Book: Clarence Creager Crisler, Organization: Its Character, Purpose, Place, and Development in the Seventh-day Adventist Church (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1938). HTML, PDF.
[p. 39]
Chapter 4: Early Experiences in Establishing Order
The unity in faith and practice that has characterized the believers in the third angel’s message from the beginning, has often been a special object of Satan’s attack.
Soon after the removal of James White and his wife to Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1851, the Lord revealed to Mrs. White, in vision, conditions existing among believers in Vermont. Some had adopted views that had led them into fanaticism. The false teaching of these misled souls was rapidly bringing in a state of confusion and disorder. The appointment of a series of conferences in Massachusetts and Vermont gave Elder and Mrs. White an opportunity to visit some of those in need of help.
Friday, October 24, 1851, the workers reached West Medford, Massachusetts, where the first conference was to convene. Of his labors at these meetings, Elder White wrote:
“Here [at West Medford] we found seven of our old tried friends from Maine, strong in the faith. … There were also eight from Fairhaven and Dartmouth, and a good attendance of the friends of present truth in the vicinity of Boston.
“We were much grieved to learn that some discord had been created among the brethren, by the presentation of fanciful views of unfulfilled prophecies. Such things are extremely painful to those who labor to unite the precious flock of Christ upon the great truths connected [p. 40] with the message of Revelation 14:9-12. The evil result of leaving the important truths of the present message, or connecting with them fanciful views of unfulfilled prophecy, was pointed out, and with the special blessing of Heaven, the brethren all felt deeply the importance of being ‘perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment,’ and of united action in the great work before us. …
“There were some present who had not embraced the Sabbath. … When they learned our views of gospel order, union, etc., and witnessed the spirit of the meeting, and felt its melting power, they were ready to confess that God was indeed with us. And when the evidences of our position were presented, they yielded to the force of truth, and could rejoice in its freedom. Those who have formerly been in error confessed their faults in tears, and we never witnessed a more perfect union, or a more healthy interest, than existed when we left Monday morning. …
“October 31, we arrived at the place of meeting in Washington, New Hampshire, and found a large collection of the scattered brethren. This was a meeting of deep interest, of trial, and of joy. Here the brethren felt called upon to withdraw fellowship from one who had fallen into, and taught, dangerous errors. …
“The conference appointed to be held in the vicinity of East Bethel was at the house of Brother W. Morse in Royalton. … Here also the importance of union was dwelt upon, and the Holy Spirit seemed to break down all opposing influences, and the honest children of God were made one. …
“The conference at Johnson [Vermont] commenced [p. 41] November 7. Here we found a large gathering of the brethren and sisters, quite a number of whom we there met with for the first time. Gospel order, and perfect union among the brethren, especially those who preach the word, were … dwelt upon, and all seemed to feel the importance of following our perfect guide, the Bible, on these subjects, as well as all others. …
“We intended to return directly home from Johnson, … but duty seemed very plain to spend another week in Vermont, and visit the friends in the vicinity of Vergennes.”—Review and Herald, Nov. 25, 1851.
Prior to Elder and Mrs. White’s journey from Saratoga Springs to these meetings in New England, the Lord had revealed to Mrs. White some of the things she would have to meet at Vergennes. “I was shown,” she wrote, “a company in Vermont with a woman among them who was a deceiver, and that the church must be enlightened as to her character, lest poisonous error should become deeply rooted among them.”
Accordingly, while meeting with this church in Vermont, Mrs. White delivered a plain message on the Sabbath day. Of this experience she afterward wrote:
“That afternoon, as we united in prayer, the blessing of the Lord rested upon us, and I was again shown the case of this deceived woman, and the danger of the church in listening to such teaching as came from her lips. Her course was calculated to disgrace the cause of God.”
Mrs. White was further shown that “if the church did not cut loose from those who pursued such a course, and lift their voices against it, they would incur God’s frown, and be partakers with them in their evil deeds, and that the Lord had sent us to the church with a message which, [p. 42] if received, would save them from greater danger than they yet realized. …
“We returned from that journey with feelings of satisfaction, knowing that the Lord had wrought for His people.”—Life Sketches, pp. 286, 287 (1880 edition).
Unbelief and Rebellion
At this time, some who had accepted the truths of the third angel’s message left the ranks of believers because of their adoption of spiritualistic sentiments. Others advocated the idea that it was best for every individual to follow his own judgment, irrespective of the counsel of his brethren and the teachings of the word. This sometimes led them into the grossest forms of fanaticism, and into open rebellion, and the believers could not continue in fellowship with them.
These elements of unbelief and rebellion gained a strong foothold in Michigan prior to the time of the first visit of Elder James White and his wife to that State, in May, 1853. The experiences met with during this time of trying labor have been recorded by Mrs. White thus:
“While in Michigan we visited Tyrone, Jackson, Sylvan, Bedford, and Vergennes.* [*There was a Vergennes in Vermont, and also a town of the same name in Michigan. The Vergennes here mentioned was in Michigan.]
