p. 23 | Review and Herald, Vol. 20, No. 3. (6/17/1862)

Earlier text: THOUGHTS ON THE REVELATION

LETTERS.

By Editor

“Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.”

From Bro. Boaz.

Bro. WHITE: Something over four years ago I became deeply interested in the teachings of the Bible by hearing our beloved Bro. Hull proclaim the glorious truths of the third angel, and after a thorough investigation of the Bible on the subjects of the mortality of man, and the Sabbath, I saw clearly that the church had been in the wilderness, and that the time had come for her to look forth as the morning, clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners. And, having had from my youth an anxious desire to live for, and glorify, God, the truth shone so clear that it revealed to me my sinfulness, driving away the fog of superstition thoroughly, and I resolved that I would let God be true and every man a liar.

When Paul thought himself very righteous the law taught him that he was a sinner. The same law taught me a like lesson. It said, “Remember the Sabbath-day,” &c. I had lived in the violation of that law all my life. I then resolved to trust in the Lord, and never again violate his holy law.

With much trembling I informed my companion of my intention, and to my great joy and surprise she was fully with me. And although we had been Baptists for twenty years, we commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and what was worse, in the estimation of the popular churches, began to work on Sunday, and denied the immortality of the soul; which they tell us is the fundamental part of the Christian religion. But I wish to be delivered from all religion that is founded in error. From that time (four years ago) to the present we have been able to realize the truth of the language of Paul in 2 Tim. iii, 12.

Two years afterward, Bro. Hull paid us another visit, and in the meantime I had given the subject of baptism a thorough investigation, and desired it at the hands of Bro. Hull, and was followed by my companion and four of our daughters; and since that time we think we have some evidence that we love the law of God, that giveth great peace. Ps. cxix, 165.

At that time Bro. Hull insisted that I ought to take the Review and Instructor, that I might know of all movements and advances of the remnant people of God, which I greatly desired to know. But being very poor, with a mortgage covering my little home, and in very feeble health, I feared to do so. He replied that I could take them, and if I could not raise the money to send from time to time, just report myself often and let the department know that we were interested in reading, &c., and all would be right; but I hated to write without having money to send, and still hoped for better times, and have only written once, accompanied with one dollar, which was receipted in due time. Money matters are decidedly worse with me now. I do not now see any possible chance to save my home, although I have paid on it more than double the amount that is now back, besides the loss of a beautiful improvement.

About two weeks ago we received the Instructor for May, accompanied with the bill showing our indebtedness. If you could have seen the sad countenances, and the flowing tears that were shed by the family at the thought of being deprived of the privilege of reading those precious sheets (Review and Instructor) you could have drawn some idea of how highly they are prized by the family. The inquiry was, “Father, can't we pay for it?” “I love to read it so well!” The mother replied, “I have got a little more than will pay my tent pledge, and will do without shoes.” “Father, let us take the paper if we do lose our place, and then we will move to where there are more of our brethren, and we girls can get work by the week among the brethren, and we can yet make a living.” Such was a part of the conversation and conclusion. Therefore you will receive a little money with this, and directions how to appropriate it.

We are situated some ten miles from where our church meetings are held, and have no horse, and do not have the privilege of seeing or meeting with the brethren. Therefore the papers are about all the preaching we hear; for we choose not to go to hear the popular preaching of the day.

Your unworthy brother hoping for immortality. E. C. Boaz. Ottawa, Clark Co., Iowa.

NOTE. We mark Bro. B.'s Review at half price. If some reader, touched with the above simple narrative, wishes to pay the other half, and for the Instructor, he or she can have the pleasure. Otherwise we send the papers free for one year.—Ed.

A Sister Alone in the Truth

By Abbey B. Huntley

From Sr. Huntley.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: It is with feelings of gratitude to our kind heavenly Father for his goodness to us, that I hear of the encouraging prospects of the cause of truth. My heart is with God's people, and I can truly say that their joys are my joys, and their sorrows are my sorrows. I can sympathize with every tried and afflicted servant of God.

I am alone here in the truth, and often feel very lonely. I often wish that I could be placed in a situation where I might enjoy the society of God's children; but the fond thought comes to mind that soon if faithful, we can enjoy each other's society to all eternity. Blessed thought! 'Tis this hope that cheers me. O let us try to prove faithful. Let us arise and gird on the whole armor of God, so that we may be able to stand in that evil day. I want my ornaments to be those of a meek and quiet spirit. I want to be humble. The apostle Peter says: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." Then, dear brethren and sisters, if we would be exalted hereafter we must be humble now. Let us deny ourselves of all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. I ask an interest in the prayers of God's children, that I may prove faithful, and gain a seat in the kingdom.

