p. 7 | Review and Herald, Vol. 40, No. 1. (6/18/1872)

The Two Mites.

As the simple story of the “two mites” has come down to us through the ages, how many disciples has it cheered and encouraged!

When the poor widow passed in behind the rich and great, whose offerings resounded in her ears, no doubt she felt ashamed of her paltry gift, and perhaps hurried out of sight, as unworthy to stand among the rich and generous throng who crowded about the treasury.

As she disappeared from the crowd on her way to her obscure home, she knew not, and probably never discovered to the end of her life that she had been pronounced by the great Judge of all the earth the most bountiful giver of the day. She little imagined that she acquired a sacred fame that would accompany the gospel wherever it should be preached in all time, and make her an object of interest throughout eternity.

She may have mourned her meager gift, as she heard of the honored women who were able to give of their substance for our Lord’s support, yet her two mites have possibly done more to stimulate the spirit of almsgiving in the church, than any sum of money ever bestowed.

How it would have brightened her home of poverty had she known that her Lord had considered her gift of sufficient importance to call his disciples about him, and point her out as a munificent giver.

The poor disciple is apt to forget that her act of generosity is as much seen and appreciated by the Lord to-day, as in that far-off time when he sat “over against the treasury.” As he looks from Heaven upon the contributions in the churches, no doubt he often fondly says, “This poor widow hath cast in more than they all.” Let the poor disciple feel his heart warmed by the smiles of his Lord, and know that his humble offering, if it does not bring him world-wide fame, is doing a work for Christ, the influence of which shall never cease.—Sel.

A Costly Trinket.

A CHRISTIAN woman who had with much earnestness sought to do the will of God, was at one time convinced by the Holy Spirit that a certain ornament which she wore upon her person was not becoming in a follower of the Son of God. Instead of yielding at once to this inward monitor which had only echoed the utterances of the Holy Scriptures, she doubted and hesitated, and finally persuaded herself that she was mistaken in her convictions, and continued on, doing as she had done before.

This course naturally led to spiritual darkness and declension; and whenever her soul was aroused to attain to a higher and holier Christian experience, this same trifle came up before her as an obstacle; and she was still unwilling to lay it aside.

Five years were spent in this state of bondage and neglect of duty, until she at length determined she would “lay aside every weight,” and fully follow the Lord; and putting off the ornament which had so long ensnared her, she yielded her will in all things to divine control.

Shortly afterward, she carried this little bauble to a lapidary to ascertain its value, and learned, to her surprise and mortification, that the ornament to which she had clung so long, and for which she had suffered so much, was neither “gold, nor silver, nor pearls, nor costly array,” but a little, contemptible, catch-penny trifle, worth only a few pence, and so utterly cheap and vain, that her pride, if nothing else, would have scorned to wear it had she known its real worthlessness. And she had the shame and mortification of thinking that for five long years, she, a child of God, had allowed that little paltry “bauble,” only fit to adorn a painted squaw, to stand as a shadow and a hindrance to bar her from the fellowship of Him who loved her with an everlasting love.

The Scotchman, who, by mistake, put a silver half-crown instead of the intended penny into the collector’s plate, and, after seeking in vain to get it back, comforted himself with the thought, “Aweel, I’ll get credit for it in Heaven,” was told, “Nae, you’ll only get credit for a penny.”

But this poor woman would have all the credit, as she had received all the sorrow, of years of disobedience, while after all she found herself cheated and fooled at the end.

Is it not so with everything by which men are seduced from God? Satan’s bargains are bad enough, but he never fulfills any of his pledges, and makes us fulfill all of ours. And the goods he professes to give us, when delivered, prove to be so mean, that so far from selling our birthright for them, we would be fools to take them as a gift.

How much better to yield ourselves wholly to the Lord for time and for eternity.—The Christian.

To the Tried and Lonely.

