Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)
Lt 157, 1899
Irwin, G. A.
“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
October 11, 1899
Previously unpublished. +Note
Dear Brother Irwin:
I am up this morning at a quarter to one. The American mail goes out this morning, and we are most earnestly engaged in trying to get all in the mail that we should. 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 1
We gratefully receive the help that comes from America, for we need it. For some time I have not received one penny of the royalty on my books. If I had, it would relieve the situation. I have taken on my own shoulders the account held against Edson by the publishing house in Battle Creek. I did not say, as I should have done, that I could only pay up the long standing account when our necessities were not as pressing as they are now. I am not willing to have all my royalty withheld, because I need it, but I will work off the debt at the Review & Herald as I can. 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 2
While I am in this missionary field, I have to be a constant provider of means, and our work here must not be hedged about because I am empty-handed. I wish you could look into this matter, and see why I receive nothing from Battle Creek. Is it on account of that debt of long standing. Or have new debts been incurred, and if so, for what? I cannot seem to understand. Neither have I received a penny from the Pacific Press. 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 3
We have been trying to finish the Health Retreat, but could not get the plastering done for want of means. The donations you and Elder Haskell collected will help us to go forward. 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 4
We are instructed by the Lord to work in new places, to add new territory to the Lord’s heritage. We are to establish memorials of truth in every place where our camp meetings shall be held, in the shape of humble houses of worship. This work takes means, but there is to be no halting. Open new fields, is the word from the Lord, and add to your workers. Educate young men to labor, and tarry not. Educate, educate, educate. 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 5
In the newly made churches converted men are to be appointed as officers. Humble workers, both men and women, are to take hold of the work. There is a deep-seated necessity for work in every line. There are to be no ornamental, adorning spirits in the church. Appoint wise men and women to minister in Word and deed in the new churches. Never allow the interest to flag. Bring life into the church. Plan and devise methods which will bring a deep and living interest into the new churches, so that all will feel it a sin to let the interest wane when we have such sacred, solemn truths from the living oracles to repeat over and over and over again—the necessity of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the members of the church, so that they will be living, growing trees of the Lord’s planting. 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 6
We must tread in the narrow path, ever advancing. The world is our field. Camp meetings are the most powerful instrumentalities we can have if they are properly conducted. The trumpet must give a certain sound—the message which the Lord Jesus gave to John. The first, second, and third angels’ messages are to blend as a complete whole. This message is not to lose its force or power, but is to increase in intensity under the movings of the Holy Spirit, until the whole earth is filled with its light and power. The Spirit of God must come upon the messenger. Then His power will be felt in every camp meeting. 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 7
I am instructed to say that our work is not yea and nay, but yea and amen. The third angel’s message is the trumpet call which all the world must hear, and all whom the Lord uses in His service must work to prepare a people for the great crisis before us. This is our work: “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sin. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God.” [Isaiah 58:1, 2.] 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 8
We have no peace and safety message to give. We are near, very near, the end of the world’s self-indulgence. Selfishness and pride is to be thoroughly purged from the people who claim to be Seventh-day Adventists. If we seek the Lord in humility, He will hear and answer our prayers. “Thou shalt call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day.” [Verses 9, 10.] 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 9
Souls are starving for the bread of life, thirsting for the water of salvation. In every camp meeting set souls to work for others. Let there be short discourses right to the point. Not one half of the long discourses now given are retained. Short talks and earnest prayers, offered in the Spirit and in faith, will bring life and vitality into the meetings. Personal labor and prayer for the souls who are ready to die will bring ministering angels to your side. We need less sermonizing and more decided, personal labor. The truth is precious, and the Holy Spirit alone can make it efficacious. 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 10
We need to stir up the gift that God has given us, to lay hold of perishing souls and draw them to Christ. Heaven is full of light, and provision has been made that this light shall shine in clear, distinct rays upon our souls, and from us be reflected to others, that the world—dead in trespasses and sins—may be convicted and converted by the Holy Spirit’s power. Ministers and people who have a knowledge of the truth, will you receive the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying power? Will you open the door of your heart, and let heaven’s light in. God grant that this year may be the most wonderful we have ever experienced. 14LtMs, Lt 157, 1899, par. 11