I ARRIVED at home from the General Conference, May 22, and remained until the 29th. During this time I spoke once to the church at Princeville, on the subject of “Vows,” from Ps. cxvi, 18. I think some good will be the result. Dear brethren, let us “pay our vows now in the presence of all his people.” The 29th and 30th, went to Clyde, Ills., to attend the Ills. and Wis. State Conference. The 31st to June 3d, engaged in Conference matters pertaining to the cause of present truth. The 4th and 5th, traveling home. This meeting will long be remembered by me, having there received ordination to preach the “everlasting Gospel.” Oh, may I ever be faithful to the charge there committed to “preach the word.” Dear Saviour, let me have thy grace, so that I may be a humble minister of thy cause.
Remained at home until the 27th; during this time I had the measles, but had them very light. This is to be attributed to the Health Reform. What a blessing it will be to us if we will only live it out.
June 27th, started by railroad to attend the Quarterly Meeting at Johnstown Center; here I met with Bro. Sanborn and Matteson. We all tried to bear our humble part in the preaching of the word to the believers. The most of this church we think are trying to get the victory over their sins, and to keep pace with the message. Though we fear some are looking back and lusting after the fleshpots of Egypt. To such we say, “Remember Lot’s wife.” See also the following Scriptures: Luke ix, 62, Heb. vi, 4-6, x, 26, 39; 2 Pet. ii, 22.
July 1, started for Mackford, to attend their Quarterly Meeting the 6th and 7th. Stopped on my way two days with the church at Oakland, visited some with them and held one meeting. May the Lord bless his people here, is my prayer.
Stopped one day at Beaver Dam, and visited sister Shepherd; also visited some brethren at Trempealeau Center. Think there is some work here for Bro. Steward to finish. The friends there want him to come back and preach more, so they can either be for us or against us. Held five meetings with the church at Mackford, and baptized three, two of whom joined the Marquette church.
From the 8th to the 12th, I spent visiting from house to house and praying with the friends, and exhorting them to continue in the faith. 13th and 14th, with the church at Marquette; held four meetings with them. The meetings in these two places will be green spots in the history of my pilgrimage here. We enjoyed freedom in preaching. These churches are trying to humble themselves and go forward with the remnant to Mt. Zion. The Health Reform is being adopted by them. I think they are beginning to reap some of the blessings accruing therefrom, though there is some confusion on the dress-reform. There is such a difference in the style worn by the sisters, that it makes us appear to poor advantage in the eyes of the community. Our sisters want information. I do think there should be uniformity in the pattern of the dress. Why don’t some of the experienced brethren or sisters speak through the Reformer or Review, and let the sisters know just what the reform dress is, how it is cut, &c. Where are the patterns that were to be advertised?
May the blessing of the Lord be with these churches is my prayer.
July 15, took the cars for Rockton, Ill., where I joined Bro. Andrews, to labor jointly for the churches in the Ill. and Wis. State Conference.
Dear brethren and sisters, aid us by your prayers.
H. C. BLANCHARD.
Rockton, July 16, 1867.
ON THE CHOICE OF COMPANIONS
Selected for the Review.
ON THE CHOICE OF COMPANIONS.