A SISTER writes from Whitehall, N. Y.: I feel my heart more especially drawn out to those dear sisters who meet with opposition, persecution, and even abuse, from their companions in life; for I have known more of it than I can tell. But I have learned by this experience to trust the Lord to the last extremity, even when death stared me in the face. The Lord did not spare me from the trial, but when he has tried me and proved me, he has never failed in any instance to calm the angry billows of persecution and stay the arm of cruelty.

This is the way, dear sisters, the Lord is taking to test us, and to teach us to exercise faith and trust. We know more of the love and faithfulness of God toward his individual creatures, than they whose “lives a peaceful tenor keep,” Then let us keep near the mercy-seat, and perform every duty and faithfully wait until the Lord sees that we need no more purging. “Then we shall come forth as gold.”

I must not neglect to say a word in regard to the state of our little band here in Whitehall. The dear brethren who have occasionally visited us have done us much good, and I trust that some at least appreciate their labors. Last August, our dear father was baptized into the sufferings and death of our Lord, by Bro. C. O. Taylor; and we have had great encouragement given us lately by one more commencing to keep the Sabbath of the Lord.

It was by the reading of our good paper that this dear sister was led to flee to the stronghold for safety, and begin to keep the down-trodden law, that she might be hid in the secret of the “Lord’s pavilion,” in the time of trouble. She desires baptism.

Judge Nothing.

By Christian

The best have their failings, and the worst may have something worthy of esteem. Good men also have enemies, and bad men are not without their friends. Even the grave of the vile Nero, over whose death all Rome rejoiced, was covered with flowers by some unknown but loving hand. Learn then not to worship the best, nor despise the worst, of our race. “Honor all men” as the creatures of the Most High; and though all have sinned, it is not for babes like us to climb the awful judgment-seat of God, and deal damnation upon others, who may err or go astray. Knowing our own hearts, with all their sins, and needs, and sorrows, we may well extend to all around that pitying charity which we have so greatly needed, and which God has so freely given.—Christian.

Blessed Land Beyond the Skies

BLESSED be God there is one place where death is not life's brother, where life reigns alone, and “to live” is not the first syllable which is to be followed by the next, “to die.” There is a land where the death knells are never tolled, where winding sheets are never woven, where graves are never dug. Blest land beyond the skies. To reach it, we must be prepared. Are we?

Appointments.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Kickapoo Center, the first Sabbath and first-day in July; Victory, the first Sabbath and first-day in August; Liberty Pole, the first Sabbath and first-day in September. These are to be quarterly meetings for Vernon Co., Wis., and are to be held alternately with each church upon the first Sabbath and first-day in each month. Social meeting to commence Sabbath morning at half past nine o’clock. By order of the church. S. E. Sutherland.

Quarterly meeting for the churches in Hillsdale Co., Mich., at Hillsdale, Sabbath and first-day, July 6 and 7, 1872. The friends of Somerset, and Steuben Co., Ind., are invited to attend this meeting. Cannot some minister attend? By order of the church. J. R. Stone, Clerk.

A two-days’ meeting in Greenwood Co., Kansas, five miles south of Eureka at Bro. Jesse Tomlinson’s, Sabbath and first-day, June 29 and 30. We invite the brethren and sisters of Howard and Butler Counties, and all others who can, to come. Can some minister meet with us? Jacob Yates.

Quarterly meeting of the S. D. Adventists at Hundred Mile Grove, Wis., July 6 and 7, 1872. We hope for a general attendance. N. M. Jordon.

Quarterly meeting at Alajedon June 29 and 30, 1872. We want all the brethren and sisters belonging to the church to be present. We also invite the brethren and sisters at Locke and other churches to meet with us. We very much desire some one of the preaching brethren to be with us at the meeting. D. V. Winne, Clerk.

Missionary and Tract Meeting for District No. 7, at Wright, Mich., June 22 and 23, 1872. Let every member take special pains to be prepared to report at this meeting. Also for District No. 8, at Greenville, Mich., June 29, at which time a report from all the members in that District will be expected. E. H. Root. Pres. Mich. T. and M. Society.

To the Brethren in Illinois.

