I arrived at Nordby on the Island of Fanö the 23d of August, and left the 28th. I held seven meetings, sold some tracts, and obtained seven subscribers for ADVENT TIDENDE.
There are only two parishes on this island, Nordby and Sonderhö. They have each a large, spacious church. The people are very much attached to the State church, but there are, however, a few who have some experience in the religion of Christ. Great prejudice exists against everything that is not Lutheran, but notwithstanding this I had an audience Sunday evening of about one hundred and fifty persons, who listened attentively to a sermon on the kingdom of glory.
There are a few here who keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Bro. Thaanum, from Holstebro, went with me. He remains there to sell our works and hold a few meetings.
Sunday, Sept. 2, I held a meeting again in N. Saltum. About two hundred had come together, and the word of God was again preached to them in a barn—undoubtedly the last time for this year, as the grain which is being harvested will soon fill their barns. It rejoiced my heart to meet these friends again, and to see that the word of God still affected their hearts. It will be two weeks yet before we can hold regular meetings, but in the meantime we meet on Sabbath and Sunday, and I write for our paper.
V. HJERMESLEV.
We received a letter from Norway this week from a person who, in a wonderful manner, has received the ADVENT TIDENDE, and now rejoices in the truth which we love. A family in America, who since have separated themselves from our people, and have shown themselves to be our bitterest enemies, had sent our paper to one of their relatives in Norway. This person was not interested in the paper, but let another person read it, who found the truth of God in it and accepted it.
I have spent the greater part of this week writing for ADVENT TIDENDE. The hurry and bustle of the harvest still continues. They use no machines here, so that it lasts longer; but this helps the many poor among the laboring class. Sunday we held two meetings; in the forenoon we had about two hundred hearers in S. Saltum; and in the afternoon a still larger number were assembled in Hjermeslev. We have obtained five subscribers for the paper this week, and about forty altogether, since coming to Denmark, besides those sent here by friends.
The truth will, by the help of God, gain friends here; but we cannot expect to see immediate results of our labors, as in America. We will labor on perseveringly and to the best of our ability, and pray the Lord for strength to bear up under the difficulties connected with laboring in a new field. The spirit is willing, but our bodily strength is small. We believe, however, that our Heavenly Father, who thus far has ordered all things so graciously for us, will not leave us to ourselves, but will still continue to be our best friend, while we are separated so far from those we love most on earth. We can no longer hear them pray, nor sing, nor speak of the love of Christ; but we can send up our prayers daily with them to the throne of grace.
STENUM.
It is some time since I received an invitation to come to this city. It lies about nine miles from Alstrup. After having written for the paper the whole week, and held a meeting on the Sabbath, we went to Stenum Sunday morning. It had rained several days, and the rain still continued. It rained hard in the afternoon for which our appointment was given, but there were nevertheless about one hundred persons present. There were some present from Hjörring. One of these, who has tried to serve the Lord for many years, and has read the TIDENDE the past year, is entirely convinced about the truth. He said that he wanted to unite with those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.
In the forenoon I attended the service of the German Baptists. They have a missionary here from America. There are two other persons among them who speak in public, who are also from America. They have baptized some in this vicinity. I was invited to their meeting, and after one of them had spoken they requested me to speak. They are interested in the advent of our Saviour, and the word spoken affected their hearts. They are very kind and friendly to us. May the truth concerning the law of God also find a place in their hearts.
Pray for us, dear brethren and sisters in America, that the Lord may overrule all things to his name’s honor and glory.
JOHN G. MATTESON.
Alstrup, pr. Bronderslev, Sept. 17, 1877.
TO THE FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE.
By F. M. T. Simonson
To such as have taken stock in the Battle Creek College, a word is offered.
