In Confirmation of Confidence
253
At the ministers’ meeting an earnest season of prayer had just
closed when Mrs. White entered with a package of manuscripts in her
hand. With evident surprise Elder Olsen said: “We are glad to see you,
Sister White. Have you a message for us this morning?”
“Indeed I have,” was her reply. She then said that it had not been
her plan to attend the morning meeting, but she had been awakened
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very early, and instructed to prepare to relate to the brethren some
things shown her at Salamanca.
She told briefly the story of her experience at the Salamanca meet-
ing, and said that in the vision given her there the Lord had opened
before her the condition and perils of the work in many places. Warn-
ings were given her which she was commanded to present to men
in responsible positions. Especially in Battle Creek great perils sur-
rounded the work, but men knew it not, because impenitence blinded
their eyes.
With regard to one occasion, her guide said, “Follow me,” and she
was ushered into a council meeting where men were advocating their
views and plans with great zeal and earnestness, but not according to
knowledge. One brother stood before the council with a paper in his
hand and criticized the character of its contents. The paper was the
American Sentinel. Pointing to certain articles, he said: “This must
come out, and that must be changed. If the Sentinel did not contain
such articles as these, we could use it.” The articles pointed out as
objectionable were upon the Sabbath and the second coming of Christ.
With clearness Mrs. White spoke of the views and the attitude of
the chief speakers in this council meeting. She referred to the harsh
spirit manifested by some, and to the wrong positions taken by others.
She closed her remarks with a most earnest appeal that all should hold
forth the truth in its perfection, and that the watchmen should give
the trumpet a certain sound. A solemn conviction rested upon the
assembly, and all felt that they had been listening to a message from
Heaven.
Elder Olsen was bewildered, and knew not what to say. He had
not heard of the special committee council which had been continued
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into the early hours of that very morning, and which had closed less
than two hours before the angel bade Mrs. White tell the vision given
her four months before, in which this very meeting was minutely
described. But he had not long to wait for an explanation. Soon the