Earlier text: Thoughts on the Book of DanielAnother Case.
By C. O. TAYLOR
There was another mill case that came to my notice, where the Lord had a chance to work. A brother that was keeping the Sabbath, went to put up a steam saw-mill in a section of country where they all kept Sunday. He could get laborers; but they must work six days, or not at all. In an evil hour, the brother yielded; and labor was done on the Sabbath. He was urged to take a decided stand for the truth, mill or no mill. He decided to do so; and if he could not run the mill (it was now about finished) and keep the Sabbath, he would sell it. It would take three or four men to run it. At this time he had not one. In a few days, one came and offered to work on the first day of the week. And then another that would work six days, and rest the Sabbath. A few days after, a man came thirty or forty miles who was willing to work on Sunday. This was just the man that was wanted to hold bolts, in cutting out staves. It required a man of experience in that business. This man was used to that kind of work. Only a few days from the coming of the third man, a brother that had been keeping the Sabbath for years, came and hired out to the mill owner. Thus in about ten days from the time he said he would honor God, and keep his commandments, he had all the help he wanted, and just the kind he wanted, to run his mill to profit. He then expressed his gratitude for what the Lord had done for him, in buying a quantity of books, so that his men could learn the truth, and be converted. He went to work to save others, just as he should do. The Lord works for us when we trust him. Ye fearful and desponding ones, look up. Trust God's word and promise; give him a chance to make your hearts glad. He waits to be gracious. Humbly, meekly, trust him, and you will see of his salvation. C. O. TAYLOR. Our Paper.
By L. E. Millne
The Review has just come to me, clothed in a new dress. What does it say to me? Wonderful things; that the third angel's message is rising, and the time is not far distant, when the whole earth shall be lighted with its glory. It says to my mourning soul, Rejoice; for soon the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Oh, glorious hope! Who would not rejoice, even in the midst of sorrow, and count all things but loss and dross, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord? Who would not say, “Let sorrow’s rudest tempests blow,
Each cord on earth to sever,
Our King says come, and there’s our home,
Forever! oh, forever!” Yes, forever at home in those glorious mansions. Forever with the Lord. Oh! what a great incentive to perfect holiness, to be found without spot or wrinkle in that great day. Now while the angel of mercy still lingers, while the waters of life are yet freely flowing, and Jesus, our blessed advocate, still intercedes for us, oh! shall any of us still slumber on, till the door of mercy is closed, and be awakened at last by the Archangel’s trump, when it is too late, and hear the Lord say, I called, but ye refused; I knocked at the door of your heart till my locks were wet with the dews of the morning. Depart from me. Oh, solemn thought! Let us come up to the help of the Lord, and work while it is day. “Keep the eye single, the head upward lifted;
Watch for the glory of earth’s coming King;
Lo! o’er the mountain tops, light is now breaking;
Heirs of the kingdom, rejoice ye, and sing.” “Love Your Enemies.”
By L. A. Cartwright
No greater test of one’s spiritual condition was ever given, than these few words of the Saviour, “Love your enemies.” It is not enough that we do not hate our enemies, and refrain from returning their evil; not enough that we sometimes show them a favor, with a secret pleasure and satisfaction at their feelings of annoyance, or the “coals of fire on their heads.” This is not love, that spontaneous desire for the well-being of others. Jesus was a perfect example of love in that he “died for the ungodly,” poured out his life for a world of rebels. All through his ministry here on earth, love shone in every act and word. Even when he denounced the severest judgments, his great love was manifest to all, proving that he was not willing that any “should perish,” but “rather that they would turn and live.” And in the hour of his greatest anguish, amid the cruel scoffs and jeers of his murderers, he could still say, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Oh, for the mind and spirit of Christ! Lord, help us to be like him. The Sin of Hypocrisy.
