My father closed his eyes in death, Thursday, Oct. 7, 1875, in the eightieth year of his age. The events of his life were in some respects remarkable, and hoping they may not be without a degree of interest to many of the readers of the REVIEW I will undertake to present a short sketch of them.
Ezra P. Butler was born Aug. 25, 1796, in Waterbury, Vt. He was the son of Ezra Butler, who had served a term both as governor of Vermont and member of Congress, and had been associate judge upon the supreme bench of that State, besides filling many other offices of responsibility, and being an honored minister of the Baptist church. He was chosen captain of militia at the age of eighteen, in the war of 1812, and was on his way to join the army when the memorable battle of Plattsburgh took place.
He was married Jan. 14, 1819. He was converted in February, 1826, and joined the Baptist church, and in a little over a year was elected deacon. The Congregationalist was the leading church in the village where he lived. He held a pew in this church and led the singing, and they desired him to join there. The Baptist church was three or four miles away and feeble. But his views on baptism would not permit him to join elsewhere. Here he commenced on the unpopular side. From this point all through his life he was identified with unpopular reforms. He was an ardent anti-mason in the great anti-masonic movement of 1827-8, and the first man in Waterbury who took his stand on that side. He firmly believed Morgan was put to death by Masons for revealing the secrets of Masonry, and was not slow in declaring his views in public.
This movement was carried into politics, and in Vermont, governors and members of Congress were elected upon this issue. And so fierce was the contest that in the Congressional district where father lived, there were seven different votings, two months apart before they succeeded in electing a Congressman. The nominees of the whig and democratic parties not being opposed to Masonry, a third party candidate was put up, who was an anti-mason. The vote for him at the first election was very small, but increased at each succeeding election, till on the seventh he was chosen. Masonry was completely broken down in the State when the contest closed; and for a long time after, little was said about it in Vermont; but lately it has revived again.
At the close of this contest the anti-slavery movement began to take shape. The Emancipator was placed in father's hands, and his mind became interested in the subject of the abolition of slavery. In 1832 or 1833 he was present at Middlebury, Vt., at the organization of the first anti-slavery society in that State. Only about twenty-five persons were present. Father was an ardent worker in the cause. He took Mr. Garrison's Liberator soon after it was first issued. To be an abolitionist made a man exceedingly unpopular, in the days when Garrison was mobbed and Lovejoy murdered. The first anti-slavery lecture ever given in Waterbury was by his invitation, when leading men of the place were much opposed to it. He was also an earnest laborer in the temperance cause in those early days, and in the work of moral reform.
In 1839, father became interested in the Advent movement. Wm. Miller preached on that subject in Waterbury at that time, and from that point father never lost his interest in the soon coming of his Lord. It was the great and absorbing theme of his life ever afterward. Because of it, he lost his interest in politics, believing it was impossible to effect a purification of the political parties, and feeling that the only true hope for the world was in the coming of the Just One. He was a very zealous worker in the ’44 movement, and suffered a great disappointment when the Lord did not come in the autumn of that year.
He commenced keeping the Sabbath of the Lord in the fall of 1850. He had two starch factories running in Stowe, Vt., at the time. But when he became satisfied that it was his duty to keep the Sabbath, both of these stopped two days in the week. The hands employed would not work Sunday, and he would not permit them to work on the Sabbath. This threatened a large loss, and caused much talk; but such considerations never hindered him from living up to his convictions of duty. He was ordained to the ministry by Bro. White in company with Brn. Hart and Evarts, not far from this time; but he never felt fully satisfied that he had the proper gift for this calling. He settled near Waukon, Iowa, in 1856, and remained there engaged in farming until within a few years, when he went to reside in Battle Creek, Mich., with his eldest daughter. He remained there till called away by death. He died in hope, full of days. He rests in peace. Though found on the unpopular side nearly all the years of his life, he ever had the confidence of the community where he lived as an honest man.
