Earlier text: Historical DepartmentENCOURAGING REPORT FROM OHIO.
By I. D. Van Horn
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, I left West Townsend, and stopped at the good home of Bro. Smith in Norwalk. I found him firm in the truth, buoyant in spirit, and cheerful in mind, though standing alone in his family. The next day, in company with Bro. Smith, I went to East Townsend, where I enjoyed some good meetings with the brethren and sisters who came together to attend the Quarterly Meeting. On the Sabbath the burden of our testimony to them was, to be zealous and repent, to be thoroughly converted to the truth, and to show their faith by their works. We exhorted them to exalt the standard of holiness among them by putting away the filth of the flesh, that they might fit up their bodies as suitable temples for the indwelling of the Spirit of God. From the united testimony of all, we trust they saw the necessity of the Health Reform, and what it was designed to accomplish among the remnant people of God. On Sunday we had a free time in speaking twice to large and attentive congregations on the ever-stirring themes of eternal life through Christ, and the final reward of the saints. The little company of commandment-keepers in this vicinity have been encouraged and strengthened to go on in the good way, and the minds of others, we trust, have been favorably impressed with the light of present truth as the result of this meeting.176 Monday 25th, I went to Strongsville where I was made comfortable at the good home of Bro. Thomas White. After spending a day in resting, I was prepared again to begin my labors on Tuesday evening. We were all made happy to meet with our esteemed Bro. and sister Sweet, and Bro. and sister Bibbee at our place of meeting. At our first meeting, while contemplating the glories of the saints’ inheritance, the earth made new, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon us and we all felt to praise him for his goodness to us. But this proved to be only a foretaste of what was in store for us the next day. We came together on Wednesday morning and commenced our meeting with a season of prayer. The Lord gave us a rich blessing, and his promise was verified to us as given by the prophet, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” I then spoke for an hour on true piety and godliness. The Lord gave us good freedom, especially as we referred to the abstaining from fleshly lusts that war against the soul. We all said, “Let the cleansing process go on, cost what it will, only that we are made ready for the coming of our Lord?” At the close of this meeting we all went about half a mile to a stream of water, where three, who have recently commenced keeping all the commandments of God, expressed their determination to walk in newness of life by being buried with Christ in baptism. This was a beautiful scene, and a season of enjoyment to all. But our cup of blessing was not yet full. We returned from the water, and after taking some refreshments, we enjoyed a rich social meeting, which closed by seven uniting with the church, making their present number fifteen, and the celebration of the ordinances. This was a sweet, heavenly season, and a feast to the soul. Blessed be the name of the Lord! for now and then a bright spot and a cheering ray of hope as we journey in the narrow pathway to Mount Zion. In the evening we went to the school house and spoke with freedom to an attentive congregation on the sealing time. Rev. vii, 1-4. We briefly examined the line of prophecy—the seven seals, showing the path of the Christian church as she started in her purity, her descent, during the great apostasy, into the wilderness, her long, bloody track as she passed through the persecutions of the dark ages, and her final rise and triumph as the sealed remnant come up to Mount Zion. As we tried in weakness to portray the glories of this triumph before the people, showing, from Rev. iii, 12, that the saints who were waiting for their Lord, would be sealed and labeled similar to the manner we address a letter to our friends; having written upon them the name of God, the name of his residence—the new Jerusalem, and the Saviour’s new name, being placed in his care, we received a rich blessing. For a few moments we were almost lost, seeming to be there, tasting the sweets of the heavenly home. But no, we are yet here in this dark world of sin and sorrow. However if we are faithful we shall not have long to stay here. Praise the Lord! the time is soon coming for the final deliverance of his people. We will do his holy will, hope in his mercy, and finally share with the redeemed in their glorious reward. Wayne, O., March 5, 1867. HOME AGAIN.
