It was in the fall of A. D. 27, just 483 full years from the going forth of the commandment in B. C. 457, that our Lord began his ministry. And this was the announcement which he made: "The time is fulfilled." Mark 1:15. He did in these words refer to the sixty-nine weeks which marked the commencement of his ministry, and he announced the fulfillment of that period. For the period extends not simply to the birth of the Saviour, but to his anointing, which took place at his baptism, the word Messiah signifying the anointed one. See John 1:41; Acts 10:40, 41; Luke 3:21, 22; 4:14-21.
The sixty-nine weeks did, therefore, end with the beginning of our Lord's ministry in the fall of A. D. 27. One week of the seventy remained in which the covenant was to be confirmed with many. Verse 27. In the midst of this week, the sacrifice and oblation were to cease. This must signify that he should take these away by becoming himself the great sacrifice for sin which these typified. Heb. 10:1-13; Col. 2:14-17.
And so it was that our Lord preached during three years and a half, until the spring of A. D. 31, when he was crucified for the sins of men. This date, Dr. Hales, one of the most distinguished of chronologists, establishes by conclusive evidence. See his "Analysis of Chronology," second edition, Vol. 1, pp. 94-100. There remained of the period which was specially assigned to the Jews three and a half prophetic days to complete the seventy weeks. The termination of this period in A. D. 34 marked the close of the exclusive work for the Jews, and the commencement of the work for the Gentiles in the conversion of Saul, who was at once commissioned to them. Acts 26:15-17. Here ended the seventy weeks which were cut off from the 2300 days. When these 490 days were finished, there remained 1810 days before the time should come for the cleansing of the sanctuary. As the 490 days ended in the fall of A. D. 34, the remaining 1810 ended in the fall of 1844.31
In the great Advent movement under the preaching of William Miller and his fellow-laborers, the evidence was brought out with great clearness that the 2300 days would end in 1844. He believed that the sanctuary to be cleansed is our earth. He found no testimony in the Bible that the earth is the sanctuary, but he did find that the earth is to be purified by fire (2 Pet. 3:7-13), and so he inferred that this was the sanctuary which Michael said should be cleansed at the end of 2300 days. He therefore concluded that this period was given to mark the time of Christ's coming. And as it was sufficiently evident from the several great lines of prophecy in Daniel and Revelation, and from the signs of the times, that the advent of Christ was at the doors, the time was preached in connection with the signs with very great solemnity and power.
But though it could be clearly shown that the 2300 days actually ended in 1844, the Advent people were doomed to a great disappointment. The ending of the 2300 days was not the time appointed of God for the coming of Christ, nor for the burning of the earth. But the great Advent disappointment made it necessary that two important questions should be carefully studied.
1. What is the sanctuary of the Bible?
2. What is meant by the cleansing of the sanctuary?
The fact that the cleansing of the sanctuary is an event located in prophecy in the very conclusion of one of Daniel's great prophetic chains, shows that it is an event of deep interest to mankind. And as we live at a time when the 2300 days are in the past, we are most deeply concerned to understand the nature of the work called the cleansing of the sanctuary.
The Bible is full of the subject of the sanctuary, and we shall find it a theme of intense interest if we give it careful study. The Bible doctrine of the sanctuary is this: That the sanctuary is the place where the High Priest stands to offer blood before God for the sins of those who come to God through him. The central object in the sanctuary is the ark which contains the law of God that man has broken. The cover of this ark was called the mercy-seat, because mercy came to those who had broken the law beneath it, when the high priest sprinkled the blood of sin-offering upon it, provided they accompanied his work by repentance and faith. Last of all was the work of cleansing the sanctuary when the high priest by blood removed the sins of the people from the sanctuary into which they had been borne by the ministration of the priests before God. We now invite attention to the testimony of the Bible respecting the sanctuary.
1. There are two covenants; the first, or old covenant, extends from the time of Moses to the death of Christ; the second, or new covenant, begins at the death of Christ and extends forward to the consummation. Gal. 4:24-26; Heb. 8:7-13; Luke 22:20.
2. The first covenant had a sanctuary which was the tabernacle erected by Moses. Heb. 9:1-7.
3. The new covenant has a sanctuary which is the temple of God in Heaven, into which our High Priest entered when he ascended up on high. Heb. 8:1-5.