Father was one of that old style of men whose authority was always respected in his family. His voice was raised in behalf of truth, virtue, honesty, and righteousness, on all occasions. These principles were respected among those over whom he had authority. Though erring, possibly, at times, on the side of sternness and in too little manifestation of tenderness, yet his heart was always ready to sympathize with distress, and to help to alleviate it when he was cognizant of it. In his last days he was like the ripening fruit; in his last hours, triumphant in God; and as his eyes closed in death, his countenance assumed the calm and placid expression of perfect repose. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” They rest from their labors. The battle is over with him. Those who are left are still struggling in the conflict. As a family, we all owe a debt of gratitude to our father. To such men the world owes a debt also, for an example of faithfulness to principle, of strict integrity, and of true moral courage. GEO. I. BUTLER.
In his younger days many avenues to wealth and honor were open to him, hosts of friends would gladly have assisted in his advancement, his father stood in high positions of trust, but he followed his convictions of duty, though they led him through unpopularity and cut him off from his friends. In his closing years this was the greatest source of satisfaction of anything in his life record. He never regretted any sacrifice he had made to carry out his convictions of duty. Thus our friends pass away from us one after another. Soon the probation of all of us will close up forever. But, thank God, the morning of life will soon dawn, and the broken circles will be made whole. We expect then, if we remain faithful to God, to meet with parents and friends, radiant and glorious, when mortality shall be swallowed up of life.
In connection with the foregoing sketch, the following extract from a letter to a near relative, left unfinished upon his table when he was stricken down by his last sickness, will be of interest to the many acquaintances and friends of father Butler:—
You requested me to write you; the request was certainly a reasonable one, and it seems as though it ought not to impose an unreasonable burden upon one who can use his pen, if imperfectly. But I assure you that it has been a great source of reflection what I should write to a dear relative just on the verge of an unending state of happiness or of God’s eternal displeasure. Would that I had more wisdom, that I might give in this letter, which may contain the last words I shall ever say to you. Oh! that I might say something that might, more surely lead you to secure the pearl of great price.
In this degenerate age, it is thought that Heaven is easily attained; that it costs but a little sacrifice to be a Christian; that Christ has died, that he has paid the debt, the just demands of the law of God; that if we acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God, join one of the churches of the land, attend meeting on Sunday, and help pay the minister’s tax, all is right.
What a scene will be exhibited at the revelation of Jesus Christ! When he separates the just from the unjust, the righteous dead are raised; the living righteous changed, 1 Thess. 4:14-17, and the living wicked receive the just reward of their own doings—what a day will that be! No more mistakes as to which class they belong to—he that is holy will be holy still, he that is filthy will be filthy still—the saints saved, eternally saved, the wicked destroyed by the seven last plagues. It will then be a matter of infinite importance to which side we belong. When I think of the awful consequences of a mistake here, and look back on my past life, I am glad that I have conscientiously done the duties God has clearly made known to my understanding since I experienced religion.
When first I set out to serve God, I had constantly been an attendant at the Congregational meeting, in a house which I had taken a great interest in building. But I left my pleasant associations there to be buried with Christ in baptism. I am glad to this day that I did it. I am glad I labored as hard as I did to strengthen and upbuild the Baptist church. I am glad I left it when I did, and embraced the advent doctrine. I have ever believed from that time to this that if I had rejected the light that so clearly shone upon my mind at that time, I should have been left to my own ways. I considered it was a case of life or death. I am glad I accepted the light. I am glad I did not give up the advent faith because the Lord did not come in ’44, when we expected him. I am glad that I was led to see the reasons why the Lord did not come in ’44.
