Review and Herald, Vol. 42, No. 20.
FORTY ANSWERS TO FORTY SO-CALLED OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE LAW AND SABBATHPage 1
Earlier text: FORTY ANSWERS TO FORTY SO-CALLED OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE LAW AND SABBATHThe Voice in the Twilight.
I was sitting alone toward the twilight,
With spirit troubled and vexed,
With thoughts that were morbid and gloomy,
And faith that was sadly perplexed. Some homely work I was doing
For the child of my love and my care,
Some stitches half wearily setting
In the endless need of repair. But my thoughts were about the “building,”
The work some day to be tried;
And that only the gold, and the silver,
And the precious stones should abide. And remembering my own poor efforts,
The wretched work I had done,
And, even when trying most truly,
The meager success I had won, “It is nothing but wood, hay and stubble,”
I said; “it will all be burned—
This useless fruit of the talents
One day to be returned. “And I have so longed to serve Him,
And sometimes I know I have tried;
But I’m sure when he sees such building,
He will never let it abide.” Just then, as I turned the garment,
That no rent should be left behind,
My eye caught an odd little bugle
Of mending and patchwork combined. My heart grew suddenly tender,
And something blinded my eyes
With one of those sweet intuitions
That sometimes makes us so wise. Dear child, she wanted to help me;
I knew ’twas the best she could do;
But oh! what a botch she had made it—
The gray mismatching the blue! And yet—can you understand it?—
With a tender smile and a tear,
And a half compassionate yearning,
I felt her grown more dear. Then a sweet voice broke the silence,
And the dear Lord said to me,
“Art thou tenderer for the little child
Than I am tender for thee?” Then straightway I knew his meaning,
So full of compassion and love,
And my faith came back to its Refuge,
Like the glad returning dove. For I thought when the Master Builder
Comes down his temple to view,
To see what rents must be mended,
And what must be built anew; Perhaps, as he looks o’er the building,
He will bring my work to the light,
And seeing the marring and bungling,
And how far it all is from right,— He will feel as I felt for my darling,
And will say, as I said for her,
“Dear child, she wanted to help me,
And love for me was the spur. “And for the love that is in it,
The work shall seem perfect as mine;
And because it was willing service,
I will crown it with plaudit divine.” And there in the deepening twilight
I seemed to be clasping a Hand,
And to feel a great love constraining me
Stronger than any command. Then I knew by the thrill of sweetness
’Twas the hand of the Blessed One,
Which would tenderly guide and hold me
Till all the labor is done. So my thoughts are never more gloomy,
My faith no longer is dim;
But my heart is strong and restful,
And mine eyes are unto Him.
—Woman’s Work for Women. Cool Formality.
By A. J. Edmunds
ARE we not becoming cold and formal like other churches around us when we meet from Sabbath to Sabbath and pass in and out of the meeting house with simply a cold and distant bow; or, perhaps, a fashionable shake of the hand? Do you not remember that when we first loved the Saviour, we loved everybody, and the cheerful, “How do you do,” and hearty shake of the hand, indicated this beyond a doubt? Brethren and sisters were encouraged by so doing, and sometimes even sinners were influenced to seek Jesus by witnessing so much love manifested by his followers. When the lonely pilgrims come many miles to meet with those of like precious faith, how cheering to be greeted thus. It kindles anew their love for Jesus and the cause of truth. But when coldness is manifested toward them, they return to their homes in sadness. When we all arise out of a lukewarm state, this icy coldness will be dispelled by bright rays from the throne of grace. Then will the children of God be perfectly united; then will the lonely pilgrim not long be a stranger among us, but will feel that he is at home, and more than welcome to our society. Made the Righteousness of God in Him
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” The White Stone.
