Mrs. White's Labors and Fruitage in Europe

The following article is a chapter taken from L. H. Christian's book Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts. This volume represents his own testimony of faith in the operation of the gift of prophecy among us. Since Mrs. White had been in Europe a relatively few years prior to the beginning of his work there, he was able to gather and record impressions of the faith of our European believers who remembered Mrs. White from her visit of 1885-1887. The reader will find Brother Christian's reminiscing stimulating to faith and to godly living and evangelistic endeavor.

 


 

EDITORIAL NOTE: The following article is a chapter taken from L. H. Christian's book Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts. This volume represents his own testimony of faith in the operation of the gift of prophecy among us. Since Mrs. White had been in Europe a relatively few years prior to the beginning of his work there, he was able to gather and record impressions of the faith of our European believers who remembered Mrs. White from her visit of 1885-1887. The reader will find Brother Christian's reminiscing stimulating to faith and to godly living and evangelistic endeavor.

 


E. G. WHITE, with her son, W. C. White, and others, spent two years from August, 1885, to the summer of 1887 in Europe. This visit will never be forgotten. The spiritual influence and godly instruction of Mrs. White won the people in every land. A large number of her many addresses in Europe were printed, and they are among the helpful contributions from her pen. To many it was an object lesson of untold value to see the deep insight Mrs. White had into European needs, conditions, and racial mentalities, together with her rare tact, firmness, and wisdom in helping all. There was danger of formalism and of a hard, condemnatory spirit in our work in certain sections of Europe. In meeting this, Mrs. White's work was most helpful. All her instruction led to love, unity, faith in the message, and a deeper zeal for souls.

 

The advent movement in Europe would never have been the same if it had not been for her visit. For many, many years our members and their children in England, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden never tired of telling about Mrs. White. And when now and then in later years a few disloyal ones ridiculed and belittled the gift of prophecy and the servant of God, our people said: "We know better. We heard her speak. We have seen her humble, godly, inspiring life. We have her books, and they agree with the Bible and deepen our love for Jesus."

The People Remembered Her Visit

When I first went to Europe, in 1903, nearly all our people still remembered the visit of Mrs. White, and they loved to tell of her meetings and experiences, as they felt greatly helped by her stay. Some of them related things that I had not previously heard. Mrs. White attended the first camp meeting in Norway at a place called Moss in 1887. There she met O. A. Olsen, who was one of the great spiritual leaders in this movement. She told Elder Olsen that the Lord had revealed to her that he would be chosen General Conference president at the next session which was to be held in Minneapolis in 1888. He seemed greatly troubled by this mes sage, and told her that he certainly hoped that would not be the case. Later he and a few close friends made this a special matter of prayer, and nothing was said by Mrs. White or anyone else as far as is known until the nominating committee brought in its report at the General Conference. To Elder Olsen himself, however, and to his close friends to whom he confided this, it was a unique experience. They all knew that Mrs. White did not take part in elections, and they waited to see whether the prediction would come true.

Over in Scandinavia at that time we had a lady member who was well educated and prominent in our church. She was engaged to marry a certain young man, an Adventist, but was told in confidence by Mrs. White that the Lord had shown her that this man not only was unworthy of her affection but would bring on trouble. She believed this message and followed the counsel given, and later developments revealed to all how true it was.

It was some of these little personal touches which nearly all have now forgot ten that helped to confirm our people in Europe in their faith that Mrs. White was indeed guided by the Spirit of God.

During her visit to Europe, Mrs. White first stopped in England, spending several weeks in that country. The first month after she arrived was spent in visiting Lon don, Grimsby, Southampton, Ulceby, and Risely, where S. H. Lane and J. H. Durland held tent meetings. Besides helping our few Sabbath-keepers, she gave five addresses in public halls. Concerning her impression of her travels, she wrote:

My feelings cannot be described as I look upon these large cities where nothing is being done by the living preacher. I inquire, Why does the work advance so slowly? It is for want of workers and for want of means. Review and Herald, Oct. 13, 1885, p. 625.

From England Mrs. White went on to Switzerland. Here she assisted in a general European council which continued till September 28. This council was attended by laborers from England, Ireland, Wales, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, and Rumania. Of her labors there she says:

I felt urged by the Spirit of God throughout the meetings to impress upon all the importance of cultivating love and unity. ... I tried to present the danger of building up separate interests between nationalities. Historical Sketches of Foreign Missions, p. 173.

