Earlier text: ONE EFFORT TO PRAYCAMP MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA.
By George C. Tenney
IT was as true of these meetings as of all others we have attended this year that they were the best and the largest ever held in their Conferences. Such should be the case with each succeeding year, from the fact that ours is a progressive work, and its very life consists in its growth and development. When this ceases, like a tree, the cause will cease to live and will fall into decay. The Wisconsin meeting was held upon grounds occupied for the same purpose about twelve and fourteen years ago. At that time I was identified with the work in this State, but soon after left for other fields and have not since then met with these friends. It was therefore an occasion of unusual pleasure and interest, and the pleasure was increased by meeting so many of the old-time acquaintances and fellow workers. The regular camp meeting was preceded by a preliminary meeting for study and devotion. The principal feature of this part of the meeting was the instruction in Religious Liberty, led by Elder W. A. Colcord. It was referred to by all who attended, as an interesting and a profitable occasion. The exercises of the camp meeting did not vary particularly from those of the other meetings. The same blessings were vouchsafed to us that the Lord is always willing and waiting to bestow upon those who seek him earnestly. Many drank of this cup of blessing more deeply than they had ever before done. From time to time through the meeting opportunity was given for those who desired to do so to seek God, and as there was a beautiful little lake adjoining the camp, baptism was administered as the occasion indicated. There were four seasons of celebrating this ordinance. In all about eighty were buried with Christ in baptism. There were 151 tents in the camp, and the number of people encamped was estimated to be 800. The town was too far away to admit of a large general attendance of those residing there, though on each of the Sundays there was a large outside attendance. The business pertaining to the different societies was transacted in a very harmonious spirit. Altogether the meeting may be reckoned a pronounced success, and all went away saying, "It was good for us to be there." The Minnesota meeting convened on the same grounds that have been occupied for two or three years in succession, in the southern part of Minneapolis. They are pleasant and ample, though the service furnished by the street car company was inadequate to the wants of the meeting. Especially was this noticeable on Sunday morning, when the company undertook to enforce an unpopular rule upon their employes, and they resisted the encroachment with a rigorous strike. The consequence was that during the first part of the day not a car was run, and so our meeting was not very largely attended on that day. The same general features prevailed at this meeting that characterized the preceding ones. It was the largest and the best of all that had been held in the State. About 230 tents were on the grounds, occupied by 1,150 people. There was from the first a manifest desire to seek God, and this most important work was not postponed till the Sabbath, as is usually the case, but opportunities were given daily, and there were always those who were glad to improve them. Indeed, the people asked from time to time that such opportunities might be given them, as they desired to publicly announce their determination to seek the Lord and to embrace his service. Baptism was administered on Monday, when 142 persons went forward in this solemn rite. There were many remarkable instances connected with this as well as with the other meetings we have attended this season, which characterize this year's camp meetings as the most blessed that we have ever held. Thus may it be each year; and thus it will undoubtedly be until the close of our work. It is time to rise and gird on strength. The watchword should be, Courage, and holiness to the Lord. THE Calendar of Battle Creek College can be had on application. THE address of Elder J. O. Corliss is 1240 Maryland Ave., N. E. Washington, D. C. BROTHER C. A. WYMAN has been assigned to labor among the Chinese in North Pacific Conference. IN the Upper Columbia Conference there are five tents in the field, one being used in the German work. A CHURCH of thirteen members was organized at Placerville, California, June 24, by Elder G. K. Owen. THE first tent meeting of Seventh-day Adventists in Germany is held this present year, in the city of Schesnig. THE San Pedro (California) Times gives liberal space to a report of a discourse by Professor Courter and notice of tent meetings being held in that place. LATE copies of the Signs or Review would be thankfully received and used in missionary work if sent postpaid to Mrs. Nettie Miller, Park Place, Clackamas County, Oregon. ELDER C. McREYNOLDS, president of the Kansas Conference, in reporting a round of special meetings at different points, notes the baptism of 175 in the State since the first of February. THE Minnesota Worker informs us that Elder G. C. Tenney, recently from Australia, where he labored about five years, expects to remain in this country, and that his family will soon join him. IN the church in this city, on the 28th ult., seven persons, four brethren and three sisters, were baptized by Elder M. C. Wilcox. One sister had come all the way from Honolulu for that very purpose. ELDER G. W. ANGLEBARGER, who has been laboring at Cheyenne, Wyoming, notes the unusual circumstance that several soldiers from Fort Russell have been attending his meetings, and two are keeping the Sabbath of the Lord. Also that the commanding officer