General Conference Daily Bulletin, vol. 1
March 4, 1897
32ND SESSION. - LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, - VOL. 1. - NO. 15
General Conference Daily Bulletin,
PUBLISHED DAILY BY THE
GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.
Terms, 35 Cents for the Session. JACOB NORTH & CO., PRINTERS, LINCOLN, NEB. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 241.1
Last Cruise of the “Pitcairn.” J. E. GRAHAM. (Thursday Evening, Feb. 25, 1897.)
WHILE we go to the islands of the sea, our business is not commerce, but the carrying of the message that God has given this generation. And in the providence of the Lord our missionary vessel, the “Pitcairn,” has been completed, and sent out on five different occasions to carry this message. It has been my privilege to be with the vessel on three different voyages. I will briefly go over the islands that have missionary stations, and then perhaps will tell you something about the islands farther westward, where we have no missionary establishments. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 241.2
I will first point out on the map our South Sea Island mission. It is the largest mission field we have so far as extent is concerned, but the least area of land, and the fewest people. But as God in his Word has said that the gospel of this message shall go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and that the isles shall wait for his law; and has also spoken through his agency whom he has chosen for these last days, that is, the Spirit of Prophecy, and told us that we are to build a vessel, he has also given us comfort concerning the ship that in his providence his people have been able to send out. The Lord in a later testimony has said that should this vessel become disabled, or lost in any way, another should be built to carry this message; and so we read that the message must go to the isles of the sea. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 241.3
I will point out the extent of the South Sea Islands. The most of our mission field lies south of the equator. Let us start out with the “Pitcairn” from San Francisco. On the last trip, we left San Francisco May 19. We did not have a very full list of passengers, - Brother and Sister Whatley, Brother and Sister Joseph Green (of Battle Creek), Elder Dexter and wife (of California), and two other brethren. We sailed southerly. After getting a little way out from San Francisco, we usually have a northwest or northerly wind, and when we get a little farther south, the wind hauls to the northeast, and we get what we call the north-east trade winds. These are winds blowing regularly and constantly during the entire year; and that takes us down to the equator, where we have another belt of wind, which blows in almost every direction, and in almost no direction, with frequent rain showers. It is difficult to get across this belt, especially so for those unaccustomed to the sea, because of the tossing of the vessel, and the consequent sea-sickness. Just north from the equator from this belt, we have the northeast trade winds, and they blow almost directly from the south. Sometimes they make head winds, so beating the masts that we make almost no progress at all. But after a time we get to sail, and proceed to Pitcairn Island. The last time it took twenty-two days to get to Pitcairn. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 241.4
Question. - What is the usual length of time required to go to Pitcairn? GCDB March 4, 1897, page 241.5
Thirty to thirty-six days. Some vessels make it in less time. There are a few islands east of Pitcairn. Pitcairn Island is classed among the Pomotos. It is of volcanic origin, a high mountain, as you all know. But this group of islands is coral, and it is dangerous to sail among them. I will speak briefly of the work on Pitcairn Island. During the past few years the brethren have conceived the idea of having a school something after the plan of the school in Texas - the industrial plan. They began to saw out lumber from the trees that grow on the island, and erected two large boarding homes. They still use the church for the school-house, that is the old church, and another building added to it for the church. They began school last February with some degree of success. Sister Hattie Andre, who is here with us, can tell us more about the work of the school. They are willing to be taught, and are a very kind-hearted people. There are some devoted, conscientious Christian people among them; they love the third angel’s message, and donate to the Sabbath-school and foreign missions. By contributions and in other ways they try to help forward the work of the gospel. You have here at the college building some curios which were brought from Pitcairn Island. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 241.6
We will pass on to the islands west. The Fiji islands are a little north, and about three thousand miles west of Pitcairn. Thus you see we have quite an extensive field, if not so great in population. We will first call at the Society Islands. A few years ago a native half-caste preacher accepted the message, and he taught the Sabbath, and quite a number of the church that he had supervised accepted the truth. Some of our missionaries were sent down there to assist in the work, and they preached the truth a little straighter, and almost all of the old ones have been cut off by the straightness of the message, and others have come in to take their places. Brother and Sister Cady, from Wisconsin, have been there for about three years. I think he has become sufficiently acquainted with the language to speak quite well to the natives in their own tongue, and the Lord is blessing Brother and Sister Cady very much in their work. During the past year especially, the Lord has seemed to bless in bringing into the truth natives of the better class than those who first came in. Men of more influence, men of means and of some property, have accepted the truth. They have taken their stand decidedly and understandingly for the truth. They have not come in because some one else did. There are some thirty or forty who are interested in the truth in this field. We have two churches. Elder Cady says that he finds in this group of islands very bright and intelligent children. The influences surrounding them have a tendency to drag them down, to debase them, and take them away from the influences of the work of God; so Elder Cady and his wife have taken six into their family, and have almost adopted them. They are calling for some one to come down there who can perhaps rent a piece of ground, and establish some kind of a home where such promising children can be taken care of, and trained for mission workers. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 242.1
Elder Cady has found in his work that it would not be the most desirable thing to do, to ask for any more workers from America, but rather to train native workers there; and, in fact, in the printing work there they are endeavoring to raise up and train natives to do that work. He is also encouraging those who are brought into the truth there, to carry the message of truth to others in that group of islands; and we believe this is the way the truth will go to those who live in the islands. Those who understand the ways and habits and language of the natives, will be better able to carry the truth to others. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 242.2
We have a small hand printing-press continually at work, turning out literature in the Tahitian language, and the people receive it readily, and read it. And so the truth is being sent to the different islands, and is leavening the hearts of the people. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 242.3
We cannot dwell too long upon the work in Tahiti. We might spend the entire evening telling you about the people there. It is not like going to some foreign country, for the English people who go there to live, feel just about as much at home as the people living in this country. They have their regular lines of communication and travel with the outside world. There are vessels sailing between San Francisco and the Society Islands, one coming in every month; and the people have their roads, have some very fine houses, and their horses and carriages; and the natives themselves have wagons, horses, etc., so they are quite civilized. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 242.4
