Ellen G. White: The Lonely Years: 1876-1891 (vol. 3)

Religious Interest at a High Point

A Bible study hour was scheduled for each day at 9:00 A.M., but a change was made, explained in the Bulletin: 3BIO 477.2

So much interest was manifested on the part of the Battle Creek church, the students of the college, the helpers at the sanitarium, and hands in the Review office, that the time was changed to 7:00 P.M., in order to accommodate all.—The General Conference Bulletin, 1891, 15. 3BIO 477.3

W. W. Prescott began on Friday morning with a study on the inspiration of the Bible. E. J. Waggoner followed with the next study, taking up the “Letter to the Romans” (Ibid., 33); he presented a total of sixteen studies on this topic. 3BIO 477.4

Sabbath afternoon, March 7, Ellen White was the speaker. Uriah Smith reported of the meeting: 3BIO 477.5

In the afternoon Sister White spoke on the importance of preaching the Word, and the danger of covering up, and keeping in the background, the distinctive features of our faith, under the impression that prejudice will thereby be avoided. If there is committed to us a special message, as we believe, that message must go, without reference to the customs or prejudices of the world, not governed by a policy of fear or favor. Some will receive it and be sanctified through it, though multitudes will oppose and reject it. But it must go everywhere till the very earth is lighted with its glory. 3BIO 477.6

The discourse was a timely one, and made a profound impression upon the large congregation.—The Review and Herald, March 10, 1891. 3BIO 478.1

What Smith did not mention in his report was something many in the audience noticed, which took on significance some hours later. 3BIO 478.2