Earlier text: Publishers' PageOne Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund
For Special Work at Home and Abroad A VERY recent communication from Sister White contains the following in regard to the importance of our Sanitarium in Washington, D. C. The General Conference Committee gave the first $50,000 of this present $150,000 to the South. After that, the other institutions are to receive a pro rata of the funds that come in. At the present rate, it will be a long time before the Sanitarium in Washington receives the help that it needs. Will not those who can help be led to help at once by the following powerful appeal?— “The Sanitarium at Takoma Park is to be a source of strength to the School already established. The School and the Sanitarium may be a help one to the other. The students of the school may assist in the erection of the sanitarium buildings. “The establishment of the work in Washington is creating a widespread interest in other places. Tracts and pamphlets have been widely circulated, and when we begin to work in other cities, we shall find those who have been studying this literature. “The Lord calls upon us to awake to a realization of the opportunities presented before us to let our light shine in the city of Washington, by establishing there memorials that will hasten forward the proclamation of the third angel’s message to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. “I thank God in behalf of those who have already sent in offerings to the work in Washington. I thank him for the privilege and satisfaction of knowing that there are hearts which are alive to the needs of the work of God, and are influenced by the Holy Spirit to give of their means for the advancement of this work. “There should be no delay. The cause of God demands our assistance. I pray that the Lord may impress those who have means to spare to place it in the Lord’s treasury, to be used to his name’s glory. We ask all, as the Lord’s stewards, to put his means into circulation, to provide facilities by which many shall have the opportunity of learning what is truth.” THIS is a large sum of money. If one of us had to pay this amount, it would be impossible for us to do so; and if many of us had this amount, we would think we had a large sum. But as most of us do not have a tenth of this large sum, I think we are better off than if we had so much; and when this can be divided into sixty thousand parts, each part is only a small amount, about $2.50 each. This amount received would not enrich us, and so this same amount given by each of us will not impoverish us in the least, and if we could really understand the needs of the cause, it would be an easy task for each of us to raise $2.50. May the Lord help us to see the importance of helping raise this money as soon as possible. Does our spirituality increase by withholding our means from the cause of God? Many are so burdened with making money that they can not attend the camp-meetings, and their love is so much greater for making and keeping the money that the cause of God is languishing. Do we not become alarmed at this condition in our experience? Let us take hold of this great work, and it will be no trouble for each to raise his part. I HAVE read the REVIEW ever since the call was first made for the $150,000 fund, but being poor, I have not donated anything; but as I am getting ashamed of a denomination numbering eighty thousand persons who profess to believe that the Lord is soon coming, and are holding onto their earthly riches, and are planning and working to increase them, I enclose one dollar. I have no income, and am poor in this world’s goods, but have earned this money washing for others, and will send it to help raise that sum so small compared to what the believers own. I would like to give more, and consider it a pleasure to give for the cause. Received on the $150,000 Fund
Atlantic Union Conference
Central New England ............... $2,634.61
Chesapeake ........................ 456.34
Eastern Pennsylvania ............. 1,412.85
Greater New York .................. 462.07
Maine ............................. 364.77
New Jersey ........................ 552.63
New York .......................... 1,114.42
Southern New England .............. 1,138.50
Vermont ........................... 910.18
Virginia .......................... 276.67
West Pennsylvania ................. 1,150.74
West Virginia ..................... 294.87
Western New York .................. 1,302.67
Total .......................... $12,071.32 Canadian Union Conference
Maritime .......................... $316.43
Quebec ............................ 63.14
Ontario ........................... 405.28
Total .......................... $784.85 Central Union Conference
