p. 3 | Review and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 1. (1/2/1879)

Earlier text: ADDRESS AND APPEAL, SETTING FORTH THE IMPORTANCE OF MISSIONARY WORK

NOTES OF NEWS.

—Krupp has made a sixteen-inch gun.

—General Fremont is very popular in Arizona.

—London spends yearly $75,000,000 for alcoholic liquor.

—During 1877 the Russian debt was increased by about $325,000,000.

—A great London draper is said to sell twenty times as much American long-cloth as he does English.

—The American Bible Society is daily putting in print 550 copies of its agate Bible.

—It is estimated that 1,721,000 gallons of wine will be made in the Napa Valley this season.

—In India 33,000 Hindus have renounced idolatry and became professed Christians during the year 1878.

—Bayard Taylor, American Minister to Germany, died at Berlin, Dec. 19, in the 54th year of his age.

—The American Board of Foreign Missions has expended about $5,000,000 in its various missions in the Turkish empire.

—There is a fearful prospect for the winter in Lancashire, Eng., 12,000 hands in 120 mills having struck for higher wages.

—A dispatch from St. Petersburg says the Chinese are continually murdering and pillaging the inhabitants on the Russian frontier. Will war result?

—A weekly paper is to be published at the Vatican, inspired directly by the pope. It is to be published simultaneously in five different languages.

—Two of the Socialist leaders recently banished from Berlin by the authorities have already arrived in New York City, and others are known to be on the way.

—Excavations have been made of the Sacra Via in Rome from the Arch of Titus to the Temple of Romulus, bringing to light many structures of the old Roman and the Mediæval days.

—With the exception of a few towns on the coast of China, there are in all that empire scarcely a dozen Hebrew families. The Jews are hardly known in China, and only the learned are aware of their existence.

—There is every prospect for good crops in China the coming season, and China no longer needs the aid of the charitable. The famine has been terrible, but the aid afforded by Christians has done much to break down the iron walls of prejudice.

—A wail comes from the home missionaries of the Northwest, who are suffering great straits through the inability of the American Home Missionary Society to pay their overdue salaries. Absolute want and starvation, and the suspension of religious services, are painful facts which many faithful men and struggling churches are compelled to face.

—“Jack” Kehoe, the leader of the Mollie Maguires, was executed at Pottsville, Pa., Dec. 18. He was guilty of many murders, had planned many bold and bloody deeds. When arrested, he defied the law, trusting that his political influence would shield him from punishment for his many crimes. The case caused great excitement in Pennsylvania.

—The Christian Weekly warmly commends the course of “one of the queens of song,” who decidedly refuses to sing on Sunday. In a card to the Herald, in which she gives her reasons for refusing to sing at a Sunday-evening concert for which her name was announced, she says, “The seventh day is a day of rest and devotion.” That is what we believe; but will she tell us how the “seventh day” applies to Sunday?

—A bill to prevent possible complications and controversies in deciding the results of election for President and Vice-president of the United States has passed the Senate. The bill proposes that the election shall be a month earlier than now, and the meeting of Presidential Electors a month later; thus giving the States ample time to settle all disputed electoral questions without leaving them to Congress.

Recent reports show that there are 25,000 colored emigrants from the United States in Liberia, doing well as farmers and artisans. There are 750,000 native inhabitants who are being brought under the influence of civilization. The four States of Liberia are Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, and Maryland. The constitution is modeled after that of the United States, but Attorney General Davis explains that none but colored men are allowed to vote.

—The financial suffering in France last year, in consequence of political agitation and stagnation in trade, is shown by the fact that the pawnshops of Paris made nearly $8,000,000 of loans on almost 2,000,000 objects—a greater amount than for years before. So much furniture and so many heavy articles were pledged that great warehouses had to be rented to store them in. An unusual number of articles were abandoned, and when sold they brought over $200,000 more than they had been pledged for.

