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Παγε 1 οφ 15
Advent Movement Survey 15
A. T. Jones
Study given by W. D. Frazee - March 28, 1962
We are going to look this afternoon especially at the life and work of Elder A. T. Jones. In
the book Testimonies to Ministers, we have already noted this wonderful statement:
“The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to
His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones” Testimonies
to Ministers, page 91.
These two men were used of God especially in the great Minneapolis meeting in 1888, and
for a number of years thereafter, to bring the message of righteousness by faith prominently
before our people. They were joined in this work by Sister White, herself. At Minneapolis,
and for a few years after, she attended the meetings that they preached at and joined them in
the preaching, presenting this wonderful message. Through her testimonies, she counseled
them, encouraged them, supported them, espoused the message and sponsored it, shall we
say, before this denomination. As we have seen, she repeatedly rebuked those who were
opposing these men and the message. Because of this strong support of their work by the
Spirit of Prophecy, Sister White, herself, was opposed, and in some cases ridiculed by some
ministers.
Last week, in our class, we studied how that the beginning of the loud cry was in this work,
and that some who opposed it were spoken of as opposing the work of the Spirit of God and
limiting the work of the Holy Spirit. And as the result, much that God wanted to accomplish
was not accomplished. In fact, we are told that some stumbled on the dark mountains, went
into darkness, and would never return.
It is a serious thing to reject the work of the Spirit of God, isn’t it, friends? A serious thing to
reject the work of the Spirit of God. And this is what some of the opposition persisted in, and
finally lost their way.
But, today we have the sad story to tell of how these men, themselves, finally lost their way.
And that is indeed a sad story, a sad story. I pray that God will, from it all, give us lessons.
Because, dear friends, keep this in mind, if you and I go through, we must succeed where the
opposition to Jones and Waggoner failed. We must succeed in accepting God’s message, His
full message through whoever He may use to deliver it, at the time He uses to deliver it. We
must succeed where the opposition failed, in discerning that message and in recognizing it,
accepting it, and acting upon it. We must succeed fully where the opposition failed. Equally,
we must succeed where Jones and Waggoner failed.
You know, when I think of the deep ditch on one side and the deep ditch on the other, I
wonder how anybody will go through. But, oh, we have the glorious assurance that the
Παγε 2 οφ 15
weakest child that will trust himself fully to Jesus can go through. In fact, dear friends, as
you study the history there is one thing that stands out very simply. The basic problem on the
part of the opposition to Jones and Waggoner was self, self. And as we shall see today, the
basic problem in the final departure and apostasy of Jones and Waggoner was self. That is
the basic problem in each case.
Now, in His providence, God saw fit to warn His people early in the righteousness by faith
controversy, that Jones and Waggoner might apostatize. As far back as 1892, Sister White in
writing to one who had greatly opposed Jones and Waggoner, said, listen:
“It is quite possible that Elder Jones or Waggoner may be
overthrown by the temptations of the enemy. But if they
should be, this would not prove that they had had no message
from God, or that the work that they had done was all a
mistake. But should this happen, how many would take this
position and enter into a fatal delusion because they are not
under the control of the Spirit of God? I know that this is the
very position many would take if either of these men were to
fall. And I pray that these men upon whom God has laid the
burden of a solemn work may be able to give the trumpet a
certain sound and honor God at every step, and that their path
at every step may grow brighter and brighter until the close of
time” Letter 24, 1892.
What a significant statement. I wish we had time to dwell upon it at length. But you can see
that as far back as 1892, just four years after the great conference of Minneapolis, Sister
White, guided by inspiration, said, “It could be, it may be quite possible that Elder Jones or
Waggoner may be overthrown.” Now she didn’t say it would be, but she just by inspiration
left that there on record to show two things - that God was not surprised, and also that if they
should fail, it would not be any evidence (Watch this point!) that their work had been wrong
or their message wrong. So we do well to dwell upon that, and not to be deceived either way.
Since we are tracing, the experiences of these two men, and much of it concerns Jones, but
some of it Waggoner, too, I want to go back before 1888. The earliest thing that I know of in
record in the published works, you will find in the book Counsels to Writers and Editors,
from page 75 clear over to 82. This is quite a long testimony, and it was written from
Switzerland.
