Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Lt 9c, 1890

Fulton, Brother and Burke, Brother

South Lancaster, Massachusetts

October 23, 1890

Previously unpublished.

Dear Brethren Fulton and Burke,

I feel a little sad today and will tell you about it. I felt very anxious, as you well knew, in regard to the building going forward as speedily as possible at the Retreat at St. Helena. When Sister Gotzian wrote to me in regard to the means which she had promised to loan them, and asked me what she should do, saying that Brother Jones wanted the loan for the Pacific Press, I thought it should go to the Health Retreat. But since the true state of things has been laid before me and I get a more correct understanding of their present financial embarrassment, I am troubled in regard to the matter. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 1

I think Brother Church’s withdrawing his money from the office so rapidly has brought them into financial pressure, and they do not know what to do. Now they write as though it was my decided influence that had caused Sister Gotzian to place her money in the Retreat. They feel that they have helped the Retreat in its necessity, and now the Retreat could defer building and help them in their need. I know I have said considerable in regard to this matter, and if I have been too earnest, I am sorry. If I have any advice to give now, it would be that under the existing circumstances it would be advisable to heed the pleadings of Pacific Press, and let them be favored that they may get through this embarrassment. Then there will be feelings of brotherhood between these two institutions. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 2

If the Pacific Press wants your aid now that the favors bestowed by them upon you may be practically reciprocated by you for the present emergency, it looks to me that it would be Christlike to help them through, though there may be much inconvenience to you. I hope the Lord Jesus whom we love and whom we serve will impress your hearts to do just the right things, that which would be well-pleasing in the sight of the Lord. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 3

My husband and myself used to take everything like this to the Lord, having a special season of prayer over the matter. We surrendered our own desires and wishes, and then we sought counsel of the Lord, and we prayed believing He would give us light, and frequently the light would not be in favor of our proposed plans, but directly the opposite. But we yielded willing obedience, knowing that the Lord understood much better than we did. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 4

As the matter of building has been delayed so long, it may be that a little longer delay may bring about better financial prospects. I do not want anything that I shall do or say to carry the appearance that I am working against the interests of the Pacific Press. I would not have you, dear brethren, pursue a course from any advice or counsel I have given that would make you stand in an unfavorable light to our brethren connected with the Pacific Press. When I gave you counsel and urged immediate action in building a house which I knew you needed at the Retreat, I did not suppose that it would bring disaster in financial pressure upon the Pacific Press. I ask now, Would it not be best under existing circumstances, as you have waited so long to wait a few months longer? We must all in our several branches of the cause, work harmoniously. There must be no jarring in our work among our institutions. We must maintain the very best, Christlike relationship. The interest in these institutions for each other must be unselfish. Both are the Lord’s instrumentalities, and God is above the ladder, looking down upon us in all our works. He reads the intents and purposes of the heart, and if you can now show a spirit of self-denial, self-sacrifice, I think it would please the Lord Jesus. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 5

We must not let any one of our institutions suffer and bring reproach upon the cause of God. Will you please consider this matter with an eye single to the glory of God. The work is centered in California. It is the heart of the work on the Pacific Coast, and the great heartbeats at the center are felt all through the work and cause on the Coast. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 6

The publishing house is now in a straight place. They must not lose their credit now, for your own institutions will wish further accommodations and loans from the Pacific Press. But if her credit is not maintained, her honor preserved, then not only will you feel the stroke, but the college will feel it, and all working interests in the cause of God will feel it. Anything like a failure once, and her standing is imperilled and will never be the same as it is today. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 7

Now I look upon this matter like this: All the reasons for the erecting of a commodious building at the Retreat exist today as they did when I urged immediate action in the starting of this building. I feel just as anxious that this work should be done as I ever felt, but the gratification of looking upon a building erected with means that might have saved the Pacific Press from financial bankruptcy would destroy my gratification in the building. And when the managers at the Pacific Press shall look at or talk in regard to, the building erected at the Retreat, and consider that the sum invested in it might have tided them over the disaster of failure, and yet the mangers of the Retreat refused to help them, in their crisis, they would not have a feeling of brotherhood and happy thoughts in viewing this building. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 8

Let us all seek God. Let us press together. Let us work in perfect, intelligent harmony, and keep everything like dissension out of heart and mind. I think I can say no more. I take back nothing I have said; it was all true, but God forbid that any words which I have spoken shall influence you to turn away from the distressed pleadings of one of God’s institutions in the time of their great need. The Lord help you, dear brethren, for I know you want to walk in His counsel and to do those things of which heaven will approve. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 9

May the Lord give you wisdom, is my most earnest prayer. 6LtMs, Lt 9c, 1890, par. 10