Mrs. White's Work Tested

In Europe the genuineness of the spiritual gift of Mrs. White was put to an entirely new test a test that was watched by some with the keenest interest. In America God had shown her the lives of many and revealed to her what human wisdom alone could never know. But these people, though often unknown, were of her own country and language. It was some times said that the things she told had been reported to her by others. In Europe, all this was changed. She was in strange lands, and among people whose mentality, customs, and language she did not under stand. But in those countries, too, God told her hidden things concerning Adventists in lands she had never even seen. And the things He revealed to her were of the character and lives of people which others could not possibly have reported to her. Yet, in regard to persons in those countries, she had as clear light as she had had in the testimony she bore in America. The revelations she received were just as definite and true. The testimonies contained both stern reproof and inspiring encouragement; but every word was true, timely, and helpful.

Concerning this evidence of the divine gift, one of her translators while in Europe, D. T. Bourdeau, an experienced, thoughtful man, wrote:

The labors of Sister White and her son, Elder W. C. White, were highly appreciated at this general gathering. Never was the gift of prophecy more needed, and its service more timely, than on this occasion. Errors and difficulties that had baffled human wisdom and effort were pointed out, corrected, and removed, with that tenderness, plainness, faithfulness, and impartiality which have characterized this gift during the entire period of its manifestation among us, now about forty years. . . .

How interesting and wonderful it was to hear Sister White correctly delineate the peculiarities of different fields she had seen only as the Lord has shown them to her, and show how they should be met; to hear her describe case after case of persons she had never seen with her natural vision, and either point out their errors or show important relations they sustained to the cause, and how they should connect with it to better serve its interests!

As I had a fair chance to test the matter, having been on the ground, and knowing that no one had informed Sister White of these things, while serving as an interpreter, I could not help exclaiming, "It is enough, I want no further evidence of its genuineness." Review and Herald, Nov. 10, 1885, p. 700.

How Mrs. White Met Fanaticism

While in Europe, Mrs. White made her home in Switzerland. Twice during this time she visited Scandinavia and Italy. In some of these countries she met fanaticism. In Norway some had begun to teach that all pictures were sin. They wanted no photographs in their homes, in our books, or anywhere else. They did, however, use postage stamps and money with pictures, since it was unavoidable. Mrs. White explained to them that their views were extreme, and that the second commandment did not forbid the things they warned against. Her instruction concerning this and other extreme ideas built as it were a hedge about our people, and led them to be careful when other extremists arose, especially during World War I.

True Sabbath-keeping Taught

The question of Sabbath-keeping, too, was a difficult one. The idea of a spiritual rest was entirely new in those lands. Not only had the people to be taught to ob serve another day, but they had to be taught that the Sabbath was not to be kept in the same way of pleasure and worldliness as was Sunday. All through Scandinavia this question brought perplexities. Some Sabbath-keeping businessmen had their places of business open on the Sabbath, and hired men who were not Sabbath-keepers to care for their work. In other countries, the question of sending our children to school on the Sabbath was causing difficulty. This seemed very trying in Switzerland. Many of our members were inclined to think that their children might attend school on the Sabbath. Mrs. White gave definite and full instruction on this matter. But a few sentences will be quoted here.

Some of our people have sent their children to school on the Sabbath. . . . Had these dear brethren possessed greater spirituality, had they realized the binding claim of God's law as every one of us should, they would have known their duty, and would not have been walking in darkness. . . . Our brethren cannot expect the approval of God while they place their children where it is impossible for them to obey the fourth commandment. --Historical Sketches, p. 216.

If it had not been for her clear-cut instructions, Adventists in Europe would not have observed the Sabbath in the right way, but would rather have kept it as others keep Sunday. Those who have seen the Continental Sunday understand what this really means. We would have been a sort of Saturday-keeping people rather than real, confirmed, genuine Sabbath-keepers. But Mrs. White explained the Sabbath commandment as spiritual law that must be kept from the heart, not only by a mere outward observance.

The labors of Mrs. White in the interests of health and temperance also meant much to our work in Europe. In Norway, J. G. Matteson had begun a health journal, which was well received and still prospers. In other lands a small beginning in temperance and health reform had been made. Mrs. White gave many lectures on the subject to our people, and also a few in public. For one of these, the church had secured the largest hall in Norway, and Mrs. White spoke on "Bible Temperance." Fortunately she had a capable translator, a doctor from Oslo. The hall was crowded to the doors, and the meeting lasted nearly two hours.