We will pass on to the island of Rurutu, which is situated about three hundred miles south of the Society Islands. This is where Brother and Sister Stringer are located. This island is a small one, being only five or six miles long, and about a mile and a half wide. It is quite hilly. The hills are perhaps two thousand feet high. It has a population of about seven hundred or eight hundred people, nearly all of whom profess to be Christians. Brother and Sister Stringer have been doing what they could for the natives, and are endeavoring to learn the native language. The people are very kind, and Brother and Sister Stringer have been able to do them some good. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 242.5
The Lord has wonderfully blessed their ministrations to them in their sufferings, and they have become very much attached to our missionaries. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 243.1
Now the people of the South Sea Islands are very far superior to the original people of this country, the Indians. They are quite an intellectual looking people. However, they are not as intellectual as they appear to be; but they have a very fine physical appearance, and some have pleasant features, and are capable of being instructed. The people of Rurutu, especially, are very fine people. The people of these islands are very sympathetic and kind-hearted, and those who labor with them become very much attached to them; and the people themselves become very much attached to the laborers. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 243.2
We will pass now on westward, to the Island of Rimatara. It is only about ninety feet high, and it has a population of about four hundred or five hundred people. There seems to be excellent opportunities here for self-supporting missionaries. They could make their living upon this island, and be able to carry the truth to the people. Those who will volunteer to go, we will be glad to take to the island. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 243.3
We will next notice the Cook Islands, where Dr. Caldwell, and Elder Rice and his wife, are located. The people there keep Sunday on the Sabbath; that is, they keep Sunday on the same day that we keep the Sabbath, and so there is no conflict in regard to the time of the Sabbath there, so far as we are concerned. Dr. Caldwell has been engaged in medical missionary work, and he has spent all the time he could in studying the native language, and has become somewhat acquainted with it. Elder Rice and wife have been engaged in teaching. They are doing a good work for the people. There is a demand at the present time for good schools, and they are calling for teachers; and we were very sorry that we had no teachers to leave with them on the last trip. This island is a protectorate of the British government, and they have a native governor who is doing what he can to teach the people to govern themselves. Some of the members of Parliament were very much disappointed because we did not bring a teacher for them. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 243.4
We will pass along westward to a little island called Palmerston, which is about two hundred miles west of the Cook Islands, and is formed by a coral reef. It is what we call one of the atolls, or lagoon islets. It has a small reef, almost circular in form, and upon the outer edge of the reef are small islands. The island has a very small population, only about forty-three persons living upon it. We asked them about their religious experience, and about the missionary operations on the island. They said they had had a missionary (that is, a native missionary), but at the present time there was no missionary there. They, however, study the Bible, and have two services on Sabbath, and two or three services during the week, conducted by one of the young men. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 243.5
Now we will have to pass on to Samoa, which is to the westward. The population of this island is about thirty thousand, and I think the London Missionary claims something like ten thousand or fifteen thousand as belonging to their society. The Catholics claim about five thousand. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 243.6
We will now go down to the Tongan Islands. These are several hundred miles south. The population is from nineteen thousand to twenty thousand. They have their own government, by their own native king. On this trip we left Brother and Sister Butz and Sister Maria Young there. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 243.7
The people keep the same day there that we do here. They are just across the day line. They keep Sunday on the Sabbath. We might spend the evening in telling you about the Island of Tonga. The people there are strong, hearty, and robust. The Wesleyans are established there. The people profess conversion. The Catholics are there, and have been for a number of years. The Wesleyans have a man there who became very officious, and obtained a political position, and induced the king to proclaim himself as head of the church, and this man his premier; and then the proclamation went out that the people had to join the king’s church. Many of the people could not understand why they should separate from the church they loved, and go over to the king’s church, and some of them would not do it; they even suffered death before they would yield. And, brethren and sisters, we believe that that will be a fruitful field for the third angel’s message, as fruitful as any of the South Sea Islands. In his last report, Brother E. Hilliard said they had some twenty-five or thirty natives in their Sabbath-school, and he has become able to read in their native tongue. Twenty-five or thirty of them are attending their Bible readings. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 243.8
At Fiji we have Brother Cole and his wife, and Elder Fulton. They are endeavoring to learn the native language. The Fiji Islands are very thickly populated. According to the latest statistics they have about ten thousand Indians, - people from India brought over to labor on the sugar plantations. They are brought there with the understanding that they will be taken back at the end of ten years; but many come there to stay. The island is a possession of Great Britain. They have a government controlled by the crown, and they have a great many officials. They tax the natives and the people almost to death to keep up the government, and so in some respects it is a hard place to live. The native king of the Fiji Island, some years ago, gave the island to the queen. She received it, and now the natives are reaping some of the fruits of their generous gift. Not many years ago the highest chief of the island wanted to make a visit, but regulations had been passed that the natives of one island should not go to any other island of the same group, without permission from the authorities. This chief, who lived on the north side of the island, wanted to go to another island just to the north, but the authorities tried to prevent his going. This incensed the people very much, and has caused the feeling against the white people to be very bitter; but by the power and Spirit of God, we hope that the third angel’s message may still go to that people. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 244.1
There is a certain kinship, as it were, between the Society, Tahitian, and the Cook Islands, but languages of the different islands are generally different. The people of the Samoan Islands cannot understand the people of Tahiti. It would be easier, of course, after having learned one of these languages, to learn the others. Brethren, I trust that we will give ourselves to the work wherever God may call us. If the Lord calls us to go to the islands of the sea, may we have the heart to go there. May the Lord bless you and give you the missionary spirit. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 244.2
Spiritual and Physical Sickness. DAVID PAULSON, M. D. (Sunday Morning, Feb. 28, 1897.)
