16. In shedding the blood of the offering, what did the sinner acknowledge?
17. What did the victim offered in sacrifice represent?
18. What did the shedding of his blood represent?
19. What did the one who brought the offering show by that act?
20. Did Cain have faith in Christ, when he brought his offering?
21. Then how must his offering have appeared in the sight of God?
22. What evidence have we that Cain had been taught what to bring, and how to offer it?—Rem. 2.
23. Why did Cain murder his brother?—Rem. 3.
SYNOPSIS.
Adam had two sons: Cain and Abel. Cain, the elder, was a tiller of the ground, but Abel was a keeper of sheep.
They both brought offerings to the Lord. Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought a firstling of the flock. God had respect unto Abel and his offering, but unto Cain he had not respect.
This made Cain very angry. The Lord remonstrated with him, telling him that if he did well, he would be accepted; but Cain was still rebellious, and manifested a spirit of hatred.
One day, when he and Abel were in the field together, they began to talk, and Cain finally became so angry that he killed his brother.
“And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel, thy brother? And he said, I know not, am I my brother's keeper?”
And God said, “What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.”
“And now art thou cursed from the earth which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.”
REMARKS.
1. God would not accept Cain's offering for two reasons: 1. It was not suitable, and 2. It was not offered in faith. It was not suitable, since in offering it no blood was shed, and without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins. Heb. 9:22.
The blood denotes the life, Lev. 17:11, and the sinner, in shedding the blood, took the life of the offering, and thereby acknowledged that he himself deserved to die because he had broken God's law. 1 John 3:4; Eze. 18:20.
The victim offered in sacrifice represented Christ, and the shedding of his blood represented the death of Christ on the cross. The one who brought the offering showed, not only that he was guilty, and worthy of death, but that his only hope of pardon was in Christ, the great sacrifice that was to be offered as an atonement for the sins of all who believe on him.
Cain did not have this faith, as we see from Heb. 11:4; so his offering was a mere mockery in the sight of God.
2. Cain must have been taught what to bring for an offering, and how to offer it, or God would not have condemned him. This was plainly intimated when God said to him, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?”
3. From 1 John 3:12, we learn that Cain murdered his brother because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
LESSONS FOR BIBLE CLASSES.
LESSON III.
1. How did Daniel's vision affect his mind? Daniel 7:15.
2. What did he do? Verse 16.
3. What verses contain a record of the interpretation of the vision?
4. Did this interpretation seem to fully satisfy Daniel's mind? Verse 28.
5. When did the Lord give Daniel another vision? Dan. 8:1.
6. Where is this vision recorded?
7. Was the first, or Babylonian kingdom, represented in this vision?
8. Why was it not represented?
9. How were the other three kingdoms represented? Dan. 8:3–12.
10. What kingdom did the ram denote? V. 20.
11. What did the goat represent? V. 21.
12. We have now found the names of how many of the four kingdoms?
13. Name them in their order.
14. What can you say of the origin of the Babylonian kingdom? Gen. 10:10–13.
15. What was it called for many hundred years?
16. What was its capital?
17. What city became the capital when Nineveh was destroyed?
18. When may the kingdom of Babylon proper be said to have begun?
19. How long did this kingdom continue?
20. By whom was it overthrown?—Read the fifth chapter of Daniel.
21. How long did the Medo-Persian kingdom reign supreme?
22. By whom was it overthrown?
23. By what symbol is this great conqueror represented? Dan. 8:5, 21.
24. What is the only universal kingdom that has existed since Grecia?
25. Have we any other proof that the fourth kingdom is Rome?
26. What decree did the Roman emperor Cæsar Augustus issue? Luke 2:1.
27. What does this show?
SYNOPSIS.
Daniel was troubled by the vision which he had, and inquired of one standing by in regard to its meaning. The interpretation given him is recorded in Dan. 7:17–27.
This interpretation did not seem to fully satisfy him; for he says, “As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me.” Dan. 7:28. So about two years after this, the Lord gave him another vision, which is recorded in the eighth chapter.