Do you ever wonder if money thus invested is doing any service? If so, a visit to the prayer-meeting held by the students in the College chapel, would have given a satisfactory reply. Meeting opened at 6:30 P. M., Oct. 5. It was thought best to have it mostly of a social character, and ninety-nine testimonies were given. Sometimes three were upon the floor at once, in turn giving a great variety of remarks, yet, the same good “old story.” What a sight, to look over the vast audience, composed almost entirely of students, so earnestly desiring to march to the promised land! One of the professors was unable to close his last sentence by reason of tears; another’s countenance showed his great anxiety for those under his charge; while another made tender pleas for the Master’s cause. There were several attempts made to close the meeting; but still they arose until one and one-half hours had passed quickly away. All felt that the good work begun on the Michigan camp-ground did not end when tents were struck.
Could you have seen all this, you would have received your pay this side the great treasure-house.
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” Jas. 5:1–3. “And he that earneth wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” Hag. 1:6. “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made, each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats.” Isa. 2:20.
“But they that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Tim. 6:9, 10. F. M. T. SIMONSON.
Battle Creek, Mich.
SABBATH AGITATION.
By James H. Waggoner
Eld. N. Summerbell, editor of the Herald of Gospel Liberty, the Christian paper of Dayton, Ohio, has published some truths in regard to the Sabbath which greatly stirs up the prejudices of some members of that church. In the Herald of June 16, 1877, a sermon is copied from the Cincinnati Commercial (a copy of which will be found in another column), which places the Sabbath on its true basis.
The following question and answer appeared in the Herald a few months since:—
“Bro. Summerbell, Please answer the following questions:—
“Who changed the Sabbath day, and when was it changed from the seventh day to the first day of the week?
“Reply: There is no record of any one changing it. Christ reproved the rigor of its Jewish observance. Christianity did away the penalties of the Jewish State law, by doing away the Jewish law. This left the Sabbath on the Eden, patriarchal, and decalogue basis, without the human penalties. Christ rose on the first day, which caused the early Christians to hold it sacred, and hold meetings and communion on that day. Constantine released all his subjects from work on the first day; and as all Christians were his subjects, they all made it a holy day; and all Christian nations, with few exceptions, have continued to keep it.”
The following from the Inter-Ocean of Chicago, is right to the point. With such statements sent forth to the thousands of readers of this popular paper, and such as are being constantly published by other papers, the truth on the Sabbath question is like to find its way to all classes.
“1. Who changed the Sabbath day, and when? 2. Is Sunday the first day of the week?
“Ans. 1. The change of the day of worship from the Sabbath, or the last day of the week, to Sunday, or the first day of the week, was done by the early Christians, but the work was so gradual that it is almost impossible to determine when the one left off and the other began. It was not until after the Reformation that the change was confirmed by any legal enactment. In the first ages after Christ it does not appear that the Christians abstained from their regular business upon that day, but they were accustomed to meet early in the day, and indulge in singing and some other religious services. It was not until the beginning of the third century that it became customary for Christians to abstain from their worldly business and occupation on that day. It was accounted a day for rejoicing, and it was customary to devote some portion of the day to sports and pastimes, which practice continued until the Reformation. Plays were performed at the English court during the reign of Elizabeth, and even down to the time of Charles I. As soon, however, as the Christian religion became recognized, laws were enacted for the observance of the Sunday. Constantine, in 321, ordered the suspension “of proceedings in law courts, and all other business except agricultural,” which is the first legal restriction. These laws were enlarged in their restrictions, but even as late as Edward VI. (about 1543), Sunday was classed among the holy days with Christmas, Good Friday, etc. This law was drawn by Cranmer. When the Puritans and other strict religionists gained the ascendancy, they began to style Sunday, a term which they thought to be profane as having been derived from Saxon idolatry, the Sabbath or the Lord’s day. From this time the religious character of the Sabbath became attached strongly to Sunday, which has been maintained ever since. 2. Yes.”
Seldom do we find more truth compressed into so small space than is contained in the above answers. The wonder every day increases why people will cling to Sunday as a Christian ordinance in the entire absence of proof of its possessing any Christian origin or character.
J. H. Waggoner.
BLUNT BUT TRUE.