SOME of the principles that have been coming to us lately show us the relation that we should sustain to the gospel of health. Here is a statement which I will read that will furnish a foundation for what I have to say:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 244.3
The ministers in our land should become intelligent upon health reform. They need to become acquainted with the science of physiology. If they will be intelligent in regard to the laws that govern physical life, and their bearings upon the health of mind and soul, then they will be able to speak correctly upon this subject. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 244.4
The need of healthful habits is a part of the gospel which must be presented to the people by those who hold forth the word of life. The importance of the health of the body is to be taught as a Bible requirement. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 244.5
This is a subject which needs to be presented to the people. The question of health reform is not agitated as it must and will be. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 244.6
When these statements are read the impression is very apt to be created that it is an impossible task; that the bewildering mass that one would have to study in order to acquire this ability cannot be compassed by us; that we cannot trace out all the relations between sickness and health. Oftentimes the Lord’s requirements seem to us impossibilities, but as we approach them they become possible and practicable. The Lord does not at this day require the workers to leave their work and spend long years trying to unravel the mysteries of the medical profession. The fact is that spiritual and physical laws lie almost parallel - side by side each other. Having obtained a segment of the circle of truth, whether it be a physical or a spiritual law, one may easily complete the circle. The discovery of this fact - that spiritual and natural truths lie parallel, and correspond with each other - gave me great joy. If we learn how God works in the spiritual realm, we can know how he works in physical things. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 244.7
It is said that there are fifteen hundred ways in which a person may get sick, and the study of the peculiar features of each disease is more than one mind can master. In harmony with this statement, we may say that there are more than fifteen hundred ways in which a man may get into sin. But you ministers do not think it necessary to study the peculiar symptoms of every particular sin in order to be able to prescribe a cure. There was a time when every sin was thought to require special treatment, and the matter of propitiation became so intricate that common people said, “We cannot know anything about that.” And so, if a man was spiritually sick, he at once went to the priest, and the priest diagnosed his case, and indicated the remedy. For stealing, the penalty was so and so. For lying, another remedy was pointed out. And so throughout the whole system of spiritual therapeutics. In the midst of this state of things Martin Luther arose, and declared to the world that there was but one principle underlying the plan of salvation, and that was a cure for every form of sin. That cure was justification by faith in Jesus Christ. The priests ridiculed the simplicity of this treatment, and endeavored to hold a veil of mystery over God’s plan for the forgiveness of sin. The same truth which was brought out by the Reformation of Luther, will apply in the treatment of physical diseases. Here are fifteen hundred forms of sickness, but the principles which govern health are but few; and every form of sickness is but a violation of one or more of those few principles. God’s remedies are the simple remedies of nature. I will read the following from Testimony No. 32, page 199:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 244.8
God’s remedies are the simple agencies of nature that will not tax or debilitate the system through their powerful properties. Pure air and water, cleanliness, a proper diet, purity of life, and a firm trust in God, are remedies for the want of which thousands are dying; yet these remedies are going out of date because their skillful use requires work that the people do not appreciate. Fresh air, exercise, pure water, and clean, sweet premises, are within the reach of all with but little expense; but drugs are expensive, both in the outlay of means, and the effect produced upon the system. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 245.1
A thorough understanding of these simple truths forms the great basis of the treatment and management of all forms of disease. I do not say that the remedies which are applied from the standpoint of human wisdom do not do good from the human standpoint. They do often relieve the symptoms and remove the pain, but they do not restore and build up the system. As we have read, pure air, proper diet, proper clothing, sufficient exercise, and firm trust in God are the great measures for the restoration of health; and there are thousands to-day who are dying for the want of these simple remedies. But the moment you begin to recommend these measures and use them, you subject yourself to ridicule. But advancement is being made along these lines, as you all know. When you old men were boys, you can remember you could have no water in case of fever, and the room had to be closely shut for fear the patient would catch cold. The skin was not allowed to be moistened, for the same reason. And many other superstitious ideas existed which shortened people’s lives, and deprived nature of the assistance she needed for recovery. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 245.2
It is not necessary to go into the intricate details of diagnosis when we find a sick person. (I am speaking now of acute diseases.) The application of nature’s remedies will in most cases work the necessary cure. When you, as ministers, meet a sinner who is sick with sin, you do not stop to diagnose his case, but you strike at the root of the matter by pointing out the simple remedy of repentance and faith in Christ. There is but one way to get out of spiritual sickness, and that is by the use of the simple remedies which God has provided; and it is the same in physical illness. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 245.3
But what about those who are well? - The same principles apply there. There are but few principles involved in making a man a sinner. Disobedience of the plain principles of truth covers the whole field of transgression. In order to keep a man well spiritually, we have but to hold up the principles of righteousness as expressed in the ten commandments, or as expressed in the life of Christ, for his imitation. And it is so in physical life. Though there are so many hundreds of forms of sickness, they are all brought about by the violation of a few general principles. We find a man who is sick physically. It is because his food is improper, or he has been breathing bad air, or is wearing improper clothing, or he lacks sufficient exercise, or has not a firm trust in God; that is, he is troubled in mind. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 245.4
The Spirit of God tells us that nine-tenths of all the diseases from which men suffer have their foundation in the mind. And the physician who does not recognize that fact, is not prepared to deal with more than one-tenth of his patients. And you ministers can see how many go to the physicians who should go to the ministers. Satan acts upon the mind, and if he can accomplish more for his cause by setting people free from disease, when the disease is in the mind, than by keeping them under the power of a diseased mind, he does so through his agents, and thus they obtain the reputation of being great healers. So, if we desire to keep those well who are well, we have only to set before them a few principles in reference to proper diet, proper clothing, pure air, proper exercise, and faith in God. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 245.5
It is not necessary for us to become confused by these intricate systems. I have just seen two large books, larger than the Standard Dictionary, giving the definitions of diseases, and pointing out their specific cures; but God by his Spirit is bringing out his own system of simple remedies. We have never realized all there is in the promises of God. We have never obtained all there is for us in the use of means that God has put within our reach. There is a promise of God linked up with every one of these simple remedies. I know that, because we see that our missionaries, going forth with limited knowledge and appliances, use these simple remedies, and, with the blessing of God, become the means of accomplishing a great deal of good for suffering people. We shall yet see a great deal of good coming out of these things that we have not yet seen. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 245.6
Just in the last few years physicians have discovered that fever is due to the presence of poisons in the system; but it should be nothing new to us, for the Lord told us this thirty years ago. The other day there was a man at Battle Creek whose kidneys ceased to act, and in thirty-six hours he was dead. If we stop breathing four or five minutes, death ensues, principally because the poisons are not eliminated, but accumulate so rapidly in the system that the action of the heart is paralyzed, and life is extinguished. So I read:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 246.1
The impurities of the body, if not allowed to escape, are taken back into the blood and forced upon the internal organs. Nature makes an effort to free the system, and the effort produces fever and what is termed disease. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 246.2
