Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)
Lt 366, 1907
White, J. E.
Loma Linda, California
November 10, 1907
Portions of this letter are published in 5MR 373. +Note
Elder J. E. White
Dear Son Edson:
I was glad to receive a letter from you. While I do not urge you to write, still I am always glad to hear from you. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 1
Friday morning Elder Luther Warren came from the East with a group of forty-six students for the Loma Linda College of Evangelists. They appear to be an earnest, consecrated company of young people. Yesterday morning, I spoke to them, speaking of the great privilege of responding to the invitation of Christ, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28.] 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 2
In the afternoon I spoke again to a large congregation. Elder Reaser opened the service with prayer, and after he had prayed I offered a petition to God. O how my soul yearned after Him! My heart was deeply burdened as I thought of how rapidly time was passing and how little understanding many seem to have of what needs to be done in right lines. I read the fifty-fifth, fifty-sixth, and fifty-eighth chapters of Isaiah. The Lord gave me strength to speak distinctly, while I made the application of these chapters to our own experience. At the close of my remarks, the congregation sang with good effect, “The Lost Sheep.” 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 3
Just before the time for this meeting a heavy thundershower came up. I was well wrapped up and taken in a wheel chair to the place of meeting, which is a little higher on the hill than the sanitarium. This building is used for the school work and makes a very convenient place for meetings. We are thankful for this building; for it would have been difficult to secure the means to erect a chapel. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 4
The Loma Linda property originally cost the owners one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but it was offered to us for forty thousand. The main building had about sixty-five rooms for patients. In the front part of the building on the lower floor is a large sun parlor, with windows on three sides. Adjoining this room is a large parlor, and across the hall from the parlor is the patients’ dining room. It has been found necessary to build an addition for a dining room for the students and helpers. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 5
Besides the main building there are five cottages on the hill, one of them being a two-story structure. These buildings are connected with gravel roads and with concrete walks. They are all elegantly and completely furnished. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 6
Besides the buildings, there were in the Loma Linda property about seventy-six acres of land, including orchards, pasture land, lawns, and flower gardens. Just back of the sanitarium is a beautiful lawn and pepperwood grove, where I have spoken several times. This property was formerly conducted as a tourist hotel, but did not prove profitable to the owners, and they were glad to sell it to us. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 7
I wish that you and Emma might be here now. This is a very pleasant time of the year; for we are not troubled with the heat. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 8
In our churches there is need of a deeper spirituality, need of a greater missionary spirit. There are many who need a thorough conversion. The Lord has united believers together in church capacity, but every soul should draw nigh to Christ, who is the source of our strength. Then the church will exert a righteous influence before the world. If there existed in the church such a union as is in accordance with the Scriptures, the church on earth would be a type of the church in heaven. Every transaction would be free from the elements of human depravity. We want to see every one act his part in representing the great family above. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 9
Earnest work, much more earnest work must be done. I have not laid off the burden, but I still continue to carry it, as I have done for over sixty years. I feel intensely over the fact that there are tares among the wheat, that among the people who have had great light, there are some who are carrying out the will of the great enemy of souls. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 10
The message I bear to all the leaders in our work is, Purify your souls by obeying the truth. Work with the true missionary spirit for those not of our faith. I lift my voice in earnest appeal, Take up the work of purification essential for the health of the soul. Redeem the time. Before every soul there is a great work of reformation and of transformation before the full brightness of the truth will shine forth before unbelievers as a light in a dark place. One person can exert a powerful influence for good if he is humble, meek, and lowly in heart, standing as firm as a rock to a Thus saith the Lord. Angels of God can commit to him grace and efficiency. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 11
I often consider the words of the apostle Paul in writing to the Romans: 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 12
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” [Romans 12:1, 2.] 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 13
Christians are to be united, not in fault-finding and criticism, but in fellowship, in dependence one upon the other, bound by the golden links of the chain of love. If they will unite in partaking of the divine nature, they will be bound to the throne of God. This must be the case if we are ever to meet the Lord Jesus. There must be a receiving of the attributes of pure, holy, sanctified characters, such characters as man would ever have possessed had he remained loyal and true to God. By an intelligent understanding of the Word of truth, we may understand the character of Christ. We must have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul from all objectionable hereditary and cultivated tendencies to imperfection of character. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 14
In His Word, the Lord Jesus has specified that believers, united in church capacity, may be as a light in the world, strengthening one another in love and sympathy, laboring unitedly to win souls to Jesus Christ. Their success in this work is dependent upon their faith and prayer. Under the dictation of the Holy Spirit, they may be laborers together with God. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 15
I am charged to say to all that any other representation than this is deceptive. The efforts of some to bring others under the rule of their own arbitrary authority strengthens the forces of darkness. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 16
It is the privilege of all to cleanse themselves from all selfishness, from all rudeness in speech, all discourtesy in spirit, in word, or in action. We are striving for a city whose builder and maker is God. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 17
Those who are daily sanctified by the precious blood of Christ will not be a means of counterworking the great plan of redemption that God has devised at the infinite cost of the life of His only begotten Son. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 18
Night after night I wrestle in agony of spirit as I see so little of an intense working to save perishing souls, in order that they may be converted and purified and cleansed. O such a work of selfishness as is continually carried on by professed Christians! My soul is in agony as I think of it. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 19
Edson, I hope that you will keep the Word of the Lord ever before you and make that Word your guide. Walk humbly with Him; for we all need His guidance. Maintain the meekness and lowliness of Christ. Our only safety is to be often in prayer and to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 20
Brother Sutherland is here, and we have just had a nice visit with him. All our leading brethren here are now in a committee meeting, counseling about the work. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 21
I think we shall soon make a visit to San Diego County and then return home. We were planning to visit the Paradise Valley Sanitarium this week, but we may not get away till next week. W. C. White is very busy planning with the workers here. May the Lord guide in counsel is my prayer. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 22
Let us hear from you both often. I hope that the Lord will spare your lives to take part in the work that needs to be done. 22LtMs, Lt 366, 1907, par. 23