The Building of Meetinghouses
When an interest is aroused in any town or city, that interest should
be followed up. The place should be thoroughly worked until a humble
house of worship stands as a sign, a memorial of God’s Sabbath, a
light amid the moral darkness. These memorials are to stand in many
places as witnesses to the truth. God in His mercy has provided that
the messengers of the gospel shall go to all countries, tongues, and
peoples until the standard of truth shall be established in all parts of
the inhabited world.
* * * * *
Wherever a company of believers is raised up, a house of wor-
ship should be built. Let not the workers leave the place without
accomplishing this.
In many places where the message has been preached and souls
have accepted it, they are in limited circumstances and can do but little
toward securing advantages that would give character to the work.
Often this renders it difficult to extend the work. As persons become
interested in the truth, they are told by the ministers of other churches—
and these words are echoed by the church members: “These people
have no church, and you have no place of worship. You are a small
company, poor and unlearned. In a short time the ministers will go
away, and then the interest will die down. Then you will give up all
these new ideas which you have received.”
Can we suppose that this will not bring strong temptation to those
who see the reasons of our faith and are convicted by the Spirit of
God in regard to present truth? It has to be often repeated that from a
small beginning large interests may grow. If wisdom and sanctified
judgment and skillful generalship are manifested by us in building up
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the interests of our Redeemer’s kingdom, we shall do all in our power
to assure the people of the stability of our work. Humble sanctuaries
will be erected where those who accept the truth may find a place to
worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.
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