Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

O. A. Olsen to E. G. White, Nov. 6, 1896

Seventh-day Adventist
GENERAL CONFERENCE,
267 West Main Street,
battle creek, mich.
O. A. Olsen
Battle Creek, Mich., U. S. A.
November 6, 1896.
Mrs. E. G. White,
“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong,
N. S. W., Australia.
Dear Sister:—

The last mail from Australia, both via San Francisco and Vancouver, brought communications from your pen, and, as before, they were greatly appreciated. During the past few months I have been passing through an experience different from anything that I have had before, and have been learning some lessons that I have not understood before, I feel to-day that I have a faith in the work, in God, and In the testimonies of his Spirit, different, and better grounded, than at any time in my past experience. It is not possible for me to tell it in words; but it is something that I know in my own heart. I have always had the fullest confidence in the work of, the message, and in God and his word. I have always accepted the Spirit of prophecy believe its position in the church, and cherished the instruction that has come through it to us as a people. But I am free to say that in the things that have to me during the past few months, wherein my own errors and wrong-doings have been so definitely pointed out, and wherein my own course has been opened to me in a manner different from anything before, I have gained an experience that I have never had before. To-day it seems to me that I believe the truth differently, and to-day I have a different faith in the testimonies and the operations of God’s Spirit, than I have ever had before. I understand some things that have been dark to me before; and there is a preciousness in them, to my soul, that I have not experienced in the past. And in the midst of this the Saviour has come nearer and become dearer, and his service more precious; and all this brings a peace and a joy to my soul that is most blessed. MMM 299.1

I have been wading through perplexities and troubles on every, side and sometimes it has seemed as if the dark waters would completely swallow me up. But the Lord is good; his mercy is great, and he has taken me into a closer nearness to himself, which has given me, as I have said, a comfort, a peace, and a joy within that can no be obliterated by the tumults without and the perplexities that are surging all about me. MMM 299.2

During our late council we had a number of meetings where I read to the brethren the testimonies that have come to me, and which relate to the work. Others I had copied and distributed among them. I tried as far as I understood to open up to them the whole situation as the Lord had revealed it. It was my privilege not only to read to them and distribute these writings among them, but also to express my own attitude with relation to them; and the result of all this was, that great light came into our meetings, and a spirit of solemnity filled the hearts of all present, and a cementing together in union and in love, such as I have not seen in the same body of men before. All these things had a most desirable effect; and the courage and confidence of our brethren were greatly revived. Many expressed themselves as never before having had such confidence in the work, and in God’s leadings, and in the work of the Spirit of prophecy among this people. I know it would have done your soul good to have been the tenderness of heart, and heard the expressions of faith and confidence shown by these leading brethren in the work. In your writings you have often referred to the Minneapolis spirit. I understand the meaning of this better now than I have before. I am now beginning to see and understand wherein I have so greatly failed during the years of my connection with the General Conference. It is not necessary that I should go over the history of the past sight years, but I very clearly see now that some of the things that now begin to open to me I ought to have seen and understood and comprehended years ago. It grieves my soul that I have been so negligent, that I have been so blind; and if it were not for the peace of God that comes into my heart at times, from the knowledge of my acceptance with my heavenly Father, I should go into utter despair, in thinking over the neglected work as it comes up in so many different ways, and all so exceedingly, so badly marred by human imperfections. MMM 299.3

I have taken the matter to God; I have expressed it to the brethren; I have sought the Lord’s pardon, and I have felt the acceptance of his love; and as these things open to my mind more and more, I can also see much more clearly, how I have added to the weight of the burden on your mind, and added to the great pressure that has rest on your soul. I can clearly see that if I had stood in the light as God’s servant in my position ought to have done, that the pressure would not have fallen and rested so heavily upon you these many years. But what can I now do, only to acknowledge it, ask the pardon of God and my brethren, and yourself, and then with an earnest purpose to follow in the lead of the light to my best understanding. And this is what I am now trying to do. MMM 300.1

