IN THE INTEREST OF THE SDA DENOMINATION

"The Twelve Tribes Which are Scattered Abroad"

This little paper is dedicated for the conveyance of news items and reformatory activities to Present Truth believers; to answer questions in connection with the sealing message of the 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-8) and the great multitude (Rev. 7:9); on the prophecies of Isaiah, Zechariah, Zephaniah, Micah, Hosea, Joel, Daniel, the Revelation, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, etc., bur more fully on the first eight books above mentioned; on Christ's parables, on types and symbols, and also on the writings of Mrs. E.G. White.

However, this monthly visitor promises to answer questions on such passages of the Scriptures only as have been divinely revealed and authoritatively proclaimed -- bearing the positive mark of truth. Therefore, it will either give a correct answer to questions or else confess its ignorance by saying "I do not know."

Its main object is to reveal the fact that the time has come for the Lord to manifest His power and unify, and purify the church of God -- calling her to rise up from her dusty bed and put on her strength and her gift of beautiful garments, because "from henceforth" the unclean shall not come unto her. (Isa. 52:1.) Therefore, it positively demands that the messengers of "the great and dreadful day of the Lord," under its supervision, must strictly comply with all its requirements, instructions and advice which it bears to them from time to time. It will not countenance those who ignore its divine authority -- the church is to be a light to the whole world -- fair as the moon, -- clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. Isa. 62:1-7; Prophets and Kings, p. 725.

The symbols on the title page are a reproduction of the Revelation, chapters Twelve and Nine, and Isaiah 7:21, which symbols are explained in our available literature.

This monthly comforter gladly calls on all S.D.A.'s who open their doors and welcome its visit. It freely gives its time to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation and neither collects fees nor makes charges for its unselfish service. It lives on voluntary gifts and free will offerings -- it burdens no one and comforts all. Its constant prayer is that all its clients should prosper and be in health even as their souls prospereth. (III John 2.)

Make your questions plain and distinct, giving the references, and they shall be taken care of as soon as their turn on the waiting line permits.

If you like to have this printed friend come to your home regularly, also other free literature, send your name and address to the Universal Publishing Association, Symbolic Code Department, Mount Carmel Center, Lake Waco, Texas.

V.T. HOUTEFF

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The old devil well knows that this is the last message the world will ever receive and that it will chain him for a thousand years and at last reduce his being down to ashes as though he never was. Therefore, he is like a "roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." Hence, because we can not be too cautious of his snares or too particular in following "the Lamb whither-soever He goeth," I am sending this warning.

The apostle's council, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall," shows that we who have the message and full assurance to receive "the seal of God" and to live forever are in the same danger as the ancient Jews who, for being the direct descendants of Abraham and perfectly satisfied that the promise was theirs, were found off guard and lost the kingdom! Having their example before us we should be wide awake lest we, too, be devoured by the old roaring dragon.

Satan is suggesting to some in certain sections of the field that they are doing more for the cause of truth than some others and that those who may be doing less are reaping the benefits of their labors instead of they themselves.

If this be so, and if they have fully trusted in the One Whose the vineyard is instead of in the stewards of His means for their reward, they should be the happier, for the fact that He Who said, "The laborer is worthy of his hire," will more abundantly reward them than we could ever do even at our best.

"Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend You to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to then, that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him." (The Acts 20:31-35, 37.)

You know that Satan is on one hand determined to multiply the "tares" among the "wheat" and Christ on the other hand to keep them out. It is especially true at this time while He is "taking the reins in His own hands;" and as He is assuring us now, after the period of time while "men slept" is almost over, that "there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean" (Isa. 52: 1), His promise will become a reality -- He will send into His vineyard only those who will by

their works openly acknowledge by complying with His commission that they completely trust in Him -- "provide neither gold nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves," (Matt. 10:9,10.)

Says the Spirit of Prophecy: "Only those who have withstood and overcome temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming this message when it shall have swelled into the "Loud Cry." -- "Review and Herald," Nov. 19, 1908.

God has placed me in a most responsible position, and realizing my human weakness and inability to correctly perform my duties even in the least important place in His service I cannot afford to deviate from His holy command even an inch whether others do or not, and though some think that I am to blame for them not being engaged in the work, I can only go as far as He leads me. Therefore, if it is not they themselves alone to blame, by wrongly placing the blame upon me they are murmuring against Christ instead of against me.

