    
Don Sands
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Post Number: 415
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, April 02, 2009 - 06:34 pm: | 
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Bicycle Craze Notes
In 1892, Wilbur and Orville bought new "safety" bicycles and soon cycling became a shared passion. It was, in fact, becoming a passion all over the United States. Before that time, "ordinary" bicycles, with huge wheels in front, had been the province of daring athletes. But the invention of the safety bicycle, with two wheels of equal size, opened the sport to everyone. The Wrights joined a local bicycle club, the YMCA Wheelmen, went on long country rides, and did a little racing. And because their scratch-built presses had made their reputations as mechanics, they were beset upon by friends in need of bicycle repair. Soon the Wrights had a good repair business. They opened a shop in early 1893, the Wright Cycle Exchange. In addition to repairing bicycles, they also sold new bikes and accessories. Business was brisk, and in late 1893 they moved to larger quarters and renamed the business The Wright Cycle Company. In less than a year, bicycles were their primary business and they hired their brother Lorin to take over the print shop.
After several years of repairing bicycles, the Wright brothers decided they could build a better bike than they could buy. In 1896, the began to manufacture the top-of-the line Van Cleve and the lower-priced St. Clair, both named for Ohio pioneers. These were not mass-produced machines, but were hand-built to a customer’s specifications. At that time, the bicycle industry was analogous to computers today. Small-time manufacturers could build their own brands from readily available components. The Wrights added a few original improvements, including an oil-retaining wheel hub and coaster brakes. By 1898, they were earning $2000 to $3000 a year in gross sales from the bicycle business, a respectable income for the times.
http://www.first-to-fly.com/History/Wright%20Story/riding.htm
http://www.experienceplus.com/reading_room/books/around_the_world_on_two_wheels.html
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Ellen G. White Estate
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers (1923), page 525, paragraph 3
Chapter Title: APPENDIX NOTES
PAGE 83. BICYCLE RACE: SEE ALSO PAGE 398. IN 1895, ELLEN WHITE WAS GIVEN A VIEW OF HAPPENINGS IN BATTLE CREEK. AMONG OTHER SCENES WHICH PASSED BEFORE HER WAS ONE INVOLVING BICYCLES USED IN RACING, AND A STRIFE FOR THE MASTERY. SEE TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH, VOL. 8, PP. 51, 52. AT THE TIME THIS SCENE WAS PRESENTED, THE BICYCLE WAS NOT KNOWN AS AN ECONOMICAL MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT WAS RATHER A RICH MAN'S TOY. BICYCLES WERE BEING PURCHASED BY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN BATTLE CREEK, NOT TO PROVIDE NEEDED TRANSPORTATION TO WORK OR SCHOOL, BUT RATHER AS A DEMONSTRATION OF SUPERIORITY, FOR SHOW, AND IN THE SEEKING OF SUPREMACY. THE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE MORTGAGING THEIR INCOMES FOR MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO BUY WHAT WAS THEN AN EXPENSIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO BE SO USED. WITHIN A FEW YEARS' TIME, THE BICYCLE BECAME A USEFUL AND INEXPENSIVE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
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Ellen G. White Estate
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers (1923), page 532, paragraph 3
Chapter Title: APPENDIX NOTES
PAGE 398. BICYCLES AND OTHER NEEDLESS THINGS: SEE APPENDIX NOTE FOR PAGE 83.
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Ellen G. White Estate
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers (1923), page 83, paragraph 2
Chapter Title: Faithful, Earnest Warnings[THE ARTICLESIN THIS SECTION ARE FROM SPECIAL TESTIMONY TO BATTLECREEK CHURCH (1896). THIS ARTICLE,PAGES 3-18.] 2
Ellen G. White Estate
Testimonies for the Church Volume Eight (1904), page 66, paragraph 1
Chapter Title: Section Two - Counsels Often Repeated
Parties for frivolous, worldly pleasure, gatherings for eating, drinking, and singing, are inspired by a spirit that is from beneath. They are an oblation to Satan. The exhibitions in the bicycle craze are an offense to God. His wrath is kindled against those who do such things. In these gratifications the mind becomes besotted, even as in liquor drinking. The door is opened to vulgar associations. The thoughts, allowed to run in a low channel, soon pervert all the powers of the being. Like Israel of old, the pleasure lovers eat and drink, and rise up to play. There is mirth and carousing, hilarity and glee. In all this the youth follow the example of the authors of the books placed in their hands for study. The greatest evil of it all is the permanent effect that these things have upon the character.
Those who take the lead in these things bring upon the cause a stain not easily effaced. They wound their own souls, and through their lifetime will carry the scars. The evildoer may see his sins and repent; God may pardon the transgressor; but the powers of discernment, which ought ever to be kept keen and sensitive to distinguish between the sacred and the common, are in a great measure destroyed. Too often human devices and imaginations are accepted as divine. Some souls will act in blindness and insensibility, ready to grasp cheap, common, and even infidel sentiments, while they turn against the demonstrations of the Holy Spirit.