of the fort is anxious to have meetings held in the garrison.557 BROTHER C. P. HOWELL, now at Battle Creek College, has been selected to go to the Bay Islands, Central America, to assist Elder Hutchins in the work there. Interest in the message is spreading to points on the mainland. ELDER WM. COVERT writes: "I have lately held several meetings in West Charleston, Vermont. While there I baptized four, who became members of the church. In connection with Elder I. E. Kimball I began meetings in a tent in Ludlow, June 27." THE Upper Columbia Tract Society gives the following report of labor for year ending May 1, 1893: Missionary visits, 1,456; letters written, 778; letters received, 339; periodicals distributed, 20,425; pages tracts sold and given away, 240,235; subscriptions obtained, 735. IN behalf of the tract society in Topeka, Kansas, Sister N. E. Holaday returns thanks for papers sent in answer to a previous call through this department. They are still in need of late numbers of any of our periodicals for use in missionary work. Address 400½ Kansas Avenue. BATTLE CREEK COLLEGE held its thirteenth annual commencement exercises in the Tabernacle in that city June 19. There were 27 graduates,—three graduated in the Classical Course, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts; five in the Scientific Course, degree of Bachelor of Science; seven in the Academic Course, and twelve in the English Course. BRO. WM. HUTCHINSON is carrying on three series of meetings at once in the vicinity of Terra Alta, West Virginia. One is held in a Dunkard church and the others in schoolhouses. This plan of holding meetings has been adopted because of the difficulty on the part of farmers to attend meetings every evening. He reports a fair attendance at all the meetings. AT Maynard's Mill, Mecosta County, Michigan, Elder I. H. Evans and Brother W. H. Falconer organized a church of ten members, June 3, and others were expected to join soon. The following week Brethren Falconer and Wellman organized a church and tract society of eleven members at Luce. Owing to floods several were kept away who expected to unite with this church. IT was to be hoped that in the interests of decency, good order, and liberty, Tennessee would let that people, than whom none are more quiet, orderly, or better citizens, according to the testimony taken in her own courts, pursue their avocations undisturbing and undisturbed, but recent news informs us that another Sabbath keeper has been arrested, this time in Carroll County. AT Gainesville, Georgia, where Elders R. S. Owen and W. A. McCutcheon have been holding tent meetings, eight additions to the faith are reported. There was also an interest among the colored people, who desired meetings especially for themselves, and a meeting was held in their church after the close of the evening meeting in the tent. A meeting was held by request in the jail, where there was an interested audience of twenty-four prisoners. THE recently elected officers of the Minnesota Conference are as follows: President, N. W. Allee; Secretary, D. P. Curtis; Treasurer, C. N. Woodward. The tract society officers are: President, N. W. Allee; Vice President, M. A. Winchel; Secretary and Treasurer, C. N. Woodward; Assistant Secretary, L. B. Losey; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. A. E. Ellis; State Agent, C. M. Everest. The Sabbath School Association officers are: President, W. A. Alway; Vice President, E. Hilliard; Secretary and Treasurer, Alberta L. Little. ELDER O. O. FARNSWORTH, who is laboring in Belfast, Ireland, reports great opposition to the work, and intense bitterness on the part of the ministers, who are making strong pleas for the strict enforcement of the Sunday laws. The fear of losing situations, and the difficulty of procuring employment in that country, deter many from practically walking out in the light of that which they admit to be the truth. AT the recent session of the Pennsylvania Conference, held at Williamsport, the following officers were elected: President, J. N. Williams; Vice President, E. J. Hibbard; Secretary and Treasurer, W. M. Lee. State tract society officers were chosen as follows: President, E. J. Hibbard; Vice President, M. D. Matteson; Secretary and Treasurer, W. M. Lee; Corresponding Secretary, W. F. Schwartz; State Agent, A. S. Bowersox. THE ATONEMENT. Part I, "An Atonement Consistent with Reason." Part II, "An Atonement as Revealed in the Bible." Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. Cloth, $1.00. SCIENCE in the KITCHEN
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BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN. LESSON IV.—SUNDAY, JULY 23, 1893.
[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.] - After these things he departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.
- And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome;
- And he came unto them; and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers.
- And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
- But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
- And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
- And he departed thence, and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshiped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
- And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
- And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace;
- For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee; for I have much people in this city.
- And he dwelt there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Golden Text.—"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor. 1:18. - Give a synopsis of the events between this lesson and the last. Note 1.
