Our Roots, Pt. 11

Organization - No. 10 (Review and Herald, April 4, 1907)

In the midst of the agitation that followed the council on organization, Elder White wrote a stirring article on the subject, concluding with these considerations: —

For managing the amount of capital necessary for the prosecution of this expanding work, and in order to a more equal distribution of burdens, a business organization is necessary. The necessity and propriety of this are seen at once by the great majority; but some are immediately thrown into a panic of fear, or a labyrinth of mistrust. What is the matter here? We ask again, Has the light suddenly gone out? Are the body all at once left to plunge into a course which will end only in destruction? Has the pillar by day and the fire by night been swept away by some storm-cloud of coming evil? If not, do we well to distrust God, and flee at phantoms of our own conjuring? And again, it is found necessary to have some title by which to designate this people. A name, at once simple, appropriate, and indicative of the leading points of our faith, as suggested and recommended; and yet in the eyes of some this instantly becomes a great camel, which they can by no means swallow. How is this? Once more we put the question, Have the leaders, light and truth, suddenly deserted the little flock? Have their eyes all been drawn away by an ignis fatuus from the true light? We do not believe it. We believe that in all these things the church are being providentially guided; that light and truth are still leading the way; and that it will as clearly appear hereafter that these moves are right and in God's order, as it now appears that past moves, which have been more or less staunchly opposed, have been directed of him. And while we continue to plead earnestly with the Lord to still send out his light and his truth, and to let them lead us, we do not believe he will withhold them from us.— Review and Herald, Vol. XVII, page 188.

April 26, 1861, another conference was called at Battle Creek to take the final steps to complete the organization of the Review and Herald Publishing Association. At this conference the question of organizing churches was given careful consideration, and the following resolution
was adopted: —

That the ministers that are assembled at this conference be requested to write out an address on the subject of church organization.— Id., page 189.

This resolution aroused much opposition, and in a short time one of the ministers in the field decided to withdraw from the body, and notified the brethren through the REVIEW. Here is his letter: —

I feel it to be my duty to speak a few words through the REVIEW to the brethren scattered abroad, that they may know how I stand in relation to organization under a name, that brethren may know where to bestow their sympathy. I would not have any deceived in this matter. The Advent people are very dear to me. I have felt that their trials have been my trials, and their prosperity has been my prosperity. But I have not that unison of feeling at present. I feel that the union is broken, for I do not sympathize with the body of Adventists in relation to organizing under the name Seventh-day Adventists, and enrolling names under that head. As I feel, I never could consent to have my name enrolled on any class book, or church book, under any sectarian name. I might give my reasons, but that would be useless. I mean to keep my conscience void of offense toward God and toward man, and I must get the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.

And I would here say that I hold myself no longer amenable to that body of people calling themselves Seventh-day Adventists, nor any connection with them any farther than the Spirit of the Lord connects one Christian with another.—Id., Vol. XVIII, page 52.

Although the believers were generally coming to see the necessity of organization, a letter of this kind from one of the ministers could not fail to make a very unfavorable impression. This led Elder White to point out very clearly the experiences they were passing through. He said: —

On our Eastern tour thus far we seem to be wading through the influence of a stupid uncertainty upon the subject of organization. This is as might be expected from the circumstances connected with the introduction of the subject among us. ... If all who were convinced of the necessity of organization had spoken out freely, victory would have turned, and the poison of anti-organization would have been at once removed. But our ministers were generally silent. Some exerted a strong influence against organization, while the influence of others fell indirectly through their silence into the wrong scale with dreadful weight, and many of our brethren, especially in the East, stood in doubt. The brethren in Pennsylvania voted down organization, and the cause in Ohio has been dreadfully shaken. It has suffered everywhere. . . . There is everywhere some one to hold back. They have no valid reasons for so doing, still they hold back. The infection was deep and stupefying. . . . The place of worship of the Seventh-day Adventists of Battle Creek is still the property of S. T. Belden. Organization has been postponed by this church until our ministers and people could come up unitedly to the work. There is no party feeling with those who feel the necessity of organization. They do not wish to move forward until all our ministers and people are prepared to go with them. How long shall we wait? . . .

It is a fact that need not be denied, that instead of our being a united people, growing stronger, we are in many places but little better than broken fragments, still scattering and growing weaker. A few years since we could report success and additions to the ranks at every appointment on our Eastern and Western tours. Now these conference meetings are scenes of wearing labor to hold together and strengthen what remains.— Id., page 100.

It was at this point in the controversy that communications from Sister White began to appear in the REVIEW on this subject. The following clear, decided statement is the first that was given in the REVIE.W from the spirit of prophecy:—

I was shown that some have been fearing they should become Babylon if they organized; but the churches in central New York have been perfect Babylon, confusion. And now unless the churches are so organized that they can carry out and enforce order, they have nothing to hope for in the future. They must scatter into fragments. Previous teachings have nourished the elements of disunion. A spirit has been cherished to watch and accuse, rather than to build up. If ministers of God would unitedly take their position and maintain it with decision, there would be a uniting influence among the flock of God. Separating bars would be broken into fragments. Hearts would flow together and unite like two drops of water. Then there would be power and strength in the ranks of Sabbath-keepers far exceeding anything we have yet witnessed. The hearts of God's servants are made sad by meeting, as they journey from church to church, the opposing influence of other ministering brethren. Individuals have stood ready to oppose every step of advance God's people have made. Those who have dared to venture out have their hearts saddened and distressed by the lack of union of action on the part of their fellow laborers. We are living in solemn times. Satan and evil angels are working with mighty power, with the world on their side to help them. And professed Sabbathkeepers, claiming to believe important, solemn truth, unite their forces with the combined influence of the powers of darkness to distract and tear down that which God designs to build up. Their influence is recorded as those who retard the work of advance and reform among God's people.

The agitation of the subject of organization has revealed a great lack of moral courage on the part of ministers proclaiming present truth. Some who were convinced that organization was right failed to stand up boldly and advocate it. They let some few understand that they favored it. Was this all God required of them? — No; he was displeased with their cowardly silence, and lack of action. They feared blame and opposition. They watched the brethren generally to see how their pulse beat before standing manfully for what they believed to be right. The people waited for the voice of their favorite ministers in the truth, and because they could hear no response in favor from them, decided that the subject of organization was wrong. Thus the influence of some of the ministers was against this matter while they professed to be in favor. They were afraid of losing their influence. Some one must move here and bear responsibility, and venture his influence; and as he has become inured to censure and blame, he is suffered to bear it. His fellow laborers who should stand by his side and take their share of the burden, are looking on to see how he succeeds in fighting the battle alone. But God marks his distress, his anguish, his tears, his discouragements and despair, while his mind is taxed almost beyond endurance; and as he is ready to sink, God lifts him up and points him to the rest for the weary, the reward for the faithful; and again he puts has shoulder under the heavy burden. I saw that all will be rewarded according as their work shall be. Those who shun responsibility will meet with loss in the end. The time for ministers to stand together is when the battle goes hard.

The above was written at “Grass River, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Aug. 16, 1861," and was printed in the REVIEW AND HERALD, Vol. XVIII, page 102.

This message, which was followed by others, giving clear, definite instruction regarding organization, aided greatly to settle the controversy.

Next: The Address on Organization