Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 19 (1904)

Lt 243, 1904

Union Conference Presidents

Huntsville, Alabama

June 15, 1904

This letter is published in entirety in PCO 94-96. +^Note

To Union Conference presidents,—

During the past night, scenes that clearly outline our present situation were vividly presented to me. Scenes that had passed before me while we were on the steamer “Morning Star” were again presented. These representations, with the instruction given me, make clear to my mind the experiences of the Berrien Springs meeting and of the councils which followed in Battle Creek. The long-suffering patience of God, and His wonderful forbearance, were manifested during the Berrien Springs meeting. Once more the Lord held forth to men who have been linking up with worldlings and working with unbelieving lawyers the words of love and mercy that He has been speaking for years. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 1

The meeting at Berrien Springs was an occasion of great perplexity to many of our brethren. It was a time of heavy burden and taxing labor for me. The Lord strengthened me and gave me power to stand before the people and speak words of counsel and encouragement. A special message of hope and courage was given for the men at Battle Creek. Oh, why did they not lay hold of it! There was opportunity for them to be placed upon vantage ground. Why did they not appreciate this opportunity? Greater evidence will not be given them that God is calling for a change of attitude. Some good confessions were made, but some chose to justify themselves and demanded confessions from their brethren. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 2

I have been given no encouragement to go to Battle Creek. I was shown that efforts would be made to call our leading men to Battle Creek to investigate the Scriptures and discuss points of difference. I was then instructed that the students who had been called to Battle Creek, and the ministers held there, are in a dangerous atmosphere. The proposition to continue the same relations to Battle Creek, which again and again have been pointed out as detrimental, and the proposal to do that which should not be done are ill timed and dangerous. The result of these relations is unbelief in the movings of the providence of God. The testimonies that the Lord has given to establish the faith of His people in His Word have been made of no effect. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 3

Men have sneered at the thought that it was God’s judgments which had come upon the institutions in Battle Creek. Notwithstanding this, God’s hand of mercy was not withdrawn from the institutions and the men in positions of responsibility. He still strove to save those who have been binding themselves up with worldlings. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 4

God sent His judgments on the institutions in Battle Creek for the purpose of scattering the many people congregated in that place. Those who counterwork the work of God, those who disregard His Word must beware lest they bring upon themselves a still more severe retribution. The Lord’s long forbearance has been interpreted by some to mean that there was no special need for repentance. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” [Ecclesiastes 8:11.] 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 5

I have been instructed to say that altogether too long have our ministers been answering the call to come to Battle Creek to attend councils. That which has been done by calling men away from their work to attend councils in Battle Creek for the purpose of bringing about a better understanding has failed to meet our expectations, because leading men in the medical work were determined to carry out their cherished plans, and at the close of each council these men have made representations that they had gained decided victories. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 6

It has been shown me that the effort made at Berrien Springs to save the leading men in the medical work was interpreted by them as a victory over their brethren and has been used to strengthen their hands in the carrying out of their purposes. The gracious invitation was given, “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.] But the invitation was not accepted. The Lord says, “Why will you not come to Me and find rest? Why do you refuse My outstretched, helping hand?” 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 7

After speaking for the last time at Berrien Springs, a scene passed before me, showing that some would construe what had been done at that meeting to save them, as special victories for their side. I saw evil angels working with their deceptive sophistries on men’s minds, so that they might work on other minds, to deceive if possible the very elect. I was filled with an intense desire that those who were deceived might come to the light. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 8

Our brethren are not to be called to Battle Creek to hold a council for the examination of doctrines, while the men who profess to know the truth remain surrounded by a cloud of unbelief. Our ministers, instead of turning their faces toward a council at Battle Creek, should be considering the thousands of people in the cities of America, who should be hearing the message of warning. These cities have been strangely neglected, and the judgment will reveal the result. By the large investments of means in the Battle Creek Sanitarium, many have been robbed of the help that God designed them to have. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 9

This is not a time to call from the field our leading workers to discuss and adjust points of difference between the medical workers and the workers in other lines. The remedy for many of these differences will be found in heeding the messages of counsel published in recent testimonies. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 10

The present is a time for aggressive work in the field. To our brethren in Washington the word is given, “Arise and build.” [Nehemiah 2:20.] To our people in all the Conferences the word is, “Strengthen the hands of the builders.” 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 11

Let those who are asked to leave their work to engage in a council at Battle Creek read the sixth chapter of Nehemiah: 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 12

“It came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein, (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates:) that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down; why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you. Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 13

“Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; wherein it was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. And thou hast appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah; and now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 14

“Then sent I unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.” [Verses 1-8.] 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 15

History is being repeated. Work of this nature has been done and will be done again. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 16

Nehemiah continues: “For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. Afterward I came into the house of Shemiah, ... who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night they will come to slay thee. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me; for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.” [Verses 9-13.] 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 17

A work similar to this will be done, and Seventh-day Adventists will have to meet it. 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 18

“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 blood, but 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 withstand 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; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” [Ephesians 6:10-17.] 19LtMs, Lt 243, 1904, par. 19