I am glad that in my first religious experience, I examined the claims of the first-day Sabbath, and found that if there was no day which had more claims for being considered the Sabbath than that day, God had left us without a Sabbath; which was my belief for a number of years. In this I have no satisfaction, because it is a more subtle error to get rid of than belief in the first-day Sabbath. I am glad I have seen that the wicked will receive the just reward of their doings, and perish, be burned up, utterly consumed, become ashes, and be as though they had not been. Language can never point out a destruction, if that used in the Bible does not. I am glad I believe in the unconscious state of the dead until the Lord comes and raises the righteous dead, and changes the righteous living from mortality to immortality, and that Abel will enter no sooner on his heavenly estate than the last saint that will be saved. The idea seems godlike to me of having all the saints enter upon their reward at the same time. One generation after another passes off the stage of action and remains perfectly unconscious of the passing of time, till the whole family of man is made up—the resurrection takes place, which brings into life the whole family of the saints. And I rejoice as much that I am permitted to see the wisdom of God manifested in appointing a Sabbath at the commencement of time, that he will defend and support at the close of time.
In short, I rejoice that I live in a day when God is leading a people to search his word as for hid treasures, that he is causing the truths of his word to be searched out and published, and scattered in tracts and pamphlets in all parts of the country and to the world. I say that I am glad I live in this day, although Satan works as he has never worked before, in benumbing, stupefying, leading to all the fascinating things of the world, and to every corrupting, debasing, sinful thing practiced in the land. Could the eye of an all-seeing God have beheld more corruption in the days of Noah than he beholds now? And yet further, I believe that in no age of the world has God required more at the hands of his people than now. Nor is this unreasonable. He has in all ages of the world required an improvement on all the light given; and is there any good reason to be assigned why we should not be benefited by the experience of all past generations?
There is very little we can present on a sheet of paper, but I have presented to you here a few scraps of my Christian experience, which are some things I do not look back upon with sorrow. I have presented them without giving one reason why I embraced them. Here are a few incidents covering over forty-nine years of my life. And while calling to mind the reasons which led me to embrace these views, and the many trials, reflections, hairbreadth escapes, in leaning to others, I cannot but rejoice that the Lord strengthened me to take hold of those truths I saw so clearly set forth in his word. I have not presented these things to boast of Christian attainments—I have far more reason to abhor myself that I have no better lived to the praise and glory of His name who suffered that I might have eternal life. Surely I ought to love and adore the riches of that grace that has borne so patiently with me.
Disorder in Meetings.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
For some cause, we frequently find our people more noisy and disorderly in meeting than almost any other class of people. Probably this results largely from the fact that many of our meetings are held in private houses, and where only our own people are present. They do not feel that necessity for restraint and strict decorum which they would in a public meeting. Then, further, as a general rule, all the family attend, parents and little children, which is not the case in ordinary houses of worship. This occasions some necessary noise and occasional going out and in. To a certain degree this cannot be helped. The trouble is, however, that a habit is contracted of running out and in, shifting seats, and making a noise generally. In some places this is exceedingly annoying. When outsiders come into our meetings they are offended by it, and often greatly disturbed.
If the proper course is taken, very small children can be taught to be quiet and sit still during meeting. It is entirely wrong to allow a child of any age to run around during meeting. There is no excuse for it, and it never should be allowed: Do it once, and you will have to do it again. Allow it a few times, and your child is ruined upon that point. Every child should understand that when meeting commences there must be an end of playing and running about. The parents are the ones who are responsible in this case.
But especially should our brethren and sisters be exceedingly careful to set a good example in this respect themselves. I have been much annoyed to see many of our brethren and sisters get up in meeting and go out and in, change their seats, go to the stove and back again. Sometimes it is absolutely necessary, but in a majority of cases it is not. Self-denial should be practiced in this thing, and all possible efforts should be made to maintain quiet and decorum in the house of God. Special effort should be made upon this point when we have preaching, and the public are present. Not being used to such things in their own houses of worship, it strikes them very unfavorably; besides, it attracts the attention of the audience and is very annoying to the speaker.
Brothers and sisters, we ask you to remember these things in our meetings with you. We recommend you to consider the following texts: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God;” and “let everything be done decently and in order.”
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Jay, Mich.