4. When Moses erected the tabernacle, he was commanded by God to make it according to the pattern which he showed to him; and this pattern must have been a representation of the temple of God in Heaven; for the earthly sanctuary is declared to be a pattern of the heavenly. Ex. 25:9, 40; Heb. 8:5; 9:23.
5. The earthly sanctuary consisted of two holy places; the first of which contained the table of shewbread, the candlestick with seven lamps, and the golden altar of incense; and the second contained the ark of God's testament with the tables on which the ten commandments were written by the finger of God, and over which was the mercy-seat with the cherubim of glory overshadowing it. Ex. 40:18-28; Heb. 9:1-5.
6. The temple of God in Heaven is not only spoken of as the original from which the earthly sanctuary was copied (Heb. 9:23, 24; 1 Chron. 28:11, 12, 19), but it is also spoken of as consisting of holy places, in the plural. See Heb. 8:2; 9:8, 12, 24; 10:19, in each of which verses the original is holy places, in the plural, and they are so rendered in various translations.
The word sanctuary in the Bible, except in the few cases where it is used figuratively, refers always to the place where the high priest ministers before God for the sins of the people. It was first the tabernacle erected by Moses; then it was the temple built by Solomon, which was a more glorious structure than the tabernacle, but with the same two holy places; and when the typical sacrifices ended in the death of Christ, who is the true sin-offering, the earthly sanctuary, or holy places, ceased to be the center of God's worship, and Christ entered the temple in Heaven as a High Priest—the minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man. The temple of God in Heaven is the sanctuary from which the psalmist says the Lord beheld the earth (Ps. 102:19), and which Jeremiah speaks of as being where the throne of God is found. Jer. 17:12; Rev. 16:17.
The ministration in the earthly sanctuary could not actually take away sins; for it had only the blood of bulls and goats to offer. Heb. 10:4. It was ordained for the purpose of instructing men with reference to the work of Christ, and of encouraging them to look forward to his work. It is a shadow or representation of the service of Christ in the sanctuary of God in Heaven. Heb. 8:5; 10:1; Col. 2:17. It took one year to complete the round of service in the earthly sanctuary, at the end of which the cleansing of the sanctuary took place. The round of service was repeated each year, even as a shadow is renewed each day. But the ministration of Christ which casts this shadow fills out each part of the work once for all, and is not repeated. We shall therefore find the study of the service in the earthly sanctuary full of instruction as to the work of Christ in the sanctuary above.
The ministration in the first apartment occupied the entire year, with the exception of one day, which was devoted to work in the second apartment, or most holy place, to close up the work which had been wrought in the first apartment. The work in the first apartment was on this wise: When a man repented of his sin, he brought a sin-offering to the priest to the door of the sanctuary. Then he confessed his sin to the priest, and put his hand upon the head of his offering to indicate the transfer of the guilt from himself to his offering. Then the victim was slain because of that guilt thus transferred to it, and the blood, representing the life of the victim, was taken by the priest and carried into the sanctuary, and sprinkled there before God. This act was the offering of the life of an innocent victim in the place of the life of him who had broken the law of God, and it was the transference of that man's guilt from himself to the sanctuary of God. See Lev. 4 and the parallel scriptures. This was the most important feature of the work in the first apartment, and by it the guilt of the penitents was transferred from themselves to the tabernacle.
On the tenth day of the seventh month, which was called the day of atonement, the ministration was transferred to the second apartment, or most holy place. Lev. 16. By God's direction, the high priest on this day caused two goats to be brought to the door of the sanctuary. On these he was to cast lots. One was for the Lord, the other was for Azazel. Then he slew the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and took his blood to present it before God as a sin-offering in the most holy place, sprinkling it upon the mercy-seat. He did this for two purposes: 1. To make atonement for the people. 2. To cleanse the sanctuary by removing from it the sins of the people of God. Lev. 16:15-19. J. N. A.
The Resurrection
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
(To be continued.)
The Resurrection.
In a Spiritualist lecture recently delivered in Oakland, by a distinguished "Professor," the following statement is reported to have been made: "The word resurrection is not found in the Greek Testament." This statement would doubtless be received by some with pleasure, as it would seem to show that our Bible is unreliable, and by others with surprise. It will no doubt have the effect over those who heard or read it, which the lecturer intended it should have—to weaken their faith in the inspired record.
