The Times of Volume Three
In 1872, when the first testimony of volume 3 was written, the en-
tire denominational effort of Seventh-day Adventists was in the United
States, and largely concentrated in the central and Northeastern States.
There were eighty-six ordained and licensed ministers preaching the
message and supervising the work. We owned and operated one pub-
lishing house and one small medical institution, both at Battle Creek,
Michigan. For a quarter of a century God had led His people as rapidly
as they could advance intelligently and in unison, first into a clear
understanding of the doctrines taught in the word, then into a sense
of their responsibility to publish the message, then to organization
of the church, and then to better ways of living. But there were new
experiences and great opportunities for advance before the church.
The counsels of volume 3 pave the way for these
.
Through the preceding twenty-five critical years, elder James
White had been the leader of the new cause. He had started the pub-
lishing work, labored tirelessly for church organization, built up the
medical work, and had stood at the head in both administrative and
editorial lines. He had pioneered the way. With his keen business
foresight and his entire devotion to the growing church, he was recog-
nized as the leader. This being the case, it was but natural that others
should fail to see that they should step in and assume responsibility
in the various enterprises of the growing denomination. This volume
opens with a discussion of this problem and with an appeal for bur-
den bearers to shoulder the work at the headquarters, relieving James
White, who was breaking under the load. Again and again, through
the volume, reference is made to the expanding work, the enlarging
responsibilities, and the need of younger men to take hold and bear
the burdens. The hazards of looking to one man as the great leader
were clearly enunciated
.
The experiences of this period are akin to that of the eagle teaching
[4]
its young to fly—first bearing the fledgling upon its back and then
leaving it to develop its strength, but with the parent ever near enough
vi