If wine-drinking Christians, and especially ministers, could know the use made of their example by those who seek to drag down the unwary, if they could know how ten thousand demons seem to echo their sentiments in the struggling soul of those whom a single glass means ruin, they would drink no more while the world stands. It may be "manly" to take an occasional glass and sneer at the "weakness" of those who cannot and those who do not, but is it Christian? Reader, let us not judge others, but for ourselves decide and act with reference to such words as are written, Romans 15:1, 14:21, and Matt. 18:6-9.—Christian at Work.
"Fearful to Contemplate."
THIRTY-THREE estimates, carefully compiled, from different parts of the United States, and all brought to harmonize, show the following startling facts:—
There is drank each year, in our government, 561,600,000 gallons of ardent spirits, which, at manufacturing prices, cost the consumers the round sum of $3,841,264,000. It kills 164,062 persons each year, whose days are each shortened ten years, making a total of 1,640,620 years of time; put at $50 per year, this makes 82,031,000. There are 1,523,662 regular or moderate dram drinkers, who lose one-third of their time drinking, and preparing for the drunkard's grave, which is equal to one hundred days to each man in the year, put at 50c. per day, this makes 76,183,100. The total amount of crime costs the government annually $32,528,437, three-fourths of which is caused by ardent spirits 24,396,328. Add cost of pauperism, both public and private, caused by this evil, 21,375,000. Total, 4,045,249,428. —Sel.
RELIGIOUS NEWS AND NOTES.
—Philadelphia has 100 more churches than free schools.
—In China they spend $250,000,000 a year in worshiping their ancestors.
—Of the 137,099 children in the State of Connecticut, 54,377 do not attend Sunday-schools.
—There has been an increase of 470 Roman Catholic priests in England and Scotland since 1867, and convents, monasteries and religious orders have multiplied rapidly.
—The Protestant Episcopal church of the Incarnation has cleared off entirely its debt of $48,000. The Belleville Avenue Congregational church, Newark, N. J., has also provided for its debt of $20,000.
—No new missionaries have been sent out for three years in the Southern Presbyterian church, and during that time the missionary force has been diminished one-third, and the Board closes this year with a debt of $9,000.
—The demand for the five cent Testament issued by the American Bible Society is so great that it led to the issue of 1,000 copies a day throughout the month of May. A new price list has been adopted in which the various publications of the society are greatly reduced. The receipts for May were $24,322.94; copies of Scriptures issued, 104,087.
—The indebtedness of the four principal missionary organizations of this country is as follows: American Baptist Missionary Union, $26,000; Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, $60,000; Reformed Foreign Missions, $28,000; Methodist Missionary Society, $170,000. The other denominations are probably not far behind proportionately, especially in the item of foreign work.
Ever Onward.
LIFE was never made for dreaming,
Stopping here or asking when—
Mere resolves or wordy seeming—
Duty calls for honest men.
Doubting always makes us weaker,
Fear makes cowards of us all;
But the true and earnest seeker
Knows no terror or no fall.
Then gird with bold endeavor,
Ever onward while you may;
Keep your trust and hope forever,
God himself shall guard the way.
—Sel. by M. E C
Naples, Italy.
By H. P. Ribton
Our labors in the hall where for ten months we have called on all to come out of Babylon, and worship Him that made heaven and earth and the sea, have come to a close. We have had to combat with everything that could combine to render our labor unsuccessful. Our hall, the only one that after much searching we were able to get, was badly adapted for a room in which to hold meetings. The hierarchs of the man who has set himself above God, and thought to change times and laws, hold their worship in gorgeous temples, where every day a new god is manufactured, adored with incense, and then eaten. The humble followers of Jesus of Nazareth are considered unworthy even to inhabit the houses of these worshipers, and think themselves fortunate if they can even get an abandoned wine cellar in which they may celebrate the praise of their meek and lowly Master.