By J. B. Thompson
A ROUND pebble lay by the roadside on the bank of a running brook. A little girl washed it in the brook and it was white as the driven snow. Awhile she looked upon its beauty, and admired it in her play, and then left it where she found it. The next day it was again all covered with dust and dirt from the passing wheels. Again she washed it, and again it was white and beautiful as before. Again she left it on the bank by the roadside. The next day again it was polluted and defiled. The third time she washed it, and enjoyed its beauty in her play. But this time she left it lying in the running brook. Wheel after wheel passed by as before. The dust flew thick as ever, but the sweeping water carried it all away as it fell, and the white pebble remained white, and clear and beautiful as when first washed. And day after day as the little girl came, she rejoiced in its beauty which was never tarnished, being always washed in the flowing stream. Faith takes the heart to Jesus, time after time, day after day, and its pollutions are washed away in the flowing fountain of the water of life. But faith takes back the heart into the busy highways of life, and leaves it there to contract defilement, to be washed off again when faith finds opportunity to put it into the stream. Suppose faith should leave our purified heart in the flowing stream?—J. B. Thompson, D. D. Insincerity in Confessions.
By C. S. Robinson
We are not sincere. We profess all horror at wickedness, but we seem to mean wickedness in general, not anything we have really done in particular and in person. It is sin we deplore, not sins. Our words of self-abasement must not be pressed, nor misunderstood. In the old legend it was no less than a cardinal that once went to confession. “Oh! I am the very chief of sinners,” he murmured in the ear of the priest. “Too true, too true; God have mercy”—were the words that came back through the grating. “Surely I have been guilty of every kind of wrong,” he continued. “Alas, my son, it is a solemn fact—have mercy upon him, O Lord.” Thinking that great enormities admitted, would force at least a deprecation, he went on:— “I have indulged in pride, malice, revenge, and ambition.” Then he sighed in mournful tones; and in tones as mournful the honest monk answered:— “Yes, alas, some of this I had heard of before; the Lord have mercy.” The exasperated cardinal could stand it no longer. “Why, you fool,” he burst out sharply, “do you imagine I mean all this to the letter?” “Alas, alas, the good Lord have mercy,” said the pitiful priest, “for it seems his Eminence is a hypocrite likewise?”—C. S. Robinson. Sometimes one hears said of a good wife and mother that “she’s a regular home body.” The phrase is simple, but what a world of ennobling qualities it indicates, and what a universe of frivolities it excludes. The matronly home body is indeed “Heaven’s best gift to man.” Dashing ladies, whose mission it is to set the fashions, won’t you look in upon your gentle sister as she sits in her well-ordered nursery, making the children happy with her presence? Note how she adjusts their little difficulties, and admonishes, encourages, instructs, amuses them as the case may require. Do you think any nurse-maid could produce such harmony in their little circle? Is she not an enchantress? Verily, yes, and her charm is “love stronger than death” for those sweet young faces, where you may see her smiles and frowns (though she seldom has occasion to frown) reflected in glee and sorrow like sunlight and cloud shadow in a quiet pool. What she is, she will teach her daughters to be; and blessed are the sons that have such a mother. Mercy among the virtues is like the moon among the stars—not so sparkling and vivid as many, but dispensing a calm radiance that hallows the whole. It is the bow that rests upon the bosom of the cloud when the storm is passed. It is the light that hovers above the Judgment-seat. The Value of a Good Conscience
A GOOD conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves a constant ease and serenity within us, and more than that countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can possibly befall us. Self-Deception.
