JUST fifty years ago, A. G. Daniells, inspired by the counsels of Ellen G. White, led Seventh-day Adventists to a dramatic breakthrough in city evangelism in a remarkable series of meetings in Portland, Maine, during January and February, 1916.
Some of the answers to the questions perplexing Adventist leaders in 1900 arrived in the person of Ellen G. White, who had been in Australia since 1891. While the church had experienced rapid growth abroad during her absence, it was suffering under the lack of an adequate central organization. Many diverse denominational interests were in seeming competition, and there were many overlapping boards, associations, and committees.
To the detriment of evangelism, while Adventists seemed enmeshed in unproductive introspection and doctrinal examination, their prime audience—rural, Bible-believing Protestants—was moving in large numbers from country to city. Very little was being done to develop what was then called "city work," least of all platform evangelism of large enough scope to make an impact on the city dwellers.
Mrs. White began at once to press for two "reforms": 1) a streamlining of church organization; and 2) an aggressive plan of public evangelism in the cities, particularly in America. Her counsels led to the development of a central organization large enough to consolidate previously separate agencies and associations, and to coordinate the operation of a new "cluster" form of church organization, with individual State and regional conferences banded in union conferences (these ultimately to be clustered in divisions of the General Conference). Arthur G. Daniells was elected to direct the newly re-organized church as president of the General Conference.
Evangelism Urged
However, no sooner had Daniells been charged with implementing the new organizational plan, with all the preoccupations implied, than Ellen G. White began pressing him for more aggressiveness in city evangelism.
But Daniells and the other leaders were very slow to respond to this intensive urging by Mrs. White. First of all, they were greatly involved in making the newly established organization work. Second, they shared to some extent the prevalent lack of churchly enthusiasm for the popular city evangelist. They were fearful of building up platform personalities above the message itself
Moreover, they had little evidence of recent Adventist success in the cities upon which to base any conviction that means and manpower diverted to a concerted denominational program of city evangelism would produce results. Adventist premillenialism was not calculated to inspire the interest of middle-class Protestants; as Moody, Jones, Mills, and other revivalists had all discovered. Attendance at Seventh-day Adventist evangelistic meetings was sparse and results were small. A great stretch of the imagination and much faith would have been required in heeding Mrs. White's admonition to "work the cities."
Lack of Planning
What disturbed Mrs. White was not the lack of evangelism of a kind; but rather of a comprehensive, systematic evangelistic plan urged by national headquarters. The church rapidly moved ahead on the public affairs front and in institutional enlargement, as well as in its foreign missions objectives, but not in platform evangelism in the cities.
In 1907 Mrs. White began to repeat with more emphasis her pleas of 1903 and 1904 to launch a greater work in the cities. She said:
We stand rebuked before God because the large cities right within our sight are unworked and unwarned. The terrible charge of neglect is brought against those who have been long in the work, and yet have not entered the large cities. We have done none too much for our foreign fields, but we have done comparatively nothing with the great cities right beside our own doors?
She wrote to Daniells, "Voices are to be heard in every city proclaiming the last message of mercy to the world." 2And again, "There is a great work to be done in the cities and villages that is not being done."'
Mrs. White did not see why Daniells, like her late husband, James White, could not delegate some of his routine burdens to others so that he might be in the field leading the evangelistic forces by his personal example. Letter after letter reminded Daniells and his associates of their responsibility to put themselves personally into the work of city evangelism.
Plunging Growth Rate
In the meantime there was a growing awareness of the need among the rank and file of the ministry, and some discontent. Ample justification for such feeling was seen in the poor record of Adventist growth in America during these years of administrative preoccupation. Following a brief surge in the wake of momentary evangelistic success in 1905 (in which J. S. Washburn, Luther Warren, and W. W. Simpson were leading figures) the rate plunged to another low. In 1907, Adventist membership was barely one per cent more than it had been in 1906. In 1908, the growth rate dropped still further to only a fraction of one per cent over the previous year.'
Even though the United States population was growing apace, and although fundamentalist evangelists like Torrey, Chapman, and Sunday were making rapid strides in the cities, the Adventist Church, despite its institutional and mission success, was scarcely holding its own in America.
Prophetic Desperation
Mrs. White seemed to have reached a point of desperation in urging the leadership to make public evangelism its first order of business. Even her son and first aide, W. C. White, seemed at a loss to understand the intense feeling Mrs. White had about this matter. He wrote to A. G. Daniells:
This morning Mother said to me that while our brethren have done a little here and there, they have not instituted that thoroughly organized work which must be carried forward if we shall give our cities proper warning. . . . It seems to me that there must be some great crisis just before us. I cannot in any other way understand the intensity of Mother's distress regarding our slowness of action in getting the work going in our big cities.'
The Turning Point
Daniells soon realized in a more personal way just how serious the situation was. On a visit to California it was his intention to call on Mrs. White as of old and tell her of his plans to meet soon with workers in New York City to discuss their evangelistic work in the place. To his surprise and dismay, she flatly refused to see him—until he should personally lead out in the work of evangelism in a manner to inspire complete denominational commitment.
