General Conference Daily Bulletin, vol. 8
33rd Session. - WORCESTER, MASS., TUESDAY, - VOLUME 8. SOUTH LANCASTER, MASS. - NUMBER 17B
The Daily Bulletin,
PUBLISHED BY THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF
Seventh-day Adventists.F. S. BLANCHARD & CO., Printers, Worcester.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, - 50 CENTS.
CONTENTS
| Bible Study, | |
| Republics True and False (A. T. Jones), | 177 |
| South Lancaster Academy, | 179 |
| Walla Walla College, | 180 |
| Report Cor. Sec. Int. S. S. Assn., | 180 |
BIBLE STUDY. REPUBLICS - TRUE AND FALSE
Discourse by A. T. Jones, Sunday, 8 A. M., February 26
The question that was handed up yesterday morning, is really another way of stating a question that was asked several days ago by one of the brethren privately. It was asked in two different ways yesterday by the two that asked the question; so all three phases of the question will be answered in this morning’s lesson by the mere straightforward study of the lesson itself. As it is written, here the question is: “Did not Satan establish the Roman Republic to try to satisfy an ambition to demonstrate that he could make just as stable and just a government with false men as God could with angels or in the church?” GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.1
That is what Satan tried to do in and with the Roman Republic after it was established. I would not say that he established it any more than that he brought Pharaoh to where he was. God brought Pharaoh to where he was; but Satan made him what he was. God brought him there for another purpose; but the perversion of God’s purpose made him what he was. So it was with the Roman Republic. You will see this as we go along. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.2
The other phase of the question that was asked the other day privately, was when we had studied that “policy,” - that through his policy he should cause craft to prosper in his hand. I had read the Roman policy, - how it had taken up the quarrels of nations on the basis of being the lover of peace and liberty, and how that brought these colonies under the Roman rule. A brother remarked that the United States is not like that, because the United States, when it started out on this policy, did not intend to do what it is now doing; while Rome really intended it from the beginning. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.3
It is a question of debate among the historians as to whether Rome did really intend all this, when she started out. Mommsen, almost the standard historian of Rome, nowadays, holds that Rome did not intend it; but that when she had started, she met things that were not expected, that carried her on and on and on; and new men, coming in, did what the originators of the colonial policy did not intend. But the phase of this which has been set before us is the correct one, because the Bible says it, you see. But when the Bible says that “through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand,” that does not say that the Romans intended that from the beginning, and carried it out intelligently from the beginning. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.4
The policy was carried out, it is true. The Scripture marks that thing, and wants us to study that thing; but I say again that that does not say - and we are not obliged to say - that the men who started into that intended it at the beginning. But you know from the Scripture, you know from your own study hitherto, that there is one back of Rome all the way through. There is an intelligence, a person, with a policy, back of the outward form of Rome, back of the men, back of the Roman government, that became the inspiration of the Roman government; and that it is his policy that is the policy of Rome. Who is that one? [Voices: Satan.] So the Lord, looking at the thing as it is, marks the policy of Rome; and we trace it to Satan for its origin. We know that that policy of Satan was intended by Satan whose policy it was, whether the men through whom he was accomplishing the work, intended it at first, or not. So the “policy” marked in the history, that I have quoted to you, is the true intent of Satan, the originator of the policy whether the human instruments intended it, or not. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.5
The principles of a republic are right principles, when the principles are carried out; but the form is worthless when living principle is not there. In our examination, yesterday morning, of the principles of a republic, we saw that they are divine. The Roman Republic, founded upon these principles, was not clear-cut and plainly understood; because Rome was pagan. But there stood the Roman Republic; and that nation, with those principles, was already carried away to where it had lost all its life, and all its true features, and the nation was dead. And just at that time where there had been demonstrated to all the world the failure of the republic, God put into the world his divine principles, which are the true principles of a true republic, and presented them to Rome. He wanted Rome, even in her failure, to accept the true divinity as the life of the principles which they had had before. In the gospel, and in the church of Christ, the true principles were embodied, filled with the life of Christ; but even here there crept in another spirit into the form, and swung the thing off to destruction. Satan, through the Roman Republic, set all the power he could muster in the world against the true republic of Christianity. He tried his best to crush it out of existence; he warred against it for two hundred and fifty years, and then he had to surrender. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.6
Now turn to the point where we were: two hundred and fifty years that contest had been going on, and Rome surrendered. Rome was the principle of a republic, with Satan in it. Christianity is the principle of a republic, with Christ in it. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.7
The principles of a republic, in the abstract, are truth. They are divine. But if Satan is the life of them, then it is the worst thing that ever struck the earth. The principles of a republic are true, they are divine; and when Christ is in them, as all their life and inspiration, it is the most glorious thing the world ever saw. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.8
The principles of the Roman Republic, as of any republic, were true, though Rome, being pagan when these principles were first set before them, did not see the perfect truth, and set a figment in the place of the truth. Rome had the form of a republic, without the power. And Satan insinuated himself into that form, and became the life and inspiration of that republic. Then, however good the principles, with Satan as their inspiration, destruction could be the only result. Thus by peace he destroyed many. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.9
