Message of Minneapolis

The influence of the Minneapolis Conference in 1888 reached the college. Ellen White worked diligently that the message the Lord had given at Minneapolis would be heard at Battle Creek. Some six weeks after the conference session, the week of Prayer planned for the church in Battle Creek December 15-22 ended up lasting one month. Ellen White described that in these “revival services... the principle topic dwelt upon was justification by faith.” (RH2/12/1889, in 3Bio420).DHF 3.3

On Thursday, December 20, Ellen White wrote in her diary, “I spoke to the college students. The Lord gave me the word which seemed to reach hearts. Professor Prescott arose and attempted to speak, but his heart was too full. There he stood five minutes in complete silence, weeping. When he did speak he said, ‘I am glad I am a Christian.’ He made very pointed remarks. His heart seemed to be broken by the Spirit of the Lord....” (Ms25, 1888, in 3Bio421). Prescott’s response to the Spirit’s moving is heart warming.DHF 4.1

Speaking further of the Scriptural light the Lord had given through brothers Jones and Waggoner, Ellen White wrote on March 10, 1890, “I am much pleased to learn that Professor Prescott is giving the same lessons in his class to the students that Brother Waggoner has been giving. He is presenting the covenants.” (Letter 30, 1890, in 1888 Materials, p. 623).DHF 4.2

Later that year, Ellen White described the “wonderful” December 27 Sabbath meeting. “Nearly the whole congregation presented themselves for prayers, and among them, Brethren Prescott and Smith. The Extra in the Review and Herald [Dec. 23, 1890] was read, and the testimony of all was that the power of God attended the reading of the article. They said that this made a deep impression.... Professor Prescott made a confession dating back to Minneapolis, and this made a deep im-pression. He wept much. Elder Smith said that testimony meant him; said that he felt that it was addressed to him, but he stopped there and went no further. But both placed themselves as there repentant, seeking the Lord. Well, they said they had never had such a meeting in Battle Creek, and yet the work must be carried on, for it was just begun....” (Lt 32, 1891, in 1888 Materials, pp. 850, 851)DHF 4.3

The message continued to do its work against stiff opposition. Both A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner were finally allowed to lecture at Battle Creek College. Prescott, gradually seeing more and more light in the Christ-centered message, worked hard as a peace-maker and consensus builder between the opposing parties. After Ellen White was exiled to Australia in 1891, her writings on the message kept the Spirit’s appeal before the church. In the November 22, 1892 Review and Herald, she wrote, “The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth. For it is the work of every one to whom the message of warning has come, to lift up Jesus, to present him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in symbols, as manifested in the revelations of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given to his disciples and in the wonderful miracles wrought for the sons of men.” (1888 Material, p. 1073).DHF 4.4

The effect of this article on the college, along with other timely testimonies from Ellen White, led to a vigorous revival. The rest of the school term was disrupted by long chapels, seasons of prayer and confession, and times of testimonies. Prescott, in reading a letter from Ellen White to the students, was moved to tears, and confessed again his previous resistance to the message. Sadly, Uriah Smith viewed the events as “excitement.” Thus the spiritual consensus the church greatly needed was never experienced (Fred Bischoff, “W. W. Prescott, Messenger of God’s Invitation, ‘Come, for all things are now ready...’”, Lest We Forget, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 3, 4).DHF 5.1