Yet in our labors the Spirit of God has been with us, the strong arm of God has upheld and protected us. Our lives have been in danger. Several times our meeting has been broken up by stones and fireworks hurled against and into our hall, and on one occasion, after having come out, there was a manifest evidence of the presence of God's angel with us, without which we would all have been murdered. A young man insulted one of our brethren, and he imprudently retaliated. A hand to hand combat ensued. Our enemies came round us in numbers. They were armed with stones, knives, and revolvers. Sister R. interposed between the combatants and separated them. A drinking house and a Catholic church were opposite our meeting room, and our adversaries had come out of the latter inflamed with wine and fanaticism. A woman urged them against us with wild gestures, and a voice cried out, "Why do we not stone them?" Yet after our brother was dragged away by force from his assailant, we walked calmly past our enemies, and not an arm was raised against us.
In our spiritual contests the presence of our God with us has been not less manifest. I need not recount the violent and persistent opposition we have met with from those who should be our brethren in combating the blasphemies of Babylon the mother, the warnings that have been preached and printed against us, the unjust and untruthful titles conferred upon us; it is the same spirit which everywhere makes war against the apostles of the third angel's message. But Michael our Prince has contended for us, and truly we may call his name Immanuel.
And our warfare is of a difficult nature. We are obliged to be always armed at all points; for until we arrive at the meeting we do not know what the nature of the contest will be. At one time we have to preach to the lawless and fruitless Antinomian, who revels in his release from all the obligations of God's moral law. At another time we seek to wake the apathetic soul that is dead to all religion and a slave to the law of carnal passion, and this is the state of the great mass of the people here. Now we have to bring the Bible and church history to bear on the bigoted and tradition-fed Catholic, and now we have to open the book of nature with the cold, scientific infidel, who believes in nothing but matter. Yet blessed be God's name, our progress has been onward, the Sabbath has been recognized by many, warmly and actively taken up by some, and new souls have been added to the church of Christ in our humble hall. With what joy did we hear Christ openly confessed by several who knew him not, one of whom had been an infidel. Even within the past week there has been joy amongst the angels; for a deist with whom we have had long arguments has not only accepted Christ as his Saviour, but has begun to work for him by bringing in others, and expresses a desire to labor still further when he returns to his home in the country this month.
And already from our little center the proclamation of the Sabbath has gone forth to Genoa and Turin in the north, Bari in the east, and Sicily and Malta in the South; while in Egypt two little churches of Sabbath-keepers have been formed. These have sent me a most pressing call to come to their aid. Blessed be the name of God, who has made his unworthy servants the means of doing this much in the seat of antichrist; may he enable us to do greater things, and bless all our brethren who are laboring to build up his church of commandment-keepers out of all tongues and people, so as to soon complete the number of his elect and hasten his coming!
Our greatest pitched battle has been on the subject of eternal punishment and the immortality of the soul, and there our victory has been complete, as I have related. I have many times invited our antagonists to a discussion on the Sabbath, but none have yet responded, although urged by members of their congregations who have left them from conviction on the subject.
Owing to the influence of the Catholic priesthood, it is almost impossible to obtain a room in Naples where the gospel may be preached. God has, however, in a most unexpected manner, provided us with another hall. It is smaller than the first one, too small if our number increases, but it suffices for our present wants, and is in many ways better suited for our work. We believe the prayers of our brethren have aided in procuring a blessing from on high on our past work, and ask them to continue their prayerful sympathy, in the hope that we may yet receive a greater blessing in our new seat of labor. Already new work is opening upon us, and we trust that this new little hall will be the abode of the Spirit, wherein many new souls will be born into the kingdom of Christ.
H. P. RIBTON.
June 1, 1878.
Meeting of General Conference Committee.
By James White
THE General Conference Committee, being in Battle Creek, Mich., met in council June 27, 1878, at 9:30 A. M., Elder James White in the chair.
It was moved and supported that the address by Elder James White, entitled "Address and Appeal," be published in the Review. Carried.
After remarks by the chairman and other members of the committee, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:—
Resolved, 1. That we recommend that the General Conference be held after the season of tent and camp-meetings is past.
