have had very little sunshine the week past, but clouds and showers. A little peep of sunshine occasionally has come to smile upon us, and then in a short time is hidden again. All I have heard speak of the weather say they never remember having so much rain and cloudy weather before in Adelaide, but the farmers are jubilant over the matter, for they say it means to them an abundant harvest. Usually at this time of the year the grass begins to lose its fresh, bright color and dry up. But everything is in its fresh, bright dress of green, and the gardens which are not enclosed with high fences are very attractive to the eye, with a variety of flowers. The orange trees, which are in almost every garden, are flourishing in their fresh, beautiful waxen flowers of white, making the air fragrant with their perfume. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 1

Last Thursday there was rain, Friday rain nearly all day. Nevertheless, Thursday, in the afternoon, the stove came [and] was immediately set up, and then we found no pipe, but succeeded in finding pipe that met the measurement, so we are now fitted out. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 2

Saturday we feared we would not be able to attend meeting, but I did go, and we had only a little sprinkling of rain. We had a good attendance. I had much freedom in speaking to the people, although I was not feeling well. We then had a social meeting. I had unburdened my soul in reference to the neglect of using the vocal organs and showed them the value of the precious gift of speech and voice and that the abuse of this precious talent is a sin. I told them it was the duty of everyone to cultivate his ability to make the worship of God interesting and beneficial to all assembled. The custom, of those who can use their vocal organs in their common business and when engaged in the service of God speak so low and indistinct that but few can hear them, is not calculated to edify and leave the correct impression upon minds. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 3

When offering prayer, some put their face in their hands and in a low, moaning voice make their requests to God. Such prayers would be more appropriate in the closet than in public worship. Christ has said, Ye are my witnesses [Isaiah 43:10], and how can His holy name be glorified by this defective habit of praying and bearing testimony? Certainly there is nothing in these exercises, conducted in this way, that would bear representation as faithful soldiers of the cross of Christ. The voice is a power for good and should not be mistreated or misapplied in any way and in any place. It is a duty, individually, to make all that it is possible of the human voice in order that it may prove a powerful instrument, through culture, to honor and glorify God. Colporteurs, canvassers, those giving Bible readings, need to give attention to the voice, for, rightly trained and wisely employed, it is a power for good. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 4

The testimonies borne were excellent, and although I am troubled to hear distinctly, I could hear nearly all that was said. Elder Daniells said that it was by fifty percent the best social meeting that he had attended in Adelaide. There was some life and light in the testimonies borne. There are many excellent people here in Adelaide. I would be pleased to visit them when I shall be better healthwise. Several have invited me. I mean to accept their invitations. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 5

Sabbath afternoon, evening and through the night we had thunder and quite sharp lightning. The people here think it was very heavy thunder, but those who are used to hearing loud and breaking-to-pieces thunder in America, call this a very light matter. Sunday, clouds and some rain. I was not well as usual, but I attended meeting, and the Lord lifted me above my infirmities and gave me His Holy Spirit to strengthen and revive me. I spoke from John 17:17-26. I spoke one hour and twenty minutes. The Spirit of the Lord was moving upon hearts. Many were softened and subdued, and deep impressions were made upon minds. Many were in tears. The people seem to be hungering and thirsting for the bread of life and for the water of salvation. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 6

I attended a missionary meeting at five o’clock. We had a good representation. I spoke forty minutes. I had a severe time of pain and suffering after the morning exercise and thought I could not attend the evening meeting, but I was glad I ventured out by faith, for the Lord did give me tongue and utterance. All seemed to listen with the deepest attention, and I felt no worse for the effort. I knew the people needed what I had to say. I want to help them all I can. There is an infidel who has attended all the meetings when I have spoken. They say he looks solemn as though he is impressed. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 7

One week ago Sunday, a man attended who was going to watch Mrs. White; and said he would write down every word she said, and he would show the people what she was. Those who heard his boasts said he had his pencil and notebook in his hand and did not take his eyes from the speaker a minute, nor did he trace one word in his notebook. My prayer is that the Lord will move upon hearts, that He will help this people. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 8

