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Review and Herald, Vol. 46, No. 8.

Constantine—No. 5
Earlier text: Constantine—No. 5

Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Session of the S. D. Adventist General Conference.

By James White; Uriah Smith

CAMP-GROUND, Battle Creek, Mich., Aug. 15, 1875, 9 A. M. Conference opened with prayer by the Chairman, Eld. James White.
The following delegates were present.
From Michigan, S. Brownsberger, J. H. Kellogg, E. R. Jones, J. S. Day, R. J. Lawrence, E. S. Griggs.
From Ohio, H. H. Van Camp.
“ Wisconsin, Eld. Jas. White.
“ Indiana, Jas. Harvey.
“ N. Y. & Pa., E. W. Whitney.
“ Iowa & Nebraska, F. H. Chapman, H. Nicola.
From Illinois, Eld. T. M. M. Steward.
“ Maine, S. Howland.
“ Vermont, Eld. D. T. Bourdeau.
“ New England, Eld. S. N. Haskell.
“ Minnesota, John Fulton.
“ Kansas & Missouri, Theo. Brackett.
“ California, Eld. Jas. White.
Some of these were not regularly appointed delegates, but being more or less directly from the States they represented, were invited by the Conference to act as such.
Reports from State Conferences show the present standing of the General Conference to be as follows:—
Maine New England Vermont N. Y. & Pa. Ohio Michigan Indiana Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota Iowa & Neb. Kansas & Mo. California Swiss Mission Total
Ministers 1 2 1 5 1 11 14 6 4 6 9 4 4 2 69
Licentiates 2 3 3 4 2 4 3 6 3 2 8 6 3 2 49
Churches 9 17 14 34 12 71 28 22 38 28 22 4 14 5 308
No. of Members 26 36 32 261 269 2926 1858 350 386 700 2410 345 450 200 9839
S. B. Fund Pledged $848.87 $2300.00 $1780.22 $1927.29 $1494.34 $6431.70 $936.22 $1800.00 $350.00 $386.81 $1239.17 $1640.17 $450.00 $200.00 $26180.62
S. B. Used by Churches $11.16 $2486.83 $150.00 $2647.99
S. B. Fund pledged to State Conf. $848.87 $2300.00 $1780.22 $1927.29 $1483.18 $3925.67 $935.22 $1800.00 $350.00 $386.81 $2410.00 $1640.17 $450.00 $300.00 $29319.16
S. B. Fund pledged to Gen. Conf. $500.00 $250.00 $1000.00 $100.00 $1850.00
S. B. Fund on hand $60.00 $4542.57 $100.00 $4802.57
Minutes of last session read and approved.
On motion, the Chair appointed the following committees:—
On Nominations, H. Nicola, E. H. Root, E. W. Whitney.
On Resolutions, U. Smith, S. Brownsberger, J. H. Kellogg.
On Auditing, Jerome Fargo, F. H. Chapman.

SECOND SESSION.

Monday, Aug. 16, 7:30 A. M. Prayer by Eld. D. T. Bourdeau. Minutes of last session read and approved. By vote, Eld. N. V. Hull, delegate from the S. D. Baptist General Conference, was heartily welcomed to a place in this body. Eld. Hull responded with some very friendly and cordial remarks touching the relation of the body he represented, to the S. D. Adventists, to which Eld. White in behalf of the Conference replied. By vote, all present in good standing were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference.
The Nominating Committee recommended the following persons as officers of the Conference the coming year:—
For President, Eld. James White. “ Secretary, U. Smith. “ Treasurer, Miss Freddie House.
For Executive Com., Eld. James White, of Battle Creek, Mich., and Oakland, Cal.; J. N. Loughborough, of Oakland, Cal.; J. N. Andrews, of Neuchatel, Switzerland.
These persons were thereupon unanimously elected to the offices named.
The report of the Committee on Resolutions being called for, they presented the following, which were considered and adopted:—

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.

