RECENT LABOR IN GENERAL MEETINGS by G. L. B.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, January 6, 1885

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 1

RECENT LABOR IN GENERAL MEETINGS.

By G. L. B.

Since the General Conference, in company with Eld. Canright, I have spent nearly four weeks in holding general meetings in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Iowa. These were seasons of deep interest, and were profitable, we trust, to the cause of God.

We had a general attendance of all the leading brethren in Pennsylvania, and spent some five days together, laboring to increase the interest, impart instruction, and arouse the people to more earnest efforts to advance the cause. Some feelings of discouragement and depression had been prevailing previous to the meeting. This is very natural in such a work as the one in which we are engaged. We have a host of mighty influences to contend with, which call forth our utmost zeal and earnestness to withstand.

The leading doctrines of our message are unpopular; and if this work is what we are sure it is,—the last message of mercy,—we may expect that Satan will rally all his powers to hinder, thwart, and discourage the workers in it. To break through the crust of prejudice, requires earnest effort, living faith and fervent zeal. The tendency all the while is to hinder and dishearten; and unless the workers draw constantly from the living Fountain strength and heavenly power, these difficulties will gradually increase and destroy their fervency of spirit. Hence the necessity of a general meeting like this, where we can seek God together, and hear the word of God from those of experience, who have encountered difficulties and trials themselves, and have learned how to overcome them.

The brethren manifested a commendable interest and zeal; confessions were made, and gradually hearts warmed up to the work. A large number concluded to take hold of the canvass for the Signs and “Sunshine,” and do what they could to obtain subscribers. Many expressed themselves as very grateful for the opportunities they had enjoyed, and parted with increased courage and hope.

The meeting at Minneapolis, Minn., was a very precious season. The weather was very cold, and the accommodations of the house of worship not the best; but many had come in from the different parts of the State, and we had a large representation of the leading brethren. The preaching was pointed, and God gave edge to the word. Hearts were touched, many precious confessions were made, and light broke in. We felt that it was the best meeting, in many respects, we had attended in Minnesota for a long time, unless it was the

camp-meeting, last summer, which was a most precious season.

We look for better days in Minnesota than have been seen in the recent past. This noble Conference has been passing through some trying experiences for six or eight years. Previous to that, there had been great accessions in numbers to the Conference. Perhaps there was no State where souls embraced the truth with less labor. In some instances churches came out simply by reading, having never heard a living preacher, and the Conference increased in numbers, perhaps threefold in a comparatively short period. After this, the work seemed to be hindered, and trials came in. Some who had been laboring became discouraged, and did not engage in the work, and far less was accomplished. This state of things has been experienced more or less for years; but gradually better results are being reached. Young men are taking hold with some success. Some of the old laborers who have been under discouragement are making confessions, and are coming out into the light. A good spirit prevails among the brethren, and we feel very hopeful that in the near future Minnesota will move forward with much vigor and interest.

Some of our meetings on this occasion were characterized with great depth of feeling, and confessions were made which touched every heart, the whole congregation being in tears. As this meeting will likely be more fully reported, we will not say more concerning it.

Our meeting at State Center, Ia., occurred in the midst of the very cold weather of the last few weeks. We were disappointed that the attendance was not larger. Some four or five of the more experienced and older ministers of the Conference were absent, which produced rather a discouraging and disheartening effect. Doubtless each one of them had what, to him, was a most excellent reason for his absence; but they must have been good ones if they could have justified our leading ministers in remaining away from a meeting where the interests of the cause are to be considered. We were glad, however, to see quite a good representation of the directors of the tract society. Special efforts were made in the preaching and other meetings to arouse these important officers to make more vigorous efforts in the missionary work.

The missionary work is one of our most powerful instrumentalities in advancing the cause of God; and must become more and more important. A live director in any district can do a great deal of good.

Their duty is to direct the work itself. Unless we are greatly mistaken, the directors will yet fill most important positions in our Conference. If they are what the name of their office indicates, what can be more important than that of directing a large force of laborers, seeing that the proper mold is being given to the work? Looking after the finances, talking with individuals, laboring from house to house,—this kind of labor is as important as preaching; and many of those who do it may become as useful as our ordinary ministers, and even more so. If they can be successful in getting from five to thirty persons to work earnestly in the cause in their several districts, certainly they can do full as much as one ordinary minister.

The truth was pressed home heavily upon these brethren in Iowa. This noble Conference is full of men who might be useful in the cause; but the great danger is a sinking down into indifference and idleness. Fervent zeal, earnest, living, and faithful labor, are what that great Conference needs; devoted, living faith with which to go among the intelligent people of the State, and talk with them with such earnestness that their cold, worldly hearts will be aroused and warmed up. This kind of labor is greatly lacking. It must be cultivated, or this Conference will rapidly sink in importance.

Some have felt that it was very hard for the Iowa Conference to have so many of its successful ministers taken away to labor in other fields. At first sight this might seem to be so; but if it results in rolling the burden upon some who might be doing good work for the Lord, but who are now doing but little, it will become a blessing to the cause. There is a disposition among many of our people, who might just as well be useful as others, to leave to the ministers the work of carrying forward the truth. They excuse themselves with the thought that they can do but little, and the ministers must do the work. Possibly one of the best things that can be done is to take away their props, and let them see that the cause requires their personal effort; then they will develop into useful workers. Oh for workers, workers, workers, everywhere, to uphold the standard of truth! May the Lord stir up the people to do what they can.

We spent one Sabbath at Mt. Pleasant, Ia., and had an interesting and profitable meeting. Some for whom we had long labored and prayed made confessions, promising to be more faithful, and our hearts were rejoiced. I have disposed of my home in Mt. Pleasant, and closed my connection with that church. May God’s rich blessing rest upon it. G. L. B.