Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Lt 43, 1903

Hall, L. M.

“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California

March 6, 1903

Portions of this letter are published in PM 28, 175, 358, 366-367; WM 132; Ev 402; UL 79.

Dear Sister Hall,—

I have received your letter, and I feel greatly relieved. When we did not hear from you as soon as we thought we ought to, we were very anxious, fearing that you might have taken cold and were unwilling to let me know in regard to your situation. We have prayed constantly for you. Your letter has relieved me of a great burden of anxiety. I thank the Lord for His goodness. We hope that you will not be exposed on your journey to Battle Creek. We pray that the Lord will graciously care for you and that your health will greatly improve. I hope that you will be successful in disposing of your place. Then come to us; for we miss you very much. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 1

I am hoping that you will be able to settle up your business in time to attend the Conference. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 2

Last night Brother Irwin and Sister E. M. Graham arrived from Australia. Brother Irwin is staying at Willie’s. Miss Graham makes her home with us. She is occupying your room. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 3

Sara and Maggie will go with me to Conference. Clarence will go to act as one of the reporters for the Conference. We shall miss his help. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 4

For the last two or three days I have been better in health than for some time past. Soon after you left there came to me from Attorney Green a leaflet containing the statement that Mrs. White is getting rich, that among our people there is great dissatisfaction as to how her money is obtained, and that a thorough investigation is to be made of her business. The accusations contained in this leaflet were cruel and unjust. As I read them, I felt a shock go over me. I came near falling to the floor. Ever since, I have been unable to write or to have matters of perplexity requiring thought brought before me. When Clarence found out how I was feeling, he brought me some pamphlets containing a vindication of Elder and Mrs. White, proving their integrity and asking for one instance of where they had dealt unfairly. Reading these pamphlets relieved my mind somewhat; but for two weeks, yea, three weeks, I have been unable to exercise my mind, for when I did, my nose would bleed. I was afraid that I would not be able to overcome the terrible feeling in my brain. Reading letters that required thought would immediately bring a rush of blood to the head, making my brain feel like a seething furnace; and nosebleed would follow. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 5

If I keep free from every perplexity, I feel nothing of these sensations. But I have been obliged to stop my writing almost entirely. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 6

After the camp-meeting in Fresno, I was as a cart pressed beneath sheaves. At the time of the last council held in Battle Creek, there came upon me such an overwhelming sense of the condition of things that for eight weeks I did not sleep past twelve o’clock. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 7

I worked constantly—writing out matters that must be brought before the brethren. I had just reached the place where I thought that perhaps I should be able to have rest of mind when the cruel communication from Attorney Green came. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 8

I do not claim as my own one bit of the property that I own. I owe twenty thousand dollars, which I have borrowed to invest in the Lord’s work. Of late years, comparatively few of my books have been sold in the United States. I must have money for running expenses, and I must pay my workers. The money that otherwise I should have to pay for rent, I now pay as interest on the money which I borrowed to secure this home. I am ready to let my place go as soon as the Lord signifies that this is His will and that my work here is done. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 9

The lack of means does not worry me; for the Lord is my witness that His work has ever been dearer to me than my life. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 10

I have hoped that my books would sell, not that I might be rich, but that the solemn, sacred truths which the Lord has entrusted to me might be given to the people. I shall be so grateful if my books can be circulated as the Lord desires them to be. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 11

I have given and am still giving to the work all the royalties on my translated books sold in foreign countries. This means an annual offering of hundreds of dollars. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 12

While in Australia I invested much money in building meeting houses and in establishing the Avondale school. In every possible way I helped to advance the work. At one time when we were in a great strait for means, fourteen hundred dollars came to me for some property sold in America. Not one dollar of this money did I use for myself. Some of it I invested in meeting houses, and some of it I gave for the purchase of a tent for camp-meeting work. The rest of it went into the Avondale Health Retreat. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 13

This is the way in which Sister White is getting rich. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 14

I praise the Lord that I am now somewhat relieved of the burden that came upon me when I first read the cruel, unjust charges in the pamphlet sent me. Yesterday for the first time Willie ventured to read to me some letters from Elder Daniells and Brother E. R. Palmer and to tell me something of his experience while in the South. I am praying most earnestly that Christ, the great Physician, will heal my afflicted head and eyes and strengthen me to write out the instruction He has given me on Bible subjects. I am asking Him to preserve my eyesight. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 15