By James White
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Rev. 3:17. Those addressed in this text are self-deceived. They think their condition is very good, when it is very bad. We see the greatest contrast possible between their supposed, and real, state. They say they are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, because they verily believe this is the case, when in fact they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. If it be said they are hypocrites, professing what they are not, we reply that the phrase, “and knowest not,” vindicates them from the charge of designing hypocrisy. They may possess a good degree of honesty, yet be perfectly deceived. Then it is a well-sustained fact that it is possible for the human mind to be brought under a complete deception in regard to spiritual things, and at the same time the person possess a good degree of sincerity. Deception has been Satan’s specific work ever since he told that artful lie to Eve, and deceived her, and brought ruin upon the race. It has been his object to make fallen men believe that their condition was better than it really was, and lead them to build themselves up on false hopes, and to feel secure while upon the brink of ruin. He has sometimes broken out in wrath, and the millions of the just who have fallen in death in different ages have been the special victims of his ire; but his grand scheme to sink men in perdition has been to lead them to rest upon false hopes, and to murmur against those whom God sent to reprove their wrongs and lead them to walk in the counsels of God. His power to deceive those prone to wander from God has been almost without limitation. We propose to give two examples from the Old Testament. 1. The conduct of the children of Israel while Moses was with God forty days receiving the law. They were acquainted with the fact that God had wrought miracles by the hands of Moses and Aaron to convince their heathen master that he should let his Israelitish slaves go free. They saw the dreadful plagues upon the Egyptians, and knew they were stripes from the God of Heaven to humble their oppressors, and to effect their freedom. They saw the waters of the Red Sea part, and the land appear through it, upon which their mighty host passed over dry shod. They witnessed the drowning of their pursuers, who, in their blindness and desperate thirst for slavery, even ventured to enter the channel of the sea that God had miraculously opened for the escape of his people. All this they witnessed. It would seem that by every cord that Heaven could employ they were bound in allegiance to the living God, the maker of the heavens and the earth. Yet we see them in the absence of their chosen leader but forty days, falling into base idolatry. Aaron yields to their wishes, the golden calf is made, the people worship it, and ascribe the victories of their deliverance to it! Oh! what an insult to God! But there stands Aaron as calm as Heaven, drifting on the tide of popular opinion into the gulf of infidelity and idolatry. The people must have felt that they had a splendid minister—so mild, so yielding to their wishes—and doubtless it would have given them great satisfaction to have made him a popular donation party. All might have gone on very finely for a while, had it not been for what they must have regarded as the impetuous interference of their absent leader. Moses appears with the tables of the law in his hands. He beholds the idolatry of the people, and, overwhelmed with a keen sense of their dreadful apostasy, he casts the tables of stone from his hands, and they brake. It is even said of Moses that his “anger waxed hot,” and with this impulse he cast the tables of stone from his hands; yet the record does not show that God reproved him for this. He was a mortal man. He had just come from the presence of God, imbued with the highest sense of that pure worship which he required. In the greatest contrast with every feeling of his being, he beheld the base idolatry of his people, and was overcome. In this, he did not sin, but rather the facts stand out upon the sacred record as a memorial of his keen and exalted sense of the purity of the worship of God. But no doubt the people in their blind idolatry were disgusted with the apparent rashness and impetuosity of Moses, and many an Israelite was ready to cry out, “What a bad spirit he manifests,” and turn to the conduct of Aaron to show a commendable contrast. And is it not astonishing that the people of Israel should apostatize so soon? That in the short period of forty days so complete a revolution should take place with them? We might safely suppose that the manifestations of almighty power in connection with their deliverance were sufficient to stamp upon their memory and their faith the facts of the existence of the God of Heaven, and their duty to worship him, not to be effaced during their lifetime. Such a revolution of sentiment outside of religion, with any people of equal magnitude, could not take place in less than forty years. Then why this fearful revolution in only forty days? It was one which would affect their present prosperity and their eternal interest. Why this rash, sudden, desperate movement toward perdition? Their experience, though rich in witnessing the manifestations of the power of God, was brief, hence they were ill-prepared to stand trial. And God was about to establish in their midst his law and a system of worship. Satan knew this, and summoned his legions to hover about God’s people in the absence of their leader, and turn their minds to idolatry. These facts are a striking illustration of moral weakness, the dangers of inexperience, and of the power of the devil. 2. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and their sympathizers. It is said of them, Num. 16; 2, 3, “And they rose up before Moses with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown, and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them; wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?” This rebellion appears to be the result of too low a standard of holiness with a portion of the people, and their being inflamed by the spirit of jealousy toward Moses and Aaron, who were laboring to bring them up to a higher standard. This is very evident from rebel testimony: “Ye take too much upon you,” say the rebels, “seeing the congregation is holy, every one of them.” They had a low standard. They were deceived, and deceiving one another, and were irritated at the efforts of Moses and Aaron, who wished to improve their condition. They felt confident that they were rich, and increased with goods, and had need of nothing, and knew not that they were, as the sequel proves, wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. The facts are of such peculiar interest to the subject that we quote largely. Verses 4–7: “And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: and he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to-morrow the Lord will show who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. This do: Take you censers, Korah, and all his company, and put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to-morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.” Verses 23–38: “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram: and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram on every side, and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. And Moses said, Hereby shall ye know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men: then the Lord hath not sent me. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their houses and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them, fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.” “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed. The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for the covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.” As we read the above record of God’s punishment of jealousy and rebellion against his chosen instruments, and see how he signally approved of them before all the people, and as publicly manifested his anger upon their opponents, we might suppose that this would forever put an end to rebellion, and that the people would humbly honor the men whom God had honored as their leaders. “But,” the record reads, verse 41, “on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the congregation of the Lord.” Jealousy and rebellion first originated with Satan, and caused his fall from a position among the highest order of intelligences in Heaven. Legions of sympathizing angels fell with him. But this heavy blow did not cure the rebellion. Next, Satan caused the fall of man; and he and his angels have ever since been carrying on a warfare against God, Christ, holy angels, and the loyal and faithful of earth, by inspiring fallen mortals with jealousy and rebellion against the government of Heaven. This rebellion can be cured only by exterminating the first great rebel, and all his sympathizers, whether they be angels or men. Such is the nature of rebellion, as we trace its history with the professed people of God down to the present time, that it seems incurable. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Sam. 15:23. Satan inspires men with the spirit of rebellion, and they are more or less insane, and sometimes act like mad men. This insanity and madness is seen in the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and in Israel’s swift departure from the living God, while Moses was absent from them but forty days. We trace this spirit of rebellion all the way down the sad history of the church, to the perilous times of the last days, when Satan’s malice is turned in tenfold fury against those who keep the commandment of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Here we may expect the unconsecrated, self-deceived, to fall under the power of Satan and manifest an insane madness and rebellion against the work of God, which can hardly find a parallel in the past. But God, in the use of the pure testimony and the rod of affliction will purge his people from all this, and they will yet stand forth united and true. Eze. 20:35, 38. “And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there I will plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge out from among you the rebels.” Let us go forward to the Judgment, and witness in imagination the disappointment and dismay of the masses of self-deceived, when, too late for remedy, they learn from Christ their real condition. Matt. 7:22, 23: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” In the previous verse, our Lord utters a most cutting rebuke on the self-deceived. Verse 21: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.” Many are satisfied with a superficial work, and say, Lord, Lord, in full confidence of their acceptance, while neglecting to do the will of God. This terrible deception is often made complete and sure by the power of the devil, insomuch that the unfortunate victim stands unmoved by Scripture testimony, or touching appeals, or even evident judgments from the hand of God. Such generally start wrong, and in blindness pursue their whole Christian course under a deception as to their condition. But, in this very connection, our Lord has given an illustration of how men should commence and pursue the Christian journey, also the fatal results of a wrong course. Verses 24–27: “Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” We see from Rev. 3:17; Matt. 7:21–27, that it is possible for men to be laboring under a state of perfect deception as to their standing before God, and yet possess a good degree of honesty. It is also evident that in our day, under the deceptive power of the devil, and the example of the apostate churches, there is a strong tendency of the human mind to self-deception. Then how important that the minister of Jesus Christ should