—The Advance of Dec. 19 says, “English letters represent the financial distress and apprehensions in that country as a more serious matter than the English papers like to proclaim.” Of the hard times in Europe, the Religious Intelligencer says: “In Europe, political economists are tracing the hard times to the immense standing armies, which are sustained mainly through the military influence of Germany. It is estimated that the European nations now have 7,500,000 men under arms. These men are non-producers, and are taken from their legitimate spheres of daily toil. The average cost of supporting them is $200 per annum for each man, or about $4,000,000 a day, or $1,500,000,000 per annum, expended for the services of men who do not add one penny to the productions of the country. The United States maintains no such army, and the people do not have taxes to pay to support it, for which they should be truly thankful.”

—Scarcely has one marvelous invention been recorded, when we are startled by another of equal or greater promise. It is affirmed on unquestionable authority that Mr. Edison has made possible the use of the electric light in cities and dwellings, and that the cost will be slight compared with the exorbitant charges of the gas monopolies. A correspondent of the Boston Journal of Commerce, writing from this city, tells of another invention which has been kept secret pending the procurement of patents, and which, with power derived from a spring like that of a clock, furnishes an electric light of great brilliancy. It is said that the whole apparatus occupies no more space than an ordinary lamp, that it can be sold for six dollars per lamp, and that the light itself will only cost half a cent per hour.

Meanwhile, Miss Harriet Hosmer, the American sculptor, claims to have invented a machine which, drawing upon the earth as a great magnet, supplies power without expense. The invention has been granted provisional protection under the patent laws of England and the United States, so that the world will soon know the exact truth concerning its claims.

—The unfavorable influence of the Roman Catholic Church on public morals is a painful fact to which we have frequent occasion to advert. Another example of it has just fallen under our notice. The great fair with which the opening of the vast new cathedral in New York is being celebrated, like the notable Jewish fairs of last winter, is, to a large extent, a gambling school. The Catholic Review says: “Times are hard and money is scarce, but almost every one appears to have enough to go to the fair and to purchase something there, or to ‘take a chance’ in one of the many fascinating opportunities offered for a big prize.” These proceedings are not a whit different in their essence or in their tendency from the delusive ventures of the lottery or the maddening excitements of the card table. We could speak with a great deal more of virtuous indignation on this topic if we had not just heard of a fair which is still in progress in this city, where nearly everything, however small, is “chanced” or raffled away, and the Sabbath-school children are employed to canvass the streets with the invitation: “Take a chance, won’t you? A penny for a chance!” Facts like these, and we could give more of them, quite abate our indignation against our Roman Catholic neighbors, and fill us with anxiety and shame.”—Christian Statesman.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS

By C.

SABBATH-SCHOOL HINTS.—NO. 5.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS.

It is as impossible to lay down inflexible rules that would be applicable to all schools as to prescribe a method of government that could be universally adopted; yet general statements can be made and suggestions offered from which specific rules may be deduced. First of all, then, every school should have a regular

ORDER OF EXERCISES.

It may not be best that this order of exercises should be just the same in all schools, as often what will work well in one place will not succeed at all in another. But there are some regulations that may with profit be uniformly adopted, even in our smaller schools. 1. Instead of scattering promiscuously over the house, so that classes must be arranged after school opens, let teachers and pupils all take their places on coming in. 2. To save unnecessary delay, strike the bell, and announce the hymn. 3. After giving ample time to find the page—say a minute or two—have the whole school arise while singing. 4. Let all kneel while the superintendent offers prayer, after which class and general exercises can be conducted as may seem most proper.

MAPS, ETC.

Maps and illustrations of various kinds are very useful in securing the attention of a school. The power of illustration is great to arrest the attention and impress the mind. Ministers who have the most success, generally speaking, are those who enforce the truth, point by point, by impressive illustrations. No one goes to sleep under their preaching. Everybody likes to hear them; and even the children are heard to exclaim, “How plain that is!”