In the Signs of the Times there was an article about three years ago, that put it in this way: At a time when sin had become science; when angels could see no way but that God must wipe all the world out of existence; when wicked men in the world could see no other way but this; and that Satan himself feared that this would come, - when men and angels and Satan himself stood in fear and trembling of what would come because of the wickedness of the world, God instead of destroying it, sent his Son to save it; and astonished angels, men, and Satan. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.10
So, also, when everything in that false republic had come to the point where it must fall because of its failure, just at that point God established and set before the world the true republic of Christianity, with the divine life in it, to make it what it must be. He presented that to Rome, and wanted Rome to receive it. Rome could have received it. And if Rome had received it, God would have shown his power through that to the world. But under the inspiration of Satan, the republic of Rome warred against the republic of Christianity for two hundred and fifty years, and was at last forced to surrender. That victory was won by the republic of Christianity. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.11
But there the form of Christianity, without the power, was built up. The principles had been recognized, the forms had been adopted, but Satan was the life and inspiration of them. And thus the mystery of iniquity already worked. They had the profession of the principles, but they did not have the life of the principles, which is Jesus Christ. Satan became the life of those principles which they professed. And then this perverted form of the church, the perversion of the true Christian principles, seized on the governmental power, and professed to be the church. Every principle of Christianity was violated, every form was perverted, because their very life and inspiration were only Satan. That was, and is, the papacy, as Satanic then as now. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.12
That was Rome in another form, but it was the same policy all the way through. This policy, under the profession of the principles of peace by Rome, destroyed more than by any other nation, or any other power that ever was. The very power that pretended to be the vicegerent of the Prince of Peace was nothing but destruction. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.13
Thus it went on until the Reformation once more raised up the principles of Christianity, and called the multitudes to them. But as soon as the leaders with whom Christ was, who was the life of the principles, had passed away, men exalted themselves, and allowed this false spirit again to enter in. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.14
Thus Protestantism having the form without the power, the profession without the life, followed in the track of Romanism; and that makes the image of the beast. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.15
Now you see that the twelfth of Revelation is the counterpart of these two verses in the eighth of Daniel? There was Rome, the republic, standing in the world, to whom Christ sent his message, to whom he gave himself, - and there was this: “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth; and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.16
Now what power was it that stood ready to take the life of the child Jesus as soon as he was born? - Rome. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.17
But who was using Rome? - Satan. What power was it that spoke the word by which Christ was crucified at the last? GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.18
[Voices: Rome.] GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.19
But who was the inspiration that caused Rome to speak the word? GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.20
[Voices: Satan.] GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.21
The child was caught up unto God and to his throne; and then, after he had gone to heaven, the dragon made war against the woman which brought forth the man child. That is the church. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there 1,260 days; and the serpent, the dragon (who is he? He is named in so many words), Satan, cast out a flood after the woman. But the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood. So it passed through that period. Then “the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” There is the history until now. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 177.22
Now let us review. Let us go back and begin with Pharaoh. “For this cause have I raised thee up, to make known my power in thee.” Pharaoh would not have it so; so God made known his power without him. He brought his people out of Egypt, and dwelt with them, and gave them the true principles: but they apostatized from the Lord, and did not allow God to keep the heart, nor dwell in the life; they turned from the true principles, and said, Make us a king. Under protest, they received a king. And then the Lord would use the kingdom, even; but they allowed satanic principles to come in and pervert all that: and so the whole had to be swept away. Then they were carried to Babylon; and there he showed, in Nebuchadnezzar, in Darius, and in Cyrus, what he would do with kings. Coming on to Alexander, he showed him, as we read the other day; but he would not listen. Then a republic arose, - a government of the people, - and now God asks the question, Will the people listen to my voice? Will they let me use them? Will government of the people receive me? The Roman Republic would not. And that which stood for the church would not. Then he raised up Protestantism; and even it fails, and will not. Now there is the remnant church, and he wants to know whether you will. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.1
What God will do with those who will let him has been demonstrated. What did he do with Israel in Egypt? What did he do with Israel among the nations after they let God have them? - When each individual believed God, they crossed the Jordan on dry ground; the walls of Jericho fell before them; that is what God did when all the people, each individual, welcomed God into the life, and held Christ as all the inspiration of the life, and he will do it again. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.2
What he will do with the king who fears him is shown in David. What he will do with the king who will let him have him is shown in Nebuchadnezzar, is shown in Darius, is shown in Cyrus. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.3
What he will do with the people who will let him have them, is shown in the little flock, which he started out in the Roman Empire against all the power of the earth. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.4