Colorado .......................... $892.69
Iowa .............................. 2,936.09
Kansas ............................ 1,749.37
Missouri .......................... 931.31
Nebraska ......................... 5,125.43
Wyoming ........................... 740.94
Total .......................... $12,375.83 District of Columbia
Washington churches ............... $1,318.09 Lake Union Conference
East Michigan ..................... $1,330.80
Indiana ........................... 4,952.85
North Michigan .................... 217.42
Northern Illinois ................. 2,188.74
Ohio .............................. 3,714.44
Southern Illinois ................. 767.08
West Michigan ..................... 3,574.34
Wisconsin ........................ 2,328.56
Total .......................... $19,074.23 North Pacific Union Conference
Conference not specified .......... $362.96
British Columbia ................. 112.80
Montana ........................... 292.05
Upper Columbia .................... 1,622.87
Western Washington ................ 1,145.26
Idaho ............................. 844.90
Western Oregon .................... 1,420.47
Total .......................... $5,801.31 Northern Union Conference
Alberta ........................... $156.10
Manitoba .......................... 239.70
Saskatchewan Mission Field ........ 34.85
Minnesota ......................... 4,944.08
South Dakota ...................... 2,645.47
North Dakota ...................... 1,768.66
Conference not specified .......... 73.82
Total .......................... $9,861.43 Pacific Union Conference
Arizona ........................... $177.87
California-Nevada ................. 5,199.16
Southern California ............... 503.16
Utah .............................. 205.46
Total .......................... $6,085.65 Southern Union Conference
South Carolina .................... $135.19
Alabama ........................... 242.92
Tennessee River ................... 703.50
Florida ........................... 342.85
North Carolina .................... 268.36
Kentucky .......................... 30.36
Cumberland ........................ 585.26
Louisiana ......................... 388.61
Mississippi ....................... 194.66
Georgia ........................... 355.89
Total .......................... $3,247.60 Southwestern Union Conference
Not specified ..................... $20.18
Arkansas .......................... 222.64
Oklahoma .......................... 1,762.89
Texas ............................. 1,157.26
Total .......................... $3,162.97 Unknown
Unknown ........................... $153.20 Foreign
Algeria ........................... $13.33
Australia ......................... 137.06
Bermuda ........................... 35.00
China ............................. 26.60
South Africa ...................... 128.16
Jamaica ........................... 13.41
Yukon Territory ................... 10.00
England ........................... 256.32
West Africa ....................... 14.06
Mexico ............................ 2.00
Costa Rica ........................ 6.25
India ............................. 12.48
South America ..................... 23.35
Switzerland ....................... 9.69
Panama ............................ 9.00
Nicaragua ........................ 4.00
Central American Mission .......... 26.00
Trinidad .......................... .34
Norway ............................. 25.00
Japan .............................. 12.50
Hayti .............................. 5.00
Egypt .............................. 51.55
Palestine .......................... 2.00
Tobago, W. I. ...................... 1.22
Cuba ............................... 4.00
Total .......................... $828.32
Grand Total .................... $74,766.05 Tell me about the Master,
I am weary and worn to-night;
The day lies behind me in shadow,
And only the evening is light—
Light with a radiant glory,
That lingers about the west;
But my heart is aweary, aweary,
And I long like a child for rest. Tell me about the Master —
Of the hills he in loneliness trod,
When the tears and the blood of his anguish
Dropped down on Judea’s sod;
For to me life’s weary mile-stones
But a sorrowful journey mark —
Rough lies the hill country behind me,
The mountains before me are dark. Tell me about the Master —
Of the wrongs he freely forgave,
Of his mercy and tender compassion,
Of his love that was mighty to save;
For my heart is aweary, aweary,
Of the woes and temptations of life,
Of the error that stalks in the noonday,
Of falsehood and malice and strife. Yet I know that whatever of sorrow
Or pain or temptations befall,
The infinite Master has suffered,
And knoweth and pitieth all;
So tell me the sweet old story,
That falls on each wound like a balm,
And the heart that was bruised and broken
Grows patient and strong and calm.