By James White
We left our good home at Bro. Maynard's, March 4th, where we had spent nearly five weeks, and came on our way ten miles, to Bro. Olmstead's, and tarried for the night. The next day we drove over a terribly rough and muddy road, eighteen miles, to the home of Bro. E. Howe, in Orange. In crossing the river at Ionia, while getting on and off the bridge, our wagon box touched the water. It required some courage and faith to urge our spirited team into the swift current where we could not see bottom. Wednesday, the 6th, we held two interesting meetings. In the forenoon we spoke one hour and a half. In the afternoon Mrs. W. spoke one hour and a half, and we followed for half an hour. Our visit here was very interesting. Bro. Howe and numerous family live in a large, neat, high-walled, log house, well ventilated. Here we enjoyed speaking, and rested and slept exceedingly well. This little church needed help. We are sorry to say, that tobacco and meat were used by one good-hearted brother; but we hope our plain testimony will result in cleansing the camp, and that this dear brother will make haste to overtake his brethren who are advancing upon the subject of reform. We recommended to these brethren the building of a log house of worship, twenty-five by thirty five, fourteen feet from the floor to the eaves, and well-lighted. For the warm season now opening, it needs nothing but the log walls and roof. If the Lord wills, we promised to visit them and dedicate the house as soon as the logs are rolled up and the roof put on. As the snow had left us, Bro. Maynard let us have his easy carriage to come on our way. And Thursday, Bro. Howe came forty miles, to Bro. J. F. Carman's, in West Windsor, Eaton County, to attend the meeting here and take back the carriage. On our way, we called on our German brother by the name of Sindlinger, of Sebewa, who entertained us in his log hut, and did all in his power to make us comfortable. He has no family. He works his farm and keeps his own house, and everything around him bore marks of neatness. Here hung the charts, and on his table you may see his Dutch Bible, the Review, Instructor and Reformer. He takes a share in the Health Institution, and says he has fifty dollars to help his brethren at Orange, thirteen miles off, build a meeting-house, although worth but $1,500.00. At this place we found assembled at the school-house, Sabbath morning, the 9th, most of the three churches of Oneida, Windsor and Charlotte. We opened the meeting in the morning and spoke one hour and a half. In the afternoon we spoke one hour and Mrs. W. followed for one and a half hours. Here, some lacked almost everything, and we spoke upon Peter's plan of adding to faith, virtue; to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, temperance, patience; &c. Some rob God in tithes and offerings, others love meat, pork not excepted, and have, of course, a great deal of prejudice against the Testimonies, and trouble about the reform, and matters in general at Battle Creek. On all these points we spoke plainly and know that our testimony accomplished good. First-day, on account of rain and consequently a small congregation, we held but one meeting. We spoke one hour, and Mrs. W. more than an hour, and the brethren enjoyed a good social meeting in which they confessed the truth. God grant that they may live it and be profited by it. On the morrow, the 12th, we design reaching Battle Creek, and attend our appointments at that place, at Newton, Convis, and thence to other places as Providence opens the way and our services are called for. March 14. We reached home the 13th, over terrible roads by way of Marshall. We could have come through Monday, the distance of thirty-three miles, had we not been disappointed of our carriage from Battle Creek. But Monday night the roads broke up, and it took us most of three days to come this short distance in terrible storms, in which we nearly perished. We should have said that our liberal friends near Greenville gave us $80.00, besides caring for us in every possible way for nearly five weeks, and our brethren at Windsor handed us $15.00, which they raised outside of their Systematic Benevolence. We have been from home nearly a quarter of a year, during which time we have spoken about thirty-five times, and Mrs. W., at least, sixty. We acknowledge with gratitude the good hand of the Lord with us, and the care of his people to us in their kind acts of sympathy and benevolence. And we look forward with no small degree of pleasure to the time when we shall be permanently settled in their midst. Battle Creek, Mich., March 14, 1867. MOVEMENTS IN IOWA.