Tibetan Scapegoat Custom at Shassa
The Moravian missionaries in Thibet mention this singular custom at Shassa: “Every year the lama community provide a man of the lowest class, dress him up in goat skin, with the hair outside, and a singular head-dress, and then drive him out of the town to the river, where they lay on him the sins of the whole people. The man has then to cross the river, and live in a wilderness in solitude for some weeks, being abundantly supplied with food during this season. On his return he receives many presents from the people. The disgrace is so great, however, that no one is found voluntarily to go through the ceremony, except in very rare instances. It is a singular analogy to the scapegoat of the Old Testament.”
A BLUE cross on the margin of your paper signifies that your subscription will expire in two weeks, and that an earnest invitation is extended to you to renew at once.
My P. O. address is Clyde, Sandusky Co., Ohio. Box 600. H. A. St. John.
RECEIPTS
For Review and Herald.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD to which the money received pays—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Papers. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
$2.00 EACH. C E Stranahan 48-22, Elizabeth Stevenson 49-1, Mrs Mary Lovell 48-22, John G Matteson 48-22, A G Gould 48-22, Wm C Gilbert 48-22, Levi Marsh 48-22, Susan Shively 49-22, W C Hebner 48-23, J O Young 48-20, Earnest Darton 48-22, John Stone 49-2, Elizabeth Parks 49-1, James H Pease 48-1, Mason Smith 48-22, Henry De Coww 48-21, Julia A Whiteman 48-20, Ellen Whiteman 48-22, John Arman 48-22, Margarett Cooper 48-22, G L Davis 48-22, Goel Gulic 48-22, Chas L Munger 48-22, Harrison McCormick 48-22, Bradley Selleck 48-22, R A Kale 48-19, F H Wakeman 48-22, I C Maitlen 48-22, John Stains 48-22, E D Welch 49-1, Stephen Pierce 49-1, L C Tolhurst 49-1, C H Y Foster 47-24, C M Ransom 48-22, Amy E Dartt 49-1, Wm H Morgan 48-1, A W Record 48-22, Robert Reid 48-22, H Phillips 48-18, C Bice 48-22, Mrs Betsey Landon 49-1, Mrs J H Woodruff 49-21, A E Bullock 47-20, R W Bullock 47-26, S A Miller 48-21, R E Taylor 48-24, J Q A Haughey 49-1.
$1.00 EACH. Helen Harper 47-17, Mary M Buchtel 47-22, Mrs Anna W Butcher 47-1, L Manyer 48-22, T S McDonald 48-16, Marshall Edson 47-22, Alex Morton 48-22, S S Smith 47-23, D J Kinnie 47-23, Mrs Anna Hallock 47-23, G W Bartlett 47-23, Francis N Austin 47-22, Edwin Munger 47-22, C B White 48-22, L E Macomber 47-22, R C Macomber 48-22, A W Cone 47-22, John Tracy 48-22, Jacob Johnson 48-22, Joseph Alley 48-22, Allin Hicks 48-22, Martin Landon 48-22, Mrs M F Tindall 47-15, Robert Thompson 47-21, Jesse Wilmot 47-17, Mrs H A Munson 47-14, Hollie Smith 47-21, G H Goodson 48-22, Minerva Davis 47-18, Charlie Pottenger 47-22, H S Gates 48-22, Lewis Martin 48-1, Calvin Peters 47-22, E O Hammond 47-23, Chas Higgins 47-17, J E Wilson 47-22, Clara Parker 48-22, M J Scribner 48-22, Mrs Jennie Tracy 46-23, Hannah C Watkins 48-22, James W Clark 47-22, T J Upson 47-22, J L Hakes 47-21, H C Wilkinson 47-22, F H Nickerson 48-22.
Miscellaneous.
J J Shrevo 50c 47-7, Henry Noble 30, 47-4, C J S Palmer 50c 47-22, Jos Eaton 50c 48-9, J C Revell 50c 47-7, A Reynolds $2.10 48-22, Catharine Sloat 50c 47-22, Abram Soper 1.50 48-9, R Webster 50c 47-22, W C Nichols 50c 47-3, Jane Stillman 50c 47-22, Mrs Zina Gifford 50c 47-22, Mrs John Trusdoll 50c 47-22, James H Cramer 10.00, 47-1, W S Ashley 50c 47-10, H W Evans 50c 47-10.