The committee appointed to present resolutions to the Conference, suggest the following for their consideration:—
1. The School. Whereas, We recognize the hand of God in establishing a school in the city of Battle Creek, for the special purpose of presenting facilities, under favorable circumstances, for the thorough education of the youth of S. D. Adventists; and,
Whereas, Its establishment is unmistakable evidence that God would shield our children from the wicked influences so current in our public schools,
Resolved, That we hail with grateful hearts this new institution as meeting, in a measure, the providence of God.
Resolved, That this enterprise is worthy of our most hearty patronage, and that we do all in our power to recommend it to the friends of the cause of present truth and health reform generally.
2. The Health Reform. Whereas, The subject of health reform has now been agitated among us for more than half a score of years; and,
Whereas, We have found that the uniform result of the practical adoption of its teachings has been to increase physical, mental, and moral strength, and thus to promote spiritual growth,
Resolved, That we hereby express our confidence in the principles of health reform, and urge its more thorough adoption by those among us who have as yet made but little progress in this direction.
Resolved, That we especially urge upon our ministers the importance of this reform as a most efficient means of giving them clearness and strength of mind to present Bible truths in the most forcible and impressive manner.
Resolved, That, in view of the benefits which we have ourselves received from practicing the teachings of health reform, and of the intimate relation which it sustains to the general cause, we urge upon the friends of the cause every greater energy in the promulgation of these truths by personal efforts in the circulation of health publications.
3. Fulfillment of Prophecy. Whereas, The fulfillment of the message of Rev. 14: 9, which is to go to nations, tongues, and peoples, and is to be fulfilled but once, is the highest evidence of the nearness of the end; therefore,
Resolved, That the wonderful facts which have recently come to our knowledge relative to the springing up of the principles of this message in different parts of the world, almost without the aid of the living preacher, reveal to us, as nothing else could, the hand of God in this work, and call upon us for corresponding action.
Resolved, That we recommend the Executive Committee to take immediate steps to establish a printing office in Europe, to issue periodicals and publications in the French and German languages, and also to enter the openings presenting themselves in Great Britain, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Hungary, Africa, and Australia.
4. The Work on the Pacific Coast. Resolved, That we have great cause of gratitude, in the continued prosperity of the work on the Pacific Coast, through which already about a thousand souls in the territory between Mexico and British Columbia are rejoicing in the truth; and we recommend our people to take stock liberally in the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, that it may be immediately placed on a permanent basis.
Resolved, That we approve of the invitation extended by the Michigan Conference to Eld. J. N. Loughborough, to labor for a time in Michigan, to help the suffering cause in that State.
5. Conducting Conference Sessions. Resolved, That, in our judgment, it would add great interest to the proceedings of our Conference, if each annual session should be opened with an anniversary sermon, pertaining to some portion of our Conference work; and, if suitable persons should be appointed to present essays, or address the Conference, upon such subjects of interest as the meeting might determine, these appointments to be made one year in advance; and we recommend that this course be pursued.
6. A Mammoth Tent. Resolved, That the General Conference should own a mammoth tent or pavilion, at least 80 by 120 feet, which can be used at our larger camp-meetings or other important gatherings, as occasion may require.
7. Conference Constitution. Resolved, That the secretary prepare the Constitution of the General Conference, embodying all the amendments up to the present time, for publication in pamphlet form.
Respectfully submitted, U. SMITH, S. BROWNSBERGER, J. H. KELLOGG, } Committee.
8. Leadership. The following resolution was submitted to the Conference by Eld. Geo. I. Butler:—
Whereas, In the session of the General Conference held in the autumn of 1873, a resolution was passed endorsing a tract entitled Leadership, written by Eld. Butler; and
Whereas, It has been shown that some of the sentiments contained in said tract were incorrect; therefore,
Resolved, That the resolution above referred to be, and the same is hereby, rescinded.
Pending the adoption of this resolution, Eld. White made very clear and forcible remarks on the subject, setting forth the manner in which his mind had been led in this matter, resulting in his writing out almost immediately the articles which subsequently appeared over his signature in the Signs and the Review, before he knew that any objection was raised against the address referred to. He also set forth ably the principles of Leadership which, according to the Scriptures, must hold in the church of Christ.
It was then moved to amend the resolution by striking out its second and third clauses, and substituting in their place the following:—
“Whereas, Further examination has shown that some of the sentiments contained in said tract were incorrect; therefore, “Resolved, That the tract referred to be placed in the hands of a committee (said committee to be appointed by this Conference) to be so revised as to correspond with the better understanding which now exists on the subject of Leadership.”
The amendment was carried, and the resolution as amended was then unanimously adopted.