2. That we recommend that the Brothers Brorsen go immediately to Denmark to labor with Elder Matteson.
3. That we invite Sister Ellen G. White to be present at the general camp-meeting to be held in Michigan.
4. That in our opinion our camp-meetings should not be held more than two years in succession in any one place.
5. That three camp-meetings be held in Michigan the present season, at such points in different parts of the State as will secure the greatest possible attendance of our people and of those from the outside.
6. That we recommend that Elders Littlejohn, Smith, and Waggoner attend the camp-meetings, as may be arranged.
Adjourned to call of the chair.
SECOND SESSION, 8:30 P. M., JUNE 27, 1878.
Meeting called to order by the chair. Prayer by Elder D. M. Canright, followed by brief remarks by the chairman, after which the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:—
Resolved, 1. That we recommend that a mission in England be opened immediately; and that in our opinion Elder J. N. Loughborough is the man to take the charge of it.
2. That we recommend that Elder J. H. Waggoner act as delegate to the Seventh-day Baptist Conference the coming session.
3. That we recommend that Prof. S. Brownsberger revise, for republication, the pamphlet containing the pledges for the Battle Creek College; and that he devote what time he can spare during the present vacation to the work of collecting a library.
Adjourned to call of chair.
JAMES WHITE, Chairman.
Oakland, Tent No. 1.
By W. M. Healey
OUR meetings are progressing. We are now in the midst of the Sabbath question; some have decided to obey, and many are deeply interested. Last Sunday we had the ordinance of baptism, and found twelve who were willing to go forth and be buried in the likeness of Christ's death, hoping to be in the likeness of his resurrection. Next Sunday we expect another baptism. May God continue to bless in the work here.
July 8, 1878. W. M. HEALEY.
Lemoore, Tent No. 2.
By J. L. Wood
THE tent-meetings closed in this place last Sunday night. We have had a very interesting time in our meetings here. As the results of the meetings held last year in Grangeville, and of the camp-meeting last fall, we had seven or eight Sabbath-keepers in the vicinity of Lemoore; but now we have a church of over thirty.
The Lord has blessed in this meeting, and for this we will take courage, and try to push on the work in his name. As soon as the arrangements can be made we expect to build a meeting-house on a beautiful lot donated by the railroad company.
I expect to spend some time now with the churches, and will meet with them according to appointments.
J. L. WOOD.
July 4, 1878.
Placerville, Tent No. 3.
By B. A. Stephens
Meetings were commenced here, Sabbath eve, July 5; the average attendance has been one hundred. Tracts and papers are freely taken, and money flows into the contribution box at a rate, if continued, to pay the running expenses. Brother Isaac Cross, of Sacramento, makes an excellent tent master. Brother H. T. Brown, of Lafayette, is present, and will assist in canvassing the town with our books and periodicals. This is the first preaching of present truth in the foot-hills of the Sierra Nevadas, and the people say it is something new; they are hospitable, and supply our temporal wants. There seems to be an interest to hear, and we do hope that some seed will fall into good ground. B. A. Stephens.
July 7, 1878.
Appointments.
By J. L. Wood
PROVIDENCE permitting I will meet with the churches as follows:—
Lemoore, Sabbath, July 13.
Pleasant Valley, July 15-24.
Locust Grove, July 25-29.
Lemoore, July 31 to August 6.
Fairview, August 6-12. J. L. WOOD.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully,” (margin, negligently.) Jer. 48:10.
$2.00 EACH. O M Andrews 5-24, L A Barry 5-13, Justice Baker 5-1, Rufus Parker 5-26, Harrison McCormick 5-9, Mrs Mary A Losey 5-26.
$1.50 EACH. Mrs Geo Darling 5-26, Matthew Wing 5-20, R Marshall 5-26, Joseph N Boger 5-26, Mrs M R Starr 5-26, Mrs H L Henry 5-27, Riverside Reading Room 5-26, Nelson Woodbury 5-26, Mrs Milo Cross 5-26, H B Waylan 5-26, Wayland Thiong 5-26, D L Stiger 5-26, George Cady 5-26, Reuben Gray 5-26, W N McCoy 5-14, Nancy King 5-26, Mortimer Burton 5-26.
