p. 190 | Review and Herald, Vol. 48, No. 24. (12/14/1876)

FAMILY WORSHIP.

By Albert Stone

Much importance is attached to the manner in which the religious services of the family are observed. All true worship, whether it be in family or elsewhere, consists in paying due respect, veneration, and homage, to God. At the proper season, the entire household should come together. All should be present during the entire service. There should be order, and the surroundings should accord with the occasion.

If a neighbor calls on business, the master of the house only need be detained. But this case is different. A heavenly guest is to be invited. His coming may depend on the united request of parents and children. And it is of the utmost importance to both parents and children that the invitation should be complied with. It would ill become the occasion if some of the household were doing chores about the house during a part or the whole of the service.

It has been too near a habit with some to permit chores to be done in the house during every part of the service except the offering of prayer. There are extreme cases of course, but it ought not to be so in any case. The veneration we owe to God and our great need of his blessings forbid all such looseness in his service. “Let everything be done decently, and in order.” Let parents make a point of training their young children to proper behavior at this hour, until they have fully learned it, and delight in it, then they will not be troublesome in the house of God.

Let the services be brief, but not hurried. Let them be full of interest, and conducted in a manner to interest the children. As far as consistent, each one should take an active part, and the children be encouraged to sing and pray vocally. ALBERT STONE.

“AND THERE WAS NO MORE SEA.”

By G. W. A.

Such is the statement of John in Rev. 21:1. From this isolated text some conceive the view that there is to be no sea in the new earth state. But such an idea is hardly consistent with the general tenor of the Scriptures, nor is it a necessary conclusion from this text. Mr. Elliott, the voluminous writer on the Apocalypse,—a profound scholar in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek,—translates the passage, “The sea is no more.” So also Dean Alford in his “New Testament for English Readers.” This certainly is more in accordance with the Greek, which literally reads: καὶ ἡ θάλασσα οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι, “and the sea not is longer.”

The entire verse in which the above phrase is found reads, “And I saw a new heaven, and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” The leading idea here seems to be a new heaven and a new earth, in contradistinction to the old heavens and earth. Now as the sea is an integral part of the earth, as a matter of course, when the old earth passes away, the old sea will depart, too; and is it not just as reasonable to suppose that when there is a new earth, so, too, there will be a new sea.

That there is to be a sea in the restored earth is plainly taught in more than one passage. In Rev. 5:13, is a description of the glorious new earth. It says, “And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in THE SEA, and all that are in them heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and ever.” Here we find “the sea” in the grand restitution of all things. The old sea passes away with the old earth, but when the new earth is ushered in, per consequence we have a new sea.

In the seventy-second psalm there is an extended prophecy of the future kingdom of Christ. In the eighth verse it says, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” This shows that there will at least be two seas in the earth renewed.

The same prophecy is repeated in Zech. 9:10, with additional particulars: “And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle-bow shall be cut off; and he shall speak peace unto the heathen; and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.” The only rational exegesis of this prophecy is that it presents both seas and rivers in the future, new-earth inheritance.

The very idea of a river in the present state suggests the thought of a sea, lake, or ocean, it being always connected with such bodies of water. That there will be rivers and streams in the new earth is proved by the last two references, and also by another very plain passage, which is here quoted: “But there the glorious Lord shall be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.” Isa. 33:21. And chap. 35:6, says, “In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.” The tenor of all the above texts is one way, namely, that in the new earth we shall have seas, or lakes, with rivers and streams.

It is not argued that the future inheritance will be like the earth in its present state, three-fourths of it under water; but the point is clear enough that Rev. 21:1, simply teaches that the old “sea was no more.” G. W. A.

An Exemplary Case.

By H. A. St. John

His property is worth $1200. For 1877 he pledges two cents weekly on each $100. This will be twenty-four cents per week. This is the general rule adopted, and he has done right.

He pledges to the T. & M. Society for 1877 a sum equal to one third of his s. b. This will be eight cents per week. Thirteen weeks in a quarter, thus making his quarterly donation to the Tract Society $1.04. Being a faithful, working, reporting member of the T. & M. Society he puts this $1.04 into his regular quarterly report, marking it, “My donation.” Good, who will follow his example?