TREASURER’S REPORT.

Bal. on Hand, at commencement of the year, July 31, 1874, $1,920.46 Received during year, $5,515.17 Total, $7,435.63 Paid out during year, $6,331.51 Bal. on Hand, Aug. 9, 1875, $1,104.12 Total, $7,435.63

THIRD SESSION.

Prayer by Eld. White. On motion, the Chair appointed U. Smith, S. Brownsberger, and J. H. Kellogg, a committee of three to revise the address on Leadership, according to resolution No. 8.
On motion, Eld. White was appointed to speak on the Wants and Progress of the Cause at our next annual meeting; S. Brownsberger, on the subject of Education; Dr. J. H. Kellogg, on the subject of Health Reform; Eld. S. N. Haskell, on the subject of Tract and Missionary Operations; and Eld. U. Smith, on the subject of Our Publications, in accordance with resolution No. 5.
Adjourned to call of the Chair.
JAS. WHITE, Pres. U. SMITH, Sec.

Idol Worship.

By Francis Gould

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” is the first commandment of the decalogue. We are required to serve the God that made the heavens and the earth, and him only. The nations of the earth in past ages have been given more or less to idolatrous worship, and have not retained God in their knowledge. And of them David declares: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Ps. 9: 17. It is therefore of the utmost importance that we worship the living and true God.
The children of Israel, the chosen people of God, were given, to a great extent, to idolatrous worship. They became exalted, and desired to be more like the nations around them, and hence would have other gods to go before them. This was their great sin, on account of which many fell in the wilderness.
Perhaps some who profess to believe the third angel’s message are not clear from this sin. If so, we should learn something from the dealings of God with his ancient people. Our idols are not of the same character as theirs, but they will separate us from God no less effectually. They will lead us into darkness, and cause us to forget him, and thus be forever lost.
The question may arise, What are our idols? Any thing that we place before God in our affections becomes an idol. Perhaps we are slaves to tobacco, tea, or coffee, or to the use of some of the many other things which are injurious to the health. Or we may idolize our children and our farms, and make this world our god. These become idols if we suffer them to come between us and our Maker. God requires all our affections. We ought to love him, because he first loved us.
John speaks to the church in the last time as follows: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. . . . For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” And he closes by adding, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” The remnant church is made up of individuals from the different churches and from the world, possessing different dispositions and temperaments. They have brought along with them their peculiarities and different habits of life; and for some, at least, it will require a great conflict to overcome them. But let us not be discouraged. God has promised grace equal to our day; and, if we try to help ourselves, he has promised to help us, and we shall gain a glorious victory. In order to accomplish this object, we must live in harmony with the laws of our being. We must cherish and live out the principles of health reform as taught in the word of God. What sin and misery have been entailed upon the human family because Adam lost his self-control, and yielded to the tempter! Let us control our appetites, practice self-denial and temperance, and add to our faith all the Christian graces. If we do this, we may be sanctified through the truth, and finally have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. FRANCIS GOULD.

The Degeneracy of Savage Tribes.

MR. JOSEPH EDKINS, in Nature, adduces evidence to show that savage tribes are, in some cases at least, the products of degenerate culture rather than the examples of initial wildness. This is the view formerly represented by Dr. Whately, and to some extent by Humboldt, and now held by the Duke of Argyll and other writers. Mr. Tylor and many, perhaps most, of the modern archæologists and ethnologists hold the opposite view. Mr. Edkins mentions, among other facts in support of his opinion, the circumstance that in the Ilium now laid bare by Dr. Schliemann, the lower strata contain more copper and fewer stone implements than the upper—in other words, we have an “age of stone” after the “age of copper.” He argues also that the social conditions of certain forest tribes of Brazil, as found by Dr. Martins, indicated the existence of an earlier civilization, probably Asiatic; and that the names of numbers among Malayan and Polynesian tribes point to a similar degeneracy, the arithmetical faculty having dwindled in these insular peoples, in proportion to their distance from Asia, whence they originally brought far more complete and extensive numerical systems than they now possess.—Christian Union.

The Camp-Meeting.