— The Advance. Labors in San Diego
By Ellen G. White
During our visit at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, the Lord strengthened me to speak twice to the members of the church in San Diego. During the past year, as a result of efforts put forth by Elder W. W. Simpson and other laborers, there had been a good increase in the membership of this church. I felt a heavy burden for the work in this important center for tourist resort. There should be an earnest, united effort on the part of our brethren and sisters in San Diego, and the workers connected with the sanitarium, to make known the truth for this time. Sabbath Sermon at San Diego
On Sabbath, May 4, the Lord gave me a message to our brethren and sisters in San Diego. I based my remarks on the first chapter of Hebrews:— “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Here the position of Jesus Christ in reference to his Father is brought to view. While they are one in purpose, and one in mind, yet in personality they are two. May we not learn from this that there is to be unity between believers? There is no reason why one should feel that it is necessary for him to bring others to the exact line of his own individuality. So long as we are subject to the temptations of Satan, we shall each have all we can possibly attend to, in order to maintain a right relation to God, that Christ may do for us his atoning work. And though we may differ in the form of words, and in the expression of our individuality, yet our words may be sanctified, and our characters purified through the sacrifice of Christ. We should now make diligent inquiry of ourselves, Can I, with my present attainments, stand before the face of the holy God? If in the great day of judgment, we come short, we shall have no excuse; for we have access to the Word of God. Take the Bible for your lesson book; for it is by obedience to its truths that we shall be sanctified. To ensure the work of our salvation, God gave to our world the gift of his only begotten Son. Shall we accept the blessing that Christ has bought for us at such infinite sacrifice? He has made it possible for us to be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Let us not give the impression that our religion consists principally in coming to the church on Sabbath, and numbering one among a number who listen to a sermon, and then go back to their homes to continue in sinful practises. Christ said to his disciples, “Ye are the light of the world. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Christ has given us the pattern to which we are to work, but unless we make diligent effort with the help of God, we shall miss the mark. We must be sanctified to God, soul, body, and spirit. Do we learn from Christ every day? If we do not, we shall certainly come short of the knowledge that is essential. We can not afford to be weaklings in our Christian experience; for we can not tell when our account may be settled for eternity. We must constantly increase in faith, and in likeness to Jesus Christ. If we will humble ourselves, the Lord will lift us up. We may try to lift ourselves up, but this will not be reckoned in our favor, in the day when Christ estimates character. O, we are, many of us, so filled with self! We are fastened so firmly to our peculiar temperaments and dispositions. Shall we now follow the Word closely, that this great “I” may die, and that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith? “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” O, that we all might more fully realize our accountability to God for the wonderful privileges he has bestowed upon us! In the Word of God are grand truths that are worthy of intense study. Shall we neglect these great fundamental truths, in order that we may enter into speculation over what has not been clearly revealed? I am frequently asked, regarding some theoretical doctrine, questions that I feel no liberty to answer. I sometimes reply to those who ask me such questions, “You have the Word. If the Lord desired you to know in regard to this matter, you would find your knowledge in the Word of God, and would not need to ask me. If we reach heaven, we may then understand the matters that are not clear to us now.” Let us study the great truths of the Scriptures: they are sufficient to tax our minds to their utmost capacity. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” O, do we know God as we should? What comfort, what joy, we should have if we were to learn daily the lessons he desires us to learn! We must know him by an experimental knowledge. It will be profitable for us to spend more time in secret prayer, in becoming personally acquainted with our Heavenly Father. In our weakness, we may come to him, and ask him to impart to us an understanding of what he will do for us, in separating from us everything that is unlike his own character. When our own hearts are right with God, we shall feel an intense desire to do all we can in bringing the light of truth before those who have not heard it. In the great work of warning the world, God has committed to his people a sacred trust. “We are laborers together with God.” “As thou hast sent me into the world,” said Christ, speaking of his disciples, “even so have I also sent them into the world.” In the formation of character, we are to represent the One who gave his life for the world, and if we are alert, we shall see, on the right hand and on the left, opportunities to speak words for the Master. If we neglect these opportunities, the time will come when there will be spoken to us by those we have not warned, words of reproach and bitterness: “You knew of these terrible judgments that9 were coming. We