Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 69, 1895

Rousseau, Brother

Norfolk Villa, Prospect St., Granville, N. S. W., Australia

March 20, 1895

Previously unpublished. +^Note

Dear Brother Rousseau:

I suppose you have received the letter sent you yesterday. Yesterday morning Brother Worsnop was prepared to go to Dora Creek, but I could not endure the thought of his going there and paying out his money in carfare; [I] therefore advised him not to go. I have since learned that he was intending to walk, and thought he could reach there in two days. I told him today that I would withdraw my objections to his going. 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 1

Now if he comes up, in view of the provision which I have made for those who have come to New South Wales to visit the school land, and for the brethren who have assembled here to counsel over school interests, I think you should board him, at least, until you have given him a fair trial. If there is no one else who will take a jot of responsibility to do anything for this poor man, I will be responsible for this much. Byron and Sarah have borne the burden and endured the discomfort of crowding the family in with them up to this time, and I have not the least objection to your venturing some in the same line. 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 2

Do not indulge the same kind of caution exercised by the priest and Levite who saw a neighbor whom they could have helped, but passed by on the other side. Caution is a precious characteristic; but when the Word of God had defined their duty so plainly, failure to perform that duty evinced a disagreeable vein of human caution. Such caution needs to be severely criticized rather than encouraged. 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 3

This family gives evidence that they will not be any disgrace to Dora Creek. The reasons which you give in your letter to McCullagh for not employing him have very little weight when balanced in the scales with the plain statements of God’s Word. Should you wish me to group the specific <inspired> statements together I can do so. 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 4

It is not reasonable, neither is it a Christian act, to force these members of the household of faith to expend what little means they have in paying their fare back to Melbourne, where they will be in an equally dependent position, and be without any money at all. I could not sleep until twelve o’clock last night, but lay on my bed considering by what method we could plan to assist them to some purpose. When I proposed that you put him on the land which I expected to purchase, and that I would pay him moderate wages for clearing some for me, you closed up this avenue of escape from the difficulty by declaring to Brother McCullagh that “Sister White has no land.” In view of the fact that I had invested $1,000 in the school land, I did not feel very well pleased at this remark. If I had not invested one dollar in the <purchase of> land, if a place was offered me for a building site without my paying a cent on it, do you think you would lose anything by carrying out my wishes? 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 5

You have taken this as coolly as though you had been learning the methods practiced by some in Battle Creek; as though I was under obligation to do this and that; as though I must be dealt with as one who had no special interest in the work; instead of as with one who was bringing funds into the cause through various means, and working for the interests of the truth of God as much as any of you are! I have carried heavy loads and felt the burdens which I have borne here for the past year. 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 6

If these cool, calculating methods are to be continued, I should feel to say, “Let me be in any other place than among such <cautious> men as are on the school ground.” I remember my experience while in Battle Creek. 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 7

After I have inconvenienced myself in so many ways to save expense for the comers and goers to Dora Creek during the past year, to have you dispose of this case so cooly to avoid the burden makes it appear that your caution is not inspired of God, but that it is the outworking of a natural temperament which is devoid of faith. Such things cause me to question the advisability of my ever laying the foundation of a home in Dora Creek, for I could have no heart-rest there. 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 8

In looking over my experiences since coming to this country, I can think of no time which has been more unpleasant than the past year. The caution of Elder Daniells and yourself <which is manifest want of faith in God> have helped to make my life very <perplexing, and has not given me increased confidence in your being under the Holy Spirit’s guidance at all times.> 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 9

Now my brother, I again ask that if Brother Worsnop comes to you, give him a chance to show what he is. After that, if you consider that he will only be a burden to you, he can return, none the worse off for the trip. Brother Caldwell was anxious to come to Cooranbong himself and lay the matter before you so that you might understand it properly, but I said, “Nay, if my letters have no effect, your presence will do no good.” 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 10

If you find that you cannot trust Worsnop to work alone after the students have finished their daily work, we want to know it; if he is an eye-servant only, we want to understand that also. 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 11

I will now leave this matter with you. All I ask is that you act as a Christian should toward a brother. If, at the very beginning of your work there, you commence to labor in methods directly contrary to the instruction contained in the Bible—shutting up your bowels of compassion, saying coolly to the needy and destitute, Be ye warmed and be ye clothed—can the friends of truth, the friends of the cause of God, feel themselves rightly represented? Can the universe of heaven uphold you pursuing such a course of action with satisfaction? If there are any who desire you to represent Jesus Christ in this manner, I pity them. The sooner such caution as this is gotten rid of, the better, for it <savors> too strongly of the unfaithful steward’s methods. If it is the right course to follow, I need to learn anew the lessons of Christ. But I will write no more on this point. I have written because I feel that you are pursuing a wrong course. 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 12

<Sister Belden called on me this forenoon. I said to her, “How do you and Byron regard the family with you religiously?” “We consider her a real Christian, and that she has considerable experience in religious things. And we can say the same of him, but he does not appear to advantage, for there is nothing he can do. I believe them both to be sincere Christians. They have appearance of being rough, but they are not as rough, considering the little advantages they have had, as many would appear in like circumstances.”> 10LtMs, Lt 69, 1895, par. 13