Not so, however, with the stoical theologian. No matter how sound his doctrine or impregnable his line of reasoning, while there is nothing to break the dull monotony of his logic his congregation may be seen in various postures denoting inattention. Some will be lolling in their seats to keep from yawning, while others will have their eyes closed and heads dropped, apparently in deep meditation. Suddenly the minister says, “Now by way of illustration,” and the effect is magical. The lolling ones sit upright; the sleeping ones rub their eyes and look up, and the entire congregation is all attention. This proves the efficacy of illustration. It is just the same with Bible maps. When used in connection with the Sabbath-school lessons, they are valuable helps, and no school should be without them. Maps of different kinds and sizes can be purchased at the Office of the REVIEW AND HERALD.

PAPERS.

These are needed, even if a school has a good library. A good weekly paper, with its short, pithy paragraphs and simple illustrations of truth, is even better than the best library, as the matter contained in it is fresh every Sabbath, besides being more in accordance with the truth. The weekly INSTRUCTOR is designed for this purpose, and each church should immediately order a sufficient number of copies to supply each member of its Sabbath-school with one. They can be sent to one address, and distributed every Sabbath after the lessons are recited; this will serve as a stimulus to faithful attendance. In this way, too, the papers will come at reduced rates, and it will be much better than taking them separately outside of the school.

SINGING.

Singing is as necessary to the spiritual nature of children as that of older people, and is therefore an important exercise in the Sabbath-school. Good singing is needed, singing in which every one can take part not as a formal duty, but as a precious privilege and true delight. To secure this, a class of music adapted to the wants of the entire school is certainly necessary; and why not have uniformity in singing in our Sabbath-schools, as well as in our churches? Certainly no church would think of being without our standard hymn book, and for substantial reasons. For the same reasons our Sabbath-schools should not be without a standard singing book. The “Song Anchor” is a work of real merit. It is well adapted to the wants of old and young, and should be in every school. It can be had at the REVIEW Office, in quantities, at forty cents per copy. Single copies, fifty cents.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

The Sabbath-school, like all other institutions, in order to succeed must be supported financially. Means are needed to procure books, papers, maps, etc., without which the school fails to answer the purpose for which it was instituted. To meet these wants, a contingent fund is necessary. How to raise such a fund and keep it good has been a subject of much discussion. The most successful way yet devised is to have every member of the school each Sabbath bring a small contribution and drop it into a box prepared for that purpose. This can be done without any violation of the Sabbath commandment, when the money is provided through the week and simply carried on the Sabbath and dropped into the box as a free-will offering to the Lord. Funds will then be always on hand, and no school need be destitute of the helps needed in the training of those under its care. C.

Sabbath School Department.

LESSONS FOR BIBLE CLASSES.

LESSON XXVII.—CHRIST EXECUTES JUDGMENT.

QUESTIONS.

Who presides as judge in the investigative Judgment?
From what scripture may this be proved?
What statement is made in John 5:22?
Where is this seeming contradiction explained?
What do we learn from verse 27?
What does Christ say in verse 30?
What is made plain by these passages?
To whom does this work of executing judgment pertain?
What will the righteous receive when Christ comes?
What will be the fate of the wicked?
With what different feelings will the righteous and the wicked behold the coming of the Lord?
Where do we find a vivid description of the feelings that will then seize the wicked?
What words will be uttered by those who try to hide from the presence of God?
Where is the awful destruction of the wicked described?
How is Christ represented in these verses?
What does the angel say to the fowls of the air?
What does Jude say of this Judgment?
Where will Christ take his people when they are caught up to meet him in the air? John 14:2, 3.
Where may we find a description of the scene that will then be presented?
Give the description.

SYNOPSIS.

We have seen from Dan. 7:9, 10, that God the Father presides as judge in the investigative Judgment; but in John 5:22 we read that, “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” This seeming contradiction is explained in the verses that follow. From verse 27 we learn that Christ has authority from his Father to execute judgment. In verse 30 he says, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” It is plain, then, that Christ comes to earth to execute the decisions made by the Father in the investigative Judgment.