By H. F. Phelps
It is indeed a fearful sin to practice hypocrisy in any form, or in any place. But oh! how terrible to practice it before the Lord. But the world is full of it. Hypocrites among the high and the low, among the rich and the poor. Neighbors are hypocritical towards each other. Hypocrites, to any amount of them. Hypocrites in the church, and out of it. We may well expect the man of the world to assume any guise whatever to carry his points, but oh! for a professor to be a hypocrite is bad indeed. And this is the worst kind of hypocrisy. For a person to profess the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus, to put it on as an outward garment, while the heart is yet full of bitterness, wickedness of all kinds lurking beneath a show of piety, is terrible indeed. Should this wickedness be always hid beneath the cloak of religion, it would perhaps be more endurable; but when people openly give the lie to their profession by their deeds, when by their assumed piety, they creep into one's affections, and into the affections and confidence of the church, and then by their deeds, under this cloak, bring a reproach upon the cause of truth, wound the hearts of those “little ones that believe in Me,” cause the way of religion to be evil spoken of, then it is terrible beyond description. The fate of these hypocrites is to be dreaded. Terrible indeed will be their end. “The hypocrites’ hope shall perish,” and their “joy is but for a moment.” The day is at hand when “the sinners in Zion are afraid, and fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites,” and they inquire, “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” Verily, none of these are safe, but “he that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil: he shall dwell on high, his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure.” Blessed promise! Who will live so as to escape the portion of the hypocrites? Accusing and Persuading.
By A. P. Lawton
THERE exists no more concord between these two spirits than between Christ and Belial. Satan is the accuser of the brethren—Christ died for them, and encourages them by precious promises. That no one needs reproof is neither supposable nor probable; but an accusing spirit can never reform them. Such should learn to be quiet until they get another spirit, and feel as Jesus did when he wept over Jerusalem. How painful it must have been to the blessed Jesus to witness their obstinacy; knowing as he did the fatal consequences. The tender heart of Him who was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Jesus loved even sinners, and so do those who are like him. He speaks encouragingly to the truly penitent, and gives them precious promises. He weeps over them even in their seemingly-wilful blindness. Father, give us this spirit, that we may at least win some. W. Winfield, Dec. 25, 1870. On Bearing the Cross and Marriage
If you carry the cross cheerfully, it will carry you safely. Many a fool who has sense enough to get a good wife, lacks the wit to know it. JOHN MATTESON
By John Matteson
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Prov. 28:13. I have made some sad mistakes in my course as a preacher, which I would like to confess to the brethren, whose servant I am. I ask not to be excused. But where I have sinned against God, I ask his forgiveness. And where I have sinned against men, I ask them to forgive me. And this I hope to obtain only through the merits of Jesus. When I first commenced to preach the message, I thought I might perhaps go ahead of others and be somebody; but I have come to the conclusion that I am often worse than nobody, or in other words, that I do harm, and that I am not fit for this responsible work. Yet urgent requests continue to come in, which I cannot with a good conscience disregard; and as I try to labor on, I find many poor souls who are still weaker and more ignorant than I am. I have sometimes been blamed where I cannot see that I deserved it, but then I had at the same time other faults which deserved much more blame than I ever received. I am prone to be an extremist, and have often injured the cause by taking an extreme view of the different points of our faith, and trying to urge the same upon others. I have also been too independent and rash, all of which is indeed worthy of severe censure. I desire, and will try, by the grace of God, to change my course, to avoid strife and contention, and labor chiefly to win souls for the kingdom of God through the love of a crucified Redeemer. I will try to hold the truth more in love, to bear long with others, to be gentle and kind. And where such a straight line must be walked up to, I will try to square myself first, and not crush the tender souls who perhaps cannot see truth as fast or far as I can, or who happen to differ from my views. I intended to do good, but often found evil to be present with me. The Lord and his cause can get along without me; but I need the Lord; and I need his truth and people. And if, indeed, the Lord can use such a frail earthen vessel, I shall consider it great condescension and infinite mercy. May the Lord forgive the past, and strengthen and direct in the future for the glory of his own holy name. And may this poor unworthy creature of his, be prepared for his soon coming, and with you, dear reader, find a place in his kingdom. Busseyville, Jeff Co., Wis. Do NOT scold. Do not abuse the faithful souls who come to meeting rainy days, because others are too lazy to attend. Preach the very best you can to your smallest assemblies. Jesus preached to one woman at the well, and she got all Samaria to come out and hear him. Take long breaths. Fill your lungs, and keep them full. Stop to breathe before the air is exhausted. Then you will not finish every sentence-ah, with a terrible gasp-ah, as if you were dying for want of air-ah, as some people do-ah, and so strain their lungs-ah, as to make sport for the Philistines-ah. Many a time when we stand in the pulpit, some sinner may be present to whom we are addressing our last message; who will never hear the gospel or be exhorted to take care of his soul again. Should we not wish to pour upon such an one the whole force of our powers of persuasion—to speak to him emphatically in the words of Richard Baxter, “as a dying man to dying men”?