At this time the Babylonian kingdom was soon to pass away, and so it was not represented in the vision; but the other three kingdoms were represented by a ram, a goat, and a horn.
In the explanation of this vision, the angel plainly tells Daniel that the ram denoted Medo-Persia, and the goat Grecia. Verses 20, 21.
We now have the names of the first three of the four great kingdoms,—Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia. It remains to find the name of the fourth.
The Babylonian kingdom had a very ancient origin.—See Gen. 10:10.
For many hundred years it was known as the Assyrian kingdom, and Nineveh, a great city said to be one hundred miles in circumference, was its capital; but Nineveh was finally destroyed, and Babylon became the capital. The Babylonian kingdom proper may be regarded as beginning at this time, about 747 B. C.
This kingdom continued till 538 B. C., when it was overthrown by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus. The Medo-Persian kingdom reigned supreme till overthrown by Alexander the Great, king of Grecia, about 330 years before Christ. This Alexander was represented by the notable horn between the eyes of the goat, Dan. 8:5, 21.
Since the Grecian kingdom there has been but one universal empire, and that was the Roman; so the Roman kingdom must be the fourth kingdom, represented by the legs of the image, and by the great and terrible beast.
Of this there is abundant proof as we shall see. In Luke 2:1, we see that the Roman emperor sent out a decree that all the world should be taxed. This shows that his kingdom was universal. G. H. BELL.
An Ancient Letter.
By Eliza H. Morton
I recently had an opportunity to examine a stained and yellow Catholic manuscript known to be over one hundred years old; and thinking an account of it might interest the readers of the Review, I briefly noted its contents. It purported to be a copy of a letter written by Jesus Christ. The original was said to have been found fifty-three years after the crucifixion, in the following singular manner: A stone, round and large, was discovered near where the cross stood. Upon the stone was engraven, “Blessed is he that shall turn me over.” All the people prayed to God that he would make this writing known unto them. In the meantime, a little child came out of the house and turned over the stone, and disclosed a letter bearing the words, “The commandments of Jesus Christ, signed by the angel Gabriel seventy four years after our Saviour’s birth.” The following extract shows the nature of the letter:—
“Whosoever worketh on the Sabbath day shall be cursed. I command you to go to church and keep the Lord’s day holy. I will have that day kept that your sins be forgiven you. You shall not break my commandments, but observe and keep them; write them in your hearts and observe them. You shall finish your labor every Saturday in the afternoon at six o’clock, at which hour the preparation for the Sabbath begins. I advise you to fast five Fridays in every year, in commemoration of the five bloody wounds I received. If you do this, I will bless you. He that hath a copy of this my letter, written with my own hand and spoken with my own mouth, and keepeth it, without publishing it, shall not prosper; but he that publishes it to others shall be blessed. You shall not have any tidings of me but by the Holy Scriptures until the day of Judgment. . . . All goodness, happiness, and prosperity shall be in the house where a copy of this my letter shall be found.”
Those who keep Sunday holy, can, from the above, see the fraud and deception practiced by the Catholics in order to effect the change of the Sabbath. Those who observe the seventh day can see how much better the word of the Lord is than the traditions of men.
The “man of sin” has thought to change the law of the Most High; but truth will triumph, and God’s true Sabbath will yet be kept in the earth, even when “all flesh shall go up to worship the Lord of hosts.”
Eliza H. Morton.
INCREASE OF CRIME.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
“Perhaps no age in the Christian era has been so badly cursed with the spirit of compromise as our own. Satan seems to have abandoned the idea of crushing out the church by persecution; he now seeks to court her favor, and thus secure by flattery what he could not gain by force. The most plausible arguments are employed to induce the people of God to give up their positive testimony against popular sins. The arch-enemy has no serious objection to the multiplication of churches, provided he is allowed to dictate the policy on which they are to be run. His mightiest energies are exerted to form a peaceful alliance between the church and the world. If he can succeed in dazzling the church with worldly blandishments, decking her with worldly vanities, and setting her on a chase after worldly pleasures, he is abundantly satisfied.