That being true, then when a man gets a fever, what shall we do? - Help him to get rid of the poison. First for the lungs, where the impurities of the blood are thrown off, we must secure plenty of pure air. But if the room in which the patient lies is already saturated with poisons, the lungs cannot eject the poison any more than a bottle that is filled with water can discharge itself when it is immersed in water. In order to aid the kidneys to discharge their impurities, the patient must have plenty of pure, soft water. According to the old system of treatment, he must have neither pure air to breathe nor water to drink. To aid the skin in its work of elimination, the patient must be frequently bathed; but this could not be done under the old regimen, lest the patient should take cold. Now, we know that a person cannot take cold when in a fever. It is simply the observation of these few principles that constitutes the great secret of success in the treatment of disease. If the enemy can induce us to live in violation of these principles, we shall not be able to comprehend the grand spiritual truths of God. The violation of natural laws always conduces to the violation of spiritual laws; and the nearer we come to the pure and simple principles of righteousness, both in physical and spiritual living, the nearer we will come to God’s plan of saving men. All that he wants us to do, is to come into the paths of simplicity of living. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 246.3
Wisdom should be used in making changes. Wherever changes are made, they should be made gradually. No one should be called upon to make a change unless something better is substituted for that which is discarded. It is better to come one step short of the truth, than to go one step beyond it; for he who goes beyond the truth must retrace his steps in order to be saved, and that is more discouraging than progress. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 246.4
General Conference District No. 5. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
THIS district embraces the following States and Territories: Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, Texas, and Arkansas; having in its borders six organized conferences and one mission field, managed under the advisement of the General Conference. The territory included in this district covers about 902,540 square miles, and at the last census (1890) had about nine millions of inhabitants. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 246.5
There are in this district two hundred and twenty-one organized churches of Seventh-day Adventists, with a membership of 7,688 souls, being a gain over the last biennial report, of thirty churches and 1,279 members. These paid a tithe for the support of the ministry, during the two years, of $75,220.47. This is a gain over the last report, of $1,555.37. The amount contributed for the support of the mission work in fields outside of the United States was as follows: Sabbath-school donations, $4,250.01; first-day offerings, $4,961.09; annual offerings, $5,761.42; making a total of $14,972.52. This amount is $3,788.83 less than was raised for missions in the former biennial period. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 246.6
The laborers in this field are, thirty-seven ordained ministers; thirty-nine licensed preachers; seventeen Bible workers, and one hundred and ten canvassers. This shows a gain of five ordained ministers and five licentiates since the former report. The sales by canvassers for the two years, in this district, was $70,620.75, being $5,676.04 less than for the previous reported period. The number of copies of Signs of the Times taken in the district is 4,878, being an increase of 2,730 over the last report. The number of copies of the Review and Herald taken in the district is 2,883, or 1,258 less than two years ago; Signs, 2,995 are taken by the Kansas Conference. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 246.7
The items I have presented in this report are for the whole district. A statistical report of each conference in the district, for June, 1895 and 1896, appears in the GENERAL CONFERENCE BULLETIN for the third quarter of 1895 and 1896. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 247.1
Since the last General Conference, two important buildings have been erected in this district; namely, the new school building for the Keene, Texas, Industrial Academy, and the sanitarium at Boulder, Colorado. We are glad to note the success that attends the school at Keene, notwithstanding it has had to contend with the embarrassments of a severe drought and failure of crops in Texas the last year. Our brethren in that State have lifted well on the finances of the enterprise, and will doubtless lift again if they are favored with returns from their crops this season. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 247.2
The Boulder Sanitarium is meeting with a good patronage, and is nearly filled with patients. These are not only benefited physically, but spiritually, as they come under the influence of the Christian atmosphere of this mountain health resort. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 247.3
We are happy to report progress in the work in the various lines in Dist. No. 5. One of the six conferences (Arkansas) is laboring under financial embarrassment, and the president of that conference thinks it would be a real advantage to the work in that field if its territory was attached to one or more of the adjoining conferences, instead of their trying longer, in their embarrassed condition, to maintain the machinery of a separate conference. In behalf of that conference, we request that careful attention be given to their condition and request. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 247.4
Studies in the Book of Hebrews. - No. 12. E. J. WAGGONER. (Tuesday Afternoon, Feb. 23, 1897.)
“BEHOLD I and the children which God hath given me.” That is one of the quotations in the second chapter of Hebrews. Let us finish the statement: “Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion.” Isaiah 8:18. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 247.5
Yesterday we considered briefly the house of God, the temple of the living God, God’s church, God’s building - ourselves - “for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” There is a good deal of talk in the religious world about the Real Presence. There is such a real presence, the presence of God, and that real presence is to be in every child of God, and in the church. That real presence is through the Spirit. We saw by studying the vision which Ezekiel had of God and his throne, the nature of whatever place where God dwells in: wherever God is, there is life. Even when God came down upon Mount Sinai it could not stand still. The whole mountain was moving. It could not keep still while God was upon it, for there was life there. The whole throne is a living throne, composed of living creatures, and they come and go like a flash of lightning. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 247.6
Now note, every one of these living creatures was different from every other one - different faces, different appearance, different shape, and they were sent with their faces different ways; but in spite of that there was not a shadow, a suggestion, or a thought of any lack of unity in their movement. Just as one body they moved this way or that way. They turned not when they went. And why? - For “whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went.” But how could that be? - “The spirit of life,” as it reads in the margin, “was in them.” So, necessarily, “whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went,” because the Spirit was in them. We contrasted that with the highest manifestation of human organization possible on earth - an army - that all move as one man. But there must be a word of command. But how is it that these men, that those evolutions, those movements, can be made, accomplished with these men? GCDB March 4, 1897, page 247.7
(A voice) They have the mind of the commander. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 247.8
Yes, but how did they get that? - They are drilled. Did they drill separately? - O, no; first they had to be all brought to one place, under one man. They get orders from him, get accustomed to the word of command, and then by continual exercise get so that they move almost involuntarily at the word of command. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 247.9
Now then, God has an army on this earth, because we read here of the “Captain of our salvation.” God is “the Lord of hosts.” He has a body on this earth, but he does not gather all his children together in one place to drill them, and he is not obliged to. That is an advantage of God’s organization over human organizations; for, further, every man in that human organization must look to one man and recognize his authority, and submit his mind to that other man’s mind. But every man’s mind is to be submitted to God alone. God is supreme; God has the sole right to control every man’s mind, because the mind of God is the only true, correct, and wise mind. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.1
Talk about the harmony of reason and faith! They are just as wide apart as it is possible for two things to be. Faith is the utmost nonsense to human reason; it is foolishness, utter foolishness; and human reason is the baldest kind of nonsense to faith. They never can come together in this world. The weapons of our warfare are such as cast down human reason, “casting down reasonings.” In the text it is called imaginations. It is all right either way, only the word is properly “reason.” But human reason is only a figment, because there is nothing to it, so that when the human mind reasons, undirected by the Spirit of God, it is only imagination. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.2
The Spirit of God, when allowed to work, casts down imaginations and every thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and brings into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Reason rests with God alone, and when a man puts himself fully into the hands of God, to be controlled, body, soul, and spirit, utterly controlled, - saying, I am only dust, and have nothing to do with myself; I belong to the Lord; now let him be my thought in my brain, and be my movement, my action; then that man’s action will be right, and his thoughts will be right. “Commit thy ways unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.3
Now, I say the Lord has a body on this earth. He has left here, as he has gone away, some of his children. He has left us here to represent him here on this earth, as individuals, as a church. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.4
We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.5
