CHRIST'S LAST LEGION Second Volume of a History of Seventh-day Adventists Covering the Years 1901-1948 1 "Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the. weak things of the world to confound •the things which are mighty;: and the: base things of the world, and things which are despised, ha.th God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. aS7 Christ's Last Legion SECOND VOLUME OF A HISTORY OF SEVENTI-[-DAY ADVENTISTS, COVERING THE YEARS 190I-1948 By Arthur Whitefield Spalding Author of Footprints of the Pioneers, Camping With the J.M.V.'s, Christian Storytelling, and other books. Co-au- thor • of the Parents' Manual Series. N. E. SAN Y. P. SOC. `' •REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, D.C. NEW ENGLAND SANITARUM CHURCH. M. V. SOCI_ET)(„>--- COPYRIGHT, 1949, BY THE REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSN. WASHINGTON, D.C. PRINTED IN U.S.A. DEDICATION To the fathers and mothers of the children of faith, Who have borne the burden and heat of the day And have not wearied or grown faint, Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing Of our God and OUT Saviour Jesus Christ; Who have nurtured their little ones and taught their youth, Instilling. in them the divine passion of love And training them up in the service of God; Who have willingly pierced their hearts In the sacrifice of their loved ones for the saving of men the world around; Upon whom have rested light and glory from the throne of God As in humility and shining faith They have developed in human souls the likeness of the divine And given hostages to eternity. MU. ST R. R N. HARRY ANDERSON. ARTIST It Ts the Last Hour. "The Work That Centuries Might Have Done, Must Crowd the Hours of Setting Sun FOREWORD WITH this second and last volume of a history of Seventh- day Adventists, a further explanation is desirable. The beginning and early growth of the movement, which were covered in volume 1, were comparatively easy to portray, because they were small and simple. It was like tracing the course and development of a stream: first a spring, then a rill, a creek, a river, entering, indeed, broader valleys, embracing a larger area, but far from covering the earth. The simple annals of a cause that at first moved about with its carriers; and that only gradually assumed greater complexity, could be kept more or less in the channel of a flowing narrative, and most of its prominent leaders brought into view. But the history of this church in its second half century presents to the chronicler a very different problem. It is no longer a single stream with a few tributaries; it has become the world-girdling ocean, into which pour thousands of rivers, an ocean with its seas and hays and straits, its far-sweeping currents, its storms and calms, its tempestuous trials, and its snug harbors of relief. NVith the new vision and a resolution to compass the earth speedily with the last gospel message, a vision and a resolution which took form at the General Conference of 1901, and which witfi every succeeding con- vocation have received an accession of energy, implementation, and resource that carried them beyond the comprehension of a single mind, this history has burst the bounds of a confining volume. If space were to be given to the record of the church in the present half century proportionate to that of the pre- ceding fifty-five years, there would be ten volumes instead of one. Obviously this cannot be. The only recourse, then, is condensation, selection, and omission. We must be content, as we sail these broad waters, to point out the general con- -7 8 Christ's Last Legion formation, to call attention to its most salient features, to chart this channel and that landmark, and for romantic color that heightens interest to recite the occasional story of a sighted land and people. - This limitation is particularly observable in the section "The Field," where in each continent or area the history of forty years is compressed into a single chapter. Instead of a chapter, a volume is needed. Of course some phases of the development of such fields are dealt with in other sections, so that the microfilm is enlarged upon the screen; yet the interested student must seek in local and more expansive works the' complete history of any particular field. Scores and hundreds of Christian workers in this modern church movement receive here no mention, though they are every whit as worthy as some who are named. The record cannot consist wholly of the rolls of heroes:, they are recorded . in the books of God. The aim is not to celebrate men but to portray a cause. Two objectives have been kept in mind: first, to give sufficient data to make this a reliable history, even if in some cases -dryly statistical; second, to create, through narration of missionary exploits, an atmosphere of the romance of God's work which will help to inspire young men and women to live, and if need.be to die, for it. This plan makes for uneven treatment: some enterprises and some persons receive dispro- portionate notice. But here is given the reason. Again it is to be acknowledged that in -philosophy and style this book is not a historian's history. While it seeks to avoid undue bias. it neither claims nor tries to be detached and disinterested. It is the story of a cause written for the champions of a cause. The author feels the warmth of hiS subject, and employs the• language of his people. He cannot use the scientist's cold measurements, or offer his subject a sacrifice on. the altar of comparative religion. It is his pro- found conviction that this truth and this crusade contain the essence of the last gospel message. That people whom Foreword 9 God makes the spearhead of His final assault upon the works of the devil must be iron, not oil. No effort has been made to tell in detail of the work of other churches or missionary societies, whether antecedent or contemporary with our own. For a balanced view of Chris- tian missions, that indeed would be, highly desirable, indeed indispensable; and its observance is recommended to stu- dents. But the limitations of space prevent recital here. This is a history, not of all Christian churches - and missions, but of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its missionary activities. If the effect is that of the map of a particular rail- way, whose heavy lines appear to be the shortest distance between two points, while the lines of other railroads are faint and devious, it is the penalty of keeping a- single eye. - The heroic service of the pioneers and of their successors in Christian missions elicits the admiration and gratitude of all who follow. No earthly praise, however sincere and true. can do justice to the consecration, fortitude, learning, and achievements of the great army of Christ's who have given their all to. His mission outside the lands of their nativity. None more than they would rejoice at the evidence now appearing-of the approach of that great day of God, which is the . culmination of all Christian hope and toils. For thou- sands of years; generation after generation has seen the army of God recruited from among those who have heard the Word of life and who have believed. Now, in this last time, the final call is given, and the last of the legions of Christ is called to the colors. There is no intent to claim that Seventh-day Adventists are the only people. of God, or that they alone constitute Christ's Last Legion. That distinction is conferred, not by profession of faith, but by demonstration of life. In every land and in every communion God numbers His legionnaires, and through them all He accomplishes His divine purpose. Yet there is the sound of a trumpet, and there is a banner to which to rally. Before the final triumphant assault Christ's 10 Christ's Last Legion army will be united in mind and in rank, alive and militant with the power of God. There is no time and there is no action to waste. In the face of the transcendent issue of a world coming swiftly to the judgment seat of Christ, all controversy, all compromise, all evasion, all ecclesiastical pride, must give way before the herald's cry: "Prepare to meet your God!" ARTHUR W. SPALDING. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In addition to the prime movers in the project of writing this history, who are named in the first volume, my grateful thanks are due to the following persons, who have for this second volume furnished information either by document or by personal testimony, or who have read manuscript and given their prepublication criticisms in those parts in which they are authorities, thus contributing to its accuracy: G. K. Abbott, Wesley Amundsen, J. N. Anderson, W. H. Anderson, E. E. Andross, Matilda Erickson Andross, J. H. Apigian, F. G. Ashbaugh, Mrs. A. E. Ashod, E. Bethmann, C. Lester Bond, W. P. Bradley, Floyd Bralliar, Henry F. Brown, B. C. Butler, Arthur Carnig, Leon L. Caviness, Agnes Lewis Caviness, L.