第20章 致玛丽？怀特
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第20章 致玛丽?怀特
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Chapter 20—To Mary White
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《信函》1888年第82号W-82-18881888年11月4日写于明尼苏达州明尼阿波利斯
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Minneapolis, Minn. Nov. 4, 1888
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亲爱的女儿玛丽：Dear daughter Mary:
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我们的聚会结束了。我上个安息日讲了最后一次道。会众中似乎第一次有了相当大的感触。虽然教堂里挤得满满的，我还是召他们到前面来祷告。有相当多的人到前面来了。主给了我恳求的灵，祂的福气也临到了我身上。我今天早上没有出去聚会。这次集会成了最辛苦的一次聚会，因为威利和我不得不警醒注意每一点，免得通过有害于将来工作的行动和决议。{1888 182.1}
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Our meeting is closed. I have on last Sabbath given my last discourse. There seemed to be considerable feeling in the congregation for the first time. I called them forward for prayers although the church was densely packed. Quite a number came forward. The Lord gave me the spirit of supplication and His blessing came upon me. I did not go out to meeting this morning, This has been a most laborious meeting, for Willie and I have had to watch at every point lest there should be moves made, resolutions passed, that would prove detrimental to the future work. {1888 182.1}
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我非常自由地讲了近二十次，我们相信这次会议能导致极大的益处。我们不知道将来，但我们感到耶稣在掌舵，我们的航船必不会失事。我的勇气和信心一直很好，没有灰心，尽管我们曾经历了前所未有的最艰难最不可思议的激烈较量。我若不长篇累牍地写，就无法把这事说清楚；所以我最好还是不要说了。{1888 182.2}
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I have spoken nearly twenty times with great freedom and we believe that this meeting will result in great good. We know not the future but we feel that Jesus stands at the helm and we shall not be shipwrecked. My courage and faith has been good and has not failed me, notwithstanding we have had the hardest and most incomprehensible tug of war we have ever had among our people. The matter cannot be explained by pen unless I should write many, many pages; so I had better not undertake the job. {1888 182.2}
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奥尔森弟兄将任总会会长，堪萨斯州的丹?琼斯作他的助手。赫斯格长老将代任到奥尔森弟兄从欧洲回来。我说不出将来可能如何，但我们要留在巴特尔克里克四周左右，出版一份现在就应面世不可迟延的证言。然后我们就能看到在工作的大中心事情如何进展。我们决定本着敬畏上帝的心竭尽所能地在这个非常时刻帮助我们的人。{1888 182.3}
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Elder Olsen is to be president of the General Conference and Brother Dan Jones of Kansas is to help him. Elder Haskell will serve until Brother Olsen shall come from Europe. I cannot tell what the future may reveal, but we shall remain for about four weeks in B.C. and get out a testimony that should come out just now without 183delay. Then we can see how matters move at the great center of the work. We are determined to do all we can in the fear of God to help our people in this emergency. {1888 182.3}
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一个病人的心思控制了总会委员会，传道人成了巴特勒长老的影子和应声虫，以为他的心思是健康的，是有益于圣工的。猜忌、恶意的猜测、嫉妒一直在象酵一样起作用，直到全团似乎都发起来了。{1888 183.1}
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A sick man’s mind has had a controlling power over the General Conference Committee and the ministers have been the shadow and echo of Elder Butler about as long as it is healthy and for the good of the cause. Envy, evil surmisings, jealousies have been working like leaven until the whole lump seemed to be leavened. {1888 183.1}
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我们认为巴特勒长老任职三年已经太久，不再存谦卑与谦让之心。他认为他的地位给了他权柄，使他的话万无一失。很难让我们的弟兄摆脱这种思想。他的情形会难于处理，但我们信赖上帝。{1888 183.2}
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Elder Butler, we think, has been in office three years too long and now all humility and lowliness of mind have departed from him. He thinks his position gives him such power that his voice is infallible. To get this off from the minds of our brethren has been a difficult matter. His case will be difficult to handle but we trust in God. {1888 183.2}
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威利到几公里外的明尼哈哈瀑布去了——头一次有片刻时间离开公务——委员会，委员会，委员会。他还没有回来。{1888 183.3}