There is said to be a young man in the Missouri penitentiary whose parents, at their death, left him a fortune of $50,000. There is where his parents made a fatal mistake. If they had taken the precaution to invest that sum in a small dog, and shot him, and then had simply left the young man a jack-plane or a wood saw, with printed instructions how to use it, the chances are that, instead of being in the penitentiary, he would to-day have been gradually but surely working his way up to a handsome competency and an honorable old age. But ever since the days of Adam and Eve, parents have made it a point to toil and struggle all their lives in order to realize a sufficient sum of money to purchase, when they are dead and gone, their sons each a first-class through ticket to the devil; and it is not much to be wondered at that so many of their sons, reared in vice and idleness, as too many of them often are, have no higher ambition than to invest their inheritance in just that sort of transportation. —Sel.
A Year's Earthquakes
Manifestations of internal force beneath the earth's crust, in the shape of either earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, occur, on an average, nearly three times a week, in greater or less intensity, in some part of the globe. Out of the 365 days of 1875 one hundred were marked by terrestrial disturbances, of which authentic records exist, while there must have been many shocks of more or less violence in unfrequented portions of the globe where volcanic forces are known to exist. The most serious of these observed phenomena occurred at Cucuta, New Granada, on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of May, when several towns and villages were destroyed; at San Cristobal and Guadalaxara, in Mexico, on February 11th; at Lifu Island, in the north Pacific, on March 28th; at Lahore, in the Punjab, and at Porto Rico on the 12th and 21st of December. All these places, it will be observed, are in the torrid zone, with the exception of Lahore, which is only a short distance north of the tropic of cancer. It is estimated that no fewer than 20,000 people lost their lives during the destruction caused by these earthquakes, while the damage to property was enormous.—London Times.
Love to God and Neighbor as Whole Duty
Love to God and love to our neighbor comprehends man's whole duty. On these two hang all the law and the prophets. Moses taught these two commandments. Deut. 6: 5; Lev. 19: 18. The law and the prophets hung on them then; they hang there still. The only disagreement between ourselves and others on this point is, they hold that nine commandments of the law hang there, we ten, “all the law.”
WISCONSIN
Waterloo.
We have held twelve meetings with the church at Waterloo, Grant Co. This church numbers sixty-six members, and forty-two responded to their names on the Sabbath. Some were not able to be present, but were heard from; so we found nearly all trying to live the truth, but very much as did ancient Israel,—according to their own interpretation of the law and gospel. But as we set before them the plain obligations of the word of God, the Spirit of the Lord came into our midst, and confessions were made, which always open the way for the Spirit of the Lord to work. Then, the word began to take effect upon the unconverted; so that eight were baptized and united with the church. Many others are convinced that they have heard the truth, and are almost persuaded to obey it.
I found that many in this church neglect the Bible, do not take the REVIEW, and read our publications very little, therefore in conversation about the truth they manifested much ignorance, and they are unprepared to meet temptations and trials, and overcome them. They also neglect to read and obey the instruction given through the gift of prophecy; and the leaders do not visit and labor with unruly members as the Lord has commanded. See Matt. 18:15–19. If our brethren and sisters in every church will faithfully do the work here given them by our Saviour, they will thereby show their love to him; and he says, “My Father will love him, and we will come and make our abode with him.” John 14:23. This is just what every church and member now need,—the especial presence of God.
Let us obey him, and he will be with us and help us. I. SANBORN.
Comstock School-House, Oct. 1.
Two weeks ago this evening, I commenced meetings here. Have spoken fifteen times. By the blessing of God, as the result of our labors so far, thirteen have decided for God and his Sabbath. Many more are interested, and are searching to see if these things are so. Of course, Babylon is stirred, and the usual opposition shows itself. Our courage is good, and we feel to thank God for the victory he gives his truth.
My address is Pardeeville, Wis. S. S. SMITH.
ILLINOIS
By C. H. Bliss
Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., Oct. 2.
We have now been in this place three weeks and three days, and have held, in all, about thirty meetings. One week ago last Sabbath, five signified a desire to become Christians and unite with the church. These were children of Sabbath-keepers who had come in from a distance to attend this meeting. Last Sabbath fourteen residing in this place arose, thus signifying their determination to hereafter keep the Sabbath. Three or four others informed me that they were keeping the Sabbath, making seventeen or eighteen residents of this place who have commenced to observe the Sabbath since we came here. We have our first baptism next Sabbath.