Sometimes I think that perhaps it is time that I felt released from constant writing. I have been trying to write on the life of Solomon. But I have been kept from this work by the consideration of matters pertaining to the Southern field, which have been exceedingly painful to me. The destruction of the Battle Creek Sanitarium and the Review and Herald office stand out before me as lessons too plain and forcible to be misunderstood or dismissed from my mind. I try to present before my brethren the instruction that the Lord gives me concerning these things, but it seems that they will not receive this instruction. When they begin the work of reformation at the heart, out of which are the issues of life, they will begin aright, and the work will be lasting. But I fear that a sense of their real spiritual condition will not come to them till it is too late for them to make the preparation that all must make who are received into the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those who love His appearing. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 16

O that the Holy Spirit would take hold upon the hearts of the men in responsible positions in the work of God—those who for so long have been under the deception of the enemy. O that they could see themselves as God sees them. Then there would go forth from unfeigned lips the entreaty, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” [Psalm 51:10.] And quickly would come the response, “A new heart will I give you.” [Ezekiel 36:26.] 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 17

When will men learn that the Lord, He is God, that He is a personal God, and that He alone is to rule the conscience? O that those in positions of trust would realize that they are but weak, fallible beings. All who would enter the gates of the celestial city must be born again. In no other way can they be saved. The first thing to be done is to make the heart right with God. The work must be genuine. To make believe in this matter is like building on the sand. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 18

There is a fearful deception upon minds. But how little men realize their peril. As they are now, they are without God and without hope. They are building on sliding sand, and the storm is coming to beat upon their house and sweep it away. It is time for those whom God has been calling and warning for years to begin to ask themselves how they stand before God. How terrible it is to think of a soul lost, eternally lost, when Christ has purchased human beings with His life-blood, and says to them: “Ye are not your own. I gave My life that you should not perish, but have a life that measures with the life of God.” 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 19

In the night season I am repeating to certain ones the words that Christ spoke as He wept over the impenitence of Jerusalem, “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace!” When the Saviour had spoken these words, He paused. The glorious destiny that might have blessed Jerusalem had she accepted her Redeemer rose before Him. But the bright picture faded from His sight. He realized that she was under the Roman yoke, bearing the frown of God, doomed to His retributive judgement; and He took up the broken thread of His lamentation: “But now they are hid from thine eyes.” [Luke 19:42.] I cannot but feel intensely as I think that of some, unless they change, these words must at last be spoken. This is why I do not wish to attend the General Conference. Ever since I came to America I have been carrying a heavy load, and it seems almost impossible to gird myself for another effort, when my brethren fall so far short of what they ought to be. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 20

But I dare not decide not to attend the Conference. If the Lord impresses me that I must go, I shall go, even though I can but fear the result on my physical strength. It seems that the termination of one duty is but the signal for the beginning of another. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 21

Could I arouse our people to Christian effort, could I lead them to engage in medical missionary work with holy zeal and divine perseverance, not in a few places, but in every place, putting forth personal effort for those out of the fold, how grateful I should be! This is true missionary work. In some places it is attended with little success, apparently; but again, the Lord opens the way, and signal success attends the effort. Words are spoken which are as nails fastened in a sure place. Angels from heaven co-operate with human instrumentalities, and sinners are won to the Saviour. I look at Washington, D.C. and wonder that more has not been done by our people to proclaim the third angel’s message in this important city, the capital of the nation. Why has not a sanitarium been established there? Such an institution would have a powerful influence on the people of the city. In New York, Detroit, and many other large cities, little has been done. The cities of the South, though kept before our people in the testimonies of God’s Spirit, have been neglected. While I would not stay the hand that is stretched out to labor in far-off countries, I would have our people understand that there is a work to be done in the home field. God has a controversy with the believers living in such places as Battle Creek. Why cannot they see that they have something to do for places close at hand? I warned them that God can scatter their forces. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 22

We are not to become weary in well-doing. Why is not more zeal manifested in preparing the way of the Lord, establishing memorials for Him in prominent places by public and private efforts, gathering into the truth men and women from the highways and the byways. Where are the workers to enter new places? Battle Creek has been warned. Scarcely anything would move the people living there. In places that have not yet been worked, the third angel’s message is to be proclaimed. Earnest efforts are to be put forth to arouse the sleeping churches, that men and women may be led to step out in obedience to the truth and to give themselves unreservedly to the work of warning a doomed world. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 23