- Where did Paul go from Athens? Verse 1.
- Whom did he seek out? Verse 2.
- Why did he join with them? Verse 3.
- What day did the Jews observe? Note 2.
- How did Paul observe the Sabbath? Verse 4.
- For how long time did he stay at Corinth? Verse 11.
- To whom did he especially feel burdened to preach when Silas and Timothy came? Verse 5.
- What did he preach? Same verse. Note 3.
- What did he say when they opposed and blasphemed? Verse 6. Note 4.
- What change did he make in his location to facilitate his work? Verse 7.
- What was the result of his labors? Verse 8.
- What encouragement was given him of God? Verses 9, 10. Note 5.
- What Scripture truth was exemplified here? Golden text.
1. PAUL's sermon on Mars' Hill in Athens caused those who were wise in the wisdom of the world to mock; the indifferent said, We will hear thee again; but some believed, among whom were Dionysius, the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris. From there the apostle went to the magnificent and celebrated city of Corinth, at that time the political capital of Greece, and the chief city of commerce. "It was situate on the isthmus which connected the two portions of Greece." Here the apostle, in physical weakness (1 Cor. 2:3), founded a large church, to which at least three epistles were written, two of which we have. The time of his preaching at Corinth was about A.D. 52. 1 Corinthians was written about four years after, it is supposed, and 2 Corinthians one or two years later. While at Corinth he wrote two letters to the Thessalonians. The city had great need of the gospel. It was one of the most licentious, drunken, wicked cities of that day. The most abominable licentiousness formed a part of the worship. 2. PAUL sought out a Jew, an observer of the seventh-day Sabbath. He evidently worked the other six days at his trade, to provide himself the necessities of life, and his preaching was evidently hindered by it. When Silas and Timothy came, they brought aid from Philippi. Compare 2 Cor. 11:9 with Phil. 4:15, 16. But Paul's work was honorable. He was a tentmaker; Jesus was a carpenter. Both worked six days and rested the Sabbath, according to the commandment. Ex. 20:8-11. As Paul stayed at Corinth one year and six months, he observed seventy-eight Sabbaths in that city alone, but there is not an intimation that he kept Sunday, nor did his converts, Jew or Gentile. He preached to the Gentiles, but kept the sacred Sabbath. 3. Jesus was the Christ.—So he says in 1 Cor. 2:2 that he knew naught among them, he made known nothing, but Jesus Christ as a crucified and risen Saviour. Why should he preach politics, or current topics; all the world's need and the fullness of God were found in Jesus? 4. Your blood be upon your own heads.—As long as there is hope, God works for man. He did not turn from the Jews till the Jews turned from him. He will not turn from us till we turn from him. 5. I am with thee.—Precious encouragement to worn, persecuted, desolated man. He had endured much at Philippi, at Thessalonica, at Berea. At Athens he met unbelief among the heathens, at Corinth among the Jews. But the Lord says, "Be not afraid," "I am with thee." Precious assurance, Jesus is with his own even unto the end of the age. Matt. 28:20. LESSON IV.—JULY 22, 1893.
REVIEW QUESTIONS.—(a) By faith in what are we purified? (b) By what are we begotten? (c) What is its character? (d) What is this word? VERSES 1-3: "Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation; if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." 1. What do those begotten of God's word and born of his Spirit put away? Note 1. 2. For what are they to long? and why? Note 2. 3. Who will thus desire to feed upon God's word? VERSES 4-8: "Unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Because it is contained in Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. For you therefore which believe is the preciousness; but for such as disbelieve, the stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner; and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed." 1. What is the condition of stones as regards life? Note 3. 2. To what is Christ the Lord likened? 3. How was he regarded by men? 4. How did God regard him? 5. As Christ is the elect, living stone of God, what are those who are Christ's? 6. Into what are we, as living stones, built? Note 4. 7. What precious assurance does he quote from Isaiah? 8. What is conferred upon the believer in Christ? 9. To whom does he prove a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense? 10. Why do these two classes regard him so differently? 1. Putting away therefore.