By R. J. Whitham; Seth Newton; R. F. Andrews

DEAR BRETHREN: We wish to call your attention to the financial condition of our Conference. The following are the facts in the case:—

Nearly $500.00 of the Systematic Benevolence pledged for last Conference year is unpaid.
As a consequence there is due the ministers in the employ of the Conference $245.00 of the small compensation allowed them.
For lack of means we could only pay the traveling expenses of the laborers sent us by the General Conference to attend our Camp-meeting and Conference, thus forcing them to make a draft upon the General Conference fund, for compensation for their time, if they have any.
We are in debt for our new tent $105.00 borrowed money.
Both our tents are in the field and not one dollar in the treasury to meet current expenses, but, worse still, our Conference actually $350.00 in debt.

In view of these facts, we appeal to you, brethren, to come up to the work like men of God, and relieve the Conference from its embarrassment, and thus help those that are in its employ to meet their obligations.

It is true our Conference is young, and weak financially. Still we do not believe that there is any need of its remaining in its present crippled condition, if all the professed friends of the cause will do their duty. We offer the following suggestions, which we believe, if heeded, will not only bring present relief, but prevent a like difficulty from arising in the future:

Let all those who have not redeemed their past pledges to the Conference immediately do so.
Let all put forth an earnest effort in the future to meet their pledges when due. This is no more than rendering to God the things that are his. If it is but just to meet our obligations to our fellow-men when due, we ought, to say the least, to be as punctual with our God. “Will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me—in tithes and offerings.” Mal. 3:8.
Let our brethren and sisters that are already paying Systematic Benevolence look over their s. B. figures and see if they are as high as they ought to be; and if not, raise them to what they should be.
We invite our scattered brethren and sisters who have heretofore taken no part in this branch of the work of God, to commence in earnest, and help us what they can in our present embarrassed circumstances, and to unite with us in the future, in carrying out the plan of s. B. as practised by our people.
Those who are able, and have a willing mind, we invite to donate to the Conference independent of their s. B., and those who have not yet taken any stock in our new tent, we would earnestly solicit to come right forward with their means and assist in this noble enterprise.

God has said that he “loveth a cheerful giver,” and that “the liberal soul shall be made fat.” “There is that scattereth and yet increaseth, and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” Every man shall be rewarded “as his work shall be.”

We close by calling your attention to a resolution touching this subject passed at our Conference. See minutes of Conference when published in Review.

All remittances should be sent to the Conference treasurer, Ivory Colcord, Coleta, Whiteside Co., Ill.

Come now, brethren, let us work while we have opportunity.

R. J. Whitham, } Ill. Conf. Seth Newton, } Committee. R. F. Andrews,

Collecting on Periodicals.

By John Norton Loughborough

THOUGHTS FOR MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

For some weeks I have thought of saying something on this topic. The thoughts I wish to suggest are brought to mind by difficulties we have met here in collecting delinquencies of subscribers to whom the papers have been sent by persons residing in other States.

In attempting to gain a clean list in this State, we find names we do not know, and, on writing to them, ascertain that they do not know where the paper came from, and they tell us “they don’t want the paper.” Now whatever good might be accomplished by sending a paper to a friend, it certainly tends to spoil all the good impression, after receiving the paper unsolicited, to be followed with a dun, though expressed in the mildest terms possible. In sending papers to our friends, why not inform them that we are sending them, with the request that they read them? In nine cases out of ten they will then be read with still greater interest.

As a sample of several cases in this State, I will give extracts from two letters received. The first was a case that was one volume behind. He says:

“Permit me to say that some one, I don’t know who, had your paper sent to me; and while I appreciate their kind intentions I do not appreciate the paper; for I never read it . . . . I do not wish the paper. Inclosed please find the amount claimed ($1,00). J. L. B.”

While this one seems to appreciate “the situation,” of the publishers, and pays for his paper, the next one does not. He says:

“I never signed for that paper, nor know who did. If M. S. Kellogg signed for that paper, he did it without my knowledge or permission, If M. S. Kellogg signed for it, M. S. Kellogg must pay for it. We never wanted the paper. You will do me a great favor to stop that paper. S. S.”