What God can do with those who will let him have them is shown in the little flock in the Dark Ages. By these he kept alive the light of God, the glory of God, and the safety of nations, through the Dark Ages. He had his eye upon them. In the darkness he saw them; in persecution he sustained them, against all the power that the world could bring, and that Satan could muster through the perversions of men. God sustained them all the way through, and preserved a light in them, and made it burst out in its glory in the Reformation. But then men forgot that, and Satan crept in again, and perverted Protestantism, turned it off, and is now on the very verge of doing the same thing over again that he did in the papacy. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.5
God established this nation in his providence, for it to be a light of the world in liberty and peace, and all that God will make of men and nations. But Satan has been allowed to inhabit the form, and to become the inspiration of the principles, of the nation. And now the world only awaits the destruction that must inevitably come. But this government was warned against that. God sent messages to the House of Representatives over and over, he sent messages to the Senate over and over, he sent messages to the president standing in the White House, asking this nation to hold fast to these principles which God had given in the beginning. The nation abandoned those principles. Protestants have been told, and they have abandoned them. But God has yet one little flock in the world, - his precious remnant, to stand against the apostasy of Protestantism; to stand against the original apostasy, which made Romanism; and to stand against the apostasy of the republic. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.6
This little flock is God’s Christian republic, - a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, - God the Governor, and he governing each one alone, and that by the consent of the governed. That is Christianity. As was noticed in our lesson the other night, this remnant is the citadel of truth, and the only one that remains. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.7
Satan has obtained the victory in every one that went before. He swept away Babylon to his principles, against the light of God; he swept Persia to his principles against the light of God; Grecia, the same; Rome, the same; the early church, the same; Protestantism, the same. He swept away all against the light of God. And the Testimony has come to you and me, and it was read in this conference, that he has done that with this last citadel, - this little flock. Satan has come in, and has filled with his spirit the forms which God has given us. He has filled the forms and principles with his spirit, so that the true principles of Christianity do not shine to-day in the true church of God. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.8
That is where we are, brethren. And now against this little citadel, - against this little flock, - these last remains of the truth, this representative of the principles of Christ, - Satan turns all his power, all his attention, and all the influence he can muster from apostate Protestantism, from apostate Christianity that made Romanism, and apostate republicanism, - all the power of the earth is hurled by Satan to crush out this little flock. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.9
All his power has been turned first to insinuate himself into the forms which God has given us, to make it so that he shall be the life and the inspiration of the forms which we have, which God has given to this little flock. If he can do that, he is happy. He would rather do that than the other; so that by peace should he still destroy many. Satan would rather destroy people by peace than by war. And if the inspiration of Satan can be the inspiration of the Seventh-day Adventist cause, - if he can be the life of the principles which we profess, - he would be happier than he would be to sweep all away. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.10
But, thank the Lord, Jesus Christ lives in this little flock. He stands with the flock, and he leads the flock by his Spirit. In the Spirit of prophecy he will continue to lead. And this little flock is going to rise and shake off all the things that Satan has put upon it, and stand up clear and free in the light of God. And with the glory of God upon her, she will be as fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. And it is an army with banners; for God has said that into the hand of those who loves the third angel’s message, he has put a banner, to be held aloft, - “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.11
Now, brethren, you see where we are. Isn’t it a time to pray? Isn’t it a time to seek God? Isn’t it a time to know, each one for himself, that I must govern myself, myself for myself, by myself, in Jesus Christ? And if I can not control myself; if I speak things that should not be spoken; if I do, even in conference, things which ought not to be done, I am not governing myself; I have not the control of myself which makes me a Christian. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.12
Now I call attention to something you who were in the last General Conference will remember. You who were there, and know the spirit of that day, know certainly that this day is that day over again. The same solemnity in the atmosphere, the same solemn conviction that God gives to his cause and his people, are here to-day that were there that day. Now that day I read a passage in a Testimony, - you will remember it, - that principles had been adopted, and practices had been followed, that “were suggested by the very fallen angel who had deceived Eve in the garden of Eden.” All who were in that conference remember that sentence. Then, who, at that time, was the inspiration of this cause? We are sorry for it, that is true; but, brethren, let us not dodge it. Let us face it, and get clear of it. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.13
[Voices: Amen.] GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.14
I will read a sentence over again that I read to you the other day, and another one with it in the same paragraph, and it is next to the last thing that has come from Australia. It pictures first the greed of the moneyed men of the world: how they rob the poor and oppress men. Men cry out against it, but still they go on oppressing, robbing. It pictures that first: and you know how the world is groaning under it. Then: “The greed of the moneyed men increases as it is indulged, and this spirit will rule the church unless its members are followers of Christ. ‘Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.’” Now this sentence follows right in: “This worldly policy has wrestled for the victory among Seventh-day Adventists, and the principles which should have been kept pure and unadulterated have been overcome, and selfishness has come into the very courts of the Lord.” That is the truth, brethren. The Testimonies have been printed, and you have read them, that unless we live steadily with God, and seek him earnestly and anew each day and each hour, we shall change leaders and not know it. How does that look? These principles have been overcome, and this spirit has entered into the very courts of the Lord? Then who is the leader? But do you want it said in so many words right here? “The Lord has permitted those who did not love the light, who departed from a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ to walk in the sparks of the fire of their own kindling; but he says, ‘They shall lie down in sorrow.’” Brethren, let us rise up in joy, - in the joy of the Lord, by a sincere repentance, by sincere confession, not one for the crowd, but each one for himself alone; for Christianity is government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and the people is each man for himself alone with God. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.15
