THE SECOND MESSAGE.—We have claimed that the message of the first angel has been announced. We also hold that the second followed in the given order. It was not the intention of Eld. Miller and others who preached the advent near and the termination of the prophetic periods, especially the 2300 days, to form a separate church upon these doctrines. The numerous converts who were the fruit of their labors were told to unite with any church they felt free to, only prepare for the coming of the Lord. Those in the several denominations who believed the doctrine, of course made it a theme of conversation and exhortation. This annoyed those who did not love the doctrine; and it came to be the case that some were expelled from their churches for no other reason, than making this hope their theme. They loved the Lord; they loved his appearing, and believed it was at hand; and how could they be content to be silent respecting the close of probation and the awfully sublime and momentous event of the coming of the Judge of the living and the dead?
When they saw that this glorious theme was distasteful to their brethren who professed to love the Lord; and that the appearing of Christ, instead of being loved, (2 Tim. 4:8,) was decidedly rejected, the cry was raised, in the providence of God, as we believe, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen," and as the result some 50,000 left the churches with which they had been associated. This is a historic fact of the autumn of 1844. It was well known to believers, although it was not so extensively known and noted in the world as the first message.
"The fall of Babylon is not the loss of temporal power by the papacy, nor the destruction of the city of Rome. For the papacy does not lose her temporal power because she made the nations drink of her false doctrines; but that is the very means by which she obtained and so long held it. And it cannot mean the destruction of Rome; for Babylon is where the people of God are largely represented. Rev. 18:9 But this has never been true of Rome, and especially it was not when the second message of Rev. 14 was given. And, secondly, it is after Babylon's fall that the people of God are called out, which would be an absurdity if applied to the fall and burning of Rome. And, thirdly, after the fall, Babylon fills up with hateful birds and foul spirits, which makes the application to the destruction of Rome still more ridiculous.
"The fall of Babylon is a moral fall, as is shown by Rev. 18:1-3. But the proclamation of this fall being connected with the great Advent movement of our own days, it must apply to some portion of Babylon which was at that time in a condition to experience a moral change for the worse. But this announcement, Babylon is fallen, could not then be said of the heathen world, which has for ages been lost in darkness and corruption; nor of the Romish church, for that has for generations been as low as it is possible for any organization, religious or secular, to descend. It must therefore have reference to those classes who have partially come out from Romish errors, but stopped short of receiving all the light that was offered them. This is true of the great mass of Protestant sects. They ran well for a season, and had a large measure of the graces of the Holy Spirit and the blessing of God to witness to what truth they were willing to receive. But their theology is still hideously deformed by enormous errors drawn from Rome, which they refuse to abandon. A reception of the first message would have healed their divisions and made a beginning of the work of correcting their errors. We know this from the effect it did have on those who received it, who came out of all these denominations. But they rejected the message and shut it out of their houses. The cry was then raised, Babylon is fallen; and although the distinctive call of Rev. 18:4, 'Come out of her my people,' which we apply to the future, was not given, yet some 50,000 persons did come out of the theological bondage to which they were subjected, an earnest of a still greater separation to take place, as we believe in the near future, when Rev. 18:2 is more completely fulfilled in them, and the cry of verse 4 shall be given." Biblical Institute.
Since the fall of Babylon is a moral fall, as has been shown, it is natural to look for a change in the spiritual condition of those who are the subject of the announcement at the time when it is made. That such a change did come over the churches of our land about the time when we claim that the cry was given, that is, about the year 1844, we will let the religious press of our country testify.
The Christian Palladium for May 15, 1844, speaks in the following mournful strains: "In every direction we hear the dolorous sound, wafting upon every breeze of heaven, chilling as the blasts from the icebergs of the north—settling like an incubus on the breasts of the timid, and drinking up the energies of the weak; that lukewarmness, division, anarchy, and desolation are distressing the borders of Zion."
