I was shown the course of H and I. Although
reproved, they have not corrected their wrongs. The people of
God, especially in the State of New York, have been affected
by their wrong course. Their influence has been injurious to
the cause of God. For the last ten years they have been often
presented before me in vision, their wrongs have been shown me,
and I have written to them concerning these things. But they
were careful to conceal from their brethren the fact that they
had been reproved, fearing it would have a tendency to destroy
their influence. Those who were affected by their wrong course,
should have been benefited by the reproofs which they received.
I should have placed these messages in the hands of judicious
brethren in the church, that if necessary, all might understand
the instruction the Lord saw fit to give His people. But when
I related the messages given me for these brethren to anyone
but themselves, they censured me in the most unsparing manner.
This caused me so much suffering of mind that I have been led
to conceal what the Lord has given me in regard to the wrongs
of individuals.
It was pride of heart which led these brethren
to manifest so much fear lest others should know that they had
been corrected. If they had humbly confessed their wrongs to
the church, they would have acted out the faith they professed
to have in the visions, and the church would have been strengthened
to receive correction and confess their faults. These teachers
stood in the way of the flock. They set them a wrong example,
and the church have looked to them, and when reproved have inquired:
"Why have not these ministers been reproved, when we are
following their teachings?" A door has thus been opened
for Satan to tempt them as to the truthfulness of the visions.
The brethren have been deceived and wronged.
They believed that we were in union with these teachers, and
followed their instructions, when they were
all wrong. I have written to these ministers in anguish of spirit
as I have seen the cause of God wounded by their injudicious
course. How anxiously have I watched the effect of these messages.
But they laid them aside, and the brethren were not permitted
to know anything about them, therefore could not be benefited
by the instructions which the Lord saw fit to give.
My labor has been most discouraging, as
I have seen that what God designed has not been accomplished.
Often I have inquired in distress: Of what account is all my
labor? These brethren took this position: We believe the visions,
but Sister White, in writing them, put in her own words, and
we will believe that portion which we think is of God, and will
not heed the other. This course they have pursued, and have not
corrected their lives. They have professed to believe the visions,
but have acted contrary to them. Their example and influence
have raised doubts in the minds of others. It would have been
better for the cause of present truth had they both opposed the
gifts. Then the people would not have been deceived, and would
not have stumbled over these blind teachers. We have hoped and
prayed that they might get right, and exert a good influence
upon the flock; but hope has died, and we cannot, dare not, hold
our peace longer. We have wronged the church of God, in that
we have not spoken out before.