General Conference Bulletin, vol. 5

REASONS FOR SINGING

What is the beginning of it?—The first thing, brethren, is to sing, because we have been delivered from bondage; sing, because we are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus; sing, because that, inasmuch as we could not earn righteousness by anything that we could do, God, in love for our souls, has imputed righteousness to us by faith in the Lord Jesus. And then, after singing, we are to begin the work of enlargement, and, as we enlarge, and move out, then these happy conditions will come to the people of God. GCB March 30, 1903, page 14.11

Now I want to read a little further:— GCB March 30, 1903, page 14.12

“Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up Mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up My standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for Me.” GCB March 30, 1903, page 14.13

Brethren, my soul is stirred at this time as it has not been stirred for many a day. I believe the time has come when the banner of truth, upon which are inscribed the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, is to be lifted aloft, and the cry, the rallying cry, made so that the people may gather around it. I believe that the time has come when the sifting must come to the people of God, because of the straight truth that must be preached at this time. And if that sifting shall be as it was in the case of Gideon: if from the great numbers that compose our ranks to-day, that number shall be sifted down because of fearfulness and unbelief, if that number shall be sifted down, even to the Gideon band, I believe that God will, in His mighty power, take hold of the Gideon band, and they will carry this message on to success. May the Lord help us, is my prayer. GCB March 30, 1903, page 14.14

Following these remarks, opportunity was offered for testimonies by different brethren, and, among others, the following-named brethren spoke:— GCB March 30, 1903, page 15.1

R. A. Underwood: I was reminded last night, as I listened to the soul stirring truths presented, of the first sermon that I ever heard by Elder J. H. Waggoner, and I confess it has been years since I have attended a General Conference when the truth struck the same chord in my soul it did last night. It was not a new chord. I thank God for that. I want to say that my heart is full of courage, and I am sure that there is victory for us. I feel anxious to be right with God, to keep pace with this work, and triumph with it. May God help us to press together lovingly, and with courage and faith go forward unto victory. GCB March 30, 1903, page 15.2

H. W. Cottrell: I am of strong faith and courage in the work in which we are engaged. I praise God that I have lived to see the day when the message is being sounded in plain and simple terms again, that all may understand what it is. I am sure it will go on to certain victory. GCB March 30, 1903, page 15.3

W. W. Prescott: Let us learn a lesson from our experience, and that is that the strength of this denomination, and the strength of this movement, is not in men as men, but in the message in the men. And a weak man may become as David when a mighty message fills his soul. I believe that is for our courage and our hope, because, when we look at each other, and we think of the work, our courage fails; but I believe in God, when we look in the message, and hope in the message, and give the message a chance, the message will triumph in weak men. GCB March 30, 1903, page 15.4

“Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice: with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.1

During the week preceding the Conference, members of the General Conference Committee and Auditing Committee met daily in Oakland for work and worship, preparatory for the business of the Conference. Sister White gave several talks at the morning worship hour. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.2

About thirty delegates, from the Central Union Conference, coming by the Southern Pacific Route, were delayed twelve hours on the way, and did not, therefore, arrive in Oakland till late Friday afternoon, March 27, the day of opening of the Conference. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.3

The old-time ring which has characterized the opening addresses of the Conference, has met with approval and a hearty response on the part of many of the delegates attending the Conference, and we trust will be appreciated, and kindle anew the flame of early love for the truth on the part of the thousands of believers in the great field. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.4

Anticipating a large additional congregation, the officers of the Oakland Sabbath-school arranged for the senior division to meet as one general class on the Sabbath. Elder G. E. Langdon, of Nova Scotia, conducted the review, and Elder W. N. Martin, of Oregon, the class study. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.5

The key-note that evidently thrills the hearts of the believers to-day is the old. old Advent message of the coming of the Lord. It is the dominant note in the Conference, and we trust that the reports in the “Bulletin” may pass on the joyful sound to the brethren and sisters in all the world. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.6

The problem of feeding the multitude in attendance at a session of the General Conference is always one of considerable difficulty. This is especially true in a city like Oakland, where our people are necessarily much scattered. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.7

In the present instance the greater number of the delegates have been provided with lodgings in the homes of our brethren. These take their breakfasts with the families by whom they are entertained. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.8

Other meals are served by the San Francisco Vegetarian Cafe, in a large tent pitched just across the street from the Oakland church, in which the meetings are held. The menu is liberal, the food thoroughly hygienic, and the service excellent. A better arrangement could scarcely be made. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.9

Not the laws of the impulsive tongue or hand, but the loving pulsations of the converted heart, are from God. “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” He sets forth love as a rule of life in still another way: “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:36.—Testimony. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.10

Oh, that God’s people had a sense of the impending destruction of thousands of cities, now almost wholly given to idolatry! But many of those who are acquainted with the truth are busy about things here and there. Their first work is to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as the disciples prayed for it after the ascension of Christ.—Testimony. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.11

God’s encouraging message of mercy should be proclaimed in the cities of America. Men and women living in these cities are rapidly becoming more and still more entangled in their business relations. They are acting wildly in the erection of buildings whose towers reach high into the heavens. Their minds are filled with schemes and ambitious devisings. God is bidding every one of His ministering servants: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”—Unpublished Testimony. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.12

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven. Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God. and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea; for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.13

Some have so long sacrificed principle that they can not see the difference between the sacred and the common. Those who refuse to give heed to the Lord’s instruction will go steadily downward in the path of ruin. The day of test and trial is just before us. Let every man put on his true colors. Do you choose loyalty, or rebellion? Show your colors to men and angels. We are safe only when we are committed to the right. Then the world knows where we shall be found in the day of trial and trouble.—Testimony. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.14

A man can not be a happy Christian unless he is a watchful Christian. He who overcomes must watch; for with worldly entanglements, error, and superstition. Satan strives to win Christ’s followers from Him. It is not enough that we avoid glaring dangers and perilous, inconsistent moves. We are to keep close to the side of Christ, walking in the path of self-denial and sacrifice. We are in an enemy’s country. He who was cast out of heaven has come down with great power. With every conceivable artifice and device he is seeking to take souls captive. Unless we are constantly on guard, we shall fall an easy prey to his unnumbered deceptions.—Testimony. GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.15

“Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.” GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.16

“Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.” GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.17

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that published peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that published salvation: that saith unto Zion. Thy God reigneth!” GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.18

“And there shall in nowise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” GCB March 30, 1903, page 16.19