By D. T. Bourdeau
We could not cross Man's Creek, the day I closed my last report, and so did not spend the next Sabbath with the church at Pilot Grove, as we had intended, but returned to Bro. Green's, where we kept the holy Sabbath, and enjoyed ourselves in reviewing our position with him and his family and the company of Sabbath-keepers who were with us, including some who had attended our previous meetings, and were returning home. Among them was Bro. H. Nicola, who had met us at Iowa City with his team and wagon to take us to his place. Without the assistance of Bro. N. it would have been difficult for us to reach Pilot Grove, as the snow we had enjoyed a few days, had left us. We were thankful to meet Bro. N., who had felt a special drawing out to come to our aid. We found him and Bro. and sister Green friends in time of need and emergency; and such friends are, by a common and truthful proverb, accounted as friends indeed, and will, if faithful in walking in the light, reap a rich reward in the world to come for their sacrifices here. We were also thankful that we had concluded not to go to Palestine, as we learned that a part of the bridge across the Iowa river at Iowa City had been removed by the high water and ice since we had crossed it, leaving Palestine behind us, and showing us a worse dilemma than that in which we were placed, as the Iowa river would have been longer in falling than Man's Creek, and as there was then no means of crossing it. Sunday, the 17th inst., we succeeded in crossing Man's Creek, and came to Bro. Nicola's at Pilot Grove, where, on account of the uncertainty of the weather and the state of the roads, we remained, resting, exercising with our hands, and writing important letters to churches, until the 20th, when, having had a few inches of snow, and believing that if we reached Knoxville before Sabbath we must go by private conveyance, we decided to go with Bro. George Tomlinson, who was about to leave for that place, and accordingly started on our journey, which would take us three days if we were not detained. Little did we expect to meet another halt similar to the one we had met the week before; for we thought that if the streams north had so abated that they were passable, we certainly should not be hindered by high water on our way to Knoxville. But here we are hedged in by high water again, by the rise of Skunk river, which they say will be impassable at least until next Sunday or Monday; so that we cannot fill our appointment at Knoxville; neither have we time to return to Pilot Grove; for tomorrow is Sabbath. We have therefore put up with unbelievers, with whom we intend to spend the Sabbath, free, for the first time, from the labors of our calling in the State. May our rest and meditations on that day be sweet and refreshing both to body and mind, and to our spiritual natures, and prepare us for greater usefulness. We suffered much from a sudden change from warm to cold, and from severe winds on our way to this place. Feb. 26. Last Sunday morning we succeeded in crossing the Skunk river as follows: We approached it, and found it nearly a quarter of a mile wide at the only point we thought it might be possible to cross; though we had been told that we could not pass it. But it had nearly frozen over, and we first went ahead with an ax and a stick to try the ice; and then we gently passed with Mrs. B., following a zigzag course to go where it was frozen over, and where the ice would bear; after this, several boys and young men who were skating volunteered to take our sled across, by going where the ice was strongest; and finally the horses were led singly and carefully, being caused to wade where there was no ice; and thus we all landed safe, feeling thankful for freedom again, and realizing in a measure by anticipation how the last church will appreciate their final deliverance from that awful pressure and bondage of wicked men and demons, which will be brought upon them in their last conflict, before the coming of the Just One. We reached this place in safety yesterday, and intend to be with the few in Osceola next Sabbath. We feel that this tour south is an important one to the cause in this part of the State. It is the last time we can come into this section before Conference, and we have much to do in raising the work higher. We feel the weight of our responsibilities, and ask to be remembered by the brethren and sisters who have the cause at heart. Knoxville, Iowa, Feb. 26, 1867. QUARTERLY MEETINGS IN N. Y.
By R. F. COTTRELL
My former report was written at the close of the meeting at Olcott. Bro. Fuller remained and held meetings through the week and over the following Sabbath. The interest increased. The church had entered into a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart until they should obtain his Spirit and be free in the Lord. And as they sought, by prayer and fasting on the part of some, freedom was obtained. Then the Lord wrought for the unconverted—the young who attended the meeting—and every soul that came under the influence of the meeting was moved to seek the Lord. A good work indeed was begun; and we trust it will go on till the day of the Lord Jesus. This will be the case if the church is faithful to their vows. At Lancaster, also, the Lord met with us. Brethren and sisters came from Olcott to engage in the work; and they came in the enjoyment of the blessing of the gospel. A good work was done here. The church covenanted to enter upon the work of seeking the Lord, and commenced the work. The Lord meets his people just as soon as they begin to seek him with the whole heart. A good work was also begun at Niles Settlement. But as we return there again, I defer the report of that meeting till my next. We believe the time is come when those that are going through must arise not to fall back. Outrages on The Freedmen.