preach the pointed truth, and hold forth to the people those warnings against self-deception in the same forcible style in which he finds them in the Bible. As a faithful watchman, he should see the dangers to which the flock are exposed, and fearlessly utter those warnings drawn from the sacred Scriptures which these fearful times demand for the safety of God’s people. He who fails to do this—who shuns to give unpleasant testimony because it may offend—who fears, and trembles, and avoids the cross in this respect, may expect an unfaithful watchman’s reward. Ministers and people should cherish an undying love for the pure testimony of God’s word. In this, there is safety for both ministers and people from the dreadful power of self-deception. Let the dangers to which the people of God are exposed in these last days be faithfully kept before them. Self-deception, unless removed from the mind, generally results in rebellion. And we are forced to the conclusion, in tracing the Bible history of rebellion, that determined and deliberate rebellion is incurable. Individuals may, through a mistaken view of things, and a perverted sympathy, become imbued with the spirit of rebellion which time and events may wear away, and they again apparently stand in the light; but such transitions of the mind generally impair the judgment, and becloud the discernment in relation to the things of God. Such persons are in greater danger of again drinking in the spirit of rebellion, and need to set a double watch. It is, therefore, seldom safe to trust these unfortunate persons with responsible posts of duty; for it is almost certain that Satan will lead them to turn the influence you may give them against the cause of God. But deliberate and determined rebellion has no remedy. That first great rebellion is to cease only by the extermination of Satan and those angels who rebelled and fell with him. The spirit of rebellion that fell upon the children of Israel soon after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt held fast to them. God led them round and round in the wilderness forty years, and manifested to them blessings and judgments to remove this unclean spirit from them, but they would not be corrected. The157 next morning after the earth opened and swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and those who dared to stand with them, Num. 16:23–38, those who appeared loyal the night before broke out in bitterest and most insane rebellion against Moses, saying, “Ye have killed the congregation of the Lord.” That rebellion that the Jewish priests inspired in the hearts of the people against Jesus Christ—the most lovely personage that ever visited this globe—that clamored for his blood in the judgment-hall, has followed and clung to the Jews until this day. And as we look over our short history as a people, we may safely say that one-third of those who have from first to last embraced the Sabbath and come among us have fallen under a spirit of rebellion against the work of God in the third message in bringing out and purifying a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Many could not stand the purifying work, and rebelled against it, and the means employed in carrying it forward. When they first rebelled, they had no idea that they would give up the Sabbath; but a few weeks, or a few months, or a few years, have found them Sabbath-breakers. And we have yet to learn that one single case of determined rebellion among us has been fully cured. May God save his people from self-deception and rebellion. The Camp-Meeting Campaign.
By George I. Butler
It may not be improper, now that the camp-meetings are all in the past, to take a glance at them as a whole, to see what has been accomplished, and draw such encouragement from them as the circumstances of the case will warrant. Perhaps there has been no more discouraging commencement for a camp-meeting season, in some respects, since this class of meetings have been held among our people, than this season. All those prominent gifts who have heretofore interested and led on the people, were, for one reason or another, not available this year. Bro. and sister White were unable to attend because of his lack of health. Bro. Andrews was engaged in preparing his Sabbath History. Bro. Littlejohn’s health would not admit of his presence, and others were unable to attend, either from poor health, or other duties. Not only was this the case, but in the Western Camp-meetings, especially, there was a great disappointment to start on. It was a little embarrassing, to say the least, to those who felt their inexperience and inability to do much in camp-meeting labor, when arriving upon the ground, to have scores eagerly inquire if such and such important laborers were not going to be present; and when informed that they were not, to see the marks of great disappointment, as much as to say, Our meeting will be a failure. Not that they were to be blamed at all for thinking so, only as this showed lack of faith in God, who can bless the feeblest instrumentalities when striving to do his will. But it did take quite an effort to raise the people above the disappointment, especially when waiting several days, expecting Bro. and sister White every train. I could not help pitying the people in their disappointment when only one inexperienced laborer came into their midst, when they had been looking for several who were blessed with ability. In the Eastern meetings, where I had the help of Bro. Haskell, and, in one meeting, of Bro. Andrews, it was very much better. Yet, in spite of all this, I cannot think of one single meeting that I should call a failure. And many of them were very powerful seasons, where the people were very much moved. A deep solemnity rested upon the minds of the people which, I trust, followed them to their homes. The meetings in Kansas, New York, and Vermont, were more than usually good, while the Michigan meeting was a very solemn one, though