Brethren, there have not been enough repentance and confession in this conference yet. God has brought us to our knees twice in confession, and once in thanksgiving and prayer, brought the whole conference to our knees three times. Brethren, let us stay there. That is where we must stay. “This condition of things has been created in our conferences, and in our churches, under a religious cloak which has existed in the world. Confederacies have been formed to make their showing stand out as superior, and they have gained the name of having done a large work in their responsible positions of trust. They have flattered themselves that they were doing God service when they were establishing principles of robbery - rules that were not after God’s order at all, but which revealed the very attributes of Satan.” GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.16
That is plain enough. It tells us that Satan has insinuated himself into the perfect organization which God has made, and which he showed to Brother Loughborough. But, brethren, what is God’s perfect organization, with Satan as the inspiration of it? What is God’s perfect organization, so long as Satan inhabits it and actuates it? Does not this call for repentance, and confession, and seeking the Lord, each for himself, such as there has not yet been? Shall we not pray God to cleanse his own temple? But when God goes about to oust Satan, and to destroy the wicked principles which are Satan’s attributes, - unless we, each one for himself, are thoroughly converted, and standing in the light of God, we shall think that God is destroying the organization, when he is only destroying the wicked principles of Satan in the organization. I am afraid that a mistake has been made already. I am afraid that some in the conference have already made the mistake, that when messages have come asking us to examine principles, to study carefully what God wanted us to study, of organization, we have trembled for organization. God has made the organization, and he will stand by it. Tremble, brethren, for the wicked principles that have inhabited it! Tremble for my soul, and tremble for your soul, if we are led by these wicked principles that have inhabited that organization which God has built. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.17
God gave to Brother Loughborough the message which he brought to us from God, - that there is the organization, as God has formed it, and it must be fed, it must be fed. The voice came to him from heaven, “It must be fed.” Principles are the only food of the spiritual life. Now when God gives to us the message as he has, “It must be fed,” the organization is all right; only it must be fed, it is starving for the true light of Christ. God formed this body; it is perfect; it is God’s, but it must be fed. With what must it be fed? - With principles from heaven. But what has been its life? What food has it been feeding upon? - Principles which are the very attributes of Satan. Brethren, isn’t it time each one of us sought the Lord to save us from this? GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.18
Here is another, that came lately. It was written July 29, 1898, but I received it in November. It is simply illustrative of the whole situation: “‘And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her [the church who are obeying a “Thus saith the Lord”] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.’ Why is this statement made that ‘these are the true sayings of God?’ Why is this statement made? - Because it is in contradiction to the statements made by the world that Christ changed the seventh-day Sabbath to the first day of the week. There are thousands upon thousands who bear aloft the standard of the world’s sabbath, exalting the image of the papacy created by the man of sin. The church worship the image of the beast, and receive his mark, even as the inhabitants of Babylon worshiped the golden image which Nebuchadnezzar set up in the Plain of Dura. The church of God was captive in Babylon, deeply tried, deeply humiliated. The glory had departed from Israel; the sons and daughters of Judah were captive; and the sacred vessels of the sanctuary had become the property of the spoiler. Their beautiful temple was in ruins, and Ichabod, Ichabod, the glory is departed from Israel, was heard in songs of lamentation.” Listen! “The outward ordinances had been allowed to take the place of God; ceremonial observances were worshiped, while Christ, the foundation of all their ceremonial service, was lost sight of.” How does that look as between these? “We have perfect organization; we have the perfect forms of God.” But what has been the life of it? - Not Christ, but Satan. “Saith the Word, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.’ Notwithstanding the external disadvantages, there were those who in their captivity had songs to sing, in the night of discouragement. The Lord permitted them to be broken up until they should find in him their center of attraction.” GCDB March 7, 1899, page 178.19
Not in their forms, not in their ceremonies, but in him, their center of attraction. God forbid that he should have to permit us to be broken up. But he will do it, if he can not bring us to find our center of attraction in Christ and in no other way. Why was it that the temple in the days of Christ was not left one stone upon another? - Because Christ had to go out and depart from it. If Christ could have stayed with that temple, it would have stood until this day; and it would have glorified God until this day. Brethren, if God can not bring you and me in this General Conference where we shall find our attraction in Christ, I most sincerely fear that before there would be opportunity for another General Conference to be held, we would be so broken up that we would not know what to do to have one. If he can not bring us to the center of attraction as he is, he will have us broken up until we do find in him our center of attraction. There was the trouble with Israel. They had the temple; that was their defense; but God was not worshiped in the temple. Satan was the inspiration of all the forms and principles which they professed. God had to sweep all away, and send them into captivity, where they could not celebrate the forms of their religion. No sacrifices were offered in Babylon. There they sat down and wept when they remembered Zion. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.1