—Christian Review. Said a minister once, when I gently hinted to him that he had not preached the gospel that morning: “No,” said he, “I did not mean to preach to sinners in the morning, but I will preach to them in the evening.” “Ah!” said I, “but what if some of your congregation of the morning should be dead before evening?”—Spurgeon. Leigh Richmond says: “Keep in mind that excellent rule: never preach a single sermon from which an unenlightened hearer might not learn the plan of salvation, even though he never afterward heard another discourse.” We must be Christ’s disciples before we are his ministers; his followers before ambassadors. We must learn Christ before we preach him; otherwise we may “fish” for a livelihood, for honor, for applause, but not for souls; if we be not first inclosed ourselves in the net of the gospel, we can have but small hopes of bringing others.—Burkitt. THE old adage, “Troubles never come singly,” seems to be verified at the present time in the case of the Roman Catholic Church. No sooner was her chief political support destroyed by the success of Protestant Prussia over France, than Victor Emmanuel’s troops took possession of Rome, released the prisoners found in papal dungeons; and these tell a sad story of persecution and suffering. And no sooner was the convent system exposed in Austria by the discovery of the imprisoned nun of Cracow, than the courts of England were called to examine a somewhat similar case in connection with a convent in Hull. And similar cases of exposure are being from time to time presented in the United States, as for example, the case of Mary Ann Smith in New York; and only a few weeks ago, in Cincinnati, a nun—Miss Edith O’Gorman—who escaped from a nunnery in New Jersey, and lectures on the system of convent life. Her descriptions were so much like what we would expect from the principles of the system, and so similar to those which have from time to time been given by others, that we have no doubt of their truthfulness, and sad indeed were her revelations. The chief feature of the system, and indeed the source of its abuses, is the unreserved obedience that must be rendered to superiors—the turning of the subordinates in these establishments to mere machines, and not allowing them to think of personal responsibility. The following extract from her lecture will illustrate the terrible use made of this principle: “The vow of chastity forbids the thought of any spouse but Christ. A sister must not permit her thoughts to dwell on any individual of the opposite sex. If allowed to see her father or brother, she must not touch his hand. Should a confessor take the hand of a sister, with whatever intent, she may not withdraw it. The vow of obedience has supremacy over the vow of chastity. It was related that St. Clara was very much afflicted because she accidentally raised her eyes and saw the face of a monk; but there are not many like her in the convents now. If a sister falls in love with a priest, she is bound to tell him and obtain his advice about it. The priest thus informed may, of course, take advantage of her confession, and beyond any doubt many priests do take this advantage. Nuns had their lovers among priests and laymen. The lecturess had seen six nuns in love with one priest at one time.” “By the vow of obedience a sister must not only give up her will, but lower her judgment and reason. Sisters must kneel in addressing their superior, and listen to her commands, as though they were from the mouth of God. The superiors are often in the highest degree ignorant and brutal, taking delight in devising absurd peculiar tortures to test the fortitude of novices. The lecturess, while a novice, had been compelled by her superior, on one occasion, to eat a large earth worm, and on other occasions to do numerous things too disgusting to mention.” To these exposures we might also add the volumes being published by Mrs. Julia McNair Wright, the last of which, “Almost a Priest,” a correspondent notices in the following words: “Its foundation-facts and its leading characters are real; and published statistics are abundantly spread before us, to show the deadly design of popery and our appalling dangers. “As a merely critical remark, we add that the narrative is wonderful for its vast variety of incidents and its diversity of characters—all delineated with a vigor and a keen discrimination, scarcely to be paralleled in any other work of the day. So far as each reader has had experience in the subject of the volume, will he see that the author is master of it, is truly at home in her great patriotic and Christian labor to arouse her country to the awful dangers now pressing upon us in every part of the land.” Extracts from the Writings of the Learned.—No. 2.