Books Sent by Mail.
M B Miller $1.97, C H Y Foster 50c, E T Bedee 1.50, Geo H Crandall 80c, Harmon Clark 20c, William Waters 35c, S B Gowell 50c, E E Wisner 25c, R B Tobey 30c, R T Payne 1.00, Thomas Breeding 3.00, W S Herrington 30c, G V Kilgore 1.00, Mrs A Brown 25c, Martha A Montgomery 10c, Dennis Morrison 15c, Marietta Brace 2.00, T T Brown 1.75, S Griswold 10c, Margaret A Hathaway 2.75, Wm Soward 1.00, H S Guilford 10c, Seneca Cady 55c, R K McCune 1.50, David Atway 65c, D Boardman 10c, Amy E Dartt 1.25, Mrs M Brace 1.50, Wm J Boynton 1.10, Mrs M C A Pottenger 25c, R Thompson 10c, Mrs A C Mead 50c, J Moulton 15c, Minerva Davis 10c, Mrs Eleanor Eaton 50c, Henry Noble 70c, Maria West 1.00, Jasper Harris 1.00, Geo A King 1.80, Wm Dawson 1.50, A H Vankirk 2.88, Jno Emerson 2.44, A E Bullock 10c, A L Hussey 30c, O C Olsen 25c, H Wren 1.36, T S McDonald 2.45, Arba Smith 31c, Wm T Sparks 25c, David Campbell 25c, Jacob Croy 2.00, Mrs N H Gotfredson 1.00, Wm J Brown 1.00, M E Karshaw 10c, Mrs Mary J Clark 10c, J N Bradley 10c, Elliot Buck 1.25, Jennie S Belden 15c, J H Cooke 50c, L R Case 1.00, Mrs W Genung 25c, W C Hebner 10c, Julia Craig 1.00, E O Hammond 2.00, Henry C Lantz 1.50, S H Marshall 1.00, John G Hedrick 4.60, August Gurber 10c, Mrs Tempie McNair 1.00, Calvin Peters 2.53, Mrs S D Howard 50c, Mary Treat 70c, Mrs Jos Gillespie 35c.
Books Sent by Express.
F A Barlow, Ladora, Iowa, $6.00, O F Guilford, Clyde, Sandusky Co., Ohio, 16.75. A O Burrall, Lyons, Mich., 8.80, L P King, Randolph Catt Co., N. Y., 7.12, Permelia Dickey Mt Pleasant, Iowa, 14.18, J N Ayers, Farlinville, Linn Co., Kan., 137.05, A J Stover, Oswego, Kan., 64.87, J L Baker, Aurora, Portage Co., Ohio, 7.59, Henry Mack, Weldon, Halifax Co., N. C., 15.00.
Pacific Mission.
John Claxton $11.20, S H Marshall 2.00, S Sellers 11.50, S A Sellers 11.50, Elizabeth Fulton 11.50, John Fulton 23.00, Geo M Atkinson 50.00, Franklin Squire 11.50.
Mo. & Kan. Ministers.
Mrs H M Casler $1.00, Donations 7.50, E H Root 10.00, Susan Shively 2.00, Jacob Shively 3.00, James White 100.00, Ellen G White 100.00, A W Maynard 12.50, E G Doud 3.00, Ann E Mangerson 75c, Ellen Whiteman 50c, James Munger 3.00, Charles Munger 5.00, G G Davis 50c, Almira Egbert 50c, Phebe Simmons 50c, Lydia Halbert 50c, Julia A Whiteman 2.00, Reuben Clark 1.25, F Austin 50c, J Austin 1.00, N J Chaffee 45c, Harvey Whiteman 1.00, J C Munger 50c, Abram Soper 1.00, Frank Holman 50c, Joel Gulick 1.00, Carrie Follett 50c, J D Munger 1.00, Semila Davis 50c, J H Jaquith 5.00, Ann E Mangerson 50c, J N Loughborough 15.00.