A Norwegian Methodist minister told us personally about this meeting. He said: "That an American woman should come over to Norway to lecture was a novelty; that she, a godly person, should speak on temperance was also strange; and that she called the subject 'Bible Temperance' was even more unusual. Temperance, we had thought, was a matter of politics and police and prison, not of the Bible. Hundreds came because the speaker was a woman, and hundreds more were curious to hear what she could find in the Bible about temperance."

When the people saw Mrs. White, they whispered, "What does that little lady know? How many in this large hall will be able to hear her?" But she had not spoken five minutes, before the entire crowd, many of whom understood English, were thrilled by her voice, her deep spiritual fervor, and sound, homely sense. They had never heard such a practical and convincing presentation of the great subject of temperance. Scores of hardheaded businessmen present listened intently as to something worth while. As a mature, motherly woman, she spoke beautifully of purity of life in the home, with parents and children. She emphasized the sanctity of the human body as the temple of the Spirit of God. Earnestly and in deep tenderness she challenged the husbands present to protect their wives and children from the fearful inroads of intemperance and impurity, and to live clean, strong lives themselves.

This solemn appeal won the entire audience. At the close of the lecture, one of the prominent men proposed a vote of thanks to this "noble mother from America," who had told them "the best things they had ever heard" on "what they ought to be and do." She was urged to speak again, but declined. Her first burden was for our own people. The great Norwegian poet Bjornsterne Bjornson wrote a personal letter to Elder Matteson and thanked him for his health journal and for the help this was to the cause of temperance. He said, "These ideas are new to us; and while they sound American, we, over here, need them."

A Plea for Larger Things

As everywhere, and always so in Europe, Mrs. White pleaded for larger things. Concerning the fruitage of our literature, she was reported to have said in one of her discourses at Basel:

God will soon do great things for us, if we lie humble and believing at His feet. . . . More than one thousand will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first convictions to the reading of our publications. --D. T. BOURDEAU in Review and Herald, Nov. 10, 1885, p. 700.

In Copenhagen she thought the halls secured for our meetings were too small. She writes:

I am far from being convinced that these small and obscure halls were the best places that could be secured, or that in this great city of three hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants, the message should be given in a basement room that will accommodate but two hundred, and this but half seated. --Historical Sketches, p. 184.

Mrs. White always looked for a great spiritual revival in the years to come and used this to encourage all to seek for a larger spiritual harvest. After returning from Europe she wrote:

There are to be a multitude convinced of the truth, who will take their position for God. The time is coming when there will be as many converted in a day as there were on the day of Pentecost, after the disciples had received the Holy Spirit. —Review and Herald, June 29, 1905, p. 8.

A Pleasant Experience in Germany

Toward the close of May, 1887, Mrs. White, with others, went to Vohwinkel, Germany. After she spoke to the believers on Sabbath, she advised a testimony meeting, but they did not think the Germans would know how to take part in a testimony meeting. She, however, insisted that they have one. The results were gratifying, for nearly all bore their testimony. Mrs. White wrote:

I shall never forget this little company and the pleasant associations we have had with them in the worship of God. ... My prayer is that the Lord may make this meeting one of great blessing to the church. Ibid., Sept. 27, 1887, p. 2.

For our children and youth, the visit of Mrs. White to Europe was most fruitful. She preached a sturdy manhood; she pleaded for schools in which young men and women might be thoroughly trained. She set forth the needs for young people to bear heavy burdens in future years; and we have certainly seen her words come true in every part of the world. She urged especially that the youth in our ranks give themselves to God for loving service.

The heart of Mrs. White went out in earnest love to the millions in Catholic lands. . . . Writing of the advent cause here and there overseas Mrs. White says:

Europe is stretching out her hands, and the Macedonian cry comes from across the broad waters, "Come over and help us." The work here has advanced very slowly, for want of men and means. . . . Oh, my heart is full to bursting when I think what ought to have been done here in Europe in days gone by, and how far the work might now be advanced if those who have received the light of present truth had been faithful to their trust! . . . If the church had done the work that God made it her duty to do, we should today have thousands rejoicing in the truth here, and there would be light-bearers in all parts of Europe. --Ibid., Oct. 12, 1886, p. 626.