H. A. St. John.

P. S. If he were not a member of the Tract Society, he would unite by paying $1.00.

H. A. S.

Religious Work Is Never Time Misspent

NEVER think that what you do for religion is time or money misspent.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

By G. W. Colcord

I attended four meetings in my home neighborhood, near Coleta, Nov. 18-20. Sunday morning, I heard Eld. T. B. Stanley, Disciple, on the Sabbath question. I reviewed him in the evening before a goodly number. I hope for fruit. Dist. No. 11, Ill. T. and M. Society, appears to be in good working order. Come, friends, let us run a healthful race on the T. and M. race-track.

Nov. 24-26, I spoke five times at Winslow, Stephenson Co. Friends were present from Greenvale and Monroe, Wis. It was not a large gathering; but, excepting one cloud which passed over our minds, it was an encouraging season. Bro. T. Brown, the elder, had been greatly discouraged in his office; he has agreed to press forward. Bro. J. F. Ballenger says he will go out to prove his calling. I pray that all our licensed men in Illinois will do likewise. We license you to “improve” your gift. Walk out, brethren, and may the Lord bless you. Don’t stop near home;

but “launch out into the deep” to catch men. Two names were dropped from the list at Greenvale, and two were added to the McConnell’s Grove church. Systematic Benevolence was considered, delinquents promised, and the pledge was increased. The church paid $32.05 at the meeting.

ROSCOE.

I held ten meetings with the friends at, and near, Roscoe, Dec. 1-4. I am very much rejoiced to be able to report this the best season of worship I have attended for a long time. There was not one jar in either meeting. The name of the church was changed from Rockton to Roscoe. The vacancy occasioned by the death of our beloved brother, John Logan, was supplied by the ordaining of Bro. G. H. Wood to the deaconship. Bro. M. J. Wood was elected clerk and treasurer. The elder, Bro. G. M. Bowen, resides about twenty miles from R.; nevertheless, the church, by vote, more than merely invited their elder to meet them often and lead them in public worship.

The church dropped one name, censured another member, and arranged to look after others. One was reclaimed. Several united with the church, which now numbers forty. Systematic Benevolence has been greatly neglected; but, as the brethren voted either to pay up at the beginning of the incoming year, or give their note of hand, bearing ten per cent. interest, and as they voted faithfully to adopt the “tithing system,” I now fondly hope for Roscoe.

G. W. COLCORD.

Durand, Ill., Dec. 4, 1876.

SOUTHERN FRANCE.

By D. T. Bourdeau

When I wrote my last report, I was holding several meetings a week in a meeting-house which had been opened to me in this place. Since that time, in addition to the burdens connected with moving my baggage to this country and preparing for house-keeping, I have continued my course of lectures in the meeting-house, and held a few meetings in another commune, not far from the largest Protestant church in this department. At this point, three ministers heard me, and heartily endorsed my testimony on the evidences of Christ’s second coming, thanking God that I had come from America, and making me flattering offers for the future. They said that it was just the testimony that was needed to revive the work among the Protestants in France.

At this point, I was offered the use of a temple which will accommodate one thousand persons, in which to give a course of lectures commencing last Monday night. The invitation was made by the pastor of the temple, who is said to be the ablest preacher in the department. I accepted the invitation. In the meanwhile, my practice in keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, and the order of my subjects, as well as the progress of the meetings, made it necessary for me to give my reasons in favor of the ancient Sabbath. Immediately consciences were favorably impressed, and deep convictions fastened on many hearts.

I do not believe that there were two of those who heard me on the fourth commandment who did not acknowledge the correctness of our position. But some who had acknowledged the truth, and who were turning against it because of the cross, reported unfavorably to the preacher who had invited me to preach in his temple, making the impression that I had brought disturbance into my meeting the day before (Sunday), in speaking on the Sabbath question; whereas they were the very ones who had disturbed the meeting by bringing in their objections on the Sabbath question while I was about to speak on the seven seals, according to two previous announcements. Of course, I was obliged to meet their objections. This I did with much patience and tenderness, and to the satisfaction of all.