“At Jackson we found the church in great confusion. In their midst the Lord showed me their condition, and I related that portion of it which was clear before me which related to the wrong course of one present. C. and R. were greatly prejudiced against this sister, and cried out, ‘Amen! amen!’ and manifested a spirit of triumph over her, and would frequently say, ‘I thought so! It is just so!’ I felt very much distressed, and sat down before I [p. 43] had finished relating the vision. Then C. and R. arose and exhorted others to receive the vision, and manifested such a spirit that my husband reproved them. The meeting closed in confusion.
“While at family prayer that night at Brother S’s I was again taken off in vision, and that portion of the vision that had passed from me was repeated, and I was shown the overbearing course of C. and R., that their influence in the church was to cause division. They possessed an exalted spirit, and not the meek spirit of Christ. I saw why the Lord had hid from me the part of the vision that related to them. It was that they might have opportunity to manifest before all what spirit they were of.
“The next day a meeting was called, and I related the things which the Lord had shown me the evening before. C. and R., who zealously advocated the visions the day before, were dissatisfied when shown to be wrong, and did not receive the message. They had stated before I came to the place that if I saw things as they looked upon them, they should know that the visions were of God; but if I saw that they had taken a wrong course, and that the ones whom they regarded wrong were not faulty, they should know the visions were incorrect. But both parties were shown me to be wrong, especially C. and R. and some others.
“They now began to fight against my testimony, and here commenced what is called the ‘Messenger party.’ ”—Life Sketches, pp. 303, 302, 303 (1880 edition).
A Crisis
“In the fall of 1853 we attended conferences at Buck’s Bridge, New York; Stowe, Vermont; Boston, Dartmouth, and Springfield, Massachusetts; Washington, New Hampshire; [p. 44] and New Haven, Vermont. This was a laborious and rather discouraging journey. Many had embraced the truth, who were unsanctified in heart and life, and the elements of strife and rebellion were at work, and it was necessary that a movement should take place to purify the church.”—Id., p. 304.
It was in this crisis, when many believers were in grave danger of being led astray, that the testimony entitled, “Gospel Order,” was written out for publication in the Supplement to the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White.
Portions of this testimony are here reprinted, in order that all may know how clearly the Lord instructed His people in a critical time to “flee to God’s word, and become established upon gospel order.”
Gospel Order
“The Lord has shown that gospel order has been too much feared and neglected. Formality should be shunned; but, in so doing, order should not be neglected. There is order in heaven. There was order in the church when Christ was upon the earth, and after His departure order was strictly observed among His apostles. And now in these last days, while God is bringing His children into the unity of the faith, there is more real need of order than ever before; for, as God unites His children, Satan and his evil angels are very busy to prevent this unity and to destroy it. Therefore men are hurried into the field who lack wisdom and judgment, perhaps not ruling well their own house, and not having order or government over the few that God has given them charge of at home; yet they feel capable of having charge of the flock. They make [p. 45] many wrong moves, and those unacquainted with our faith judge all the messengers to be like these self-sent men. Thus the cause of God is reproached, and the truth shunned by many unbelievers who would otherwise be candid, and anxiously inquire, Are these things so?
“Men whose lives are not holy, and who are unqualified to teach the present truth, enter the field without being acknowledged by the church or the brethren generally, and confusion and disunion are the result. …
“Those men who are not called of God, are generally the very ones that are the most confident that they are so called, and that their labors are very important. They go into the field and do not generally exert a good influence; yet in some places they have a measure of success, and this leads them and others to think that they are surely called of God. It is not a positive evidence that men are called of God because they have some success. …
“I saw that the church should feel their responsibility, and should look carefully and attentively at the lives, qualifications, and general course of those who profess to be teachers. If unmistakable evidence is not given that God has called them, and that the ‘woe’ is upon them if they heed not this call, it is the duty of the church to act, and let it be known that these persons are not acknowledged as teachers by the church. This is the only course the church can take in order to be clear in this matter; for the burden lies upon them.
“I saw that this door at which the enemy comes in to perplex and trouble the flock can be shut. I inquired of the angel how it could be closed. He said, ‘The church must flee to God’s word, and become established upon gospel order, which has been overlooked and neglected.’ [p. 46] This is indispensably necessary in order to bring the church into the unity of the faith. I saw that in the apostles’ day the church was in danger of being deceived and imposed upon by false teachers. Therefore the brethren chose men who had given good evidence that they were capable of ruling well their own house and preserving order in their own families, and who could enlighten those who were in darkness. Inquiry was made of God concerning these, and then, according to the mind of the church and the Holy Ghost, they were set apart by the laying on of hands. Having received their commission from God, and having the approbation of the church, they went forth baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and administering the ordinances of the Lord’s house, often waiting upon the saints by presenting them the emblems of the broken body and spilled blood of the crucified Saviour, to keep fresh in the memory of God’s beloved children His sufferings and death.
“I saw that we are no more secure from false teachers now than they were in the apostles’ days; and if we do no more, we should take as special measures as they did to secure the peace, harmony, and union of the flock. We have their example, and should follow it. Brethren of experience and of sound minds should assemble, and following the word of God and the sanction of the Holy Spirit, should, with fervent prayer, lay hands upon those who have given full proof that they have received their commission of God, and set them apart to devote themselves entirely to His work. This act would show the sanction of the church to their going forth as messengers to carry the most solemn message ever given to men.”—Early Writings, pp. 97-101, new edition.