A teacher writes to the Am. Missionary from Wilmington, N. C., Feb. 2, 1867, as follows:—177 Reports are constantly brought from the country, showing the terrible abuses that are practiced there. The whites seem to wax more and more lawless. After the laborer’s “contract time,” for work has expired, they are driven off or “run off” the lands, as they call it, in which case they flee for their lives, for if they refuse to go they are shot. Robbing is carried on constantly, and has become in some places, quite an organized thing. Formed into companies, robbers come disguised, and sweep off the hard earned stores, and the few effects of many a colored family. To-day I saw a woman who fled to this place to save her children from being torn from her by her former master, and “bound out,” as it is called, which is nothing more or less than slavery. In another case, the mother having reported to the Bureau, the seizure of one of her children, her eldest, grown up son, who was the messenger, was killed soon after his return home. For such reasons, a great many are seeking refuge in this town, and no one can tell where they can find a place. The same causes, that for the last year and a half, have been operating to make it difficult to get along, with the increase of such tyrannies, and the “hard times,” cause a direful struggle, for this poor people in almost every direction. No land, no work, no wages, but outrageous rents. It seems strange that more do not perish. Amid such circumstances, it is surprising that so many keep up such a right good will for exertion. I lately met a woman, whose faith in the efficacy of prayer much interested me. She was speaking of her experience shortly before the fall of the place. At that time her master hurried off a number of the people into the country some one hundred miles distant. The idea of going was dreadful to them. Before starting, they fasted and prayed much, and after they reached their destination, they held special meetings for prayer, accompanied by fasting, for their return. Some of them fully believed that their deliverance would be soon realized. It was not, however, in the way that they thought, through the Yankees, but through the inability of their master to obtain supplies for them, he was obliged to send them back just two weeks from the time they left; soon after, came their complete deliverance, through the fall of the place. This woman inquired with most intelligent interest of the prospects for the country, hoping that the legislation will help them out of their severe struggle. I cannot but offer them encouragement to hope that the coming year is to afford them help that no past one has done. News and Miscellany.
By J. TAYLOR
The following items show that the world is not drifting into the Millennium as yet: Amusements.—The New York Post of January 22, 1867, from Paris correspondence, says, “The total receipts of theaters and public dancing-rooms, for November, were $39,000 over the previous month.” The receipts of theatres from three to nine months past in New York city, were $2,500,000! At a Book auction in London, England, last December, a copyright of Beeton’s Illustrated Family Bible, brought near $1,000. Mrs. Beeton’s household management on Cooking, brought near $16,250; while Miss Evans’ new novel required at one period five of Adams’ presses, busy all the time, and then could not supply the demand. Another novel had a sale of 250,000 copies within a short time. With the above facts before us, how can it be expected for people generally to be Bible students, when so much time and money is spent for novels and light reading? The above list could be extended, but I will give only an item more. Last Christmas, at Chicago, thirty-six book dealers sold $150,000,—fur dealers sold $50,000,—while jewellers sold $250,000 worth of goods. A foreign item has just come to hand, which states that Charles Dickens has sold 250,000 copies of his last novel. So much for novels and amusements. As to crime, the several papers are teeming with the black and bloody catalogue of crime. Since the awful murders not far from here (West Auburn, Me.), people think it is hardly safe, anywhere, without being armed. The Post of January 18, says in a Paris letter,—“The French papers for the past week have recorded frightful murders almost every day, and in many instances the murderers are in respectable positions in society, persons above want, and moved to crime by the vilest and most sordid passions. In Paris, a young man thinking it was wrong for his father to marry a second time, took upon himself to condemn his parent to death, and executed the sentence with his own hand.” Needle Guns.