Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 77, 1898

Waggoner, Brother and Sister [E. J.]

Sunnyside, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

August 26, 1898

This letter is published in entirety in 17MR 216-220. +^Note

Dear Brother and Sister Waggoner:

How much pleased I would be to see you and visit with you. I have so much desired that you would visit us in Australia; but it has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God, and therefore I feel no desire to write, although again and again I have come to the point of requesting you to make a visit to Australia. Cannot you do this? Please write us whether you can. 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 1

When I learned that Robinson and his wife had been sent to England, I said, It is a mistake. He has not the qualifications that would be of use and benefit in Europe, for unless he can rule, he would ruin. Then his wife’s influence would be a very wrong one. There is no light in her. She is a body of darkness, a channel through whom the enemy works, and that continuously. Who placed him in power? Why did they place him in that position? He has left his mark where it has done harm that will not be easily effaced. The Lord help and strengthen you against all such influences. 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 2

What is Elder Olsen doing in Europe now? I feel very sorry for him. I cannot feel in union with him, as I formerly did. He did not use aright the testimonies given me for him. He gave wrong impressions by selecting portions of the testimonies and making strong use of them, passing over the reproofs given to him and to others. I cannot place confidence in him. He has oppressed his brethren by bringing in elements to work against those whom God was using to do His work. Will not God judge for these things? I hope that something will take place that will give me stronger faith than I now have in Battle Creek and the working of the cause of God in the institutions there. But as yet, I am in trouble of mind, sending over reproving messages for them. First one thing and then another works to hinder, and not to purify, the work. 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 3

I write to you now because I want you (and W. C. White is of the same mind) to visit us in Australia. We think Present Truth the best paper published by our people. We enjoyed Elder and Mrs. Prescott’s visit here very much, and I was surprised that he did not remain in Battle Creek when he returned. It may be in the providence of God that he is where he is, but I do hope and pray that the Lord will adjust the work so that proper ones will take hold of it in Battle Creek. 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 4

I would be pleased to have you come here to Australia. This seems to be a new world. Great changes have been made here since we first broke the soil three years ago this coming September. We have had very close work in regard to means, and still have. We are hoping, eagerly hoping, that the Lord will hear our earnest prayers and furnish us means to build a hospital in Cooranbong. We need it so much. The poor people here know not how to take care of themselves. Sara McEnterfer is called out quite frequently to treat the sick. It is a great tax on her, and we can ill afford to have her away so much. 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 5

I have decided to walk out by faith and secure a site for a hospital. I shall send to America, asking the members of our churches to donate a dime each, and those whose hearts are willing a larger sum; for this building we must have, and we shall go to work to erect it just as soon as we can possibly obtain means. We shall build as cheaply as we can, and then this building will be succeeded by a better one. We can do scarcely anything for the sick unless we have a place in which they can be given treatment. We shall wait, and watch, and pray, trusting God’s living Word. We feel deeply the need of men to work and money to use. 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 6

Sunday, August 27

Today we are to ride to Wyee, a place about six or seven miles away, to visit the railway workers, and speak to those who want to hear the words of truth. I have thought how profitable it would be to have minute men, laborers together with God, who would be instant in season and out of season. The Lord’s work is not to stand on ceremony, with a precise time to be observed for every line of work. When a great and decisive work is to be done, God chooses men and women to do this work, and it will feel the loss if the talents of both are not combined. 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 7

God has divine methods. David expresses the ways of God, “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth,” he says, “and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.” He declares that though [he is] old and grey headed his zeal has not diminished. He entreats the Lord not to leave him to his own wisdom, but to remain with him, that he may bear testimony to the youth that are springing up around him. [Psalm 71:17, 18.] 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 8

The Lord has a great work to be done, and He will bequeath the most in the future to those who have done the most in the present. The Lord chooses His own agents, and each day under different circumstances gives them a trial in His plan of operations. In each wholehearted, true endeavor to work out His plans, He chooses His agents, not because they are perfect, but that they may gain perfection of character through connection with His work. Those in responsible positions who have the least conscientious scruples in reference to their own course of action are the ones who watch most jealously for the mistakes of others. Position does not make the man. Only by a living connection with God is the Holy Spirit implanted in the heart. Those who have this connection are faithful and true and will not betray holy trust. 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 9

The men whom God has called and chosen may, if they will, learn of Christ to be true. They may work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. But when young men and women begin to put on airs of importance, they are not looking to the Lord Jesus. They are not learning from Him to be meek and lowly. They form habits of arbitrary authority, and are full of conceit, full of boasting about what they are going to do, and what wonderful improvements they will make in advancement and growth. They have not learned lessons from Christ, and they become so wise in their own conceit that they think they are on the topmost round of the ladder, but they have not placed their feet on the first round. They show that they cannot guide, with enlightened, sanctified intelligence, their own little bark of self. If they had learned this lesson, they would have learned how to deal with human minds. 13LtMs, Lt 77, 1898, par. 10