By M. M. Osgood
FROM ADAM CLARKE’S COMMENTARY.
1 Tim. 2:11, 12: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man.” “A woman should attempt nothing either in public or private that belongs to man as his peculiar function. Verse 11 is generally supposed to be a prohibition of women’s preaching. I have already said what I judge necessary on this subject in the notes on 1 Cor. 11:5, and 14:34, 35.” 1 Cor. 14:29, 32: “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. . . . And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” It appears to have been taken for granted that a man might pretend to this spirit of prophecy, who was not sent of God. Therefore it was the duty of accredited teachers to examine whether what he spoke was according to the truth and the analogy of faith. . . . But all these provisions, as Schoetgen observes, were in imitation of the practice in the Jewish synagogue; for there it was customary for them to object, interrogate, judge, refute, &c. 1 Cor. 14:34: “Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” It is evident from the context that the apostle refers here to asking questions, and what we call dictating in assemblies. It was permitted to any man to ask questions, to object, to altercate, attempt to refute, &c., in the synagogue. But this liberty was not allowed to any woman. Paul confirms this also in reference to the Christian church. Verse 35. He orders them to keep silence; and if they wished to learn anything, let them inquire of their husbands at home; because it was perfectly indecorous for women to be contending with men in public assemblies, on points of doctrine, cases of conscience, &c. But this by no means intimated that when a woman received any particular influence from God to enable her to teach, that she was not to obey that influence. On the contrary, she was to obey it; and the apostle lays down directions in chap. 11, for regulating her personal appearance when thus employed. All the apostle opposes here, is their questioning, finding fault, &c., in the Christian church, as the Jewish men were permitted to do in their synagogues, together with the attempt to usurp any authority over the man, by setting up their judgment in opposition to them. The apostle has in view, especially, acts of disobedience, arrogance, &c., of which no woman could be guilty who was under the influence of the Spirit of God. “But to be under obedience,” &c. This is in reference to Gen. 3:16. . . . From this it is evident that it was the disorderly and disobedient that the apostle had in view, and not any of those on whom God had poured out his Spirit. 1 Cor. 11:5: “But any woman that prayeth or prophesieth,” &c. Whatever may be the meaning of praying or prophesying in respect to the man, they have precisely the same meaning in respect to the woman. So that some women at least, as well as some men, might speak to others to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. And this kind of prophesying or teaching was predicted by Joel 2:28, 29, and referred to by Peter, in Acts 2:17. And had there not been such gifts bestowed on women, the prophecy could not have had its fulfillment. M. M. Osgood. Perils of the Last Days.