But now Satan is stirred up. One man threatens my life if we receive a member of his family into our church: another threatens the lock-out argument to keep one at home. But none of these things move us, and the common people hear us gladly.
On next Sunday, Eld. Allen, a Baptist minister of this place, speaks against us. We invited him into the tent, but he refused; however, we shall hear him and reply. Quite a number of the workmen in the machine shops have acknowledged the truth. Perhaps the majority will permit circumstances to control them, but we hope for a few.
The weather is very warm and pleasant. Bro. I. G. Colcord and son render me much assistance; also Bro. J. B. Logan, who has spoken a few time. Bro. L. has ability, and we trust he will be as successful a laborer among us as he has been among his former brethren, the Methodists. We hope for a good large church here.
C. H. BLISS.
N. Y. AND PA. CONFERENCE.
By B. L. Whitney; S. B. Whitney
The sixteenth annual session of the New York and Pennsylvania Conference convened at Jefferson Park, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1877, according to appointment. Twenty churches were represented by twenty-five delegates. Five new churches were admitted to the Conference, represented by five delegates.
After the usual preliminary business, it was voted that the several committees be appointed by the Conference Committee, which was accordingly done.
The Committee on Nominations recommended the re-election of the officers of last year, and the recommendation was confirmed by a single vote.
The Committee on Resolutions presented the following, which were unanimously adopted, the last one by a rising vote of the entire audience:—
Whereas, The past year has been one of unusual prosperity in spiritual things within the bounds of this Conference; therefore,
Resolved, That we hereby express our gratitude to God for the willingness that has existed on the part of the people to hear, and for the numbers that have received the truth, many of whom we are happy to meet upon this camp-ground.
Resolved, That we are grateful to God for the favorable circumstances that have attended this meeting, for the blessing of119the Lord which we have enjoyed, and for the good spirit that has prevailed in our midst.
Resolved, That we express our heartfelt appreciation of the fair and candid reports given of our camp-meeting, and for the favor shown by the Utica and Watertown papers in publishing the same.
Resolved, That we express our thanks to our Executive and Camp-meeting Committees for their faithful labors in behalf of this meeting.
Resolved, That we express our thanks to the General Conference for the help furnished at this meeting.
Resolved, That we are grateful to God for sparing the lives of his servants, Bro. and Sr. White, and permitting them to meet with us at this annual gathering.
The matter of camp-meeting expenses was referred to the Board of Auditors.
Credentials were given to Brn. J. N. Andrews, C. O. Taylor, B. L. Whitney, S. B. Whitney, C. B. Reynolds, J. Wilbur, R. F. Cottrell, F. Wheeler, A. H. Hall; and licenses, to Brn. Geo. D. Ballou, E. W. Whitney, A. P. Bump, M. H. Brown, H. H. Wilcox.
The treasurer’s report was as follows:—
Money received, $3017.35
Expended, 2097.19
Balance, $920.16
Chas. E. GREEN, Treasurer.
Three hundred dollars were voted to the General Conference. It was also voted to send a delegate to the General Conference, and that said delegate be appointed by the Conference Committee. The matter of appointing the camp-meeting committees for next year was also referred to the Conference Committee.
The following resolutions were presented by the president and unanimously adopted:—
Resolved, 1. That the hearty thanks of this meeting be tendered to the Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg and the Utica and Black River Railroads, and to the officers and employees of the Utica and Black River Railroad, for their gentlemanly courtesy, and their unceasing and successful endeavors to aid and promote the interest of the meeting and accommodate all who have attended.
2. That the grateful thanks of the Seventh-day Adventists of Northern, Central, and Eastern New York be tendered to the editors and reporters of the Watertown and Utica daily papers for their full, candid, and interesting reports of this meeting.
3. That a copy of these resolutions be furnished to the railroad officials, and to the daily papers for publication.
Thanks were tendered to Mr. Buck and son, the owners of the ground, for their courtesy and generous bearing toward us.
