Review and Herald, Vol. 52, No. 24.
ADDRESS AND APPEAL, SETTING FORTH THE IMPORTANCE OF MISSIONARY WORKPage 1
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White envelopes same price as Canary. For prices of other blank books or printed matter, address, REVIEW & HERALD. Golden Grain Series, a choice collection of instructive stories suited to the wants of children from eight to sixteen years and older, illustrated and beautifully bound in two volumes. The Hard Way, 160 pp., 40 cts. The School-boy’s Dinner, 160 pp., 40 cts. Golden Grains in Ten Pamphlets. The same reading without pictures, in ten pamphlets of 32 pages each. 320 pp. 50 cts. Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle. In three volumes, containing moral and religious reading for the household; carefully selected, and compiled for the use of Sabbath-schools and family libraries. Each volume 400 pp. 60 cts. Life of Capt. Joseph Bates, relating his experience of twenty-five years on ship-board, with incidents of his rise from cabin boy up to master and owner. Here will be found the record of fearful dangers and adventures, and wonderful escapes and deliverances. Tinted paper, 352 pp. $1.00 Thrilling Incidents in the political life of Francesco Urgos, while a soldier with Garibaldi, including his perilous escape from the tyrants of Rome, and his subsequent travels in Africa and Syria. 328 pp. $1.25 The Sunshine Series. Stories for little ones in ten small books, adapted to children from the ages of four to ten years. In glazed paper covers. 320 pp. 50 cts. The “Oxford” Teacher’s Bible with a complete concordance, dictionary, tables, and maps, is the best in the world. Send for full description and price list. Books, Pamphlets, and Tracts,
Issued by the S. D. A. Publishing Association, and for sale at this Office. Hymn and Tune Book. 586 hymns, 147 tunes. $1.00. History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week. By J. N. Andrews. 528 pp., $1.25. Life of Wm. Miller. By Eld. James White, 1.00. Thoughts on Daniel. By Eld. Uriah Smith, 1.00. Thoughts on the Revelation. By U. Smith, 1.00. The Nature and Destiny of Man. By U. Smith, 384 pp., 1.00. Paper covers 40 cts. The Sanctuary, by U. Smith, bound, $1.00. Condensed, paper cover, 30 cts. The Constitutional Amendment: A Discussion on the Sabbath between W. H. Littlejohn and the editor of the Christian Statesman. $1.00. Paper covers, 40 cts. The Spirit of Prophecy: or the Great Controversy between Christ and his angels, and Satan and his angels, in three volumes, by Mrs. E. G. White. These volumes cover the time from the fall of Satan to the destruction of sin and sinners at the close of the one thousand years of Rev. 20. Vol. I. OLD TESTAMENT FACTS TO CHRIST. $1.00. “ II. LIFE AND MINISTRY OF CHRIST. $1.00. “ III. THE CRUCIFIXION, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST AND THE MINISTRY OF HIS APOSTLES. $1.00. Life of Elder Joseph Bates. (Revised.) Edited by James White. Tint paper, $1.00. White paper, 85c. A Word for the Sabbath: or False Theories Exposed. (A POEM.) By U. Smith. Muslin, 30 cts. Poems on Bible Subjects. By Mrs. R. Smith. Muslin, 40 cts. The United States in Prophecy. By U. Smith.—Bound, 40 cts., paper, 25 cts. Progressive Bible Lessons for Youth. 50 cts. Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular History of the Sabbath for 6000 years. Paper covers, 25 cts. The State of the Dead. By U. Smith. 25 cts. Facts for the Times; a Collection of Valuable Extracts from Eminent Authors. 25 cts. Miraculous Powers. 15 cts. Our Faith and Hope. Sermons on the Second Coming of Christ. 20 cts. Refutation of the Age to Come. By Eld. J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts. The Atonement. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts. The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts. Sabbath Discussion between Grant and Cornell. 90c. Review of Objections to the Visions. 20 cts. The Ministration of Angels: and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. 20 cts. The Complete Testimony of the Fathers concerning the Sabbath and First-day. 15 cts. The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two-Horned Beast. By J. N. Andrews. 15 cts. The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. By J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts. Life of Christ, in six Pamphlets. By Mrs. Ellen G. White. No. 1. HIS FIRST ADVENT AND MINISTRY. 10 cts. “ 2. HIS TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS. 10 cts. “ 3. HIS TEACHINGS AND PARABLES. 15 cts. “ 4. HIS MIGHTY MIRACLES. 15 cts. “ 5. HIS TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION. 10 cts. “ 6. HIS RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. 