By A. P. Lawton
THINGS remain so much the same, many may suppose that we have not yet entered the perils of the last days. It is true we do not yet have to flee before our enemies; but is not the spirit of slumber, self-indulgence, and ease, as perilous? The spirit to put off the time, to be busy here and there, and allow the eventful moments to pass, and we be found sleeping when we should be watching and in earnest to put away our sins? These are now our perils. A little more sleep, a little more slumber. We love to return to our rest. Here is our danger. The good Spirit is grieved, and evil angels have the ascendency. We become weary in warring and striving. Evil propensities strengthen and predominate. The polite, light literature of the day with which the world is flooded steals time, vitiates the taste, dissipates the mind, and renders solid and spiritual reading dry and uninteresting. The precious time, the sands of which are so nearly run out, should not be spent in this kind of reading. We need not be ashamed of being ignorant of the merits or demerits of the latest magazines. What is that to us? We are, or should be, engaged in a more exalted work. A. P. LAWTON. Winfield, N. Y., Jan. 8, 1871. The great want of this age is men. Men who are not for sale. Men who are honest, sound from center to circumference, true to the heart's core—men who will condemn wrong in a friend or foe, in themselves as well as others. Men whose consciences are as steady as the needle to the pole. Men who will stand for the right if the heavens totter and the earth reel. Men who can tell the truth, and look the world and the devil right in the eye. Men that neither brag nor run. Men that neither flag nor flinch. Men who have courage without shouting to it. Men in whom the current of everlasting life runs still, deep, and strong. Men who do not cry, nor cause their voices to be heard on the streets, but who will not fail or be discouraged till judgment be set in the earth. Men who know their message, and tell it. Men who know their places, and fill them. Men who know their own business. Men who will not lie. Men who are not too lazy to work, nor too proud to be poor. Men who are willing to eat what they have earned, and wear what they have paid for. These are the men wanted to help carry on the work of the church of God everywhere.—Sel. APPLETON'S Journal has the following: “We find quoted in our exchanges an amusing little poem, called ‘How to replenish the Church Treasury,’ in which the lessons of saving, to the end that we may have the means for charity, are enforced after a somewhat novel method. The first verse tells us:— “Let Annie buy one ribbon less, $1.00
And Fanny give one ring; 5.00
Grace sacrifice one change of dress, 50.00
One sash and fancy string. 3.00
“Then follows the suggestion that Julia should from her next new suit, ‘one lace-trimmed ruffle spare,’ which the accurate poet carries out in his column of figures as ‘$2.00;’ Kate and Rose are advised to do Bridget’s work, and save her wages; Mary is implored, with Jane, to forego ‘their pleasant carriage drive’; Susie is urged to make her old furs ‘serve a second winter’s cold;’ and finally, “Let Lizzie stop and think again,
Ere she concludes to buy;
‘This diamond’s cost might save lost men!
I’ll give its price—and try.’ $500.00
Facts Worthy of Consideration.
It is a fact that our large cities are becoming every year more and more morally and politically corrupt. It is a fact that the proportion between the property-holders and the voters in our large cities is every year becoming larger and larger, and, as a consequence, unprincipled men find it easier to obtain office, and reckless expenditures of money obtained by taxation is the result. The city of New York furnishes the fullest example of these facts. According to the public prints, the debt of that city is now some seventy-six millions—about $82 to every man, woman, and child, in the city. The great mass of the voters own little or no property, and having less moral principle, it is a matter of no importance to them how large the taxes are. And worse still, as a leading Presbyterian minister writes: “It is a terrible fact that human life is becoming fearfully insecure, and justice is bought and sold in the city court-rooms, and that the laws for closing dens of debauchery on God’s day are openly set at defiance.” We do not believe that the condition of things is so bad in any other city; but we cannot close our eyes to the fact that in proportion as the other cities increase in population, in the same