Last week, as the result of the above misrepresentations, the preacher who had sent me an invitation came to see me in company with the president of the National Churches of this department, as I was instructing a pastor on the prophecies, who had been six years a professor in the city of Smyrna (the Smyrna of the Apocalypse), and as I was about to introduce the Sabbath question. These men told me what they had heard, and said they knew that I was a Sabbath-keeper, but thought I kept the Sabbath as one keeps his handkerchief—in his pocket. They said that they were interested in the signs of Christ’s second coming, and would let me speak in their temple provided I said nothing on the Sabbath in the temple or out of the temple.

I corrected the false impressions they had received, and said that the Sabbath reform was a sign of the coming of Christ and that I could not be faithful in preaching the signs of Christ’s coming without giving the Bible Sabbath its proper place among my subjects. I also said that I could not submit to their wishes without doing violence to my conscience; yet when I was invited by a preacher to give lectures in his temple I never treated the Sabbath question in the temple without his permission; and I would lecture in their temple up to that point, if they wished to have me. We then had a two hours’ discussion on the Sabbath and commandments (three ministers against one), at the close of which I felt that God had given me my opponents as prisoners, so far as the argument was concerned; and I am sure that they left with the conviction that we had the Spirit of Christ; for last Sunday they assembled their leading brethren, and told them that though they did not carry out their first plan, yet they thought we had a good spirit, and had resolved not to throw stones at us.

Last Sunday the preacher who had helped build the church I had occupied in this place came to quiet consciences; and Monday night after abusing us in the most shameful and vulgar manner, he closed the church against me. But, as we sometimes say in America, he overshot the mark in calling us wolves in sheep’s clothing, false teachers, false prophets, etc., and in making false statements concerning our course in this place to close the sympathy of the people against us as to giving, etc. We have a few friends who sympathize with us and are continuing their investigation. We speak to them at their homes and twice a week in our kitchen which was the hall for prayer-meetings before we occupied it. The law permits us to speak to twelve persons besides the members of our family. If we go beyond these limits we are liable to pay a fine and to be imprisoned during a period of from one month to two years. I state these facts that our brethren may know our situation and remember us in their prayers.

You can judge of the unpleasantness and anxiety connected with a letting down from a temple where we can speak to the crowds, to a private room where we are permitted to speak to only twenty persons. And this is a sample of our experience wherever the authorities are disposed to refuse to give us a legal permission to speak outside of temples. We are under the laws of the empire, which will be modified at the close of this presidential term (in four years), when we hope to have full liberty of speech. The Republican party have to move with caution in making changes. We see the hand of God in the change in this government. Let us pray that God may still favor us, that we may be able to preach without being fettered as we are at present.

Since 1875 we can in France, circulate journals that are published in other countries, provided they do not speak against the government. Therefore I can get subscribers for our French paper. But to sell numbers of our paper as colporteur, I would have to get permission of the government, otherwise I would be liable to a fine and to imprisonment.

I cannot sell or circulate books, pamphlets, or tracts without being subject to a heavy fine and imprisonment, unless I first get a permission from the government. I have through the authorities of this department, sent fourteen kinds of tracts to the capital to have them stamped. Should I succeed in this my prospects will brighten up before me. I have espoused the cause of France and shall not leave for another field unless I am obliged by insurmountable obstacles to do so for a while.

I am not located here permanently. Should Providence favor me, I purpose to settle in a city whose inhabitants are mostly Protestants, and rent a hall in which I can preach fearlessly the whole counsel of God. With the exception of a few localities where the Methodists and l’Eglise Libre have a foothold, there has been no spirit of reform in all this part of France for generations. The Advent doctrine is new, and commands the attention of the people. We desire to move with prudence and patience.

Many perplexing things come up. Should the way open before us, the work will be too heavy for any one man, yet I am willing to labor alone if the Lord so directs. We have repeatedly been brought into most trying circumstances, when we had reached the point of extreme exhaustion, and when we must do the work of two men or lose all we had gained. At such times we have moved by faith, and God has wonderfully sustained us, and we have felt the power and presence of God as we have not felt for years. Praise the Lord. We long for a full baptism of the Holy Spirit, a thorough conversion to God, that God may help us mightily to his glory.