Last Sunday evening I tried to show them the necessity of being living missionaries for God and that a working church would be a living church. I showed them [that] every true believer in Jesus Christ is a true missionary. They will have love for souls for whom Christ has died. They will not sit in idleness and feel no responsibility and neither burn nor shine. They can and will communicate the grace and love which have been manifested to them in such rich fullness. It is the duty of every soul to practice the truth which he receives, and if he is sanctified through the truth, he will work in willing service for the Master. He says to us to this effect, You have given yourselves to Me, and I give you to the world. I send you forth as My representatives. You may consider yourselves as consecrated to the holy office of being laborers together with God, as I, your Master, in a higher sense, was appointed to come into the world and represent the character of God. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 9

There is a weighty responsibility resting upon every soul to do the utmost of the ability which God has given him to communicate to others the light of truth which he has received. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 10

If it was necessary for Christ to leave His royal throne, His high position as Commander in the heavenly courts, and clothe His divinity with humanity that He might reach humanity and lift up and save the fallen sinner, that He should dissolve into a Fountain of healing mercy for the recovery of the lost in order to exalt the love of God, is it not essential that human natures should be so transformed by the grace of Christ that their hearts will be turned into sympathy, tenderness and love to work in the same lines as Christ worked, and by their human lives, sanctified through the truth, furnish the world with evidence through the manifestation of the grace of Christ that He has sent His Son into our world? Nothing less than consecrating the entire whole of man to His sacred work will give any just idea of His grace. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 11

Let us praise God that every follower of Christ is appointed to be a channel of light to the world, under discipline to God, educated and trained by the Holy Spirit, working through the aid of heavenly agencies. He is a co-laborer with God to win souls from error and sin to truth and holiness. I am sure that God is waiting to use men as human agents to do His work. But how very few recognize their responsibility to use their God-given talents to save the world! We best resemble Christ when we have the mind and spirit of Christ in doing His service, carrying out His design in seeking to save that which is lost. He has made benevolence, the tender sympathy and love for souls, the life and the very essence of Christianity. It is not to compose a part of the character, but is the character itself. The vineyard is the field of labor, which is large and belts the world. The instrumentality Christ was to employ is the converted souls who believe on Him. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 12

It is not ministers alone who preach the gospel, but those who have not formally been consecrated to the work. God has chosen them as His workers. In various ways they may win souls to Jesus Christ. They may do home missionary work and may devise and plan how to extend their labors to those that are far off. Those whose interest is absorbed in worldly plans and schemes, in temporal and worldly enterprises, cannot be answering the purpose of God if they do not engage heartily in missionary labor, putting forth personal effort, taxing their powers to frame plans and make wise arrangements, taxing their resources to the uttermost proportionate to the greatness of the enterprise which is above every earthly object or earthly ambition. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 13

The Holy Spirit’s work is expressed in the language of Christ, “He shall not speak of himself.” “He shall testify of me.” “He shall glorify me.” [John 16:13; 15:26; 16:14.] Would that every believer would comprehend this. As the Saviour came to glorify the Father by the gift of His infinite love, so the Spirit came from the Father to glorify Christ, that the world might look and live. The claims and glory of Christ are to stand as the great center of attraction. The eye of the world is not to rest upon the human agent, but on Christ whom he lifts up before them. Man is to be lost sight of. Christ is to be the sole object of attraction. Never will the church meet her obligation until self is hid in Christ and the fullness of the grace of Christ alone shall catch the attention and rivet the mind. God calls for the living agency to convey to the world the fullness of His grace. This grace, this matchless love, this glory of the character of Christ, has been so slightly dwelt upon that man has been placed where Christ should be. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 14