Had such a case as this been followed up, it might have been ascertained before the expiration of the subscription whether the paper was wanted, and thus $1,00 saved to the publishing association in not allowing the paper to get six months behind.

The publishing interest of S. D. Adventists is one, and concerns all the States equally. The object is not simply that each of our States may present a clean list, but that the whole list of the papers shall appear without any delinquencies; and this state of things will be effected in due time, with care and perseverance on the part of all. Our greatest difficulty in this State has been in collecting from strangers, at distant points, who have received their papers from parties in other States. Our State fund paid last year some $30,00 on just such cases who refused to pay, or never responded to letters, and we shall still follow it up, till all stands square on the list. But as I suggested once before—in the Reformer—we can render material aid to each other in this matter. As President of the missionary society on this coast, I have adopted the following plan: that all our people in this State when sending our periodicals to any part of the world inform me of that fact. I have before me now a list of all the papers sent by parties in this State to any other State, Territory, Province, or Kingdom, with the name of the person sending, and the date of their subscription. At least once a month this list is looked over, and parties who have sent to other parts inquired of to know what about the papers they sent, and whether they shall be still continued at their expense, or discontinued. Thus we are working on lists in other States at the same time we are working on our own.

It is not for me to dictate to other States, but the thought was in my mind to suggest that if such a course were pursued in each State, and still further, if the Secretary of this State informed other States through their secretaries what papers this State was responsible for in those States, it might save some unpleasant feelings in some cases. And so also if other States did the same by us, we might be mutual helpers to each other in this matter. I simply suggest these thoughts to those who have led out in missionary societies, and who still have the matter in hand. Desiring success to the cause in all departments.

J. N. Loughborough.

Business Department.

Not slothful in Business. Rom. 12:11.

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 receipted pays—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Posters. If money to the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.

$1.00 EACH. Wm L Stiles 41-9, B F Merritt 40-9, Sarah Towle 41-1, M A Beasley 41-1, S H Hewes 41-1, L B Kneeland 41-1, Mrs I H Archer 41-1, L E Orton 40-22, P B Allen 41-1, Phebe Vedder 40-1, S A Cole 41-1, Asa Hayes 41-1, Mary Burrall 41-1, Samuel Ives 41-1, A F Fowler 40-22, Martin Adsit 41-20, Clara & S McCorkle 42-21, A Hopkins 41-1.

$1.50 EACH. Niels R Back 41-14, Matilda Atherton 42-1, A Kizer 42-1, W Brown 42-1, J Magill 42-1, F Bisgrove 42-1, G W Buck 42-1, E D Buck 42-1, A Munson 42-1, C L Goodrich 42-1, John F Keyes 42-1, Reuben Balyeat 42-1, Judge McGavern 42-1, John Drake 42-1, Mrs V Nutting 42-1, Margaret Matthews 42-1, G C Drew 42-1, Ezekiel White 42-1, Mary Lyon 42-1, M J Bennett 42-1, Geo E Perkins 42-1, Lena Stafford 42-1, Phebe Buchanan 42-1.

$2.00 EACH. O Mears 42-1, J F Frauenfelder 39-1, Hannah Bennett 40-9, Mrs L Carright 43-1, Henry Hems 42-1, S A Craig 42-1, Isaac C Choate 41-20, O D Washburn 42-1, Albert Sweet 41-24, M Phinney 41-9, A Shumen 33-20, John West 41-22, M W Steer 42-1, R D Hackett 42-1, Daniel Bowe 41-22, J G Satterlee 42-1, M E Reynolds 42-4, G Hodges 42-1, Mrs Sylvester Tubbs 42-1, Wm Potter 42-4, J Philbrick 41-13, S B Verplanck 42-1, W E Newcomb 41-1, A M Brown 31-1, M Aderton 40-5, S Alchin 42-1, Seth Sprague 41-1, Anna Bommen 41-17, J Holiday 42-1, Robert Williams 42-1, R L Wilson 42-1, Wm E Allchin 41-1, N B Morton 42-1, Donald Warren 42-1, I N Russell 42-1, Caleb B Chase 40-1, Augusta Becker 41-24, A J Gardner 41-12, Louisa Mann 44-1, J F Klostermyer 41-23, Maggie Stroud 40-1, C M Saxton 42-1, Miles Pepper 40-5.