In less than two weeks I have met five ministers on the Sabbath question, besides speaking in public, visiting much and traveling on foot. I feel worn, and must take rest. The French are quick, and we must be quick as lightning at times to meet their wants. Pray for us.

D. T. BOURDEAU.

Barcelone, Chabeuil, Drome, France, Nov. 22.

REPORT OF LABOR IN MICH.

By S. N. Haskell

In company with Eld. Smith, I left Battle Creek, Nov. 16, and attended the meeting at Rochester the 18th and 19th. This meeting has been reported in the REVIEW. There was not that interest taken in the missionary work that we would have been glad to have seen. The brethren had been moving and rebuilding their house of worship, and they felt that they could not do much else. There were some, however, who seemed to feel the burden of the work; and if they follow out their convictions and good resolutions, they will become strong in the truth and useful in the cause.

Since the Rochester meeting, we have held meetings in Armada, Memphis, Dryden, Almont, Flint, Lapeer, and Fairview. A degree of interest has been manifested in the missionary work in the churches we have been able to visit. From some cause there seems to have been a very indefinite idea of the nature of the missionary work. I find some companies who have not ever seen a blank report to fill out, neither do they know what has become of the money they have paid in; and yet they have been members of the Tract Society for years. There was no necessity for this. In the True Missionary published in 1874, the duties of each officer and each member were discussed over and over again; questions were answered, etc., etc. They are now bound in paper covers, and can be had at a reduced price by the Tract Societies. It will be sent for 50cts, post-paid, to any part of the country.

Some seem to think that scattering a few tracts is about all there is to the missionary work. The distribution of reading matter is only one means to accomplish an object. The object is to save souls.

Many have not seen any importance to the health publications; hence, many have no especial interest in the Family Health Almanac. The health question is a self-demonstrative truth. In scores of instances it has proved to be an avenue by which the truth has reached the hearts of individuals, who, before reading upon this theme and practicing its principles, were so prejudiced against this truth and this people that they would not have an Adventist tract in their house. Our people need to be thoroughly converted upon this question.

Our brethren do not realize the importance of the mission of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. It is our pioneer paper, and should find its way into the household of every S. D. A., not only to read themselves, but to lend to their neighbors and send to their friends. Not in a single instance should it exclude the REVIEW.

There are the young of both sexes, of good address, in nearly every church, who are living an aimless and almost useless life. Could such individuals take from two to five copies of the SIGNS to send to their friends far and near, even going outside of the circle of their acquaintance and obtaining the address of others and sending a copy to them with a few tracts, notifying them by letter, it would give themselves an experience which would be invaluable, besides it would be the means of extending their influence in favor of the truth, far and near.

These various matters have been presented before the friends wherever we have been; also the action of the General Conference and the resolutions of the Michigan Tract Society, recommending certain steps to all their brethren. With one or two exceptions, they met with a hearty adoption by all the churches we have visited.

In Dist. No. 10, there have been added to the Tract Society about seventy-five new members. It has taken about four thousand almanacs; three hundred and fifty dollars' worth of tracts; fifty copies of the SIGNS, mostly by our brethren at $2.00 each. Two or three old canvassers will enter the field as soon as they can receive the “Way of Life,” besides a number of others who are waiting to make an effort in that direction. In fact, I think this district can be depended upon judiciously to distribute its proportion of fifty thousand almanacs, and that it will obtain its respective proportion of the three thousand three hundred and thirty-four subscribers each for the SIGNS and REFORMER, all paying subscribers, with the premiums.

I am thoroughly convinced that there is no State which can fill its proportion of labor and means better than this State can. Many will probably never see the importance of these things until it is too late; and a double burden will thus fall upon others. The cloud has arisen, and the word has gone forth all along the line, “Strike your tents and move forward;” and happy are the Conferences, the churches, the individuals, who hear the joyful sound, and cheerfully take these advance steps. S. N. HASKELL.

“BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.”

By Lilla D. Avery

The night is dark and the way is drear, And the storm is fierce and wild, And I cry for help, but there's none to hear, And my heart grows cold with a sickening fear— O Father, save thy child. I hear a voice 'bove the angry sea, And thus the Father doth answer me: “Fear not to pass 'neath the chast'ning rod, Be still, my child, know that I am God.”