Now we may say we do that, but we do not do it at all, unless the same condition obtains in us that obtained in Christ. As preachers we may get up before congregations and say, We are ambassadors for Christ; and “we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God;” but we are not doing that unless we are occupying the same position that Christ occupied. What was that? - He allowed God to dwell in him. How fully? - “It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.” Now the Spirit’s desire for us is, - GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.6
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.7
When we stand in that place, we are indeed ambassadors for Christ, and God beseeches men by us. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.8
The people on this earth say a great deal about organization. We cannot show them anything in that line. We do not begin to have so complete and perfect a system of organization as the Salvation Army has, or the Jesuit body of the Roman Catholic Church. We cannot teach the world anything about that. In the armies of the earth there is organization and uniformity of action as perfect as can be. The people know all about that, and they know how it is done too. But when God’s people, here and there, and all over the world, a people professing in an especial way to be the people of God, having a special message to give to the people, - when they as individuals are filled with the Spirit of God, so that that picture of the throne of God is duplicated here on earth, God enthroned in the hearts of his people, so that whithersoever the Spirit is to go they go, do you not think that the world will see something wonderful in it? Will not God’s children be for a sign, and a wonder to the people? GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.9
How is that brought about? What rules and regulations have you by which that is accomplished? - None. There will be the wonder. Let us read a few verses in the fifty-second chapter of Isaiah:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.10
Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.... Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know my name [that is what we have been studying here] therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 248.11
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. [That means all of us.] GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.1
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.2
How do we get this cleansing? O, we know that. We confess our sins, and “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” “Now are you clean through the word that I have spoken unto you,” but not if we let the word lie, neglecting it. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.3
For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.4
That has been to me a blessed assurance of late, - “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently.” Who is the servant of the Lord? O, you say, this is Christ. True, but “as he is, so are we in this world.” Are we not servants of the Lord, too? Are we one with the Lord Jesus Christ? Then is not this promise to us? because whatever is to Christ, is to us, for we are heirs of God, and joint heirs with him. There is no promise to Christ, then, that he does not pass along and share with us. “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently.” That will be characteristic of the servant of God. He will deal prudently. I am glad for that, because I know that I am one of the most imprudent persons in the world; and when I read that God, through faith, brings strength out of weakness, then I rejoice for this promise that “my servant shall deal prudently,” and I am glad that God can work prudence even in me. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.5
He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: so shall he astonish many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.6
Here is the arm of the Lord revealed in the sight of the nations as power, so that all the ends of the earth see the salvation of God; so that nations shall be astonished, and kings will simply shut their mouths in wonder and amazement. What has not been told them, what they could not dream of even, they will see. They will see a power, without seeing the source of power. They will see a mighty power, and yet no great appearance or show of power. They will see perfect unity of action, and yet no man possessing or claiming authority. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.7
Now, let me call your attention to the fortieth chapter of Isaiah. See another thing that is going to be done. We might study a long while before we could exhaust that fortieth chapter of Isaiah. It tells about - GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.8
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.9
That is, there is to be no crookedness in this work. It is to be perfectly straight and level. There is no going around in any crooked way, but it is to be done straight and plain before us. God’s work is a straight work. It is not to get around something, nor to follow up men in all their devious ways of error. Not to follow men wherever they may go in their crookedness, and try to expose them, but to go straight ahead. The work of the Lord is a straight work. We are to mind our own business, and let other people do the dodging around. This tells us of the same thing that the fifty-second chapter did:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.10
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.11
Now the lesson: Whose voice was heard in the wilderness? - John the Baptist’s. But he did not complete this message, because it is to continue until the work is done - until the Lord comes. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” He is coming. How is he coming? - He is coming with a strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him. Behold his reward is with him, and his work before him. He has not come yet. The work is going on still; that voice crying in the wilderness is still sounding, although not yet very loudly. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.12
It is clear enough without any further spending of time, that our work is identical with that of John the Baptist. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” Let us then read one verse in the third chapter of Matthew:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 249.13
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.1
Now, in the first place, as to John the Baptist himself, what kind of man was he? What characterized him? - He was filled with the Holy Ghost. What, therefore, must characterize those who proclaim this message, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” - They must be filled with the Spirit of God. Which is the greater, the beginning of a thing, or the end of a thing? - The end. Then just as surely as the Bible is true, when those who profess to give this message begin to give it, when, with the fullness of the Spirit and of the power of God, they proclaim this message of truth, people will flock to hear it by the thousands; in other words, the whole world’s attention will be called to it, and they cannot help themselves. They will be compelled to hear it. They will not all accept it, we know that. But there will be a power which will attract the attention of the whole world, and the one thing that will be talked about from the lowest south to the highest north, and around the world everywhere, will be the truth of the Lord’s coming, and the preparation to meet him. That will be the one thing that will absorb the attention of the world. They will be obliged to talk of that, because that will be the thing that will come to them with greater force than any other thing in the world that they hear. I do not say that it will continue very long, because when it goes with that power, then men will decide very soon, either one way or the other; they will yield to it, or else throw it away and give themselves no more concern about it. That is going to be done; that must be done. It will be done. I read another text. Isaiah fifty-five:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.2
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.3
Here is something that speaks to us. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.4
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.... Behold I have given him [the one in whom the covenant was made] for a witness to the people. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.5
Who is given for a witness unto the people? - Christ. Who is the commander? Who is the one who has authority? - Christ has authority and power. I have given him for a witness; for a leader. Is he accepted as being leader, and is he commander? GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.6
(A voice) Yes. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.7
That remains to be seen. What does a commander do? - He gives orders. And to whom does he give orders? - To those who are to receive the orders. He gives the orders so that they can be understood, and if he is indeed the leader and commander of the people, then what about his commands? - They are obeyed; and that determines whether he is leader and commander, or not. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.8
Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.9
Now mark, they do not run unto us because of us, not because of our good, our glory, because we have none; but nations that know not us will run unto us because of the Holy One of Israel in the midst of his people, and because his presence in the midst has glorified the whole. We have it in the sixtieth chapter of Isaiah:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.10
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall rise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.11
The same story is told all the way through. There is the work of the people of God. That is the way the truth is to go. It does not say that all these kings and nations and Gentiles that run will accept it, but an ensign is to be lifted up, as a standard, something that will per force attract the attention of every man, from the greatest king to the lowest peasant; they will look at it, and when they see it they can do as they please. That will be the proclamation of the truth to the world. Now we go to the world. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.12
A. F. Ballenger. - “And get up a debate to get a crowd.” GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.13