The business of the Conference occupied several sessions, the last one being held on the afternoon of Sept. 17, at the close of which the Conference was adjourned indefinitely.
B. L. WHITNEY, Pres.
S. B. WHITNEY, Sec.
MISSOURI
By George I. Butler
Nevada City, Oct. 1.
This might be called a camp-meeting on a small scale, though not originally intended as such by my appointment. The brethren in that section were desirous of having a general meeting, and telegraphed an appointment for a tent-meeting, pitched the forty-foot tent in a grove on the skirts of the town, and invited the brethren to come out. Meetings commenced Wednesday night, and continued till Sunday night. Those living near did not expect day meetings till Sabbath; but Wednesday about thirty brethren and sisters came from a distance, quite a number from Avilla, fifty miles away, and we improved the time by holding continuous meetings, camp-meeting style. Sabbath there were from seventy-five to one hundred Sabbath-keepers present, which was considerably more than attended the general camp-meeting of the Conference last June. Only two tents were pitched for camping; but there were fifteen or twenty covered wagons on the ground, in which the people lodged, Western style. It was really most encouraging to see the people come together with so little notice, though there were many more who might have come.
The Lord gave freedom in speaking, especially Sabbath. The hearts of these brethren began to warm up, particularly those who were there from the beginning. The Holy Spirit worked upon hearts, and the ice began to melt. Sabbath afternoon, after the preaching, we had an excellent social meeting. Many spoke, and made solemn vows to live nearer to God, and expressed great gratitude for the encouragement and light they had received at the meeting. After all who seemed inclined to do so had spoken, an appeal was made to those who had never started, or who had greatly backslidden, to come forward. Nearly twenty responded, some of whom in broken accents declared their determination to give themselves to the Lord. We were all greatly encouraged; and we thought another good day would so deepen the work that great and permanent good would be accomplished.
The next morning we presented the subject of raising a tent and a camp-meeting fund, to pay off the debt of $80 which had accrued at the last camp-meeting, and to purchase two new tents for next season. Two hundred dollars were subscribed without difficulty. The brethren acted freely and did fully as much as we expected them to do. We talked freely and earnestly concerning the agencies the Lord has used in building up this work, and the great health movement, concerning which the Sabbath-keepers in this Conference are very backward. Our remarks were well received, and seemed to make an impression.
All seemed to feel the meeting was progressing excellently up to noon Sunday, when some thought they must go home. Just about half left. This nearly destroyed the interest. From that time but little could be done. I was intending to try to carry the work further, hoping the good impressions which had been made upon those who had recently started might be deepened; but so many leaving completely broke the interest. This was very sad to me, especially as some of our most experienced brethren participated in the movement. Our brethren will have to learn to pursue a different course about attending our meetings, if they ever see the cause rise in Missouri. When we take pains to come together, and things are prospering well, and the Lord by his Spirit is affecting hearts, it is no small matter for our old Sabbath-keepers to take the responsibility of leaving at the most critical point, and thus hindering the work. Of course they do not design to do this; but that is the inevitable result. Our camp-meetings cannot accomplish much, unless our brethren will come at the commencement and stay till the close. All the expense, burden, and care are had, and the good effect is lost. We cannot afford this. I was really glad that all did not take this course. Our Avilla brethren, though nearly the whole church came, with the distance greatest of all, staid till the close of the meeting, while those living a few hours’ drive from Nevada City could hardly stay over the Sabbath. But we will be thankful that some good was done, and hope for improvement hereafter.
We greatly regretted the sickness of Bro. Hunter, the Conference secretary, who lives at this place. Though convalescent, yet he was unable to attend a single meeting. Bro. Wood assisted in preaching: spoke three times. I spoke twelve times. We can but hope that much good will grow out of this meeting in the future. Next comes our camp-meeting at Winstonville, commencing Thursday. May the Lord bless his work. GEO. I. BUTLER.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
By W. H. D. A.