But yet I cry, for my trembling soul Is filled with an anxious dread. I sink and quake as the billows roll Between my bark and the distant goal. I dare not raise my head. My Father, hast thou left me alone? And wilt thou not pity now thine own? The answer comes, “It's thy Father's will; I am thy God, trembling soul, be still!”

But, Father, see! there is danger nigh, For the terrible foe is here. My strength is gone, and I fain would fly; My brain grows wild, I shall fall and die; I faint with sudden fear. Canst thou not lead from this direful place, And let me see once again thy face? Again the voice so tender and mild Rebukes my fears,—“Be faithful, my child!”

And still I cry; for the Father's hand Has stricken my flowerets fair. I am all alone in a cheerless land; There is left not one of the blossoms grand I nursed with tenderest care. This way, my Lord, I can never tread; My lone heart fears, and I shrink with dread. “E'en such a path has thy Saviour trod; Be still,” he cries, “and know I am God.”

“Ah! yes, my child, he has died for thee; And now wilt thou shrink in fear? I'll give thee strength as thy day shall be, And the beautiful city thine eyes shall see, If thou art faithful here.” Ah! well, my Father, I'll bear the cross, The joys of earth I'll account but dross, I'll humbly bow, kiss the chast'ning rod, And trust in thee, my Lord and my God.

LILLA D. AVERY.

Locke, Ingham Co., Mich., Nov. 25, 1876.

MINNESOTA

By D. P. Curtis

Bro. Ellis and I, after spending a few days with the brethren of the Round Grove church and a few with the S. D. B. church at Transit by request, have begun a course of lectures in this place, about ten miles distant from each of the Sabbath-keeping churches above-mentioned. It is a small country town, having no preaching except one Methodist sermon once in two weeks. We occupy the district school-house, and have had a good hearing, with some indications of real interest, at each of the three discourses which we have given. We hope for the prayers of our brethren, that we may, by standing in the counsel of God, be able to lead some precious souls to the Lamb of God. D. P. Curtis.

New Auburn, Sibley Co., Minn., Dec. 6.

SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

By H. M. Kenyon

Bro. Olmstead and myself came to Jefferson, Hillsdale Co., Nov. 24. Trials of an aggravating nature have existed in this church for a year past. Several attempts had been made to adjust matters, but they had proved unsuccessful. The Lord helped in this meeting; all difficulties were satisfactorily settled, and peace and harmony were restored.

We commenced meetings at Ransom Centre the evening of Nov. 27, and held seven meetings with the church there. Here were difficulties of quite long standing, but they were satisfactorily settled. Their elder having resigned and moved away, Bro. A. J. Wilbur was chosen and ordained to fill that place.

Nov. 30, the brethren of Jefferson met with us at Ransom, and in the afternoon the ordinances of the Lord’s house were celebrated. We felt it was good to be there. The Lord by his blessing set his seal to the work that had been wrought for these two churches.

Dec. 4, Bro. O. returned to his field of tract and missionary labor. I remain at Jefferson for a time.

H. M. KENYON.

DEEDSVILLE, INDIANA.

By Arthur W. Bartlett

Not being permitted to finish my work at Perrysburg, I have begun a course of lectures at Deedsville, about three miles east, where we hope to continue our work uninterrupted. Many are anxious to hear a full course of lectures, and I have reason to believe that as soon as my labors are finished at this place, some who are “almost persuaded” will commence the observance of the Sabbath, and thus cease the transgression of God’s holy law. May the Lord impress the minds of all those that know their duty in regard to the Sabbath with these words: “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17.

Since coming to this place, I have held four meetings, all of which have been attended by large, attentive, and intelligent audiences. The small school-house has been repaired for our use by the kind citizens of this place; and the school-teacher has courteously permitted us to occupy the large house on Sundays. May God’s Spirit move upon the hearts of the people. Pray that God may uphold me by his free Spirit.

ARTHUR W. BARTLETT.

A TRIBUTE AND A REQUEST.