The individual worker has no right to rest until he has a fullness of the Spirit. God requires every member of the church to be a living agency to use every power, every entrusted faculty for the saving of souls. There is so limited [an] amount of this great work done, this statement may seem exaggerated. The absence of a single means which might have been employed is robbery toward God, depriving the world of the influence of the Holy Spirit which might have wrought in the human agent to win the world to Jesus Christ. Shall those who have an abundance of light and blessings in these last days refuse to shine and diffuse and communicate to others that which has been freely given to them? Will they dishonor their Redeemer? 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 15

The mission of Christ from the throne of heaven to our world, the great plan of redemption He wrought out from the manger to the cross, contains in it the principle of every mission. While standing under the shadows of the cross of Calvary, can we alone catch the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness? Shall we not flash these beams of light upon the souls and in the pathway of those who are in darkness, even to the ends of the earth? Hath not God chosen us? Let us hear His own words which fell from His divine lips: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” [John 15:16.] 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 16

There are souls, many, very many, who have lived in our very midst, who have gone down to the grave unwarned, because the living human agent did not discern his part of the work, to labor together with God. The piety of His believing people is to be diffusive. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are to be educated and trained for duty as faithful soldiers of the cross of Christ. We are to regard every man with whom we come in contact as our neighbor, to whom we are to communicate the grace and precious light of truth. Selfishness may subscribe a small circle of action, but the Lord Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” [Acts 1:8.] 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 17

Well may we heed the words of Christ, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into the harvest.” [Luke 10:2.] The harvest of the world is to be gathered into sheaves for the garner. Where are the reapers? Agencies of every kind are to be set in operation. Every follower of Christ can do something. Not to do the part God requires of you in this great work is to show that Christ is not appreciated and to earn the condemnation of Christ as a wicked and slothful servant. “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad.” [Matthew 12:30.] Every means that the believer possesses of influence and of money is to be employed, and that to the very uttermost. Work while it is day, for the night cometh in which no man can work. Our lamps are to be kept bright and burning, and every one is to be a faithful steward of the grace of Christ. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 18

Willie, I did not expect to write so long a letter, but I traced out this matter as I have now. If you will put this into Fannie’s hands, and let her put it into shape, cutting out the stove business and anything you deem best, I will make this letter serve so that it will save me writing to Elder Haskell, and some other long letters. Please consider this, and if Fannie arranges it in shape, send it back to me. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 19

I have not known exactly how to account for my not feeling well since I came here, but I trace it now back to that night on the cars. Our compartment was filled with smoke from cigarettes. The most terrible, heavy, poisonous atmosphere I have ever experienced. We spoke to the porter and he would tell them they must not smoke, but as soon as he was gone, they went at it again. Twice we told the porter of the effect it was having on me, and he said it could not be that they were smoking. It must be the smoke was already in the compartment, but May then went and laid the case before the smoker. It did not do any good, he smoked just the same, but concealed it when the porter was about, and they were so accustomed to tobacco smoke that they did not distinguish it. I felt a tight band about my head, and my head has troubled me some ever since. The malaria poison has been working upon me, and I know that I was poisoned that night. I was in a burning fever all night because I was poisoned. I hope to be better soon. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 20

Brother Higgins made me a nice little box that answers my purpose well. He has made me a single spring seat, and although it proves to be a little stiff, I think I can use it by taking out a little of the stuffing. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 21

Emily has taken cold and had the headache, but she is all right now. Elder Daniells has had a cold and a hard attack of neuralgia in his face, but he is all well of them and sleeps the whole night long and seems to be so glad that he can do this. I read him what you wrote about Sister Daniells. I think as you do, but if she goes anywhere, have her come here a spell. I think we must have some pleasant weather soon. This forenoon it is foggy, and I shall hope for sunshine. I expect to be better. As yet I feel that, as far as climate is concerned, since we have been here it has no preference over Preston. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 22

Mother.

If you could only be here a few weeks before Elder Daniells leaves, it would do much good, I believe. I think if you and Elder Daniells could be here together, it would be a good thing. You could both consult together and do double work in laying plans. Think of it and do your duty, whatever it may be. 7LtMs, Lt 74, 1892, par. 23