The snow was drifting o’er the hills,
Fierce was the wind and loud,
While the Good Shepherd forward pressed,
His head in sorrow bowed:
“O Shepherd, rest, nor farther go,
The tempest hath begun.”
“I cannot stay, I must away
To seek my little one!”
A thorn-wreath bound the gentle brow
That beam’d with pity sweet,
And marks of wounds were in his hands,
And scars upon his feet.
Again I said: “O Shepherd, rest,
The tempest hath begun.”
He murmur’d: “Nay, I must away
To seek my little one.”
“I saw thy flock at peace within
Thine own well-guarded fold;
O Shepherd, pause, for wild the gale
That rages o’er the wold!”
“No; one poor lamb hath gone astray,
And soon may be undone;
I cannot stay, I must away
To seek my little one!”
“But, since thy flock are all secure,
Why to the night repair?
If thou hast ninety-nine at home
Why for a truant care?”
“Dearer to me than all the rest
Is that poor struggling one!
I cannot stay, I must away
To seek my little one!”
“Good Shepherd, tell me, if his need
Should bring the wanderer home,
Wilt thou not punish him with stripes,
Lest he again should roam?”
“No; I would clasp him to my heart,
As mother clasps her son.
I cannot stay, I must away
To seek my little one!”
Even so, I thought, our gracious Lord
Hath in his heart divine
A wealth of love for all his saints—
For all the ninety-nine!
But most he loves and most he seeks
The soul by sin undone;
And still he sighs: “I must away
To seek my little one!”
—W. H. D. A., in Scottish Guardian.
TO THE BRETHREN IN MINNESOTA.
By Harrison Grant
I LEFT our good camp-meeting at Hutchinson, and hurried home, as my wife's health was poor, and to all appearance she was nearing the grave. We soon decided that she should go to Battle Creek, for treatment at the Health Institute. My wife and youngest daughter have now been at the Institute nine weeks, and during the last few weeks their health has improved, so that we begin to hope. We thank God for the Institute, and the good and kind treatment they have received from the physicians and helpers there. They are treated with the utmost care and kindness by all.
I left home July 21, and have been laboring the most of the time with the newly organized churches in the Conference. July 22, we organized a church of eighteen members at Faribault. Aug. 22, baptized eight and organized a church of nine members, at Milford, Iowa. I left a company there that love the truth, and have a desire to walk in the light. Held a meeting at Tenhassen, Aug. 26. Three were baptized.
As I passed through Hutchinson I was surprised to learn that over forty had been added to that church since our last camp-meeting, a part of them as the result of that good meeting. I think that nearly one hundred in our Conference have decided to keep all the commandments since our camp-meeting.
For the last few weeks I have been laboring on the frontier, in Douglas and Otter Tail counties, where the grasshoppers have nearly destroyed all the small grain. The churches in these counties have all been raised up within the past year. I find them growing in the knowledge of the truth, and of better courage than I expected.
I wish to say to the brethren, and especially to the s. s. treasurers of our Conference, that our Conference treasury is empty, and we are in want of means to carry forward the work. Another quarter's pledges are now due. Please do the best you can at this time.
HARRISON GRANT.
PEORIA, TEXAS.
By R. M. Kilgore
ANOTHER very encouraging week has passed. Our congregations have increased in numbers and interest. Eld. McDonnell, of Hillsboro, spoke in the tent Sunday at 3 P. M. He displayed his talent in throwing Greek dust on the term “Sabbatone.” I occupied about a half hour in reply.
Though I have been speaking on the Sabbath question less than a week, several have expressed their determination to obey. We have our first Sabbath meeting Oct 6. Some of the first families of the community are deeply interested, and are yielding to the influence of the truth.
Calls for labor are coming in, which it is impossible for me to fill. The prospect here is very encouraging. Pray for us.
R. M. Kilgore.
DANVERS, MASS.
By C. W. Stone
The frame of our house of worship is up, and the work goes bravely on. Last Sunday another minister three miles out, spoke against the Sabbath, and the Methodist minister here preached against us on the sleep of the dead. These I reviewed at our hall. The friends are more firmly settled in the truth at every move. Eld. Robinson has been with us, and helped during the past week, and Eld. Canright returned yesterday, Oct. 3.