By B. Wing

As many of the brethren and sisters are contributing to our paper words of comfort and good cheer, to such as have not the opportunity to meet with those of like precious faith to worship God on his holy Sabbath day, I can but acknowledge my thankfulness to Him who causeth all things to work together for good to them that love the Lord, that he sendeth to our humble cot weekly this messenger of truth that has led my wife and myself, by the assistance of the other means of grace that are so freely distributed by his people, to enjoy a hope, no longer in death, but beyond it,—yes, when we through Christ gain the victory over the last enemy.

Pray for us, brethren, that we may not always stand alone, but that a preacher may be sent this way to gather in more for the Lord’s glory. We want help.

B. WING.

PLEASANT VALLEY, KAN.

By J. Lamont; Geo. Kennedy

The quarterly meeting at this place closed last night having continued a week, except night after the Sabbath, and Sunday at eleven A. M., when the house was occupied by another denomination according to their standing appointment. After spending their two meetings in throwing mud at us with no apparent effect, they seized upon our Sunday night appointment. This, of course, destroyed whatever confidence the community had in them, and turned their sympathies to our cause.

The attendance was large, and the interest good all through the meeting, especially after the first two evenings. Ten were added to the church, six of them by baptism. Several others are almost ready to unite with us, some of whom will soon do so.

J. Lamont, Geo. Kennedy. Pleasant Valley, Kan., Nov. 27, 1876.

NEBRASKA

By Chas. L. Boyd

After my last report, I met with the Seward church. Our Sabbath and Sunday meetings were held in a school-house which prejudice had before closed against one of our ministers. This was more central than the places where meetings are usually held. Prejudice seemed to be giving way, and quite an outside interest was manifest. One was baptized, and three were received into the church. Bro. Hurlbert joined me Nov. 23, and that evening we organized a T. and M. Society.

The next evening we commenced meetings at Blue Valley, where we remained one week. The last day of our meeting here, the funeral discourse of Bro. Hedgecock’s oldest son was preached. The bereaved parents have the sympathy of the church and the writer.

I held meetings with the Farmer’s Valley church, Dec. 1–3. The ordinances of the Lord’s house were celebrated, and two were received into the church. A Tract and Missionary Society was organized.

I trust these meetings have been profitable to the churches, and that some who were bowed down with trials have been strengthened.

Bro. Hurlbert assisted much in these meetings. CHAS. L. BOYD.

Farmer’s Valley, Neb., Dec. 5, 1876.

TENNESSEE

By Orlando Soule

At Glade Creek nothing was done in the way of organization. Nov. 22, I entered a thinly settled neighborhood, three miles from Glade Creek, where the Signs had been before me. I remained ten days and spoke eight times; and as a result eight signed the covenant to keep all the commandments of God. The people here are much slower to adopt any new thing than any other people I ever saw; but the result in this instance proves the value of the Signs.

I am now on my way to visit the company at McMinville, hoping to organize a church there. I ask the prayers of all.

ORLANDO SOULE.

Meed’s Mills, Dec. 6, 1876.

MEETING AT HILLSDALE.

By C. C. Bodley

We had the privilege recently of meeting Bro. Byington and the Hillsdale church and of hearing the present truth from Bro. Byington, a privilege we have not had before for ten years. The Lord gave edge to his truth. Four were baptized. First-day evening we partook of the ordinances. We felt that it was good to be there. The sweet, melting Spirit of the Lord was there to bless. We shall not soon forget that blessed privilege.

C. C. BODLEY.

QUARTERLY REPORT OF OHIO T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By H. A. St. John; M. E. Underwood

District	No. 1	No. 2	No. 3	No. 4	No. 5	No. 6	Total
Membership	90	35	21	72	61	29	348
No. Reports	90	19	20	93	38	18	148
Donors	20	14	24	83	35	18	146
Families visited	285	17	110	178	85	35	608
Letters written	6	3	11	24	27	10	81
New members	8	8	8	9	6	5	47
New subscribers	3	2	1	1	4	1	12
Periodicals distributed	4	9	6	22	4	5	48
Tracts & pamphlets distributed—pages	34,817	15,877	28,928	32,169	16,849	7,107	129,747
Amount received by donation	$20.10	$29.00	$44.60	$89.20	$16.65	$5.25	$204.80
Amount received on book sales	$14.50	$2.25	$8.35	$8.75	$6.55	$2.25	$42.65
Amount received on periodicals	$14.45	$14.45	$9.15	$5.75	$6.50	$0.75	$51.05

FINANCIAL STANDING.