Of all the snares to which the Christian is exposed, perhaps the most fatal, the most ruinous, are those which spring from improper companions. These are often Satan’s grand and most successful instruments for entangling and finally destroying some who bid fair for Heaven. To have no intercourse with those who are strangers to religion, is in the present state of things impossible; “for then must we needs go out of the world.” And to seclude ourselves from the world so as to neglect opportunities for doing good to the bodies or souls of those who are perishing around us, would be conduct opposed, both to the precepts and example of the holy Jesus. Yet with equal plainness and solemn authority, the God of the Bible forbids his children selecting their intimate companions and friends from among those who are strangers to his saving grace. The word of God expressly forbids associating with evil companions. “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it and pass away.” “If sinners entice thee, consent thou not. My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path.” “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
As the Most High thus forbids intimate friendship between his children and the followers of the world, so his word abounds with weighty motives for obedience to these commands. It describes those as blessed who avoid irreligious associates. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Separation from the evil is also described as necessary, if we wish to walk in the ways of piety. The Psalmist said, “Depart from me ye wicked men; for I will keep the commandments of my God.” As if he had said, I cannot keep those commandments and associate with you; but I will keep them, therefore we must part. On the other hand to cherish intimate acquaintance with those who are strangers to vital religion is represented as the way to destruction. “A companion of fools shall be destroyed.” The history of Lot affords one of the most striking examples possible of the effects of evil society. When Abraham departed from his country at God’s command, Lot went with him, and probably then was influenced by a similar spirit of devoted piety; but when attracted by the fertility and beauty of the plain of Jordan, he went to dwell there, how dire was the result. Part of his family perished at the burning of Sodom, his daughters infected with the depravity of that guilty city, debased their father by rendering him drunk, and committing with him the most atrocious incest. They became the parents of a guilty and idolatrous race, and he stands upon record a monument of the bitter fruits of plunging into the society of the evil, for the sake of worldly advantage.
But you may inquire, what company is evil? Not that only of the profligate and profane, of the dissolute and abandoned; but that of all those who are strangers to vital piety. The vain, giddy, thoughtless multitude, who disregard the interests of eternity, and live109without God in the world, although moral in their conduct, and amiable in their manners, are associates that would be ruinous to your best interests. There is no snare by which young professors of religion are more likely to be undone than by this. To urge you therefore to shun this snare, consider its numerous evils. Should you make those who are strangers to religion your bosom friends, you will most probably become like them. If they are lewd and debauched, they will gradually lead you to the same guilty excesses. Though at first you may tremble at their abominations, you will by and by join in their revelry, and partake of their crimes. If they are scoffers and infidels, though you may think your faith too firm to be shaken, you will soon find your confidence weaken, your hopes decline, your value of the gospel and religion lessen, and you will go on step by step, till Jesus and salvation forsaken, you sit in the seat of the scorner. But if your companions are of a less openly wicked kind, yet their influence and example will be immensely mischievous to you. Religion will languish and decline. When you see your favorite friends neglecting that one thing needful, and perhaps representing devout attention to eternal things as enthusiasm, you will most probably imbibe their spirit. At first perhaps be silent, then laugh with them at what they deem preciseness, then venture on the sinful follies they call harmless pleasures. Your soul will grow cold and dead to the Saviour and his love. With such companions you will learn to profane your Sabbaths. Devotion will become burdensome, and then perhaps be altogether neglected. Your mind will be alienated from its sacred exercises, and have no longer any relish for its pleasures. Can you imagine that when you have spent your evenings with those whose chief concern seems levity, laughter, and mirth, you can retire to meditate and pray? Ah, no! the duties of devotion will become a burdensome task; its most important exercises dull and tedious; your heart will be estranged from God and fixed upon your beloved but vain and destructive companions. With them, too, you will incur the heavy guilt of wasting many precious hours—hours given you by God to secure a glorious eternal life—hours which are worth more to you than worlds. When you have lost the power of religion, you will probably go on from sin to sin. Perhaps, as thousands have been, you may be drawn into crimes, which may ruin your reputation, blast your prospects, destroy your comforts, or even shorten your days.
If this should not be the case when drawn aside from religion, there will be little hope of your ever enjoying its blessings again. Few backsliders are restored. You may live forsaken of God, with a heart hardened in impenitence; by your example you may be a curse to your children; and at last meet death without hope. Then the hours of sinful pleasure you have spent with your companions will be past; their delights will have reached an eternal close; their laughter at religion and their cheerful songs will be terminated, and all that rendered their intercourse delightful will have come to an eternal end. Then will be fulfilled the dreadful declaration, “The companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Were you sure that you should not be drawn altogether from religion by worldly companions, yet there would be many reasons to forbid such intimacies. All that are strangers to converting grace have the carnal mind, which is enmity against God; and “should you love them that hate the Lord?” Should you take chief pleasure in those, in whose ways God takes no pleasure? Should you find your chief delight in them who have no delight in your Saviour, and in whom he has no satisfaction? Is it right that they should have your heart, while the world has theirs? What though their friendship should not be ruinous to your best interests, yet what pleasure should you find in those who are hastening to eternal death? Shortly there must be a separation between the children of this world and the children of light. It is best for the Christian to begin this separation now. It is best for the Christian to form those friendships now which may be renewed in Heaven, and perpetuated forever.