10 cts. The Spirit of God: Its Offices and Manifestations. By J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts. Redeemer and Redeemed. By James White. 10 cts. Christ and the Sabbath; or, Christ in the Old Testament and the Sabbath in the New. By J. White. 10c. The Morality of the Sabbath. 15 cts. The Ancient Sabbath—Forty-four Objections Considered. By D. T. Bourdeau. Price, 10 cts. The Two Laws. By D. M. Canright. Price, 15 cts. Review of Baird's Two Sermons on the “Christian Sabbath.” By J. H. Waggoner. 10 cts. Sunday Seventh-day. A Refutation of Mead, Jennings, Akers, and Fuller. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts. The Truth Found on the Sabbath. 10 cts. Brown's Review of Gillan on the Sabbath. 10 cts. Address, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. ARE WE UNDER THE SIXTH PLAGUE?
By D. T. Bourdeau
Some think that we are under the sixth plague. They reason thus: “Under the sixth plague the river Euphrates, or the Turkish empire, was to be dried up, and spiritualism was to perform its wonders. These events are now transpiring, therefore we are under the sixth plague.” A few facts are sufficient to show the fallacy of this argument. 1. The Turkish empire is not dried up; it has not ceased to exist. The sixth plague does not indicate the first stages of decay in the Turkish empire, but the complete extinction of that empire. No such overthrow, or drying up, has yet come upon Turkey. 2. The sixth plague does not bring to view the ordinary work of spiritualism, but a specific work of the spirits of devils, their going forth in a legalized manner—out of the mouth of, or as sanctioned by, heathen and so-called Christian authorities—performing miracles in connection with the work of gathering the kings of the earth to Palestine. This is not being done. Not an event of the sixth plague has transpired; therefore we are not under that plague. 3. By comparing the events of the first and sixth plagues, it is seen that the plagues fall upon one and the same generation. Those who receive the fifth plague suffer from the sores received under the first plague. Rev. 16:2, 10, 11. 4. The plagues will come upon Babylon “in one day, death, mourning, and famine.” Rev. 18:8. Famine could not come on Babylon in one literal day. Therefore the prophet here speaks of a year-day, the day of vengeance, the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion. Eze. 4:5, 6; Isa. 34:1–8. 5. The three messages of Rev. 14, arousing the world on the proximity of the Judgment and of the coming of Christ (verses 6–14), are followed by the infliction of the wrath of God, the seven last plagues. Compare Rev. 14:10; 15:1; 16:1. These plagues are God’s wrath “without mixture.” They are wrath, are not mixed with mercy, and cannot therefore be inflicted till mercy closes and there is no intercessor between God and the sinner. Isa. 59:16–18. Then, and not till then, will Christ “put on the garments of vengeance;” and then can it be said the plagues of God’s wrath have come. God’s judgments are real, literal, and terrible; but the interpretation that puts most of the seven last plagues in the past removes the “terrors of the Lord” wherewith men should be persuaded to forsake their sins; and it helps to swell the cry of peace and safety, which is followed by “sudden destruction.” These plagues are said to be the “seven last plagues,” because they are emphatically the last plagues, and because there have been some similar to them in the past,—those that came upon Egypt. But no such plagues have as yet been witnessed under the present dispensation. We hear much about “fiat money” just now. It seems to us that there is a fiat religion about in our churches that holds to real religion just about the relation that fiat money does to gold. Mr. Evarts in one of his speeches on finance uses the story of the butcher who sold to a venerable old man six pounds of beef, and received therefor bright, beautiful, well-coined money, which after being kept in a strong box for five months proved to be nothing but green leaves clipped into the shape of coin. The story illustrates fiat religion as well as fiat money. In every revival of religion when the converts are put into the box they look like good coin. When in five months we look in to see, there is nothing but leaves. Fiat money has no promise to pay. Fiat religion has nothing to pay with. Fiat religion puts nothing into the contribution box, never or seldom goes to prayer-meeting, is found at the theater or the circus, reads novels on Sunday, finds a good deal of fault with Christians, comes to church only half a day, and then only to criticise the sermon, and pronounce judgment on the