Cash on hand commencement of the year, Aug. 14, 1876, $153.16

Receipts of the quarter, $241.30

Total, $394.46

Expenses of the quarter, $144.20

Balance on hand, $250.26

H. A. St. John, Pres. M. E. Underwood, Sec.

TO OHIO T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By H. A. St. John

The following is the apportionment of the number of subscribers to be obtained by each district of the Tract Society in Ohio, and is made on the basis of their membership:—

Dist. No. 1, SIGNS, 40; REFORMER, 40. “ ” 2, “ 70; “ 70. “ ” 3, “ 40; “ 40. “ ” 4, “ 140; “ 140. “ ” 5, “ 130; “ 130. “ ” 6, “ 50; “ 50.

Now, brother director, is not this sufficiently definite? Each district will receive the credit of work performed by its canvassers. Work while the day lasts; the night soon cometh. H. A. ST. JOHN.

NECESSITY OF CONSECRATION.

By C. L. Gregory

If there was ever a time when the people of God needed to be entirely consecrated, it is now, when they have reached a point in the last message of mercy to man in which the Macedonian cry, “come over and help us,” is heard from every quarter. The questions ought to come with force to the mind of each member of the various Tract and Missionary Societies, What am I doing to answer these calls and thus bring into the truth some who “are perishing for lack of knowledge”? Have I in the spirit of meekness laid myself, my family, and my property, on the altar? Am I crucified unto the world, and the world unto me? Do I plead with the Lord to bless all my efforts to extend a knowledge of his truth?

My dear fellow-missionaries, if this is not the case with us, I think we ought to tarry at Jerusalem until we are imbued with the true spirit of this message. Let us not teach these precious truths with unholy lips, nor touch them with unclean hands. If we do, our efforts will not probably be blessed of the Lord. If any accept the truth and are saved, they may not be stars in the crown of our rejoicing.

Our various benevolent associations will not go begging for means, when all the true-hearted are awake to the greatest enterprise, perhaps, of any age, even the preparing of a people to stand without a mediator during the outpouring of the unmixed wrath of God, to stand on the sea of glass, and to “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” When this prospect looms up before us, do not our earthly possessions sink into insignificance? or do the words of inspiration apply to us, “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth, and thy want as an armed man.” Prov. 6:9–11.

Many of our sisters are fast departing from the modest apparel which formerly adorned them. While professing to believe that a special message has been given them from the Lord concerning this matter, they deny it by their works. Like the Pharisees, “they enlarge the borders of their garments” and thus keep much, even a large sum, from the treasury of the Lord.

“Well,” says one, “my influence will be greater if I conform to the customs of the world in a measure.” Others with but little independence go farther. The consequences of such unwise steps, the church has been familiar with and has wept over, in all ages. Conformity to the world opened the way for the papacy, which brought fifty millions of God’s dear children to a martyr’s death. Such ideas are from the enemy of all righteousness, and have caused unknown multitudes to make shipwreck of their faith.

Oh! let us not profess, or let us live according to our profession. For the great, the terrible day of the Lord is at hand, when the blood of souls will be found in our garments, if we have not heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and “walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”

All who are prepared to say truly, “Dear Saviour, all we have and are, shall be forever thine,” are in a condition to go forth weeping, bearing precious seed; and if they go, they will doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them. C. L. GREGORY.

Blendon Landing, Mich.

Earnest Men Wanted, Not Great Men

A CHRISTIAN minister once said, “I was never of any use until I found that God did not make me for a great man. As soon as I learned that I was not intended for a great man, I found souls coming into the kingdom.” It is not great men we want in the church of God to-day—it is earnest, warm-hearted men.

LINES

By L. M. Ogden

The following lines were written on the death of our dear mother, who died Dec. 30, 1875, in the 69th year of her age.

Mother, dear mother, thou art gone, The grave is now thy bed; That form we all have loved so well Lies numbered with the dead.