Choose those, therefore, for your friends, who are the friends of God—friends that will be friends forever . They can sympathize with you in your sorrow—the worldly can only do this in part; they can obtain blessings for you by their prayers—the gay and thoughtless would gain you none, but deprive you of the blessings your own prayers might obtain. They would do you good in your pilgrimage, and you might indulge the comfortable hope of meeting them in Heaven, and of joining them there in all the noble employments and exalted pleasures of that happy, holy place. How much better, how much happier, to travel to Heaven with beloved companions, heirs with you of the grace of life, than to have associates that are without hope, without God, and without Christ! Besides all these motives for shunning evil company, the blessed God has graciously furnished a motive, wonderfully endearing and encouraging. He promises you his own friendship, if you renounce the friendship of the world. When he says, “Come out from among them and be separate,” he graciously adds, “and I will receive you, and be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters.” With such a promise proclaimed to you, can you hesitate whether to choose the friendship of God, or the attachment of some, perhaps amiable, but ungodly, companions? His friendship for eternity, or theirs for an inch of time? His that would bless you with eternal life, or theirs that would rob you of that prize, and sink you in destruction? His favor, that would fill your soul with present peace, and enrich you with blessings that will be enjoyed without intermission through an eternal day of glory; or theirs, which, when it does its utmost, can but please a few short hours with vain mirth that is like a transient blaze, followed by eternal darkness?
Selected for the Review by C. A. O. from Pike’s Guide.
TO THE BRETHREN AND SISTERS OF THE ILL. AND WIS. STATE CONFERENCE.
By R. F. Andrews; H. C. Blanchard
Dear Brethren:—You are doubtless aware of the fact that at our meeting held at Clyde, Ill., June 3d, to take into consideration the distribution of labor, it was there decided that we labor among the churches. Now, what we desire is your spiritual advancement. Of course, we are interested in your prosperity in a worldly point of view; we love to see our brethren live so that God can prosper them. But we have not the interest in this direction that we have in your growth in grace and in the knowledge of the truth; hence, when we come into your midst, it is not for the purpose of consuming time, and learning all about your worldly matters, being put off into your best rooms while your wives and daughters are engaged in preparing a sumptuous feast to satisfy a pampered appetite. Then, instead of entertaining us with how your sheep, calves, and colts are growing, tell us what progress you are making in overcoming your faults, and getting ready for Jesus' coming. We would assure you that this will be a great deal more entertaining to us. We would also prefer spending at least a part of the time in prayer and conversation with your families, rather than to be left alone in your best rooms. Feasting is not our object. Then do not consider that you have not had a visit from us if we do not stay and eat a meal at your table. We ask your sympathy, prayers, and hearty co-operation in trying to build up the Lord's cause in your midst.
We would also call your attention to the fact that the time of our Convocation Meeting, to be held at Johnstown Centre, Rock Co., Wis., is drawing near. We hope you are all making calculations to attend that meeting. Make your calculations to come beforehand, and then see that no trivial excuse will thwart you from your purpose. It is important that every brother and sister come that can. We should be glad to see forty tents on the ground. Brethren living near each other can join and get a tent, and in some places the whole church can club together and get a good large one, to be kept for such occasions. We say again, see to it, that the enemy does not cheat you out of attending this gathering of the saints. If you are discouraged and on the back-ground, come, and be encouraged and revived. If your love for the Lord and his truth is waning away, come, and consecrate yourself anew to his service. If you feel strong in the Lord, come, and grow stronger, and help impart spiritual life and vitality to those that need. And if you think you cannot spare the time, you are the very one that needs to come.
Come, then, praying that the Lord may meet with us, and that we may have a refreshing from his presence.
R. F. ANDREWS.
H. C. BLANCHARD.
Monroe, July 25, 1867.