proportion is this same goal of wickedness being reached. What can be done to remedy this fearful evil? The question is one for the patriot, as well as for the Christian; for it cannot be gainsaid that if all the population of our land were in the condition of the city of New York, we could not maintain our Republican institutions for three years. We repeat it, therefore, it is a question for both patriots and Christians, What can be done to save our land from moral and political ruin? We answer, The only adequate remedy is to bring the masses of our population under the power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the only way to make men honest, sober and industrious, and to lead them to follow right, truth and humanity. Other measures, such as the banding together of good men in all political parties to elect to office only men of principle, is proper and right; but it can only dam up the stream for a time, it cannot purify the fountain—it cannot correct the principles and purify the motives of men. The religion of the Lord Jesus Christ alone can do this; and, therefore, we submit that the facts we have named call loudly on all interested in the preservation and perpetuation of our civil and religious privileges to renew their efforts to bring the masses of our population under the power of the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ.—Christian Press. Keep Yourself from Opportunities
KEEP yourself from opportunities, and God will keep you from sins. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. DIED, Jan 9, at the residence of her son, Eld. James White, Battle Creek, Betsey White, wife of Dea. John White, aged nearly eighty-three years. Her life was one of remarkable devotion to the cause of Christ, and her example was such as ever to recommend the religion of Jesus. As early as 1842, she became deeply interested in the doctrine of the speedy advent of the Saviour, and this faith she cherished till she fell asleep. For some ten years preceding her death, she was a conscientious observer of the seventh day as the Sabbath of the Lord. In June last she was stricken with paralysis. In consequence of this, herself and husband were removed to the residence of their son, where she received every kindness and attention till her decease. Her evidence of acceptance with God was very clear in her last hours; and she peacefully resigned herself to death, in the blest assurance of a part in the resurrection of the just. Our aged father White must soon follow her to the grave. But in his feebleness he is sustained in this great bereavement by the hope of the gospel. The funeral services were conducted by the writer, who spoke briefly from 1 Thess. 4: 18.
J. N. ANDREWS. DIED, Dec. 26, 1870, in Greenbush, Clinton Co., Mich., of consumption and chronic inflammation of the stomach, my dear mother, Rhoda E., wife of David Sevy. She has been a believer in the third angel’s message nearly fourteen years. She united with the S. D. A. church of Greenbush at its organization, and endeavored to live a consistent Christian life until her death. She died in hope of eternal life where trials and troubles are no more.
O. B. SEVY. ROMAN CATHOLIC IDOLATRY IN CHINA.—
By Arthur E. Moule
It is the religion of Mary, not of Christ, which is professed at Rome; her emissaries are Marians, not Jesuits. And the unblushing idolatry practiced by that church must be far more hateful to God than the idolatry of the heathen. Roman Catholic idolatry is a sin against the full light of God's written word; heathen idolatry is sin against the twilight glimmer of the book of nature. Neither can any reply that the Roman Catholics worship the true God; the heathen, false gods; and that, therefore, Roman Catholic idolatry is infinitely more palliable than that of the heathen. They worship men and women, as well as God. “I went into one of their chapels,” said an intelligent Chinese gentleman the other day; “it was full of images. There was the image of God; the djun-neng-ziang (“the image of the Almighty”); there, too, were Mo-li-ziang (“the image of Mary”) Jah-seh-ziang (“the image of Joseph”); all worshiped and prayed to; and I thought the scene much like that in our native temples. I was admitted after a while into an inner room, and there was a service going on for the souls in purgatory, and for our departed unconverted ancestors; all the world like our sacrificial ceremonies for the spirits of the dead; and I came out, resolving if I changed, to make a more thorough change than that.”—Rev. Arthur E. Moule. Review to the Poor.
