Charismatic Experiences In Early Seventh-day Adventist History

Part 2—Revival in Battle Creek

As the 1892-1893 school year opened at Battle Creek College, the faculty seemed to sense that it would be a year of special significance. W. W. Prescott, the president of the college, reports that when they first met as faculty before the opening of the school year “we felt that the time had come that there should be a change in our work.... We therefore took up the work this year with the expectation that God would bless in a special manner and would honor our faith for unusual power and success in the work.” CEESDAH 30.5

The teachers in this setting approached their work with the conviction that “every opportunity must be used to the best possible advantage.” In a short time the faculty was confronted with usual disciplinary problems. It was in the midst of their concern as to how to deal with four students who had disobeyed the rules of the school that the revival began. On Tuesday evening, November 29, two students involved in the discipline at the beginning of the study hour after considerable heart struggle, under the influence of the Spirit of God gave themselves fully to God. One of the young men had been at the school for a number of years and was an avowed infidel. The other young man had persistently refused every invitation to a Christian life. The two lived in different dormitories and neither knew of the experience of the other. Nor was the experience known to the other students at the college. CEESDAH 30.6

Prescott explains: CEESDAH 31.1

“There seemed to come upon the students in their private rooms during the evening study hour at which time these young men made their move, such a spirit as they could not resist. They were impelled to leave their rooms and seek help. Some were for a time in great distress of mind. Teachers who were at hand went to work at once to help those who desired help.”

The president further states that—“For several hours nothing else occupied the attention of both the teachers and the students. Without any prearranged plans, praise meetings were held in the private rooms and in the parlor and one after another yielded to the movings of the Spirit.” CEESDAH 31.2

Prescott was away at the time visiting Walla Walla College, of which he was also president. But under the guidance of the teachers on the grounds, the revival “work went on until toward midnight, and closed in singing in a most hearty manner, ‘Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.’” CEESDAH 31.3

Interestingly enough, the mail that afternoon had brought some articles from Sister White, who was in Australia. In the absence of the president, they were delivered to Mrs. Prescott, who read them and sent them over to the college to be read at the chapel the next day. These messages were most timely, and the work of revival continued. Classes were dispensed with, and as Prescott reports, “The power of God was present in a very marked manner.” CEESDAH 31.4

And he continues: CEESDAH 31.5

“Those who had long been held in sin seemed ready to respond to the invitation to accept Christ and yield themselves to the service of God. There was no excitement, but the deep movings of the Spirit of God were plainly discerned.”

For several days the work of revival took over the school program, and as Prescott reports: CEESDAH 31.6

“The work was followed up with such instruction, public and private, as the situation seemed to demand, and the results in general seem permanent. Thus the work went forward until my return from Walla Walla.”

The chapel exercises sometimes stretched out to four hours and the evening worship periods would continue until ten o’clock at night. CEESDAH 31.7

“I have never known of any similar experience,” declared Prescott. “Everyone recognized it as the work of the Spirit which while it convinced of sin was still a comforter. No one gave up to discouragement, but there was such a hungering and thirsting after righteousness as has not been experienced before in our midst.”

And then he declares: “The work has gone on steadily since and there has been such a taking hold of God as we have never known before.” CEESDAH 31.8

As the report continues it tells of regular meetings being held in Battle Creek even during the year-end holiday. Prescott reported the students’ experiences during the vacation “visiting among the churches in the State, endeavoring to carry to others the light and blessing which themselves have received.” CEESDAH 31.9

The president and his associate faculty members were overjoyed, and he declared: CEESDAH 31.10

“We feel that we can now go forward in the work as never before. Teachers are united in their work, and the teachers and students are bound together in such ties as have never held them before. I am sure that this will be the beginning of an experience which will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.”