a time of great labor and anxiety. One hundred and thirty-six were baptized in all our camp-meetings, and more might have been, had we not thought it better that the ordinance be administered in their own churches. Many confessions with great apparent penitence have been made in these meetings, and good resolutions expressed to be more faithful in the future than in the past. As far as I can discern, the people had clearer views of the importance of the work, its magnitude, and the duty of sacrificing to carry it forward, than ever before. The plans proposed by Bro. White to place our institutions on a broader basis, we have tried to back up and explain. Nothing is really more important to cause our people to prize the cause, and have faith in it, than for those who occupy leading positions to act as though they really expected the work will be what they profess to believe it is. I fully believe our brethren will respond to appeals for means when these things are presented before them in the proper light. The beginning we have made this season in appealing for our denominational school is encouraging. In round numbers, the State Conferences have subscribed as follows, mostly in response to appeals made at our camp-meetings. I give the figures approximately, being sure they will foot up full as large as I give them:— Iowa, $5.000
Wisconsin, 2.000
Minnesota, 2.500
New York, 4.000
Vermont, 4.500
New England, 5.000
Maine, 1.000
Michigan, 21.000
Ohio, 4.000
Indiana, 1.000
Illinois, 2.000
Total, $52.000 I should say here, that brethren of Illinois gave some seven hundred of what was subscribed at the Wisconsin meeting, which will bring her figures up to $2.700, while those of Wisconsin will fall off that difference. Some other States were also affected by brethren’s presence whose residence was in other Conferences. Let it be remembered that when the call was made for the school, $20.000 was all that was asked for. It is gratifying that the friends of the cause, in responding to these appeals, have pledged upwards of $50,000, to be paid this year and next. Some thought that the first-named sum could not be raised. It is evident that such misjudged our people. Let not any think that the raising of this amount is due to any special ability on the part of those who solicited the pledges. It should rather be ascribed to the intrinsic importance of the project itself. All could readily see that without very much pleading. And further, the influence of Bro. and sister White led out in the matter, so that those who presented the subject before our camp-meetings had a very easy time in presenting the importance of it, our people having confidence in the leadership of those whom experience has proved were worthy of it. It would have been quite different were there any question about the matter; but being thus backed up, it was nothing to get the people to subscribe. And yet, the raising of $50,000 of pledges for a school, besides several thousand more for the Tract and Missionary Society, in one season, by a people no more numerous than ours, is a matter of encouragement. It shows some faith in this work on their part. One point of interest occurred within my knowledge which shows some difference between ourselves and others. A few weeks before our camp-meeting was held in Washington, Iowa, one of the popular denominations held a large Conference in that place. There was a regular jam of people. A large number of ministers was present. Everything went on finely. Some important church object came up and a very strong appeal was made, and they tried to raise $800, and failed. Our meeting came. There was not a large attendance of our people. We were a far smaller denomination. Not nearly so many rich members were among us. We had no difficulty in raising $5,000. A number of other circumstances of a similar character occurred this season in other places. Some of the people stood ready to make real sacrifices for the advancement of the cause. In not a single instance did they come short of our expectations, but exceeded it nearly every time. On the whole, the effect of the camp-meetings upon my own mind has been encouraging; not that everything among us is as it should be; so far from this being the case, there is very much among us to lament. We need educating in the principles of piety, devotion, sacrifice, and in intelligent zeal and consecration. There are some who are earnestly trying to do their duty and to awake out of sleep, while very many are far, very far on the background. While some good has been accomplished, we mourn that far more was not. Doubtless much more good might have been done had those gifts been present which have led out in this work. I long to see the power of God more manifest in our midst; to see our people rising to a higher plane of action. Our lukewarmness is terribly offensive to God. We must arouse from sleep. I must, for one, have more of God’s Spirit in my heart. I find that a constant round of meetings (we generally held thirty or more every week) has a strong tendency to bring the mind into a dull state, where the freshness and life of religion gives place to a spirit of mechanically plodding wearily through a round of duties. This I found it very necessary to guard against, I hope with some success, though not with all I could desire. I feel to thank God for as much of his blessing as he has bestowed, but I earnestly desire to live where I may have far more. This work will move forward. God is in it. It is certain to succeed. I never felt more sure of this result than the present season. But shall we be faithful enough to triumph with it? Great and fearful responsibilities rest upon us as a people, unless we are terribly deluded. The world is to be warned. We have a message for the people. May the Lord help us to give it. And may our success next season be far greater than this, is my earnest prayer. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Oct. 18, 1873.