A Defense of the Sabbath Truth
The brethren abroad will appreciate the logical defense of the Sabbath truth in this paper from the pen of Bro. Littlejohn. May the Lord of the harvest look graciously on his people, and raise up many just such earnest defenders of the faith.
Editorial Notice
The Editor of the Review, and President of the Association, are both absent on a visit while this Number of the paper goes to press, which may account for any lack of congruity in the “make up”—that being left to more inexperienced hands.
John White’s Discourse in Battle Creek
Sabbath, July 27, the church in Battle Creek listened to an animating discourse from Eld. John White, Methodist, of Newark, Ohio, brother of Eld. James White, of Greenville, Mich. Text: “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” Mark x, 52
The Historical Department
By Editor
The Historical Department is more than usually interesting this week. We think Bro. Edson has clearly refuted the disheartening view that the 40 years' sojourn of Israel in the wilderness is to have its antitype this side of 1844. Certainly it would be quite a damper on our faith if we thought seventeen long years must yet roll by before the Master would come. We are sorry also that the reader cannot have the entire article in one paper.
On the Choice of Companions
A worthy article appears in this Number under the heading of, “On the choice of companions.” It is taken from “Pike’s Guide,” a most excellent work for the disciple of Christ. Let all read it—carefully.
News and Miscellany.
Can ye not discern the Signs of the Times? Matt. xvi, 3.
☞ Some foul disease has taken possession of the chicken tribe in some parts of Kendall county, Ill., and chickens are dying by the dozens.
☞ More pork disease has been developed in Springfield, Mass., from eating ham, but no deaths as yet.
—It is said of Senator Wade that he has not eaten dinner for twenty years, believing that two meals a day are enough for any one to eat, and that he always feels better when he only eats twice.
—At the royal palace in Berlin forty thousand wax-candles are instantaneously lighted by a single match. The wicks are previously connected by a thread spun from gun cotton, on lighting one end of which all the candles are lighted simultaneously, and thus the whole of the seven hundred apartments are illuminated at once.
—There are in the Paris Exposition between 42,000 and 43,000 exhibitors. Pocket-compasses are sold in great numbers to assist the wanderers through the vast labyrinth. These compasses have their dials inscribed with a plan of the national divisions of the building, and thus the visitor perceives by his compass the exact direction from his position of any part he may wish to reach.
—Since the 1st of January last 144,336 emigrants from Europe have landed in New York.
—The lower branch of the Connecticut State Legislature has passed a resolution submitting to the people an amendment to the state constitution striking out the word “white.”
—The report that the Osage Indians are on the war-path is confirmed. Col. Leavenworth, Indian agent, has received orders from Washington not to distribute annuity goods until Indian affairs assume a more definite and peaceful shape. A train was recently captured by the Indians, near Fort Larnard. Bishop Lamy, ten priests, and six sisters of charity were of the party. The men were killed, scalped, and horribly mutilated, and the women were carried off as captives by the savages.
—The work of recovering the great desert of Sahara, in Africa, is steadily going on in Algeria under the patronage of Napoleon III., and is accomplished by boring artesian wells. About one hundred wells are now flowing, reclaiming the desert wherever they are, and making the barren wastes blossom into fertile gardens. In the district of Oued Rir, stretching far southward into the desert, there are now thirty-five wells, around which two thousand gardens have been formed and one hundred and fifty thousand date-trees planted. The conquest of the desert is steadily pushed, and with almost universal success, by four military boring brigades, thoroughly equipped and provided with necessary implements.
Impeachment.—In the House, a resolution was adopted instructing the Judiciary Committee to report forthwith all the testimony which has been taken with reference to impeaching the President, and that the same be printed; but before the yeas and nays could be called on an amendment instructing the committee to have printed with the testimony the reports of the majority and minority, the Speaker’s gavel fell, indicating the close of the session.
At half-past four o’clock P. M. on Saturday, both houses of Congress adjourned to the 21st day of November next, at noon.
The Supplemental Reconstruction Bill.—The President having vetoed the Supplemental Reconstruction bill passed last week, the bill was passed over the veto by a two-thirds vote in both houses, and is now a law.