By Uriah Smith

ANOTHER meeting on the ground at Battle Creek, has passed. It has not been without numerous scenes and incidents which are more or less common to all the camp-meetings of our people, and of any one of which it may be said, This has well paid for the entire meeting. Some may go from the most powerful and profitable meeting, not particularly impressed or benefited, because they are themselves too much like the heath in the desert, and do not know when good cometh. But who that has a heart susceptible of divine influence, can attend such gatherings and not receive a lasting blessing? How much some are losing by not attending the camp-meetings. How can they be contented to remain away?
We have neither time nor space to give even a full synopsis of the meetings. We had many fears that the number of business sessions to be held would greatly detract from the religious interests of the occasion. But the business matters were disposed of in a marvelously brief, effective, and harmonious manner. A greater amount of business was transacted during the seven days of this meeting, than during the fourteen days of the meeting of 1874; and yet there was a fair proportion of time to devote to religious services, which were not without their interest and good results. The happy disposal of so much business was due to the energy and tact of Bro. White, who took hold to lift in every direction, and whose executive ability, when his way is clear from any serious hindrances and drawbacks, is equal to the occasion.
Only a few particulars concerning the religious meetings can we give. At the early social meeting on Friday morning ninety-three testimonies were given in fifty-eight minutes. On Sabbath morning the congregation was divided into three companies, in each of which between sixty and seventy spoke. The testimonies were intelligent and substantial, having the ring of the true coin, and showing that all hearts were beating in unison in the same work—the work of the third angel's message, which is to lead souls to the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus the few remaining years while mercy may be found.
At nine a general social meeting at the stand. But it was soon seen that the congregation was so large, and so many wished to speak, that it was practicable to divide the congregation as they sat into three divisions, each under charge of its leaders, and thus hold three meetings in one. It worked admirably; and for most of the time three were speaking at once; and this caused no more distraction or confusion, as was remarked at the time, than different birds singing in the same forest cause disorder and confusion. This was a remarkable meeting surpassing in interest anything of the kind we have ever witnessed. It was good to be there.
In the afternoon, an intense religious feeling pervaded the congregation as sister White spoke on Christ's pathetic lamentation over Jerusalem. At the conclusion of her remarks, some three hundred or more came forward for prayers.
The preaching during the meeting was performed by Eld. Jas. White, Mrs. E. G. White, and Elds. Hull, Bourdeau, St. John, Smith, and Jones. Bro. W. spoke five times, and sister W. four. On Sunday, though the day was broken up with showers, the crowd that came to the ground was uncommonly large. A special train on the Chicago and Lake Huron road brought in some seven hundred passengers. Besides these many came in with their own conveyances from eighteen to twenty miles, through all the region round about, so that in the afternoon the number present was estimated at four thousand. Sr. White spoke in the forenoon during the rain, under unfavorable circumstances, to as many as could be literally packed under the tent, flanked on all sides by a surrounding wall of standing listeners eight or ten feet deep. This rendered speaking in the close and oppressive air within, a severe tax upon her physical strength. In the afternoon Bro. W. spoke with freedom on the Sabbath question. But many coming from so long a distance, had not arrived in season to hear all the discourse, and not being able to remain till evening were going away disappointed if they could not hear more—disappointed, in fact, if they could not hear Mrs. White. Under these circumstances she roused herself, notwithstanding her worn condition, to speak again in the afternoon. This she was however enabled to do with unwonted freedom and power, the Lord signally sustaining and blessing her in the arduous effort.