Now instead of denying this assertion, we are prepared to make another one still more astounding: The word "God" is nowhere found in the Greek Testament! Neither is any other English word found in the Greek Testament; if they were, it would be an English Testament instead of a Greek Testament. But the Greek word theos, meaning "God," is found in the Greek Testament; and so also is the word anastasis, which means "a making to stand up," "a restoration," "awakening," "resurrection;" and this "Professor" Phelps knew very well, providing he has any knowledge of the Greek, or of the New Testament, the latter of which, at least, we very much doubt.
Right in this connection it is proper to mention a somewhat similar statement recently made by the Christian Union. A correspondent of that paper quoted a benediction which is sometimes used: "The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting life," and asked, "If man's body is mortal, from what is it preserved?" the reply was that this benediction "probably was connected with the old-time faith in the literal resurrection of the body; a faith which, in our judgment, is inconsistent with the teaching of the New Testament."
Turning our attention for a short time to the New Testament itself, we shall see not only that the judgment of the Christian Union is at fault, but that the Greek Testament teaches the doctrine of the literal resurrection of the dead even more strongly than does the English version. A few texts will suffice to show this.
In Luke 20:27–38 we have the record of the question which the Sadducees put to Christ, and his answer. Disbelieving the resurrection, and wishing to entangle Christ with their sophistry, they stated to him the hypothetical case of a woman who had married in succession seven brothers, each of whom had died, the death of the last one being followed by the death of the woman herself. The question was, "In the resurrection whose wife of them is she?" Now notice; the question had to do with people who were dead; not those who were living under different conditions. The Sadducees believed that when men died they absolutely ceased to exist forever. But the further clause of Christ's answer recognized the fact that these dead ones shall live again. "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead," etc.; literally, "The awakening of the dead ones."
Again, when Peter and John were preaching in the temple, "the priests, and the captain of the people, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection of the dead," Acts 4:1, 2; literally, "the raising up or wakening of the dead." Those priests and Sadducees have their counterparts among the religious teachers of to-day. They do not like to hear of a resurrection through Christ; that eternal life can be obtained only through Christ. Professing great love and reverence for Christ, even to observing the day of his resurrection, they refuse to allow that he alone has the power which he gained by that resurrection. They are very zealous in honoring him in a way which he has not asked them to, but deny that which constitutes his badge of authority,—the ability to give life to those who are dead. See John 5:25–29.
Paul warned Timothy against profane and vain babblings, and cited as a specimen the words of Hymenæus and Philetus, whose words, said he, "will eat as doth a canker." The particular profane and vain babbling in their case was that they had erred concerning the truth, "saying that the resurrection is past already." If he used such language in reference to those who claimed that the resurrection was in the past, what would he have said of those who should claim that the doctrine of the resurrection is a myth, with no foundation in fact? And Paul, be it remembered, did not believe in the spiritual resurrection which should consist in taking something already alive, and pass it along to a higher sphere. He believed in a literal resurrection of the body; for he says: "For our conversation [citizenship] is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." Phil. 3:20, 21. Even David, who lived so long before the nineteenth century that his ideas are commonly supposed to have been very crude, seems to have had the same idea of the resurrection that Paul had, for he said, "I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness."
At a future time we will consider other texts that teach a resurrection, and will note more particularly how in every instance they convey the idea that the dead are asleep and unconscious, by saying that they shall awake; and that they are in the earth beneath, and not in the heaven above, by the use of the term "raising from the dead." We know, however, that these plain texts will not have any weight with a large majority, for the lecturer truly said, "The literal of the Bible is not in harmony with the spirit of the present age." This is about the only real truth which the lecture contained; and this was anticipated centuries ago by Paul, who said, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
E. J. W.
Presbyterian Clergymen Adopt Gowns
FOUR Presbyterian clergymen in Philadelphia have lately adopted the custom of wearing gowns in the pulpit.
General Meeting of the Michigan State T. and M. Society.