MISCELLANEOUS. R M Cariners $1.00 4-43, M Morford 1.00 5-1, Isaac Hughes 1.00 4-48, L A Hendry 1.00 5-2, C Sampson 50c 4-21, Geo Howell 75c 5-2, Samuel Wilkinson 2.45 5-20, Flora Drake 75c 5-3, J P Hunt (4 copies) 3.00, 5-26, S L Chapman 37c 4-38, Mary E Dunn (9 copies) 13.50 5-26, M C Israel (10 copies) 7.50 5-2, S Burr 75c 4-43, J F Statten .75 5-2, S D Mayor 75c 5-2, G W Pile 75c 5-2, Wm Dale (3 copies) 2.25, 5-2, H I Farnum (4 copies) 3.00 5-3, Lydia Brown 75c 5-2, Miss Annie Wolf 37c 4-38, Miss Annie Baremore 37c 4-38, Miss Mollie Willingham 37c 4-38, Miss Kate Beale 37c 4-38, Mrs E A Myres 38c 4-38, Mrs A L Good 38c 4-38, T H McAden 38c 4-38, C D Bramell 38c 4-38, G W States (16 copies) 24.00 5-26, Eld Joseph Lamont (8 copies) 12.00 5-26, John Osbern 1.00 5-2, Mrs Thos Glassbrook 50c 5-38, Geo Koeing 50c 4-42, A T Sutherland 75c 5-2.
Received on Account.
Cal T and M Society $31.05, A Brorsen 3.16.
California Conference Fund.
Pacheco $8.30.
European Mission.
Hattie Shively $50.00, Jacob Shively 10.00.
Books, Pamphlets, Tracts, Etc.
CRUDEN'S Concordance. $1.75, post-paid.
Dictionary of Bible. $1.75, post-paid.
Hymn and Tune Book; 537 hymns, 147 tunes. $1.
Progressive Bible Lessons. 50 cts.
“ “ “ for Children. 35 cts.
The Way of Life; a beautiful engraving 19x24 inches, with key of explanations. $1.00.
The Game of Life (illustrated). Satan playing with man for his soul. In Board, 50 cts ; in paper 30 cts.
The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week. J. N. Andrews. 528 pp, $1.00.
Thrilling Life Sketches. Incidents in the life of an Italian of noble birth. By Francesco Urgos. $1.25, post-paid.
Thoughts on Daniel. U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed paper edition, 35 cts.
Thoughts on the Revelation. U. Smith. $1.00.
Life of William Miller, with likeness. $1.00.
The Sanctuary and its Cleansings. U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed edition in paper, 30 cts.
Life of Joseph Bates, with Likeness. Revised. Edited by James White. Tint, $1.00; plain, $1.25.
The Nature and Destiny of Man. U. Smith. 384 pp. $1.00.
The Constitutional Amendment. A discussion between W. H. Littlejohn and the Editor of the “Christian Statesman.” Bound, $1.00. Paper, 40 cts. First part, 10 cts.
Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. I. Mrs E. G. White. 416 pp. $1.00.
Life of Christ, in seven Pamphlets, oy Mrs. Ellen G. White:—
No. 1. His First Advent and Ministry - - 10 cts
No. 2. His Temptation in the Wilderness - - 10 cts
No. 3. His Teachings and Parables - - 15 cts
No. 4. His Mighty Miracles - - 15 cts
No. 5. His Sufferings and Crucifixion - - 10 cts
No. 6. His Resurrection and Ascension - - 10 cts
No. 7. The Apostles of Christ - - 10 cts
Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle. In two volumes. 75 cts. each.
The State of the Dead and Destiny of the Wicked. U. Smith. 40 cts.
The United States in Prophecy. U. Smith. Bound, 40 cts. Paper, 25 cts.
A Word for the Sabbath, or False Theories Exposed. (POEM.) U. Smith. Muslin, 30 cts.; paper, 15 cts
Advent Keepsake. Muslin, 25 cts.
Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular history of the Sabbath for 6,000 years. J. N. A. 25 cts.
Facts for the Times. 25 cts.