I have part of the original letter here, I mean a copy of it, dated February 18, 1887. And it is
addressed to, “Dear Brother Waggoner and A. T. Jones.” You will be interested in knowing
that, as you read this testimony in the book Counsels to Writers and Editors. This is a
wonderful little book and has most precious material.
I wish we had time to read every word of this testimony, but if we should, we wouldn’t get
along with our other material. So I can only call your attention to some things. Remember
this is written nearly two years before the conference in Minneapolis. Because this is written
almost at the beginning of 1887 and the conference in Minneapolis was nearly at the close of
1888.
Παγε 3 οφ 15
Sister White was in Europe at the time, and these brethren, Jones and Waggoner were on the
Pacific coast. One was editor of the Signs of the Times, and the other was Bible teacher at
Healdsburg college. Already they were giving good messages on righteousness by faith, but
already they were manifesting an attitude, which was a defect, from time to time, appearing
all through those years later, and finally manifested itself in apostasy from this movement.
Looking back at it, as we study it, we can see it all very clearly now. And understand as I
point out these things, friends, I do it with grief in my heart, but with thankfulness to God that
He has seen fit to put in these published books, material that we can study, because these dear
men are dead and gone now. We can do nothing either to help them or to harm them, but, oh,
we can learn some lessons. And one of the greatest lessons we can learn is: that a defect,
once seen, must be kept at and kept at by prayer and humbling of heart and seeking the Lord
until it is conquered. And we must never feel, “Well, now, there is something we can forget,
and we don’t have to worry about that any longer.”
I think of what we are told in the book Acts of the Apostles about the apostle Peter, after his
terrible fall. It says that Jesus freely forgave Peter, but he never forgave himself. That
doesn’t mean he went around crestfallen all his life. But Peter, after that night in
Gethsemane, never got to the place where he felt that he was safe in the sense that he did not
have to watch closely. He learned his lesson.
Oh, that Jones and Waggoner had learned it fully and eternally. Now, I don’t doubt, in fact I
have positive evidence, that both these men were wrought upon by the Spirit of God many,
many, many, many times all through these years, in the 1880s and the 1890s and on into the
following century as we shall see. But, oh, that the work had gone deep and stayed deep.
Listen as we note the testimony of the Spirit of God concerning a weakness in both of these
young men way back there in the 1880s:
“Letters came to me from some attending the Healdsburg
College in regard to Brother -----‘s teachings in regard to the
two laws. I wrote immediately protesting against their doing
contrary to the light which God had given us in regard to all
differences of opinion, and I heard nothing in response to the
letter. It may never have reached you. If you, my brethren”
Counsels to Writers and Editors, page 75,
(Remember, this is addressed to Waggoner and Jones.)
“If you, my brethren, had the experience that my husband and
myself have had in regard to these known differences being
published in articles in our papers, you would never have
pursued the course you have, either in your ideas advanced
before our students at the college, neither would it have
appeared in the Signs” Counsels to Writers and Editors, page
75.
Παγε 4 οφ 15
Now, do you see what was happening? Certain things were being advocated in the Bible
classes at Healdsburg and were being echoed in the columns of the Signs of the Times, which
were contrary to what was being taught in the church headquarters at Battle Creek, both in
the college and in the Review. And Sister White is writing from Europe to these young
ministers, appealing to them not to do that:
“Especially at this time should everything like differences be
repressed” Counsels to Writers and Editors, page 75.
You know, I want to appeal to every heart here, friends. I trust that no one, I mean, no one,
shall anoint himself with that kind of oil which makes water roll off a duck’s back. I know
that there are things that can be said to make of none effect all I am reading here. But friends,
I plead that we shall not take the precious things that God has given us through the Bible and
the Spirit of Prophecy, and use them as a shield to keep from our hearts the straight work of
the Holy Spirit in understanding the basic problem.
The basic problem, friends, is whether self will be put away and we will learn the lesson of
unity; unity with God and unity with His people. And if I didn’t think what we are studying
is present truth for 1962, I wouldn’t be spending so much time on it.
“Especially at this time should everything like differences be
repressed. These young men are more self-confident and less
cautious than they should be” Counsels to Writers and Editors,
page 75.
