The Advent Movement came into being in the midst of a strong and vigorous evangelism. The cause we represent was built by preaching. Before we had a church building or a school, a hospital or a printing press, we had preachers who under deep conviction moved forward in faith, claiming the promises of God. Their assets and financial standing were almost nil, but they went ahead, and marvelous indeed were the results.
Among those early evangelists none were more ardent and self-sacrificing than James and Ellen White. And their labors were greatly blessed of the Lord. It was a real loss to the work when James White was called to his rest. But he had set a noble example of true, consecrated leadership. As a writer, organizer, administrator, and tireless evangelist he was unsurpassed by his associates.
Through those vigorous years a firm foundation was laid, and on that we have built the superstructure of our present work. Evangelistic techniques in those days were simple, yes, very meager in comparison with the kind of equipment that seems to be regarded as essential today. But one thing dominated the lives of the evangelists: They must preach and bring souls to decision. They sensed that there was a message to be given; there was urgency about everything that they did.
Singing was a vital part of their program. But their music, like everything else, was simple and unaffected. This was characteristic of their whole program. One thing mattered—their hearers must be prepared for the coming of the Lord! Their messages were saturated with a conviction of the nearness of the end, and at the close of their addresses earnest appeals were made for men and women to break from sin and accept the great provisions of grace. Not always, but very frequently they invited the people to manifest their decisions, urging them to move forward and thus give evidence of their acceptance of the Lord and His message.
This technique, of course, was by no means an innovation, for in the great evangelistic movement of the Wesleys a century earlier, altar calls were a vital part of the art of gaining public decisions. It was under the influence of the Wesleys that the expression "altar call" came into use. Those Methodist preachers began their work in the atmosphere of Church of England houses of worship. And the altar, being the place where the communicants came to receive the Lord's Supper, seemed a very natural place for the new converts to make their decisions for full consecration. Thus the altar call became a technique that was understood to be a very definite part of evangelism.
Not only the Methodists but others followed more or less the same pattern. No one used it with greater effect in early Adventist evangelism than did Ellen White herself. Not only did she use this method in the United States, but when she went to Europe she followed the same pattern among the most conservative groups. Some declared that such techniques would never be acceptable in Europe, but she found, as many others of us since her day have found, that the human heart is about the same anywhere, and souls are as ready to respond across the ocean as they are in the United States. When she went to Australia and to South Africa the same methods were used.
In recent years there seems to be a reticence on the part of a few in regard to the use of this method. There may be reasons for hesitancy, but every successful evangelist recognizes the value of some such method as this. It enables people to register their decisions while they are still in the atmosphere of the meeting, and that is important.
No hard and fast rules can be laid down for the making of altar calls, but some things are vital. The evangelist himself must not only be convicted of the importance of the method, but he also must understand when and how to make the appeal. His own soul must be very sensitive to the impressions of the Spirit of God. And nothing is so important as the atmosphere of the meeting itself. Success or failure will depend upon that being right. But who is it that creates the atmosphere? Is it not the preacher himself? Not only what he says, but how he says it is important. If in his presentation there has been a light or frivolous attitude, if there have been unkind remarks or criticism during the discourse, then the atmosphere is definitely wrong for an appeal. The Holy Spirit can never bless anything foreign to the Spirit of Jesus. But all other things being equal, it can be said without hesitancy that (1) if the atmosphere of the meeting is favorable, and (2) if the preacher himself is under real conviction by the Spirit of God, and (3) if his mind is alert to the movings of the Spirit of God and he has already been impressed that there is a need for such a call, then there is nothing else for him to do but to give opportunity for souls to manifest their decisions. To invite them to draw nearer is natural. The very fact that one makes a move, if only a yard or two, will mean a great deal to the one who is seeking God.
In the early beginnings of our work in Australia Ellen White played a vital role, not only as a counselor but also as a preacher. And out there she followed the same pattern of evangelism that she and James White used so effectively through so many years of their united labors. Nearly all of her meetings were climaxed by an invitation or an altar call. After one such meeting she wrote a letter to 0. A. Olsen, at that time president of the General Conference, in which she reported some experiences then recent, and one in particular. That letter was published in the Review and Herald under date of July 30, 1895. We quote from it here because in it some vital things are revealed that not only are interesting, but that give an insight into her utter dependence upon God. The experience she reports indicates the clear leading of the Spirit of the Lord.
