Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

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E. J. Waggoner to W. C. White, Apr. 1, 1892

Des Moines, Iowa, April 1, 1892.
W. C. White,
Echo Pub: Co.
North Fitzroy, Victoria,
My Dear Brother:

At each one of the institutes I have thought that I would write to you and tell you something of how things are moving with us. But each time I have waited till I could have something more to tell, and as the consequence, I have written nothing; Now we are in the midst of the lest one, and the one to which we have bean looking forward with so much interest. MMM 185.1

When I wrote you I think I was in Georgian That was in some respects the most wonderful experience that I ever had; It was not so much the amount of light that we saw, as the glimpse of the wonderful possibilities in the futures However, since that time, the Bible has seemed to be a new book; I felt at the close of that institute that I wanted to stop work and go off somewhere and study for six months, and think. I can’t describe it, but the Bible and the Testimonies, Great Controversy, etc., seem to be throwing light on one another? It is not in any very great things, but little expressions here and there seem to be clothed with meaning that I never before dreamed of. MMM 185.2

All of the institutes have been of the deepest interest, but no two of them have been alike.” We have seen how utterly impossible it is to lay out anything like a course of study.’ We have just had to keep studying the Bible for general purposes, and let the Lord lead as to what things should be presented at any time. And he has never failed to give just that which was needed. MMM 185.3

I was very happily surprised in the institute in Kansas. Brother Underwood was very much more free than I had dared to hope. Once in a while he felt moved to explain away a little of the instruction, but as a general thing he fell right in and helped real well; I think that he is coming along, but slowly. MMM 185.4

The hardest place to begin work was in California. They did not feel very much as though they needed the institute. They were all prepared for such a one as they had planned for two years ago. There has not been any place where they had so little idea of what the institute was for than there.’ They were not very enthusiastic at firsts but by the time we were half through, the reserve began to melt away. They saw that there was no discussion on hand, and they began to get the good of things. Bother Cook stood pretty stiff at first, but afterwards his testimony was for reconstruction.” Every time he would say that the work of reconstruction was going on, and that he wanted it to be complete.’ Brother St. John also was greatly blessed Brother Healy was crippled, so that he did not get to more than half of the meetings, and I think hardly that may be, and I do not think that he uttered a sound during the whole meeting. Poor man, I pity him, for I do not think that he enjoys himself very well Brother Decker told C. H. Jones that the prejudice with which he came to the meeting was all gone. The Northern folks were much benefited. MMM 185.5

The institute was much needed in Healdsburg, and it was doubtless all for the best that it was held there, yet it is too bad that Oakland could not have had the benefit of it. There is nothing so much needed in Oakland as a good revival that would grow out of two months simple, quiet Bible study, so that they could have something to think of, and something on which to build. But very few Oakland people could attend the institute, but those who did went back with new courage. MMM 185.6

It seems, very evident that the matter with California, is too much ceremonial law. Not the exact ceremonial law of the Jews, but that witch is the sane in effect.’ I should never have noticed it, I suppose, if I had not been away for a year and a half, but coming back after an absence of so long, it was very apparent. I have not seen any place where there was so much standing on ceremony, and so little freedom for the Spirit of the Lord to work;’ The trouble seems to be that the Conference officers are all afraid of one another. Each one seems to be afraid that he will tread on somebody’s toes, and that somebody else will tread on his; Perhaps I noticed this the more, because I feel somewhat jealous for the prosperity of California. I am afraid that the forward position that she has taken in the past has bon allowed to be an injury to her. There has been too much looking backward, instead of looking ahead. Isn’t too much statistical work an injury to our work, instead of a benefit? MMM 185.7

Things are going finely here. Farnsworth and [?] T. and I have been here all the time. Brother Olsen and Brother Loughborough are here now Brother L. goes away to-night, and Prof. Prescott comes next week. We have had the best kind of freedom, in teaching. As a rule, it has been well received. One of the most unimpressible fellows is Brother Larson. He has gone away now. He has drilled himself so much as a debater that it seems almost impossible for him to look at any truth except as a critic. He can detect a flaw in any argument in an instant, and that seems to absorb his attention, to the exclusion of any thing else: Still I hope that he received some benefit the little time that he was here. Brother Henry Nicola has landed himself squarely and completely on the right side. His confessions as to his feeling at Minneapolis, and his part in keeping your mother out of Iowa at the time of their camp-meeting that followed, were most thorough, and made a deep impression on the congregation. Brother Morrison felt constrained by them to get up and explain things a little, so as to set himself right in the matter, although Brother Nicola had not implicated a soul in his confessions. Then when Brother Morrison sat down, Brother N. got up and made the confession a little more thorough, and then Brother Morrison felt that it condemned him, and so he got up to explain a little more, and then Brother Nicola, made a little further confession. It was almost amusing. When Brother Nicola would sneak the Spirit of the Lord would melt everybody down, and then when Brother Morrison would get up, everything would be dry. The difference in the two spirits was most marked. But Brother Nicola, while not implicating a single person but himself, would not give up but that he had committed a grievous wrong. Brother Olsen will no doubt write you of the matters here more fully than I can. MMM 186.1

I heard of the story that was concocted about you, but did not believe it, It is most strange how some people find pleasure in making a lie. Well, that is one of the penalties of greatness. MMM 186.2

The 11th of May has been fixed as the day of my departure for England. I have secure passage on the Teutonic. For a time we shall both be in ‘Br Majesty’ a dominions, and it will seem as though we were not so far apart. MMM 186.3

On my way out here, I stopped in Albuquerque and Las Vegas, and held meetings with the little companies, and also over the Sabbath with the little company at Trinidad, cola Smith Sharp was with me. He is now in Colorado Springs. He talked with me about some advice that your mother gave him in regard to going to England, saying that quite recently she had said that he ought not to have been hindered in going. He feels quite a burden to go, at his own expense for the trip across, and engage in Bible work from house to house till he gathered little companies together. Of course I could not say anything to him to encourage him, as I had no business in that line, but it seemed to me that if it were his duty to go, it would be a good thing for him and for the work. What do you know about it, and what do you think of it? MMM 186.4

I was much interested in your mother’s letters to Brother Olsen, in regard to your trip over, and your reception there. I hear that she is suffering from rheumatism now. MMM 186.5

Well, I shall always be glad to hear from you whenever you can find time to write a few lines, in regard to your work, and your own personal experience, and even a little advice and counsel. The Lord has been wonderfully patient with me, for I have learned very slowly, and there is yet very much for me to learn. It is wonderful how much the Lord is going to do with just such poor, feeble, ignorant creatures as we are if we will let him; and if we will not let him, then with some one else who is just as weak. I feel very much inclined to let him do some of it with me. MMM 186.6

But it is almost Sabbath, and meeting time, and I must close. Give my love to any who may inquire concerning me. I am going to write to Brother Tenney. I have been shamefully negligent, but now that I have a type-writer of my own, that I can manipulate quite rapidly, I promise myself that I shall not be so lazy a correspondent. MMM 186.7

As ever, your brother, (Signed) E. J. Waggoner MMM 186.8