First “Testimony” in Tract Form

The moving of the Review office and the printing press from Rochester, New York, to Battle Creek, Michigan, in the fall of 1855, marked the beginning of an important era in the work of Sabbathkeeping Adventists. In November, a number of leading brethren gathered in Battle Creek to consider the advancement of the work. They saw many encouraging features to cheer their hearts, but they were deeply burdened because of the manifest loss of spiritual zeal among the believers.EGWMR 62.4

The report of the conference states that Monday, November 19, was spent—EGWMR 62.5

“In prayer, and remarks, and confessions relative to the evident departure of the remnant from the spirit of the message, and the humble, straightforward course taken by those who first embraced it. Strong desires were expressed and fervent prayers were offered to Heaven for the return of the spirit of consecration, sacrifice, and holiness once enjoyed by the remnant.”—Review and Herald, December 4, 1855.EGWMR 62.6

At this time, while the hearts of the leading brethren were burdened in behalf of the church body, and were seeking Heaven for a revival of power, the Lord chose to send them an answer in a very signal manner. At the close of the meeting a vision was given to Ellen White, regarding which she afterward wrote:EGWMR 62.7

“November 20, 1855, while in prayer, the Spirit of the Lord came suddenly and powerfully upon me, and I was taken off in vision. I saw that the Spirit of the Lord has been dying away from the church.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:113.EGWMR 62.8

This vision plainly pointed out some of the reasons for the sad conditions in the church which had urged the brethren to this season of prayer. The vision was written out, and the question arose as to how it should be made available to the believers who were addressed. Six leading men who were present when the vision was given expressed their conviction in the following words:EGWMR 62.9

“We, the undersigned, being eyewitnesses when the above vision was given, deem it highly necessary that it should be published, for the benefit of the church, on account of the important truths and warnings which it contains [italics ours].EGWMR 63.1

“[Signed] Jos. Bates
M. E. Cornell
J. H. Waggoner
J. Hart
G. W. Amadon
Uriah Smith.”

—Testimony for the Church [No. 1, 1855], 8.

The following Sabbath evening, this important testimony was read to the members of the Battle Creek church, and it was unanimously voted by those present that it should be published and thus be made available to the entire body of believers. The matter was set in type, and together with some other testimony matter, was printed on the hand press and bound up as the first “Testimony,” in the form of a sixteen-page tract. The following topics were covered: “Thy Brother’s Keeper,” “Time to Begin the Sabbath,” “Opposers of the Truth,” “Parental Responsibility,” “Faith in God,” “The Messenger Party,” “Prepare to Meet the Lord.”EGWMR 63.2

Only a few hundred copies were printed, and these were distributed without charge. Many copies were sent out by mail, and Mrs. White inserted the following notice in the Review:EGWMR 63.3

“I have sent out (postpaid) to brethren in different States about 150 copies of ‘Testimony for the Church.’ It can be had by addressing me at Battle Creek, Mich. I shall be happy to hear from those who may receive it. Those who would encourage the circulation of such matter can do so by assisting in its publication.”—The Review and Herald, December 18, 1855.EGWMR 63.4

Little did anyone realize, at that time, that this small pamphlet was the first of a series of Testimonies for the Church, which would, in the course of fifty-five years, amount to nearly five thousand pages.EGWMR 63.5