C. W. Stone.
IOWA
Sac City.
Meetings closed here Sunday night, Sept. 30. I think two hundred people have been convinced of the truth; but only about twenty have commenced to keep the Sabbath. We held meetings for five weeks, and then our tent had to go to the Nebraska Camp-meeting.
No public opposition was raised till just as we left; then a first-day Adventist spoke twice on the covenants. He said there was nothing against hatred, or malice, or drunkenness, in the old covenant; that love was not commanded there; and that there was no Christ in it. His “old covenant” was the law of Moses, ten commandments included. And his statements were easily shown to be flat contradictions of the Bible,—of Luke 10:25–28; Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:16–18; Deut. 29:19, 20. He did not want to talk any longer on the subject, he said, for it would be controversy!
Good was done even by him, and may God be praised for his plain truth.
G. V. KILGORE.
R. A. HART.
Oskaloosa, Oct. 2.
The company at this place have secured the Cumberland Presbyterian church, a small house but amply sufficient for the present. Meetings are held every Sabbath, and prayer and social meeting Tuesday evenings. Our ministers are invited to make it convenient to stop and hold a few meetings when passing through this place, and a house will be provided them.
GEO. B. STARR.
Letter from Sister M. M. Eastman on Morrisville Camp-Meeting
SISTER M. M. EASTMAN writes from Landaff, N. H.—
“We often think of the late most excellent camp-meeting at Morrisville, Vt. We never enjoyed one so much. We observed last Sabbath as God’s holy day, and trust we shall ever keep it hereafter.”
CALIFORNIA STATE CONFERENCE.
The sixth annual session of the California State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held at the Christian campground, near Yountville, Napa County, Sept. 13–19, 1877.
From the minutes as published in the Signs, we make the following condensed report:
Nineteen churches were represented by thirty delegates. The following persons were elected as officers for the coming year: President, J. N. Loughborough; Secretary, J. E. White; Treasurer, Geo. S. Manuel; Conference Committee, J. N. Loughborough, John Morrison, Wm. N. Glenn.
Credentials were granted to J. N. Loughborough, W. M. Healey, J. L. Wood, John Judson, and M. G. Kellogg. And licenses were given to R. A. Morton, Andrew Brorson, J. E. White, B. A. Stephens, J. D. Rice, Wm. M. Smith, R. D. Hicks, C. C. Burnett, Augustus Garey, J. Dimmick, W. F. Price, A. B. Atwood, T. M. Chapman, John Cook, W. C. Granger, C. Chittenden, M. C. Israel, and W. T. Price.
The treasurer’s report showed the total receipts for the year to have been $4,426.83, and the expenditures, $3,043.73, leaving a balance on hand of $1,383.10.
The following were among the resolutions passed:—
Whereas, In the providence of God the cause of present truth has greatly prospered during the past year, and we have ever-increasing evidence that the cause we advocate is the cause of God, and that his Spirit accompanies the work, abundantly blessing those who heartily engage in it; therefore,
Resolved, That our thanksgiving and praise are due to him for his great blessings upon us as a people; for the additional numbers that have been added to our ranks; for the pecuniary means that have helped us to increased facilities for spreading the truth, and for the number of young men who have volunteered to take the field in the work of the ministry.
Resolved, That we appreciate the valuable services and sacrifices of Eld. James White and sister White in this State during a portion of the year past, and the deep interest they still manifest in our publishing house and the cause in general.
Resolved, That we acknowledge our obligation to the General Conference Committee for their liberal action, and to Elds. White and Smith for their faithful labors, in conducting a Biblical Institute in Oakland last spring, whereby several of our young men were well started in preparing for the ministry and other important duties, at no expense for instruction.
Resolved, That we tender our thanks to Eld. J. N. Loughborough, whose services, under God’s providence, have been given to this coast for the past nine years, and especially for his untiring zeal and wise counsel in so successfully conducting the affairs pertaining to this yearly camp-meeting.