The Reconstruction Appropriation Bill.—The Senate amended the Reconstruction Appropriation bill, reducing the amount from $1,475,000 to $1,000,000; which amendment was concurred in by the House. The bill was vetoed by the President, whereupon both houses passed it over the veto by the constitutional majority.
War Between France and Prussia Again Imminent,—London, July 26—Evening. Much caution is shown by capitalists and business men here, the feeling having become general that the war between France and Prussia is imminent. A private dispatch from Berlin received this evening makes mention of a general opinion there that the war is certain, and adds that Prussia is actively urging forward her preparations for such an event.
Paris, July 20—Evening.—Late Russian journals received here evince the utmost dissatisfaction at the verdict in the case of Berezowski, and the leniency of the sentence imposed upon the attempted assassin of the Czar. Napoleon still continues to buy large numbers of horses for the use of the French army, and the military workmen in the shops in France are overtasked with work.
Frankfort, July 20—Evening.—The remarkable degree of activity noticed in French military workshops, and the continued purchase of horses for the use of the French army have created a great deal of distrust in financial circles here, and fears that war is approaching are openly expressed.
London, July 21. Advices from the Island of Candia, via Athens, report that the Cretans are preparing a squadron of five fire ships with which they intend to attempt the destruction of the Turkish fleet which is supporting the army of Omer Pacha.
Immense Thoroughfares.—The reports of the twelve street railroads in the city of New York show that, during 1866, there were carried upon their roads the immense number of 93,907,682 passengers; being an increase of 11,635,659 over the previous year, and over four times as many as were carried by the four roads in operation in 1857. The average annual increase of the past three years is about 18,000,000. These returns are calculated from the cash receipts; but as it is estimated that from two to five per cent. of the money paid by passengers is absorbed by the employees, over one hundred millions of passengers must have been carried on the street cars last year.
Returning Good for Evil.—In 1792, George Washington, President of the United States, wrote a private letter to Francis II., Emperor of Austria, earnestly pleading for the release of General Lafayette, who had been confined for several years in a loathsome dungeon in the citadel of Olmutz, and entreating that he might be permitted to come to this country. This request of the President was not even replied to, but was treated with contemptuous indifference. Recently the present emperor of Austria appealed to our government to interpose its good offices in favor of his brother Maximilian, emperor of Mexico, whose life was in imminent peril, which appeal was promptly and courteously responded to.
☞ A lady applied to Reynolds, the philanthropist, in behalf of an orphan. After he had given very liberally, she said: “When he is old enough, I will teach him to name and thank his benefactor.” “Stop,” said the good man, “thou art mistaken; we do not thank the clouds for rain. Teach him to look higher, and thank Him who giveth the clouds and the rain.”
☞ The best thing to be done when evil comes upon us, is not lamentation, but action; not to sit and suffer, but to rise and seek the remedy.110
An Unanswerable Question.—The credulous infidels who, unwilling to receive the inspired account of the creation of man, attempt to believe that the human race is developed from the monkey, will have hard work to answer a pertinent question of Professor Agassiz. This distinguished naturalist, in his interesting account of his recent scientific expedition to South America, in noticing the fact that there is no end, not only of monkeys, but of kinds of monkeys, asks, “Why, if as some will have it, man is descended from the monkey, have we not as many races of men as we have of monkeys?”
America at the Paris Exposition.—Notwithstanding the unattractive and meagre display which the United States made at the Paris Industrial Exposition, it appears that in proportion to the number of articles exhibited she has drawn a larger number of first prizes than any other nation; and the greater proportion of the prizes awarded have been on articles of universal utility and importance. A Kentuckian received the reward for the best “harness for the lightning;” a New Jersey firm for “the most complete, rapid, and durable iron-horse;” one Yankee was rewarded for inventing the “best mower;” and another for building the “best reaper.” America furnished not only the best sewing-machine, but the most complete ambulance for practical use on the actual field of battle, and carried off from a thoroughly musical people two prizes for pianos.