Educational Aid Fund.
A W Maynard $12.50.
Mich. T. & M. Society.
Dist No 3 $5.00, Dist No 5 70.80, G S Honeywell 5.00, (Dist No 3).
Mich. Conf. Fund.
Locke (s. B.) $5.00, St Charles (s. B.) 25.00, Orange (s. B.) 5.00, Memphis (s. B.) 20.00, Deerfield (s. B.) 8.36, Orleans (s. B.) 93.00, Greenville (s. B.) 75.00.
Cash Received on Account.
Vt T & M Society $45.95, John G Matteson 12.00, M B Miller 3.00, Wis Conf per E O Hammond 3.00.
Book Fund.
Mrs A Brown $1.75, Stephen Pierce 25.00.
S. D. A. E. Society.
Sarah A Covey $10.00.
Gen. Conf. Fund.
J Wilmot & wife (s. B.) 6.70, G S Honeywell 3.50.
Books Sent by Freight.
Eldon H Pullen, Atwater, Minn., $67.38, Eld S N Haskell, South Lancaster, Mass., 17.60.
What They Pray For.
THE following statement is very significant, if it is true. Speaking of the revival meetings of Messrs. Moody and Sankey in Brooklyn, an exchange says:— An analysis of the requests for prayers sent up to Bro. Moody reveals the fact that the great religious awakening in Brooklyn is an awakening to other people's sins. Out of 345 such requests, 306 were from people who asked for prayers for their neighbors, and out of the other 39, 16 asked for prayers for their recovery from sickness, leaving only 23 out of 345 who felt any need of salvation on their own account.
The Alarming Prevalence of Crime Against Women
The alarming prevalence of the crime against woman—fitly called the crime of the period—is one of the most saddening features of the times. It has much significance as perhaps indicating a decadence of that courtesy and chivalry toward woman which is regarded as one of the crowning characteristics of Christian communities, and thus seems to be removed in some degree from ordinary offenses; for it really indicates the decline of our civilization. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where woman's honor is not cherished as an inestimable jewel.—Det. News.
Appointments and Quarterly Meeting Notices
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
** Services in Chicago, every Sabbath (seventh day), at 269 West Erie St. All Sabbath-keepers spending a Sabbath in Chicago are invited to attend.
Quarterly meeting of the T. & M. Society of Dist. No. 2, Ohio, will be held at Bellville, Dec. 25, 26, 1875. We desire to see a general gathering at this meeting, and a prompt and full report of all the labor of the past quarter. A. M. Mann, Director.
Quarterly meeting for Dist. No. 13, Wis. T. & M. Society, at Windfall, Dec. 25, 26, 1875. This will be the annual meeting of the Society. S. S. Smith.
No providence preventing, a monthly meeting will be held in Ashaway, R. I., commencing Dec. 17, and continuing over the Sabbath. It is hoped that every S. D. Adventist in Westerly, Niantic, and Hopkinton will be there, and also a delegation from other parts of the State. P. C. Rodman.
Norwalk, Ohio, Dec. 9, in the evening, to continue over Sabbath and first-day. H. A. St. John.
Monthly meeting for T. & M. Society, Dist. No. 10, Roulette, Potter Co., Pa., Dec. 25, 26, 1875. We would be glad to have a good attendance. Wm. Coats, Director.
Carson City, Mich., Dec. 23-26. Greenville, Thursday, Dec. 30 to Jan. 3. D. M. Canright.
Bronson, Branch Co., Mich., Tuesday evening, Dec. 14. Shall remain over Sabbath and first-day. There will be opportunity for baptism at these meetings. H. M. Kenyon.
Quarterly meeting of the Serena church, at the new meeting-house, beginning Sabbath eve, Dec. 17, at 6:30 P. M., and holding over first-day. All who can, come. R. F. Andrews, G. W. Colcord.