By James White
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see; The blind receive their sight, and the lame do walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Matt. 11: 4, 5. Among the wonderful things which John’s disciples witnessed in Jesus Christ, was the fact that the poor had the gospel preached to them. The gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, whether it be by the living preacher, or by the press, is free, especially to the poor. And it is the happy privilege of those who have property, and ability to obtain still more, to send the gospel to the poor. There are worthy poor, and unworthy poor. And there are those who will plead poverty for the sake of being supported, when they can as well help themselves. We pity the really worthy poor, for the reason that there are so many miserable unworthy poor; and those also whose detestable penuriousness leads them to plead poverty to save a little expense. These are an evil and a misfortune to both the worthy poor, and to those also who desire to assist the Lord’s poor. But we must make the best of these evils, act as judiciously as possible, and be sure not to get stingy because unworthy subjects share some of our liberalities. God requires us to give. We must give as wisely as possible, and leave the matter for the judgment to make all right with those who can help themselves, but take advantage of our liberalities. The REVIEW must be sent to the poor. Those who have means that they can spare, will give it freely for this object. We call on all our subscribers who have not complied with the terms of the REVIEW, the Instructor, and the Reformer; namely, to pay in advance, to do so as soon as possible. There are due on these periodicals not less than twelve thousand dollars. The Association needs this money, and must have it. These accounts must be settled up. Some who are in debt for our periodicals are ordering them stopped. This meets neither law nor justice in the case. We simply state to one and all, that when your accounts are settled, then we will discontinue your periodicals if you request it. The courts have long since decided that any person continuing to receive a periodical through the post-office, becomes responsible for the payment of the subscription price of the periodical. Each week there is given, in connection with the subscriber’s name, the Vol. and No. to which each one has paid. When the time for which they have paid, or others for them, is up, if they want the paper stopped, they should notify the postmaster, and refuse to take the paper from the office; and then it is the postmaster’s business to notify the publishers. This is the course provided by law. We admit that the best course for publishers to adopt is, to drop all subscribers when the time for which they have paid is up. And this course would have been taken at this Office long since, had it not been for the pleadings of a hundred and one who have written stating that they were not ready to pay just then; but if we would wait, they would pay up soon. But, notwithstanding such requests, we shall probably adopt the strict, pay-in-advance system as soon as all accounts are settled. And here we state the terms of settlement. The only way for those who are able so to do, is simply to pay up what they owe. And if they want the periodicals continued, just forward the advance pay. We would prefer that subscribers should pay one year in advance, rather than one volume in advance, as this would save our clerks one-half the work in keeping subscribers’ accounts. But with the poor we propose to settle on the most liberal terms. First, we require of them to report themselves, or get some one to report them, to this Office, by letter. We want a brief statement of their circumstances and inability to pay. And if they wish our periodicals, they will please state their wishes. Second, the Association will give the poor one-half of their past indebtedness, and charge the other half to a fund to be created to furnish our periodicals to the poor. For current volumes we shall charge full prices to this fund. Following, will be seen brief statements of the conditions and the wishes of several, and the amounts to be charged to the fund up to this date. And now we call upon the friends of the poor, and of our publishing interests, to forward their free-will offerings, to meet the amounts given to furnish our periodicals to the poor, as they shall be reported from time to time. The officers of all our churches should look after their worthy poor, and see that they are reported. We expect to be imposed upon by some unworthy persons; but the friends of the cause can help us by reporting both the worthy and the unworthy who receive our periodicals without paying for them. Jackson Banks, Montcalm Co., Mich., is in arrears, and wants REVIEW, Instructor, and Reformer, stopped