Several things should be noted: (1) her willingness to respond to the impressions of the Spirit, (2) her faith in God's ability to do great things in spite of circumstances, (3) her willingness to follow the Lord's leading, even to changing her whole sermon and expounding a passage of Scripture which came to her mind when she rose to speak (this is something we do not recommend unless one has a real background of experience from which to draw), and (4) the success of the altar call and the recognition that the fruitage was God given.
We believe our readers will be interested in reading this letter, not only because it reveals an evangelistic technique, but also because of the circumstances of the sermon reported. If your editor seems to reveal a special interest in this letter, you will pardon it, because the persons referred to happen to have been his own parents and his aunt and uncle. It was in this particular meeting that my own mother and my aunt both took their stand for the truth. My father and my uncle had made their decisions a year before and had gone forward in baptism. But their wives were very hesitant. Having been reared in the conservative atmosphere of a Scotch Presbyterian church did not help the situation, for evangelistic fervor was not a part of the program there. Of course the Advent preachers were enthusiastic, and one was even a woman! The situation is different today, for the Presbyterian Synod recently conceded the value of the service of women and actually recommended the ordination of women to the regular ministry. But in those days such a thing was unheard of.
All the persons referred to in this letter are now awaiting the call of the Life-giver, for sixty years have passed since this evangelistic report came to the General Conference president. We publish the major portion of the letter just as it appeared in the Review and Herald under the title "Interesting Experiences in Australia."
[The following letter from Sister White to Brother Olsen, we are permitted to present to the readers of the Review. The brethren everywhere will be interested in the happy experiences which it records.—Editors]
North Fitzroy, Australia May 27, 1895
On Sabbath, May 25, we had a precious meeting in the hall where our people meet in North Fitzroy. For several days before the meeting, I knew that I was expected to speak in the church on Sabbath; but unfortunately I had a severe cold and was quite hoarse. I felt inclined to excuse myself from this appointment; but as it was my only opportunity, I said, "I will place myself before the people, and I believe the Lord will answer my earnest prayers, and remove the hoarseness so that I can present my message to the people." . . . Christ says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
The word of God is sure. I had asked, and I believed that I would be enabled to speak to the people. I selected a portion of Scripture; but when I rose to speak, it was taken from my mind, and I felt impressed to speak from the first chapter of Second Peter. The Lord gave me special freedom in presenting the value of the grace of God. How much is His grace to be appreciated! The apostle says: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord." . . .
I was enabled by the aid of the Holy Spirit to speak with clearness and power. At the close of my discourse, I felt impressed by the Spirit of God to extend an invitation for all those to come forward who desired to give themselves fully to the Lord. Those who felt the need of the prayers of the servants of God were invited to make it manifest. About thirty came forward. Among these were the wives of the Brethren A.*, who for the first time made manifest their desire to come near to God. My heart was filled with unspeakable gratitude because of the movement made by these two women. I could see then why I was so earnestly moved to make this invitation. At first I had hesitated, wondering if it were best to do so when my son and I were the only ones whom I could see who would give us any help on that occasion. But as though some one had spoken to me, the thought passed through my mind, "Cannot you trust in the Lord?" I said, "I will, Lord." Although my son was much surprised that I should make such a call on this occasion, he was equal to the emergency. I never heard him speak with greater power or deeper feeling than at that time. He called upon Brethren Faulkhead and Salisbury to come forward, and we knelt in prayer. My son took the lead, and the Lord surely indited his petition; for he seemed to pray as though in the presence of God. Brethren Faulkhead and Salisbury also presented fervent petitions, and then the Lord gave me a voice to pray. I remembered the Sisters A., who, for the first time, were taking a public stand for the truth. The Holy Spirit was in the meeting, and many were stirred by its deep movings.
At the close of the meeting many pressed their way to the platform, and taking me by the hand, requested me with tears in their eyes to pray for them. I answered heartily, "I will." The Sisters A. were introduced to me, and I found that their hearts were very tender.