The Religious Telescope of 1844 uses the following language: "We have never witnessed such a general declension of religion as at the present. Truly the church should awake and search into the cause of this affliction; for an affliction every one that loves Zion must view it. When we call to mind how 'few and far between' cases of true conversion are, and the almost unparalleled impenitence and hardness of sinners, we almost involuntarily exclaim, 'Has God forgotten to be gracious? or is the door of mercy closed?'"
About that time proclamations of fasts and seasons of prayer for the return of the Holy Spirit were sent out in the religious papers. Even the Philadelphia Sun of Nov. 11, 1844, has the following: "The undersigned ministers and members of various denominations in Philadelphia and vicinity, solemnly believing that the present signs of the times—the spiritual dearth in our churches generally, and the extreme evils in the world around us, seem to call loudly on all Christians for a special season of prayer, do, therefore, hereby agree by divine permission, to unite in a week of special prayer to Almighty God, for the outpouring of his Holy Spirit on our city, our country, and the world."
Prof. Finney, editor of the Oberlin Evangelist, Feb., 1844, says: "We have had the fact before our minds, that in general, the Protestant churches of our country, as such, are either apathetic or hostile to nearly all the moral reforms of the age. There are partial exceptions, yet not enough to render the fact otherwise than general. We have also another corroborated fact: the almost universal absence of revival influence in the churches. The spiritual apathy is almost all-pervading, and is fearfully deep: so the religious press of the whole land testifies. Very extensively, church members are becoming devotees of fashion—joining hands with the ungodly in parties of pleasure, in dancing, in festivities, etc. But we need not expand this painful subject. Suffice it that the evidence thickens and rolls heavily upon us, to show that the churches generally are becoming sadly degenerate. They have gone very far from the Lord, and he has withdrawn himself from them."
Apostasy is a gradual work. People do not descend from the heights of moral excellence to the lowest depths of sin and degradation by a single plunge. But when a certain point in declension is reached, it then becomes proper that their fall should be announced; and when the measure of their iniquity is full, it is time for the judgments of God to fall upon them.
The Jews had persecuted the prophets and stoned those that were sent unto them; but when in addition to this they rejected Jesus, his mission and miracles, though they could not deny and disprove them, it was time for him to say, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate;" and to denounce the wrath which was soon to follow; and when in view of the clear evidences of the resurrection of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon his disciples, they could proceed to persecute them as they had their Master, it was meet that wrath to the uttermost should come upon them.
So when the Protestant church, the third and last division of modern Babylon, (for there are three divisions, Roman, Greek, and Protestant,) in addition to all her former delinquencies and sins, virtually rejected Christ by despising the doctrine of his second advent at hand, it was the very time for her fall to be proclaimed; and when, after her fall, she becomes the habitation and hold of devils and foul spirits, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, and "her sins have reached unto Heaven," it will be proper and right that her plagues shall "come in a day, death, and mourning, and famine," and that she be "utterly burned with fire." Rev. 18:2-8.
The preaching of the hour of God's judgment, and the coming of Christ at hand, though deemed a failure by the unbelieving, was a test of the love of the church for her Lord. With nothing to meet the Scriptural evidences of his advent near, but her unscriptural theories, she rejected the glad tidings with scorn, thus evincing that she did not love his appearing. "But it might have been the means of healing her. Jer. 51:8. Had she received it, what a work would it have wrought for her! Her unscriptural hope of a temporal reign, her false view of the second advent, her unrighteous justification of oppression and wickedness, her pride and conformity to the world, would all have been swept away. Alas! that this warning from Heaven was rejected!" Because she would not be healed, the Lord says, "Forsake her,"—"From such turn away." 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
Temperance Work at Battle Creek.
By J. H. KELLOGG, M. D.
AT no place has there been more interest in the temperance work than at Battle Creek. From the first organization of the association here, a lively interest in the subject has kept up. Battle Creek has always been noted as one of the most decidedly temperance cities in the State of Michigan, and has been foremost in all temperance questions. This has been due in great measure, no doubt, to the fact that the members of our denomination located here have always stood on the right side of every temperance question, whether political or moral, and so have greatly aided in giving character to the place. Indeed, on more than one occasion it has been positively known that the votes of S. D. Adventists have given a victory for temperance at the polls, when success would otherwise have attended the opposite side.
