Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)
Lt 72, 1910
White, J. E.
NP
[September 2, 1910]
Previously unpublished.
Elder J. E. White
Nashville, Tennessee
Dear Son Edson:
We attended the camp-meeting at Berkeley, which was held from August 18 to 28. This meeting was held in a very favorable location in Berkeley. Never was I better pleased with the location of a camp ground. On reaching the camp ground, we found that rooms had been engaged for us in a house just across the street from the camp ground and directly opposite the large pavilion. I only had to cross the street, walk a short distance, and I was in the tent. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 1
Brother Crisler and his family had a cottage in the yard of the house we occupied, and Willie had a room in this cottage. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 2
There was a large attendance at the meeting, and the seats in the pavilion were arranged to accommodate those present, and also the outsiders who came to the meetings. At some of the meetings the large tent was crowded. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 3
During the meeting Maggie arrived from New Zealand, with her husband and their two-year-old boy. Maggie has come to unite with me in my work. Her husband is working on the place. We were much pleased to welcome these friends and are glad that the long voyage from New Zealand is over. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 4
I am now working diligently to bring all things into order, that we may see light in the Lord’s way. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 5
Today I am going to our new school property at Angwin. There is to be a special meeting there, where many things are to be considered. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 6
*****
September 3, 1910
Pacific Union College, Angwin
Yesterday Sara and I left our pleasant home for this place. A meeting is being held here to consider some things in regard to our school in this place, and I was urged to attend. So on Friday morning Sara and I started, taking the longer route, because the short one is rocky, and at this time of the year very dusty. The long road is four miles further round than the short route, but is an excellent road, ascending the mountain gradually. We took my special driving horse Ladybird and suffered very little annoyance from the dust. But it is a drive of two and a half hours, and a continual ascent, and on reaching the school I felt very weary. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 7
W. C. White and his family attended the meeting, coming later. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 8
Notwithstanding my weariness, I spoke to a full house this morning. The Lord gave me freedom of speech, and I spoke for about an hour. The following words, which were on my mind, I spoke to the people: 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 9
Entering the Cities
Again and again I am instructed to present to our churches in every place the work that should be done, not only where we have churches already established, but in new fields, where the truth has never been fully presented. In our cities, as verily as in far-off lands, there are people of all nationalities whose souls are precious and who must hear the message. The way must be opened to reach these unworked fields. Decided work must be done. Openings must be made. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 10
Those of our ministers who, Sabbath after Sabbath, preach to the same ones, accomplish very little. If they were wide-awake, their words would make a right impression on minds, and souls would be led to accept the truth. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 11
It is impossible for man to measure the ingenuity shown by Lucifer in deceiving human minds. As Christ saw the working out of Satan’s plans to deceive man in many ways, He gladly came to our world as an infant, to meet the wily foe in every stage of human life and to counterwork his satanic wiles. No one could understand as did Christ the enemy’s power of deception. He saw that the world was being captivated by the delusive power exercised through commercialism of various kinds. He would take human nature and stay this overwhelming power of deception, which was deceiving souls to their ruin. Thus was carried out the plan for Christ to act His part as a Saviour. He came to our world to live, and suffer, and die, that He might win the souls deceived by Satan. He is wise in an understanding of Lucifer’s plans, and He can teach fallen man how to become wise to discern Satan’s plans and to escape the corruption that he is constantly inventing. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 12
Christ declared: I have pledged Myself, as the only begotten Son of the Lord God Almighty, to carry out God’s plan to win souls from Lucifer to be obedient to the Lord’s power. Christ alone can defeat the enemy. He works in man’s behalf to uncover the plans of Satan, that souls may be led to turn from the archdeceiver. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 13
*****
September 16, 1910
“Elmshaven,”
We have received your message, in which you tell of your need of means to invest in your book business. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 14
At present I have no money on hand, and I dare not borrow money to send to you to invest in your various enterprises; for this would involve me more deeply in debt. I fear that you are being tempted to make uncertain ventures, as you have done in the past. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 15
I must move intelligently and make wise calculations; for there are many things that I have written that should be placed in print. Often I cannot sleep at night, as I think of the dearth of means to publish matter that I greatly desire to have prepared for publication. It is not right that I should be so worried by financial stress. My mind must be kept free and clear to bear faithfully the messages that the Lord gives me. I need money to carry forward the work of getting before the people important matter, much of which is still in my diaries. But I must wait till the means come in. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 16
I am sorry to write thus to you, but I dare not encourage you to hope that I can furnish means whenever you call for it, and that I will borrow money both for you and for myself. I am trying in every way to economize, that I may have means to use in the work the Lord has given me to do. 25LtMs, Lt 72, 1910, par. 17