General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7
The Evening Service
W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson
THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUS
May 30, 7:30 P. M.
Once again the large pavilion was filled to its utmost capacity with people anxious to hear the word of God. Nor were they disappointed, for a very tender, spiritual message was brought to them by E. W. Farnsworth. He spoke feelingly and forcibly on the theme, “The Prayer Life of Jesus.” GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.1
He first referred to the fact that of the four gospels the gospel of Luke gives us the clearest and fullest insight into the private, devotional life of our Lord. Luke recorded the earthly life of Jesus in detail, and we are given a graphic picture of him in prayer. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.2
The circumstances surrounding his birth are fragrant with the atmosphere of prayer. The little human circle out of which Jesus sprang were devout, praying people. Mary was a woman of prayer. Joseph was a man of conscientious purity and devoted piety. It was to a devout circle in the temple that he was introduced in his earliest infancy. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit were recognized in this inner circle of the church where the Son of God became also the Son of man. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.3
At his baptism Jesus prayed, on the banks of the Jordan, for strength for his mighty undertaking. After a day of miracles at Capernaum, we see Jesus going out early in the morning alone by himself to pray. At another time we read of his spending the whole night in prayer, so great was his sense of spiritual need. He prayed, and continued to pray till he could say, “I know that Thou hearest me always.” So may we learn to pray, till our prayers are answered and our lives filled with the power of the Holy Ghost. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.4
On another occasion when the multitude he had fed held out to him the possibility of an earthly crown, we see our Saviour wrestling with God in prayer. He prayed not only for the people but for himself. He realized he must possess the power of God to succeed in his mission. Later in his ministry, Jesus went up into a mountain and prayed until the heavens were opened, and he was transfigured; and he saw in Elijah and Moses, who appeared before him, the certain success of the plan of salvation undertaken in his earthly life. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.5
What a great part prayer has played in the redemption of the world! At the tomb of Lazarus, the prayer of Christ opened the sealed grave and brought the dead to life. At the high tide of life, when the Greeks would see Jesus, our Saviour prayed, and Heaven responded. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.6
The great prayer of Jesus is recorded in the seventeenth chapter of the gospel of John, that wonderful prayer for the unity of his followers, which has been so wonderfully fulfilled in our midst here at this Conference. We must all be impressed that the unity and brotherly love manifested here at this meeting is the result of the presence of the Spirit of God. Let us thank God for this. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.7
Finally, we hear Jesus praying in the garden, praying the will of God into the crowning sacrifice of his earthly life, praying the human nature into perfect submission to the will and purpose of God. His prayer was answered, and an angel sent to strengthen him to drink the cup which might not pass. The prayer on the cross is the fitting and natural climax of the blessed life of prayer our Saviour led. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.8
In closing, Elder Farnsworth appealed with great force and tenderness to his hearers to renew their watchfulness, and to give themselves to untiring, victorious prayer. The hearts of his hearers were greatly touched, and we may believe more than one vow to more faithful prayer life was recorded in heaven. It was an hour of blessing and spiritual uplift to all the great congregation assembled. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.9
The following texts were referred to in the discourse. They may be of real help to the readers of the BULLETIN: Luke 3:1; 4:42; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 6:12; Matthew 14:23; Luke 9:18; Matthew 17:1; Luke 10:21; 11:1; John 11:41; 12:27; 17:1-26; Luke 22:41; 23:34; Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:46. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.10
AMONG THE BALKAN STATES
May 31, 7:30 P. M.
J. F. Huenergardt, of the Danube Union Conference, gave an interesting and graphic description of the scenes in the recent Balkan war, accompanying the lecture with stereopticon views. Religious liberty as we now enjoy it had its birthplace in Hungary, dating back four or five centuries. Early in the Reformation period Sabbath-keepers were found in those same lands. Descendants of those loyal people were found a few years ago, and our work has taken root among them. Elder Huenergardt said that the recent Balkan war had opened a great door of opportunity to the several millions of Moslems found in the various lands in that part of Europe. More liberty, and freer access to the millions of those countries, have come as a result of this fierce war. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.11
We have workers and believers in all these lands except Montenegro, the little kingdom with a population of about two hundred fifty thousand. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.12
GENERAL CONFERENCE SABBATH-SCHOOL
May 31, 9 A. M.
Sabbath morning dawned beautifully fair, and promptly at 9 o’clock a song of praise ascended from the various divisions of the camp school. This song of praise was voiced by baby lips, by bright-faced boys and girls, by the youth, by men and women, sincere and devoted; and the language spoken was that of many tongues. The scene must have been one upon which angels delight to look. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.13
In passing from one division to another, one could but be impressed with the wise, tactful, and appropriate exercises in the youth’s children’s, and intermediate divisions. Everywhere the eager interest of the members, the enthusiastic and capable methods of the teachers, were plainly to be seen. In the foreign divisions, although the words spoken were not intelligible to the visitor, one could sense the earnestness, and recognize the presence of the Spirit. In the pavilion the review was conducted by Elder E. J. Hibbard, of San Fernando, Cal. The review covered the principal points of the past week’s lesson, and was a model in point of brevity and completeness, the exercise occupying exactly ten minutes. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.14
The subject of the lesson for the day was the cleansing of the sanctuary. Three points were emphasized,—the time of its cleansing, the work of cleansing, and its meaning to us. The cleansing of the sanctuary began in 1844, at the going forth of the great threefold message of Revelation 14, and the sounding of the seventh trumpet of Revelation 10 and 11. The work of cleansing is performed in the most holy apartment of the sanctuary, and involves the judgment of all men and the final removal of sin from the heavenly sanctuary. It is a solemn hour for all men, and for God’s people in particular. They are called on to warn the world of its impending doom. Those who love the truth are to come out from Babylon—apostate Christianity. The cleansing of the sanctuary involves the cleansing of the church, which is an individual experience. This experience is found in Christ, who “was once offered to bear the sins of many,” and who “is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.15
Elder B. J. Cady, a veteran missionary in the Pacific Island field, gave a stirring missionary talk, relating personal experiences showing the effect of the gospel upon the hearts of the heathen, and how self-sacrificing these people are when they become converted, and, in proportion to means, how much larger their offerings to missions than are those by believers in the home land. Elder Thompson made a direct call for a five-hundred-dollar offering. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.16
| Statistics | ||
| Attend.Offer. | ||
| Pavilion | 1706 | $425.75 |
| Youth and children | 600 | 17.45 |
| Foreign division | 217 | 62.80 |
| Total | 2523 | $506.00 |
The average per member for the entire school was twenty and one-fourth cents. The total offering to missions from the three Sabbath-school sessions, is $1,301.45, as against $597.06 for the four sessions held four years ago. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.17
Yesterday was a busy day at the camp. The weather was ideal, and there were many visitors. It was interesting to note the ease with which the thousands of people on the ground were handled at the dining tent. There was no confusion and every thing passed off pleasantly. The 2:30 hour usually given to conference business was devoted to preaching. GCB June 2, 1913, page 240.18