Remember, these are the very men that we read this statement about:
“The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to
His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones” Testimonies to
Ministers, page 91.
Was the Lord using them? Yes. Did He use them year after year? Yes. But did they need
correction? Did they need to learn to tone down? Did they need to learn to avoid some
things that would cause division and controversy and conflict? That is the thing I want you to
see in testimony after testimony here.
“These young men are more self-confident and less cautious
than they should be. ... Even if you are fully convinced that
your ideas of doctrines are sound, you do not show wisdom that
that difference should be made apparent.
“I have no hesitancy in saying you have made a mistake here.
You have departed from the positive directions God has given
upon this matter, and only harm will be the result. This is not in
God’s order” Counsels to Writers and Editors, page 75.
Now, watch the next point. And, oh, that this one might sink down deep into our hearts
tonight:
Παγε 5 οφ 15
“You have now set the example for others to do as you have
done, to feel at liberty to put in their various ideas and theories
and bring them before the public, because you have done this.
This will bring in a state of things that you have not dreamed
of” Counsels to Writers and Editors, page 75.
Are there people today that think they have the right and the liberty to speak anything they
want to, and mimeograph anything they want to, and even print and publish anything they
want to, no matter how much division and controversy it causes? And do they try to quote
the Testimonies in support of that?
Ah, my friends, here is a testimony they do not quote, but here it is. And remember it was
addressed to men, and there are no men like them in the world today, that had the approval
and support of a living prophet, guided by inspiration from the skies. And yet, those men
with a message from heaven, and counseled by a prophet from heaven, were still told,
“Brethren, there are some things that you are talking and printing and publishing that are
causing division, and you shouldn’t do it.”
Then she says on the next page:
“It is no small matter for you to come out in the Signs as you
have done” Counsels to Writers and Editors, page 76.
(That is the Signs of the Times.)
“And God has plainly revealed that such things should not be
done. We must keep before the world a united front. Satan will
triumph to see differences among Seventh-day Adventists”
Counsels to Writers and Editors, page 76.
I want to ask you. Have there been things printed and circulated, recently, that have been
taken up in the outside religious press and brought reproach upon the Seventh-day Adventist
work? Yes, that is true. It is a sad truth, all because this counsel has not been followed;
because men have felt free to publish whatever they thought should be published no matter
what schism and controversy and division it brought out for the world to notice.
Then on this same page she calls attention to the fact that the great Protestant reformation in
the days of Luther and Zwingli and those other reformers, was greatly retarded by making
prominent differences on some points of faith, and each party holding tenaciously to those
things where they differed:
“We shall see eye to eye err long” Counsels to Writers and
Editors, page 76.
Isn’t that a wonderful promise?
“But to become firm and consider it your duty to present your
Παγε 6 οφ 15
views in decided opposition to the faith or truth as it has been
taught by us as a people is a mistake, and will result in harm,
and only harm, as in the days of Martin Luther. Begin to draw
apart and feel at liberty to express your ideas without reference
to the views of your brethren, and a state of things will be
introduced that you do not dream of” Counsels to Writers and
Editors, page 76.
Then she speaks of how James White, and remember he had been the leader of this people, as
far as the president of the General Conference time and again, but he had some ideas on some
points differing from the views taken by his brethren. Sister White says:
“I was shown that however true his views were, God did not
call for him to put them in front before his brethren, and create
differences of ideas” Counsels to Writers and Editors, page 77.
What a statement! If even James White, the acknowledged leader of the denomination, had
to just keep some things on the side that he personally believed, that would make division
between he and his brethren, how ought people today to be careful about some things.
Down the page on 77, Sister White says:
“There are peculiar minds that love to get some point that
others do not accept” Counsels to Writers and Editors, page 77.
If there is anyone here who is attracted to this program because of that peculiarity, I trust,
friends, that God will help you to get a better reason to be attracted to Him, a better reason.
“Twice I have been shown that everything of a character to
cause our brethren to be diverted from the very points now
essential for this time, should be kept in the background.
“Christ did not reveal many things that were truth, because it
would create a difference of opinion and get up disputations,
but young men who have not passed through this experience
we have had, would as soon have a brush as not. Nothing
would suit them better than a sharp discussion.