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
A GENERAL meeting of the Michigan State Tract and Missionary Society was held in Greenville, commencing Dec. 29, at 10:30 A. M. It was well attended. Most of the ministers of the33Conference, and seven of the eleven directors, were present. The president of the society read the appointment calling the meeting, and the report of the State meeting was read. By request, Eld. Haskell occupied the time of this morning meeting in general remarks which were calculated to awaken an interest in the tract and missionary work. He spoke of the rise and progress of the T. and M. Society and its work, and of his recent visit to Europe. These remarks were of deep interest. He also spoke of plans for placing certain of our bound books in the public libraries, and for a more extensive circulation of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
The second meeting convened at 2:30 P. M. After some general remarks on the order and work of the society, Eld. Butler spoke at considerable length on the duties of the different officers of the T. and M. Society; on the necessity of having men and women educated and trained to fill these offices; on the necessity of co-operation between the ministers and the officers of the society; and of the value and efficiency of our organization, and the advisability of retaining and working upon our present plan.
The addresses of the morning and afternoon meetings were timely, and all felt that this day was profitably spent. At the request of the president, an expression was taken of the sense of the meeting in regard to the remarks of Eld. Butler, when there was an almost unanimous consent to the views he had presented. As the Sabbath was approaching, the meeting adjourned to first-day morning.
The third meeting convened first-day morning at 8:30. Eld. Haskell spoke of the plan of using the SIGNS before tent-meetings. New England, New York, California, Iowa, Nebraska, and several other Conferences, did so last year, and it was attended with good results. The Conferences paid for the papers. The places of meeting were thus canvassed and furnished with the SIGNS for several weeks, by which means an interest to hear the truth was created, and the Supplements with the SIGNS did the advertising for the meetings. People who became interested frequently paid for the papers received. He also spoke on canvassing for Good Health. A committee on resolutions was appointed, consisting of Elds. Butler, Waggoner, and Littlejohn.
The fourth meeting was held at 2:30 P. M. Business was now introduced by resolutions, in the following order:—
1. Resolved, That inasmuch as it has been found necessary to have a reserve fund to successfully carry on the operations of the Tract and Missionary Society, we recommend that the sum of $5,000, be raised as a reserve fund in the State of Michigan.
This was spoken to by Elds. Haskell and Littlejohn, and Bro. Carpenter. Eld. Waggoner spoke of the recent campaign in California, and of the great benefit of the reserve fund, without which they would have been greatly hindered and crippled in their work. Adopted by unanimous vote.
2. Whereas, We believe that in union there is strength, and that unity of faith and spirit and action is inculcated in the third angel's message, and in the gifts of the Spirit which have accompanied it (Eph. 4:11-13); therefore—
Resolved, That we disapprove of any important changes being made in the working of the society unless these changes are accepted and recommended by the International Tract Society.
This resolution was discussed at considerable length; some who have been in doubt on some points in the organization of the society expressed themselves satisfied, and the resolution was adopted.
3. Resolved, That we recommend that the directors visit the several churches in their districts, and see that they are kept supplied with such publications as they need in their work; and that they also see that district depositories are kept, from which the church supplies may be drawn.
This was spoken to by Brn. Haskell, Root, Carpenter, Butler, Waggoner, Sanborn, Littlejohn, Sisley, Miller, and Daniels. At first, objections were offered, but after examination, it was adopted without dissent.
4. Whereas, It will often be found necessary to fill orders in the absence of the directors, and it is necessary that accounts at all times be accurately kept; therefore—
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that district secretaries are necessary to the prompt and efficient working of the society.
This point having been quite thoroughly considered at a previous meeting, the resolution was adopted with a few remarks.
5. Resolved, That whenever a tent is to be pitched in any locality, we recommend that tent-labor be preceded by a judicious canvass with the SIGNS, as this has been found to be the most efficient means of working up a healthy and intelligent interest to hear the preaching of the truth.
After a few remarks of approval, it was carried.
Resolved, That we express our sense of the great importance of the work of canvassing, not only as a means of circulating valuable literature, but of developing talent for usefulness in other branches of our work; and that we urge upon our ministers and the officers of our societies the importance of searching out those who may be instructed in this work, and who may thereby become efficient laborers in the cause.
After remarks by Brn. Butler and King, this resolution was adopted.
The fifth meeting was held at 6 P. M. The consideration of resolutions was resumed.