“Oh, when shall we have in this favored land a revival of religion so radical and scriptural as to cure the churches of their pride and their pleasure-taking propensities? Considerable effort is made every winter, in almost every community, to arouse the people to a sense of their imperiled condition. Special meetings are held, special sermons are preached, and not unfrequently special ‘revivalists’ are employed to add the weight of their influence in converting sinners from the error of their ways. That some good results from these various efforts we are glad to believe; but the joy of gratitude is too often mingled with sadness, as the spirit of revival seems to be so easily and so soon supplanted by the spirit of revelry. What is the trouble? Can we never get the old gospel plow in deep enough to break up the ‘fallow ground?’ Must we continue the yearly process of skimming over the surface, and, as the result, reap more noxious weeds than grain?”
“There appears to be a set purpose on the part of many members in our churches—and those, too, who strangely assume to be the only ‘evangelical’ churches in the country—to run these institutions on a worldly-policy basis. They seem willing, if not anxious, to lower the Christian standard to the level of those who are confessedly the enemies of God. A few earnest souls enter their protest against the persistent attempt to form a partnership between Christ and Belial, but their pleadings are either hushed or ignored, and policy proves to be mightier than piety. The prayer-meeting is too often a dry and poorly attended affair, but the place of festivity rings with the joyous shouts of the interested throng—something is wrong.”
“Satan himself chuckles in triumph when he beholds consecrated temples of worship turned into scenes of feasting, hilarity, gambling, and worldly traffic. More or less of these foolish and piety-killing performances almost invariably accompany church fairs and festivals. But it is not on this account alone that they are to be condemned. They are wrong in principle. God’s people are called to a higher and holier work. They are to renounce the world, deny themselves, and be zealous of good works. Real Christians are expected to support the Lord’s cause from the love they bear to it, without any necessity for an appeal to the stomach. When the professed followers of God project a splendid spree, of course the fashion-following and pleasure-loving will gladly pay their money to participate in the fun; but the more thoughtful of the unconverted that are enticed to such places, will retire from the scene with the solemn and perhaps ineffaceable impression that Christianity is a humbug! Alas for the cause of Christ when it falls into the hands of such representatives!”
“It was long ages ago predicted that in the last days ‘perilous times’ should come. One indication of such times was to be the fact, that those ‘having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,’ would be ‘lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.’ Judged by this test of inspiration, where are we to-day? Instead of the church converting the world, is it not terribly true that the world is converting the church? The moral aspect is truly alarming. It is high time for the church to disavow all allegiance to Belial and to swear eternal fealty to Christ.”
This is from the Bible Banner. It states a fearful truth which we should lay to heart. May the Lord save Seventh-day Adventists from this trap of the devil.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Be Gentle, Be Genuine, Be Generous
Be gentle, be genuine, be generous.
“ALLOW FOR THE CRAWL!”
By John G. Saxe
You have often, no doubt, had occasion to note,
Though the garment at first seemed certain to please,
That, after some wearing, the sleeve of your coat,
Tow’rd the shoulder was crawling by easy degrees;
And that’s what the clothier, of course, had in mind,
When he said to the customer, “Long? Not at all!
The sleeve is just right—as you’ll presently find—
In cutting a coat we allow for the crawl!”
The expression was one wholly new to me then;
But it set me to thinking how well it applies,
Not merely to coats, but to women and men,
In matters of life as they daily arise:
Consider the shrinkage in human affairs—
The promise how great, the performance how small,
And, lest disappointment should come unawares,
Remember the sleeve, and “allow for the crawl!”
The statesman who asks for your ballot to save
Your country, so rashly imperilled to-day,
May covet an office and not be a knave,
Whatever the fierce Opposition may say;
But the “platform” to which he so valiantly clings,
By which he proposes to stand or to fall—
“Resolutions,” remember, are slippery things,
And in politics always “allow for the crawl!”
You are deeply in love with the sweetest of girls,
Whose presence the height of your happiness brings
She looks like a queen in her beautiful curls!
Like a seraph she smiles; like a siren she sings!