Ellen G. White Estate
Testimonies for the Church Volume Eight (1904), page 50, paragraph 4
Chapter Title: Section Two - Counsels Often Repeated
A Failure to Honor God
In view of the terrible crisis before us what are those doing who profess to believe the truth? I was called by my Guide,
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who said, "Follow Me," and I was shown things among our people that were not in accordance with their faith. There seemed to be a bicycle craze. Money was spent to gratify an enthusiasm in this direction that might better, far better, have been invested in building houses of worship where they are greatly needed. There were presented before me some very strange things in Battle Creek. A bewitching influence seemed to be passing as a wave over our people there, and I saw that this would be followed by other temptations. Satan works with intensity of purpose to induce our people to invest their time and money in gratifying supposed wants. This is a species of idolatry. The example will be followed, and while hundreds are starving for bread, while famine and pestilence are seen and felt, because God cannot, according to His own name's glory, protect those who are working contrary to His will, shall those who profess to love and serve God act as did the people in the days of Noah, following the imagination of their hearts?
While you have been gratifying your inclination in the appropriation of money-God's money-for which you must give an account, missionary work has been hindered and bound about for want of means and workers to plant the banner of truth in places where the people have never heard the message of warning. Will God say to those who are selfishly pleasing their own imagination and gratifying their own desires: "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"? Matthew 25:23.
My brethren and sisters in Battle Creek, what kind of witness are you bearing to an unbelieving world? I have been shown that the Lord does not look upon your course with favor, for your practice contradicts your profession. You are not doers of the words of Christ.
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I was told by my Guide: "Look ye, and behold the idolatry of My people, to whom I have been speaking, rising up early, and presenting to them their dangers. I looked that they should bring forth fruit." There were some who were striving for the mastery, each trying to excel the other in the swift running of their bicycles. There was a spirit of strife and contention among them as to which should be the greatest. The spirit was similar to that manifested in the baseball games on the college ground. Said my Guide: "These things are an offense to God. Both near and afar off souls are perishing for the bread of life and the water of salvation." When Satan is defeated in one line, he will be all ready with other schemes and plans which will appear attractive and needful, and which will absorb money and thought, and encourage selfishness, so that he can overcome those who are so easily led into a false and selfish indulgence.
The question arises: What burden do these persons carry for the advancement of the work of God? Wherein do they realize the importance of the work for this time? Christ said to His disciples: "Ye are the light of the world. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16. Is this investment of means and this spinning of bicycles through the streets of Battle Creek giving evidence of the genuineness of your faith in the last solemn warning to be given to human beings standing on the very verge of the eternal world?
My brethren and sisters in America, I make my appeal to you. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7. The lives of many are too delicate and dainty. They know nothing of bearing hardship as good soldiers of Christ. They are hindrances to the work of soul saving. They have many
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wants; everything must be convenient and easy, to suit their taste. They will not do anything themselves, and those who would do something they hinder by their suppositions and imaginary wants, and their love of idols. They think themselves Christians, but they do not know what practical Christian life signifies. What does it mean to be a Christian? It means to be Christlike.
When the Lord sees His people restricting their imaginary wants and practicing self-denial, not in a mournful, regretful spirit, as Lot's wife left Sodom, but joyfully, for Christ's sake, and because it is the right thing to do, the work will go forward with power. Let nothing, however dear, however loved, absorb your mind and affections, diverting you from the study of God's word or from earnest prayer. Watch unto prayer. Live your own requests. Co-operate with God by working in harmony with Him. Expel from the soul-temple everything that assumes the form of an idol. Now is God's time, and His time is your time. Fight the good fight of faith, refusing to think or to talk unbelief. The world is to hear the last warning message.
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Ellen G. White Estate
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers (1923), page 83, paragraph 2
Chapter Title: Faithful, Earnest Warnings[THE ARTICLESIN THIS SECTION ARE FROM SPECIAL TESTIMONY TO BATTLECREEK CHURCH (1896). THIS ARTICLE,PAGES 3-18.] 2
Bicycle Sport
Turn to another scene. In the streets of the city is a party gathered for a bicycle race. [SEE APPENDIX.] In this company also are those who profess to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. But who that looks upon the exciting race would think that those who were thus exhibiting themselves were the followers of Christ? Who would suppose that any of that party felt their need of
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Christ? Who would think they realized the value of their time and their physical powers as gifts from God, to be preserved for His service? Who thinks of the danger of accident, or that death may be the result of their wild chase? Who have prayed for the presence of Jesus, and the protection of the ministering angels? Is God glorified by these performances? Satan is playing the game of life for these souls, and he is well pleased with that which he sees and hears.
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