Similar touching appeals were printed several times while she was in Europe. To them we owe largely the marvelous fruitage seen in Europe from then on.

Mrs. White possessed a rare gift in get ting close to people, in winning their hearts, and thus cheering them on. Europeans are unusually responsive to kindness. It gave them confidence that she seemed to find special joy in helping the weary and down-hearted. Her love for children and youth and her understanding way of winning them increased this confidence. The personal testimonies sent by Mrs. White to different individuals in Europe after her return to America guided and encouraged in many difficult cases.

An Experience in Hamburg

Our believers in Hamburg, Germany, had an unusual experience that showed them how timely and helpful the messages of Mrs. White were. They had started a mission school there, as well as a city mission. In this work they met some peculiar conditions, which created difficulties that they had not known before. It seemed for a time as though the work would be totally broken, but to their joy and surprise, just as they reached the crisis a long testimony letter came in from Australia. When they received this they wondered what had led Mrs. White to write and send them the testimony. No one had written to Mrs. White, and so far as they could find out she had no knowledge of their perplexities at all, but the light and instruction she sent them solved their problem perfectly and saved the school and the mission from great embarrassment and loss.

In the providence of the Lord, the Adventist work in Europe began in Switzerland. The Swiss are a firm people, but somewhat inclined to a cold, intellectual religion. Sometimes there was among them a lack of unity. Mrs. White carried a heavy burden for the spiritual condition of our believers in Switzerland. She felt called upon to lead out here and there in a series of local revival services for the people. After visiting our various companies in Switzerland, she did not yet feel that the work was finished, and so a special season of spiritual consecration services with the workers and others at headquarters in Basel was arranged for. Concerning these meetings she wrote:

On returning from Tramelan to Basel, Feb. 7, [1887] we found that special efforts were being made by all connected with the mission building, to draw nigh to God by earnest prayer and confession, that the blessing of the Lord might be granted us in an especial manner when our Conference and Council should convene. Meetings were held at 6:30, commencing Feb. 6. I commenced the next morning to speak to the people, and we la bored earnestly with our brethren and sisters for deeper spirituality and knowledge of the will of God. We felt the great need as laborers together with God, of meeting a higher standard. . . .

Sabbath morning, Feb. 12, at half past six we had our morning meeting. The Lord gave me much freedom in speaking to the people, and the fallow ground of hearts was broken up. Many confessions were made with freely-flowing tears. We see that the Spirit of the Lord is coming into the meeting, and this makes me rejoice. We want the work to go deeper and be more earnest. I tried to impress upon the people that a happy flight of feeling is no evidence that we are in favor with God. We must have the living, divine principles ever abiding in us, and not make an idol of impulse or of a high degree of feeling. If we have pardon, we must show repentance. We must have faith, and walk by faith; not entertain the idea that we must have assurance in feeling before we acknowledge ourselves blessed of God. The assurance is in God's word. God has said, and it will be done. He who trusts in God must have due respect for all the means and all the helps to obedience. The written word, the services of God's house, and the throne of grace these are God's blessings, and our work is to lay hold upon the promises of God. Rely upon them. Live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. This is the victory, even your faith. Without holiness no man can see the Lord. Whatever our hopes or our profession, God calls for deeds and works. A meek and quiet spirit is the result of the grace of God in the heart. Faith in God's promises must be exercised while we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, God working in us to will and to do of His own good pleasure. We must be constantly guarded, for we are on the battle-field against a wily foe. We have a heaven to win; a possession to gain that requires the vigilant exercise of every spiritual muscle. Half-hearted work will not do here. God will accept nothing short of whole-hearted service, willing obedience.

Sabbath, Feb. 12, was almost entirely devoted to service. We have not had an exciting time, but firm conviction is taking hold of minds. We feel that we are advancing. We are trying to make the people understand that it is not God's design to withhold His presence, but that we are not sufficiently spiritual to discern His presence, and to lay hold of His promises, and claim them by faith. Our hearts lie too much in vapors and mists of worldliness, sin, and frailty, through which only a dim light reaches us, penetrating this mist and fog which Satan pours in upon us, while the full brightness of Christ's righteousness shines above us, and we scarcely look up. There are efforts which we our selves must make. The cares of life will try us; but we let them disturb our confidence in God, and then we wonder why we have not more comfort, and more peace and hope and joy. Oh, I wish we could see these things as they are, and be sensible Christians! If we do not have ecstatic feelings, we begin to doubt whether we are Christians or not, when we should not look at our feelings, but at God's word, for there is our assurance. We must bring our hearts into a right position. We must put away all sin, all pride, all impatience, all envy and evil thoughts, all jealousies, and then, while working out our own salvation, God will work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. . . .