Resolved, That we express our gratitude to Bro. W. Saunders, who has for four consecutive years served us faithfully as secretary, and we regret that a pressure of other duties prevents him from longer occupying the position.
Resolved, That we are ever grateful to our brethren in the various Eastern Conferences for their liberal support of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, thereby enabling us to maintain a publishing house in California; that we will use our utmost endeavor to make the publishing interest upon the Pacific Coast self-sustaining, so that those who have so liberally helped us may be enabled to forward such other enterprises as the interest of the cause may demand.
Resolved, That we clearly recognize the hand of God in the establishment and prosperity of the cause of present truth in Europe; that we hail its advancement with unfeigned delight; and that we pledge ourselves to sustain our faithful missionaries by our earnest prayers, and their work by our means.
Resolved, That we approve the recommendation of the General Conference Committee in relation to regular quarterly meetings in all the churches on the first Sabbath and Sunday of January, April, July and October, of each year, as presented in the REVIEW of June 7; and that we recommend the adoption of the plan by all of our churches; that we believe that if the tithing system could be universally adopted by the churches, our treasuries would be constantly supplied with ample means to carry forward the work of the Lord in all its branches.
Resolved, That we heartily concur in the plan suggested by the General Conference Committee, to pledge to the support of the Tract and Missionary Society an amount equal to one-third of our S. B. pledge, and earnestly recommend the adoption of this plan by all our brethren.
Resolved, That we regard the T. and M. work as one of the most efficient means by which we may reach the masses of the people. Thankful for what has been done in the past year by those who have taken hold in earnest, we solemnly appeal to all our brethren to continue the good work with new and united efforts.
PAY THY VOWS.
By I. Sanborn
“WHEN thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.” Eccl. 5:4.
Some of us remember that last winter we faithfully promised the Lord that we would give him one-tenth of all that he would give us as increase for the year 1877. The official report of the wheat crop of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, shows fifty-six million bushels more than last year, besides the large crops of corn and oats. Who of us can help feeling grateful to God for all this? He has rebuked the devourer in a most wonderful manner, will we now be as faithful on our part, to give the Lord all his tithes, and thus keep our vows? He will watch, and see whether we will or not. If we do not, he calls it stealing from him. See Mal. 3:8. But how can we do that, and not be cursed by the Lord?
It is the first-fruits of all our increase that we are to give to the Lord. By this means we are made to remember that the God of Heaven has sent us sunshine, and rain, and harvest; and that everything we possess is the Lord’s.
Dear brethren and sisters, if we keep our covenant vow with God and each other, he promises to open the windows of Heaven, and pour out blessings. Oh, for a living faith in God, made perfect by faithful obedience. We can none of us be excused from our responsibilities, and in no case can we stand clear before God unless we do the work that the Master has left us to do.
God has made us stewards of his goods. Will we be truthful, honest, faithful, and render to him all his own? If we do, he will bless us and our means; but if we withhold from him his just due, we shall be cursed with a curse; so we shall all find ourselves better off with nine-tenths than with all the increase. And at last he will say to all such as have been truly faithful, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
I. SANBORN.
BREAD UPON THE WATERS.
A Christian mother received a heathen lad into her household to educate for Christ. Some of her friends, and, at times, even her husband, were inclined to consider it a visionary and unwise course thus to add to her already heavy family cares. Her reply was ever, “Our own son may yet want friends in a foreign land. Let us treat this heathen boy as we would wish our own son to be treated, should their circumstances be reversed.”
Time passed. The heathen boy left his adopted home, where he had won all hearts, for his missionary work among his own nation, where he now lives, laborious and useful, cheering the hearts in his old foster-home by tidings from his field of labor.
After a few years, this American son, prosecuting trade in a distant land, found himself near his missionary brother, who introduced him to men of influence and position who procured him opportunities for carrying on his business. It was the heathen boy with whom he had played in his childhood, now an influential missionary. But for him he would have been unsuccessful, and would have suffered from loneliness. The mother's words were realized. Her boy did find friends in a foreign land. The kindness she had bestowed was returned seven-fold.—Sel.