Thus turned aside, Daniells yielded his pride. Contritely, he wrote to Mrs. White, declaring his intention to take personally her counsels to make the Seventh-day Adventist Church truly evangelistic. The following is an excerpt from his letter:
I was sorry I could not have talked with you while at St. Helena, concerning the work for our cities. I wanted to tell you that I shall take hold of this work with all my heart. . . And I am willing to spend months in personal efforts with the workers, if necessary.°
Official Action
Daniells took the entire matter to the General Conference Committee and impressed upon them the importance of immediate action in city evangelism. The committee approved a plan suggested earlier by Mrs. White that a special committee be appointed to coordinate city evangelism throughout the land. Daniells was released from the usual camp meeting itineraries and from a forthcoming overseas appointment that he might give his undivided attention for a full year to the problem of evangelism in the cities.
On July 7, 1910, Daniells convened in New York City a meeting of the newly created committee on city work. He was under no illusion concerning the difficulties facing the denomination in an all-out attack on the large cities, for en route to the New York meeting he had undertaken a personal survey of evangelistic work then being conducted. In Boston, contrary to his expectations, he had found no organized work whatsoever; "no mission in operation, no tent meetings being held, and the sanitarium workers . . . not doing any organized work." One evangelist who had attempted meetings had been ordered by the sheriff to close his tent and move out of the city. In Portland, Maine, he found that tent meetings were planned but would not be under way for a while. However, in New York City where Bernstein and others were at work, eight tent campaigns were under way simultaneously, a seemingly remarkable undertaking; vet of this Daniells said merely, "The work seems to be going as well as could be expected."
In a fervent summary, Daniells expressed gratitude for what was being accomplished, "but O, what a task we have on our hands!" ' At the same time he declared his fundamental optimism for the future. "I am becoming deeply interested in this evangelistic work," he exclaimed. "It is the most important phase of the work we are carrying forward at the present time."'
E. G. White's Approval
Ellen G. White was delighted with Daniells' personal entry into the evangelistic arena. She was also appreciative of his realistic appraisal of the circumstances facing the church in its effort to move ahead:
I am very glad to hear that you have been led to understand for yourself the condition of the unworked cities. . . If this work had been undertaken years ago, large numbers would have been brought to a knowledge of the truth. . . . I am intensely in earnest, and 0, I beg of you to encourage our people to redeem the time.9
Daniells rose to the challenge, and was inspired to do his utmost. He said in successive letters to W. C. White:
I think I may say to you that I have set my hand as firmly and determinedly to this city evangelistic work, as I have ever taken hold of anything in my life. I have become very greatly interested in it. It appeals to every fiber of my body.1°
In turning my attention again to evangelistic lines of endeavor I am something like the old soldiers who hear the bugle call. It thrills my heart, quickens my activities, and gives me delight. . . . I wish that I could fire the heart of every minister in this denomination with the feeling that I have regarding the importance and the great value of evangelistic work."
You will see that I am taking hold of this line of work to win."
Inspired by the example of their world leader, conference presidents throughout North America appealed to him for help in developing city work in their fields. Daniells reported:
From all parts of the country I am getting requests from the Conference Presidents to help them start this special work in their leading states. The President of the Minnesota Conference appeals to me to help him get a good strong evangelist for Minneapolis. Missouri wants one for St. Louis. They must have one for Chicago. East Michigan wants help for Detroit. Western Pennsylvania urges that we shall help them start the work in Pittsburg. . . . Western New York presses for an evangelist for Buffalo?'
The General Conference leader and his administrative colleagues in the field did their best in dispersing the limited evangelistic talent available to places where the needs were considered greatest and the opportunities most ripe.
In the meantime, as Daniells turned commitment to action, he received cheering word from St. Helena of Mrs. White's support and encouragement. She said:
I have received your letters regarding the council held in New York, and the efforts that are being made in behalf of the multitudes in the large cities. . . . The position you have taken is in the order of the Lord, and now I would encourage you with the words, Go forward as you have begun, using your position of influence as President of the General Conference for the advancement of the work we are called upon to do. . . . I can now take hold with you in full confidence for the doing of the work that rests upon us. The Lord in His mercy will pardon the failure of the past. He will be your helper. He will give you sustaining grace, and we will draw with you and give you all the help we can to use in your position of influence as president of the Conference, and to work wisely in the education of others to labor in the cities.... In conclusion I will say, redeem the lost time of the past nine years by going ahead now with the work in our cities, and the Lord will bless and sustain you."
Intensive Preparation
In the realization that the ministry of the historically rural Adventist Church needed special training for work in the large cities, the 1910 Autumn Council authorized a series of institutes for all pastoral and evangelistic workers, "in view of the very urgent calls which are coming to us . . . to enter the large cities without delay, and proclaim the truths of the message, and knowing well that our ministry . . . feels altogether unequal to the task without special preparation."
These institutes were of utmost importance in the minds of Daniells and his fellow leaders. Daniells emphasized that twenty years had passed since the last such institutes were held, except for brief ministerial meetings at General Conference sessions, and the turnover in ministerial personnel had been great.
