General Conference Bulletin, vol. 5

FROM AN OLD STANDARD-BEARER

In the morning devotional meeting yesterday, Brother J. N. Loughborough read from a letter just received, from Elder S. N. Haskell, who is held in Brooklyn, N. Y., by the pressure of his work there. Brother Loughborough remarked that it expressed so much of the key-note of the Conference as to the preaching of the definite message that he could not forbear reading it. We quote the following from it by request:— GCB April 1, 1903, page 44.12

“The two rocks on which there is danger of striking are a mere theory, dry and lifeless, and, on the other hand, to simply believe in Christ in the ordinary way, as though we had nothing special. God has given His people a message. It is a special message, as much so as was that of John the Baptist, or Christ’s message at His first advent. When we get off of our message by speculative theories, or by a ‘goody’ religion, we are sure to flounder. Let the old Advent ring come out. Strike somewhere, and hit the mark. It seems to me that we have been floundering about some ‘goody’ religion, until many of our people do not know where they are. GCB April 1, 1903, page 44.13

“It will be the straight testimony that will stir the ire of the dragon. He does not like to have God’s people strike at a mark and hit it. He does not object to their profession, if they do not live it. He does not object to a theory of the truth, if they venture nothing, for they act as though afraid somebody will think them peculiar. We are in for it anyway. Satan hates the remnant, and will not let them alone. So we might as well go ahead. We have gone too long on this road now to back out or to let the colors fall, unless we are shot down, like Brother Uriah Smith; but if we fall in the battle, some others will catch up the colors and go ahead with them.” GCB April 1, 1903, page 44.14

God says, “Go work to-day in My vineyard. Get away from the places where you are not needed. Plant the standard of truth in towns and cities that have not heard the message. Prepare the way for My coming. Those in the highways and hedges are to hear the call.” GCB April 1, 1903, page 44.15

God will make the wilderness a sacred place as His people, filled with the missionary spirit, go forth to make centers for His work, to establish sanitariums, where the sick and afflicted can be cared for, and schools, where the youth can be educated in right lines.—Unpublished Testimony. GCB April 1, 1903, page 44.16

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded; they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.” GCB April 1, 1903, page 44.17

The people of God need now to pray and humble their hearts before the Lord. Then they will see all things clearly. It is heart humiliation that is needed by those who have in trust so great and so important a truth,—a truth which, if received and believed, will purify the life from all selfishness, all emulation. Let the Lord’s people draw near to Him, and let them love one another as brethren. A guilty world is going to destruction; and if Satan can keep at variance those whose hearts should be full of tenderness and love, on whose lips there should ever be the law of kindness, how pleased he is!—Testimony. GCB April 1, 1903, page 44.18