—It is said that the French government will have four hundred and fifty thousand needle guns ready by April, or the middle of May. This, with the preparations of other governments for war, does not look much like the Millennium at hand, except as ushered in by the King of kings. Meteoric.—A vivid account of the showers of meteors, as observed by M. Guillemin near the Azores.—“The expedition was favored with a perfectly clear night, the only clouds in the sky consisting of a light belt around the horizon to the height of ten degrees; from behind this veil, and in a direction north, fifty-nine degrees east, emerged from the same point a series of luminous tracks, which surrounded the heavens. These began to be visible at ten o’clock in the evening, and shortly after the stars began to shoot up from the same part of the horizon. These stars were of a dark cherry red, and were accompanied by a crescent of blue phosphorescence, very luminous, and leaving after its disappearance a track of light. Many of the stars crossed the zenith and fell at the opposite horizon, occupying exactly six seconds in their transit. Others shot up and fell on the same side of the sky. The marvellous spectacle of an immense shower of such stars, continued for an hour, in full magnificence; then the number of the meteors began to diminish, and finally ceased altogether at half past three in the morning.” The Richmond (Va.) Enquirer of October says, “There was a sudden illumination in Lynchburg, Saturday night, which startled the police and watchmen. As there were neither moon nor stars shining, and the clouds were thick and dark, they could not solve the mystery of the light, which was evidently too bright for an earthly one, probably a meteor.” “About the middle of November, at Nashville, Tenn., about four o’clock in the morning, a meteor, lighting the whole heavens, was seen in a south-westerly direction, moving rapidly south-west. It appeared like a ball of fire as large as the sun. It exploded apparently, ten miles off with a tremendous report, like a forty-pound cannon, that shook the earth and made the windows rattle.” Thus we have signs in the heavens, and distress in the land. The Dutch minister of international affairs in Holland, has presented his second report on the cattle plague to the king. It appears that since June, 1865, “two-thirds of the whole have perished in the province of South Holland, one-third in Utrecht, and the small remainder in North Holland. Number of cattle attacked was 90,469.” The cattle plague has been also very severe in Kentucky. “In many farms of Shelby county, every head of cattle has died.” And as to the state of society in general, Mrs. M. T. Townsend, a celebrated spiritual medium, says, “Society is a living lie; it professes to be respectable; it is as immoral as the deepest depths of degradation. We all know it and feel it.” May the time soon come when universal righteousness shall prevail.—J. TAYLOR, in World's Crisis. A LITTLE WHILE.
By Almon D. Farrar
A LITTLE while, dear fellow pilgrim, tossed about by life's troubles and cares, bearing up manfully against the snares and temptations that beset thy way as thou toilest in thy Master's vineyard, now rejoicing, at times sad,—a little while and He that shall come will come and take thee to those bright mansions that he has gone to prepare for his faithful ones. No more tears shall fall for thine own, or others', sins, for there all will be pure and holy. Here thy pathway is often beset with trials, thy noblest efforts sneered at, thy best motives misconstrued; and when thou art conscious that God approves thy course, others look coldly on and chide thee. In those bright mansions thou wilt have none of these heartaches. “No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin nor death can reach that place,
No tears to mingle with the songs
That warble from immortal tongues.”