This work of executing judgment pertains both to the righteous and to the wicked. The righteous will receive eternal life; the wicked will be destroyed. Read 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; John 5:26–29. This will be a time of great rejoicing to the righteous, but a time of unutterable terror to the wicked. The scene that will then take place is described in Rev. 6:14–17. The awful destruction of the wicked is described in Rev. 19:11–18. This is the Judgment referred to in Jude 14, 15. After the righteous are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, he takes them to the holy city, the New Jerusalem, the capital of his kingdom.

The scene that will then be presented is described in Rev. 7:9–17.

BIBLE LESSONS FOR YOUTH.

By G. H. Bell

LESSON XXVI.—RECAPITULATION.

“In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

Adam and Eve, the first pair, disobeyed God, lost their home in paradise, and became subject to death. Cain, Adam’s oldest son, killed his only brother, Abel, and became a vagabond; but God gave Adam another son, who was called Seth.

Adam lived to mingle with eight generations of his children. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was translated without seeing death. He was a prophet, and prophesied of the coming of Christ. Jude 14, 15. Noah, the tenth from Adam, was a preacher of righteousness, and warned the world of the coming flood. He built an ark, in which he and his family were saved, while all the world perished.

As men multiplied again, they became proud, and God, by confusing their speech at Babel, scattered them abroad upon the face of the earth. Then God called Abraham to leave his country and kindred, promising to give him the land of Canaan for an inheritance, to make his seed as the stars of heaven, and to make him a blessing to all the nations of the earth.

By his impatience in regard to the fulfillment of these promises, Abraham displeased God, and caused much trouble in his own family; but when Abraham was one hundred years of age, God gave him a son. This son was named Isaac.

Isaac was a man of God. He had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Jacob, by his eagerness to obtain the blessing that had been promised him, incurred his brother’s hatred, and was obliged to flee to a distant land, where he remained for more than twenty years.

Jacob had two wives and twelve sons. Joseph, his favorite son, was sold by his wicked brothers, and became a slave in Egypt. Finally he was cast into prison, but God was with him, and brought him out of prison, and made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

At length, Jacob and all his family were obliged to go to Egypt to escape the famine which was over all the earth. Jacob died in Egypt, at the age of one hundred and forty-seven years; but his body, at his urgent request, was taken to Canaan, and buried there in the cave of Machpelah.

Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. He died at the age of one hundred and ten years, having prophesied the deliverance of his people, and given a charge respecting his bones.

The promises that were made to Abraham were renewed to Isaac and Jacob, but they all died without receiving them. Heb. 11: 9, 13. The promises will be fulfilled to them when they receive their inheritance in the new earth. Then will Abraham’s seed be as the stars of heaven; for all that are Christ’s are the seed of Abraham.

NOTE.—No questions accompany this lesson, for it should be recited without the aid of questions, though not necessarily in the words of the text. After it has been thus recited, the teacher may ask such questions as seem necessary.

G. H. BELL.

NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

By B. L. Whitney; Isadore L. Green

In connection with the New York and Pennsylvania Conference at Rome, N. Y., a session of the State Sabbath-school Association was held.

The first meeting was called Nov. 18, at 12:30 P. M., by the president, Eld. B. L. Whitney. The secretary, Mrs. E. E. Walsworth, being absent, Isadore L. Green was chosen secretary pro tem.

The chair, being empowered by the Association, appointed H. E. Robinson, E. C. Hoxie, and S. N. Wright the committee to nominate officers for the next year.

Voted, That the Association be divided according to the division of the Conference, and that the committee be empowered to nominate officers for both Associations.

It was also voted that two members be added to the committee. Accordingly, Frank Peabody and D. C. Phillips were added.

