General Conference Bulletin, vol. 6

THE SABBATH SERVICES

W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen

Sabbath, May 15, was a day long to be remembered by those in attendance at the General Conference. At the eleven o’clock service Mrs. E. G. White spoke to the encampment upon the theme of the Saviour’s discourse found in the fifteenth of John, dwelling chiefly upon the first ten verses, and of these ten verses chiefly upon verse eight: “Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.2

The burden of this aged servant of God seemed to be to lay upon those assembled representatives of the third angel’s message the importance of rightly representing Christ to the world in our speech, in our character, in all our dealing with our fellow men, in order that we shall not be found fruitless in the great day of harvest. To do this there is necessary a complete consecration to God, a constant abiding in Christ, while the ear listens attentively to the voice of the Father in his Word. That, in turn, necessitates a cutting loose from the customs, practices, and ideas of the world, without any regard to what the world may think about it. It means that we must by living faith daily lay hold upon our Redeemer if we would bear the fruit of the Christian. GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.3

Sister White, in this discourse, dwelt much upon the thought that our humanity must lay hold of his divinity. Otherwise we will miss our chance of attaining that life which measures with the life of God. She spoke also of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, and said: “Jesus could work miracles because humanity and divinity were combined in him. That is what we need in our sanitariums, the faith that lays hold upon Christ, that will take up the cross of self-denial and self-sacrifice, that they may be united with Christ indeed as one with him. To every one of us he gives that privilege, if we will cut away our own wrong habits and practices.” GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.4

The importance of a right attitude toward Christ on the part of every Seventh-day Adventist, as laid before the congregation in this discourse, which has been barely touched upon here but which will be reported in full in another number of the BULLETIN, made a deep impression upon all present. There seemed to be a melting and cementing together of earnest hearts, and a fervent determination to press forward to victory. GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.5

In view of this instruction from the servant of God, the choice of the afternoon topic was a very appropriate one indeed. Elder E. W. Farnsworth was the speaker. The theme of his discourse was the reception of the Holy Spirit. An earnest prayer by Elder R. S. Owen opened the meeting. This was followed by an impressive song, “Ashamed of Jesus,” rendered by a male quartet. GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.6

Elder Farnsworth’s text was John 14:15, 16: “If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever.” He dwelt upon the importance of the office work of the Holy Spirit in the life experience of every believer. Especially is this necessary for the man or woman who would go out to teach the truth of God. Our efforts when witnessed to by the Holy Spirit are truly effectual in the work of God. It was not his purpose to philosophize upon the identity of the Holy Spirit, he said, but it is of the utmost importance to experience in the soul all that the Holy Spirit has for the child of God. That representative of God on the earth is to take the place of our departed Lord. He is our official now to take charge of the work of God on earth, to be the overseer of all our missionary enterprises, to lead in all the work of the third angel’s message until the close of time. He is the representative of heaven, the true vicarius filii dei, the one who is to lead God’s people through all the dangers and trials and pitfalls and afflictions to the end of time. GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.7

The closing portion of the address was devoted to the theme of God’s power and willingness to bring healing to the physical frame as well as to the soul of men. “He is able,” said the speaker, “to take every miserable thing away from us in order that he may use us for the carrying forward of his great work.” GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.8

At the close of the address Elder A. G. Daniells suggested that a little time be spent in a praise service. He said: “I know this theme that has been dwelt upon strikes a responsive chord in the hearts of this people; I know that the spirit of faith in this blessed gift abides with us; and I know that there is nothing many here long for so much as for the abiding presence of God’s Holy Spirit; and I also know that there will be a good response now.” GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.9

There were at once a number on their feet to testify to the truthfulness of Elder Daniells’ statement. The first to speak was Brother G. W. Amadon, who declared: “This is the most blessed occasion I ever enjoyed. This has the old-fashioned, definite ring. I love to look God’s people in the face. We shall see each other in another world one of these days. Let us be faithful to God, and live out this blessed truth.” GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.10

He was followed by Elder Bourdeau, Brother Aplin of England, Elder R. S. Owen of California, Elder G. B. Starr of Australia, Elder Andrews, Elder D. C. Babcock from Sierra Leone, W. Africa, Elder Edmed from Natal, South Africa, Elder R. A. Underwood, Elder Lowrie, Elder McReynolds, Brother Connelly of the West Indies, Elder Wm. Covert, Elder G. B. Thompson, Elder E. E. Andross, Elder Watt, and many others, all of whose testimonies rang true to the spirit of this message, breathing hope, and courage, and assurance of victory. GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.11