—Putting away these things is set before us as a necessary result to follow the regenerating power of the word of God. He who has truly tasted that the Lord is gracious, he who has drunk of the Spirit of Christ, will be anxious to put away wickedness (margin "malice") toward all, because Christ has forgiven him (Eph. 4:32); to renounce all guile, that it may be forever cleansed away (1 John 1:9); to put away all hypocrisies, because he knows that God sees all, and his word pierces all (Heb. 4:12, 13); all envy of others' lot, because he has all good things in Christ (1 Cor. 3:22, 23); all evil speaking, because God has sent the glad tidings to him, and made him a debtor to carry it to others (Rom. 1:14; Num. 10:29). The Lord implies through Peter that those who have been begotten of Him will put away all these things. For this same putting away the Spirit pleads through Paul over the promises of God. See 2 Cor. 6:17, 18; 7:1. 2. Grow . . . into salvation.—The thought in the Revised Version is worthy of remembrance. It is not simply to grow in knowledge, in skill, or in experience, but to make a success in growing, to grow unto salvation. He who stops short of this is like the seed choked by thorns, he brings "no fruit to perfection." Luke 8:14. 3. Living stones.—The child of God is ever represented by something which has life, and implies action. He is the soldier on duty (Eph. 6:13), the contender in the games (1 Cor. 9:24), the pilgrim traveler (Heb. 11:13), a living branch of the True Vine (John 15:5); he is to grow (Eph. 4:15), to walk (Eph. 4:1), to run (Heb. 12:1), to fight the fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12), to watch, to work, etc., etc.; and when an inanimate object, like a stone, is taken to represent the Christian, that object is given life. This life comes from Christ, the living Rock, on which believers as stones are builded, receiving life from the foundation, Christ (1 Cor. 3:11; Gal. 2:20). They thus become welded or grown to the rock connected with the one life. The object of this building is said to be to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. All that makes anything acceptable to God is that Christ shall be in it, and if Christ is in us, and we in him, the praises and prayers of his people, the sacrifices for his sake, the labors of love, in fact, the very life, are all acceptable in the Beloved. See Hos. 14:1; Mal. 1:11; Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15, 16. 4. Are built up a spiritual house.—To the believer Christ is the precious foundation. To the unbeliever, or disobedient (for the terms are synonymous), he is a stone of stumbling. The same sun and rain which ripen and develop the wheat, also ripen and develop the tares and weeds. The latter class stumble because they will not obey; they do not wish to do God's will. "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein." Hosea 14:9. The earnest student of prophecy will find added interest in this lesson by a diligent study of Isa. 28:14-22. This scripture has a special force in these last days. When God's judgments sweep away the refuge of lies, and the house builded on the sand is overthrown, blessed indeed will those be who have "digged deep," and laid their foundation on the Rock Christ Jesus. Luke 6:47-49, Revised Version.559 5. WORD THOUGHTS.—"All" (v. 1), that is, every kind of wickedness, etc.—"Wickedness," the word means "malice, malignity, wickedness, depravity."—"Guile," the original word is used for "bait," something to ensnare or entrap, and hence means, "fraud, deceit, insidious artifice," which Christians should put away; it should have no place in their character.—"Hypocrisies," "to stand under," or "a taking upon one's self," hence to act a part which does not belong to one.—"Envies," "jealousy, spite," ill feeling toward others because of good or fancied good which has come to them.—"Evil speakings," literally, "speakings against;" Satan is the accuser of the brethren.—"Newborn" (v. 2), "just now born." We are not always to be babes or children of tender years.—"Long for," better than "desire," it means "earnestly desire."—"Sincere milk of the word," better as in the Revised Version, "the spiritual milk which is without guile." Of course, the milk or food of the babe is God's word. See Matt. 4:4; Jer. 15:16.—"Without guile," "unadulterated."—"Grow thereby," the best Greek texts add, "unto salvation."—"Gracious" (v. 2), actively good. "Coming" (v. 4), meaning a close and constant approach. The R. V. properly omits "as unto." "Stone," from "lithon," not the word "petros," translated Peter in Matt. 16:18. "Rejected," "disallowed," rejected after trial. The shameless trial is given in the gospels, the reason for rejection is given in Rom. 9:31-33 and John 5:44. "Precious," not the same as in 1:19. The word here means "honorable." "Living stones" (v. 5), note the striking change from babes growing to living stones "built up." "Is the preciousness" (v. 7), not as in common version, "He is precious," that is stated in verse 4; but here in verse 7 it declares that the "preciousness," the honor, comes to those who believe.—"Stone of stumbling," "rock of offense" (v. 8), something in the way of every sinner. Christ came in the way of the Jews to help them; he comes to sinners for the same purpose; but many make that which God designed to be a help a stumbling block, because of disobedient hearts.—"Appointed," because of their unbelief and consequent disobedience God appointed them. See Matt. 21:40-45.