Steam Transportation in War.—The wonderful part which railroads play in modern warfare was first manifested in the Crimean campaign, though it was the subsequent Italian war which brought out the fact in its astonishing significance. The Danish hostilities re-iterated the lesson for Europe, and the Prussian war of 1866 crowned the commentary. Yet it is in America, after all, that steam transportation, both by land and sea, has won its greatest triumphs. The recently published report of Gen. Parsons, the chief of rail and river transportation, exposes a marvel of achievement in his department during the war. Take, for example, the transfer of the 23d Army Corps, in January, 1865, from Eastport, Mississippi, to Washington. Twenty thousand men, with all the corps’ artillery and over 1,000 animals, were carried by rail and river from the Tennessee to the Potomac, a distance of nearly 1,400 miles in the dead of winter, over rivers and mountains blocked with snow and ice, in an average time of 11 days—less than 17 days being occupied both by advance and rear guard—and all without the loss of life or property. Such a feat is probably unexampled in history, and it illustrates the enormous influence hereafter to be exerted by the question of transportation in war. This is but one of a numerous series of triumphs recorded in the document just quoted.
The Dominion of Canada.
On July 1st, the Dominion of Canada became an established nationality. It is formed of four provinces: Ontario, formerly known as Upper Canada, with an area of 121,260 square miles; Quebec, heretofore Lower Canada, embracing within its limits 210,020 square miles; New Brunswick, with an area of 27,105 square miles, and Nova Scotia, whose area, including Cape Breton, is 18,660 square miles.
From these estimates, we find that the aggregate area of the four provinces constituting the Dominion of Canada is 377,045 square miles, and it is probable that at no distant day the remaining portions of British America will become incorporated with the Dominion, which will give it, Prince Edward's Island, 2,100 square miles; Newfoundland, 40,200 square miles; British Columbia, 200,000 square miles; Hudson's Bay and Northwest Territories, 2,750,000—making the entire area 3,389,945 square miles.
The population of the Dominion, by the census of 1861, was 3,090,561, of which Ontario contained 1,396,091, Quebec 1,111,566, New Brunswick 252,047, and Nova Scotia 330,857. Of these, 1,372,913 were connected with the Church of Rome, 471,946 were Presbyterians, 465,572 Episcopalians, 431,924 Methodists, 189,080 Baptists, 29,651 Lutherans, 17,757 Congregationalists, and all others 111,718.
In the several provinces we find the denominational relations of the population varying greatly. The Church of Rome had 85 per cent. of the entire population in Quebec, 34 per cent. in New Brunswick, 26 per cent. in Nova Scotia, and 18 per cent. in Ontario.
The Presbyterians formed about 27 per cent. of the population in Nova Scotia, 22 per cent. in Ontario, 14 per cent. in New Brunswick, and 4 per cent. in Quebec.
The Episcopalians were about 22 per cent. in Ontario, 17 per cent. in New Brunswick, 14 per cent. in Nova Scotia, and 6 per cent. in Quebec.
The various branches of Methodists constituted about 25 per cent. of the whole population in Ontario, 10 per cent. in Nova Scotia, 10 per cent. in New Brunswick, and 3 per cent. in Quebec. It is probable that these proportions have somewhat changed since 1861.
The adult male population was estimated at 745,630, who were classified, according to occupation, as follows: farmers, 320,952; laborers, including lumbermen, 209,909; mechanics, 115,272; trade and commerce, 32,619; marines and fishermen, 26,009; professional men, 10,119; miners, 1207; miscellaneous, 30,543.
The nationality of the population of the Dominion of Canada is estimated as follows: About one third of French, one third of Irish, one sixth of Scottish, and one sixth of English descent.
The Government is composed of a Governor-General, a Lieutenant-Governor, and a Parliament composed of Upper and Lower houses. The members of the Upper house, 72 in number, with the Governor-General and the Lieutenant-Governor, are appointed by the British Crown. The members of the Lower House alone, 181 in number, are elected by the people. Lord Monck is appointed Governor-General at a salary of $50,000. Each Province is to have its own Legislature. It will thus be seen that the government of Canada really approximates somewhat that of the United States.