p. 208 | OUR FEEBLE PREACHERS by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · March 25, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 13

OUR FEEBLE PREACHERS.

By James White

There are quite a number of feeble S. D. A. preachers whose lives and labors may be of inestimable value to the cause if they can relate themselves properly to the laws of life and health in their arduous labors. These are generally men of fine feelings, good judgment, and ardent in their work, deeply feeling the worth of souls. To lose these valuable men, would be a terrible loss to the cause.

Of these we would mention the names of Elders Decker, Colcord, Corliss, St. John, and Fero. A change to a dryer climate in the Pacific coast States and Territories, would improve the physical condition of these dear brethren. And in no part of the broad field are laborers needed at the present time, as west of the plains. Colorado needs the labors of Eld. Decker and Eld. Fero or St. John; and these brethren need the change, and the pure, dry atmosphere of the Rocky Mountains, to improve their health.

The cause in California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada, needs the labors of Elders Corliss, Colcord, Fero or St. John, and these brethren need the change and the invigorating atmosphere of the Pacific coast. But there are objections. The Conferences to which they are connected would greatly feel the loss of their labors, and cannot see how to spare them. Some of these men are destitute of means, and from what quarter will the money come to meet their traveling expenses?

The season for labor is open. These men can be spared from the East, and must be spared, if a few years of labor upon the Pacific coast would confirm their health, during which time they could do much in building up the cause in the West. The General Conference is still in debt, and cannot raise the means to pay the fare of these brethren and then support them in their labors, as it has done when the cause on the Pacific coast was young and feeble.

The matter is now fairly before the brethren in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Colorado. If they want the labors of these ministers, they can doubtless have them by paying their traveling expenses West by the cheapest fare, and supporting them while they labor with them. J. W.