At the organization of the Health and Temperance Association last New Year's, a membership of about one hundred and fifty was obtained, which gradually increased at the successive monthly meetings to two hundred and fifty. It was not until within a few days, however, that the work here has been what could really be considered a complete success.
Coming here directly from the excellent camp-meeting in Missouri, where a glorious triumph for temperance was achieved, Bro. and Sr. White, although much worn with arduous labors, were ready to take hold of the work here, and did so with most excellent results.
Sunday evening, June 8, in accordance with appointment the day before, they addressed a large audience gathered in the tabernacle, with telling effect. After their remarks, a committee of ten solicitors was appointed to canvass the audience for signers to the pledge, only the teetotal pledge being circulated. While the solicitors were quietly at work, the time was filled with interesting remarks by Bro. White, and singing by the choir, who rendered “Dare to be a Daniel,” a most appropriate piece for such an occasion, with excellent effect. It was found at the close of the meeting that one hundred and twenty-five names had been added to the list of members. By vote of the society, a committee of ten was appointed by the chairman to canvass the community with the teetotal pledge, and to report at the regular monthly meeting of the association to be held on the Wednesday evening following.
A public announcement being made that Eld. and Mrs. White were to address the public on Wednesday evening, a larger audience than usual gathered at the appointed hour and listened with the closest interest to their excellent addresses. Sister White is everywhere recognized as the most instructive and interesting lady temperance lecturer who has appeared before the public. Bro. White gave on this occasion a few very interesting remarks concerning the temperance work among the denomination, and the prominent part which it had played in bringing S. D. Adventists into favorable notice, and gaining for them at once the respect and confidence of the people wherever they have entered new fields of labor. The pledge was again circulated, receiving many additional signatures, when it was found that with the names obtained by the solicitors since the last meeting, the membership of the association in this place had been increased to over five hundred.
The slight opposition which had been offered by some who did not fully comprehend the objects of the organization, and did not appreciate the advantages which might be gained by it, was wholly removed, the opposing ones laying down their opposition and giving their influence on the right side. A grand victory has been gained for temperance; and now Battle Creek stands foremost in the ranks, and says to all her sister churches, Come, let us join hands in this noble work, and present a solid front against the foes of temperance, the most dangerous of which exist in our own perverted appetites and artificial tastes.
In accordance with the plans of organization now perfected, the members of the association at Battle Creek adopted at this meeting the constitution and by-laws for local organizations, and will hereafter be known as the Battle Creek Health and Temperance Club. Eld. L. McCoy was elected leader, Eld. W. C. Gage secretary, and Dr. W. B. Sprague treasurer of the new organization. Meetings will be held monthly as heretofore.
J. H. KELLOGG, M. D.
Camp-Meeting in Daviess Co., Mo.
By Geo. I. Butler
THIS meeting was not so large as the one held in the southern part of the State. Nineteen tents were pitched, including the large one, and upwards of one hundred and fifty camped upon the ground. Some were disappointed in not seeing Bro. and Sr. White. Bro. Rogers was the only minister of the Conference who attended. Bro. Hollenbeck, who was on his way back to Iowa, was present, and helped much in the singing and otherwise. Bro. Farnsworth labored earnestly and acceptably for the interest of the meeting.
Most of those present took hold well, and received the blessing of Heaven. The Lord helped in the preaching, and truth was presented which will be a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death, to those who heard it.
On Sunday a large crowd was present, but a storm in the afternoon broke up the interest of the meeting very much. I gave two discourses on the health and temperance question, which were well received by nearly all. Sunday morning we obtained one hundred and fourteen signers to the teetotal pledge, which was full as high a percentage of those present as at the southern meeting. We regretted that some of our leading brethren would not cast their influence with us in favor of this movement.
We also made special efforts to present the subject of s. B. before the brethren; and after preaching on the subject, we circulated a paper to which a large number subscribed, sacredly pledging a tithe of their income to God. But some of our leading brethren were as loth to take part in this enterprise as they were to act on the temperance question. What a sad commentary upon the effect of worldly wealth on the minds of those who profess the truth, that it is so difficult to get those who are well off to pledge a tithe of their income to God; while those who are comparatively poor are nearly always willing to do so. But I find this is apt to be the case.
We had an interesting Sabbath-school, which was superintended by Bro. Farnsworth. We also had a meeting for the purpose of considering the subject of education, and our College at Battle Creek. I had freedom in speaking upon the importance of improving the mind, and of preserving it in the best condition to render life useful. We must create a love for education among our people, where it does not already exist. We want the youth among us to be capable of reasoning correctly, being well posted in all true science, and above all, in God's holy truth. How can this work be accomplished without such a school as ours? Our meeting closed Tuesday morning; the most of us feeling in the best of spirits. May God bless the cause in Missouri.
Fairfield, Iowa.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
North-Pacific Sabbath-School Association.
A MEETING was held at the Walla Walla Camp-meeting, on Monday, June 9, 1879, for the purpose of considering the Sabbath-school work.
Eld. S. N. Haskell was invited to organize a Sabbath-school Association.
The Constitution of State Associations was read and heartily adopted. Article first reads as follows:—
NAME.—This Society shall be known as the North Pacific Sabbath-School Association of Seventh-day Adventists.
The following named persons were nominated and unanimously elected to their respective offices: President—Elder I. D. Van Horn, Salem, Oregon; Secretary—Sister Adna Johns, Walla Walla, W. T.; Executive Committee—S. Maxson, T. H. Starbuck.
It was resolved that the Sabbath-school Record books, recommended by the General Association, be adopted by each Sabbath-school of this Association; also that each Sabbath-school raise a fund for the necessary expenses of the work, and pay a tithe of this to the Association. I. D. VAN HORN, President. ALONZO T. JONES, Secretary pro. tem.
"If I Only Lived in a Village."
"If I only lived in a village I could do so much more," writes a friend who is anxious to accomplish for the cause of humanity what she considers impracticable in her present locality.
This remark, made doubtless in sincerity, and confidence of purpose, reminds us of the many "ifs" that have a place in the vocabulary of hundreds whose good intentions are of the same type.
"If I only had wealth I am sure I would use it in doing good," said a friend whose word was considered as good as his bond. At this time he had barely a competence. Years rolled on, and the time came when he possessed a large income, but, sad to tell, his feelings had changed. His heart was steeled against the cry of the poor, he lived for self alone, and was indeed less happy and less useful than when he ate the bread of poverty and toil. He did not know himself. He was "weighed in the balances and found wanting."
"If I only had more time, I am sure I would do more for the cause of charity," said a lady whose home duties were arduous and constant. A period came when time hung heavy on her hands, but she felt no interest in laboring for the needy and the suffering.
"If I only had a smaller family, and could find a room free from interruptions, a reliable nurse to take charge of my little ones, I would pray more for the church, the impenitent, and especially for my own family," said a Christian mother who believed in the efficacy of prayer, and rightly regarded the incentives to this duty. A period came that all these facilities were within her reach, but the spirit of prayer was wanting—and less time even was spent in this exercise than formerly.
These examples show how unwise it is to defer present duty for better opportunities; how little we know what we would do in other circumstances, and how important to live by the moment, doing with our might what our hands find to do, knowing that "It is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not." The following item from an exchange paper refers to a faithful departed laborer whose history is familiar to all our readers. The facts named are suggestive, and in this connection may be contemplated with profit:—
"Many people have been accustomed to look on Mrs. Fry as a heroic spinster, who, unfettered by the cares of home, and the anxieties of a family, had nothing to do but wander over the face of the earth in quest of affliction, in soothing which she sought relief to the tedium of opulent retirement. Hence it has been a thousand times over, not only thought, but said, "It is all very well for Mrs. Fry to visit goals and penitentiaries, throughout the British Isles, and to prosecute her humane endeavors in foreign countries; but had she been circumstanced as we are, she would have found work enough at home." Now let all such know, that so far from this being the case, Mrs. Fry was the mother of a family of ten children! No maternal care, no domestic solicitude, no home duties and home burdens? It was much otherwise; and this circumstance adds peculiarity to the worth of her invaluable life. As a daughter, as a wife, as a mother, as a mistress, she presented a shining pattern which the opulent and the titled of her sex throughout the land may contemplate with exceeding great advantage. It may be truly said, that she lived not to herself, but for mankind, or rather for womankind. She had a heart large enough to embrace the world, and by economy of time and money, she, to an extent all but incredible, found both leisure and resources to minister to the necessity of vast multitudes.—Sel.
Encourage The Boys.
HALF-GROWN boys are too often treated as nuisances, and are thus encouraged to become such. No provision is made for their entertainment; they are not trained to employ their overflowing activity in useful ways; they are treated as if they possesed a peculiar kind of depravity, and as incapable of adding to the happiness of others. It is too much to expect that a boy will prefer reading a dry book to a frolic with his fellows, will enjoy being lectured nightly on his particular sinfulness, while his sister, or some sick, over-studious youth, is held up as a model of perfection.
If one-half the praise which you bestow on three and five year olds, and on "young ladies just coming out," were distributed among young men, we should see a marked decline in loaferism and rowdy conduct. To notice a boy's good intention is to make performance easy. To treat him as a social outcast is to make him, sooner or later, a professional disturber of the peace. If home be made pleasant, and pains taken to guide youthful spirits into legitimate channels, there will be less fondness for that independent, roving, selfish, existence, which marks every boy as an Ishmaelite.—Sel.
Waterford, Ohio.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
BRO. BURRILL put up his new tent here, and from the first we had a large interest. On both Sundays there was an immense crowd, both sides of the road being lined with teams for more than half a mile. They came from fifteen miles each way. Through the week the attendance was good. Sabbath and Sunday, a large number of Sabbath-keepers came in from the adjoining churches. One-half or more of these were new converts to the truth. This was cheering. Quite a number of young people made a start on the Sabbath. The next Sabbath twelve united with the church, receiving the right hand of fellowship. Bro. E. C. Penn was elected and ordained leader. A clerk for the church, and also another for the legal society, was elected. Then we enjoyed an excellent social meeting, in which all took part. All seemed encouraged and strengthened. We closed with the communion. D. M. CANRIGHT.
The Home Circle.
ONWARD AND UPWARD.
Fellow struggler on life's pathway
Though misfortune's lot you know,
Though your path be rough and dreary,
Sink not 'neath your load of woe.
Boldly up and face the future,
One of vast creation's heirs,
What though others be before you,
You've a right as great as theirs.
Right—by labor and exertion
Forward still to work your way;
Right to view through gloomy present
Promise in the future day.
Right to call the golden harvests
From the ever-willing land,
Right to wage the war with fortune,
Stout of heart and strong of hand.
Let no doubt delay your pathway,
Let not error dim your sight,
Let not sneers at your endeavor
Turn you from the path of right.
What though others tower above you
With the wealth your father's made,
Spreading out like forest monarchs,
Will you perish in their shade?
No—continue your exertions,
Do not linger to despond,
Rather burst into the sunlight
Waiting for you far beyond.
"Onward! Upward" be your motto—
Let your gaze be fixed on high—
And on honor's brightening pathway
Hope will bloom and doubt shall die.
Motherly.
WHAT a dear old Saxon epithet is the word "motherly!" Motherly kindness, attention, nurture! The word is never unwelcome when fairly applied. Motherly influence; who has not felt it? Motherly love; who has not joyed in it? Motherly self-denial; often the secret heading of the longest chapters of her life, the memory of which long survives them all. Motherly self-sacrifice; true to the last, often reappearing in some posthumous expression, like the voice from the tomb. My friend, the Rev. John Burbidge, of St. Stephens', Sheffield, put it to the mothers and sons of his church: "Does not history tell us how St. Augustine, Theodoret, Basil, and St Chrysostom owed everything to a mother's prayers. Have we not read how Bishop Hall dedicated to the service of Christ by his mother on her death-bed? How Payson traced all his hopes and his usefulness to this Christian nurture of his home; how Brainerd ascribed his deep religious feelings to the education of his early years; how Philip Henry and his five sisters avowed that what piety they possessed they owed, under God, to their parents; how James Montgomery traced his love for spiritual things to the instruction received in childhood; how the mother of the Wesleys left impressions on the characters of her illustrious sons which were never effaced; how Romaine, Doddridge, Felix Neff, Legh Richmond, Richard Knill, and Robert Moffat, all tell of the melting and moulding influence of the Christian homes amid which they were reared."—Quiver.
Living in Quiet.
A RULE for living happily with others is to avoid having stock subjects of disputation. It mostly happens, when people live much together, that they come to have certain set topics, around which, from frequent dispute, there is such a growth of angry words, mortified vanity, and the like that the original subject of difference becomes a standing subject for quarrel, and there is a tendency in all minor disputes to drift down to it. Again if people wish to live well together, they must not hold too much to logic, and suppose that everything is to be settled by sufficient reason. Doctor Johnson saw this clearly with regard to married people, when he said, "Wretched would be the pair, above all names of wretchedness, who should be doomed to adjust by reason, every morning, all the minute detail of a domestic day." But the application should be much more general than he made it. There is no time for such reasonings, and nothing that is worth them. And, when we recollect how two lawyers or two politicians can go on contending, and that there is no end of one-sided reasoning on any subject, we shall not be sure that such contention is the best mode of arriving at truth. But certainly it is not the way to arrive at good temper.
Home Influence.
REV. DR. CUYLER, in one of his articles, talks in this wise of family topics:—
"If the father generally talks 'money, money,' at home, he generally rears a family in worship of the almighty dollar. If he talks mainly horses, games, and races, he breeds a batch of sportsmen. If fashion is the family altar, then the children are offered up as victims upon the altar. If a man makes his own fireside attractive, he may reasonably hope to anchor his own children around it. My neighbor Q—— makes himself the constant evening companion of his boys. The result is that his boys are never found in bad places. But, if the father hears the clock strike eleven in his club-house, or the play-house, he need not be surprised if his boys hear it strike twelve in the gaming-room, or the drinking saloon. If he puts the bottle on his own table, he need not wonder if a drunken son staggers in, by and by, at his front door. When the best friend that childhood and youth ought to have becomes their foe, the homes become the 'starting-post' for moral ruin."
Reports from the Field.
By John Norton Loughborough
Southampton, England.
NOTWITHSTANDING the cold and wet weather, we have, up to date, held twenty-four services in the tent. These discourses have awakened a deep interest with a few, and now as the weather is milder we hope for an increase in attendance. It takes a longer time to raise an interest in such a meeting here than in America. To a large extent the services in the churches here consist in set forms and prayers more than in expositions of Scripture, so that it is like a new departure with many to listen to preaching requiring study and deep thought on their part, and we "must meet the people where they are."
Some seeing a prospect that the tent meeting is liable to make some stir, are very busily circulating falsehoods respecting the preaching at the tent. Even this we pray may be turned to account, for some say, "Well, I am going, to hear for myself what they do preach." They come and hear and become interested. This proves the word true that, "They can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." Our daily prayer to God is that in this case he will fulfill his word, "Cause the wrath of man to praise him and the remainder thou wilt restrain."
Since my last report we have received a number of friendly responses to missionary letters. One says, "I wish to express my thanks to you for your kindness and trouble in sending me those valuable and interesting papers, THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, as they are full of information. They furnish a vast amount of useful knowledge, especially on Bible topics. I should very much like a continuance of the paper." Enclosed we found pay for the SIGNS for one quarter.
Another writes, "As a Christian I am encouraged by reading the truths the SIGNS teaches. It is a paper admirably conducted. . . . I never read a paper which so faithfully argues for the position it takes, and in the same spirit meets the objections of others."
Another, who has been receiving the SIGNS from St. Helena, Cal., writes, "We are very much obliged to you for taking such an interest in us in sending us those nice papers to read. I think the papers give us a great amount of information as to the times in which we live. We all take great interest in reading them."