“... Too late in the day, brethren, too late in the day. ... The
poor people become confused” Counsels to Writers and
Editors, page 77.
Well, I think that is all I shall read from that testimony, although that is only a very small part
of it. But that will give you an idea of the warnings that came to those men.
We have already noted how in the conference of 1888 Sister White took her stand strongly by
the side of these men, endorsed the great effort to lift up Jesus and His righteousness, and
rebuked the opposition. But, friends, I should also point out that right at that meeting she had
to rebuke Elder Jones because of his attitude toward Elder Smith at the time they were
Παγε 7 οφ 15
discussing the ten horns of Daniel 7. As we look back at it, it seems very unfortunate that
some things were stressed and allowed to become issues to divide.
Who knows friends, how much more might have been accomplished in 1888 and afterward, if
Jones and Waggoner had seen the simplicity of simply lifting up Christ and His
righteousness, and about some of these other things that there was such division on, if they
could have said, “Well, brethren, we have certain views, but we are not going to press those.
Let’s all come together and unite on the great thought of Jesus and His righteousness.” That,
as best as I can view it, would have done two things. It would have removed the stumbling
block out of the way of some, and it would have made it possible for God to bless Jones and
Waggoner in a still greater way, and to vindicate them in a still greater way.
You may turn now to Book 1 of Selected Messages, page 377. In 1893, Sister White was in
Australia, and she sent to Brother A. T. Jones a testimony, and notice the danger that she
points out here, of exaggeration, the danger of expressing things in such a strong way that his
teaching would be misunderstood. This is four and a half years after the Minneapolis
meeting:
“Brother A. T. Jones: I was attending a meeting and a large
congregation were present. In my dream you were presenting
the subject of faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ by
faith. You repeated several times that works amounted to
nothing, that there were no conditions. The matter was
presented in that light that I knew minds would be confused,
and would not receive the correct impression in reference to
faith and works, and I decided to write to you. You state this
matter too strongly” Selected Messages, Book 1, page 377.
Here was a clear warning from the servant of God to Jones to, shall I say, tone down a bit. In
his effort to magnify faith, he was doing what with works? Belittling it. And she said souls
are going to get a wrong impression. This whole chapter will bear careful study, and you will
note the balanced counsel of the Spirit of Prophecy on the matter of faith and works, and the
warning to Jones not to lean so far on the side of faith that he minimized works.
Now, turning to Book 2 of Selected Messages, page 85 beginning, is a chapter on the visions
of Anna Phillips. This is a most interesting and shall I say strange experience. You can read
the chapter here for yourself. I trust you will.
In the footnote at the bottom of page 85, you will find that in 1893 a young woman in Battle
Creek by the name of Anna Phillips, came to believe that her impressions and dreams were
the intimations of the Spirit of God. This says that a leading worker read these before the
Battle Creek church as divinely inspired communications. You will be interested to know
that that leading worker was Elder A. T. Jones.
On Sabbath morning Elder A. T. Jones took the Bible and read from it, and impressed upon
the congregation that this was the voice of Jesus, the Shepherd. He said, “Do you hear the
voice? Yes.”
Παγε 8 οφ 15
Then he took the Testimonies of Sister White and he read from them and he said, “Do you
hear the voice?”
And then he took the manuscripts of Anna Phillips and read from them and said, “Do you
hear the voice?”
The next morning a young worker was at the post office in the lobby and noticed Elder A. T.
Jones come in to the post office and get his mail. (I say the post office, it was probably the
post office there at General Conference and Review and Herald. But at any rate it was on
Sunday morning.) He got his mail and there was a long envelope from Sister White. He sat
down over on a seat nearby and began to read this testimony from Sister White. As he read,
the tears began to trickle down his face. Elder A. T. Jones was being reproved by the Spirit
of God for what he had done the day before.
And if you would like to know what he read, you will read it right here on page 85:
“I know that we are living very near the close of this earth’s
history; startling events are preparing for development. I am
fully in harmony with you in your work when you present the
Bible, and the Bible alone, as the foundation of our faith. Satan
is an artful foe, and he will work where he is by many least
expected. I have a message for you. Did you suppose that God
had commissioned you to take the burden of presenting the
visions of Anna Phillips, reading them in public, and uniting
them with the testimonies the Lord has been pleased to give
me? No, the Lord has not laid upon you this burden. He has
not given you this work to do” Selected Messages, Book 2,
page 85.