Ah! splendid and vast are the fancies of youth,
But down to plain facts they must finally fall;
And happy the couple who, finding the truth,
In conjugal kindness “allow for the crawl!”
In brief, recollect that in human affairs,
In social connections, in travel and trade,
In courtship and marriage, in sermons and prayers,
Some grains of concession must always be made;
In fine, be a prudent though generous man,
Unfriendly to none, and veracious with all;
Believe in your neighbor as much as you can,
But always be sure to “allow for the crawl!”
—John G. Saxe.
SABBATH VS. FIRST-DAY.
By A. J. Scover
Our opponents frequently say of the Sunday, the first day of the week, the day in which our Lord arose from the dead, that it is the seventh day if we but commence to number from Monday. That would be true provided man had the numbering of the days of the week, but God has never accorded him that privilege. God reserved that right to himself, and called upon man to “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Did the ancient prophets forget this? No. Did Christ forget it. No; he said the Sabbath was made for man. Did the apostles forget it? No; for Luke repeatedly tells us where they were and what was done on the “Sabbath day.”
These all walked with God, and he measured the time. They remembered the Sabbath as it came around, and they knew too, just what day to call the first day of the week, and recorded events and transactions that transpired upon that day; but they never called it the Sabbath, because the Sabbath always came upon the seventh day.
Then how is it that the popular testimony of to-day is that Sunday is the Sabbath? If Sunday is the Sabbath, it, per consequence, must be the seventh day; and if it is the seventh day, then we make the apostles liars, for they called it the first day, and the day before they called the Sabbath day. If God measures time, and Christ, the apostles, and the prophets all told the truth, then where is the Catholic and Protestant Sabbath? Who is its author? Who has divinely said that the first day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God? God, Christ, prophets, and apostles are not its authors. Then who but Antichrist is its author? But this makes it an antichristian institution.
A. J. Scover.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
E. L. TOWN: A licentiate is one who is exercising his gift simply on trial, the position of an evangelist being his prospectively, if he shows sufficient qualifications for the same. A person cannot properly perform the work of a gospel minister in such things as baptism, organization of churches, &c., before ordination; and it is not thought best to ordain a person before he has, by actual trial, shown his fitness for the work and given evidence that he is called of God to that service. This is why a licentiate is not given authority to baptize, &c.
1. Do S. D. Adventists indorse the views of Wesley and Clarke on sanctification? 2. Are S. D. Adventists Unitarian or Trinitarian? 3. Is there an English version of the Bible in which Luke 23:43, is translated, “That day shalt thou be with me in paradise”? and if so, will such translation bear criticism? C. J. A.
ANS. 1. Not altogether. We do not believe that a man in this present state ever becomes so holy that he has nothing more to learn, and no more progress to make. 2. Neither. We do not believe in the three-one God of the Trinitarians nor in the low views of Jesus Christ held by Unitarians. We believe that Christ was a divine being, not merely in his mission, but in his person also; that his sufferings were penal and his death vicarious. 3. We know of no such translation; and if we did, we could have no confidence in it; for the word “to-day” (Gr., semeron) never means “that day,” but always “to-day” or “this day.”
J. H. HENLEY: For an explanation of Daniel 7, throughout, see the volume, Thoughts on Daniel. The expression “The Ancient of days did sit,” means that he took a position as judge in a court of justice. See the late work on the Sanctuary.
C. C. WARD: For an exposition of Dan. 2:43, see Thoughts on Daniel. We think it refers to the ten kingdoms, not to Catholics, as such, nor to the Jews.
What chain was Paul bound with when he appealed unto Cæsar? * *
ANS. Such a chain, probably, as any person under arrest would be bound with.