Your sister in Christ. ABBEY B. HUNTLEY.

South English, Iowa.

Extracts from Letters.

H. E. Southard writes from Saline, Mich.: “I have been a reader of the Advent Review for a time past, through the kindness of a friend in subscribing for me. I am, and have been, a member of the M. E. Church for five years past; nevertheless I take pleasure in reading Adventism (as we style it), and acknowledge a belief in some of its teachings. I am favorably impressed, as far as I know believers in your faith, and have again and again observed that no sect so universally among all its members studied the Book of books as do the Adventists. Like Felix, I am almost persuaded that Saturday is the true Sabbath, that only one hath absolute immortality, and that is God, and that eternal life is the gift of God to the righteous.”

Sister M. L. Phelps writes from Lyndonville, N. Y.: “It is a source of much pleasure to hear from my brethren and sisters through the Review. I hope we shall all be awake to our eternal interests. I feel that we have a great deal to do, and but little time to do it in. May the Lord arouse us all to a sense of duty, and may he help us to realize that eternity is near. I feel for one that I want on the whole armor. Pray for me that I may ever be found with my lamp trimmed and burning; for we have but a little longer to work. Jesus is soon coming to take his children home. I am not tired of trying to keep the Sabbath. I love God's word, and his children. I love to meet with my brethren for prayer and praise. I love to hear the gospel preached, and mean ever to obey its precepts.”

Bro. A. Hayes writes from Little Prairie, Wis.: “I love the cause of present truth above all things else. Blessed are the meek, says our Saviour, for they shall inherit the earth. I have a strong desire for an inheritance in the new earth, and I am striving to follow the meek and lowly Jesus so that when he comes the second time without sin unto salvation, I may receive immortality and go into the city of our God, and partake of the fruit of the tree of life and live forever. I am glad that my ears were ever saluted with the voice of the third angel. I hope that I shall be able to live out its solemn truths, and when the kingdom, and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, with faithful father Abraham receive the promised possession. About two and a half years ago Bro. Sanborn came to Little Prairie and gave a course of lectures. The truth looked so plain that I was compelled to believe it. I praise the name of the Lord that I was willing to forsake the commandments and traditions of men, and turn my feet into the testimonies of the Lord.”

Sister Emily Kellogg writes from Kickapoo, Badax Co., Wis.: “Myself and companion have been keeping the Sabbath one year and six months. We were convinced of the truth by reading the Review and some of your books. We are still trying to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Although we meet with much opposition, and have to hear the scoffs and sneers of the world and nominal professors, still we feel strong in the Lord. There are eight of us that have generally met on the Sabbath. We are trying to get rid of every idol, and to overcome, that we may eat of the fruit of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God. We are trying to get right, so that we can be organized when some messenger comes this way.”

Sister S. M. McBride writes from Whitewater, Wis.: “It is about six months since I abandoned tradition, and commenced keeping the Sabbath of the Lord. I meet with many trials, but my hope of being an overcomer is in the promise of God, who has promised never to leave or forsake those who put their trust in him. I find that in keeping the commandments of God there is great reward. I hesitated somewhat at first in regard to the visions, feeling that I had not yet obeyed the command which says, ‘Prove all things;’ but I can now say I fully believe them to be from heaven. I am striving, by divine assistance, to be an overcomer, and at last stand on mount Zion with the redeemed, there to sing the song of deliverance.”

SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

By Oliver Hopper

DEAR BRETHREN : I wish to say to you all, that I am a firm believer in the perpetuity of spiritual gifts; for it seems to me that there is no plainer doctrine taught in the Bible; and it is a wonder to me how men and women professing godliness, and claiming at the same time that they take the Bible as the rule of their faith and practice, can reject spiritual gifts, and set up the claim that they were only intended for the apostles and first Christians, and ceased with them. Such persons certainly are far off from the old landmarks. They are not with the great apostle when he says, "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts." The majority of professors of religion in these last days do not desire them, and perhaps the reason is, they have always been taught that they ceased with the apostles. But any person that believes the Bible, and reads it carefully, must come to the conclusion that spiritual gifts were intended to be manifested through all time, or until that which is perfect is come. We believe then that these miraculous powers shall attend the believer even unto the end of the world; that signs and wonders will be done and seen among the remnant who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, just before Jesus comes. And I would say to all the dear saints scattered abroad, Wake up, and covet earnestly the best gifts; and may we all be fitted up to stand in the coming conflict; for it is surely coming, and that quickly.