Do you see why the tears tricked down his cheeks. Thank the Lord, Elder Jones accepted this
testimony. Thank the Lord, Anna Phillips accepted it too, and gave up her belief in her
visions and her dreams and impressions, and she became a successful Bible worker instead of
a false prophet.
This chapter on the visions of Anna Phillips you will be quite interested in, in the light of
what I have just told you. I wish we had time to read quite a number of things from this
chapter, but time will permit of noting only a very few statements:
“As the report has been quite widely circulated that Sister
White has endorsed what has been written and circulated as
revelations from God to Miss Anna Phillips, I feel that it is my
duty to speak. I have not endorsed these productions” Selected
Messages, Book 2, page 90.
I thought as I read, that even the prophet was misquoted as to what she endorsed and what
she didn’t. There are certain movements afloat today that I have heard certain people quoted
as endorsing them, and I know by personal letters that they are not endorsing them. We need
to be careful what we hear and what we believe of what we do hear, friends.
Παγε 9 οφ 15
Now on page 94, still in this chapter on the visions of Anna Phillips, notice a wonderful
principle that Sister White deals with in how we should relate ourselves to things of this kind:
“You seem to think I should be able to point out just where the
particularly objectionable sentiments lie. There is nothing so
very apparent in that which has been written; you have been
able to discover nothing objectionable; but this is no reason for
using these writings as you have done. Your course in this
matter is decidedly objectionable. Is it necessary that you
should discern at once something that would produce harm to
the people of God, to make you cautious? If nothing of this
kind appears, is this a sufficient reason for you to set your
endorsement to these writings?” Selected Messages, Book 2,
page 94.
Do you see the inference? Instead of endorsing something merely because we can’t prove it
wrong, we should wait to endorse it until the evidence is without question that it is right and
from heaven. There is a world of difference between the two things.
Now, the warning; and this should echo right down to our own time, friends:
“Fanaticism will appear in the very midst of us” Selected
Messages, Book 2, page 95.
Is it all coming from outside, friends? No.
“Fanaticism will appear in the very midst of us. Deceptions will
come, and of such a character that if it were possible they
would mislead the very elect. If marked inconsistencies and
untruthful utterances were apparent in these manifestations, the
words from the lips of the Great Teacher would not be needed.
It is because of the many and varied dangers that would arise
that this warning is given. The reason why I hang out the
danger signal is that through the enlightenment of the Spirit of
God I can see that which my brethren do not discern... Be on
your guard; and as faithful sentinels keep the flock of God from
accepting indiscriminately all that professes to be
communicated to them from the Lord” Selected Messages,
Book 2, page, page 95.
So, you see dear friends, we ought to be extremely cautious about endorsing anything. And
may I ask you, when we circulate something do we not thereby put our influence with it? Oh,
how we should know that what we pass around by word of mouth or by letter, in printed
form, or mimeographed, or any other way, is pure wheat throughly winnowed from the chaff.
Think of it. This dear man, Elder A. T. Jones, who had been so greatly blessed by the Spirit
of God, as we have been studying now for several weeks, in these marvelous messages on
Παγε 10 οφ 15
righteousness by faith, he was led astray by this deceptive movement. Thank God, on that
point he got back on the track. But do you see the weakness there, that led him off? The
weakness. Ah, friends, oh, that he had fully learned the lesson of not being led astray.
Now, doubtless he got help from that 1893 message that we read a moment ago, from the one
before 1888, and from this one. I am sure he got help from all of them.
In 1897, Elder A. T. Jones was made a member of the General Conference committee. He
was elected again for a second two year term at the 1899 General Conference. At the 1901
General Conference, (I hope we shall be able in this course, if the Lord is willing, to spend
some time studying that conference. It was a wonderful conference) our work was
completely re-organized. Where before there had been a small General Conference
committee, a large General Conference Committee was made. Union conferences were
provided for. A great work of decentralization went on. Independent organizations, such as
the Sabbath School Association, the Religious Liberty Association, the publishing work, and
others were made departments of the General Conference. A great work of reorganization
was done under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit manifested in the work of Christ’s
messenger, Sister Ellen G. White. That is a study all by itself, the General Conference of
1901.