Yes; and we preach certain points of doctrine. We sharpen them to a very fine point, so that we can stick them into people, and prod them. Then we say that they have had the truth; they have had the light. Have they had the truth? - No. They have not had the truth unless they have seen the power and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Spirit. When the truth has come to them in that way, then indeed they have had the truth, and they are responsible to God as to whether they accept it or reject it; and it will not be long until that is done. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 250.14
I wonder if you believe these things. What are we here for, any how? to listen for an hour or three-quarters of an hour, and then go away and say, perchance, That was very clear to-day; that seemed to be quite plain; that was a very good lesson? Brethren, how long before we are going to wake up? How long are we going to play at believing the Lord. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.1
Now I read yesterday, very hastily, because the time was about expired, one or two sentences, and I will read one or two of them again:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.2
Christ breathed upon the disciples and said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Christ is represented by his Holy Spirit to-day, in every part of his great moral vineyard. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.3
But is he represented by his Holy Spirit in every one who professes to be laboring for him, in every part of the great moral vineyard? That is the question. It is for me as well as for you. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.4
He will give the inspiration of his Holy Spirit to all who are of a contrite spirit. Let there be more dependence upon the efficiency of the Holy Spirit, and far less upon human agencies. - Special Test, No. 3, p.48. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.5
It is speaking about men who do not abide in Christ, are not directed by the wisdom of Christ and the impartation of the Holy Spirit, and cannot be trusted as faultless in judgment. There is no man on earth whose judgment can be trusted. Christ alone is the leader; he can be trusted. Let him through the Spirit dwell in us, think in us, act in us, and then there will be a difference. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.6
Yet in some cases their judgment is trusted, and their counsel is regarded as the wisdom of God. When human agents choose the will of God, and are conformed to the character of Christ, Jesus acts through their organs and faculties. It is no more themselves that live and act, but it is Christ that lives and acts in them. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.7
Now I ask you if in that condition there will be any mistakes, and wrong moves made? Here on another page I read thus:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.8
The Lord is soon to work in greater power among us; but there is danger of allowing our impulses to carry us where the Lord would not want us to go. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.9
We must not go a long distance without knowing where we are. Does it say that? - No. It says, “We must not make one step that we will have to retrace.” Then we must do nothing of which we are in doubt; we must not do one thing that there is a possibility of our having to retrace. That is plain and reasonable. Very good. Now suppose here is a subject right here in Conference that we do not know whether it is right, or whether it is wrong. This is a practical question for us. Here is a matter of business, a resolution, or a nomination, or whatever may come up for consideration. We say we will do the best we can, but we are not absolutely sure as to whether it is right or wrong. Then we do not know but that we shall have to retract the action sometime. Then hadn’t we better know, or wait until we find out? Let me read another statement:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.10
ONLY GOD’S PLANS TO BE FOLLOWED
You are not to limit the Holy one of Israel, whose power is of old, and whose ways are past finding out. If you mark out ways whereby you expect God to work, you will be disappointed. The kingdom of heaven cometh not with observation. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.11
Yes; it comes in just the very opposite way to what we expect it. How is the arm of the Lord to be revealed? - “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground.” You do not expect a tree to grow to any proportions out of the dry ground, in the sand. But that is the way the Lord does. The Lord says that his power is such that he takes the base things of the world, and things despised, yes, and the things that are not, and brings to naught the things that are. That is the power of God. He works just exactly contrary to the manner in which man expects him to work, just contrary to human plans and human organization; because, as we said, human reason and faith are direct opposites. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.12
You are to leave God to work in his own way, and you must walk, not by sight, but by faith. God has a work to be done, and it is a very solemn, sacred work. It is not wise to follow plans of your own devising. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.13
Then are we going to walk as wise men, or as fools? Here is something for every delegate here to consider, for all of us to get. We all agree that we have before us here in these scriptures what is to be the work of God. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.14
How many times does the testimony say the Lord is soon to work with greater power? How many times have we said that there is coming a time when the power of the Pentecost will be seen? Is this going to come? - O, yes; but the way we do would remind one of what an old Baptist said in the days of Carey, when he was talking about going to the heathen. Said he, “Young man, when the Lord wants the heathen to be converted, he will convert them without any help from you or me.” Are we not really saying that when the Lord wants to work with power, - that we will wake up some morning, and find him working with great power? I do not know of any way for us to expect the Lord to work with greater power for us as a people than for us - as many as want to be in the work then - to let ourselves be in his hand as dust. We do not know anything at all. We are utterly helpless. Now let the Lord come in, and build us up anew, - organize us on his own new divine plan, on the model of the divine temple, and live and act and think through us in his own way. And when that is done, there will be mighty power. Now, if that is true, and that can be done, then are we obliged to wait ten years? or shall we plan beforehand, and let all the people know that at the next General Conference we are going to have the power of the Lord? Isn’t it time now for the Lord to work? GCDB March 4, 1897, page 251.15
I will read, if I can readily find it, a statement here:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 252.1
Unless those who can help in——[that means everywhere,] are aroused to a sense of their duty, they will not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel shall be heard. When light goes forth to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will want to bind about his work to meet their narrow ideas. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 252.2
Now, brethren, the Lord does not ask us to go back to the past, or to doubt that he has been with us. He is with us. Thank the Lord, he has been with us all these years; but that does not mean that he has approved everything we have done. God has been with even the heathen. Shall the heathen therefore say, “I am all right”? If God had not been with me, I would not be living. But what has the Lord been with us all these years for? - O, he has been calling for us, and pleading that we would let him work in us. He has been with us; I thank him for that. He has been with us, and because he is with us still, brethren, let us give him full control of our minds and bodies, to work in us in any place where he may call us to work. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 252.3
Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 252.4
I do not want to be one of them, do you? How are you going to know when the angel joins with the third angel, and the message goes with a loud cry? If we keep on as we have been going, we will not know. Is it not time, then, for us to stop, to call a halt, until we do know where we are, and let the Lord begin to use us now? It is our right and privilege, and I thank the Lord it need not take long. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 252.5
How much more do we know, how much more does any man here think he knows, than the twelve apostles did after they had been personally with the Lord for three and one-half years? If any man thinks he knows as much, let him raise his hand. Either you do not think so, or you are modest. How many think we are better able to devise plans and carry them out than those twelve men were? Yet the Lord told them, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” GCDB March 4, 1897, page 252.6
Now if they did not know enough to go about the work after they had been with Christ, and had done a work that we have never done, - worked with power, cast out devils, raised the dead, performed many miracles, and done more powerful preaching than any of us have ever done, - I say, if it was necessary for them to wait until the Spirit of God filled them that they might have wisdom to go forth to the work, what are we claiming if we presume to go forth to the work without doing the very same thing? It was not very long that they had to wait, only ten days. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 252.7
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together. Acts 2:1-6. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 252.8
When they got the Spirit, they had no difficulty in finding a congregation. “Behold, I and the children whom thou hast given me are for signs and wonders from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion.” GCDB March 4, 1897, page 252.9
Studies in the Book of Hebrews. - No. 13. E. J. WAGGONER. (Wednesday Afternoon, Feb. 24, 1897.)