At nine o'clock there was a social meeting, and then a sermon by Eld. Ings. The German portion of the congregation received a blessing, having an opportunity to hear the Bible truth in their own language. Seventeen have recently come to the truth in Basel, for which we thank and praise God. In the afternoon a discourse is given to the Germans. Three are to be baptized (several have already received the ordinance), and the communion service is to be attended this afternoon. I am full of thankfulness to God for the mercies of this Sabbath. We should make our life a clear, steady, burning light to the world. If we are not always on the mount, it is because God sees it would not be for our best good, because we would not see and be thankful for the lesser blessings. We should be thankful that He is still with us in the lowly valley of cares and troubles that press the soul. The Lord would have us look up, and be grateful to Him that there is a heaven; that Jesus is preparing mansions for us, where the weary will be at rest. Let us praise God from whom all blessings flow. Let us grasp by living faith the rich promises of God, and be thankful from morning till night.

Feb. 14 This morning we had another meeting to seek God in prayer, and by humble confession. I spoke from these words: "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." The Lord helped me to speak pointedly upon this scripture. The gospel demands from every human being an unreserved consecration to God, of both body and soul, with all their energies and capabilities, throughout the entire period of our probation. In this work there is to be no indolence; continual advancement is required of us, while God claims every ordinary or peculiar power, endowment, and faculty He has given us in trust. To withhold these from God, is robbery toward God; while every talent is given us as a sacred trust, upon condition that it shall be used and improved, enlarged and strengthened, by use, in accordance with the will and design of the great Giver, that by this means divine light and power shall be communicated to the world through God's appointed channel. . . .

Our social meetings have shown still more decided advancement. We are coming nearer to the point, nearer to the freedom, and liberty of the children of God. Confession with weeping has been made, and we see there is a deeper sense of how far short they have come of meeting the standard of righteousness. There is a firm purpose to do better, and if we can by repetition of great and solemn warnings and precious inducements in the promises, bring them to feel their great need and the willingness of God to pardon and bless, we shall have gained a victory over Satan and over his devices. God requires of every one of His followers faith, sincere prayer, and a spotless example. Not one is excused; they are His employed servants, working for wages, even the life which is to come. To be unfaithful to God, who has manifested so great interest for us, is the basest ingratitude. --Ibid., April 12, 1887, pp. 1, 2.

Revival and Reformation Needed Now

These intensive efforts were not without fruit as later years made plain. They are also a great object lesson for God's servants today. There is need now of deep searching and protracted revival work in many churches. The messages from God call up on our ministers to do this and awaken the people. The spiritual revival which Mrs. White brought to Europe and the help she gave our churches and missionary workers were of untold value and will never cease to bear fruit. She constantly pleaded for a stronger faith, more love, toleration, and kindness among the brethren of all races, higher moral standards, and holiness of life. In all her addresses she exalted Christ and set forth the glory of His saving grace.

Yet her most fruitful labors for Europe were not these revival efforts, important as they were. The greatest work which she, through the Spirit of Prophecy, has done for Europe was not her counsels but her writings. The books of Mrs. White have been translated into almost every European language and have been an even greater blessing than her visit there, much as that meant. These books have made her name known in thousands of homes. Hundreds of persons ask us who that woman is, and how she is able to write such beautiful, spiritual truths. For Europe Steps to Christ is her book number one; then Early Writings for our believers, and for all, Ministry of Healing, Christ's Object Lessons, and so forth. It would take another chapter to tell how these Spirit-filled books have been read and appreciated, from kings' palaces to the poorest fishermen's hovels. Our colporteurs have scattered them everywhere, and the reading of them has literally been to millions like a "voice from heaven." In some lands of papal darkness we have visited, they have been and are the only genuine gospel literature the people have ever seen. Thus the Spirit of Prophecy is a wellspring of spiritual blessing to this generation.


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September 1971

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