Thy whit'ning locks too sadly told Of dissolution's hour; Thy bending form we knew must yield To death's relentless power.

We saw disease usurp the throne Where Strength and Vigor dwelt, And as we've watched his onward march, What sorrow have we felt!

Yet he has conquered, laid thee low; But short his reign must be, Jesus, the life of every saint, Will surely ransom thee.

Then wilt thou rise from thy cold bed, Clad in immortal bloom; And angels bright will welcome thee To Heaven, that blissful home.

Oh! may we meet thee once again Where death shall be no more, And shout the victory o'er the grave With thee on that bright shore.

L. M. OGDEN.

Obituary Notices.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.”

Died, at Osceola, Iowa, Nov. 18, 1876, Geo. Prentiss, the husband of Sr. Prentiss, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. He attended meeting the night before as well as usual, got up in the morning with a pain in his breast, and died at 8 o’clock. It was supposed that he died of heart disease. May the living take warning. A funeral discourse was given by the writer to a very large congregation in the Baptist church, from 1 Cor. 15:26. J. H. Morrison.

Bro. Jonathan G. Smith, of Belleville, Ohio, fell asleep in Jesus on the 20th of November, 1876, aged eighty-one years, six months, and twenty-eight days. Bro. Smith united with the Baptist church at the age of twenty-two, and remained a member of that church until the tent was pitched at Belleville by Brn. Lawrence and Van Horn ten years ago last summer, when he accepted the present truth, in which he has continued firm. He leaves two sons and one daughter and other friends to mourn their loss. The church at Belleville will feel the loss of Bro. S. Words of comfort were spoken by the writer from 1 Thess. 4:13–18. Wm. Cottrell.

Died, in West Haven, Vt., Nov. 18, 1876, Bertie, infant son of J. H. and P. A. Miner, aged 7 weeks. Our hearts are comforted with the thought that the Life-giver is soon coming, and if we are faithful we shall meet our babe in a land where there shall be no more pain. Words of consolation by Eld. Craft, Baptist. P. A. Miner.

Fell asleep in Jesus, Nov. 27, 1876, at Clear Creek, Chautauqua Co., New York, Bro. Charles Saunders, aged 79 years and 9 months. Bro. S. was a life-long observer of the Sabbath of the Lord—for many years the only Sabbath-keeper in this village. At the tent-meetings last summer, the work of grace was revived in his heart. He loved the truth, and was a source of help and encouragement to the little church here. He leaves a large family of children and many relatives to mourn their loss, but by none will he be more sincerely mourned than by the little band of Sabbath-keepers. Funeral sermon by the writer. Text, Job 14:14. Chas. B. Reynolds.

Fell asleep in Jesus, in Sebec, Maine, Oct. 15, 1876, Susie A. Poole, aged twenty-two years and seven months. Susie had been keeping the Sabbath a little over two years. She had the blessed assurance in her last sickness that the Lord sustained her; and her sufferings though great were borne without a murmur.

“She hath passed death’s chilling billow, And gone to rest; Jesus smoothed her dying pillow— Her slumbers blest. “Sleep, dear sister, kind and tender, To friendship true, While with feeling hearts we render This tribute due. “When the morn of glory, breaking, Shall light the tomb, Beautiful will be thy waking, In fadeless bloom.” K. T. Rogers.

Fell asleep in Jesus, at Hammondsport, Steuben Co., N. Y., Oct. 15, 1876, Bro. Eugene C. Decker, in the twenty-sixth year of his age. Bro. Decker was a son of the late sister E. S. Decker, and at the time of his death was keeping the commandments of God. He gave to those who knew him, satisfactory evidence that he died in bright hope of a part in the first resurrection. Thus we feel that the ardent prayers of his pious mother are answered, and that she will have him as an associate in the kingdom of glory. Discourse by the writer from Luke 12:35, 36, a text selected by the deceased. J. W. Raymond.

Died, at Waitsville, Kan., Oct. 19, 1876, Mary A., daughter of D. B. and E. L. Gibbs, aged fifteen years, seven months, and seven days. We trust that her sleeping dust will be remembered when Jesus comes to gather home the faithful. Mrs. H. E. Parnham.

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