At that conference, Elder A. G. Daniels was called to the leadership of the general work. He
had been laboring in Australia. For many years he was over there at the time Sister White was
there. Also at this time controversies between Dr. Kellogg and the ministering brethren
began to come to the surface more and more. (We may have time to study that sad, but
meaningful history in this class.) But I need to say that much to follow the history of A. T.
Jones through some of these experiences. Elder A. T. Jones had been one of the editors of
the Review in the latter part of the 1890s. At the 1901 General Conference he preached a
number of times. He was one of the men that reported that session.
At the 1901 General Conference, provision was not made for the office of the president of the
General Conference as it had been before, and as it came to be later. But the General
Conference committee was elected by the conference and authorized to elect from among its
members a chairman. Elder Daniels was elected as that chairman.
Elder Jones was greatly impressed by a teaching on church organization that he felt was the
opposite of the papacy. He felt the papacy had a head, a Pope, and that that was contrary to
Christ’s principle; that in Christ’s church “all ye are brethren,” and so there did not need to
be a president such as they had had and he opposed it later.
But here is an interesting thing that happened. After the General Conference, he preached that
at various camp meetings. When he came to the California camp meeting in 1901, after the
General Conference, after having preached that there should not be a president, when he was
met at the train by the brethren, he was told that he had been invited to become the president
of the California conference, and he accepted. And so for one year he was the president of
the California conference.
At that time they were electing local conference presidents every year. The next meeting of
the California conference was at Fresno in 1902, the Fresno camp meeting in 1902. Elder
Παγε 11 οφ 15
Jones’ name was coming up, of course, for consideration. Would he be president of the
conference again? Would he be re-elected? Now, there had been quite a bit of dissatisfaction
with Brother Jones’ leadership in the conference. A number of the workers felt that he had
been domineering; that he had been critical; that he had been harsh, and difficult to work
with. So as they came up to that meeting, a number of them felt there should be a change.
They had two or three different men in mind, good men, loving men, apparently.
But when they came up to that meeting, Sister White bore her testimony and said that it was
the will of God that Elder Jones should serve that conference again as the president.
Quoting from a letter that Sister White wrote in 1906 to Elder Jones, I read. Now listen and
oh, see the pleading work of the Spirit of God. This is written in 1906 and she is looking
back to 1901 and thereon:
“When in 1901 you came to the Pacific coast I hoped that the
weight of responsibilities as president of the California
conference would lead you to distrust your ability, and to take
counsel with your brethren regarding the work to be done”
Letter 242, 1906.
You see, one of the reasons God gives people a job isn’t because they are fitted, but hoping
that they will get fitted. That should come as a lesson to all of us, however little or large our
responsibility is. Shouldn’t it friends?
“When in 1901 you came to the Pacific coast I hoped that the
weight of responsibilities as president of the California
conference would lead you to distrust your ability, and to take
counsel with your brethren regarding the work to be done. But
there was a growth of self-confidence, a rashness of spirit, and
an abruptness of speech which increased the existing lack of
confidence in your judgment. You manifested a domineering
spirit that drove away the Spirit of God.
“At the meeting in Fresno in 1902 a scene was presented before
me in the night season. I was in a meeting where many spoke
words of dissatisfaction with the record you had made as
president of the California conference. I saw that there must be
in your ministry a change, and received instruction for you and
for the laborers in the conference. This I presented at the early
morning meeting. Here is a part of what I said at that meeting”
Letter 242, 1906.
She is putting down what she said at the 1902 Fresno meeting. Listen. In a way, it sounds
strange, after what she has just said about his harsh, domineering, dictatorial attitude. And
remember, these are not the words of some critic of A. T. Jones. These are the inspired
words of a testimony:
“It is the pleasure of God that Brother A. T. Jones should serve
Παγε 12 οφ 15
this conference another year as president. It is His pleasure that
A. T. Jones should put away all appearance of the magisterial,
domineering, authoritative manner” Letter 242, 1906.