The Committee on Nominations submitted the following names for the consideration of the Association:—

New York Conference: President, M. H. Brown; Vice-president, J. Q. Foy; Secretary and Treasurer, E. E. Walsworth; Executive Committee, R. F. Cottrell and W. E. Stillman.

Pennsylvania Conference: President, Barber Oviatt; Vice-president, D. B. Welch; Secretary and Treasurer, Anna M. Oyer; Executive Committee, Wm. B. Knapp, C. D. Tubbs.

This report was adopted, and the officers elected.

The general report was as follows:—

No. of Sabbath-schools, 22 " " members, 704 " " scholars under 10 years of age, 105 " " " over ten and under twenty, 187 " " " twenty, 337 " failing to report age, 35

This report is incomplete, as some of the schools sent no report.

Interesting remarks were made by Eld. Loughborough, setting forth the interests of the Sabbath-school, and the benefits of a State organization. He recommended the use of the Lesson Sheets printed at the REVIEW Office.

It was voted that the recommendation made by Eld. L. be adopted.

Two meetings were held, the last one Nov. 19, at 10:30 A. M. The Association then adjourned.

B. L. WHITNEY, Pres.

ISADORE L. GREEN, Sec. pro tem.

RUSSIAN SABBATH-KEEPERS IN DAKOTA TERRITORY.

By James White

It is truly wonderful to what extent the Lord is working among the people of other tongues. The two letters that follow will be of the deepest interest to our readers, as they show that light is breaking forth among the German-speaking Russians in Dakota Territory. The writer, Bro. Eldon H. Pullen, appeals to the President of the General Conference in their behalf, and suggests that a preacher who can speak the German language be sent among them. In his first letter, dated Howard, D. T., Nov. 11, he says:—

“Having occasion to pass through the Russian settlements of Dakota, I concluded to remain a few days, to learn what I could of the people, and especially of their religious belief.

“They are not Russians proper, but are the descendants of a religious sect of Germans, that left their own country and settled in Russia, because they were opposed to bearing arms against their fellow-men. I find also that they are not, as is generally supposed, all Mennonites, but that there are three religious sects among them; viz., Lutherans, Baptists, and Mennonites. The Mennonites are subdivided into two classes. One class hold their property in common, while the other class believe that each person should control his own property. The Baptists are not a unit. Part of them resemble the Baptists of this country, while the others take the Bible alone as their guide, and claim that we should render implicit obedience to its teachings and requirements. They are temperate, holding to many of the views and practices of our people. They discard the use of alcoholic drinks, and require applicants for church membership to dispense with the use of tobacco. They also practice feet-washing. Being temperate in their habits, and holding some views in common with S. D. Adventists, they can be easily reached by the truth for the present time.

“On my way to Milltown I learned of a meeting of this class of Baptists. I attended it, and was well paid for doing so, as I had the pleasure of witnessing the celebration of the ordinances, including feet-washing. After meeting I introduced myself, and told them that I also believed in feet-washing, but differed from them in regard to the Sabbath; but it was difficult to make them understand, as none of them could speak much English. I gave them some German tracts (they all read and speak the German language), and one of them took me home with him.

“I was anxious to learn what I could of them, and he was equally desirous to learn something of us. We could talk but little, so we took our Bibles and in this way I pointed out the true Sabbath, and the Spirit of the Lord was present and showed him his duty. He said, The seventh day is the true Sabbath, and men ought to keep it. The next morning I gave him some tracts, and we parted.

“The next Sabbath I was with him again, and was greatly rejoiced to learn that he and his wife, his mother, and his stepfather had decided to keep the Sabbath.

“The next day (Sunday) I went to meeting with them. The subject of the Sabbath was introduced, and the entire day was devoted to discussing it. I could not understand anything that was said, but helped what I could by referring the new-found friends of the Sabbath to proof-texts. As a result of the debate, four men decided in favor of the Sabbath. These four men, I think, are all married. If they are, and their companions are with them, twelve are observing the Sabbath.