The presence of Bro. Francois Urgos, who recently embraced the truth in Kankakee, Ill., under the labors of Bro. Bourdeau, added no little interest to the meeting. This Bro., of a noble Italian family, espoused the cause of freedom and fought for the liberty of his country under Garibaldi; but when the papal cause was re-established by the intervention of the Austrians, after much oppression, and a series of narrow escapes he fled from the country. After traveling in various parts of the eastern world he came to America, and here has received the truth, as above stated. He has an uncle who is prime minister of Italy, and brothers who are in the service of the king and government. Victor Emanuel has invited him to return to Italy; and if he would renounce Protestantism, his family would welcome him back, and he could live in affluence under government pension. But he prefers the truth, and designs to return, when he can do so independently, and when he has provided himself with some of our works in Italian, to make known the truth to his countrymen. He however labors under the disadvantage of being totally blind, having lost one eye in the service, and the other through the machinations of the Jesuits, who have followed him with the purpose of taking his life. A sketch of his history, giving his experience as a prisoner of the inquisition in Rome, &c., &c., will be published soon. He will for the time being teach Italian and Spanish in connection with our school, if there are those who desire to learn these languages.
The welcome presence of Eld. N. V. Hull, the delegate from the Seventh-day Baptist General Conference, is spoken of by Bro. White in another column, and also in the Conference minutes. His discourse Sunday evening was on the subject of persevering, prevailing faith, as illustrated in the case of the Syrophœnician woman, Matt. 15: 21-28. It was replete with instruction and encouragement, and was listened to with marked attention by the large assemblage.
Bro. Bourdeau gave an interesting and encouraging report of a Frenchman who had received the truth in Africa, where he found several families keeping the Sabbath. He desires, after suitable preparation, to return to engage in missionary labor there. A notice of this case will also be found in another column.
On Monday afternoon, forty-eight were immersed in the Kalamazoo river, Brn. E. R. Jones and H. M. Kenyon administering the ordinances. Some of these were very interesting cases: one a little girl in her ninth year, thus early following understandingly her Saviour in this divine ordinance; another a young man who, when he first heard of this faith, was connected with a drug store in a neighboring city. The trial volume was sent by some one to the proprietor of this store. Instead of being favorably impressed with the truth, he became so incensed against it as to commit some of the papers to the flames. Finally he told the young man that he would give them to him. The young man read them and was interested. The seed found good soil. He and his companion are, as the result, keeping the Sabbath, and here he took upon himself the baptismal vows. Thus the good providence of God often directs the truth into channels we know not of, where honest hearts are to be found, and fruit is to appear. Withhold not your hands, O ye who are scattering the words of life through the printed page. Souls are everywhere turning Heavenward, as the glorious consequence. Two from the Review Office we were rejoiced to see go forward on this occasion, besides the daughter and son-in-law of Eld. J. B. Frisbie, and others whom we could mention with equal pleasure.
There were eighty-five tents on the ground, six less than last year; but one of these, a forty-foot tent, contained many families, and another, a sixty-foot tent, many more, being filled very much as a hive is filled with bees. Had these all had separate tents, there would have been at least one hundred. The number present it was judged was larger than one year ago.
Another feature of the meeting was very noticeable, and that was the number of recent converts to the truth. The present is the fourth year a camp-meeting has been held upon the ground at Battle Creek, yet scores testified that it was the first camp-meeting of this kind they ever attended, some keeping the Sabbath for the first time there on the ground, some dating their conversion to the truth three weeks before, some six, some two months, four, five, six, &c. The truth is working more rapidly than we are aware, and agencies seem to be preparing to carry it into all the earth.
As we look back upon the meeting, we see no features of an unpleasant or discouraging character, but many of great interest and the most hope-inspiring nature; the advantage therefore lies immensely in this direction. The meeting has been good, and will do good. And when, a little in the future the race is accomplished, and the prize is gained, we believe that some will look back to this meeting as their starting point in the way to Heaven, and many others, as a timely help to them in their Christian course. U. S.