Brethren, I do not want God to bring me to the day when I shall weep when I remember this day. I want this day to be the day of weeping. I want this day to be the day of confession. I want this day to be the day of seeking God, so that we shall find in Christ our center of attraction, so that God may lift us up, and crown us with his glory, and make us what the temple of the Lord must be in this world. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.2
“If they would humble their proud hearts, and confess their sins, he would compensate them for the loss sustained.” GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.3
That is the thing that we must do. We must humble our proud hearts, and lean on God. Light was given to Daniel for the very time in which we are now living. By the River Hiddekel Daniel saw what would take place in the latter days. What vision was that by the River Hiddekel? - That of the eighth chapter, - the one which we are studying here, where this wicked policy got in. And the thing that made it so destructive in practice was the false spirit that was allowed to be in it. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.4
[W. W. Prescott: And the cleansing of the sanctuary is there, too.] GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.5
Yes, it is all there. That has called for a cleansing of the temple in our day, and in you and in me. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.6
In General Conference two years ago, it was read, and it has been printed, and you have read it: “God is about to turn and overturn in the institutions that are called by his name.” That is so. Think a moment. It does not say that God is about to turn and overturn the institutions. The institutions are all right. But he “is about to turn and overturn IN the institutions” because of the wicked spirit that inhabits the institutions. That work has begun. It began before the General Conference assembled, and it is going on now in the General Conference. God has begun it, and it will not stop. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.7
These things are worth considering. Here we are, each one of us; and the Lord wants us to take hold of this matter to-day. Each one of us must say, Lord, carry on thine own work thine own self in thine own way. Send by whom thou wilt send, speak by whom thou wilt speak, work by whom thou wilt work. And when thou speakest by whom thou wilt speak, we will hear. When thou sendest by whom thou wilt send, we will receive him. When thou dost work by whomsoever thou wilt work, we will co-operate with him. We will put nothing in his way, we will form no schemes to block his progress, we will not think he is destroying the institution; but that God is to turn and overturn in the institution, until the principles of Jesus Christ shall shine in their purity. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.8
I will not take more time; for this covers the ground. You see it, and it is all in that wicked policy, - this policy which causes craft to prosper. It is time that everything that would suggest craftiness, everything that might seem like covering up or obscuring, should be put far from us, and that forever. We must call upon God to find the men whom he will use to correct things in these institutions. We must call upon him to select men who will carry out these principles to the letter. There are reforms to be effected. God is going to weigh every action in the balance of the sanctuary. He is going to investigate every principle and every transaction of business in our institutions, and in our conferences; and he is going to investigate every one of these things in the light that shines from the throne of God. He is going to sift everything and everybody with that sieve which selects only the precious wheat. Shall we stand the sifting? We must decide for ourselves, now and here, whether we can stand in the blessed light that shines from the throne of God. Business transactions, conferences, motives, principles, - all will have to bear the searching power of that light, and can we stand it? That is the question. It has been written, and you have read it in the paper, that “many are now being weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and pronounced wanting.” GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.9
Also: “We are now in the time when all who are working in Christ’s lines will bear the mark of God in character, in words, in actions, and in their honor of Immanuel. God is putting his seal upon the faithful ones; he pronounces the sentence, “Wanting” upon those who are wanting. What shall we do? Shall we not cut loose? GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.10
Here is where God is giving us light and truth. But the question is, What are we going to do when we come down from the mount? God has said that this thing must be done; but how can we search out principles, how can we do that which the Lord asks us to do and says must be done, unless we ourselves stand in the light? GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.11
May the Lord save us. May he save us from ourselves. That is the only salvation we need. The only salvation that I need is salvation from myself. Shall we not seek it? There is an illustration right here before us. That stranger-brother stood here last night, and on Friday, and talked for a long time, - not too long, though, - telling us how the Lord was leading him. The Lord brought in that man to testify to the whole congregation that God is leading us. Why should we not recognize it as well as they? Brethren, that is only an intimation of what God is going to do when we put ourselves where Christ is the one center of attraction to each one and to the whole. Then when we assemble together, God will be so in the midst that when strangers come among us, and go out again, even though they may say nothing, they will feel so hungry and so lonesome that they can not rest until they come back again. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.12
That brother told us the story of how the Lord was leading him, and we all rejoiced in it. We all recognized that God was leading him. Brethren, in kindness, in perfect charity, let me ask you a question: How many presidents of conferences and conference committees are there here who are ready to have that man come into their conference, and work, led as he has been, and as the Lord is now leading him? How many are there who would not be ready to say, “O he is so hard to manage”? GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.13