The Lord willing, we will meet with the brethren in Wisconsin as follows:—
Mount Hope, Grant Co., Dec. 11, 12.
Sand Prairie, Richland “ “ 13, “ “
Kickapoo Center, “ “ 15, “ “
Liberty Pole, Vernon “ “ 18, 19.
Leon, Monroe “ “ 20, “ “
Nielsville, Clark “ “ 22, “ “
Maple Works, “ “ 25, 26.
The Sabbath meetings will commence with the commencement of the Sabbath. These meetings will be of much importance, and we shall expect a general gathering of our friends in their vicinity especially to the Sabbath and first-day meetings. John Atkinson, O. A. Olsen.
Alma, Thursday to Monday, Dec. 16-20. We request all from Alma, Greenbush, Greenville, and others in the region about, to attend the Ithaca meeting. D. M. Canright.
The Lord willing, I will hold meetings in Ohio as follows:— North Bloomfield, where the brethren may arrange, Thursday evening, Dec. 16, to continue at least till Monday evening. Cleveland, where Bro. I. Edgerton may appoint, Thursday evening, Dec. 23, to continue till Monday night.
Turn out, brethren, to these meetings. Let the scattered and lonely ones come. Come praying. H. A. St. John.
The next quarterly meeting of the Ill. T. & M. Society will be held in the new S. D. A. house of worship, near Sheridan, Ill., first-day, Dec. 19, 1875, at 9 A. M. Let each director hold his district meeting Dec. 12, and see that a report is sent by the first mail following, to me at Sheridan, La Salle Co., Ill. We expect to report each district by itself, at this meeting. Who will fail? Work, then report. By order of the President, Frances M. T. Simonson, Sec.
Not One Dollar Lost.
By James White
The question is asked, “How can we send money to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES Office?” We answer: By mail, just as you would send money to the REVIEW AND HERALD Office.
We have not lost one dollar by the mails since the publication of the SIGNS commenced, which has been a period of one year and a half. Address all orders for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Testimony to the Church, No. 26, Little books for children, and everything else published at the SIGNS Office,
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, California.
All sums of $3.00, and less can be sent in United States currency at our risk. Larger sums by money order, or New York draft. All drafts and money orders should be made payable to SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
J. W.
Help Needy Preachers.
By James White
WE are stirred by Eld. Canright’s statements of the poverty of the Missouri and Kansas Conferences.
When in the Rocky Mountains some more than three years since, when pleading with the Lord in prayer for health, and that he would accept us, wife, children, and property, to serve his cause, we had the heavenly witness that he did grant our petitions, and did accept all.
God has greatly blessed us with health. He has given us our children to go with us heart and hand in the work as we never expected. And every reasonable call, based upon actual need, is the voice of God to us, calling for a portion of the means we have sacredly consecrated to his cause.
Last year we gave these Conferences $100, and felt that we had done our part. And so we had done more than our part. But, as others do not hear the voice of God in such calls, and will not do their part to relieve actual want, we cheerfully give $100, this year, and Mrs. W. gives another $100. We have no other use for ourselves, our children, and our property, but the cause of God. And how hallowed the witness that what we are and have is the Lord’s.
Brethren, it is high time that you consecrate yourselves, your families, and your property, to God. Come to the blessed point of full consecration, where duty will be a delight. Come where you can feel deeply over the actual wants of the dear servants of Christ, and joyfully assist them in time of need. J. W.
The Right Thing.
By V. S.
A SUBSCRIBER of the VOICE OF TRUTH, noticing that that paper is soon to be discontinued, sends on $1.00, saying that if the REVIEW is as good a paper as the VOICE, he will take the REVIEW.
We send him the REVIEW, and shall take care that the only difference discernible shall be that the REVIEW is better. V. S.
School Pledges.
By V. S.