7. Whereas, A resolution was passed by the General Conference urging a revival of the interest on the subject of health reform among Seventh-day Adventists, and a series of Temperance Lessons will be commenced in the January number of Good Health; therefore—
Resolved, That we recommend that renewed efforts be put forth to extend the circulation of Good Health, and that canvassers are hereby requested to engage in this work.
Spoken to by Elds. Haskell, Littlejohn, Miller, and Waggoner. Carried.
8. Resolved, That we express our grateful pleasure at the success of our canvassers in circulating "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation;" and we recommend that this work be still carried on and increased, as this has proven to be an excellent work with which to canvass, as well as an important means of getting the truth before the world. Adopted.
9. Whereas, The cause of the third angel's message is one, and the different branches are but parts of the same work; therefore—
Resolved, That it is the duty of the ministers and the officers of the missionary society to labor in unison, and that the ministers ought, by all possible means, to exert their influence in favor of the operations of the society.
Spoken to by Eld. Haskell. Eld. Butler read a portion of the Testimony on this subject which is found in the tract containing the Constitution of the T. and M. Society. Eld. Waggoner also spoke in its favor, when the meeting adjourned till after preaching.
The sixth meeting was held at 9 P. M. Resolution 9 was further spoken to by Brn. W. C. Sisley, Ostrander, Carpenter, Daniels, and Fargo, when it was adopted.
10. Whereas, The Testimony of the Spirit has taught us that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES was established in the direct providence of God, and experience has proved that it is an efficient means of spreading the light of present truth to the world—of carrying the light where the minister cannot possibly go; therefore—
Resolved, That we urge upon our canvassers and missionary workers the necessity of making vigorous efforts to increase the circulation of the SIGNS as a pioneer missionary paper. Carried.
11. Resolved, That the ministers and directors are hereby requested and directed to bring these resolutions before the next quarterly meetings, to impress their importance upon the minds of the brethren and sisters, that they may be carried into effect without unnecessary delay. Adopted.
A vote of thanks was cheerfully given to the church of Greenville for their kind hospitality in entertaining the brethren and sisters who attended the meeting. This was well deserved.
Remarks were made by Eld. Haskell and others on the necessity of district secretaries receiving instruction. Remarks were made, especially by Elds. Haskell and Waggoner, on increasing the circulation of the Review and Instructor.
Eld. Waggoner having, by request, given a discourse on Justification by Faith; the same subject presented by request at Rome, a motion was unanimously carried requesting him to prepare the same for publication in pamphlet form.
On the ninth resolution Bro. Butler read at some length from the Testimony on "Importance of Missionary Work," found in the tract, "Constitution of the T. and M. Society." Every minister and officer of the societies should procure this tract, and study this Testimony. On "The Duty of Ministers" we find therein as follows:—
"There must be prayerful labor with those who embrace the truth, until they shall be convicted of their sins and shall seek God and be converted. Then they should be instructed in regard to the claims of God upon tithes and offerings. They must learn that the tithing system is binding upon God's people in these last days, as truly as it was upon ancient Israel. The tract and missionary work should be presented before them."
"I have been shown that many do not take hold of the missionary work, because the matter has not been presented before them by the ministers who have labored in their behalf. Those ministers have failed in their duty, and, as the result, hundreds are idle who might be at work had they been more perfectly instructed."
The matter of these extracts, and others which were read, called out many remarks from ministers present, and from directors and others, concerning this failure. It seemed to be the general feeling that therein lay one material cause of the declension of the cause of present truth in Michigan. A deep and lasting impression was evidently made, and we confidently look for good results from this investigation, and the resolutions made in regard to it.
As a whole, the meeting was an interesting and a successful one. It would have been still better had more time been afforded, as another half day was needed to do full justice to the business presented. But all felt encouraged, an excellent spirit prevailed throughout, and we believe it ushers in a better state of things for the cause in Michigan.
J. H. W.
International Tract and Missionary Society.
