Manuscript Releases, vol. 20 [Nos. 1420-1500]

MR No. 1442—Some Leaders Show Unsympathetic Attitude Toward Workers in the South; Humility and the Holy Spirit Needed

(Written June 22, 1899, from “Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, N.S.W., to “Dear Children Edson and Emma.”)

I feel a great desire to see you and to have you connect with me in my work. I have been unwilling to write you, hoping and praying the Lord would send you. But the Southern field has been presented to me as a difficult field to work, because of the white people who have the slave master's spirit with the slave master's cruelty in exercising the same, as if the blacks were no more than beasts, and to be treated worse than the dumb animals because they are in the form of man, having the marks of the black—Negro—race [For a discussion of the racial climate in the United States at the time this letter was written, see R.D. Graybill, E. G. White and Church Race Relations, pp. 17-36.] 20MR 85.1

As you have had so little cooperation in your work by those who should have helped you all in their power, and as there has been so little interest in your work, the Lord would not have you work to such disadvantage, for health and strength were failing, and there are places where you could do a good work for the Master. Some things were presented before me of a determination of men who, under their general, Satan, were full of hatred to you and to your work. This is the best evidence you can have that the work was of the Lord, that Satan stirred up the people as he did against Paul the apostle. 20MR 85.2

The Lord has preserved you, that they could not do you harm, but you now know what you will meet. It is enough to meet this against the enemies of the Truth, but when those of our own faith show so little interest and their hearts are as selfish and unsympathizing as a stone, the Lord would not have you exposed to perils without and unsanctified, unconsecrated elements in responsible places of trust. They have not yet hearts that have been worked by the Holy Spirit. 20MR 85.3

I am so sorry, I am so sad for these brethren who have manifested the selfish, unsympathizing spirit, for in every case these individuals will be brought over the ground, the very same trials will come upon them, when they will be brought into positions where they will remember that their hearts were destitute of the love of Jesus Christ, and therefore they had none to flow out in free, rich currents toward their brethren in hard places. 20MR 85.4

There is a work to be done for those who claim to be servants of God. The softening, subduing power of God is to come into their lives, but never will it be until they have humility. The Spirit cannot work with them until they are learners in the school of Christ. I was in an assembly where there were the responsible men in the publishing institutions. I was bearing a message from God; I was greatly burdened. I stood up in the power of God and read to them 1 Corinthians 13 and Hebrews 12:12-15.—Letter 223, 1899. 20MR 86.1

Ellen G. White Estate

Washington, D. C.,

April 13, 1989.

Entire Letter.