Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

R. T. Nash, “An Eyewitness Account”, Jun. 25, 1955

THE MINNEAPOLIS CONFERENCE

And the Issues Concerning the Presentation of the Message of Righteousness by Faith

An Eye Witness Account

by R. T. Nash

“With many, there is now a pressing conviction that this message of Righteousness by Faith should be studied, taught, and stressed to the fullest extent that its importance demands.” “Yes the belief-that some day the message of Righteousness by Faith would shine in all its inherent worth, glory, and power, and receive full recognition.” Eld. A. G. Daniells in “Christ our Righteousness” page 58.

“The present message-Justification by Faith-is a message from God; it bears the divine credentials, for its fruit is unto holiness.” C. O. R., p.59. MMM 351.1

“Careful study of the instruction given in the spirit of prophecy leads to deep conviction that the coming of the message of Righteousness by Faith at the Minneapolis Conference was a signal providence of God.” Eld. A. G. Daniells in C. O. R. p. 72. MMM 351.2

“The loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ.” C. O. R. p. 72. MMM 351.3

The writer of this little tract attended the Minneapolis conference in 1888 and saw and heard many of the various things that were done and said. MMM 351.4

Mrs. E. G. White from California was present, also Dr. E. J. Waggoner and Elder Alonza T. Jones from California were there. It fell to the lot of Jones and Waggoner to conduct each morning the consecration services of the conference. They taught us in the most kind and simple way that Jesus the Lamb of God took upon himself all our burden of sin and gave his life for us. That He paid the whole debt and set us free. That He took all our sins and in exchange gave us His righteousness. That He took our filthy robes and gave us His white robe of righteousness in its place. What a wonderful exchange: MMM 351.5

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. “Being then made free from sin,” (Romans 6:10) “the free gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17, 18) was ours by faith. MMM 352.1

“This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.” C.O.R. p. 72. MMM 352.2

“There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God.” ... “When light goes forth to lighten the earth instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will want to bind about His work to meet their narrow ideas.” T.M. p. 300. MMM 352.3

The writer and many who attended the Conference knows this is what took place at that meeting. When Christ was lifted up as the only hope of the church and of all men, they met united opposition by nearly all of the senior ministers. They tried to stop the messengers from further presentation or discussion of Righteousness by Faith, and when Mrs. E. G. White told them God’s providence had led Elders Jones and Waggoner to cry aloud on the subject, the opposition selected a man to speak their minds in opposition. MMM 352.4

Elder J. H. Morrison was their spokesman. It was arranged that Elders Jones and Waggoner could reply. MMM 352.5

Elder Morrison’s discourse was clearcut on the two covenants covering the Apostle’ Paul’s allegory of the bond woman and the free-Ishmael and Isaac representing the people of the old covenant and the new covenant, Sarah, the freewoman demanded “Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.” Genesis 21:10. MMM 352.6

“So Abraham obeyed and Hagar departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.” MMM 352.7

Elder Morrison claimed that we had always believed in “Justification by Faith” and were children of the free woman. He thought that the subject had been overstressed at the conference and seemed to be fearful that the law might lose the important place that belonged to it. MMM 352.8

Mrs. E. G. White says, “As a people we have preached the law until we are as dry as the hills of Gilboa that had neither dew nor rain. We must preach Christ in the law, and there will be sap and nourishment in the preaching that will be as food to the famishing flock of God. We must not trust in our own merits at all, but in the merits of Jesus of Nazareth.” C.O.R. p.64 When Elders Jones and Waggoner came to reply to their opponents, they stood side by side with open Bibles. MMM 353.1

Doctor Waggoner began reading Jeremiah 23:5-7. MMM 353.2

Elder Jones read Ephesians 2:4-8. MMM 353.3

Doctor Waggoner read Galatians 2:16-21. MMM 353.4

Elder Jones read Romans 11:1-33. MMM 353.5

Doctor Waggoner read Romans 1:14-17. MMM 353.6

Elder Jones read Romans 2:12-29. MMM 353.7

Doctor Waggoner read Galatians 3: entire. MMM 353.8

Elder Jones read Romans 3: entire. MMM 353.9

Doctor Waggoner read Galatians 5:1-6. MMM 353.10

Elder Jones read Romans 9:7-33. MMM 353.11

Doctor Waggoner read Galatians 2: entire. MMM 353.12

Elder Jones read Romans 4:1-11. MMM 353.13

Doctor Waggoner read Romans 5: entire. MMM 353.14

Elder Jones read Romans 4:13-25. MMM 353.15

Doctor Waggoner read Romans 6: entire. MMM 353.16

Elder Jones read Romans 1:15-17. MMM 353.17

Doctor Waggoner read Romans 8:14-39. MMM 353.18

Elder Jones read 1 John 5:1-4. MMM 353.19

This was their answer without a word of comment, they took their seats. MMM 354.1

