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Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

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    D. E. Robinson to T. G. Bunch, Dec. 30, 1930

    Righteousness by Faith
    St. Helena, Calif.
    December 30, 1930.
    D. E. Robinson
    Elder T. G. Bunch
    Loma Linda, Calif.,
    Dear Brother Bunch,-

    Last evening Elder McReynolds and Dr. Mary made us a visit at the “Elmshaven Office.” I was glad to hear her report that the blessed influences of the last week of prayer at the College still remain, and that many of the students seem to have entered into a true genuine Christian experience.MMM 333.1

    You will remember that I handed you copy of a letter that I had just found in the files, in which Sister White gave certain cautions to A. T. Jones regarding making extreme statements in preaching justification by faith. Since then other similar statements have been found, and I have been making a study of this subject, based largely upon the manuscripts and Review and Herald articles. I am passing along with this to you, a few compilations I have made.MMM 333.2

    You stated in one of your talks, if I remember correctly, that you were not so anxious to have people agree with you in every detail, as you were to start people to studying. I believe in that spirit. If with all our study we can keep humble, and recognize that no one individual can receive all the light, and do not become so tenacious of our own conclusions that we can not keep an open mind, we can make definite progress.MMM 333.3

    I do want to express my deep appreciation of your studies on the Laodicean message, and all that pertains to the way of getting out of that deplorable condition. This line of study is so precious and so practical that I long to see it stand forth in all its strength. That is why I make bold to venture a few words of criticism of some of the secondary and minor points that you brought out, and that are printed in your little booklet.MMM 333.4

    Before the meeting convened there was an estrangement between Elders Waggoner and Jones, who were editing the Signs of the Times, and the leading brethren who were in Battle Creek. This estrangement had been caused by the fact that A. T. Jones had been running through the Signs studies on the prophecies and listed the Allemanni instead of the Huns as one of the ten kingdoms; also that E. J. Waggoner in his editorials setting forth the principles of righteousness by faith had applied some of the verses in Galatians to the moral law, which was counted as dangerous heresy.MMM 333.5

    The subjects under consideration were handled at an Institute that convened one week before the Conference proper. The subjects proposed for discussion were “A Historical View of the Ten Kingdoms, The Divinity of Christ, the healing of the deadly wound, Justification by faith, How far should we go in trying to use the wisdom of the serpent, and Predestination. Elder Haskell was chosen chairman, and F. E. Malden, secretary. About a hundred delegates, including Sister White were present. Elder Butler, owing to sickness was unable to attend, but sent a telegram, “Hold to the landmarks.”MMM 333.6

    The prejudice and. feeling against Elders Waggoner and Jones that was based upon the doctrines taught was accentuated, especially in the case of the latter, by a pomposity and egotism that seemed out of place in such young men as they were at that time.MMM 334.1

    So far was the feeling carried, that a spirit of levity and sarcasm was manifest among many of the older workers against these individuals. But the most serious feature of the disaffection was the fact that, because Sister White urged the importance of the message of righteousness by faith, and because thereby she seemed to be upholding these brethren, contrary to their judgment, it grew into a spirit of rejection of the Testimonies of Sister White. “Elder Waggoner was Sister White’s pet,” was a common remark.MMM 334.2

    This contempt of Sister White’s testimony is evidenced by the many letters written by her at that time. Her statement that she had not talked these subjects over with either Elder Waggoner or Jones, was openly flouted and disbelieved by some.MMM 334.3

    Not all who were present, however, were among the class who rejected either the message or Sister White’s testimony. Among then were some who can bear testimony, as did Elder McReynolds in a social meeting at the College, that they received great light and blessing, and that they had not lost the experience that they received at that meeting. After the Conference they returned to their fields and carried the message to the churches in their conference, with most precious results.MMM 334.4

    After the Conference, Sister White labored earnestly in various meetings, setting forth the rebellious course taken by some at the Conference, and emphasizing the great truth of Righteousness by Faith, with the result, not that the message was “rejected”, but that it was more widely received. One by one, those who had been among the opposition at Minneapolis, made confessions, accepted and rejoiced in the new found light, and. preached it, at least theoretically. One of the last to yield was Uriah Smith, of whom Sister White writes in 1891, that he had “fallen on the rock,” and was “broken.”MMM 334.5

    Had the message been generally rejected, either at Minneapolis or soon after as is inferred, by some, and as is stated in your book, would we find that Elder Jones and Sister White labored together in camp-meetings and institutes, preaching this doctrine, of course with the sanction and endorsement of Conference officials?MMM 334.6

    I think we may, however, grant that there was not that entering into the experience either by ministers or people, to the extent that God was calling for, and after a few years, without any open rejection or repudiation of the doctrine, a formalism and apathy prevailed. I would not deny that this experience may be likened to the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness when they might have entered into the promise much earlier had they but believed. There is abundant reason for drawing comparisons between the experiences of Israel, and the experiences of Seventh-day Adventists. You have noted several instances in which this comparison is drawn by Sister White.MMM 334.7

    But while we may point out likenesses that are evident in experiences that are past, we must recognize that there are contrasts as well as comparisons. Therefore is there not danger of unwise speculation in pressing these likenesses when it comes to the future? You seem to do this in predicting that there is a Baal-peor experience ahead of us when there will be terrible and shocking immorality among the leaders and thousands of people. And you seem to me to do this even more seriously in the use that is made by you, and the more extreme use that is likely to be made by others who will go farther than you probably intend to do, in the matter of the time.MMM 334.8

    Aside from the question of its being a correct statement of fact, your assertion that it was a few years after Minneapolis, that the message of Righteousness by Faith was “finally rejected,” carries with it an inference that otherwise, 1928 would have marked the ending of the 40 years of wilderness wandering and the entrance of Canaan. The extra “few years,” that mark the beginning of the wilderness wandering will naturally be added to 1928, and there will result an unfortunate speculation regarding the time either for the outpouring of the Spirit or of the second coning of Christ.MMM 335.1

    I am having copied for you from a Review of 1892 a report of One of Sister white’s sermons at Lansing, Michigan, in which she clearly sets forth that there is danger of this, and comes very close to a prediction that men would arise who would do this, thereby diverting the minds from the truths that would prepare them for Christ’s coming.MMM 335.2

    And this is not merely a theoretical possibility. A number have come to me and others of our ministering brethren at the College since you left, asking us as to our opinions as to some of the new and minor points that you brought out in your studies. It is evident that their minds have by these things been more or less diverted from the striking and vital truths that pertain to salvation, and that were so forcefully set forth by you.MMM 335.3

    I understand that you will be here again at the Spring week of Prayer. I venture to hope and to suggest to you that you may come a little early, and spend a day or two or more, if possible, here with us at the office. I should dearly love to study some of these things over with you, and I believe that with what we are collecting from Sister White’s manuscripts, that it might be of value to you also. So instead of lengthening this letter, I will extend to you this invitation, and will not mention a few other points that I had in mind.MMM 335.4

    I am sure that you will not receive this letter as unfriendly criticism, or because it dwells upon the negative, feel that I an antagonistic, or that I fail to appreciate the results of your study and the efforts you are Putting forth to arouse the church of God to repentance and to service and to preparation for the soon coming Saviour.MMM 335.5

    With Christian regards, I am,
    Sincerely yours,
    [D. E. Robinson]

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