were associated together, but you did not tell us. Why did you not warn us, that we might have escaped?” May God help us that we may not have upon our garments, because of our neglect, the blood of souls! We have a work to do in our world, a work similar to that which Christ performed. This spiritual work must precede every other interest of our lives. That which is temporal must ever be made secondary to the requirements of God. It will not profit us to put ourselves forward in this world, at the expense of our Christianity. In the carrying forward of God’s work, we shall not be as separate, independent agents. The unity of God’s people is to be to the world a convincing argument that God sent his Son to save the world. Christ prayed for his disciples, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” Such is the unity for which we are to seek,—such unity as exists between the Father and the Son. If we find ourselves inclined to separate from our brethren if they do not do exactly as we think best, this is an evidence that we are not genuine Bible Christians. We need to study the relation of Christ to his Father, and we need to understand his love for the world. The great enemy of our souls is vigilant and alert. He is especially active when he sees us putting forth efforts to do the work of the Lord. Do you think that the work of God will go forward smoothly, without any opposition from the enemy of the faith? Do you think there will be no opposition against those who seek to perfect their characters in harmony with the Word of God? This we can not expect. We must arm for conflict. But God will be with us. He has provided a complete gospel armor, and if we will put on every piece of this armor, we may be safe from defeat. Those who think that everything must meet their own mind, and that they need make no sacrifice, will not be numbered with the overcomers, nor will they receive the overcomer’s reward. We must brace ourselves against the opposing elements. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God is in earnest with every one of us. Our greatest consideration now is to form characters for eternity. May he who has given for our salvation his only begotten Son strengthen and bless his people. The Christian’s Hope
By Irwin Henry Evans
God never intended that the Christian’s hope should center in material things. The kingdom of God is not of this world, neither is his service in meats and drinks. His kingdom is spiritual, and most of his promises pertain to the life to come. The reward of the Christian is not measured to him in this world, but is promised at the “resurrection of the just.” Said the Master, “Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Again he said, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” In the days of Christ the Pharisees taught that a man’s temporal blessings were an index of God’s love toward him. Christ shattered this idea by the parable of the “rich man and Lazarus.” From the lesson taught in this parable, we learn that material things are not looked upon by God as they are regarded by man. Neither riches nor poverty, sickness nor health, success nor failure in the affairs of this life, are evidences of God’s care, nor the measure of God’s disapprobation of the course of his children. The Christian’s heart is not set on things below. Said Christ, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth,” but the Christian’s hope is in the resurrection “from the dead.” To him all else is of little worth. His gains and losses, his joys and sorrows, are of little value, save as they help him on to the realization of his hope. Not in the present, but the future, is the Christian’s hope. So Paul wrote to his brethren at Corinth, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” But to attain unto a resurrection from the dead is the crowning act in the life of faith. What matter the ills and misfortunes of the present, of what account are its pains and heartaches and disappointments, if only we can attain unto this desired end? It was this hope that buoyed the heart of Job when suffering the loss of all his earthly possessions, and afflicted with the keenest physical pain. In the floodtide of his sorrow he cried, “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” It was this hope that inspired Paul in his arduous evangelistic labors for souls. He wrote the church at Philippi: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” The assurance of the resurrection is confirmed by Christ’s own words when he says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. . . . Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” Life has much of bitterness for us all. If we have not already drunk from its cup of sorrow, we need not think to escape the bitter draught some other day. Every heart has its own secret chamber of grief, and each life its own bitterness. The gospel is given to enable us patiently to bear with the present, that the future with all its glorious inheritance may be ours. Nothing in this life is to despoil the Christian of this triumph. Sickness, poverty, misfortune, even death itself, can not prevent the realization of this hope. The voice of inspiration lifts the despair from our hearts, and we hear the comforting words, “Thus saith the Lord; a voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.” What restfulness this hope brings to the aching heart! What joy amid sorrow! What confidence when in trial! So the Lord says, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” The Unspeakable Gift
By M. W. DE L'HORBE
