p. 28 | A COMPLAINT by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 16, 1859

A COMPLAINT.

By James White

Brethren in different parts of Michigan often complain that it is seldom that they see one of our preachers, while the Battle Creek church have settled with them no less than five preachers. Well, certainly, there seems to be pretty good grounds for complaint. But we wish to say in behalf of the Battle Creek church, that they do not claim the labors of even one of these five preachers. Their society, and labors occasionally, and the society of their families, are indeed agreeable; but it often happens that there are in Battle Creek on the Sabbath, three of these ministers, and our churches around destitute, not having heard a discourse for three months. The Battle Creek church do not need this surplus help; in fact, we judge from the character of their meetings when they do not have preaching, that they could do quite well for six months without one discourse.

System in labor, or, in locating preachers' families near their fields of labor, may be called for as much as in benevolence. We would say to the churches in Michigan, send in your claims for a preacher to come and settle with you. Would to God we had enough so that one could be settled in each of the following counties: Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lapeer, Oakland, Livingston, Ingham, Eaton, Shiawassee, Clinton, Ionia, and others. At Hillsdale, Lapeer, Wright, and Monterey they have meeting-houses; but no preacher settled with them, who might preach to them on the Sabbath, when returned from a preaching tour.

And again, how much easier for the brethren to support a preacher's family with them, than off at such arm's-length, at Battle Creek. We say again to our churches, send in your claims for a preacher to settle with you, and let the complaint of too many preachers in Battle Creek cease. J. W.