AT the beginning of our work here I felt and expressed myself thus - That I had no heart whatever to go on in simply an ordinary Bible study. You know that in the study of the Word of God there is life and salvation; but just to take an hour and sit here and study certain words, and then go away again, and think no more of it, - I could not endure that. Just as an ordinary study it seemed as though it would be a waste of time, for we had not very much time to spend, and I knew from the beginning we needed something we did not have. I knew that in the book of Hebrews, in the first few chapters especially, there is life and truth, and that in small compass is the special message for this time. We have passed over a certain portion, but I had no heart to go further until we had taken in the truth of what we had studied. Each day it has seemed as though I could not go on; I did not know what there was for us. But each day, as the time came for the lesson, the Lord gave me the message. Well, I am glad we are where we are, - as far as we are. So this afternoon I thought, “What shall we have? What can we do?” And I said to the Lord, “Tell me what the message is, and whether we shall have anything or not.” Then came these words, “I will put my trust in him.” This is a part of our lesson in Hebrews, the words of Christ. Yesterday we were brought face to face with the fact that the Spirit of God is to do the work, and not we; face to face with the fact that God is waiting to fill his people with the Spirit, that we may accomplish in the earth the work that he designs us to do. There are so many things that we need to know; but I thank the Lord that it need not take us long. But when we receive the Spirit of God, we must receive it understandingly. We are not in the condition that the disciples were when the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. We are a long way from it. But then I thank the Lord that it need not take us long to get there. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 253.1
The next summer after the Minneapolis meeting, there was a good brother whom I met for the first time, who, at the close of a meeting, said that he had received help and light; that he had been misinformed, he was sure, in regard to the Minneapolis meeting, and the work which had been done, and he was glad to be able to see some things for himself; glad to see and receive justification by faith. Then thinking how it sounded for a preacher to say that he had learned to accept justification by faith, he added, “Of course, we have always believed in justification by faith, but we have not known what it was.” Well, brethren, I have seen a good many hundred people since that time who believed in justification by faith but did not know what it was, and that among Seventh-day Adventists. There are a great many who think they believe it, and who do believe it, who have excepted it to a certain extent only, as a theory. They have taken it as a new article of faith. There is no such thing as a “theory” of justification by faith. It is a fact, that is all; and there are wonderfully few people who allow the fact to get into them for all it is worth. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 253.2
Now these words that came to me here, “I will put my trust in him,” cover the whole ground. That text is everything. Justification by faith is not simply one series or line of truth to be presented to the people. It is the whole truth; it is the third angel’s message; there is nothing else. Is there anything else in this world we want except righteousness? Does not that include everything? Because righteousness, we understand is not simply to be a streak in a man’s life; it is not simply something for Sabbath. What is righteousness? - Doing right; doing the right thing, instead of the wrong thing - that is righteousness. Not only doing a certain thing right instead of doing it wrong, but always doing the right thing instead of the wrong thing. Is not that simple enough, plain enough as to what righteousness is? GCDB March 4, 1897, page 253.3
Now, of what is a man’s life composed? - His actions. A man’s life is composed of his actions; of what he does. If he acts right, he is right. We are not now going into the cause of the thing. We are considering the thing itself; we are not now considering how, why, or whence, righteousness comes, but simply considering the fact and how much it includes. If a man’s actions be right, he is a man, a righteous man. Let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 253.4
That is right. But if he acts wrong, then he is not right, that’s all. These are facts; simple, plain, self-evident truths. They do not need any argument. A man’s life is composed of the actions he performs. That is all the Lord brings to the judgment, - the things that men have done. Now to how much of a man’s life may the adjectives “righteousness and unrighteousness” apply? - To every act of a man’s life. Is that clear? Then righteousness by faith, or in the absence of that, unrighteousness without any help whatever, has to do with a man’s whole life; with every act, doesn’t it? GCDB March 4, 1897, page 253.5
(A voice) Yes. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.1
Well, that is righteousness. Is a man a righteous man, and can he be a righteous man, and do right things in some particulars, and then in other particulars go wrong? - No. No; the man is composed of his acts, and righteousness or unrighteousness has to do with all the acts of man. “He that doeth righteousness is righteous.” The righteous man does the right thing under all circumstances of life, and does it in the right way. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.2
Now then, we say we accept the doctrine of righteousness by faith. What does that mean? - Right doing by faith. I know that that language to some seems the wildest nonsense; because the idea of righteousness by faith, of course, is nonsense to some. But many have said that righteousness by faith is a good thing in itself, but it must not be carried to an extreme. That is to say, righteousness by faith is a good thing, but do not be too righteous; do not be too good. Faith in God is a good thing, but do not carry it too far. Don’t trust him too much. Now, does this idea of carrying righteousness by faith to an extreme mean anything else than that righteousness is a good thing and faith is a good thing, but that you may have too much of them, and so get on dangerous ground? I am not imagining anything, but simply repeating what I have heard: “Faith is a good thing, but do not carry it to extremes.” Brethren, how many of you have supposed that fanaticism is simply an excess of faith? I won’t ask you to hold up your hands, but I am sure that I have seen a good many who have supposed that fanaticism was simply an excess of faith; haven’t you? Some of them are in the house now. Let me tell you that as long as a man sticks to this word, “I will put my trust in him,” so long as he holds to that, you can’t make a fanatic out of him, no matter how much you try. He can’t be made fanatical. Fanaticism comes from letting go the Word of God, and substituting one’s own ideas; but nobody in the world was ever fanatical because he believed the Word of God too much. We need to be so well acquainted with the Lord that we will not be afraid that he can’t manage his own business; that he does not know how to do it. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.3
Is it misstating or overstating the ideas that have obtained in the minds of many people among us, to say that they thought that righteousness by faith was a good thing in its place, but that when you come to the steady practical work of the cause, it did not work? Is not that so? That has been a prevailing idea. Now, in the first place we must consider, Do we accept the facts of righteousness by faith? Do we accept the truth that there is no other way of becoming righteous, except by faith? Is there any other way of being righteous? - No. To every act in a GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.4
(To be continued.)