“I should have stated before that I learned of a Russian about ten miles from this place, and I hunted him up. I found him an intelligent man. He went with me to the meeting that I have spoken of, about twenty miles from his home, and rendered much assistance. He has been keeping the Sabbath three or four months.

“These Russians are very anxious to have some one sent among them that can speak the German language. I promised them that I would do all I could to have some one sent. I told them I would lay the matter before the President of the General Conference, and I thought something would be done for them.

“Besides this company, and the brother that I have spoken of, there is another company of five thirty miles from here, that have kept the Sabbath for a short time. They came out through reading. If there is any one that can speak the German language who can be sent here, it appears to me that he can accomplish much good in a short time, as the Spirit of the Lord is especially working for them. They are already interested in behalf of their brethren in Russia. They say that there are many Baptists in Russia who, they are sure, will readily take hold of the Sabbath.

“One brother says that if I will get some tracts and work among the Russians, he will accompany me for a month; another brother made a similar offer. The Russians are kind and hospitable, and would take good care of any that labor among them. If anything can be done for this people in the way of sending them help, I would like much to know at once, if it is not asking too much.

“If the General Conference see fit to send me some German tracts, I will use them to the best advantage possible. I do not care for many, and would like mostly Sabbath tracts.”

In his second letter, dated Bon Homme, D. T., Dec. 1, Bro. Pullen says:—

“I have just visited the Sabbath-keeping Russians that live at Lone Tree. There are four of them. This is the company that I mentioned in a previous letter. They are intelligent. One, a young man of twenty-eight, I think will be able to proclaim the message if he can have a teacher for a short time. This young man and another brother visited the settlement that I had been in scattering tracts, and held two meetings; one lasted till two o’clock in the morning and the other all night. They left twenty-five keeping the Sabbath, and still others are interested.

“It is evident that the Lord is working on the minds of these people, and that they should be helped. They want the General Conference to send to Dakota some one who is able to speak their language. They are deeply interested for their friends, and if this interest is followed up it may open the way to do something in Russia. Please pardon me for troubling you with this; I do so in behalf of others, hoping that a German teacher may be sent here soon. If any one can be sent, I would be pleased to hear from you. My address is Howard, Turner county, D. T.”

We give the foregoing for two reasons: first, to call attention to one of the most interesting circumstances that has occurred in the brief history of our growing cause; and, second, to bring the matter before those who are especially engaged in missionary work, for their reflection and careful investigation, that they may arrive at the best plan for reaching this people.

Bro. Pullen should be greatly encouraged at the success which has crowned his labors thus far, and we hope he will continue his efforts until the way shall be opened for a judicious, experienced laborer to visit this people. Those who labor among them should first know that the Lord calls them to that field, and then they should go with the sanction of the General Conference. We refer this matter especially to Eld. Haskell, who has the supervision of the tract and missionary department of our cause.

J. W.

DISTRESS OF NATIONS.

He who faithfully chronicles the passing news of the day is writing the most accurate commentary upon the prophecies of the word of God that was ever produced, showing their most marked and explicit fulfillment. And what is the more striking in the matter is that those who do this are largely all unconscious of the part they are acting, many of them being bitterly opposed to the idea that prophecy is fulfilling, or that anything whatever on prophetic subjects can be understood. The following from the Advance of Dec. 26, 1878, is one of these unconscious commentaries on Luke 21:25:—