For the entire time of the reading there was hushed stillness over the vast assembly. This made an everlasting impression upon the writer that time can never efface and in reading the “Foreword” in the book “Christ our Righteousness” by Eld. A. G. Daniells a request voiced by many of our workers and people, entire union conferences requesting a compilation of the writings of Mrs. E. G. White on the subject of Justification by Faith,(C.O.R. p. 9) indicates that many were so impressed. MMM 354.2

The church at Minneapolis was small for so large a delegation and was usually crowded. On one occasion the writer was standing by the side of Elder R. M. Kilgore in an aisle of the church at the opening of a consecration meeting. Elder Kilgore asked for recognition. When recognized, he said: “To the delegates assembled at this conference I want to say a few words that I think is of the utmost importance at this time. As some of you know Elder George I. Butler is detained at Battle Creek on account of his sick wife and cannot be here until later on, and I would like to move that we stop this discussion on the subject of ‘Righteousness by Faith’ until the president of the General Conference can be present.” MMM 354.3

Mrs. E. G. White who had been seated on the platform arose to her feet and when recognized said: “Brethren this is the Lord’s work, does the Lord want His work to wait for Elder Butler? The Lord wants His work to go forward and not wait for any man.” There was no reply to what she said. MMM 354.4

Elders Jones and Waggoner went on with their message. MMM 354.5

“This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.” C.O.R. p. 72, Revelation 18:2. MMM 354.6

“The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin pardoning Redeemer.” C.O.R. p. 72. MMM 354.7

“I would speak in warning to those who have stood for years resisting light and cherishing the spirit of opposition. How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God’s righteousness? God has given them His message. They bear the word of the Lord. Light and power from on high have been shed abundantly in the midst of you. Here was the evidence, that all might discern whom the Lord recognized as His servants firm as a rock.” T.M. p. 96,97. “God speaks through His appointed agencies and let no man or confederacy of men, insult the Spirit of God for refusing to hear the message of God’s word from the lips of His chosen messengers.” T.M. p. 54. MMM 355.1

From Mrs. E. G. White’s attitude and words, she stood 100% behind Elders Waggoner and Jones in presenting God’s message at the Minneapolis Conference. MMM 355.2

“There was a time when this work was made necessary, because our own people opposed the work of God by refusing the light of truth on the righteousness of Christ by faith. This they should have received and re-echoed, with heart and voice and pen; for it is their only efficiency. They should have labored under the Holy Spirit’s dictation to give light to others.” T.M. p. 97. MMM 355.3

At the Minneapolis Conference is where this opposition began. For one, the writer sincerely prays and hopes that this opposition may so cease and turn about face and so labor “under the Holy Spirit’s dictation” that the light of that “other angel” may soon cover the whole earth. Revelation 18:1, 2. MMM 355.4

Can we successfully oppose God? MMM 355.5

“The counsel of the Lord standeth forever,” Psalm 33:11. “Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. He fashioneth their hearts alike.” Psalm 33:8, 15. MMM 355.6

Let us listen to the one who is “mighty to save.” Isaiah 63:1. God has promised “to finish the work and cut it short.” Will He do it? He will, and in doing it, He will make use of every surrendered soul. MMM 355.7

When the work is finished, where will we be? “In doing this work we are sounding the first, second, and third angel’s messages, and are thus being prepared for the coming of that other angel (from where?) from heaven who is to lighten the earth with his glory.” Testimonies for the Church 6:406. Now for a very important question. Will we be a part of that glory that lightens the earth? Yes, if “we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our armour of light.” Romans 13:14, 12; Revelation 19:8. The robe of Christ’s righteousness is freely offered to all who will accept it by faith. MMM 356.1

“I know that a work must be done for the people, or many will not be prepared to receive the light of the angel sent down from heaven to lighten the whole earth with his glory.” T. M. p. 468,469. MMM 356.2

This quotation clearly indicates that God’s people will need to throw all into the scales on the side of Christ and His righteousness with no reserve. This is the only safe side. MMM 356.3

Reader-Do it now.
R. T. Nash
Highlands, California
Received in letter
from R. T. Nash
June 25, 1955, to
Ellen G. White Publications
General Conference of S.D.A. MMM 356.4