Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

x Testimonies for the Church Volume 1[7]The first defection, the apostasy and opposition of some of theformer brethren in the ministry, known as the Messenger party becauseof their publication, the Messenger of Truth, brought sorrow and perplexity.Early counsels speak of this movement and predict its speedyending in confusion.Fanatical movements, tending to attract conscientious souls becauseof unfounded hopes of “sanctification,” appeared in variousplaces, notably in some of the Eastern States and in Wisconsin. Insome instances these teachings were accompanied by manifestation ofthe supposed “gift of tongues.” But clear instruction was given to thechurch which saved the cause from such deceptions of the enemy.The lapse of time and the apparent delay of the second advent,with the accession to the church of many who had not been in the 1844movement, with its deep spiritual consecration, had resulted in the lossof that first love. It was a time of speculation in lands and homesteadsas the Western States were opening up to settlers, among whom werea number of believers from the crowded Eastern States. Most earnestwarnings and appeals were given regarding the prevailing dangers ofconformity to the world, calling the church to deeper consecration.In the latter part of 1856 attention was called to the “Laodicean”message of Revelation 3. Formerly this counsel was understood toapply to the Advent believers who had not followed in the advancinglight of the third angel and who had organized themselves into anotherchurch, bitterly opposing the Sabbath truth. Now they saw themselvesas “lukewarm” and in need of heeding the counsel of the true witness.For two years or more the believers were mightily stirred by thismessage, expecting that it would lead them directly into the loud cryof the third angel. The earnest messages in the Testimonies relatingto this movement can better be understood with a knowledge of thisbackground.It was an age of discussion and debates. Many of our ministerswere challenged to discuss the Sabbath and other truths, and some wereeven taking the aggressive in such debates. This called for counselfrom heaven. One of our prominent ministers, Moses Hull, engaged indebates with spiritualists, at first at their challenge, later at his. As aresult of this daring move he was swept into the mazes of spiritualism.Then it was that Mrs. White published her “Communications to ElderHull,” making public letters that had been written to him during past