Northern Michigan.

By Uriah Smith

At the late Battle Creek Camp-meeting, two persons from the great Saginaw Valley, and contiguous regions where the truth has taken quite a hold, were present, and two only! This is not taken as an indication that the many friends of the cause in that region do not desire to attend a camp-meeting this year, but rather as an evidence that they expect one in that portion of the State. It has therefore been decided to hold this year, as last, a second camp-meeting in Michigan, this second meeting to be held at Flint, as shall be more particularly announced hereafter. The friends will not have the presence and labors of Bro. and sister White, of which they would be so glad, but will have to make the best of the situation. “The boys” will do what they can; and it will be a good opportunity for all to see how fully they can rely upon God.
The query arises why a camp-meeting is not a good field for the operations of the Tract and Missionary Society. Members go long distances sometimes and spend no little time to see their neighbors and friends; but here they congregate at our very doors; and there are times, especially on Sunday, when multitudes are wandering about with apparently no special object in view. Why not at such times engage them judiciously in conversation, not controversy, in regard to their soul’s salvation, hand them a tract, call their attention to the books, and do missionary work generally? We believe such a course would add fresh life to the meeting, and result in great good to those who come, within the reach of our influence upon the camp-ground.
U. S.

Editorial Correspondence.

By John Nevins Andrews

THE WORK IN EUROPE.

I gratefully acknowledge the reception of a bundle of Holland tracts, and have also to report that the most of these were on their way to Holland by the next mail. I hope for good fruit from these tracts. I sent them to those with whom I have corresponded, and to several of these correspondents I sent also a letter bringing before them the claims of the Bible Sabbath, and an epitome of our faith.
Our second baptism was an occasion of much interest. The place is a beautiful spot near the north end of Lake Neuchatel. Eight persons were baptized. Two of these were a Methodist brother and his wife, who have this summer begun to hallow the Bible Sabbath. He appears to be a man of God. He is deeply interested in the study of the Scriptures, and very zealous to teach those who are in darkness. I have taken much pains to help him, and I feel very hopeful in his case. He had begun to preach among the Methodists, and now since learning the nearness of the second advent of Christ, the commandments, and the Sabbath, he is very desirous of telling his German friends what he has learned. So with the approval of the committee he has already begun to labor publicly, and with a fair prospect of success. He seems to be a man of a humble spirit, and to be willing to labor without inquiring what remuneration shall be made him. He supports himself with his own labor and preaches on Sabbath and first-day. His wife appears to be of the same mind with him.
Since my separation from Bro. Ertzenberger, I have been in constant correspondence with him. His labors have been faithful and untiring in Germany. He has had peculiar difficulties to contend with, and has, I think, stood in the counsel of God and acted with wisdom and with humility. His labors have been a great blessing to the German brethren, and a few have embraced the Sabbath through his instrumentality. He has just entered upon a course of lectures in a new field. May the Lord make him the instrument of great good in Germany.
My first great object to accomplish in Switzerland is the publication of a paper in French. The most, even of our own people here in this country, can have no real idea of the work in America as our publications are all in English with the exception of a few tracts. The day which witnesses the publication of a paper in French in behalf of the cause of truth will mark a new era here. The time is at hand when with God's blessing we will have this. I miss no opportunity to teach the truth, but my principal effort is to thoroughly master French. For various reasons this has been not simply a painstaking labor but one of real pain. It does not give me much to report that is of interest to the brethren in America, and I well know that they watch with prayerful interest the progress of the work in Europe. Yet this preparatory work is absolutely necessary. They may be sure of one thing: I am at work, as wisely as I know how, and to the full extent of my strength. Though I have obstacles to surmount, I feel that the Lord is present to help. My courage is good, though I see not yet how everything is to be done. We need a man of God to give himself to the work in Italy in the region where sister Revel lives. This is the first person in Europe who embraced the Sabbath under the labors of Eld. M. B. C. I would go with such a laborer and remain for a time, as I did with Bro. Ertzenberger in Germany. And what shall be done for the Sabbath-keepers in Russia? There are certainly many of them, and I hope they are people who fear God. Is there no Russian Sabbath-keeper in the United States? We must soon open communication with these people.
J. N. ANDREWS.

The General Conference Committee.

By Uriah Smith

It will be seen from the Conference minutes that the Conference Committee are chosen from widely distant localities. This seems to be very appropriate.
The message which S. D. Adventists are giving is a world-wide message; and the General Conference Committee have the oversight of the work the world over. How fitting, then, to the nature and extent of the work, that they should be stationed in different fields in different parts of the world.
One in Europe, one on the Pacific Coast, and the other vibrating in all sections of the field between them, looks to us like a most appropriate arrangement. We can think of but one step more in the way of improvement on this matter, and that would be to add a fourth member to the Committee, and locate him in Australia.
This links all parts of the work together, and by means of the steam and telegraph lines of this rapid age, they can easily confer with one another in regard to the wants of the wide harvest field, of which personal labor and supervision will enable them more correctly to judge.
Pray for the Committee that they may have wisdom and strength to properly manage this now rapidly advancing cause during the important year next before us. U. S.

U. S

By Uriah Smith

1876.