THE seventh annual session of this society (formerly General Tract and Missionary Society) was held at Rome, N. Y., in connection with the General Conference. The following is from the Secretary's report in the Review and Herald:—
A report showing the labor performed by the various State societies, the General Society, and the societies in England and Switzerland, was read, of which the following is a summary: No. of members 6,981; reports, 10,383; visits, 25,030; letters, 24,015; subscribers obtained for periodicals, 6,643; pages publications distributed, 4,947,486; periodicals distributed, 550,324. The financial report showed the receipts of the General Society for the year to be $859.58; expenditures, $647.57; cash on hand, $2,068.07
Of this labor an amount equal to the distribution of about 60,000 pages of tracts and 15,000 periodicals has been done largely by persons not of our faith, under the supervision of the General Society. Remarks were then made by the President respecting favors received from such persons, and the willingness with which they are granted. We now have free transportation of publications from New York City to London, thence to Hull, and from there to Christiana. There are also outside agents who distribute our reading matter on vessels, and in many of the seaports of England, and to quite an extent, in this country.
The following resolutions were presented and adopted after suitable consideration:—
1. WHEREAS, There is a disposition in some localities to criticise the present plan of organization of our State tract societies, and an expressed desire to so change the Constitution and plan of operation as to have the church librarians transact all business directly with the State Secretary, and—
WHEREAS, The workers in several of our largest and most prosperous societies regard the work of the district secretary as indispensable to the highest efficiency of the organization; therefore—
Resolved, That we recommend adherence to those plans which have proved successful, and that great caution be used in the introduction of new and untried methods; and further—
Resolved, That we recommend that any State society which regards such changes as essential to its prosperity should consult with the officers of the General Tract Society before introducing them, and that they shall not publish or recommend any such experimental plans till they have been tried for at least one year, and have the acceptance of the General Tract Society.
This resolution led to a free discussion, in which the difficulties which have been experienced in connection with our present organization, and also the utility of the organization, were thoroughly canvassed. Of the points made in this discussion more may be said hereafter.
2. WHEREAS, Our work is fast enlarging, and in the providence of God we are called upon to take advance steps and enter upon important enterprises, sometimes on short notice, and as such enterprises cannot be entered upon without means; therefore—
Resolved, That we consider it absolutely necessary, in order to carry on the work successfully, that each State society have a reserve fund on which it can rely in time of need; and we urge them to keep their reserve fund large enough to meet emergencies which may arise.
3. WHEREAS, We believe that there is a great work to be done in our large cities, and Chicago appears at this time to be a promising field for the constant employment of an efficient colporter, and—
WHEREAS, New York especially needs the constant presence of a laborer to act as ship missionary, and to forward missionary publications to Europe; therefore—
Resolved, That we station a colporter in each of these cities as soon as possible, and that we request the assistance of the General Conference in the appointment and maintenance of the same.
4. WHEREAS, The SIGNS OF THE TIMES has been the means of bringing many to a knowledge of the truth, and each year's experience strengthens the confidence of our missionary workers in its efficiency in the missionary field; therefore—
Resolved, That we recommend its more general circulation in that capacity than ever before; and—
WHEREAS, Experience has shown that thousands will subscribe and pay for the SIGNS when offered with a desirable premium, and as the International Sunday-school Lessons for the coming year will be in the Acts of the Apostles, thus making the Life and Epistles of Paul a desirable book for general use; and the publishers of the SIGNS propose to offer the Life and Epistles of St. Paul by Conybeare and Howson with the SIGNS to new subscribers for $2.25 per year; therefore—
Resolved, That we recommend the above premium offer, and urge that a thorough and energetic canvass be inaugurated in all of our societies.
5. Resolved, That we recommend to the careful attention of all our ministers and tent workers the plan that has been introduced in some localities of using the SIGNS OF THE TIMES with the tent-sheets, in special efforts to prepare the field for tent labor, and in developing the interest in connection with such labor.
Remarks were made in favor of this plan by brethren in New York, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska, who adopted it in their work the past summer.
6. WHEREAS, The public libraries throughout the country afford the means of presenting our denominational reading matter to the public, and—
WHEREAS, Many of these libraries are now open to the presentation of this reading matter; therefore—
Resolved, That we approve the steps already taken toward the presentation of some of our bound books to these libraries by the General Society, and that we pledge our active co-operation in the speedy prosecution of this work.