singing. Fiat religion does not believe in being too strict, nor in having denominational lines, nor in standing apart from others, nor in being rigid, old-fashioned and strait-laced. Fiat money is a humbug—so is fiat religion. Fiat money may be struck off so as to look as well and appear as beautiful as if it was a note of the bank of England just sent out from Threadneedle Street. A fiat Christian looks just as well when he first comes up out of the waters of baptism as a real Christian. The “wear” is what tells. A young man said to us the other day, “When I joined the church I did not promise not to go to the theater. I told my experience and they took me in. I shall do as I like about theaters and dancing.” A lady said to us once, “The church waived its communion article when I joined; I am not under that.” Now if the church says this fiat religion is good, it may pass, but everybody knows there is no value in it. Everybody knows it is good for nothing. Government might make fiat money legal tender by taking it for customs, taxes, and postal service. But the church cannot make fiat religion legal tender. The true article must bear Christ’s stamp, and be marked with His image and superscription. The church can no more give value to fiat religion than a bank can make fiat money legal tender. There are a great many people who are very fearful that the currency of the country will become corrupted. But though members of the church, they seem to have no fear that religion will be corrupted. Honest money is a good thing. So is honest religion. A false faith, a false creed, a false profession, is as bad as a false dollar. Yet many are shocked at the idea of the latter, and have no fear of the former. The election is over; the cry against dishonest money will die away. Now let us have a protest against fiat religion, the curse of our Christianity in modern times. When we have a religion which says, “I believe; I practice; I obey,” we want the face of the promise. Down with fiat religion! give us the gold!—Watchman. ESSENCE OF CONFUSION AND INCONSISTENCY.
By D. T. Bourdeau
The greater the light, the greater the darkness and confusion which follow its rejection. This saying is indeed verified by the course of those who once enjoyed the light of present truth, but have turned against it. Such often talk of contradictions in the Testimonies, etc., but overlook the very essence of confusion that exists among themselves, as well as the unparalleled union that exists among those who stand by the messages and kindred truths. The following are some of the many contradictions of the class of opposers in question:— 1. Some deny the perpetuity of spiritual gifts; others maintain it. 2. Some repudiate health reform, appealing to the Bible (which, however, does not sustain them, for truth cannot contradict truth); others advocate it in the strongest language from a Bible and scientific standpoint. Yet the former are fellowshipped and we are denounced on health reform. And why? I know of no other reason than this: It happens that a sister among us has written and spoken on this subject, and wields a mighty influence upon the learned and the unlearned in favor of Christian temperance. 3. Some believe there will be probation after Christ’s coming, and that the Jews will then be restored, thus taking off the edge of the numerous warnings to the sinner respecting the coming of Christ and the day of wrath, and quieting the consciences of many who ought to be aroused; others discard that doctrine, as we do. 4. Some fix the year of Christ’s second coming; others do not, and, in this respect, are on the side of the Bible. 5. Some deny the personality of the devil, while others maintain it. 6. Some deny the pre-organization or pre-existence of the Saviour; others believe in it. 7. Some deny the resurrection of the wicked (a cry of peace and safety); others believe in it. 8. Some believe in the messages and two-horned beast as we do; others try to put these in the past and to obscure the Bible doctrine of the sanctuary, and deny the genuineness of the advent movement! 9. Some place the plagues in the future and just before the second advent; others place most of the plagues in the past. 10. Some deny our application of the seal or sign of the living God to the Sabbath; others admit this application. The former might as well say that the first-day Sabbath, as based on tradition, is not the sign of the papal authority, and deny the truth ad infinitum. 11. Some say that they do not object to health reform from a health standpoint, yet teach that the Bible allows us to eat and drink as we please, and censure those who discriminate between healthful and unhealthful food and habits, saying they (we) are giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils!! Query: Is the Bible against health? and are the teachings of devils superior to those of the God of the Bible? 