Quite a statement, friends. Sister White pointed out that some of these men that others had in
mind to be president, while they were amiable and kind and gentle and all that kind of thing,
they didn’t have the push to carry on the work that was needed. You know, sometimes it is
easier to plane off a board that is big enough than it is to stretch one that is too little. We
need to avoid the deception of thinking that because a person never makes any problems, that
he is thereby qualified for strong responsibilities. Sometimes people who never make any
problems, never make anything else.
So, God, in His mercy, appointed A. T. Jones, by inspiration, to be president again, in
California, from 1902 to 1903. And in the same breath the Lord’s messenger said:
“It is His pleasure that A. T. Jones should put away all
appearance of a magisterial, domineering, authoritative
manner” Letter 242, 1906.
And then she gave a picture of what had been shown her in a dream:
“In the past the work of Brother Jones has been represented to
me in figures. He was holding out to the people a vessel filled
with most beautiful fruit. But while offering the fruit to them,
his attitude and manner were such that no one wanted any.
Thus it has been too often with the spiritual truths that he offers
to the people. In his presentation of these truths a spirit
sometimes crops out that is not heaven born. Words are
sometimes spoken, reproofs given without due consideration
with a drive, a vim that causes the people to turn away from the
beautiful truths that he has for them” Letter 242, 1906.
Oh, brethren, shouldn’t that be a warning to all of us? Whether dealing with the world or
with the church, when we have beautiful truth to present, how we should seek God for grace
to present it in a beautiful way, in a winsome way, in a way that makes others want to share
the precious light which we have. Shouldn’t we all pray for that most earnestly?
Now this that I have been reading to you is from an unpublished testimony. But now, I want
to give you a published reference for the same principle that we are dealing with, here in
Volume 6, page 122 and 123. These paragraphs that I am calling your attention to, you will
be interested to know were written first in a personal testimony to Elder A. T. Jones. These
paragraphs will mean more to you than ever before as you study them now, remembering that
they were written originally to this dear man.
The original source is Letter 91, 1899. So this is three years before the Fresno meeting when
Sister White was giving him counsel on this. And way back there, she was calling his
attention to these vital needs. And so I read now, remember this is personal to A. T. Jones,
later published in Volume 6:
Παγε 13 οφ 15
“The influence of your teaching would be tenfold greater if you
were careful of your words. Words that should be a savor of
life unto life may by the spirit which accompanies them be
made a savor of death unto death. And remember that if by
your spirit or your words you close the door to even one soul,
that soul will confront you in the judgment.
“Do not, when referring to the Testimonies, feel it your duty to
drive them home. In reading the Testimonies be sure not to mix
in your filling of words, for this makes it impossible for the
hearers to distinguish between the word of the Lord to them
and your words. Be sure that you do not make the word of the
Lord offensive. We long to see reforms, and because we do not
see that which we desire, an evil spirit is too often allowed to
cast drops of gall into our cup, and thus others are embittered.
By our ill-advised words their spirit is chafed, and they are
stirred to rebellion.
“Every sermon you preach, every article you write, may be all
true; but one drop of gall in it will be poison to the hearer or the
reader. Because of that drop of poison, one will discard all
your good and acceptable words. Another will feed on the
poison; for he loves such harsh words; he follows your
example, and talks just as you talk. Thus the evil is multiplied.
“Those who present the eternal principles of truth need the holy
oil emptied from the two olive branches into the heart. This
will flow forth in words that will reform, but not exasperate.
The truth is to be spoken in love. Then the Lord Jesus by His
Spirit will supply the force and the power. That is His work”
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 6, pages 122, 123.
Doubtless, when he received that message in 1899, he accepted it as he accepted this message
in 1902 on the same points three years later. Sister White in this letter refers to his public
confession as with tears he acknowledged that what she said was true. And he prayed there
before his brethren, confessing his sins and asking them to pray with him that God would
help him to be melted. Sister White says that she has seen Elder Jones when his heart was
melted by the Spirit of God, and she knew that God was working for him and through him.
So with that blessing he took up the work again as president of the conference.