Next year, the centennial of American independence, is to be the great year thus far in our national history. Immense preparations are being made to mark with appropriate ceremonies the hundredth year of this nation's existence. If we mistake not, it will mark an important era in our government. We look for new moves to be made, and some questions to assume a new and significant phase before the people.
The friends of the Religious Amendment are quietly but zealously working, preparing for a great strike in 1876. They hope to be able to present an array of friends to their cause so strong that they will make themselves felt in the National Congress.
And what shall the friends of truth do? It is time for all to be preparing for the important campaign, and for the work of that year, which if improved as it should be, we believe may be made to show most important results in our work. We shall be disappointed if the services of the large tent, elsewhere referred to, are not in good demand. Perhaps more than one will be needed. The truth is now made so plain, that to the sincere inquirer, it comes with all the force of a demonstration, and the Lord is evidently schooling many workmen to the business of presenting it with clearness and effect. Our work must become known, and our views be household words in all the land. This nation must be shaken from center to circumference with the important themes now demanding the attention of the people. And why not before 1876, with its enterprises, its patriotic movements, its transitions and excitements, shall have drawn to its close? Why not?

U. S

The Mammoth Tent.

By Uriah Smith

As will be seen from the record of the proceedings of the Conference, it has been voted to procure a large tent, at least 80 by 120 feet, for use in the cause as occasion may require. Such a tent will comfortably seat two thousand people. The present season is so far advanced that it could not be used to any great extent this year, but it will be ready for the campaign of 1876.
We rejoice in this movement. It has a decided look in the direction of progress; and this it means. Its use would have been worth its entire cost, just for that rainy Sunday, at our Michigan camp-meeting. May it be early in the field the coming season, solemnly dedicated to the work of the last saving message to mankind. U. S.

J. O. CORLISS

By J. O. CORLISS

Education.

The influence of education upon the mind is so great that it often forms the motive power of the individual. Especially is this the case where the mind has been trained while young to dwell upon particular themes, for the reason that early impressions are generally indelible. This has been so forcibly demonstrated in the past that it has originated the trite adage:— “'Tis education forms the common mind, / Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined.” On account of the truthfulness of this adage, every opportunity is seized upon by tutors to instil into the mind of the child those peculiar sentiments which they wish to see developed in the world, and which they know cannot be so successfully planted in any other way.
The above is well illustrated by the following dialogue reported to have taken place on the streets of Cincinnati, between Archbishop Purcell and the Rev. John White, P. E. “Good day, Mr. White, which way are you traveling?” “I am going to the west part of the city to distribute these Testaments [exhibiting some] among the children, to prevent you from making Catholics of them. But where are you going?” “Oh, I am going to the north part of the city to scatter these tracts [pointing to a bundle under his arm] and keep you from making Protestants of the children.” Then after a moment's pause he added: “I will compromise the matter with you, Mr. White; if you will give me all the children in the city under ten years of age, you may have the rest.” He knew well that by that time their minds would become so established as to almost preclude the possibility of a change.
Skeptical authors are suffered to furnish the schools of the land with their scientific productions (falsely so called), in which everything is explained (?) on natural principles, many times in a manner which directly conflicts with the word of God, and the children are drilled in the principles of these books until their minds are drawn away from the simplicity of the Bible, and the principles inculcated by it, and they find themselves at a more mature age enveloped in the almost Cimmerian darkness of infidelity. It is to be regretted not a little that so many of the young at the present time are suffered to grow up under influences so pernicious as to corrupt those pure principles given of God, which might be developed into high and noble qualities, making them a counterpart of their divine Master. Truly, the power of the adversary is great, and in every conceivable way does he plot the destruction of the human family.
As we are responsible to God for the right development of our children, how necessary that every precaution be taken to guard against the incursions of the enemy, and how careful should we be, that their education be not made up of those dogmas which tend to irreverence for the truths of the Bible. In order to insure a right education, a lively interest should be taken in all their studies, that errors in teaching may be detected and promptly counteracted; or if the cares of life prevent this, let us place them, at any cost, under the tuition of those in whose integrity we have confidence, where we know they will be taught the fear of the Lord, and where the surrounding influences will be healthful, and conducive to their spiritual welfare. Under such discipline they may develop characters that will make them an honor to their parents, an ornament to society and the cause of truth, and finally they may be found worthy of a place in the kingdom of God.

J. O. CORLISS

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