12. Some say they do not pretend to attack the character of Sr. White, and admit that if we live according to her teachings we will surely be saved; yet, this child of God they call Jezabel, and accuse her of being inspired of the devil! Surely, a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. We have reason to thank God for the harmony that exists in the teachings of Seventh-day Adventists. But where are those drifting who, having acknowledged the truth, turn against it? They may claim they have the truth; but if you undertake to reject what they deny in the aggregate, you will abandon nearly every doctrine held by Seventh-day Adventists; you will be like a ship without a captain and without a definite chart and compass, which is in constant danger of making shipwreck. Let those who oppose us with the cry of division and contradictions, first see to it that they present a united front and exhibit the precious jewel of consistency. D. T. BOURDEAU. The following, we suppose, may be taken as a sample of the conduct generated by that type of sanctification which is of late making itself so loud-mouthed and prominent. It is a kind of fruit that does not speak well for the tree. In the Ottawa County Courier of Nov. 23, 1878, published at Spring Lake, Mich., a writer signing himself “Coopersville,” under the head of “Religious,” says:— “To the Editor of the Courier. “The religion and politics of Coopersville just now seem a little mixed. Last Sunday evening the pastor of the Free Methodist church, Eld. Russel, was requested to announce an appointment of the Seventh-day Adventists for Eld. E. B. Lane, at Pierce’s Hall, Tuesday night. The Free Methodist Elder, after singing, prayer, and selecting Isaiah 55:7, a text specially applicable to sinners, made the following announcement: ‘Eld. E. B. Lane, a Seventh-day Adventist minister, will commence a course of lectures at Pierce’s Hall, Tuesday night. I will announce this appointment for them, but if they ever want another appointment announced they will have to get some one else to announce it, because I do not recognize them as a Christian organization.’ This seems a little cool, for November, to hear a minister of a denomination who profess entire sanctification, or a life without sin, publicly unchristianize a denomination so large and so well known as the Seventh-day Adventists are in these parts, and whose Christian deportment stands as well, perhaps, in the minds of the thinking public as that of the Free Methodists. Well, we will wait and watch to see if our Seventh-day Adventists have Christian grace enough to ‘love their enemies, and do good to those who despitefully use them.’ If they do, perhaps they will not stand much injured by this public assault.” At the late General Conference at Battle Creek the following resolution was unanimously adopted:— “Whereas, The subject of spiritual gifts is one of importance, and such works as The Spirit of Prophecy and the Testimonies should be in the hands of all our brethren, therefore “Resolved, That we recommend the various tract societies to make a special effort to place them in the library of each church, and in the hands of scattered brethren, and that they encourage the reading of them.” It was further resolved that, where these books are purchased by churches, or by tract societies, to be placed in churches as a church library, to be drawn by the members of the church, they be furnished “at one-half the retail price, and that the difference between this and the regular wholesale price be paid from the fund raised for circulating these works.” There are at present three volumes of Spirit of Prophecy and five volumes of the Testimonies. In all, eight volumes worth one dollar each. These we have put up in sets in neat paper boxes, suitable to be placed in any church or library, and now offer, according to the above statement, the eight dollars’ worth for four dollars, subject to the following conditions:— First, That the name of the church where they are to be placed, and the name and address of its Elder, are given us in full. This is necessary that when Spirit of Prophecy vol. 4 is printed, we may know whom to notify, and that no advantage may be taken by private individuals of this offer, which is made only to churches and companies of Sabbath-keepers. Second, That the library be placed in the church or place of meeting, where the books can be drawn by those attending the meetings. Third, That the church shall appoint some one (the Elder or the T. and M. librarian, are usually the best qualified), to become responsible for the proper care of the books, and to act as librarian. Send in your orders at once. The offer is made for this winter only. Over one hundred libraries have already been ordered. The long winter evenings are the best time to read. Order through your tract societies, so that we can ship a number to the State secretaries by freight, and thus you will be saved large express bills. Nebraska Conference Tract and Missionary District Organization