MRS. E. JONES: For an explanation of 1 Tim. 5:23, see the tract on Wine, among the health tracts published by the HEALTH REFORMER. the expressions which Paul uses, “Whatsoever is sold in the shambles [market], that eat, asking no questions for conscience’ sake,” 1 Cor. 10:25, and, “Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving,” 1 Tim. 4:4, were not spoken with reference to articles of diet from a health standpoint. If so, then we must understand him as saying that if we were in China we must eat rats, cats, and puppies, if they should be set before us; or if we were among some of the tribes in the interior of Africa, we must eat snakes! This was not the question upon which Paul was speaking at all. See the context of 1 Cor. 10:25. The question was in relation to eating things which had been offered to idols. It was the custom of the pagan Gentile nations in the days of Paul to offer sacrifices to their idols, and then, having satisfied their conscience in reference to their god, to save their money by putting the flesh of the animals thus offered, into the market for sale. Some of the Christian converts thought it was wrong to eat meat which had thus been offered. Paul told them to ask no questions on this point. If they ate it and didn’t know that it had first been offered to an idol, they were all right. And if they did know it, but no one took any exception to it, all right again. But if a person of weak conscience was present, and told them that it had been offered to an idol, and that their eating it was an offense to him, then they should desist, not for their own conscience, but for his. Now to say, as they do to whom you refer, that what Paul here says about things offered to idols, takes the curse off the hog, and makes the scrofulous old scavenger and bombshell of trichina, a healthy article of food, is the height of absurdity. As to 1 Tim. 4:3, 4, there is no evidence that Paul refers to flesh meats, at all, for the word “meats,” in verse 3 is broma, which means simply “food,” and “creature” in verse 4, is “anything produced or created” by God, there being no indication that any reference is made to the brute creation.
The New Volume.
By Editor
We enter upon volume fifty-two of the REVIEW AND HERALD, under full motion. Notwithstanding the rapid growth and greatly increased activity in the cause of the third message within a few years past, we see no indications that any of the work has been spasmodic or impulsive, to be followed by a reaction, but that all has been a steady, healthy growth, created by the necessities of the case, and the permanent demands of the work upon us.
While it has been necessary to add new departments, it has also been necessary to enlarge the old ones. And this is not confined to the publishing work alone. In all departments there is growth and progress, and the borders of our Zion are enlarging upon every hand.
The news from the far East is very cheering. Two companies of Sabbath-keeping Adventists developed within the past few months in Egypt, one at Alexandria, the other at Cairo, each numbering more than the church in Naples, shows what progress is being made in that direction. There is something thrilling in the thought that away there in the land of the Pharaohs, in sight of the pyramids, where Moses lived and Israel toiled in bondage, there is a people turning to the ancient Sabbath which they observed, and preparing for the advent of Christ from Heaven.
The developments of the past few years give us an indication of what we may look for in the future; for the cause of God never goes back. From a private letter just received from Bro. Andrews, who writes from Bienne, Switzerland, we take the liberty to extract the following sentences:—
“I am glad you can speak of such prosperity in the work of God. It would do me much good to see the great things which God is accomplishing in America. But there are yet much greater things in reserve that we shall see before long. We see many tokens of good in Europe.”
This we fully believe. Much greater things are yet to be seen. The REVIEW, during the coming volume, and the few volumes that may yet be published before the end, will be the faithful exponent of these things. We can say without any boasting (for the nature of our work and message holds us to this conclusion) that we believe that the REVIEW, from this time forth, will contain more matter that is of real, stirring interest and vital importance to him who can discern spiritual things, than any other paper published in the land. In this statement we of course include with the REVIEW all other papers published by Seventh-day Adventists, which are doing the same work. The specific questions with which it deals, the Sabbath reform, the commandments of God, the worship of the beast, the formation of the image, the reception of the mark, the exposure, to its full extent, of the great apostasy, and the complete recovery of the church therefrom, besides the more general themes of the coming of Christ and the end of this age, are, and are more fully to be, the real living issues of the hour. Alas! that so many have lost sight of these issues, and in their efforts at the exposition of prophecy are like those who beat the air. It is a terrible thing to lose chart, compass, rudder, and anchor, and drift aimlessly about, at the mercy of wind and wave, as too many are doing.