The Nature and tendency of Modern Spiritualism. J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
Our Faith and Hope. Sermons on the Millenium, Second Advent, the Kingdom, the Judgment, the Time, the Sanctuary, and Saving Faith. 20 cts.
The Ministration of Angels, and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. D. M. C. 20 cts.
The Atonement. J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Spirit of God. J. H. W. 15 cts.
Miraculous Powers. 15 cts.
The Complete Testimony of the Fathers concerning the Sabbath and First Day. J. N. Andrews. 15 cts.
The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two-horned Beast. J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Morality of the Sabbath. D. M. C. 15 cts.
The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts.
Christ in the Old Testament and the Sabbath in the New. James White. 10 cts.
The Saints' Inheritance, or the Earth made New. J. N. Loughborough. 10 cts.
Sunday Seventh-day. A Refutation of Mede, Jennings, Akers and Fuller. J. N. A. 10 cts.
The Truth Found. J. H. W. 10 cts.
The Two Covenants. J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Hope of the Gospel: What it is, and when it will be consummated. J. N. L. 10 cts.
Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath. 10 cts.
Vindication of the Sabbath. Morton. 10 cts.
The Date of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9, established. J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
Matthew Twenty-four. James White. 10 cts.
Review of Baird's Two Sermons on the Sabbath and Law. J. H. W.
The Ancient Sabbath. Forty-four Objections Considered. 10 cts.
Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. II. Mrs. E. G. White. 400 pp. $1.00.
Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. III. Mrs. E. G. White. 400 pp. $1.00
Milton on the State the Dead. 5 cts
Four-cent Tracts: The Second Advent—The Seventh Part of Time—Celestial Railroad—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The Ten Commandments not Abolished—Address to the Baptists—Present Truth—The Sufferings of Christ—The Two Thrones—The Third Message of Rev. 14—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion—Redemption—Systematic Benevolence—The Two Covenants—Origin and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists.
Three-cent Tracts: Much in Little—The Lost-Time Question—Argument on Sabbaton—Infidel Cavils Considered—The End of the Wicked—Scripture Reference—Who Changed the Sabbath?—The First Message of Rev. 14—The Second Message of Rev. 14.
Two-cent Tracts: Christ in the Old Testament—The Sabbath in the New Testament—The Old Moral Code of Ten Commandments not Revised—Definite Seventh Day—Seven Reasons for Sunday Keeping Examined—Elihu on the Sabbath—The Rich Man and Lazarus—The Sanctuary of the Bible—The Millennium—Departing and Being with Christ—Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists—The Judgment; or the Waymarks of Daniel to the Holy City—The Two Laws—Spirit of Prophecy—One Hundred Bible Facts—The Law and the Gospel—God's Memorial—The Sabbath, the Day.
One-cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Nahum's Chariots—The perfection of the Ten Commandments—Coming of the Lord—Without Excuse—Which Day do You keep and Why?—Geology and the Bible—The Sleep of the Dead—The Sinner's Fate—Can We know?—Is the End Near?—A Dialogue—Brief Thoughts on Immortality—Is the End Near? Can We Know?
—Address, THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,OAKLAND, CAL.
Baptism.
By James White
SABBATH afternoon, June 29, we had the pleasure of burying four precious souls by baptism in the Kalamazoo river, at Battle Creek, Mich. A large audience gathered at the river-side, where we have probably, during the last thirty years, baptized more than one thousand persons. Not that the Battle Creek church numbers that, but as our General Conference in times past has almost always been held here, and as at such annual meetings there are more or less to be baptized, and as the brethren have usually given us the pleasure of being administrator, we think we have not stated the number too high.
Solemn indeed was the occasion, as we could look back to the period of our strength in middle age, when we have baptized so many in this river. It has sometimes been our privilege to unite with fellow-laborers when the number was very large. Of these we will mention Elder Andrews, now in the Old World, Elder Loughborough in California, and our beloved brother, Elder Butler. We rejoiced in God; and although time and disease had made their mark upon us, yet we had strength to go into the water once more and to baptize these four with the greatest ease. God grant that these may follow the Lord faithfully until the Master shall appear and the reward be given.
J. W.