One of the most notable developments at the Philadelphia institute was a great wave of religious feeling and emotion that came over the ministers and others in attendance. In the words of Daniells we get the picture:
Deep conviction of sin began to lay hold of hearts. From the meeting where the Spirit's presence was so deeply felt many went to their rooms to plead earnestly with the Lord to forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Severe battles were fought and glorious victories were won by many on their knees. . . . Many remained in the church until midnight, struggling for deliverance, and they received it. . . . It was not what are considered great, serious sins that brought this deep conviction. It was the terrible character of sin, and its hold upon our hearts, that laid us in the dust. . . .
The testimony of all was that they never faced the future with such courage. . . .
It will surely mark the turning point in the lives and the work of many who were present; and it must mark the beginning of a new era in our cause."
Rising Growth Rate
The results of this and other aspects of the new General Conference emphasis were not long in appearing. Once more the Adventist membership growth rate in America began to rise. Whereas in 1910 it had sunk to a negative 1.5 per cent, it had risen in 1911 to a plus 2.5 per cent, by 1913 to nearly 5 per cent, and the best was yet to come."
Evangelists and evangelistic campaigns multiplied. By 1913, fifteen evangelists, assisted by many other workers—forty-two in all—were at work in the Greater New York area. During the summer of 1914, nine tent companies [evangelistic teams] were deployed in Iowa. Evangelists like A. R. Ogdon, K. C. Russell, J. W. McComas, A. S. Booth, J. W. McCord, R. E. Harter, Gustavus P. Rodgers, Carlyle B. Haynes, E. L. Cardey, and others previously mentioned were in the vanguard of a host of workers earnestly endeavoring to follow the counsel that had been given.
The results were greatly encouraging. Audiences of the most prominent evangelists frequently numbered seven hundred to eight hundred, and occasionally even touched the thousand mark.
Stimulation of War
With the outbreak of hostilities in Europe the church was stimulated to new evangelistic zeal. Deterioration in world conditions lent weight to Adventist views of growing world disorder as a prelude to the second coming of Christ; as opposed to that of liberal churchmen, particularly in the social gospel movement, who had long forecast increasing world betterment. Adventists noted what seemed to be some very specific fulfillments of their prophetic views, one of which was the early involvement of Turkey in European strife, regarded as a definite apocalyptic signal.
These world events were accompanied by a deepening spiritual commitment of Adventists to their task. There was an inspired conviction that after many years of ridicule as forecasters of world catastrophe in the face of the "world betterment" proclamations of other churches, actual events had at last proven the Adventists right and the others wrong. Adventists hastened to press their advantage by calling on unhappy members of other churches to join them in their great movement. The denomination was caught up in a new spirit of confidence, unity, and commitment.
I. H. Evans, president of the North American Division, declared,
God is visiting His people. Marked experiences in gaining personal victories over evil habits have come to many.... Our evangelists report good meetings in connection with their field efforts, and many are stirred as they contemplate present day conditions in the world."
This spirit of revival continued and deepened, and on January 8, 1914, it was reported in the church paper:
A deep religious revival and reformation are in progress among our people. . . . It is difficult to tell just when and how this revival began; but it is here, and there is great rejoicing over the glorious results it is producing. It seems to have begun in the very earnest appeals of [Ellen G. White] during 1909 in behalf of the millions . . . in the great cities."
(To be continued)
Notes:
1 Ellen G. White, Evangelism (Washington.. D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Assn., 1946), p. 399.
2 Letter, Ellen G. White to A. G. Daniells, Letter 416, 1907, Dec. 30, 1907, p. 5. (Index code refers to catalog system used by the Ellen G. White Publications Office, Washington, D.C.).
3 Letter, Ellen G. White to A. G. Daniells and Associates, B-316, 1908, Oct. 25, 1908, p. 1.
4 Statistical Department, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Washington, D.C.
5 Letter, W. C. White to A. G. Daniells, Feb. 11, 1910.
6 Letter, A. G. Daniells to Ellen G. White, May 26, 1910.
7 Letter, A. G. Daniells to W. C. White, July 13, 1910.
8 Letter, A. G. Daniells to W. C. White, July 29, 1910.
9 Letter, Ellen G. White to A. G. Daniells, July 26, 1910.
10 Letter, A. G. Daniells to W. C. White, Aug. 17, 1910, pp. 1, 4.
11 Letter, A. G. Daniells to W. C. White, Sept. 26, 1910.
12 Letter, A. G. Daniells to W. C. White, Sept. 27, 1910.
13 Ibid.
14 Letter, Ellen G. White to A. G. Daniells, D-68, 1910, August 11, 1910.
15 Review and Herald, Dec. 22, 1910, p. 13.
16 Review and Herald, May 4, 1911, p. 14.
17 Statistical Secretary, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Washington, D.C.
18 Review and Herald, Aug. 27, 1914, p. 7.
19 Review and Herald, Jan. 8, 1914.
Copyright, 1966, by Howard B. Weeks.