7. WHEREAS, The immediate introduction of our denominational books among all the churches and companies of our people, as soon as they are published, is very desirable, and we believe that many more can then be sold by a proper effort than at any later time, and—
WHEREAS, The publishers propose, in order to save time and hasten orders on important works, to send samples to the secretary of each State society, that they may be forwarded with circulars and blank order sheets to the librarians and agents, without waiting for orders for the sample copy; and as the publishers propose upon notification to furnish postage for the return of any of these samples which may not be accepted; therefore—
Resolved, That we recommend the above plan, and urge the prompt co-operation of our librarians and agents in its execution.
8. WHEREAS, Washington is our nation's representative city, and many persons visit it, not only from every State and Territory in the Union, but from all parts and countries of the world, and—
WHEREAS, Our publications and works on present truth are not found there, either for sale or free distribution; therefore—
Resolved, That Washington City be taken into consideration, in connection with Chicago and New York, for ministerial and colporters' labor.
This resolution called out some very interesting experiences of our brethren in connection with men holding high positions in the Government. It was stated that while it is probable that but few of these men will embrace the truth, the impressions which it is now possible to give them will affect their future action, should they be called upon to make decisions in connection with our work or people.
9. WHEREAS, The work of health reform is recognized as one of the most important branches of the cause of present truth, and—
WHEREAS, There has been a general backsliding on this subject, and there is at present a general lack of interest in this branch of the work; therefore—
Resolved, That we recommend an earnest effort to revive the interest upon this question by securing a more general reading of our health publications on the part of our people, and by inaugurating an energetic canvass for the circulation of Good Health everywhere.
10. WHEREAS, Persons subscribing for our periodicals through the tract society do experience a delay in receiving their papers, and—
WHEREAS, Our State Secretaries can probably use, in various ways, several copies of each of the same; therefore—
Resolved, That we recommend our State societies to take clubs of these periodicals, particularly the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, so as to be able to supply new subscribers until the paper can be received by them from the office of publication.
The officers for the coming year are: President, Eld. S. N. Haskell, South Lancaster, Mass.; Vice-President, W. C. White, Oakland, Cal.; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss M. L. Huntley, South Lancaster, Mass.; Assistant Secretary, Miss Nellie E. Sisley, Battle Creek, Mich.; Executive Committee, Elds. S. N. Haskell, G. I. Butler, O. A. Olsen.
The Religious Amendment.
By R. F. Cottrell
BY ELD. R. F. COTTRELL.
THE position of those who insist upon Christianizing our Government is truly marvelous. Their organ, the Christian Statesman, sees the corruption, the utter rottenness, of Government officers and political parties, and also that in the history of the past such corruption as now exists here has been the certain prelude to national overthrow; and yet a firm hope is cherished that amid this teeming corruption we are suddenly to arise to the eminence of a truly Christian government, an eminence that has never been attained by any earthly government during the more than eighteen hundred years of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Such a transformation would be marvelous in the extreme. The faith and hope they entertain is bold indeed. It looks for wonders; wonders not exceeded by a resurrection of the dead. This, God has promised; but the other, never. The hope of the resurrection is sure; because it rests in the promise and the power of God, the God who spoke the universe from naught. But how men can expect that, out of the mass of civil and political rottenness which they see existing, purity is suddenly to arise, and that from the prevailing iniquity and infidelity a pure, moral, and truly Christian government is about to come forth, and all this without a single promise of God to that effect, is a thing too wonderful to be expressed in words; "expressive silence" itself can only faintly point the amazement due to so bold a hope.
And it is not only contrary to all appearance, and without a promise of God, but in direct opposition to what God has said of the latter days of the dispensation. "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter days some shall depart from the faith;" "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse;" "in the last days perilous times shall come," and "when they shall say, Peace and safety, sudden destruction shall come upon them." Said Jesus, "Because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold; but he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved;" and "as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."
The religious amendment which they demand has no other hope or success but by securing the suffrage of one or another of the corrupt political parties. When this "Christian party in politics" holds the balance in power, the most corrupt and degraded politicians will not scruple to espouse their cause, in order to their own advancement, and aid in the glorious work of fabricating what the world never saw, a government truly Christian. Then the fabled millennium of "peace and safety" will have begun. Out of the rotten materials of a degenerate republic, out of iniquity and infidelity, the true spiritual reign of righteousness and peace, the kingdom of God on earth, is to be built! And this by the suffrages of a corrupt people, and contrary to the word of the living God! Did men of sane mind ever entertain a hope so preposterous?