DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Many times has my poor, unworthy heart been cheered while reading in the REVIEW of your joys and hopes, and victories gained, and many times when I have read of the severe afflictions and sorrows that many of you have been called to pass through, has the tear of sympathy coursed down my cheek, and I have felt how good it was that we could feel to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice.
On the 11th of last April, my dear wife was laid low in the grave, but that sweet and quiet rest I feel is here to enjoy till the Lord shall say, Sleeper, awake! And now, my dear brethren and sisters, I want to tell you how good the Lord is. He has not left me in my lonely condition. When I viewed the vacant spot at the house of worship on the Sabbath, and the vacant seat beside me as I rode on the way, and more than this, to find myself all alone at the family altar, it seemed that my cup of sorrow was more than full. But in this lonely condition it has seemed to me that the Father of mercies has been so very kind as to say, Cast all your burden and sorrow upon me, and be willing to accept me as your companion, counselor, director, and preserver. Oh! how my sorrow has been turned into joy to think that there was such an all-wise and supreme Being, that would be present by his Spirit in my lonely cottage.
And now, dear brethren and sisters, I want to close this with an earnest appeal to you, to cast all upon the Good Shepherd, and realize that you are his stewards; all you have is just what he lends you to improve upon. If we will put self under foot, and do all things heartily as unto the Lord, he will give us all things that will be for our good and his glory. Blessed be his holy name!
Your unworthy brother striving for victory.
L. BARTHOLOMEW
Pleasant Grove, Minn.
Striving to Do the Master's Will
By Mary Judson
SR. MARY JUDSON writes from Medina Co., Ohio: I realize that if I should strive with the same earnestness to do my Master's will that I do to gain earthly treasures, I should better succeed. May the Lord help me to be more faithful, to be found ready when he comes.
Pray for me, that I may overcome.
Three Steps to Heaven
“It is a very simple way to Heaven,” said a poor, unlettered man, “if people would but take it. There are only three steps—out of self—into Christ—into glory.”
Obituary Notices.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.
DIED, of typhoid fever, in Grant Co., Wis., June 21, 1869, Cynthia L., daughter of Frances and Harriet Elwell, aged 3 years, 7 months, and 28 days. The writer spoke from 2 Cor. i, 3, 4, to a large congregation of believers and relatives. I. SANBORN.
DIED, in Battle Creek, June 30, 1869, of dysentery, Irving R., infant son of E. G. and M. A. Rust; aged 3 mo. and 7 days. WM. C. GAGE.
"All Things Work Together for Good to Them that Love God."
Such is the declaration of Paul in Rom. viii. How full of encouragement to the people of God are these words! Every event of God's providence is at work for them. Even those things which seem to be only evil, are made by the hand of God to bring forth good to them. What care has God for his dear children! To evil men even good things are often utterly pernicious, and made to become a snare; but it is not thus to those who always walk in the fear of God. What to others is only sorrow, and trouble, and calamity, is to them the fruitful source of uninterrupted profit and blessedness. Thank God that everything is made the source and the occasion of good to those that fear him! Surely in everything we can give thanks, when God causes all things to work for our good.
Meetings in Ceresco, Michigan
By W. C. G.
We have received from Bro. Byington, the particulars of a series of meetings held in Ceresco, Mich., by Bro. Waggoner, who occupied alternate evenings with an opponent of the Sabbath, an Elder Wheelock, until the house was closed against him. A good impression seems to have been made on many minds, and the way prepared for future labor in that place.
W. C. G.
Where Shall it Be?
By James White
WHERE shall the Michigan Camp-meeting be held? Lansing is the most central and accessible point. Could the right men visit Lansing with one of our tents, and set before the people of that city the reasons of our faith, the way would then be prepared for the Camp-meeting in that vicinity.
The old ground at Wright is not central. Holly is quite accessible, but is not central, and, on being examined, shows no good grounds.
Where shall the Camp-meeting be held? Shall we once more assemble at Wright? The grounds there are good. The brethren in the east part of the State plead for a central point. This is well. But where is it? Almost any point along the line of the road from Jackson to Owasso would be well.
Could the right place be found, extensive preparations be made, and the grounds be held for our annual Camp-meetings till the Lord shall come, it would be well. Again we inquire of all interested, Where shall it be? Jackson would be a good point. We shall be glad to receive suggestions from the brethren.
JAMES WHITE.
The New Hymn Book.
By James White
This book has now been in our hands long enough to enable us to judge of its merits. I have examined it with some care, and can freely say, I like it. Many of the hymns which were found to be defective either in sentiment or composition have been remodeled and corrected. Some, not often used, have been rejected, to make room for others which are suited for general use.
The music in this book, I believe, will meet with general favor. It cannot be expected that such a book should contain all the pieces that our several friends would desire to see in it; to please all, a very large collection would be required. But it does contain a selection of long, common, and short meters, large enough for the use of our churches, with a fair and useful variety of other meters. And while the number of tunes in these several measures is large enough to serve the purposes of worship for all time, they will be found unexceptionable in style; they are truly church music, suitable for the purpose for which they were selected—to aid in the pure worship of God.