A little while, fellow pilgrim, art thou old, or young; rich, or poor; learned, or ignorant; and thou wilt be led by the good Shepherd into the green pastures, and beside the still waters of paradise. A little while and this old earth will be changed. The three-fold curse that has so long rested upon it will be removed. Man, now degenerate, will walk the new earth in all his primeval beauty and glory. The flowers of paradise will spring forth where now is nothing but jagged rocks and barren hills. The desert shall blossom as the rose. In short, this old earth will be brought back to its Eden state. Dear fellow pilgrim, shall you and I be there? Shall we have come up through great tribulation, having our robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb? Surely we must suffer with Christ, if we would reign with him in his kingdom. It is blessed to think of the glorious inheritance of the children of God. It is good to talk about it. It is richly worth striving for. It is worth a long life of toil, suffering, and faithful allegiance to our Creator, to obtain it. Yes, it is worth even the laying down of our lives as a sacrifice to secure a title to a mansion there. Then let us prove faithful to that God who has watched over us from the earliest moments of our lives, and in a little while, through the grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ, we shall be there. Kingston, Wis., Jan. 27, 1867. HOLD FAST.
By S. F. SHARPE
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Rev. iii, 11. Hold fast always, friends of Jesus,
You who blessed truth have found;
Hold fast which thou hast, believer,
That no man may take thy crown. Hold fast, pilgrim, as you journey,
O lay not thine armor down;
Lest the wily foe beguile you,
And another take thy crown. Fear not, though the world should hate you,
And on you should coldly frown:
Watch and pray, as here you tarry,
Lest, perchance, you lose the crown. Though you have to give up kindred,
Give up riches and renown:
Hold fast yet a little longer,
You at last shall have the crown. Hold fast to your Maker’s precepts,
Let your love to all abound;
Faith of Jesus, too, you need it,
That no man may take your crown. Cheer up, lo! the Saviour cometh,
Hark! we hear the trumpet sound:
Now the Lord says, I come quickly,
Child, come home and take thy crown. S. F. SHARPE.
Clyde, Sandusky Co., O. Relief for the Southern Poor
—A dispatch received by the Southern Relief Commission, at New York, from Washington, states, on the authority of General Howard, that, although the proposed Congressional appropriation of $1,000,000 for the relief of the suffering poor in the South will be passed, private contributions should not be curtailed. General Howard says that, in addition to the $1,000,000 from Congress, $500,000 should be raised by the people. Governor Jenkins telegraphs that the destitute in Georgia number 60,000 whites and 30,000 blacks, which is largely in excess of General Howard's former estimate; and it is believed that the real destitution in South Carolina is even larger than in Georgia. Government has given the Relief Committee free use of the bark Purveyor, and she will be loaded this week with a full cargo of corn. Her capacity is about 25,000 bushels. The Commission hope to obtain another ship, to be filled with corn next week. Bank Defalcations are turning up quite plentifully. In the Mechanics’ National Bank of Baltimore, a defalcation has been discovered, amounting to $300,000, running through a period of twenty-seven years, and implicating the general book-keeper and paying-teller, who have been in office all that time. At Boston, a speculating firm has failed for a million of dollars, carrying with it the First National Bank of Newtonville, of which one of the firm was a director. At Hudson, N. Y., the cashier of the First National Bank turns out a defaulter to the amount of $50,000. Catholicism in New Orleans.—Dr. Newman says: “Sixty Roman Catholic priests are to arrive in this city next week to open schools for the freedmen. Romanism seeks a new life in this country through the blacks.” European Parliaments.—The proceedings of the European parliaments are this year of more than ordinary importance. In England the reform question has never before assumed so important a character as at present, and the world will therefore listen with unusual interest to the debate on the Government reform bill. In Germany, the first Parliament of the North German Confederation assembled on the 23d of February, and the Austrian Parliament will be opened in a few days. The action of both will have a far-going influence upon the reconstruction of Central Europe. In Eastern Europe, the Turkish Government at length sees the impossibility of further opposition to progress and reform, and therefore has convoked an assembly of representatives of all the religious bodies to aid it in the execution of the most necessary reforms. In Italy, in France, in Russia, in Sweden, and (in the probable case of a successful revolution) in Spain, the proceedings of the representative assemblies promise likewise to be of uncommon interest. Poisonous Air.