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Working Together
219
An Effective Work in Uniting With Christian Temperance
Workers
—Soon after my husband and I returned from California
to Michigan in the spring of 1877, we were earnestly solicited to
take part in a temperance mass meeting, a very praiseworthy effort
in progress among the better portion of the citizens of Battle Creek.
This movement embraced the Battle Creek reform club, six hundred
strong, and the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, two hundred
and sixty strong. God, Christ, and Holy Spirit, and the Bible were
familiar words with these earnest workers. Much good had already
[221]
been accomplished, and the activity of the workers, the system by
which they labored, and the spirit of their meetings, promised greater
good in time to come....
By invitation of the Committee of Arrangements, Mayor Austin,
W. H. Skinner, cashier of the First National Bank, and C. C. Peavey,
I spoke in the mammoth tent, Sunday evening, July 1, upon the
subject of Christian temperance. God helped me that evening; and
although I spoke ninety minutes, the crowd of fully five thousand
persons listened in almost breathless silence.—
Manuscript 79, 1902
.
(Part quoted in
Testimonies for the Church 4:274, 275
.)
Give Temperance Talks in Other Churches
—Let the talks
upon temperance reform which are given to Seventh-day Adventists
be given to the other churches.... There is to be no raid made by
Seventh-day Adventists by pen or voice against any temperance
movement.—
Letter 107, 1900
.
Doctrinal Differences Not to Alienate Us
—Although its
friends do not believe with us in many points of doctrine,
[Note:
Reference is here made to the Martha Washington home in Chicago,
where, upon invitation, Mrs. White gave a temperance address.—
Compilers.]
yet we will unite with them when by so doing we can
aid our fellow men. God would have us individually learn to work
with tact and skill in the cause of temperance and other reforms, and
employ our talents wisely in benefiting and elevating humanity.
If we would enter into the joy of our Lord, we must be colaborers
with Him. With the love of Jesus warm in our hearts, we shall always
see some way to reach the minds and hearts of others. It will make
us unselfish, thoughtful, and kind; and kindness opens the door of
hearts; gentleness is mightier far than a Jehu spirit.—
The Review
and Herald, February 10, 1885
.