OLIVER HOPPER.

Attica, Ohio.

MONTHLY MEETINGS.

Our meeting with the brethren at Convis the first Sabbath of the present month, was excellent. The next will be held at Battle Creek, Sabbath, July 5th. A general gathering from Convis, Marshall, Ceresco, Newton, Bedford, Assyria, and the region round about, is desired. Meetings will commence with the commencement of the Sabbath, the 4th.

MEETINGS IN SOUTH TROY.

By A. S. Hutchins

BRO. WHITE:—Last Sabbath and first-day, I spent with the brethren in South Troy. Our meetings were very encouraging. The subjects of the Gifts and Organization were presented on Sabbath, with good freedom. On first-day, three were baptized, and a church organized, consisting of sixteen members, from Potton, Jay and Troy. Others expect to unite when they have confessed their past crooked course with their neighbors and friends and made restoration where they have taken the advantage of those with whom they have had dealings. For they feel a measure of the same good spirit that Zaccheus felt the day that salvation came to his house. Luke xix, 8.

The work of the Lord is moving steadily on, and the church is coming into the unity of the faith. The gifts are more and more appreciated by the spiritual, while the half-hearted realize not what God is doing for his people. Some we expect will murmur on at the instrumentalities that the Lord uses in his cause, but nevertheless he will make his own choice. Such would have made extremely poor generals, captains, or soldiers had they lived in the days of Barak. See Judges iv, 4-14. To have received knowledge of the divine will in sacred and civil matters through Deborah, a prophetess, must have been revolting to their feelings. How much better to have an humble heart and obedient faith and ever say, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth." A. S. HUTCHINS. June 11, 1862.

TOBACCO KILLS RATTLE SNAKES.

AFTER all that was suffered from poisonous reptiles, it was proved to a demonstration that no animal is so poisonous as man, carrying more poison in his mouth than any other creature. He can poison a venomous serpent quicker than the serpent can poison him. Martin Root and two other young men, chopping together, saw a rattle snake, set a fork over his neck, and put in his mouth a new quid from one of their mouths. They raised the fork, and the poor creature did not crawl more than his length before he convulsed, swelled up and died, poisoned to death by virus from the mouth of one of the lords of creation. Deacon Bayes and Worthy Pratt tried the same experiment upon copper-heads, with the same results. Many others killed venomous reptiles in the same way, and one man pretended that by the moderate use, he had taught a copper-head to take tobacco without injury.—Hist. of Ohio, by Henry Howe, 1856, pp. 297, 298.

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.

By Editor

Business Notes.

F. Wheeler: The book was received and placed to your credit.

Who is it? Some person writes from Wheelock, inclosing 12 cts. for Testimony No. 8, but gives no name.

D. W. Bartholomew: Your Review is paid this volume and the next.

J. A. Demill: The money has been received and placed to your credit.

RECEIPTS.

For Review and Herald.

Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD to which the money receipted pays. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.