—Some one has been making an analysis lately of the air we breathe in a theater or other close house, containing a thousand or more persons. He carried into a theater at 10 o’clock at night a bottle of ice placed on a plate, and then collected the vapors which rapidly condensed on the outside of the bottle and flowed down on to the plate. At first this vapor thus collected had the smell, the taste, and, so far as could be determined, every chemical quality belonging to the waters of the most deadly fever marshes. Under the microscope, this water was at first clear, but soon, that is to say in a week, it was found to be full of fine animalcules, various forms were seen, and still the work of destruction was going on. At last, but three hideous monsters were seen—microscopic monsters, of course, since they were contained in a drop of water—and these were still fighting to see which could devour the other. At the end of three months the water became clear and miasmatic again.—Paris Cor. N. Y. Times. Internal Revenue Law.—The following has just been issued from the office of Internal Revenue: The Act approved March 2, 1867, amending existing laws relating to Internal Revenue, requires the assessment of annual taxes heretofore made in the month of May to be made on the corresponding days in the month of March. The principal changes in the law respecting the income tax are those increasing the exemption from $600 to $1,000, and the repeal of the tax of 10 per cent. on sums above $5,000, so that the law now imposes a uniform tax of 5 per cent. on incomes in excess of $1,000. National Religious Convention.—A National Religious convention, the object of which is to secure a national recognition of the being and providence of God, of the authority of Jesus Christ, and the supremacy of the Bible in Civil affairs, met on Thursday evening in Philadelphia, Judge Strong presiding. Addresses were made by several eminent divines, and letters from others were read, expressing sympathy with the movement. An amendment to the Constitution was proposed, recognizing “Almighty God as the source of all authority and power in civil government.” Remarkable Telegraphic Feat.—The closing quotations and transactions of the London and Liverpool markets, Saturday last, dated at 4 P. M., were published in New York Saturday afternoon. They were received in that city on time, at 12 M., just four hours before the boards closed. The dispatch took less than one hour to come across the Atlantic, and having been transmitted immediately to San Francisco, the quotations of the English markets probably appeared in the first editions of the afternoon papers in that city Saturday. Surely, this is progress. Destitution in the South.—The statement of General Howard, Commissioner of the Freedman’s Bureau, transmitted to the Senate by the Secretary of War, states that 32,622 whites and 24,238 colored people in the South will need food from some source before the next crop can relieve them. The number of rations required in one month is 1,070,000; for two months, the probable time required, 8,535,000. At twenty-five cents per ration, the estimated cost will be $2,133,750. Of this, $625,000 has already been appropriated, leaving $1,580,750 to be provided. The destitute are apportioned as follows: Virginia, 2,500 whites, 2,500 blacks; North Carolina, 3,000 whites, 2,000 blacks; South Carolina, 5,000 whites, 5,000 blacks; Alabama, 10,000 whites, 5,000 blacks; Florida, 500 whites, 1,000 blacks; Georgia, 7,500 whites, 500 blacks; Tennessee, 1,000 whites, 1,000 blacks; Mississippi, 1,862 whites, 2,038 blacks; Arkansas, 1,000 whites, 500 blacks; Louisiana, 300 whites, 200 blacks. Since the report was drawn up, a statement has been received from the Assistant Commissioner and Governor of Georgia greatly exceeding the above amount, but a large appropriation is not recommended for Georgia before another estimate shall be made, based on thorough inspection. —The Springfield Republican, of Mar. 9, 1867, says: A new and fatal disease is prevailing among the cattle of Wolfboro, N. H., and vicinity. It usually terminates in death in three or four days from the first attack, and the town authorities are taking measures to check its spread by slaughtering the diseased animals. —A German edition of the works of Andrew Jackson Davis, the American seer, has been brought out at Breslau under the supervision and at the expense of a rich Russian convert to the harmonial philosophy. Telegraph Statistics.—The third edition of the History, theory and practice of the Electric Telegraph, written by George B. Prescott, one of our oldest telegraphers, and good authority on this subject, gives the following as the number of miles of aerial telegraph in operation in the various countries of the world:— Great Britain, 65,012; France, 71,034; Russia, 36,663; Austria, 22,230; Prussia, 24,149; smaller German states, 25,000; Italy, 20,120; Spain, 17,743; Belgium, 3,773; Switzerland, 3,720; Turkey, 6,571; Greece, 3,000; Holland, 2,800; Portugal, 2,000; Denmark and Sweden, 10,000; total in Europe, 313,815; in the United States, 120,000; British American provinces, 20,000; total in America, 140,000; in Persia, 2,500; India, 10,994; Australia, 14,000; total number of miles in the world, 481,809. Riots in Europe.