Miscellaneous.

F Ramsey 30c 40-1, William R Myers 75c 41-1, J P Hunt 50c 39-14, B G Allen $1.60 41-16, A B Castle 2.50 42-2, Thomas Thornton 60c 40-21, Horace Gardner 2.16 42-1, F H Clymer 40c 40-1, Solomon Brown 75c 42-11, E O Hammond 3.00 41-23, L M Showers 75c 40-1, M A Walker 75c 40-22, A F Stickney 4.00 42-1, G W Chamberlain 4.00 41-1, C Herrick 3.50 41-14, Susan L Tracy 75c 41-1, C Houser 1.30 40-1, J M Rima 1.80 40-1, N Morse 28c 40-1.

Books Sent by Mail.

R T Trall $1,00, C VanDusen 25c, R M Johnson 10c, Nellie Chick 20c, Pierce Hacket 50c, John Drake 10c, Wm Boynton 1.20, John Hanlon 10c, J S Brookes 25c, Richard Handy 20c, Chester Lawrence 15c, Mrs H Richenbach 75c, Mary Houser 30c, A D Ray 10c, Franklin Squire 50c, Mrs R S Whitney 1.00, M Borden 60c, Walter Lightcap 52c, A M Mann 50c, R Balyeat 10c, Mrs Ethan A Shelby 20c, Mary Mansfield 50c, John N Clay 1.50, J N Loughborough 16.92, Geo W Kenedy 3.06, Eld A Warren 40c, Donald Warren 40c, Jerusha Wisel 1.00, C E Buck 1.25, J P Henderson 2.00, J F Klostermyer 4.50, M S Burnham 1.75, Wm Cottrell 1.00, N P Drake 20c, M Enoch 1.00, Mrs N Dennison 25c, M W Steer 20c, A S Graves 50c, Judge McGavern 10c, Mrs B Rucker 25c, I Sanborn 25c, E Whittemore 25c, A D Smith 60c, O W Austin 2.00, I W Barker 1.25, Nellie M Pugh 32c, Ewing Summers 25c, A Hopkins 10c, J H Swain 1.00, Fanny Longmate 50c.

Shares in Health Institute.

D W Bartholomew $25.00, Daniel Bowe 50.00, P Z Kinne 25.00, Lucy M Kinne 20.00, Sybil Whitney 25.00, Wm Kerr 25.00.

Donations to Health Institute.

E W Hutchins $5.00.

Shares in Publishing Association.

P Z Kinne $50.00, Lucy M Kinnie 50.00, Elizabeth Kinne 20.00, B L Whitney 10.00, E H Whitney 10.00.

Cash Received on Account.

P Z Kinne $2.01, J L Baker 11.00.

General Conference Fund.

E Lobdell $28.00, H D Soule (s. b.) 12.00, R D Benham 60c.

Review to the Poor.

Chas E Buck 75c, Fanny Longmate 1.00.

Donations to S. D. A. P. Association.

Interest on pledges from church at Kirkville $7.15.

Michigan Conference Fund.

Church at Bushnell $21.50, Newton 18.60.

Books Sent by Express.

J E Titus, Leslie, Mich., $4.74, Reuben H Holladay, West Monroe, Oswego Co., N. Y., via. Oneida, 11.00. Eld. I. Sanborn, Lodi, Columbia Co., Wis., 12.17. H Lamson, Almont, Lapeer Co., Mich., 16.00.

Books Sent by Freight.

Eld. I. Sanborn, Lodi, Columbia Co., Wis., $51.09, Eld. J N Loughborough, San Francisco, Cal., 153.67.

Book Fund.—$10,000 Wanted.

Amount previously acknowledged.—$4916.01.