We must learn the meaning of the destruction of two of our largest institutions. We cannot afford to look with indifference on these things. What lesson is God teaching us? Is He not trying to show us the need of closely examining ourselves, that we may see whether we be in the faith or not? Is He not trying to lead us to give more thought to the subject of the time in which we are living? The signs of the times fulfilling all around us show us that the end of all things is at hand. Intense earnestness should take possession of us. Our slumbering energies should be aroused by persevering effort. Consecrated workers should go forth into the field and move understandingly forward, clearing the King’s highway, obtaining victories in new places. Let the Lord’s workers labor in faith and trust. Some for whom they work will listen to the message and accept the truth. Let them do what God has commanded them to do. Proportionate to their faith will be their success. The Scriptures declare: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” [James 1:5-7.] 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 24

How strange it is that those who have had the light of truth for so many years have not carried the torch of truth into the dark places of the earth. The whole world is astir. The Lord calls upon His people to awake out of sleep. My brethren and sisters, stop criticizing others, but criticize severely your own words and motives. We have no time to spend in using the enemy’s methods. We are to hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. Envy, malice, hatred, unbelief, which have been growing into sturdy plants in the garden of the soul, are to be uprooted and cast out and their place supplied by love, patience, forbearance, kindness, benevolence, tenderheartedness, meekness. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 25

The Result of Self-Denying Effort

Let not self-denial be so rare as it has been in the past among the people of God. The Lord will co-operate with every one who is truly in earnest. What may be accomplished by self-denying effort is shown by the result of the sale of Christ’s Object Lessons. In giving us this book, the Lord gave us a great blessing. I praise Him with heart and soul that He put it into my heart to give this book for the relief of the schools. I praise Him that our publishing houses acted so generous a part in the work of preparing the book for sale. And I praise Him that our people have put their hand so nobly to the work of its circulation. The Lord has greatly blessed them. In the effort to sell this book, they have learned by practical experience what they can do for the advancement of the work. And they have learned also how to speak to strangers about the truth. Through the lessons contained in this book, sinners have been warned, convicted, and converted. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 26

While the men of the world are idolizing money, and making it their trust, the Lord in His providence has brought forth from His treasure house a precious treasure and has placed it within the reach of all. He has given His people an opportunity to take to their friends and neighbors and to strangers a book containing the precious lessons of Christ. As those who have never tried to sell books have thought of going out with this book, a dread has come into their hearts. But the Lord has led and guided them as His little children. He has taught old and young, men and women, how to give the light of truth to those who know it not. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 27

And the purchasers have been blessed. Their hearts have been softened as they have listened to the story of the self-denying effort to free our schools from debt. By the sale of this book many sermons have been preached. Those in the highways as well as those in the hedges have been reached. As men and women of every age have gone forth to sell Object Lessons, and in simple words have told what they were trying to do, a deep impression has been left on minds. Hearts have been touched. Worldly, self-indulgent men and women have been convinced of their selfishness and have bought a copy of the book. Some have bought several copies, that they might give them to their friends. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 28

How grateful we should be that the Lord devised this means of bringing hope and comfort to starving souls. He makes this book a leaf from the tree of life to those who turn to Him. Through it He will change the hearts of men and women living in worldliness and self-indulgence. As a result of the effort to sell it, some—yes, many, will be converted and brought to a knowledge of the truth. Many who might never have an opportunity to hear a discourse from the living preacher will be fed with the bread of life. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 29

Christ’s command is, “Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that My house may be full.” [Luke 14:23.] The effort to sell Object Lessons has taken to many the invitation to the feast that God has prepared. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 30

The Lord put it into the heart of Brother Magan and Brother Sutherland to devise means for the circulation of Object Lessons. Thus much good has been and will be accomplished. The circulation of this book is the Lord’s missionary work, and it will make joyful the hearts of all who engage in it. To some the cross at first seemed heavy, but they found that in lifting it, it lifted them and brought peace and joy to their souls. Their testimony has been, “His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.” [See Matthew 11:30.] In willing, unselfish service they have found rest to their souls. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 31

Christ has placed upon His church a sacred charge, the fulfilling of which calls for self-denial at every step. When those who believe in Him are seen lifting the cross and bearing it after Him in the path of self-denial, willingly doing all in their power to bring blessing to those for whom Christ died, witness will be borne to the power of Christianity, and in the hearts of many now unbelievers will spring up faith in Him who gave His life to save a guilty world from eternal ruin. 18LtMs, Lt 43, 1903, par. 32