Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

W. C. White to Mary White, Nov. 24, 1888

From W C White
Battle Creek, Mich. Nov. 24, 1888.

My Dear Mary, MMM 126.1

It is now Sabbath noon, and I must write you a few lines, to let you know how we all are, and to assure you that the Lord has a care for us, and bestows abundant blessings on us.

Mother is at Potterville, attending the general meeting of the Michigan Ministers. I wanted to go too, but it was not possible on account of the large amount of Com. work not yet completed. You can see that since Eld. Butler has withdrawn from the Com. and Eld. Haskell has gone home sick, it leaves a pretty heavy burden on the shoulders of those who remain. So we try to move cautiously, and as a result, we are pretty slow. Eld. Smith has resigned his place on the Com. saving that he was not qualified either by Nature, or by Grace, for that kind of work; and Eld. D. T. Jones, has been chosen, to fill his place. He is secretary of the Conf. and will move to B C. in about a month. I may have told you that I have been chosen chairman of the Com. till Bro. Olsen returns: This, of course, was about the bitterest pill that I have had to take, and it seems as though some of us have been taking pills ever since we see foot on Minneapolis soil; but I saw no way to got out of it, and am not sure that should have dared to press the matter, if I had seen a way of escape. As it is, matters are gradually swinging around here, and it may be, after Test. No. 33 comes out, that our people abroad will lay down part of their prejudice, and show me some degree of confidence. Meantime, I shall try to go on steadily, doing the very best I can, trusting in the Lord, and leaving consequences with Him. Already, some things are coming around, that there seemed very little hope for, a week ago. You may know something of the feeling that has existed towards. A. T. J. and although he came East with the expectation of teaching in the College, it looked as though there was to be no place given him. After we had been here about two weeks, mother and I asked my they did not get him to speak in tabernacle, on National Reform. Sisley said that he had asked Eld. Smith, and he thought that Jones was rather extravagant in his expressions, and took and extreme view, and he hardly thought it best to ask him to speak. Well, you can guess that when mother had a chance to talk with Brn. Sisley, & Amadon, that she told them her mind quite fully about that sort of planning. Amadon did not sympathize with the opposition, and he stirred around, and gave out appointments for Sabbath, & Sunday evenings, at the TAB. A. T. did real well. Judge Graves, Ed. Nichols, and several other prominent citizens were there, and were much pleased. John Fulton stirred around, and got orders for 1500. Copies of the Journal, if it had a full report, and then took his notes, and A. A’ s Mse. and with A. T’s help got up a fine report, which I trust you have seen ere this. MMM 126.2

This took so well, that 2300 of the Journals were used. In the meantime, the College Board had met, and finding that they had taken no formal action about having A. T. teach there, they voted to employ U. Smith, & F. D. Starr, to teach the Biblical Course. MMM 127.1

Just at this time we were in a great straight for a man to go to Indiana, and as they had asked for Starr, the Conf. Com asked the College to let have him, and we advised that they have a talk with Jones, as he had come by our advice, to work form them. Butler, Smith, & Prescott had a talk with him, and have arranged on that he shall teach in the School during the winter term. This one victory over their narrowness, and prejudice, is worth a whole winter’s work. Today, A. T. is at Potterville. Tonight, Brn. Farnsworth, & Kilgore, go West, and Tuesday, D. T. Jones goes also. Then I shall be left alone for a time, and can do lots of writing. MMM 127.2

[Selection ends here.] MMM 127.3