—The recent riots in Belgium, have their significant lessons for France and England, and the legislative bodies of both countries are urged by the press to take heed quickly. The Belgium coal miners, in a district near Marchiennes, struck two days ago for higher wages. They at once marched to other mines and forced the workmen there to join them, threatening to cut their ropes if they went down into their pits. Thus, swelled to a mob of some two thousand, they stormed flour mills, piled up barricades, and lost blood until they were quelled, but the disturbance bids fair to break out again. The fact is, this side the water, important corporations are everywhere starving their workmen to death; and higher wages or trouble must come. The night before I left Liverpool for London, it was very cold and the poor were distressed, and I heard one gentleman say to another, “If this weather holds long we shall have trouble with the workmen.” And I had not been this side of the channel ten days before I took up the London Times of the day preceding and read that the Liverpool workmen had “made a disturbance”—a bread riot—on one of the coldest days of the season, but “it was speedily quelled.”—Cor. Springfield Republican. Display of the World’s Industry.—A “Universal Exposition of the Products of Industry and Art of all Nations” is to be held in Paris during the six months succeeding April 1, 1867. Its aim is to exhibit the progress of art and manufactures, and of all the sciences in supplying the necessities of society, among all the nations of the world. The government of France is to erect a palace for the Exhibition, 1,600 feet long, and 1,200 wide, covering an area of thirty-five acres, to cost $4,000,000; besides, making provision for living products of agriculture and horticulture, animals, and models of villages. Compartments have been allotted to the Christian governments of Europe and America, and to the Mahommedan and Pagan nations of Turkey, Persia, Central and Southern Asia, China, Japan, Africa, and Oceanica. There will be a display of different races of savages at work in their rude industry. Conference Department.
By L. E. Graves
Exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. Heb. x, 25. This Department is designed to fill the same place in the paper that the Conference or Social Meeting does in the worship of God. Speak often one to another to comfort, edify and aid each other in the way of holiness and true Christian experience. DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: We read that we should add to our faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience. Here we see that temperance comes in before patience; and I believe that before we get the patience of the saints, we shall have to be temperate in all things. Again we read that whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we should do all to the glory of God. If we are indulging the appetite in eating and drinking such things as would tend to tear down the temple of the Holy Ghost, can it be to the glory of God? I think not. If we would have the blessing of the Lord rest upon us, shall we not have to walk in the path which he has marked out for us? And has not God marked out the path for his people to walk in? Verily he has. He has spoken to them through his holy word, and through vision; and who will heed the voice from Heaven, and take hold of the work of the Lord as they should, and enter heartily into the reform before it is too late? Oh I fear that some will turn away from the counsel of the Lord, as did Naaman the Leper, when Elisha told him to go and wash seven times in Jordan and be clean. He turned away in a rage and said, Are not the rivers of Damascus better than all the rivers of Israel? But if he had not come to the river Jordan and washed, he never would have been cleansed from his leprosy. And did God require obedience in the days of Elisha any more than at the present time? Certainly not. Then if we would be cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord, we must walk in the light as he has revealed it unto us, and be temperate in all things. Then we shall be where God can178 consistently work for us, and let healing power rest upon us if need be; and we be prepared to stand with his people when there shall not be a feeble one in all their ranks, and finally to walk the golden streets of the New Jerusalem. Is not the reward great enough? Praise the Lord. I think it is. I want to be a perfect overcomer, lay aside every weight, and run with patience the race set before me, that it may at last be said to me, Well done, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord.