Earlier textSystem in the Work of the Lord
By P. Z. Kinne
In order to carry on business to any great extent successfully, it is highly necessary to have it done systematically. This being the case in temporal matters, it must be emphatically so in things that pertain to the cause and work of the Lord; inasmuch as the latter is of greater and more vital importance than the former. If there was no evidence in the Bible that order was requisite to carry forward the truth, it would seem that a thoughtful observer would come to that conclusion by noticing how the blessing of the Lord has attended the work of the third angel’s message as system has of necessity connected itself with it. My mind reverts to the time when the formation of the Publishing Association was being considered. To many, that move appeared superfluous, and really like a lack of trust and confidence in God. But now look for a moment at the magnitude of the work at the present, and think of what it will be in the closing up of the message. Who can question for a moment that the move was eminently in the order and providence of the Lord? Deprive that department of system now and see what a state of confusion would exist. Following closely the formation of the Publishing Association, came church organization, and with it the cry of Babylon—Seventh Day Adventists have fallen, they are becoming like the nominal churches, the call will yet be made, Come out of her my people, &c., &c. But contrary to the expectations and predictions of such, church order has proved a success where it has been carried out. Here has been a great failure in the N. Y. and Pa. Conference. Although the system has proved itself good, yet if it is not properly conducted, the object may not be reached. This, however, does not prove the plan bad. I wish to call the attention of the brethren of the N. Y. and Pa. Conference to a few points where there has been an evident failure. First, in reference to Art. IV. Sec. 1, of the Constitution which provides that, “When any church or scattered brethren wish ministerial labor in their vicinity, their call shall be made to the Executive Committee.” Where there is a failure in complying with the above requirement the following results may occur:— Ministers may be influenced to leave useful fields of labor at a time when they ought not and perhaps be called to do work for which they are not qualified, thus doing injury to the cause besides incurring a waste of time and means. As illustrative of some of the points named, I will refer to a case that came to my notice during the last Conference year. While one of the Conference Committee was in an adjoining county, a letter came to his notice requesting a minister to whom it was addressed to come to the vicinity of the writer and organize a church, &c. The opinion of the member of the committee being asked in regard to it by the minister, an indefinite reply was given which probably caused a delay in responding to the call. Later in the season the same member of the committee fell into company (in another part of the State) with a minister on his way to do the same work—having been summoned for that purpose by the same person. But in the meantime the Conference Committee had made arrangements with suitable persons to look after the interests of the cause in the place spoken of. It so turned out that when the true condition of things was ascertained, it was found to be a work of pulling down instead of building up. We do not charge the brother with intentional wrong; but it is evident that the mistake lay in not applying to the right source for help. Again, the last clause of Sec. 4, Art. II, provides that the Executive Committee “shall exercise a general watch-care over all matters pertaining to the interest of the cause within the bounds of the Conference.” In view of the light that has been given in regard to ministerial labor in the churches in this Conference, I am pained to learn that some of our ministers (not all I am pleased to state) and even licentiates have gone contrary to it. And in view of the responsibility that rests upon me as one of the Executive Committee I wish here to enter my solemn protest against such a course—and will add, that from what was said at our last Conference by members of the General Conference Committee, I cannot see how either ministers or licentiates can expect remuneration for either time or traveling expenses in meeting with the churches, and I design to use my influence to have their suggestions carried out in the matter unless such labor is performed by request of the Conference Committee. Inasmuch as some of our churches failed to send in their S. B. to the Conference treasurer and reports to the secretary the last quarter, I hope such will attend to it and send in money and report for both quarters at the close of this quarter, which is Feb. 1. Brethren, if system is worth anything to the cause let us be faithful in carrying it out and thus secure the blessing of the Lord upon our efforts to build up and advance his truth. At some future time I may speak of system and order as connected with the work of the Tract Society. Family Prayer.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
The following article on this subject meets my mind exactly. Though a little lengthy, I see no place to shorten it, so give it all. FAMILY WORSHIP AT MR. LYMAN’S.
We gathered, after breakfast, in the parlor, or sitting room they call it, for the Lymans have no “best room” that is too good for their own daily use. The September morning was just damp enough to warrant the flame of a few kindlings in the grate. Little Mary chose her seat on the floor, between Emily, the hired girl, and the fire. Seven-year-old Ned stood beside his father’s chair, with his father’s arm around him. The aspect of the circle was not specially solemn, but it was altogether pleasant. An air of anticipation, as if they expected to enjoy the exercises, was noticeable for its contrast to the uninterested resignation with which children so often go through the formality of family prayers. “Well, mamma,” said Mr. Lyman, after all were in place, “what did we read about yesterday morning?” “How Christ cleansed the poor leper, and cured the centurion’s servant,” replied Mrs. Lyman. “And somethin else,” interposed little Mary. “What was that?” said her father. “About the woman—that was real sick—and when Jesus come in—and took hold of her hand—he made her well—right off—and she got the dinner,” was the reply, scanned off with deliberate earnestness. “Well, Bessie,” said her father, “you may tell us about the leper.” And Bessie, a little hesitant because of the company, briefly told, in her own words, what a dreadful disease it was, and how the poor man was healed by the Saviour. Then Ned, in his turn, gave the story of the centurion, an officer “who told his soldiers to go just where he was a mind to.” The reading of the last half of the chapter, the eighth of Matthew, followed. The children were as attentive as if it were the bed-time story. As he went along, Mr. Lyman explained the harder words and obscurer expressions, bringing out, here and there, with little touches of comment, the lesson of the incidents narrated; Mrs. Lyman dropped, now and then, a suggestion as to meaning or application; Emily and the children interposed whatever questions occurred to them—Mary’s sometimes being slightly irrelevant; and Mr. Lyman closed with a little incident of army experience illustrative of faith in God in times of peril. This was followed by three stanzas of “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” Mrs. Lyman leading at the organ, and the children joining heartily in the singing. Then came Mr. Lyman’s prayer—brief, and free from much-worn phrases, reverent and fervent in adoration, but almost conversational in expression, thankful for home mercies, and especially for the Saviour, of whose works of love they had just been reading, not forgetting the needy world, but chiefly concerned with family wants. That Emily escaped with such slight injury in her fall the day before; that Johnny might not for a moment forget to be true to the right amid the temptations of his school associations that day; that they were having such a pleasant visit with the friends who had come to see them; that the Blakes, over the way, who had just lost their baby, might find comfort in looking to the Lord, and that this sorrow might win the father from his intemperate life; that the Sunday-school concert passed off so pleasantly the night before—each formed the subject of petition or thanksgiving. All joined in the Lord’s Prayer in closing. The whole service charmed me by its naturalness, its heartiness, and its freshness. I told Mr. Lyman as much, as we leisurely walked down to the bank that morning, and that it had given me some hints that I should try to work up at home. “But I shall not expect to make it as interesting as you do,” I added, “for you evidently have a special knack for it.” “Thank you!” he replied with a smile; “but you are mistaken, I think, if you suppose that I have any more talent in this line than most people. The secret of the ‘knack’ in this case,—as in many matters, I suspect, where knack gets the credit, is preparation. When we began housekeeping, we fell into the routine style of family worship,—a chapter each day, in inexorable course, with a book-mark to keep the place lest we should forget which chapter we read the previous morning, and a prayer which went the usual round of stereotyped petition. We were not heartless in it, by any means, though it seems almost heartless now, as I look back on it and think how much more heart we might have put into it. But as the children grew up to an age when they ought to take some interest in it, I woke with a sort of start, one day, to the fact of what a listless, innutritious exercise it was to them. I saw that Johnny’s thoughts were generally somewhere else, and that my amen brought a welcome release to the body that had not been able to wander with them. “One night, we talked it over, my wife and I, after we went to bed. It seemed to us that family worship ought to be made more interesting to little folks than it was to us when we were children; than it had been to our children. And, little by little, we have felt our way into our present method. First, I determined to see what I could do to make our Scripture reading more interesting. I decided that it was just as well worth while to ‘prepare’ for the chapter I read at family prayers as for the lesson I taught at Sunday school. At first, it seemed impossible to do this seven times in a week; and for a while I made floundering work of it, until I hit upon my present practice. “I keep my Bible on my desk at the bank, and I find enough snatches of leisure, in the busiest day, by looking out for them, even if none of them are more than two minutes long, to familiarize myself with the portion to be read the next morning. Then, as I go to and from my meals, I turn it over in my mind. If there are points that I am not clear upon, I take down my commentary for a few moments after supper or before breakfast, and post myself. I keep an eye out during the day for any incident that may illustrate any part of it for the children, or try to recall some fact from my reading or past experience that may serve the same purpose.” “I am busier than most men, but I have no difficulty, by watching my opportunities, in finding time for all this. And the difference in the relish with which I take up the Bible at family worship, after such preparation, is more than any one can imagine who has not tried it. To have the word near me as the reserve topic of thought in the intervals of business, I find a great gain, also. It keeps me in just the spiritual atmosphere that I need; and time and again has it happened that the truth in the chapter for the day has come to me in some exigency of temptation, or some opportunity for Christian service, as if God had spoken it for that very hour. I feel as if I could not afford to get along in the old way at all. Besides, if it were not for some such plan as this, I should be apt to let the months slip by with almost no systematic study of the Bible whatever.” Mrs. Lyman does much the same thing during the day, as she has opportunity, and she selects beforehand the hymn that we shall sing. Sometimes we sing the tunes the children have learned in Sunday-school; but more often the good old church tunes that wear so well, and that the children quickly learn to love full as much as the galloping Sunday-school music. I wish they were used in Sunday-school more than they are.” “Do you read the Bible right through in course?” I asked. “Oh, no! I should almost as soon think of taking a hotel bill of fare in course at dinner, day by day, until I had finished it. We are reading the Gospels in course now; but I shall hardly think it worth while, on the children’s account, to go through the Epistles in that way. I have thought of taking up the Old Testament history by-and-by; reading the portions they could grasp, and threading together what I skip in a few words of my own, as we go along. I find it quickens their interest greatly to question them briefly on what we read the day before, especially to let them put the story into their own words. It is twice as much their own then as it was before. But I guard specially against tiring them with long exercises. We never sing more than two or three stanzas, and never read a whole chapter. Indeed we pay very little attention to those arbitrary divisions any way,—as if one could expect to find the natural stopping places in a story by measuring it off by the yard!” “Nevertheless,” I protested, “all this preparation must take a good deal of time, and more than some busy men could find for it, I think.” “It pays to take the time, and it is easier to find it than any one supposes till he tries. We let our minds run vagrant more than we think. I have occasion to go to the grocery to-night: if I have no special topic on my mind as I walk, my thoughts are chasing about in all sorts of idle speculations, without even the advantage of a healthy rest for the brain. It is easy, and better every way, to train them to run on some pleasant but helpful errand like this. I have concluded that it is little short of irreverence to rush into the presence of God in prayer without some consideration beforehand of what I am to say to him. While I am dressing in the morning, or hoeing in the garden, or filling the furnace, as the case may be, I run over in my mind the appropriate subjects for thanksgiving and supplication that day. I often say to myself, as I kneel down, ‘Now do not let me utter a word that I do not feel.’ I dread to get into a rut of phrases, where a prayer may run smoothly with so little heart in it.” Just then we reached the bank, and the conversation closed. But the more I think about it the more it seems to me that Mr. Lyman is nearer right in this matter than most of us. The following anecdotes, which we find in the Methodist of Jan. 18, are to be read in connection with the article on the first editorial page, headed, Claims of Philosophy. A shepherd once, to prove the quickness of his dog, who was lying before the fire in the house in which we were talking, said to me, in the middle of a sentence concerning something else, “I’m thinking, sir, the cow is in the potatoes.” Though he purposely laid no stress on these words, and said it in a quiet, unconcerned tone of voice, the dog, who appeared to be asleep, immediately jumped up, leaped through an open window, and scrambled up the turf roof of the house, from which he could see the potato field. He then (not seeing the cow there) ran and looked into the barn where she was, and finding that all was right, came back to the house. After a short time, the shepherd said the same words again, and the dog repeated his lookout; but on the false alarm being a third time given, the dog got up, wagged his tail, and looked his master in the face with so comical an expression of interrogation, we could not help laughing at him, on which, with a slight growl, he laid himself down in his own warm corner, with an offended air, as if determined not to be made a fool of again. “A tradesman, owner of a dog and cat, had been in the habit of letting his dog go to market and buy his own meat. The dog would bring the meat home and deposit it somewhere in the store, and when hungry would go and get it. The cat acquired a habit of stealing the meat, and the dog would lie down near it, watch for the thief, and when the cat came would drive her away. But at last he became tired of this business, carried the meat down cellar, and covered it up in the sand. One day the owner of the dog thought he would get the meat, bring it upstairs, and see what the dog would do. After taking a nap, the dog went down cellar in search of his meat, and commenced digging as usual, but there was no meat to be found. He laid himself down a minute, as if in thought, and then rushed up stairs, and, spying the cat, ‘went for her,’ and chased her all around the store, as closely as a police-officer in pursuit of a thief. Can a dog reason?” The following is from an essay contributed to the Herald of Health, by Mrs. Gleason:— “I once sat on a porch at twilight with a little boy in my lap. His bright, plump face glowed with a coaxing admiration as he turned it upward, saying: ‘Moon and star, come down to me.’ After an expectant delay, he seemed to remember that please was a powerful word for procuring pleasures in his happy circle. Feeling sure of success this time, each tiny hand was extended, with palms upward, ready to receive the gifts when they descended, as he said, ‘Moon and star, please do come to me.’ Finding that even please did not bring down the desired treasures, he gently laid his hands in his lap, and with a soft sigh of resignation, said, ‘Moon and star too high for me!’ but still with radiant face he gazed admiringly. I then thought terror and trouble would come to us if, in maturer years, we had our own way at all times, just as in mercy moon and stars were held in their course despite childish pleadings. So when our hopes are deferred, or plans fail, we may by a contemplation of nature’s quiet grandeur grow cool and content, saying, ‘All this which we asked was too high for us.’” Be a lion in God's cause, a lamb in your own. Otranto and Richland, Iowa.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Jan. 1, I came to Otranto. A severe snow-storm prevented having any evening meetings or public meetings at all; so I enjoyed a good, long, and much-needed rest, at the quiet, hospitable home of Bro. Sutherland. Only had meetings Sabbath and Sunday. Sabbath, we organized a church of ten members. These are all intelligent persons, strong in the truth, and are about of one age, being in the prime of life. I see no reason why they will not be a strong little church. Sunday, we re-organized S. B. amounting to $90, which they immediately raised by special donations to $107. Sold some books and obtained a number of subscribers on our periodicals. Had no opportunity of ascertaining outside interest. Tuesday, Jan. 7, arrived at home in Monroe after an absence of just eight months. Stayed only one day. Had a pleasant meeting at evening. Bro. and Sr. Landes made my stay so comfortable and pleasant that it seemed hard to leave. Jan. 9 to 16, at Richland. Brn. Nicola, McCoy, and others came in from surrounding churches. The people turned out and crowded our new house full. The Methodists tried to hold meetings, but no one went. God gave me good freedom in preaching the truth. Sabbath, we had a melting time, and eight came forward for prayers. The doctrinal sermons on Sunday seemed to tell forcibly on many. I think the cause never stood in as good a condition in this community as now. For this we feel to thank God and take courage. They began here three years ago with ten or a dozen; now there are about thirty-five keeping the Sabbath and they have a good, new meeting-house 28x40, which cost them over $2000. Most of this they raised within themselves, Bro. John Stroup giving $800. I sold some books, and obtained quite a list of subscribers for the REVIEW. As reported by Bro. Butler, Eld. Goodenough of the Marion party, recently spent about a month here, trying to divide and break up the church with objections to the visions and a few other points. A few had been affected by him and were having opposition meetings, though they were not at all satisfied with his doctrines. These had embraced the truth under our labors, and were very near and dear to us. They again attended our meetings, and saw that the good Spirit and blessing of God were there. I visited and talked with them, and answered their objections as far as I could learn them. Finally we all came together and spent all day hearing and answering objections, giving the history of that party, the men who have engaged in it, &c. Then we called on these brethren to know how they felt. One after another arose and confessed themselves fully satisfied or greatly relieved. As they began to confess their way back, the good, melting Spirit of God was felt, tears flowed freely, the brethren broke down and made a full surrender. We all wept together and embraced each other, and praised God for joy. Every one returned who had been with us before. Five were added to the church. To God be all the glory. Vermont Church Meetings and Visits, Winter 1872
By A. C. Bourdeau
After Nov. 4, 1872, I continued holding meetings and visiting in East Charleston over the next Sabbath and first-day. Some were hindered from attending these meetings in consequence of the epizootic among horses. Nov. 16, held three interesting meetings with the church at home. The attendance was large. Enjoyed freedom in speaking the word, and the testimonies which were given in quick succession, were cheering to all present. The next week, spent three days at West Bolton. Sabbath, held three preaching meetings and one social meeting. Sunday, organized the church in working order, relative to the Missionary and Tract Society, and preached once, Monday evening. Four weeks previous to that time, Eld. Hutchins had moved away from West Bolton, and the clergy in the place had taken the opportunity of his absence to hold protracted meetings for three weeks, having, as their object, to crush down the Sabbath-keepers in that vicinity; but their effort failed to meet their purpose, as it resulted in leading one more to embrace the Sabbath, and another one fully resolved to keep the whole truth. The next Sabbath and first-day, Bro. Bean and I met with the few friends in Huntington. A severe snow-storm hindered them and ourselves from attending a meeting in Starksborough, at that time, as we had designed to do. A sister in H. told us then how she had sent copies of the REVIEW and several small tracts to her sister in Waterbury, who in reading them had become interested in the truth, and had embraced the Sabbath. Dec. 6-8, attended the quarterly Tract and Missionary meeting for the first district, at Bordoville. Held six meetings. The business meeting was deeply interesting. A good start was made in pledging for the health book fund, and for the poor fund, and several good reports were handed in which showed that some had tried to labor in the missionary field. Yet there are many more who should take an active part in this work. A hard snow-storm and very cold weather made it impracticable to hold meetings in Berkshire, Dec. 10, and in Richford, the 11th, as I had arranged. Dec. 14 and 15, attended the quarterly meeting for the second district, in East Charleston. On account of deep snow and stormy weather, not many of the old friends of the cause from Irasburgh and vicinity were present; yet we had a good attendance of the new friends of the cause. Two were buried in baptism by my brother, and others are expected to be baptized soon. Bro. Hutchins was present and aided in preaching the word. Arranged to have him fill my appointment for Sutton, the next Wednesday; and I spent five days in visiting families in West Charleston, Brownington, Irasburgh, Eden, and Johnson, soliciting means and pledges for benevolent purposes, encouraging the brethren to pay their pledges on S. B. up to Jan. 1, 1873, and to renew their figures for the ensuing year, &c. Sabbath, Dec. 21, held two preaching meetings and one social meeting, in Wolcott. The cold weather prevented our holding a business meeting, the next day, for the third district. Since then, have received a full report from the agent in that district. Dec. 28 and 29, Bro. L. Bean and I, accompanied by Bro. and sister W. J. Cross, attended the quarterly meeting for the fourth district, in Bristol. Several new friends of the cause were present from Starksborough, Huntington, Richmond, and Shelburn, a distance of from seventeen to twenty-five miles, who enjoyed the meetings much. Four united with the church. The next Wednesday, held a profitable meeting at Bro. R. M. Pierce’s, in Andover, and Sabbath and first-day, Jan. 4 and 5, 1873, held seven meetings in Jamaica. These were our most important meetings. This is next to the largest church in Vermont. While several persons there may be reckoned as being true friends of the cause, it is evident that the enemy has been working through certain influences to cause division in that church, and to lead some to take positions, and to advocate views that are opposed to some of the fundamental principles of present truth. We have reason to believe that God did assist by his Spirit, as we tried to work in these meetings. While the remnant church in this closing work of reform are trying to walk in the light that shines on their pathway, step by step, the only safe way for us is to try to keep pace with the body. Let us not be “of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Nearly twenty-five dollars were raised for benevolent purposes, and several became members of the Tract and Missionary Society by the payment of one dollar each. Bro. Bean’s help was appreciated in these meetings. On our way home, last Tuesday evening, we enjoyed a good season at the house of Bro. Dr. Tagart, in Shelburn, with Bro. Tagart, Basford, and Fletcher, and their families, three of whom have recently embraced the Sabbath by reading our publications, and are all searching after the truth. In looking over the field, we find that since last spring over forty new ones have embraced the Sabbath in this State. My brother and I design now to interest ourselves, for several weeks, under the management and advice of the President of the S. D. A. P. Association, in translating and helping to prepare works to be published in French. A. C. BOURDEAU. Bordoville, Vt., Jan. 10, 1873. Vergennes, Mich.
By E. Van Deusen
The quarterly meeting for the churches of Orleans, Bushnell, Orange, Greenville, and Vergennes, was held at Orleans, Sabbath and first-day, Jan. 4 and 5. Brethren were present from all the above-named churches. Although the weather on Friday, toward the close of the day, was severe, the wind and snow blowing at times so as almost to blind us, yet a goodly number were present. Sabbath morning, Bro. Strong spoke to us from Gal. 6:2. A social meeting followed, in which nearly all took part. At 6 o’clock, evening, another conference meeting of an hour’s length was held, after which Bro. Strong occupied an hour. First-day morning, at 9 o’clock, met again for prayer and conference. All expressed a desire to make advancement the year to come, in the things of God. At 10 o’clock, Bro. King called us to order, after which verbal reports were heard from those engaged in tract and missionary labor. An hour was spent in this manner, when reports from visiting brethren were called for. Perhaps a word of explanation might not be out of place here, as all the readers of the REVIEW may not understand what is meant by “visiting brethren.” At each quarterly meeting, there are two brethren chosen from each of the above-named churches, to visit a designated sister church in the interval between quarterly meetings. This is so arranged, if possible, as to have an elder and lay member, in order to have the ordinances. This breaks the monotony of the meeting, gets some members from home, and gives the church from which they are drawn a chance to act without their leader, once in three months, at least. Sometimes it is necessary to send two lay members. In such case the church will not have the ordinances, unless the church visited have an ordained elder. Thy Will Be Done.
By A. M. L.
To be able to say this with genuine submission to God at all times, is an attainment which perhaps few of us have yet reached. It is, however, the standard at which we are aiming—a standard that must be reached before we can be truly overcomers, or walking in the light as he is in the light. Our own wills naturally reach after temporal things—things of this world; that seem desirable to our comfort or pleasure, which bring no reward, only in obtaining present gratification. But yielding ourselves to God’s will, by seeking first the kingdom of Heaven, we shall find ourselves in the way to eternal life, and shall experience a joy55 known only to those who have obtained a victory in this direction through rich grace. When buffeted and torn by the enemy, and almost ready to sink in the deep waters of affliction; when, with David, we can say, “All thy waves have gone over me,” we begin to cast about us and ask, “Is there not a cause?” By reflection on our past motives, and course, and present standing, and comparing with the unerring rule of God’s word, alas! that our own sins have brought the chastisements upon us to stop us in our ignorant wanderings from the right path—the path of self-denial and of duty, the only way to the favor of God. With a heart all smitten by that just and good law that is so exceeding broad—a spirit of contrition that melts before him for our waywardness, and a love to him for his long-suffering and compassion toward us, we again humble ourselves in his sight, as it becomes us to do. We confess our faults, and in all our weakness and ignorance cast ourselves on the never-failing mercy of God in Christ Jesus, and find the help we shall surely obtain at the foot of the cross; and no where else will Jesus be made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Oh! thank God! there is a balm in Gilead; there is a physician there. Come, O, come, friends, and try this marvelous helper, cast our care upon him, and so find rest—a rest that is akin to that sweet rest in Heaven. By following this rule, we shall by and by come to feel that it is more than our meat and drink to do our kind Father’s will. The world is full of care:
I long to find some garden of repose,
Where hedges thick and green shall round me close,
And balsams fill the air. The world is full of woe,
Its narrow streets are choking with the dust,
Where beggars scramble for a wretched crust,
And clamour as they go. The world is full of sin:
Poor human hearts are crushed and overborne;
But most I feel my own, and weep and mourn
For that which burns within. O sin, and woe, and care!
God help us to arise and cast aside,
In the strong help of him who loved and died,
These burdens of despair! Mitchell Co., Iowa.
By E. Milne
Perhaps some will be interested to know how we are progressing in this part of Iowa. At the time Eld. Sanborn was with us, we were organized into a prayer and social meeting. This was all he could do at that time as most of the brethren were using tobacco, which must be overcome. The names of twenty-two were on the list, who vowed to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; besides one or two others that we hoped would soon join us. In June, we were taken under the watch-care of the Minnesota Conference (as we are situated in the northern part of Iowa). In the latter part of July, Bro. Grant was here laboring, and visiting us at our homes for more than a week, which encouraged and benefited us much; for the enemy had been working upon the minds of some, to draw them away from the truth. Others had moved away, and our numbers were so few that we had become somewhat discouraged and careless. Soon after, Bro. Washburn and wife visited our church (or meetings), not knowing that we had joined the Minnesota Conference. We had several good meetings. We would thank Eld. Washburn for his labors among us, he coming from the Iowa Conference. We have kept together and done as well as we could. One or two who professed the Advent faith have brought reproach upon the cause by not keeping the Sabbath holy. We were in this condition when Eld. Canright came here. He was with us last Sabbath and first-day, and organized us into a society of ten members, with proper officers. We have never had the ordinances; and did not, at that time, because it was very stormy, and we were unprepared. None use tobacco now. It was hard for some to overcome, which has kept us down; and now that it is removed from our midst, we all feel much freer. We see a difference in our meetings. None stay back because they are using that noxious weed, and so are unfit to testify, or bow in prayer. The elder could only stay until Monday, and the roads being much blocked with snow, he thought best not to have meetings at the school-house at Otranto, hence he remained at Bro. Sutherland’s, and the Sabbath-keepers that could get out met there and remained till the meetings were over. We would all thank Bro. and sister Sutherland for their hospitality, as it enabled several to be there that otherwise could not have been. We have since learned that the Disciple minister at Otranto was ready to question Eld. Canright, or discuss the Sabbath question. We raised our S. B. to $89.96 (it was about $76.00 last year), and donated to Conference $17.00. We are few in numbers, but let us try more earnestly, brethren and sisters, to work for the Lord. I am determined to work and sacrifice more than I have done, for I feel that time is short, and I am very destitute of everything needful to prepare me for a home with Christ. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you.”—1 Pet. 4:12. God has ordained that through much tribulation we shall enter his kingdom. Having sinned, it is best that we should taste some of its bitter fruits, that we may learn to highly prize the redemption purchased for us through Christ. Lest the dangers in anticipation should appall us, we are cited to those who have gone before us, as examples of suffering affliction and patience, and discover that in no instance have the promises of God failed to those who have complied with their conditions. Of Jacob, the Lord has said, I have “chosen him in the furnace of affliction;” of Christ, “he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver;” and of his own work in redemption, “I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Has the reader suffered the loss of children, the infidelity of a companion, or the loss of property? Job was deprived of all these at one fell stroke; and while you weep in remembrance of your grief, copy his language of holy resignation, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Do you suffer bodily pain? and do friends reproach you? read his words of burning eloquence, when all earthly hope had failed: “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Do you feel that you are a stranger here? and do you suffer persecution for Christ’s sake? Study the history of those who, for truth’s sake, suffered trial of cruel mocking and scourging; suffered bonds and imprisonments; were tempted, tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. The Captain of our salvation is not one who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities—he drank the bitter cup of human woe; he bore our sicknesses; he suffered our reproach. “When he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not.” “If they have persecuted me,” said he, “they will also persecute you.” “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name’s sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in Heaven.”—JESUS. “But my trials,” say you, “are of such an ordinary character, that I cannot claim the promise in the text.” Behold, in this, the work of a cunning enemy. He dare not attack you openly; for he knows that you would be prepared to meet him; but he makes use of trivial circumstances to torment you, and you know it not. Every one of these afflictions may be sanctified to your good. Fiery trial! We draw back, instinctively, from the flame; but faith will reveal to us the form of the fourth, like unto the Son of God, walking with us in the fire. When sanctified, they prove to be light afflictions after all, being finally exchangeable for an eternal weight of glory. The scope of our mental vision is too circumscribed to comprehend the glory of Heaven. Enough that God has promised it, and that our redemption draws near. “I’m willing to be cleansed,
And bear the daily cross:
I’m willing to be purged
From every kind of dross.
I see the fiery furnace,
And feel its cleansing flame;
The fruit of it is holy,
The gold will still remain.”