Ten Dollars Each. Samuel H Haskell.

Five Dollars Each. R D Benham.

Miscellaneous. A friend, 75cts.

Superstition in High Places.

JAMES GORDON BENNETT, the founder of the New York Herald, died June 1, in the 70th year of his age. By pandering to low public tastes, he built up an enormous newspaper business, and reaped a harvest of gold. He was a Roman Catholic; and the following farcical folly is recorded touching the close of his career:

“The Roman Catholic priest, of the church near Mr. Bennett’s residence, and to which Mr. B. had contributed $5,000, bore his testimony on Sunday morning:

“‘It is a great consolation to us all to know that Mr. Bennett was a true and zealous believer in the Holy Church, an earnest Christian. While his mind was perfectly clear and unclouded, he of his own accord sent for Archbishop McCloskey, who at Mr. Bennett’s express desire and wish administered the sacrament with extreme unction. Up to the moment of his death, he appeared resigned to God’s will, and happy. Mr. Bennett had long worn the “scapula,” but since he was stricken with paralysis, six months ago, desired to possess the “sacred heart” also. The “sacred heart,” which is so commonly worn by the disciples of our Church, is symbolical. To the true believer, its significance is great, but by the unbeliever, it is regarded with contempt, as a bundle of rags having no meaning. Mr. Bennett’s soul, like that of every one, must endure some suffering as an expiation. For no mortal, however pure, noble, and truly faithful to the Church, has at all times escaped sin. I therefore call upon all good and true Christians to offer up prayers to the Throne of Grace, that his release may be speedily effected and his soul enter those realms of perfect repose and happiness only accorded to the just made perfect.’”

These prayers will be offered, masses will be said, and money will be paid, to get Mr. Bennett’s soul out of purgatory. And this, too, in the last half of the 19th century, and in reference to a man who stood at the head of one of the largest newspaper establishments of this country, and who should therefore have allowed his intelligence, if nothing else, to correct such folly and superstition. How must Heaven look upon the foul legions of unscriptural dogmas which Satan has foisted into, and caused to be believed and preached and practiced under the name of Christianity!

Future Labors.

By James White

We design to remain in the West till the time of the Eastern Camp-meetings. We hope to be able to be at these meetings then attend the S. D. Baptist General Conference the second week in September, on our way to California.

We need a team and carriage to ride out in this beautiful country for health, and to meet with our brethren in different parts of eastern Iowa and western Illinois, and do not wish to purchase till we return from California. Who will give us the use of a team and carriage for a few weeks while we remain in this land of horses and carriages? Address us at Washington, Iowa. JAMES WHITE.

Testimony to the Church.—No. 21.

By James White

THE twenty-first number of Testimonies to the Church is now ready. It contains 200 pp. Price, post-paid, 25c. JAMES WHITE.

Sabbath-School Lessons.

By James White

In all our Sabbath-schools the want of proper lessons for youth and children of different ages has been deeply felt. We are happy to announce that the first volume of “Progressive Bible Lessons for Children, to be used in Sabbath-schools and families—By G. H. Bell,” is now ready. It contains 208 lessons of the greatest interest and importance. It has a full table of contents, and valuable suggestions to superintendents, parents, and teachers. One copy, or more, should be in every family. Price, post-paid, 25 cents. JAMES WHITE.

Wanted Poetry, Reports, and Articles for the Review

Wanted, for the present volume of the Review, which commences with this number, about one hundred pieces of living soul-inspiring poetry on the great themes pertaining to our faith and hope; not less than two hundred reports of the progress of the cause, and about seven hundred short, pointed, and stirring articles on the second coming of Christ and its kindred truths.

Mental Culture in the Pulpit

N.B. One article in this number will be read by all. It is Bro. Butler's article on Mental Culture in the Pulpit, on the first page.

Long Meter Hymn Music Adapted to Hymnal

We give this week an excellent piece of music, long meter, double, adapted to several hymns of that meter in our hymn book. The words printed with the music, are found in our hymn book, on p. 266.

The Review and Herald.

By Editor

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