Though they are not in this office to see that if we offer any kind of financial assistance before men get into the harness and go to work and prove themselves that they are trustworthy of Christ's service and that they are called by Him, it is true that we would be so busy hiring men for the work that we would have no time for anything else at all. But you know, my brethren, that among them there will be a multitude of men that will not for souls, but for "hire" go to work -- a class whose service Christ can not accept. Moreover, such a program will require a capital of no small sum of money whereas, we have nothing, and the fact that we do not have it proves that Christ wants us to go into His vineyard without gold, silver, or brass, and as we who did start on this basis have lacked "nothing" (Lu. 22:35) our experience evidences the fact that He gives us "our daily bread." (Matt. 6:11.)

Our work is too great for any man, or a group of men, and the harvest field is wide enough for "two hundred thousand thousand...horsemen" (Rev. 9:16), whereas the laborers just now are very, very few, and most of our brethren do not realize what it takes to carry on the work. They think that the tithe which comes here is supposed to provide our temporal necessities only and that we are having one great, grand time, but were they in our place, most of them would not bear under the trying circumstances even for a month.

We as S.D.A.'s by being "robbed and spoiled" placed an unauthoritative halo of sacredness around the tithe, making it appear that it must be spent for nothing else

but to feed, house, and clothe the ministers who are not only taking the tithe but the offerings and the institutional incomes also, and we all with one consent and without a question, as blind as bats on a bright sunny day, got under the load and raised all the goals; but now in "the unrolling of the scroll," while our eyes have been opened, some are going into another extreme; and as Satan by the leading men in the S.D.A. denomination pulled the wool over our eyes while he had the denomination in his grip by head and foot urged us then to give everything we have, now by his wicked suggestions is urging those who have embraced Present Truth to withhold their means! His urging them to be liberal in the former and his suggestions of stinginess in the latter all the more proves that the denomination has sold out to him, and that we have the truth of the hour. Then, too, by over urging us in the former place to produce the bricks, and causing the conferences to misuse the means, be has been robbing God's people of their strength, whereas now in the latter place by suggesting to those who have embraced Present Truth to withhold their means is an attempt to blockade the proclamation of the sealing message and to rob God's people of it, too. Thus in both instances he has attempted to weaken Christ's line of defense and to strengthen his own.

Our offering receipts are very small, whereas our work requires much greater means in proportion than that of the denomination for the fact that we have nothing in the line of equipment and now we must buy and build everything we need to carry the message to the church. Besides, we are distributing five tracts, "The Symbolic Code," and most of the books, etc., all free of charge, whereas the denomination takes everything and gives nothing -- we had to pay them for all the papers to do our missionary work, and a good price, too, and still they run short of means.

Had we pressed our brethren who have embraced Present Truth to provide all the means by which to carry on the work but to feed us, they would have to give a second tithe, not only a tenth of their income but more than twice that, and before they accept the message, too, for we, had to start without any following at all. Consequently, had we waited on them, the work would have never begun. Therefore, I along with Sister Charboneau and Sister Hermanson were compelled to do everything we could possibly do to spread the message and to make the interest grow, but about three years later, when a few converts finally took a firm stand and began to pay their tithe toward the advancement of Present Truth, if I had said, "No, the tithe is sacred -- it is only for my own

use and for the use of the two sisters who helped in pioneering this work," the message would not have advanced at all and the people who now rejoice in the Truth would have been yet in darkness, and besides, the tithe which the treasury of Present Truth now receives, the opposers of the message would have taken and used as a whip to prevent the sealing of the saints.

Some of our brethren think that we are getting enough tithe to feed the workers and pay for Mt. Carmel's tract of land, build the "camp," etc., and are now zealously sending their objections and instructions as to how we should spend it as though they know more about it than those whom God has placed at the head of the work and Whose instructions only they must follow. They think that it should be used only for the support of the workers but they never offer to send some of their means beside the tithe with which to pay for the land, to put up the necessary buildings, and to purchase office and farm equipment. No, not even for either the cost of printing the free literature or postage for its distribution nor for our correspondence, etc.

We would perhaps be perfectly satisfied if these brethren would send us some of their money with which to pay for these things so that we would use no tithe, but instead, some of them even hesitate to send in their tithe under pretense of fear that we may spend part of it on something besides feeding and clothing the workers or ministers. But let them do their part first before they ask us to stop doing our part, for the Lord's work anticipates neither retreat nor tardiness, although it may take our tithes or offerings, bank accounts, houses, or lands, or all, yea, even our very lives. Regardless of what it takes, we must proclaim "the great and dreadful day of the Lord."

On one hand they accuse us of misusing the tithe, and on the other hand they are robbing God by using it on themselves! Suppose we are wrong, would our mistakes make them right? If I had not been a tithe-payer they would have been justified not to give heed to a message under my signature, but would they not be also justified to pay no attention to their supposed wise counsel if they withhold the Lord's tithe and use it on themselves?