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Willie has gone a few miles to Minnehaha Falls—the first time he has had moment to be off sentinel duty—committees, committees, committees. He has not yet come back. {1888 183.3}
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这儿天气很凉，我们都感冒了，但我们享有很多晴朗的天气，很少下雨。食物很好，我们很喜欢。萨拉的感冒好一些了，我不能呆在家里养病，因为每天都要履行职责。{1888 183.4}
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We have it quite cool here. We have all had colds, but we have had considerable sunshine and but very little rain. We have had good food and that which we would enjoy. Sarah is some better of her cold. I could not spend my time to nurse a cold for I have been in the harness every day. {1888 183.4}
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今天星期日，我没有参加聚会，却要探访许多人。我感谢上帝在我作见证时赐给我力量和自由并祂圣灵的能力，但这次的见证在许多人心中留下的印象空前地少。撒但似乎有能力在令人惊奇的程度上阻碍我的工作，但我一想到若是我们不在这里原会怎样就感到战兢。上帝本来会以某种方式阻止这种精神进入会场，发挥控制力。但我们一点也不丧胆。我们倚靠耶和华以色列的上帝。真理必定得胜，我们定意以此夸口。{1888 183.5}
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Today, Sunday, I have not attended meeting, but have had to visit considerably. But I am grateful to God for the strength and freedom 184and power of His spirit in bearing my testimony although it has made the least impression upon many minds than at any period before in my history. Satan has seemed to have power to hinder my work in a wonderful degree, but I tremble to think what would have been in this meeting if we had not been here. God would have worked in some way to prevent this spirit brought to the meeting, having a controlling power. But we are not the least discouraged. We trust in the Lord God of Israel. The truth will triumph and we mean to triumph with it. {1888 183.5}
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我们想念你们在家里的所有人，原本很高兴要和你们团聚，但我们不能考虑自己的心愿。主是我们的领袖，让祂指导我们的路线吧，我们要跟随祂所带领的道路。{1888 184.1}
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We think of you all at home and would be pleased to be with you, but our wishes are not to be consulted. The Lord is our Leader, let Him direct our course and we will follow where He leads the way. {1888 184.1}
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我希望并祷求使你在健康和体力上有所改善。主是大能的医生。祂的名将得荣耀。明天早上我们离开此地前往芝加哥，途经爱荷华州，周一当天探访爱德生。周一傍晚六点继续赶路到芝加哥去。我们大约9点钟上了去芝加哥的车，到9点半才得着一个卧铺。我们去开了布道会，花了几小时光阴，然后在周二傍晚坐车到巴特尔克里克。{1888 184.2}
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I hope and pray that you may be improving in health and strength. The Lord is a mighty Healer. His name shall be glorified. We leave this place tomorrow morning for Chicago by way of Iowa, calling upon Edson the same day, Monday. Monday eve at 6 o’clock go on our way to Chicago. Cannot get a sleeper before half past nine o’clock which takes us in to Chicago about nine o’clock. We go out to the mission, spend a few hours, then take the cars Tuesday eve for B.C. {1888 184.2}
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今天约翰已经在去芝加哥的路上，还有许多人随行，我们的衣箱和行李由代表们帮我们带来。我们到达巴特尔克里克后，我会尽量给你多写点。请谅解此次匆忙寄语。深挚的爱带给所有的家人，特别是埃拉和梅布尔。
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John has gone on his way to Chicago today and many others [with him]. We sent our trunks and luggage by the delegates. Now I shall write you something more as soon as we can after we reach B.C. Excuse this hasty line. Much love to all the family, especially Ella and Mabel. {1888 184.3}
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母亲Mother.
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附言：我有一双很暖和的袜子是给威利编织的，另有一双快织好了。{1888 185.1}
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P.S. I have one nice warm pair of stockings knit for Willie and I have the second pair almost done. {1888 185.1}
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我在折叠这封信时不小心将一大块墨迹沾上去了，很难看了。母亲{1888 185.2}
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Just as I was folding this letter this great blotch come to make it look badly. Mother.{1888 185.2}