CHRIST surrendered fully to his Father the body that had been given him to dwell in; he completely emptied himself of self. So when we fully surrender ourselves to the Lord and have the faith of Jesus in the power of God to deliver us from sin, then the victory will be gained. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,10 and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12: 1, 2. And what does the Lord want with our bodies?—He wants them to dwell in by his Holy Spirit. “What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6: 19, 20. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” Chap. 3: 16, 17. Our bodies can be defiled only by sin, and “sin is the transgression of the law.” We read concerning those who shall be found ready when Jesus comes, that “they are without fault before the throne of God.” And we have learned in our Sabbath-school lessons that the Lord has chosen a perfect, righteous character for us. This righteous character is the wedding garment with which all who are finally saved will be clothed when Christ appears. Those not thus clothed will not be ready to meet him when he comes. See Rev. 19: 7-9; also Matt. 22: 11-14. The Lord is able to clothe us with this garment of righteousness if we will only surrender ourselves to him. The Lord can sympathize with us in all our trials, for he has met the same trials and temptations, and has promised not to permit us to be tempted above what we are able to bear. “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. . . . He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Ps. 103: 8-14. Read in the third and sixth chapters of the book of Daniel of the wonderful deliverance God wrought for his servants who trusted in him. God is just as able and willing to deliver to-day as he was in the time of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego. And he will deliver us from our sins if we will only trust in him. “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7: 25. Rom. 12: 2 says that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Our minds need to be renewed because they are corrupt and carnal, and “to be carnally minded is death.” The only way that we can keep our minds pure is continually to feed them with the Word of God and think only pure thoughts. This we can do only by the help of the Lord. The Saviour set us the example of constantly feeding on the Word of God and being in earnest, unceasing prayer “with strong crying and tears.” To us he says, “Pray without ceasing.” Pray as did David, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19: 14. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8: 6, 7. This carnal mind must be reconciled to God through his Son. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3: 19. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Cor. 5: 20, 21. The Father gave all power into the hands of his Son, and tells us that “if we are but willing to do his will, all his strength is ours.” “Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as he deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which he had no share, that we might be justified by his righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was his. ‘With his stripes we are healed.’”—“Desire of Ages,” page 25. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” The reader is asked to read in connection with this article the first three chapters of the first epistle of John. Toronto Junction, Ontario. Conduct in the Camp, and Sitting in the Congregation
By Wm. Covert
Not every one who attends a camp-meeting gets the greatest possible amount of good from it. Some lose much valuable time by visiting over the camp. In doing this they also disqualify themselves in a measure for getting the benefit from the preaching that the Lord intended them to have. Of course it is not supposed that the Lord’s people will go to our camp-meetings and go away without forming some acquaintances and renewing others while they are there; but the principal object is to get the greatest possible good from the service, and also to impart blessings to others. Another chief consideration is that of being at the meetings in good time. Those who linger on the way, or possibly remain altogether in their own tents, and when they should be at the service in the very beginning, fail to get just what the meeting was designed to give. The opening songs and the prayers belong to the service, and those who are tardy in getting to the place of meeting miss these. They not only lose the blessing that the Lord intended them to get from these things, but there is also danger that they will distract the minds of other people from the services. The minister who has charge of the meeting always desires to see his congregation well settled before he opens his service. Those who will be prompt in these things may have the satisfaction of knowing that they have greatly helped in the camp-meeting. Another important consideration is that of getting a seat at the right place in the meeting. No minister who is acquainted with the influence that his words have upon the congregation, will be satisfied, when the congregation is small, to have the people scattered about over a large tent. Usually, either the speaker or the pastor of the camp will ask the people to come forward on such occasions, and congregate themselves near the stand. This is a very important consideration, and the people who pay no heed to these invitations are not acting wisely. These suggestions are very important, and it is hoped that they will help, at least in some degree, to bring about a proper condition of things. Prepare to Meet Thy God
By A. N. Durrant
“LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see.” Isa. 26: 11. These words have been true in every age. God permits “terrible things in righteousness” to take place among the inhabitants of earth—indeed a “sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters” (Isa. 1: 4)—that by these judgments the inhabitants may “learn righteousness.” Isa. 26: 9. The law of ten commandments which was given amid fire and smoke, when Mount Sinai “quaked greatly,” is God’s microscope for detecting sin. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3: 4. “All unrighteousness is sin.” 1 John 5: 17. “As it was in the days of Noah,” when lawlessness passed the border line of God’s forbearance, so will it be in these last days. See Matt. 24: 37-39; Gen. 6: 5, 6; Joel 3: 13; 2 Tim. 3: 1-6. And because of this God says, “Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.” Isa. 29: 6. There shall be “earthquakes in divers places.” Matt. 24: 7. These are the last days, and the calamities are here. On the fourteenth day of January, 1907, all Jamaica was shaken, and the city of Kingston became a heap of ruins, covering as dead some two thousand mortals, and leaving many hundreds maimed for life. Scores of shocks have followed since then; and only last night, we were startled out of deep sleep by quite a heavy shock. O, the fearful and indescribable sights11 seen and the bitter wails heard that day! What tongue or pen can describe it all? The most rebellious soul cried for mercy that day; but O! how slow are we to learn the lessons when once the stroke is taken up! One, writing from Kingston, says, 'The people are doing as if there was no earthquake.' 'Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see;' but in the final day they 'shall see, . . . yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.' Isa. 26: 11. Thousands upon thousands are passing into judgment-bound graves day by day, through these calamities. God says, 'I have overthrown some of you, . . . and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning.' Truly God has been good to us all; for in a moment of time we all might have been wiped out, and now God says, 'Ye have not returned unto me.' Amos 4: 11. God spared us that we might live for him; he desires us to bring forth fruit meet for his kingdom; he desires that we bring forth 'much fruit' of right-doings day by day, to glorify his name. John 15: 8. The day of God is at hand; are we bringing forth the fruit of his message of preparation given in Rev. 14: 6-14? If not, why not? And if we will not be moved by the judgments now coming, but allow them to harden our hearts, how shall we meet that 'great day'? God says, 'Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.' Amos 4: 12. GEO. O. STATES
By GEO. O. STATES
Lessons from Past Experiences —No. 17
I can but believe that if this truth is presented by our ministers as God would have it, there will be a power with it that will draw out of the lodges the honest hearted who are now in them. I do not censure men who do not know this truth for belonging to the lodges. They offer certain worldly advantages, and yet the remnant who are giving the last message are not to unite with these worldly societies, for God has given us great light, and we know from this light that probation is fast closing. In the first vision given the servant of the Lord as recorded in “Experience and Views,” page 10, a view was presented of the travels of the remnant people, and she says: “I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, ‘Look again, and look a little higher.’ At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was set at the farther end of the path.” I tell you, my brethren and sisters, when God’s people get there, it will have taken them out of every lodge and labor union, for these are simply traps of Satan to bind in bundles for the great day. These things all take money, and with the solemn message that we have, we should use all our powers in giving the last message, and I know we can not do that and be bound up with the worldly organizations. I have no doubt that in the future we shall see more and more of these things to draw talents and means which should be devoted in giving the message. Those who have so little faith in the third angel’s message as to continue their membership in these organizations will, unless they take hold of the truth more firmly, be sifted out and lost. In “Early Writings,” pages 131-134, we have a vivid picture of the solemn work that is before us. “Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a cloud. The angels of God left these, and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their powers to resist the evil angels, and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But his angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them. I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God’s people. . . .” “My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying with agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. They moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers. . . . Their countenances expressed the severe conflict which they had endured, the agonizing struggle which they had passed through. Yet their features, marked with severe internal anguish, now shone with the light and glory of heaven. They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the deepest gratitude, and holy, sacred joy. “The numbers of this company had been lessened. Some had been shaken out, and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by others taking hold of the truth, and coming into the ranks. Evil angels still pressed around them, but could have no power over them.” I believe this shaking is just before us, and those who have so little of the third angel’s message as to be bound up in these worldly organizations I am sure will then be shaken out.