See how he prayed and asked us to pray, last night, that when he went home, he should do nothing that would offend; but that every word which should be spoken should be in the gentleness of Christ, so that none who heard him would be offended, or pained, or driven from Christ! O, we need that same prayer! God is bringing such to the truth. He has brought others already, and we must comfort them, and be a blessing to them. They must not be disappointed in us, in the things which Christ caused them to expect. We must comfort them, and give them good cheer forever. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.14
Shall we not turn this hour into confession and prayer and seeking God? God has been disappointed in what he has found in us; he has not been allowed to have the home that belongs to him; he has been shut out of his own house - the Lord’s house. Brethren, let us welcome him in; let us seek the Lord to-day, and welcome him into his own house, as the head of the house, as the householder, and we the children in the house, to be taught by him, to be fed from our Master’s table, yea, from his hand. What do you say, brethren? [Amen.] Shall we pray? and shall more than one pray? Let us not be so ready to get off our knees; let us be willing to stay on our knees until God has done something for us. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.15
SOUTH LANCASTER ACADEMY
South Lancaster, Mass. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.16
The success which has attended South Lancaster Academy during the past two years has been proportionate to the amount of consecration which has characterized the workers. Our knowledge of the amount of consecration being very meager, the record must be more or less inaccurate. The purpose in this report is to call attention to such portions of the work as may be of interest to the delegates at this conference. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.17
The board of managers and the instructors have sought to keep the work of the institution up with the advancing light on the subject of education in every line, giving special attention to the common branches, and seeking to teach every subject in such a way as to show that it is really a part of the science of sciences, which is salvation through Jesus Christ. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.18
For years a cloud of financial embarrassment has hung over the institution; and as this cloud seemed only to grow thicker and darker from year to year, it was decided, in harmony with the instruction given at the last session of the General Conference, to secure a business manager, whose duty it was to give his entire attention to its financial interests. One result, as indicated by the treasurer’s report for June 1, 1898, is the reduction of the indebtedness about three thousand dollars. One effort for relief was to secure for the academy a helpmeet, - an adopted daughter of the Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association. So out of an apparent evil good has come. It is becoming more and more evident that the education in our schools should be coupled with special training in medical lines. A knowledge of nursing, how to diagnose and treat common diseases, is essential to the success of the workers in all parts of the great harvest field. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.19
This fact, along with an increasing demand for church-school teachers, has led the Academy to insert in its calendar a two years’ normal course for Christian workers. This includes the study of anatomy, physiology and hygiene, the science of teaching, mental and moral science, the theory and practice of teaching, of nursing, of Christian Help work, and of how to give Bible readings. These are intended to be practical throughout. In each year of all the courses, in every department, Bible is placed first. So far as our experience goes, text-books published by our own publishers have proved to be much better adapted to our school needs than those published by other houses. With other books, the following have been adopted in our classes: “The Gospel Reader;” “Bell’s Language Series;” “Kellogg’s Physiologies;” “Empires of the Bible,” and “The Great Empires of Prophecy,” by Elder A. T. Jones; and “Potter’s Geographies,” by Miss E. H. Morton. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.20
One of the most important and perplexing questions pertaining to the work of our school is that of amusements and useful labor. Is it asking too much of this conference to devote some time to the consideration of this subject, in its relation to our school work? Our experience has been that it has required no less time to regulate amusements than it would have required to conduct physical labor departments. Indeed, without useful exercise for students, there can be nothing but failure in school work. The only way to remedy the difficulty is to provide practical physical labor, whereby our young people may continually work off their surplus energy in gaining more. We believe that for both teachers and students some hours of physical labor every day would be conducive to physical, mental and moral health. We are glad to say that an Agricultural Department has been established in connection with South Lancaster Academy, having an expert gardener at its head. Twenty-four acres of land have recently been purchased for gardening purposes. A good barn has been erected for the use of the department, and eight cows furnish milk for the use of the students. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.21
We are also pleased to report that some good brethren in our district have entered into a private enterprise for the formation of what is known as the New England Broom & Brush Co. Several students are learning the trade, and about 140 dozen brooms have been manufactured. At the last annual session of stockholders it was recommended that other private enterprises be established for the benefit of the school. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.22
The enrollment during ‘96 and ‘97 was 139; of ‘97 and ‘98, 152; of ‘98 and ‘99, to date, 115. There were three graduates in 1897, and one in 1898. These are either engaged in the work, or making preparations for it. There will be four graduates this year. About thirty-five of our ex-students are now taking medical, or nurse courses in the Medical College, or in the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Others have gone to the Battle Creek College, two have entered the ministry, and others have gone out as Bible workers, canvassers, or teachers. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 179.23
The Academy home is now experimenting upon the European plan of boarding. All the young ladies but one are taking work in the sewing department. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.1