These responses, and other tokens of good, encourage us to push on the work of sowing the seed, and we earnestly pray that the Lord will abundantly water the seed sown. One party after reading a short time, has decided to pay for eighteen copies of SIGNS and Reviews to be sent for one year to different parts of Great Britain. So you see there is some missionary work going on here if it is not all systematically organized.
Pray for us. Our daily prayer and ardent desire is that the Lord will bless the workers and the work everywhere.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Wakeman, Ohio.
By H. A. St. John; A. M. Mann
Our meetings continue, with some interest. We have much rain, yet our audiences seldom fall short of one hundred. There is much opposition by ministers in the vicinity. Investigation continues. Very good Sabbath-schools and meetings are held in the tent on the Sabbath. A few have taken their stand to obey the truth. Yesterday (Sabbath) we baptized six persons. The Sabbath-school numbers about thirty. Fourteen copies of the weekly Instructor are taken, and many study the lessons with deep interest. We remain here another week.
H. A. St. John.
A. M. Mann.
Denison, Texas.
By Robert M. Kilgore
I REMAINED here a week after tent labor closed, and spent the time in visiting; also met with the friends in Sabbath and Wednesday evening prayer-meetings. Here were gathered together those who had been numbered with worldlings, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Universalists, Baptists, Christians (Campbellites), and Roman Catholics. It was good to see them united, humbly testifying to the harmony of present truth, and stating that in receiving new light they had found Christ anew, and more precious. Obtained four more subscribers to our periodicals. Here are twenty-three who keep the Sabbath.
Have held four meetings in Savoy. The tent is filled. Some are coming seven, eight, and ten miles to attend the meetings. The Methodists are holding a protracted meeting next door to us; but we labor on.
June 11. R. M. KILGORE.
Covington, Hill Co., Texas.
By A. W. Jenson
I WAS delayed here two weeks on my way to the Norwegian settlement in Bosque Co. About a year ago seven persons here began to keep the Sabbath, from reading; since then four more have joined them. I gave ten discourses, mostly on the law and the Sabbath; and four more expressed a willingness to keep the Sabbath, and to suffer reproach with the people of God. Others are convinced, and we hope a few will yet join us.
A. W. JENSON.
June 10.
Longmont, Colorado.
By M. E. Cornell
WE began meetings in the tent at this place May 22, and up to the present time twenty-six discourses have been given. The number in attendance has increased from twenty-five to one hundred and fifty, with an average of about seventy-five regular interested hearers. Six or more have already decided to keep the Sabbath. A Methodist minister and his wife are of the number. Their testimony in our Sabbath meeting was truly rejoicing to our hearts.
The interest has greatly increased since the arrival of Eld. J. O. Corliss, June 1. His discourses have been well received by all classes. Our offer of the tent for the defense of Sunday keeping has been accepted by a popular Dunkard preacher, and a new interest will no doubt be awakened. The liberality of the friends has fully met our running tent expenses thus far. M. E. CORNELL. June 11.
West Jamaica, Vermont.
By R. S. Owen
HAVE just closed a short series of meetings here. Gave in all fifteen discourses. The interest increased from first to last. God blessed in our efforts to lead the unconverted to seek an interest in the Redeemer, and some enlisted for the first time in the cause of religion. Eight persons signed the covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Many others acknowledge it to be their duty to keep the Sabbath. Brethren from the Jamaica church will meet with them weekly in a prayer-meeting. We are called away to labor with the tent.
June 15. R. S. OWEN.
Aroostook Co., Maine.
By Samuel J. Hersum, Alice K. Hersum
Came to Sherman, May 29, and held meetings Sabbath and first-day. Found the few that had taken hold of the truth in this place still firm, and having a desire to walk in all the light. June 1, two were baptized. After the baptism we met and organized a church of six substantial members, all heads of families. Pledges were made on S. B. amounting to $11.96. The Lord has blessed the company of believers here, and if they are humble and faithful, and stand firm for the truth, others will yet be added to their number.
Samuel J. Hersum,
Alice K. Hersum.