But when he came up to the General Conference of 1903 he began to take quite a definite
stand with those who were opposing Elder Daniels and the new group that had come in to
leadership. By 1904 and 1905 he was standing with Dr. Kellogg, who at that time was
having serious difficulties in his relations with the leading brethren. By 1906 both Elder
Jones and Dr. Kellogg were out of gear with the movement. Writing in this Letter 242, 1906,
which I quoted from a little while ago, Sister White says:
Παγε 14 οφ 15
“Brother Jones, since you have united soul, body, and spirit
with those in Battle Creek” Letter 242, 1906,
(That is with Kellogg and the sanitarium there.)
“You have been as one hypnotized” Letter 242, 1906.
Now, the last letter that we have from Sister White to Elder Jones was written in 1911. By
this time he was fully out of gear with the movement, publishing tracts and papers defending
himself and the way he had reacted to the organization. By this time he had come to
differentiate between the Testimonies. He did not deny that Sister White was a prophet, but
he said some things she wrote were [inspired] and some things weren’t. He had been
hypnotized by Dr. Kellogg and the influence at Battle Creek. And now, in this closing letter,
this is Letter 104, 1911, I want you to catch the pathos of this last, long, loving appeal from
the Spirit of God to this dear man, through His chosen messenger:
“Elder A. T. Jones. I have given you instruction in straight
clear lines in regard to the perverting influence under which
you have placed yourself. Your lips have uttered perverse
things. You have denied the clear light of truth and have linked
up with strange elements. I gave you a correct statement in
regard to your position, but you went on doing the very things
the Lord had warned you not to do. It has been a strange
course for one who has been enlightened by the Lord as you
have been, but you have acted very much like a man who has
lost his bearings. The question is, do you think you can still
hold your membership in the Seventh-day Adventist church
and go on hurting the influence of this people by the tracts that
you publish? You have done a cruel work” Letter 104, 1911.
There are some people today that think they can publish tracts and papers and mimeograph
material, that accuse the leaders and still hold their membership. This is very clear
instruction on it, friends. It is a serious thing to take up the sword of criticism against the
Lord’s anointed. I return to the reading of the testimony:
“I have warned you in regard to these things. The experience
that you and others had at the union conference held at Berrien
Springs was an experience that need not have been” Letter 104,
1911.
(This was in 1904, seven years before this was written.)
“The Lord gave you a convincing testimony that He was at
work” Letter 104, 1911.
Now listen:
“But your spirit and experience changed until you were ranked
Παγε 15 οφ 15
by heavenly angels as a man departing from the faith and
giving heed to seducing spirits. Your voice was changed and
your countenance. Oh, how changed it was. As scenes passed
before me you appeared as one in harmony with evil angels”
Letter 104, 1911.
And keep in mind, friends, that just twelve years before, the work that he and Elder
Waggoner were leading out in, was called the beginning of the loud cry, the beginning of the
loud cry.
“Scenes have been presented to me in which I have heard you
use harsh rough language, coarse and denunciatory. Close
beside you stood the father of lies inspiring you with his satanic
energy, and you uttered words of which you should ever be
ashamed. If you wish to renew your covenant with God by
confession and repentance and re-baptism, we shall rejoice with
you. When you are converted your self-sufficiency will
disappear, and you will become meek and lowly in heart. The
destroyer now takes advantage of your self-righteousness to
weave into your experience his own ideas and theories” Letter
104, 1911.
And so, this man who perhaps had on his lips, more than any other one among us, through
the years the words “the righteousness of God,” “the righteousness of Christ,” “righteousness
by faith,” is in this closing testimony identified with what kind of righteousness? Self-
righteousness.
“When you are really desirous of uniting with those from
whom you have withdrawn yourself, the testimony will be
borne” Letter 104, 1911.
Oh, listen to these closing words, friends. With this I close my study.
“When you are really desirous of uniting with those from
whom you have withdrawn yourself, the testimony will be
borne that you looked up, after you had stepped off the
platform on which you had previously stood, and that hands
were put beneath your arms, and you and Elder Waggoner were
lifted once more onto the platform, standing there with shining
countenances and uplifted hands. Has this time come? I have
written this to you on the Sabbath day, and the Lord has helped
me. If there is a work of reformation going on in your heart, if
you are convinced of your error, we shall say the way is open.
Come.” Signed, Ellen G. White” Letter 104, 1911.