Those who have pledged to the Educational Society understand that shares are $10 each, and certificates are made out accordingly. Thus if a person has paid $15, he receives a certificate for one share $10. If he has paid $25, he receives a certificate for two shares $20. And so on. Such persons, however, have the privilege of adding $5 more and receiving a certificate for another share. Those who have paid only $5, can add another $5, and receive a certificate for one share. We hope many such will bring up their subscriptions. V. S.
To Correspondents.
Lately I heard a person of intelligence and information argue that false forms of religion are sometimes a benefit to mankind. As I am a reader of the REVIEW would you please give a few pointed thoughts in your valuable paper. H. E. H.
There may be a choice between different forms of false religion; some may be productive of less evil than others. But the idea that false forms of religion are under any circumstances preferable to the true, is too absurd to be argued for a moment.
Do you consider it a violation of the fourth commandment for a Sabbath-keeper to let out, by contract, a house to be built by those who do not regard the Sabbath, when the owner does not live upon the premises where the house is to be built? Any light on the above will be acceptable to many. INQUIRER.
Ans. We do not see how it could be so considered. The land upon which the contractor is at work putting up the building, is, for the time being, under his control the same as if sold or rented. And as for the work performed upon the house, the same principle which would forbid our allowing the contractor to work on the Sabbath, would forbid our sending a letter by mail to be out over the Sabbath, or contracting for work to be done in any branch of business or manufacture, except it was to be performed by a Sabbath-keeper, which would manifestly be unreasonable. U. S.
Bible Lectures Next Term.
By S. Brownsberger
WE are glad to announce that Bro. U. Smith is expected to deliver daily lectures the coming term, if a class of sufficient numbers will warrant him in devoting an hour of his very valuable time each day to the work. This is a rare opportunity offered to all who would prepare themselves to give a reason for the hope that is within them and to prepare for active labor in the cause of truth. God has led his servants to present these opportunities to our people, and if they are not improved what account shall we render to Him for our neglect? May God help us to come up to the work.
S. BROWNSBERGER.
Eld. D. T. Bourdeau’s Residence for Sale.
By D. T. Bourdeau
As duty calls me to leave Vermont, I offer for sale, my residence, which is situated in the village of Burke, Caledonia Co., Vermont, 2 miles from a railroad station, and the same distance from two other villages. It is 6½ miles from Lynden, and 17 miles from St. Johnsbury. I have 1½ acres of good land, on which is a house 24x28, finished in eastern style, and connected with a wood-shed 32 feet long, and a barn 24x30. It is adorned by shade trees. Land adjoining it can be bought at reasonable terms. It is a good situation for a mechanic who wishes to shed rays of light over a large field. I purchased, repaired, and built, so that I can give a good bargain. Inquire of Eld. A. O. Bourdeau, Burke, Caledonia Co., Vermont.
D. T. BOURDEAU.
HEALTH ALMANAC.
By H. A. St John
Or, the blessing of health! Who its worth can declare?
Yet how many are sick! and the healthy, how rare!
In a land of great light, and of blessings untold,
How few seem to think good health better than gold.
How ignorant our race! how lamentably blind,
With regard to the laws of the body and mind!
Do you, reader, rejoice in the light of hygiene?
If so, is your light by your works being seen?
How can you withhold those invaluable facts
So clearly expressed in our little health tracts?
Oh, scatter them freely! let not your hand slack!
Above all distribute the HEALTH ALMANAC.
H. A. St John.
Overlooking Faults Through Politeness and Love
There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good breeding. What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of man, and fix our attention on his infirmities. When there is love in the heart, there are rainbows in the eyes, which cover every black cloud with gorgeous hues.
Ordering Books and Periodicals from the Signs Office
All orders for such books and periodicals as can be had at the SIGNS Office only, should be addressed to THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Address Letters to SIGNS Office Oakland
All persons writing to Bro. and Sr. White, or to any person in the SIGNS Office, Oakland, Cal., should write “SIGNS Office” on the envelope, as there are other persons of like names in Oakland, and if this precaution is not observed their letters are liable to miscarry.