God’s Last Day Church
35
Here are men who are standing at the head of our various institu-
tions, of the educational interests, and of the conferences in different
localities and in different States. All these are to stand as representative
men, to have a voice in molding and fashioning the plans that shall
be carried out. There are to be more than one or two or three men to
consider the whole vast field. The work is great, and there is no one
human mind that can plan for the work which needs to be done....
Now I want to say, God has not put any kingly power in our ranks
to control this or that branch of the work. The work has been greatly
restricted by the efforts to control it in every line.... There must be a
renovation, a reorganization; a power and strength must be brought
into the committees that are necessary.” [
From Ellen White’s opening
address on April 2, 1901, to the General Conference Session in Battle
Creek.
]—
The General Conference Bulletin, April 3, 1901
, pp. 25, 26.
New Conferences must be formed. It was in the order of God
that the Union conference was organized in Australasia.... It is not
necessary to send thousands of miles to Battle Creek for advice, and
then have to wait weeks for an answer. Those who are right on the
ground are to decide what shall be done.—
The General Conference
Bulletin, April 5, 1901
, pp. 69, 70.
[54]
The 1901 General Conference Session Responds
Who do you suppose has been among us since this Conference
began? Who has kept away the objectionable features that generally
appear in such a meeting? Who has walked up and down the aisles of
this Tabernacle? The God of heaven and His angels. And they did not
come here to tear you in pieces, but to give you right and peaceable
minds. They have been among us to work the works of God, to keep
back the powers of darkness, that the work God designed should be
done should not be hindered. The angels of God have been working
among us....
I was never more astonished in my life than at the turn things
have taken at this meeting. This is not our work. God has brought
it about. Instruction regarding this was presented to me, but until
the sum was worked out at this meeting I could not comprehend this
instruction. God’s angels have been walking up and down in this
congregation. I want every one of you to remember this, and I want