While each year strengthens our conviction of the entire truthfulness of our position, which may now be said to amount to a demonstration and to positive knowledge, there is one feature which is not so pleasant to contemplate; and that is, that the REVIEW has no wider circulation. A paper filled with the most important truth, with clear arguments and with stirring reports, is just as good for ten times ten thousand subscribers as it is for ten thousand alone. And the thousands who are waiting to be benefited by it, ought to have it. Since the time when the solemn admonition came to this people, that we were not doing one-twentieth what we should do, doubtless some progress has been made in this direction. But suppose we have made only half the progress we should have made, and that ten times what we are doing yet remains to be done; this, if carried out, would give the REVIEW a vastly wider field than it now fills.
This work justly claims from us whatever of interest and energy a human being is capable of manifesting. A work in which the Creator of all worlds and the hosts of holy angels are interested, should not be treated by us with indifference. As individuals we are nothing; but the work of God is very precious and sacred. God could do his work with better agents than we; but he kindly permits us to have a part therein. Shall we, by unfaithfulness, forfeit this privilege?
That for which we are preparing is the coronation of the King of kings. Angels wait with intense interest for that auspicious event; the earth groans for it; the wicked are ripe for it. Let the church make haste to be ready for it. That will be the greatest gala day the universe has ever seen. Then will be witnessed the most brilliant assemblage, the grandest procession, the most stupendous scenes, ever set forth in all the realms over which God presides, since time began. Let our course here and now be such that on that day we may not stand as condemned culprits, plunged in deepest anguish, but as honored guests, clothed in robes of light and unutterable joy. The day is at hand.
We expect the volume of the REVIEW upon which we now enter will be one of surpassing interest.
AN APPEAL TO BELIEVERS.
By R. F. Cottrell
The cause is spreading over the earth. In the Southern States, Europe, and Africa, it is young and feeble. Means are needed to carry forward the work. Our tract and missionary societies are in debt and need help. As it was stated at the recent New York camp-meeting, should there be a hundred thousand dollars dropped into the cause, there are ways open in which this sum could all be profitably used for the advancement of the cause of God and the salvation of souls. The time is come that this message must “go out quickly” to the world. Time is short; the work will soon close. That which is done must be done quickly. And the Lord calls on those who believe to sacrifice in his cause.
The Lord is not in need. It is ourselves that are in need. We need to prove our love to God and his cause. We need the blessing which the Lord is willing and waiting to bestow upon those who will exemplify their faith by their works and thus prove that they do love God and their fellow-men.
You mean to do in the cause. You intend to help when help is needed. When will that time come, if it has not already? Now is the time. There will be no better. There will be no time when help is more needed; and if we have faith in God and present truth, there will be no better time to prove it.
Brethren, the Lord is coming soon, very soon. The work will soon close. It will soon appear who have made a covenant with God by sacrifice. Soon it will be known who it is that has transferred his treasure to the heavenly world. Shall we fail to lay up our treasure there? Let us have faith in God and live out the present truth. R. F. COTTRELL,
BE NOT DECEIVED.
By Albert Stone
There is a large class of professed Christians who claim to be bewildered on the subject of Bible truth. There is so much contradiction in the sentiments of professedly good men, that they are ready to conclude that unity of sentiment is not essential, provided we believe in Christ and trust in him for salvation. But if we fear to receive what professedly good men deny to be true, why receive the doctrine of faith and trust? Is not the doctrine of faith a subject of dispute and denial by professedly good men? Is there a doctrine or duty revealed in the Bible that is not, in like manner, disputed and denied? However it may be with others, these persons are on dangerous and forbidden ground.
Such pleas are usually offered as an excuse for unbelief and sloth. The functions of true religion are suspended, and, with them, men's opinions have paralyzed the word of God. They are a vain effort to justify a backslidden or impenitent state. Those who offer such pleas have both truth and religion enough to satisfy their present convenience; they wish to enjoy the world a while, and then they will get more religion, and look in earnest after the right way.
They do not need more religion of the kind they have. They are depending on an old experience, whose deceptive influence has brought them where they are. The sooner it is abandoned the better. It might once have had some of the elements of the genuine, but it has been so much given up to the control of foreign influences that it is only as salt that has lost its savor.