Twelfth Meeting of the Conference
THE twelfth meeting of the General Conference convened at 5 P. M., Tuesday, March 2, 1897. Elder Olsen was in the chair. Prayer was offered by N. W. Allee. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.5
H. P. Holser presented a partial report for the Committee on Plans and Resolutions, as follows:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.6
The Committee on Plans and Resolutions would further recommend:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.7
9. That in the location, the advertising, and the conduct of our camp-meetings, we make greater efforts to carry the gospel to the masses. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.8
10. That the basis of representation at the General Conference be changed as follows:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.9
Each local conference shall be entitled to one delegate in the sessions of this Conference, without regard to numbers, and one additional delegate for every six hundred church-members in the conference. Such delegates shall be elected by the local conference, or appointed by its executive committee. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.10
11. That, in the future, accounts of laborers in the Australasian and European Union Conferences be audited by those in charge, or as they may direct; that the accounts of laborers in the Mission Board territory be audited by the Mission Board, or as it may provide; and that the accounts of the General Conference Committee, and such general laborers as are not confined to any one Union Conference, be audited by the General Conference, as heretofore. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.11
THE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
presented, through its secretary, F. D. Starr, the following:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.12
Your committee appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing Conference term, submit the following partial report:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.13
The President of the General Conference in America, G. A. Irwin; Recording Secretary and Treasurer, A. G. Adams; President of European Union Conference; O. A. Olsen; President of Australasian Union Conference, A. G. Daniells; Superintendent of District No. 1, R. A. Underwood; District No. 2; R. M. Kilgore; District No. 3, I. H. Evans; District No. 4, J. H. Morrison; District No. 5, N. W. Kauble; District No. 6, A. J. Breed. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.1
Executive Committee - G. A. Irwin, O. A. Olsen, A. G. Daniells, H. P. Holser, R. A. Underwood, R. M. Kilgore, I. H. Evans, J. H. Morrison, N. W. Kauble, A. J. Breed, D. T. Jones, A. T. Jones. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.2
Mission Board - Chairman, H. P. Holser; Recording Secretary and Treasurer, W. H. Edwards; Corresponding Secretary, F. M. Wilcox; Remaining members, G. A. Irwin, C. H. Jones, R. A. Underwood, A. Moon. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.3
The remainder of the hour was occupied by D. T. Jones, with a description of mission work in Mexico. This lecture was reported stenographically, extracts from which will appear in the BULLETIN. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.4
By motion, adjourned to 10:30 A. M., March 3. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.5
Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference
THE above meeting convened at 10:30 A. M., March 3, O. A. Olsen presiding. A hymn was sung, and C. McReynolds led the Conference in prayer. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.6
The Chair called up the partial report of Committee on Plans and Resolutions submitted at the previous meeting, and under a motion to consider by items, and adopt, it was discussed in substance as follows:- GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.7
On section 9, H. P. Holser said that in the past camp-meetings have been held too much for ourselves. It has been pointed out that we spent too much time in institutes and meetings for our own benefit. We should push out in our work to others. Elder Holser referred to the experience they had in Switzerland the past summer where the camp-meeting continued four weeks, and a church was formed as the result. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.8
W. M. Healy was in favor of the measure, and spoke of their experience in the North Pacific Conference, especially at Tacoma, where the meeting continued three weeks, and a large number have received the truth as a result. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.9
J. M. Rees was heartily in favor of what the previous speakers had said, but stated that in Oklahoma they had quite a different experience last year, and that the same rules might not always apply in every case. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.10
D. B. Oberholtzer raised a query in reference to the advisability of keeping people away from the camp-meetings by certain restrictions that it was customary to make at our camp-meetings. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.11
Passing to the tenth recommendation, H. P. Holser spoke of the reasons for changing the ratio of representation as being, first, that our work was gaining such proportions that our General Conference was becoming unwieldy; second, that the organization of more local conferences where much of the business would be transacted, would render such a full representation less necessary. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.12
Watson Ziegler thought that the present arrangement was more representative than that which was proposed, and did not see the necessity of cutting it down to a smaller ratio. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.13
Others spoke to the recommendation, which was finally accepted. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.14
On recommendation 11, Elder Holser spoke in elucidation of the recommendation, and stated that the division of the field made it expedient that the auditing work be done on the ground where the labor was performed, and the measure proposed was simply for the carrying out of the principle that responsibilities ought to be borne by those on the ground. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.15
I. H. Evans inquired how the auditing committees of the different conferences would obtain funds for the settling of their accounts. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.16
It was replied by the Chair that the measure would involve no changes, since it had been customary for the Foreign Mission Board to make appropriations for those conferences needing assistance. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.17
W. M. Healey inquired what provision there was for the Foreign Mission Board to obtain such funds. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.18
To this it was replied that it had been customary for the General Conference to make appropriations for such purposes. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.19
C. McReynolds asked whether it was contemplated that each Union Conference would have its own treasury. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.20
Answer. - Yes, sir; and there will be appropriations made from the general fund for the assistance of these treasuries. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.21
E. A. Curtis inquired, since the tithe of the General Conference comes from the tithes of the state conferences, and these conferences are mostly located in America, how will the foreign mission fields obtain the necessary funds? GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.22
Answer. - Up to this time, the tithes received by the General Conference have been used to support two classes of laborers; first, the general laborers not dependent upon any particular field; and, second, mission workers in this country; and from the surplus thus remaining, appropriations have been made to other fields. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 255.23
W. M. Healey referred to what he apprehended would be a difficulty in harmonizing the recommendations previously adopted with the one at present under consideration. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.1
H. P. Holser replied that in the shortness of time at the disposal of the committee, it had not been possible to adjust all these minor details. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.2
W. C. White thought that the time had come when we need not spend our time in this Conference in considering these details, but leave these smaller matters to be adjusted by those having them in charge. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.3
J. W. Watt moved that in adopting the report recommendation No. 10 be voted upon separately. The motion was carried, and recommendation 10 was put upon its passage. S. H. Lane advised that the representation be placed at a ratio of five hundred instead of six hundred. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.4
W. Ziegler was opposed to the reduction of the ratio of representation. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.5
W. D. Curtis asked whether the General Conference Districts will be organized into Conferences? GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.6
Chair. - That matter will be left to the districts themselves. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.7
M. C. Wilcox thought that the fact that the business would be largely done by local conferences should not be overlooked. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.8
J. J. Graf did not think that this provision would keep any one away from the conferences who wished to attend, or whom the local conferences wished to send. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.9
A. F. Ballenger remarked that this Conference may be unwieldy, but he was very glad to be here, and he moved as an amendment to the recommendation, that the words “five hundred” be substituted for “six hundred.” The amendment was seconded and carried, and the recommendation thus amended was adopted. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.10
Action was taken then upon the report, and it was adopted unanimously. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.11
The Chair then called up the partial report of Committee on Nominations, submitted at the last meeting. W. C. White suggested in reference to the nominations for the Mission Board, that its members would be widely scattered abroad, and that the Board should be increased from nine to eleven members. S. H. Lane spoke of the advisability of taking more time to study the report, and asked if it would delay the Conference to have action upon the report deferred. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.12
The Chair replied that there were but three days of the Conference remaining, and that it would be necessary to push business with all reasonable dispatch. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.13
G. O. States moved that the report be adopted by considering each name separately. The motion was seconded and placed before the house. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.14
M. C. Wilcox inquired of the committee concerning the making up of its report, why the names of certain old laborers in the cause had been left out. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.15
R. A. Underwood, chairman of the committee, replied that the names of a number of our older ministers who have given many years service to the cause were considered by the committee, and made explanation why their names did not appear. Elder Loughborough also spoke, saying, that it was not his mind that his name should appear on the Committee, and expressed the thought that he would be more free to take up the work which the Lord had evidently designed for him to engage in. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.16
W. C. White expressed the thought that he considered it much better for the committees to be made up of men who are so situated that they can hold frequent meetings for council. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.17
It was moved by S. H. Lane, and seconded by F. M. Roberts, that the report be referred back to the committee until to-morrow. - Lost. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.18
The report was then read, each name being considered separately. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.19
H. P. Holser spoke, outlining the work that he thought should be the policy of the Foreign Mission Board, which was to have men in the field to superintend the work and not attempt to manage the work from this country, but simply to keep in touch with them, and let the members of the Board in this field work in the home field in the interests of the Board, and the men in the field do their work. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.20
The president then called J. H. Morrison to the chair while he called the attention of the Conference to the importance of the relation between the Medical Missionary Board and the Foreign Mission Board, and the necessity that seemed to exist for the fullest co-operation between the two boards. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.21
It was again moved that the report be referred back to the committee, and it was so voted. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.22
Meeting adjourned to 5 P. M. GCDB March 4, 1897, page 256.23