B. Graham 2,00,xxii,1. C. Farr 1,00,xx,1. S. B. Whitney for Eld. S. Landon 0,50,xxi,1. A. Hazeltine 4,50,xxii,14. S. Rider 1,00,xxi,1. J. Vile 2,00,xxi,24. J. Cole 1,00,xx,1. H. Holcomb 1,00,xxi,1. G. I. Butler 2,00,xxi,6. C. Beeman 1,00,xx,1. M. W. Steere 1,00,xxi,1. S. Ryder for R. D. Ryder 1,00,xxii,1. D. Bisbee 1,00,xxi,1. A. Abbey 1,00,xx,1. Mrs. J. W. Ridgway 0,50,xxi,1. E. C. Boaz 0,50,xxiii,14. A. Mountford 2,00,xx,13. H. I. Buckland 1,00,xxii,1. Mrs. H. M. Caslar 1,00,xx,10. J. D. Morton 2,00,xxi,1. L. Drake 2,00,xx,1. L. Wiswell 2,00,xxiii,1. I. M. Sealy 1,00,xxii,1. T. T. Wheeler 2,00,xxi,1. M. E. Morey 2,00,xxii,1. E. W. Waters 2,00,xxii,1. P. S. Thurston 1,00,xxi,5. H. C. Blanchard 1,00,xxi,1. G. Sweet 3,75,xviii,7. A. Hoff 1,50,xxi,14. E. Macomber for P. Allen 1,00,xxi,25. D. W. Bartholomew 1,00,xxii,1. D. W. Bartholomew for Mrs. L. Spencer 0,50,xxi,1. W. E. Cheesbro 0,35,xxii,10. D. Ballard 1,50,xx,3. S. Chance 0,70,xix,18. S. N. James 4,00,xxiv,19. R. S. Durfee 4,00,xxi,1. M. E. Darling for S. D. Pasco 1,00,xxii,1. C. W. Olds 0,40,xix,21. J. Howlett 1,00,xx,1. J. S. Preston 1,00,xxii,1. L. Wait 1,00,xviii,1. W. J. Mills 1,00,xxi,1. J. W. Ells 1,00,xxii,1. S. N. Haskell for E. Seager and C. W. Sargeant each, 0,50,xxi,1. J. Barrett 2,00,xxi,1. W. H. Laughhead 2,00,xxii,1. J. A. Laughhead 2,00,xxii,1. M. C. Trembly 1,00,xxi,1. J. Mills 2,00,xxi,1. E. Mugford 2,00,xxi,1. P. A. Gammon 2,00,xxi,9. S. Ferguson 2,00,xxii,1. N. N. Lunt 2,00,xxii,1. J. Stryker 1,00,xxii,1. H. F. Robinson 1,00,xvii,1. Mrs. N. Bowers 1,00,xx,4.

For Shares in Publishing Association.

Alonzo Abbey $1,00. Alfred F. Wilkinson $10,00. M. E. Cornell $10,00. A. M. A. Cornell $10,00. Joel Gulick $10,00. Abraham Hoff $10,00. Abigail James $10,00. Jesse Heistand $5,00.

Donations to Publishing Association.

A. Belden $10,00. A. M. Preston $0,38. N. Bowers $1,00.

Cash Received on Account.

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Books Sent as Freight.

M. E. Cornell $19,75. Wakeman, Huron Co., Ohio. Thomas Brown, $28,60, Freeport, Ills.

For Bro. Snook a Home.

D. R. Palmer $20. E. S. Griggs $10. M. E. Cornell $5.

Received on Minnesota Tent Fund

J. H. Darling 50c. R. W. Darling 50c. M. E. Darling 50c. E. W. Darling $1,50.

Books Sent By Mail.

A. Chase 8c. B. Graham 39c. N. G. Sanders 63c. S. B. Whitney 27c. J. Vile for J. L. Roach 60c. D. C. Elmer 10c. M. Marquart 12c. M. W. Steere 12c. D. P. Bisbee 12c. A. Abbey 25c. E. Degarmo 24c. I. C. Vaughan $1. E. S. Griggs 20c. G. M. Bowen 40c. D. T. Bourdeau 29c. J. L. Locke 40c. R. R. Coggshall 12c. Mrs. H. Smiley 42c. A. E. Gridley 12c. D. Andre 15c. R. C. Farrar 12c. E. A. Nutting 20c. D. W. Bartholomew $1. A. Umstead 51c. B. M. Potts $1. R. S. Durfee $1. E. W. Darling 77c. C. W. Olds 60c. A. M. Preston 12c. M. C. Trembly 12c. Mattie Wells 31c. W. E. Cheesbro $1,65. O. J. Steele 12c. C. G. Cramer $2.

TESTIMONY to the Church, No. 8, is now ready, and its circulation at this time may be important, as it contains statements as to how such testimony should be held. Price 10 cents, postage 2 cents; or ten copies, post-paid, for $1,00.

NOTICE.

THOSE considering themselves under the jurisdiction or watchcare of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at Hillsdale, will please to present themselves at our next meeting, held for the reception of members, and such business as may come before the church, on the second of Aug. 1862. By order of the Church.

A. GLEASON, Clerk.

Hillsdale, June 8, 1862.

MIRACULOUS POWERS.

By O. Hoffer

I HAVE received and read Bro. Cornell's work on Miraculous Powers, and I would recommend it to the brethren everywhere, as an interesting and useful work. Let all send for it at once, and read it carefully and prayerfully, and you will not fail to be benefited.

O. HOFFER.

APPOINTMENTS.

Our next quarterly meeting at Little Prairie, Wis., is June 28, 29. C. W. OLDS.