True religion is light, but they are in doubt and darkness. True religion appreciates the law of God and the gospel of his Son; but they depreciate these, and appreciate the world. True religion leads forward, but these are going backward. True religion has faith and hope for its encouragement and support, but these have no active faith, and no cheering hope as a present inspiration to engage them heartily in the service of God.
For what purpose is the Bible given us, but that we may see the truth and walk in it? The inspired psalmist says, “Thy word is a lamp,” Christ says, “If any man will do the will of God, he shall know of the doctrine;” and the prophet says, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.”
Persons walking in the light of truth see at once that the excuse in question is an insult to God, because it denies his word. Backsliders foolishly charge the cause of their darkness upon the Lord. But the true cause is with themselves. They trust in an arm of flesh, and their heart has departed from the Lord.
Those who choose a know-nothing religion must accept of its legitimate fruit, as declared by the prophet, Jer. 17:6: “He shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” ALBERT STONE.
THE MINNESOTA MEETING.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
BY request of Eld. Grant, we appointed to spend one week on the Minnesota camp-ground before the regular camp-meeting, in a sort of school for ministers, officers of the various societies, and all who wish to attend. We arrived here Wednesday, June 12. The brethren have selected a very lovely grove for their camp,5it being just at the edge of the village of Hutchinson, and near the bank of the Crow river. It seems to be exactly fitted for a camp-meeting. We found about seventy-five persons already on the ground, with a dozen tents pitched and things well prepared. Every day new ones came, and by Sabbath about one hundred and fifty were present. All the preachers of the Conference and many of the leading brethren were here. All seemed to be in good spirits. The grasshoppers have left them, and the crops look most promising.
Thus far the weather has been just right. We have spent each day in hard work in our school, but have had a prayer-meeting each morning and a sermon each evening. We dwelt at considerable length on the necessary qualifications of ministers, their duties and the best mode of labor. After speaking an hour, others made remarks and asked questions. All expressed themselves as greatly benefited. Then we spent a whole day in learning how properly to conduct a business meeting, and the right form of recording it. We found that there is great need of such instruction among our brethren.
We also spent a day on the church records, one on S. B. records, and another on T. and M. work. These meetings have been an experiment thus far, but I believe they will be of great practical use. Each one of them develops the fact that even our preachers and officers in the churches have paid but little attention to the proper mode of transacting and recording business. We hope to see good results from these efforts. Our new blank books are already proving a great benefit in this direction. We shall soon have uniformity in all our business transactions.
When I came to this State some six years ago, there was not an acting minister in the Conference. Now I am surprised to find a larger number of comparatively able speakers here than in any other Conference I know of, Michigan not excepted. All these men have come up in the last five years from common farm laborers. A number more are entering the work, and others are preparing to do so.
Up to this date, Tuesday night, June 18, though it is one day before the regular time for the camp-meeting, there are sixty-one tents pitched on the ground, containing some four hundred campers, and strings of teams are constantly arriving, some after a journey of four or five days. Our meetings have begun well, and we hope for a successful camp-meeting.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
MORE ROOM.
By Editor
To relieve the crowded condition of nearly all the departments of our Office, the trustees of the Publishing Association have decided to build the two east office buildings together, and the work has already commenced. All the space between the buildings will be occupied, and the two buildings will then be one block. The central portion will be carried up three stories.
There are now occupied, in editorial rooms, counting room, shipping rooms, type rooms, press room, boiler and engine rooms, folding and mailing rooms, book bindery, and stereotype and electrotype departments, about 13,000 square feet of floor space. The addition we are now making will provide something over 7000 feet more, making about 20,000 in all.
The cost will be comparatively small, the two buildings are situated so advantageously for this purpose. Besides the inside work, it will be necessary to build but little more than the front and rear ends, and put on the roof. The space thus inclosed, being nearly equal to that of two of our present buildings, can be fitted up at an expense not much exceeding one-half the cost of one. The room is greatly needed, and will be an immense help in the publishing work,