Classes in cooking are formed each year for both ladies and gentlemen. But it is not the past so much as the present that needs consideration to-day. What we are doing, and what we ought to do, are the momentous questions which now confront us. We therefore call attention to some of the needs of South Lancaster Academy. It needs a more direct and practical connection with the work in its various departments through those who have been active laborers in the field. It needs the assistance which can be rendered by the Sanitarium which is soon to be established in the East Home building. It needs a bakery to supply its own health foods, and the demands of our New England towns. It needs farming implements; and in the near future it will need a canning factory for the preserving of small fruits, tomatoes, corn, etc. It needs about $3,500 to wipe out the debt which has in various ways been accumulating ever since it began its existence. But most of all we need the endowment of the Holy Spirit, which will supply not only all the above needs, but lead to that deep, thorough, and complete consecration which in Christ will enable us to reach the high and holy standard of perfection. J. H. HAUGHEY. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.2
WALLA WALLA COLLEGE
Walla Walla College is now doing its seventh year’s work. The number enrolled at the beginning of the year was 114. The present enrollment is 218, with an excellent prospect of continual increase. This compares by no means unfavorably with the enrollment of former years. Visitors at the college are impressed with the intelligent appearance of the students, many of whom are attending the school for the first time, and are doing earnest work in preparation for usefulness in the Master’s cause. All seem to be willing to have their faults corrected, and anxious to obtain the greatest possible amount of good. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.3
Concerning the character of the work from a spiritual standpoint, I can say that there has been a marked improvement since the beginning of the year. Never in the history of the school were there so many unconverted students as at the beginning of this year. Now there are but few of the students who are not enjoying a rich experience in the things of God. During the week of prayer, more than fifty students were baptized. There have been no great demonstrations, yet the students have been deeply moved by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit. The result has been a careful searching of heart, and a thorough consecration to the work of God. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.4
The most advanced classes in the school are well filled. Continual progress has been made, and we feel that the work has been carried on in such a way that all who have a mind to improve can develop rapidly. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.5
We have made some additions to our work since last year. A thoroughly equipped business department is now an important feature of the school. A large number of earnest young men and women are taking work in this department, and we feel that it is a strength to the institution. The work is so arranged that students taking the full commercial course in one year can also take Bible. Thus while they are preparing for places of usefulness and trust in the work of God, they will not be losing the spirit of the message, so that they will desire to enter some worldly enterprise. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.6
Another new feature of our work is the broom factory. This provides work for a number of faithful young men who could not otherwise attend school. It also enables them to learn a useful trade, and gives them right views of manual labor. The factory is now in full operation, and one dozen students are working from two to six hours a day. Several orders for brooms and brushes have already been filled. This feature of our work will be enlarged as fast as there is sufficient demand. In the Bible department there has been a special class formed for those who are planning to enter the work soon. This class is well filled, consisting of over twenty of our best students, and meets daily. The book of Revelation is made the basis of the study, and those special features of our work which every minister and Bible worker should be best acquainted with are carefully considered. Essays, Bible readings, and class talks are given by the students; and the young men who are preparing for the ministry are gaining experience by visiting some of the neighboring churches in the conference. Walla Walla affords an excellent field for missionary and Bible work. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.7
Our new bakery is no small feature of the industrial work. It is a much better plant than we expected at first, being a building 26 x 48 ft., and costing about $3,200. Our first intention was to put up a much smaller building; but the demand for health foods has grown; and in view of the high freight rates into this section, the people have contributed liberally to the enterprise. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.8
Concerning the agricultural department, I will say that we have 90 7/8 acres of farming land, and twenty-seven lots of orchard and garden under cultivation, giving employment to a number of students during the greater part of the school illustration elsewhere shows the main year, and all the summer months. All the buildings and improvements of the institution are in excellent condition. The building only, the barn and other improvements being behind the hill. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.9
The evidences of God’s fostering care were never more numerous or more clear than they have been during the portion of the year already passed; and the freedom from sickness, the quiet and earnest deportment of the students, together with an enrollment much larger than we had dared hope for, all show the power and mercy of Him who founded the college, and whose presence and blessing have made it what it is. W. R. SUTHERLAND. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.10
Report of the Corresponding Secretary of the International Sabbath School Association. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.11
During the two years that have elapsed since the last session of the International Sabbath-school Association, we have endeavored faithfully to carry out the plans made at that meeting, and we esteem it a privilege with you to take a glance at the work that has been done. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.12
The first recommendation, that our Sabbath-schools make a special study of the Saviour’s method of teaching by the use of objects, has received considerable attention both in the Worker and through correspondence. A special effort has been made to suggest in the lesson notes of each Worker some simple object lesson or illustration. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.13
In harmony with the second and third recommendations we have endeavored to make the instruction in the Sabbath-school Worker as practicable as possible, and, in order to encourage all its readers to contribute freely, have had a number of symposiums on the most timely subjects we could find. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.14