I think I intimated in my last letter that he had begun some work here in the church and with the office in Battle Creek. This we have been following up, the last month, and we are beginning to see some results. But the evil conditions here are of long standing, and have a deep root, and nothing else than the mighty power of God can accomplish what needs to be done here. But the Lord is at work, and it is very evident that the lines are beginning to be drawn. It is very evident that there will be a people here that will move in the light, and extricate themselves from the world, its entanglements, and the powers of darkness; while there will be another class that will turn their back to the light, and go on into deeper darkness, and finally to destruction. Oh how sad! 8 and yet it is evident that it will be so. MMM 300.2

I am having meetings every week with the church-elders and leaders, with the managers and foremen of the Review Office, and also other more general meetings; so that every moment of time is taken up, and I only regret that I have not more physical and mental powers to bear up under the work. For the last two or three days I have been suffering with great weariness, as the strain during the last few weeks has been more than ordinary. But in the midst of all this, the Lord is good, and, as I have said, we see some encouraging omens. Our meeting last Tuesday evening with the managers and foremen of the Review office was a good one. It lasted three hours. One of the men that had been far from God for a long time, made a humble confession, and turned to the Lord with earnest prayer, and came out free. Others were deeply affected. It was the first real break that we have seen as yet. The meeting with the Review office workers in the chapel yesterday morning, was the best that we have had as yet with them. I have now begun to visit in the office, and open the way to talk with different individuals; and by the grace of God, I shall leave no stone unturned that is within my power. I am glad to say that as we move out in these lines, the blessing of God comes more and more, and of course that would naturally be so. MMM 300.3

The work in the church also has some encouraging developments. The district meetings have grown in interest. The attendance in many places is double what it has been, and with many there is a very earnest spirit of seeking God. But while these things are so, there are many that are in the darkness of sin. We are now planning and working every day, and we mean to follow up, as far as we are able, and the blessed Spirit of God will work, to bring in a different order of things. MMM 300.4

My health is keeping up much better than I feared. I am laboring under a tremendous pressure. But the Saviour is near, and God is good. MMM 301.1

As I have passed through these experiences, I have come to understand some things better than I have before. I understand Elder Butler’s situation and the condition he is in, as I have not understood it before. I see his dangers, and the danger of some others, in a different light. Oh I am so thankful for the wonderful mercies of God to me. I am so glad that my eyes are beginning to be opened. And I do pray most earnestly for the heavenly anointing, that I may see and understand clearly and move consistently amid the perils that surround us. MMM 301.2

In closing, I want to extend again, and renew, our urgent request that, if it is the will of God for you to attend our next General Conference. It is not for us to dictate; but if it is the will of the Lord, I do most earnestly desire your presence. The Conference will be held at Lincoln, Nebr. It will be a new field, where the meeting has not been held before, and with the encouragements that I have seen during our council here, I believe there will be a spirit of readiness among the brethren to receive the testimony of the Spirit of God, as never before. I have never seen the Spirit of God in that manner to the degree that it was manifested in our late council. I never before have seen such a sincere desire on the part of the brethren to study and know the mind of the Spirit of the Lord in the counsel of the testimonies as during the past council. This has given me great encouragement; and it is upon this experience that I base the hope and the expectation that there will be a condition of things to receive whatever instruction the Lord may have for his people, more readily than ever before. Personally these things will mean more to me than they have ever meant in the past. Though I have thought I have always believed the Spirit of prophecy, and had faith in the testimonies, and accepted them as from God, still I am ready to say that they are more to me now than ever in the past. So if it can be the will of the Lord, and he should direct in that way, we give you a most urgent invitation to attend the next General Conference. I can say in behalf of the General Conference Committee, and the members of the General Conference Association, that we will do all in our power to second your efforts, and make your work as pleasant as possible. MMM 301.3

Praying that God will give you health and strength, and raise you above all your physical infirmities, and fill you with his light and glory, I remain, MMM 301.4

Your unworthy brother in Christ Jesus,
(Signed, O. A. Olsen)