“England is the richest country in the world, and no other country has such a ‘compost heap’ of pauperism. The monetary center, the manufacturing and commercial center of the world, the rich, a little while ago, were fast growing richer, and the industrious poor, those who had a mind to work and would not squander wages in drink, were getting on increasingly well. But a sharp change has come. A variety of causes, some obvious, others occult, have combined to produce the result. Our own and other countries have grown comparatively independent of English manufactures. The forced attempts to discard one of the coins from the world’s currency has had, many believe, its effect in disturbing values and disconcerting commercial transactions. Meanwhile the all-devouring army-systems of Europe have gone on absorbing the wealth of nations. But whatever the causes, the British Parliament has been constrained to ask the Home Society, ‘whether it is true, as reported, that we are now face to face with a crisis of distress such as this generation has never known?’ To the inquiry the official referred to makes the soothing reply, that there is nothing to cause ‘unnecessary alarm.’ Still the alarm, necessary or otherwise, continues. The streets of the great manufacturing cities swarm with thousands clamoring for food, or work that they may earn food. Nor is the case any better in the agricultural districts. But the English people—to say nothing of their kin this side the sea—when their attention has been arrested and their sympathies touched, are the most generous people on the globe; and we may be confident that British Christian philanthropy will not rest until social wrongs get righted, and the present horrid chasm between the abnormally rich and favored few and the pauperized or half-pauperized millions begins to close up. In the meantime we of America have enough to learn—to learn to do on the one hand, and to avoid doing on the other.”

PRACTICAL

By R. F. Cottrell

The theory is clear, beautiful, and scriptural. The truth is plain to every willing and unperverted mind. All can see it who really desire to know and obey it. We are glad of a faith that is invincible. None can successfully assail our position. It is good to be in such a case, to feel secure from every assault, that our position is impregnable to every foe.

But do we realize the truth which we profess? Are we sanctified through it? Does it have the effect upon our lives it ought to have? Does its divine reality enter into our very being, controlling our thoughts, words, and deeds? This is the important point to us. We may have a theory in our head that does not affect our heart. We may help to publish the truth to others while it does not have its sanctifying, saving influence upon ourselves. We may, like Noah's carpenters, help build the ark to save others, and not get on board ourselves.

Let all take heed, and beware. Let us examine ourselves, our thoughts, our motives. Where is our heart's interest? Let us weigh our thoughts.

‘Which way do they tend? Is the cause of truth and the salvation of men first in our thoughts? Is this our first and highest interest? Or are worldly thoughts and schemes first and most continual in our minds?’

God knows how it is. Angels know it. How often are they grieved, and in sorrow turn from us! To know ourselves and be right before God is the all-important point. How easy to deceive ourselves; but God is not deceived.

Come, let us prove where our affections are. Let us get a deeper interest in the cause of God. Let us bring in all our tithes and offerings and prove the Lord therewith. He invites us to do so. His promise cannot fail. He is waiting and desirous to pour us out a blessing such as we have not received. Let us be in readiness to receive it. R. F. Cottrell.

PROMPT RESPONSE.

By James White

We have this day received a response from Bro. James Hackett to our appeal in behalf of the houses of worship at Oakland, California, and Battle Creek, Michigan, in the form of a ten-dollar greenback, five dollars for each house. Now what is wanted is that one thousand and six hundred persons follow the example set for them by Bro. Hackett, and the sum of $16,000 will be raised, $8,000 for each church, and the debts will be lifted.

We do not expect that all will be able to give ten dollars each; but while many will give less, from ten cents upward, not a few will give much more, even one hundred dollars each to both houses. The money will be raised, and the sooner the better. Let all our people respond promptly. Bro. Hackett says:—

“BRO. AND SR. WHITE: I have seen your appeal in REVIEW Supplement, and I feel it my privilege to contribute from my scanty earnings five dollars each to the house of worship in Oakland and the Tabernacle in Battle Creek, or otherwise, as in your judgment it will best serve the cause.

“Yours truly in hope of life,

“JAMES HACKETT.”

Address, Elder James White, Denison, Texas, Box P, unless it would be more convenient to send direct to Battle Creek and Oakland.

J. W.

TRACT AND MISSIONARY INSTITUTE.

The great event of the past two weeks in Battle Creek, has been the Tract and Missionary Institute, which will have come to its close ere this paper reaches its readers.