The fourth recommendation suggested that a greater effort be made to interest the children in the regular church service by adapting the instruction to their needs. In Michigan, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Atlantic, Ohio, North Pacific, and California associations this has been more or less carried out. In many of these associations one Sabbath in each month has been set apart for this special service, and while the older people are invited and expected to be present, the lesson is particularly adapted to the children. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.15
Recommendation five was made for the purpose of securing uniformity and avoiding confusion in reporting and forwarding donations, but, owing to the prejudice in the minds of many against tithing the money intended for the Haskell Home, and also on account of the day for the donation being the first Sabbath in the quarter, there has been much confusion regarding this subject, and how to adjust the difficulty is a leading question in some associations. Many are looking to this conference to decide the matter. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.16
If our present system of giving our surplus Sabbath-school donations to missions is continued, the plan of special donations on special days should be abandoned. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.17
FOREIGN ASSOCIATIONS
We have been much interested in the work in our foreign associations. Some changes have been made in the last two years. A union conference was organized in the European field last July, and a secretary appointed to have a general oversight of the Sabbath-school work in this field. This includes the associations of Great Britain, Central Europe, Germany and Russia, and Scandinavia. There seems to be a good interest in the Sabbath-school work in these fields. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.18
The work in Africa is reported as steadily on the increase. The membership two years ago was 350; now it is 500. Little Sabbath-schools are organized wherever they start other lines of work. In many of their schools it is necessary to have, besides the English, classes in Dutch and German, and in some cases the Kaffir language. A Sabbath-school convention was held not long ago in Cape Town for the purpose of studying better methods of conducting this work. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.19
In New South Wales and New Zealand the Sabbath-school associations have been merged into the conference organization. This places all the burdens of conference, tract society, and Sabbath-school work upon one president and one secretary. From the reports received we judge that this results in the Sabbath-school work being considered last, and often not at all. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.20
The work is onward in South America, notwithstanding the difficulties, in the shape of bad roads, and faulty mails, and diversity of languages, that have to be met. New schools are being organized, and the lessons from the “Little Friend” are now translated into the Spanish for their use. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.21
A general meeting was recently held in this field, in which ten schools were represented. One entire day was devoted to the children. A great improvement could be seen in these children compared with their condition two years ago. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.22
Encouraging progress is seen in the schools in British Guiana, and we have good reports from our faithful workers among the islands of the sea. Although their work has to be carried on under great disadvantages, they are not discouraged. We were glad to send them fresh supplies of papers, etc., by the “Pitcairn” when she started a few weeks ago on her sixth voyage. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.23
FUTURE NEEDS
1. Our first and greatest need, it will be conceded by all, is the Holy Spirit, but aside from this it has been suggested by several secretaries that one of our great needs for the future of our work is trained workers. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.24
Of our forty-five organized Sabbath-school associations only two have the same president now that they had two years ago, and twenty-three have had a change of secretaries. The great majority of these officers have other burdens in the conference, tract society, Signs work, and other lines of work, so that with many of them the Sabbath-school work must take second or third place as regards their time and thought. How can good work be done this way? How can State officers train and discipline the local workers when they have had no training themselves and have in many cases hardly half their time to give to the study of this work? The new secretaries have taken hold of this work with a will. They are interested in it and are anxious to do the best they can, but of necessity it takes some time for them to become acquainted with the needs of their schools and the best methods of working. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.25
2. Another great need is uniformity of action. While all the plans mentioned above are good and have their place it has seemed to me that much more might be accomplished if all would work unitedly along the one line of more thorough Bible study. The other plans and efforts would all come in their place as auxiliaries, but this is the one great object for which our schools were organized and should be kept first and foremost in the minds of our workers. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.26
3. We would mention as desirable the co-operation of all laborers. Many of the secretaries feel that they have not received the support and help from the ministers in this work that they should receive. If the state officers are not allowed their full time to work among the schools, then surely the visiting ministers should do all they can to make up for this lack. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.27
We have long looked forward to this meeting as a time when we could counsel with those interested in this work, and when plans could be made to advance its interests. As we have heard intimations that changes might be made in the organization we have felt anxious that the importance of the work might be kept in mind and that provisions should be made for more and better work to be done by well trained and intelligent workers rather than that the amount of work should be lessened. We feel much encouraged by the many omens of good that we see, and believe that if all will unitedly take hold of the work we shall see much more good accomplished through it than we have in the past and many souls saved in the kingdom of God by its influence. GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.28
ALBERTA LITTLE.
“God is looking for co-workers.” GCDB March 7, 1899, page 180.29
EXTRA
The Daily Bulletin
Of the General Conference
“We are laborers together with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9.