Passion, Purpose & Power

16. The Battle Creek Years

Late in 1855, James White moved the press from Rochester, New York, to Battle Creek, Michigan, where the name “Seventh-day Adventist” was chosen in 1860, and the General Conference was organized in 1863. PPP 79.1

The Power of Partnering PPP 79.2

There were four men in Michigan, of whom Henry Lyon was one, who built the financial platform for the transfer of the denominational headquarters to that State. When Joseph Bates met them in Jackson in 1852, he remarked that all of them except “the first named” [Henry Lyon] were “professed public teachers, and feel the burden of the third angel’s message.” Henry Lyon may not have been a public teacher; though if his daughter Angie was a sample, the gift ran in the family (perhaps through his wife); but he was evidently a man of vision and of executive ability. When James White visited Michigan in 1853, and gave the modest suggestion at Battle Creek that if the brethren were faithful, they might create quite a company to represent the cause in that village, he had not yet reckoned with Henry Lyon. PPP 79.3

It was a year later when Lyon came to Battle Creek, five years before its incorporation as a city. He kept his eye on the work of God, and judiciously gave of his means to it. His mind was busy with plans for its extension; and in consultation with his energetic son-in-law⁴⁸ he conceived the idea of bringing its headquarters west. As his town grew in every direction, Henry Lyon, working at his trade, saw its extension northwest in his own section, and he said, “Why not Battle Creek?” PPP 80.1

By the time the Whites visited Michigan again, in April of 1855, the plan was perfected. Lyon had consulted with Dan R. Palmer, the blacksmith of Jackson, and with Cyrenius Smith and J. P. Kellogg. The last named had been his country neighbor, who sold his farm soon after Lyon did, and moved to Jackson, where he engaged in the making of brooms. Smith likewise sold his place, and moved to Battle Creek about the time of the transfer, and Kellogg came later; but Palmer stayed in Jackson. However, the four made up a fund of $1,200, even shares from each; and with this the brethren in Michigan proposed to James White to purchase land and erect a building in Battle Creek for the printing plant and publishing office of the Review and Herald. PPP 80.2

It was an offer which appealed to James White. He had begun the publishing work with no capital but faith; he had carried it from place to place where his pilgrim stems had gone; he had borne it on his heart while traveling and preaching and writing, often bowed down under sickness and misfortune. He had more than once declared to his brethren that he could no longer carry it, and they had responded, according to their lights and their ability, by helping him. But there was no organization; that had been beyond their ken and against the prejudice of many of them. White had owned no property; the publishing business had begun in an attic⁴⁹ and continued in his rented homes, with hired printers, until the purchase of a press and its location in Rochester [New York], but still only in leased quarters. Now the Michigan brethren proposed not only to build a home for the paper, but to stand behind it with their counsel and cooperation and money. Not yet did they see the way clear to incorporation of the business; that was to come later. But their sturdy shoulders were put to the wheels; and James White, with his brethren and co-workers, accepted gladly. PPP 80.3

This twelve-hundred-dollar gift is a landmark in Seventh-day Adventist history. Small as it may now appear, it was great in proportion to the resources of the people then; and, if we except [Hiram] Edson’s advancement of funds for the first press [in 1852], it was the primary constructive effort in the building of a world-wide work.—Arthur W. Spalding, Origin and History of Seventh-day Adventists, vol. 1, 1961, pp. 266-268. PPP 81.1

During the year following their acceptance of Adventism, the [John P.] Kelloggs sold their farm and moved to Jackson. Here they enjoyed the fellowship of a larger group sharing their religious convictions. John Preston, returning to an old family trade, began to make brooms to support his family. The Kelloggs devoted a substantial portion of the $3,500 they had received from the sale of the farm to promoting their new faith. With three other Michigan Adventists, John advanced $1,200 to move the Review and Herald publishing plant from Rochester, New York, to the little Michigan community of Battle Creek. He also made a substantial contribution toward the purchase of the first tent secured by Adventists for public evangelism in Michigan.—Richard W. Schwarz, John Harvey Kellogg, M. D., 1970, p. 13. PPP 81.2

Buck and Bright are pullin’ away PPP 81.3

The spirit of the givers is reflected in the case of a farmer near Battle Creek, Richard Godsmark, whose work stock, as with many of his neighbors, consisted of a yoke of oxen. He had no money to give, but, eager to have a part, he sold the pair and gave the proceeds for the press. And every time he stumped to town in his cowhide boots he made sure to go by the printing office, and, stopping to listen to the roar and clack of the power press, he would exclaim gleefully, “Buck and Bright are pullin’ away; they’re pu-u-ullin’ away!” —Spalding, Seventh-day Adventists, vol. 1, p. 277. PPP 81.4

Frozen baptisms PPP 82.1

In one of the school districts in M [onterey, Michigan] we commenced a series of meetings on the evening of the 14th, ⁵⁰ and continued until the evening of First-day,⁵¹ 18th, notwithstanding the extreme cold weather at the time, the most of the church in M. attended every evening, traveling from six to ten miles⁵² out and home. Their prayers, and spirited exhortations, and singing, both before and after preaching, stirred up the people in the district, and some deep and hearty confessions were made, and strong desires to hear and examine more fully this important subject, while some others fully decided to keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus. PPP 82.2

On First-day morning, (mercury 30 degrees below zero,⁵³) some of the Brn. in the time of service cut and sawed out the ice some three feet thick, and found water of sufficient depth, wherein seven souls were buried with Christ in baptism.⁵⁴—Joseph Bates, “Letter from Bro. Bates,” The Review and Herald, Feb. 19, 1857, p. 125. PPP 82.3

Above reproach PPP 82.4

All accounts and traditions concerning Elder Bates agree as to his benevolent attitude toward both men and women. Unlike some of his more jovial fellow workers, he never joked, but his genial speech and manners made him a most agreeable companion. In the matter of propriety he stood so erect that some felt he leaned over backward. One time he visited the Stites family out in the country near Battle Creek, Michigan. Mr. Stites was ill. There were no sons in that family, but two daughters in their teens, the older of whom was Mary, my wife’s mother, who told us the tale. When Elder Bates was to leave, the younger girl, Deborah, harnessed the horse to the buggy, to take him to town. Courteously he thanked her, but said, “My daughter, the Bible tells us to avoid the very appearance of evil. There are wagging tongues in the world, and a young woman must keep her name above reproach. Just now it is in my keeping, and I can not allow you to drive me in.” So, despite their protests, he picked up his heavy satchel and footed it to town.—Spalding, Seventh-day Adventists, appendix note for page 40, vol. 1, pp. 395, 396. PPP 82.5