It was foreseen by the compilers that so great changes would necessarily be made in many hymns that the old and new books could not well be used together; and the publication of the new was deferred till the calls were so urgent that it could be deferred no longer. We shall, therefore, expect to see all the churches provide themselves with the new books as soon as convenient.
J. H. W.
A Significant Paragraph.
By W. C. G.
We clip the following from the Watchman and Reflector, of Boston, the leading organ of the Baptist denomination:
Dr. Guthrie, speaking of the exit of the Presbyterian church from Rome, says, “Three hundred years ago, our church, with an open Bible on her banner, and this motto, “Search the Scriptures,” on her scroll, marched out from the gates of Rome.” Then he significantly asks, “Did they come clean out of Babylon?” The same question is pertinent to all the pedo-baptist denominations.
And we may add, to all other denominations who retain any of the unscriptural customs and practices of the “mother of harlots.” While our Baptist friends have certainly made a long and bold stride toward the door of exit from Babylon by their position on the question of baptism, they still linger within her portals, and rest lovingly in her embraces, by following Papal authority in Sunday-keeping instead of God’s law in the observance of his Sabbath. If an error on the subject of baptism be sufficient to entangle a church within the habiliments of Popery, what shall we say of those who are so blinded as to disobey one of God’s ten immutable precepts?
W. C. G.
Report From Bro. Cornell.
By M. E. Cornell
Since last report, I held meetings over one Sabbath at New Ipswich, N. H., and rejoiced to see so many who had but recently embraced the truth under the labors of Bro. Canright. They appear to be growing strong all the time. One more decided during our meetings to henceforth keep all the commandments. By request I gave one discourse at the Hillside Institute building, in Amherst, where a goodly number listened with attention.
Last Sabbath and first-day, I was at the quarterly meeting in Washington, N. H. There was quite a general gathering of the scattered friends, so that the meeting-house was well filled. The matter of camp-meeting in New England was referred to a committee. They took hold nobly on the tent enterprise, and manifested a real interest in the prosperity of the cause in general.
The way seems to be opening well about getting a tent. The same man that made a large tent for Eld. Himes to use in the first message is now making one for us to use in the third message.
If the way continues to open here, we expect to pitch the tent this week in the vicinity of Boston, and give the people a chance to hear the present truth.
We crave an interest in the prayers of all.
M. E. CORNELL.
Boston, July 7, 1869.
P. S. My address will be, till further notice, 41 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, Mass.
Thoughts.
By R. F. C.
WHEN I see chains hanging about a person's neck, I think them fit emblems of the slavery of pride and fashion.
When I see the golden or silver cross attached to the breastpin of one loaded with the most brilliant and costly jewels, I think it a most convenient and luxurious way of bearing the cross after Him who had not, in this splendid world, a place to lay his head.
R. F. C.
Note.
By Wm. S. Ingraham
WHEN in Iowa, I left somewhere a book entitled “Bliss’ Sacred Chronology.” Also I loaned to our brethren a book called “The Three Eras of France.” I wish to have these books sent to my address by mail. Direct to Wasioja, Dodge Co., Minnesota.
WM. S. INGRAHAM.
God's Wisdom in Affliction
WHEN you come to the other side of the water, and have set your foot on the shore of glorious eternity, and look back again to the waters, and to your wearisome journey, and shall see in that clear glass of endless glory nearer to the bottom of God's wisdom, you shall then be forced to say, “If God had done otherwise with me than he has done, I had never come to the enjoyment of this crown of glory.”
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
PROVIDENCE permitting, Eld. J. H. Waggoner will meet with the church of Allegany, N. Y., at Nile Settlement, Sabbath, July 17, 1869. GEN. CONF. COM.
THE NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING of the church at Hundred Mile Grove, Wis., will be held August 7 and 8, if the Lord permit. N. M. JORDON.
THE NEXT MONTHLY MEETING of the Fremont church will be held in Jackson, O., July 17, 1869. Those living near Fostoria are requested to be there if possible. H. HODGSON.
THE NEXT MONTHLY MEETING for this section of Maine, will be held with the church at Athens, the second Sabbath and first-day in August. L. L. HOWARD.
QUARTERLY Meetings in Minnesota: Pleasant Grove, Aug. 7, 8; Greenwood Prairie, Aug. 14, 15; Pine Island, Aug. 21, 22; Deerfield, Aug. 28, 29; Shelbyville, Sept. 4, 5; Jo Daviess, Sept. 11, 12; Tenhassen, Sept. 18, 19; Brush Creek, Sept. 25, 26; Riceland, Oct. 2, 3. Meetings to commence on the Sabbath at 10½ o'clock.
I hope the brethren and sisters will attend these meetings, previously prepared to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. STEPHEN PIERCE.
PROVIDENCE permitting, I will meet with the church in Alaiedon, Sabbath and first-day, July 24 and 25. Will some brother meet me at the depot at Mason on Friday afternoon? J. BYINGTON.
THE NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING of the S. D. Advent church of Sand Prairie, Wis., will be held at their meeting house, on the last Sabbath in July, and the first day of August, 1869. The scattered brethren and sisters are requested to attend or report by letter. A general invitation is extended to all to come up and receive strength to stand amid the perils of the last days. By order of the church. THOS. DIMMON, Clerk.