I will tell you a little more definitely about the situation of these A. brothers and their wives. Brother Somerville was the first one who interested these men in the truth. He requested the help of Brother Starr [G. B. Starr] in giving them Bible readings, and through these influences they were led to come upon the Brighton camp ground.* They were delighted with the cotton city, and decided to have a tent for their families, and thus be able to receive the benefit of the meetings. The wives could be on the grounds whenever they chose, but the husbands could only attend the meetings when their business permitted. But they did this, placing themselves in the channel of light where the heavenly current could flow to their souls. They were converted and baptized. From that time they closed their music-store on the Sabbath. . . . They had to suffer the affliction of opposition from father and mother and relatives. The mother of one of the sisters who has now taken her position on the truth, has been a most bitter opposer, and has threatened that if her daughter did become a Sabbath-keeper, she would not allow her to enter her home; for the mother would look upon her as a disgrace to the family. Mrs. A. had often made the statement that she would never join the Seventh-day Adventists. She had been brought up in the Presbyterian Church, and had been educated to think that it was very improper for women to speak in meeting, and that for a woman to preach was altogether beyond the bounds of propriety. She enjoyed hearing Elders DanielIs and Corliss, and thought them very clever speakers, but she would not listen to a woman's preaching. Her husband had prayed that God would so arrange matters that she might be converted under the ministry of Sister White. When I made the appeal, and urged those to come forward who felt their need of drawing nearer to God, to the surprise of all, these sisters came forward. The sister who had lost her little one, said that she was determined that she would not move forward, but the Spirit of the Lord so forcibly impressed her mind that she dared not refuse. When the Brethren A. saw their wives going forward, they said they felt like leaping and praising God. They could hardly believe their own eyes. These men have proved God's promise true; for in asking they have received, and their faith has been greatly increased in Him who has made every promise sure in Jesus Christ.
My faith also was regarded, and although difficulty was brought upon me by the prevailing epidemic, the Lord sustained me, and lifted upon me the health of His countenance. I feel so grateful to my Heavenly Father for His lovingkindness in bringing these two precious souls to unite with their husbands in obeying the truth. They have counted the cost before they have entered upon the Christian warfare. For some time these sisters have been attending the Sabbath School. They brought the little children with them that they might receive the benefit of the instruction in the smaller classes, while they themselves have felt that they have gained much instruction in studying the lessons of the senior division. They were much nearer belief in the truth, nearer the kingdom of heaven, than they themselves had thought.
This Sabbath day was a precious day. Was there not joy in heaven over these two souls who had received Christ? John says, "as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. . . . And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace."
There is something very impressive about the recital of this Sabbath morning evangelistic service sixty years ago. Would it not be a good thing if we could see that same earnestness, that same passion for souls today? If our Sabbath services had more of the real spirit of evangelism surely it would be a breath of life to our congregations.
The letter concludes with references to the need of another camp meeting in that city. Some were evidently concerned about the expense of another such meeting, although three different churches had been raised up as the result of that one camp meeting. Would that we could see similar results today! The Lord's servant certainly provokes our thought on this matter of camp meetings, for after emphasizing that "hundreds are reading their Bibles with heartfelt desires to know the truth" the letter concludes with this earnest appeal:
Some will say that these camp-meetings are very expensive, and that the Conference cannot afford to support another such meeting; but when we look at the three churches that have been organized, and are prospering in the faith, can we hesitate in answering the question, Will it pay? Shall we not raise our voices in decided affirmation, It will pay? ELLEN G. WHITE in The Review and Herald, July 30, 1895.
The all-important thing that mattered was the winning of souls. Evangelism was the keynote of every discussion, and the altar call was largely the index of the evangelistic success. "After meetings" were encouraged and preachers were expected to call for public decisions and then follow up those interests by personal house-tohouse instruction. Are we becoming too well organized to need such evangelistic techniques? Or are we just plain nervous?
"Revival services should be carried from the beginning to the close of the meeting" is a vital piece of instruction from that inspired source, Testimonies, volume 6, page 64. And again: "At the close of every meeting, decisions should be called for."ibid., p. 65.
These familiar words may well have meaning for us today:
In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us.—Testimonies to Ministers, p.31.
R. A. A.