By H. A. Whittaker
To the scattered brethren of the Nebraska Conference living north of the Platte River. Nebraska is now divided up into districts for T. and M. labor; and Dist. No. 1 comprises all north of the Platte River. And as our brethren are raising up companies of Sabbath-keepers and organizing them into societies for laboring in T. and M. work, you will want tracts and books, and you will want to take “clubs” of THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES to distribute, and get up an interest; also, you will want the REVIEW AND HERALD, YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR, and the HEALTH REFORMER for your own use. Your librarians can get these papers, tracts, etc., by writing to the director of Dist. No. 1, and they will be forwarded through the State secretary's hands. George Dawson is director of Dist. No. 1. Address, Blair, Nebraska. H. A. Whittaker, of Tekamah, Burt Co., Neb., is your district secretary. I wish to get the names of all the T. and M. members in my district. Will they please forward them to me immediately? Please forward to me any money you have for the missionary cause. I would be pleased to order “clubs” of SIGNS for you, ten copies to one address, for $12.00, paid for on the installment plan, at one dollar per month. The district quarterly meetings are held the next Sabbath and Sunday after the church quarterly meetings, which are held the first Sabbath in every quarter; viz., the first Sabbath in January, April, July, and October. Send in your reports to the secretary immediately after the district quarterly meeting, so he can report to the State secretary the following week. H. A. WHITTAKER. We have just closed our meetings at Dunkirk, after remaining here two weeks, and holding meetings every evening and on Sabbath and Sunday. The attendance has been excellent. Seventeen were keeping the Sabbath when we came. Eight more have embraced the truth, making twenty-five. We have a good Sabbath-school of about forty members. Quite a quantity of books have been sold, and a good list of subscribers obtained for the REVIEW. As many as twelve or fifteen of the business men of the city are deeply interested in our meetings, and believe the truth. They are our warm friends; they attend all our meetings, and we hope that they will have strength to keep the Sabbath. Bro. Rupert remains to follow up the interest, and will have a regular appointment here every four weeks during the winter. These new churches have been left too soon in Ohio, and as a consequence they have dwindled out, and those who have remained are weak and only partially in the truth. This should not be so. We shall therefore endeavor to carry out this work, and we hope thus to have a strong, faithful church in Dunkirk. Bro. Burrill has done good service in the work thus far. My health is good, and my courage in the Lord is excellent. Mrs. Canright remains at Battle Creek. Her strength is gradually failing, but she enjoys peace of mind and the blessing of God. In a recent letter she says: “My hopes that returning health will ever be mine to enjoy have faded away in the distance. I really do not gain any, but, on the contrary, I realize more and more that I am failing. This I have realized particularly during the past two weeks. But all this does not frighten me, nor bring gloom upon my mind. The Lord blesses me with peace of mind which is not often disturbed by doubts or temptations. Then, too, I truly am grateful for the temporal blessings I enjoy. The only thing lacking is your presence, and this lack I can only consent to because I know the need there is of your labors. If I can never be with you in your work again, I do not want to feel that I have hindered you, however much the natural feelings have to be sacrificed.” She would highly appreciate letters from her friends, though she cannot answer them. D. M. CANRIGHT. Belmore, Putnam Co., Dec. 2.
I have been holding meetings at Belmore five weeks. The interest has been good from the first. The audiences have ranged from fifty to four hundred. A few have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and I think others will do so soon. LETTER FROM ITALY.