Still further, we can freely say that the tithe has not been sufficient to take care of every need connected with the work, neither are the offerings for the free literature and the correspondence, and as a consequence I have gone into debt, and God has made it possible for the work to go on uninterrupted, and it may do their souls good to know that as yet we have not spent one cent from the tithe towards the purchase of the tract of land,

and if they like to have us pay for it with something else besides tithe, they may send us $7,000 with which to pay that which is against it and I am sure we would not disappoint their heart's desire by refusing to accept their free-will offerings for this worthy enterprise. However, if those who are determined to have us lavish all the tithe on the workers' upkeep only rather than to spend a part for the land on which to build this needed "camp" for the benefit of both -- ministers and laity -- would thoroughly examine their motives, I am sure that they will find themselves raising the banner of the sealing message on a pole of "selfishness" instead of on Calvary's Cross!

Make sure, my brethren, that you be not found among those of whom God called the prophet's attention, saying: "Thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them. as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come.) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them." (Ezek. 33:30-33.)

"Paul was an inspired apostle. yet the Lord did not reveal to him at all times just the condition of His people. Those who were interested in the prosperity of the church, and saw evils creeping in, presented the matter before him, and from the light which be had previously received, he was prepared to judge of the true character of these developments. Because the Lord had not given him a new revelation for that special time, those who were really seeking light did not cast his message aside as only a common letter. No, indeed. The Lord had shown him the difficulties and dangers which would arise in the churches, that when they should develop, he might know just how to treat them.

"He was set for the defense of the church; he was to watch for souls as one that must render account to God: and should he not take notice of the reports concerning their state of anarchy and division? Most assuredly; and the reproof he sent them was written just as much under the inspiration of the Spirit of God as were any of his epistles. But when these reproofs came, some would not be corrected. They took the

position that God had not spoken to them through Paul, that he had merely given them his opinion as a man, and they regarded their own judgment as good as that of Paul. So it is with many among our people who have drifted away from the old landmarks, and who have followed their own understanding. "When this position is taken by our people, then the special warnings and counsels of God through the Spirit of Prophecy can have no influence with them to work a reformation in life and character." -- "Testimonies for the Church," Vol. 5, pp. 684, 685.

"'Why have not these ministers been reproved, when we are following their teachings?'" some asked. "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." -- "Testimonies for the Church," Vol. 1, pp. 233, 234.

Think of it, my brethren. These testimonies were written by the one who founded the denomination and though they were told, "The testimonies either bear the signet of God or that of Satan" (5 T 98), they did not believe them, and by so doing they were not only disobeying God but also calling the founder of their own denomination

a liar and still they remained in it! Shall some of you now after having seen the results of unbelief repeat their mistakes.

I would advise you, my brethren, not to permit any evil, selfish motives to enter into your hearts, or any suggestions urging you to watch those whom God has given their own work, for He has left no one in charge of them save the recording angel, and when He finally comes to reckon with His servants He will call neither on you nor on me to verify or pass on His decision. However, Satan will try all of you to the limit, and if you watch yourselves you will have your hands full without taking time to see what others do.

Satan will have you busy, if he can, watching others that you may forget or have no time to watch yourselves. He, by pointing to the mistakes and errors of those who are not led by God's Spirit, would have you in constant fear that even those whom God is leading Himself will make a mistake. Thus endeavoring to keep you blind of the mistakes that you have either already made or are about to make, thereby not only leading you into eternal ruin but also hindering the work of God by taking up the time of His servants to iron out difficulties within their own ranks. Therefore, give him no occasion to hinder God's servants from laboring for those who need to know the truth.

Of this class of workers Christ says: "They will question and criticize everything that arises in the unfolding of truth, criticize the work and position of others, criticize every branch of the work in which they have not themselves a part. They will feed upon the errors and mistakes and faults of others, 'until', said the angel, 'The Lord Jesus shall rise up from His mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary, and shall clothe Himself with the garments of vengeance, and surprise them at their unholy feast; and they will find themselves unprepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb.' Their taste has been so perverted that they would be inclined to criticize even the table of the Lord in His kingdom." -- "Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 690.

We claim to be reformers--calling the brethren's attention to their slackness in following the teachings of the Spirit of Prophecy--but shall we on one hand criticize them for their unbelief and on the other hand we ourselves do what we would have them repent of?

You who are ready to enter into the Lord's vineyard with the "mattock" to dig up the "thorns and briers" will find much to do. Therefore, enter into his service without gold, silver, or brass; that is, spend all you have, then call on Him and He will take care of you by the tithe which is His

own, and if we fail in our duty He will take our stewardship from us and give it to others who would not waste or misuse His money; and if the tithe should fail, he may send a raven with some food or perhaps take you to some widow's house, and if these means also fail to provide, He has plenty of mamma in heaven with which to feed you for the rest of your life. Yes, He can even send an angel with "a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water," and bid you, "Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee," and if He sees fit, He can make it possible for you to go "in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God" where you can obtain some more. (1 Kings 19:7, 8.)