till he can pay up. We bring his REVIEW and Instructor account up to close of present volume. Amount $4.51. Widow E. E. Huffman, Jackson Co., Mich., writes that she likes the REVIEW, but cannot pay for it. $1.00. W. S. Spencer, Wis., has a large family to support, and wants the REVIEW stopped till he can renew his subscription. $1.25. Ellen M. Morse, Summit Co., Iowa, states that the REVIEW is a welcome visitor, but her circumstances will not admit of her taking it longer. $2.00. J. A. Strong, on account of sickness, cannot pay for the REVIEW. $3.50. Electa L. Lane, Montcalm Co., Mich., promises to pay for REVIEW when she can earn it by taking in washing. $3.88. Fred Hall, Lenawee Co., Mich., says the REVIEW is their only preacher, and they are the only Sabbath-keepers in the place. Wants the paper, but has not the money to pay. $1.00. J. H. Thompson, Mich., still wants the paper. Is not able to pay. $3.32. H. L. Doty, Steuben Co., Ind., writes that he has had REVIEW a long time without paying for it. Would pay if he could. $6.24. Eliza A. Bryant, loves the REVIEW, has an aged mother to take care of, night and day; therefore cannot go out to work to earn money to pay for REVIEW. $4.00. T. R. St. Clair, of Maine, is sick, confined to his room, and pleads to have the Reformer continued. $1.00. H. V. Trembley, Mich., likes “the REVIEW very much;” says, “It has been the means of bringing me into the truth.” Wants it continued. $2.40. J. J. Spaulding, of Maine, says he has done no work for two years; is supported by friends. The REVIEW is his only preacher. $6.00. Olive Rogers, Hillsdale Co., Mich., says she cannot pay for the REVIEW; has had it several years, and thinks it is asking too much to have it continued. $6.00. M. A. Addison, of Ct., says they cannot part with the REVIEW; but, owing to sickness, have fallen behind in paying for it. She sends $1.00, promising more, and wants the Reformer. $4.08. Louisa N. Buzzell says that some one ordered the REVIEW for them; that they cannot pay for it. Her husband has been sick three years, and her health is poor. She says they will miss it very much; that when she read to her husband what she had written, he replied, “Well, we have some old ones in the house. We will read them.” They are aged and poor. $2.62. A. L. Burroughs, Vt., says she has the Instructor, and her very aged father receives the REVIEW. She says: “If you will send them, we will be very thankful; if not, we will not complain.” $2.00. S. D. Smith, Minn., has a few books which he keeps in circulation. As the result, four families have embraced the Sabbath the past year. He says the REVIEW comes laden with precious truth; but that he will have to give it up, as he cannot pay for it. $4.00. Jane Nichols, Gratiot Co., Mich., has read the REVIEW for twenty years; but is now too poor to pay for it. $3.50. John Coy says: “I do not know how to reconcile myself to part with the second-best earthly friend,—the Bible first, the REVIEW second.” “My family are in limited circumstances, and bad health.” $2.88. Henry Luce, Iowa, cannot pay for the REVIEW, past, present, or future; but does not like to do without it. $4.75. Mrs. A. Waters, Mich., expresses great thankfulness for the paper. Is poor; cannot pay now; but hopes to be able to pay some time. $2.72. T. E. Thorp, North-western Kansas, wants the paper continued. Is very poor, and cannot pay now. $5.00. Phebe Northup writes that sickness and doctors’ bills prevent her from paying for the REVIEW this year. We will continue it, and send the Health Reformer, which is a great thing to stop doctors’ bills. $1.74. Catherine Rich, of Kansas, writes that she has lost the use of her left hand to a great degree, so that she cannot earn money. She thanks God and unknown friends for sending her the REVIEW. She says she loves the truth, and is striving to live it out. “The precious paper is all the preacher we have. It cheers my lonely heart.” $1.50. We also add Julia Hamchett, Iowa, $2.86; Sarah M. Fuller, Ohio, $5.50; H. Hickok, Minn., $4.80; Peter Enfield, Iowa, $1.50; T Rose, Iowa, $1.50. Total, $97.11. For this object we give $10. JAMES WHITE, Pres’t S. D. A. P. A. The Conference.
By James White
It is a fact that about fifty families of Sabbath-keepers have moved from Battle Creek within eighteen months. Hence there are not as many to entertain a General Conference as formerly. At this season of the year it will be necessary for those who come, as far as convenient, to bring bed-clothing, something on the style of camp-meeting. Then all can be made comfortable. The General Conference Committee will still labor to the point to induce those who cannot be a help to the cause at Battle Creek to remove to other parts, and to induce real helpers to move in. Twenty-five good families are wanted this spring. Then we can better support our annual gatherings. J. W.