The Closing of the Southern Field

(The assertion has been widely made that the Testimonies state that our work will first be closed in the South. I think this is not true. No one whom I have requested to produce the reference has been able to find it. None of Sister White's helpers know of it. When I was at Sister White's home in 1913, I made a careful search of all the Testimonies on the Southern work, and failed to find this statement. Without saying who was first responsible for it, I think I am correct in ascribing the belief to a careless reading of a statement made by Sister White at the General Conference of 1901, in Battle Creek, Mich., a statement to be found on page 482 of the General Conference Bulletin of that year. I give here a passage containing this statement, which I have underscored. A. W. S.)SpM 371.1

I know not how to describe the way in which the Southern field has been presented to me. In this field thousands and thousands of people are living in wickedness and corruption, and they are right within the shadow of our doors. That field bears testimony to the neglect of a people who should have been wide awake to work for the Master, but who have done scarcely anything in this field. A little work has been done there, we have touched the field with the tip ends of our fingers, but not one-thousandth part of the work has been done that should be done. God calls upon his people to stand in a right position before him, to heed the light given ten or fifteen years ago—that the abused, down-trodden people of the South were to be labored for and helped. We have tried to lay this burden upon our people. But they need not carry it all themselves. There are many not of our faith who will willingly help a work for the uplifting of humanity.SpM 371.2

The time is coming when the Southern field will be closed, locked up. But this is not yet the case. One place where the work was commenced was closed against the workers; and because of this the word went forth, the Southern field is closed; no more money will be needed for that work. But is this the way in which the Saviour worked? When one city was closed against him, did he say that his work on earth was done? Had he done this, what would have become of us? When he was driven from one place, he went to another, and he has left us the direction, “When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.” When your life is in danger, go to another city, and when they persecute you there, go to yet another place: “For verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man be come.” Shall we not take this advice?SpM 371.3

Ellen G. White.