At any rate, if you are true to Him He will not let you starve though the world may. Sell all and "give to the poor"; that is, to those who are destitute of the message and who are about to perish for lack of knowledge." Will you, too, my brethren, who have "great possessions" go "away sorrowful"? (Matt. 19:22)

"I saw that some of the people of God are stupid and dormant, and but half awake; they do not realize the time we are now living in, and that the man with the 'dirt brush' has entered, and that some are in danger of being swept away. I begged of Jesus to save them, to spare them a little longer, and let them see their awful danger, that they might get ready before it should be forever too late. The angel said, Destruction is coming like a mighty whirlwind. I begged of the angel to pity and to save those who loved this world, who, were attached to their possessions, and were not willing to cut loose from them, and sacrifice to speed the messengers on their way to feed the hungry sheep who were perishing for want of spiritual food.

"As I viewed poor souls dying for want of the present truth, and some who professed to believe the truth were letting them die by withholding the necessary means to carry forward the work of God, the sight was too painful, and I begged of the angel to remove it from me. I saw that when the cause of God called for some of their property, like the young man who came to Jesus (Matt. 19:16-22), they went away sorrowful; and that soon the overflowing scourge would pass over and sweep their possessions all away, and then it would be too late to sacrifice earthly goods, and lay up a treasure in heaven." -- "Early Writings," pp. 48, 49.

This invitation is yours: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30.)

Ten tithe paying converts will yield as much tithe as the whole income of one of them and if they can live on that much you can, too, and if It should take twice as much for your living as it does for their's, all you would need to do is to go and win ten more tithe paying souls. Then as long as you are in Christ's service and in nothing else, and as long as your twenty converts remain faithful and true tithe payers you will have a steady income. I know not of an easier way for making a living than this. Do you? Neither is there any doubt at all for having this much success in winning souls to Christ if your hearts are right with God and if you are working for souls and for the advancement of His Kingdom instead of for "loaves and fishes" and for self-exaltation. Thus entering into Christ's service will be your credentials -- an evidence that God has approved of your conception of the truth, accepted your service, and that you have made "your calling and election sure."

A SIGN OF RETREAT

The church standing in the valley of this exalted hill is loudly blowing her own retiring trumpet, unwittingly declaring that the Third Angel's Message is taken away from her! Therefore, with a broken heart Mt. Carmel looks down upon the desolate spot as did her "lowly" King when He wept upon Mt. Olivet as He looked down upon ancient Jerusalem--repeating the memorized words:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Matt. 28:37-39.)

The welcome sign which had been hanging on the walls of this little church at the foot of Mt. Carmel for many years, was replaced by another which read thus:

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given to the public that all public meetings in this church have been indefinitely suspended. All meetings held in this church until further notice will be private called meetings. Admittance to these private meetings by invitation from the Pastor only.

Signed

The Church Board
B.L. Hassenpflug
Pastor--Chairman

This card:

being handed to its loyal but spiritually blinded members only, they presented to the watchmen at the door and were permitted entrance while those who were deprived of a card were barred out on the pretense that the Sabbath meetings were private, for members only, by which means they secured the law on their side and kept out all who showed any sympathy toward the teachings of "The Shepherd's Rod"!

Nevertheless, while the castouts were sitting in the little public park, only a few yards from the church entrance, and discussing their Sabbath School lesson, the conference president and the pastor of the church influenced the poor, hungry, and closely-sheared sheep to vote out one brother for confessing that "The Shepherd's Rod" is based on the "law and the testimony," and another brother for refusing to discontinue visiting a "Shepherd's Rod" believing family which has been a prominent member of the Waco S.D.A. church for sometime, and had the grown son and wife of this particular brother been in church that Sabbath we believe they would have been disfellowshipped also, for they are in sympathy with the father. Though we are on one hand as sorrowful for the little church as the father of the prodigal was, yet on the other hand we are happy and thankful to our heavenly Father for hearing our prayer against the prayers of those who are by force robbing us of our church properties, for as a reward that very morning by adding these latest castouts to our group and on the Lord's side He weakened the forces of the enemy and strengthened His.

Thus, as usual, regardless of what one may attempt to do against the Truth, he can only promote its righteous cause of which fact the Spirit of God, looking forward to this time, prompted David to say:

"Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, when God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain." (Ps. 76:8-10.)

We are down-hearted when we think of these sad experiences, for had we not seen these Pharisaical actions with our own