By H. P. Ribton
VERY DEAR BRO. ANDREWS: Your letter of Oct. 21st, received yesterday, filled my soul with gloom. Since receiving your last letter, we have never ceased to pray for your daughter Mary, and the brethren in Egypt have joined with us in doing so. Too truly I recognized the gravity of the symptoms when first you wrote from Bale, and I may add that from what you said of your health I was much alarmed for you191 also. Still, although humanly speaking there seems so little hope, our God may hear the prayer of faith. Oh! when will our Saviour come and crush the serpent’s head? And when shall we have reunion in the kingdom with our loved ones that are now sleeping? To you, dear brother, I can give strong consolation which the world has not. Our life belongs to our Lord; but if he takes from us our loved ones, he does it in love, for some reason that we cannot see. “No man maketh known the day;” but there are passages in the word that lead me to think we are within hearing of the voice that follows the third angel. Already we feel the breath of the four winds that are ready to break forth upon the earth, and I sometimes shudder when I look upon my cherished ones and think what is coming upon the world. The time is near when we may be exposed to horrible trials for our testimony for Jesus. We have had evidence of what Satan would seek to do to us, both in Switzerland and in Italy; how much better that those we love should be sleeping safe with Jesus in that dreadful hour. These are the days when the soldier must buckle on his armor, leave all thought of the domestic hearth, and concentrate all his energies to the great battle for the restoration of his King. And then, when the victory is gained, how sweet will it be to return home and see all those we loved once more about us, in the time when warfare shall be no more. A little longer, and we shall see all this. The trial for the present is grievous; but One is with us who is afflicted with all our afflictions, who “comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble;” and he recognizes our patience and submission. This stroke of Satan is not only against you but against Him. Then, dear brother, cheer up; think not of the evil that is past, but look forward into the glory that is coming, and let us now have but one thought,—that of combating the serpent and hastening the coming of our King. If it pleases Christ to take your Mary for a while out of the way of evil, leave her with him; she will be safer than either at Bale or at Battle Creek; and think also of your own health and economize your strength. Please present from my wife warmest thanks to the dear sisters for their kind present, which will help where it is much needed. Many thanks, too, for the $100. With regard to the work in Egypt, may the Lord direct; for I fear making a wrong step and also having to account for souls lost at the last day through my neglect of duty. As things now are, I feel almost certain I ought to be there. I await the answer of the brethren at Battle Creek to the letter I wrote about it. I now send a translation of the letters I have received from Egypt during the last months, that you may see exactly how things are there. You will see by Bro. Bertola’s letter of Oct. 14 that he has advanced altogether a sum of 500 francs ($100) for the hall; for, having a spare room attached to it, they judged it fit to furnish it up for the future minister (by whom, for the present, they mean me), so as not to oblige him to rent a room in the town. This certainly is an economical step, though it has involved more outlay in the beginning than I expected. And this money, as he states, must be paid to his employer on Dec. 15 at latest. I was perplexed by this, but while thinking what I should say about it I saw in a copy of the Signs of the Times that a friend in California, apparently with an Italian name, had subscribed $100 to the Italian mission, the very identical sum laid out, and almost on the same day on which the baptism took place. Then I said, The hand of the Lord is in it. I told Bro. Bertola, however, not to lay out any more money until I saw you. We have remained without a hall here and have stopped all expense in favor of Egypt, until I hear from you. Going to Egypt, and traveling, would involve much expense, even with the strictest economy. The fare to Alexandria, second class, is 200 francs. As we live, living would not probably cost as much in Alexandria as Bro. Bertola said; but it is more expensive than here. There is now a great work open in Alexandria, and there is much to be done in Italy too, if we had the means. Bro. Volpi has had much domestic trial. He is coming here this month on a visit. It is evident that at present I am greatly needed in Alexandria; but it is most essential that I should confer with you here before going there. My wife and family, and the brethren here, send much Christian love and their fervent sympathy in this great affliction. We pray always for you. Salute also Bro. and Sr. White, and all the brethren at Battle Creek. My dear wife is a little better now, though not cured yet. Believe me yours in much love and hope of the kingdom. H. P. RIBTON. Since the camp-meeting, I have been detained here by a challenge for debate, and am now engaged in discussion with Eld. Caskey. The questions are much the same as those at the Terrell debate. Although Eld. C. has been boasting that he was fully posted and has been anxious for another debate with me, I find him no better prepared to present the opposing arguments than before. I cannot tell how long we shall continue the debate. Three sessions have already been held on the immortality question, but the end is not yet. Bro and Sr. White were here, are now at Dallas, and will return Monday. My hope is good. Pray for us.