It commenced with a good attendance at the appointed time, Dec. 18. About eighty names were enrolled as members. The order of exercises suggested in the appointment of the meeting was substantially followed. One exercise each day, continuing one hour, was devoted to Parliamentary practice, and two each day, of two hours each, were given to tract and missionary work.

All the duties of all the officers were elaborately explained, and practical drill was given to the class in each. The keeping of all the various accounts, making reports, letter writing, &c., received their due share of attention.

Bro. Haskell, with his usual enthusiasm in this work, labored hard and incessantly for the interests of the Institute, and succeeded in imparting to the members some of his own inspiration. Dr. Huntley, the secretary of the General T. and M. Society, rendered constant assistance.

The meeting has been a complete success so far as the carrying out of its immediate object is concerned, which was to impart instruction in this important branch of the work. A greater and more important success, we believe, will be seen in the more systematic, and consequently more efficient, workings of the society as these instructions shall be carried out.

The exercises have been to not a few in the class a happy surprise. They did not realize that there was so much to this work, nor that there was the chance to carry out so much system, with such prospect of cheering results. We only wish that every person in the State who is to act in any one of the capacities of canvasser, librarian, treasurer, director, secretary, or president could have been present.

We congratulate the missionary workers in those States in which Bro. Haskell intends holding Institutes like the one which has just closed so successfully here. We expect these meetings will beget a new interest, and mark a new era, in the tract and missionary work.

MAY WOMEN SPEAK IN MEETING?

By John Nevins Andrews

There are two principal passages cited to prove that women should not take any part in speaking in religious meetings. These are 1 Cor. 14:34-36, and 1 Tim. 2:12. But a careful study of the books of Corinthians shows that the passage first referred to can have no such application.

The Corinthian church was in a state of great disorder. The first chapter shows that they were divided into parties in reference to the apostles themselves. The fifth chapter shows that one had taken his father's wife, and the others did not mourn over this act. The sixth chapter shows that they went to law with the world, and implies that they were guilty of violating the seventh commandment. The eleventh chapter shows that when they celebrated the Lord's supper, the rich ate and drank until they were intoxicated, and the poor were waiting and suffering hunger.

Now it appears from the fourteenth chapter that when they were assembled in meeting, the women threw everything into confusion by talking among themselves, and acting with such indecorum as to be a matter of shame to them. So that what the apostle says to women in such a church as this, and in such a state of things, is not to be taken as directions to all Christian women in other churches and in other times, when and where such disorders do not exist.

As positive proof that he was not speaking against a woman's participating in religious worship, we refer to 1 Cor. 11:5, where he says that every woman who prophesieth or prayeth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head. And in chapter fourteen, verse three, he says that he that prophesieth speaketh unto men, to edification, exhortation, and comfort. These two passages show that they (women) did speak to edification, exhortation, and comfort. It was not a shame for women to do this work. Therefore Paul did not refer to such acts when he said, “It is a shame for women to speak in the church.”

1 Tim. 2:12. We understand this text to give Paul's general rule with regard to women as public teachers. But there are some exceptions to this general rule to be drawn even from Paul's writings, and from other scriptures. It appears from Phil. 4:3 that women labored with him in the gospel. Romans 16:1 shows that Phebe was a deaconess of the church at Cenchrea. See original.

Verse 3 shows that Priscilla, the wife of Aquila, was one of Paul's helpers; and Acts 18:26 shows that she was capable of instructing Apollos. Tryphena and Tryphosa, Rom. 16:12, labored in the Lord; and Persis labored much in the Lord. Acts 21:8, 9. Philip's four daughters prophesied. In Luke 2, Anna the prophetess is mentioned. Verses 36-38. In the time of Jeremiah, Huldah was a prophetess consulted instead of Jeremiah himself. See 2 Chron. 34. In the fifth of Judges, Deborah is spoken of, and in the fifteenth of Exodus, Miriam.

Paul, in Romans 10:10, says, “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation;” and this must apply to women equally with men. J. N. A.

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