p. 237 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 5, No. 30. (8/7/1879)

The Duty and Privilege of Giving.

By S. N. Haskell

NOTHING is more clearly taught in the Scriptures than that it is the duty of every Christian to aid in sustaining the cause of God with the means and ability God has given him. It is not because God is dependent on man, nor that his resources are insufficient to carry forward his work without the aid of men; for it is written, "The silver and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:8. "And every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is mine and the fullness thereof." Ps. 50:10, 12. God's resources are infinite. But infinite wisdom has arranged the plan of salvation upon mutual obligation. The choicest of Heaven,—the only Son of the great Creator, laid aside the glory he had with the Father before the world was, sacrificed his home in Heaven, was a homeless wanderer on this earth, and died broken-hearted on the cross for man. Now he requires that man, for whom he died, should show an appreciation of this love by sacrificing at least a portion of his substance to carry forward his cause upon the earth. "Gather my saints together unto me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice," is the commission to the angels who are sent to gather the saints from the four quarters of the earth. Ps. 50:5; Matt. 24:31. None others will share the glorious reward which awaits the faithful.

We are not our own but are bought with a price, even with the precious blood of the Son of God. And the talents of influence which God has committed to us will he require with usury. Man is only a steward of that which is in his possession, and he cannot truthfully say, "My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth." Deut. 8:17, 18.

If this means is used for the advancement of the cause of Christ in the salvation of mankind, then it is put at usury, and will yield rich returns in the kingdom of glory. But if it is not thus used we become unfaithful stewards and thus prove ourselves unworthy of eternal life. "He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?" Luke 16:10-12. Here the riches or things of this world are represented as belonging to God, and man is made steward over it. And that which is his own is that reward in glory which has been purchased by the blood of Christ. He renders to those the true riches who prove themselves worthy of it by a proper use of that which they are made stewards over in this life.

The influence of means expended in the cause of Christ is not lost, but the deeds performed are recorded as righteous acts. "As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness (or right acts) remaineth forever." 2 Cor. 9:9; Ps. 112:9. We thus transfer our treasures from this world to the world to come. "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:33, 34.

The young man who came to Christ said he had kept all the commandments from his youth up, and inquired, "What lack I yet?" "Go sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come and follow me," were the words of the Son of God. "But when the young man heard that saying," like many others, "he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions."

Zaccheus was a wealthy man, and it was said of him that he was a sinner. But when he "stood, and said unto the Lord : Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold," Jesus said, "This day is salvation come to this house."

Were the example imitated in these days a similar result would be experienced. When the cause of God requires support, then is the time that men should give. When calls are made to carry the truth into new fields, when opportunities present themselves to relieve the destitute, then is the time we should make investments in these never-failing enterprises.

A faithful steward would hold that which is committed to his trust in a condition to meet a ready response from any call of his master. Paul instructs the rich to be "ready to distribute," that is, in a constant preparation to give. Were these to invest in uncertain enterprises, where they could not command what they possessed at the time the cause of Christ needs assistance, it would be as much a mark of unfaithfulness as it would be to withhold their means altogether. The cause of Christ has the first claim upon us, and upon that which we possess.

Those who have the cause of God at heart, and have confidence in the especial work of God, will consider it a privilege, as well as a duty, to take stock in each enterprise and in every advance step taken, and they will manifest a lively interest in these advance steps. When these enterprises are new and the friends are few, is the time when help is most needed and most appreciated. It is at such times that men's faith in the cause is tested.

Neither should it be left for a few leading men to bear the responsibility alone; but there should be a general feeling of interest throughout the entire body of God's people. Men, women, and children, should all feel a personal interest in the matter. Some system should therefore be adopted whereby the influence of each can have a direct bearing upon the cause. At these various crises in which finances are concerned, one dollar will count more in the cause of God than fifty times that amount when the crisis is past, and the point is gained.

There are enterprises at the present time which are as important as those in the history of the past. The efforts by our vigilant societies to obtain interested readers for our periodicals over the wide harvest field, which is the world, are moves that furnish excellent opportunities for all to show their faith by their works, and in a practical manner bring their influence to bear directly for the advancement of the cause of God.

Our missionary societies furnish a system whereby each individual, man, woman, and child, can help support the cause financially. Children should be so educated that they, of themselves, will feel it a duty and a privilege to earn and save for the cause of Christ. Sisters also should have an independence in this matter, and each should feel that she has a personal interest in these things. We expect that this will be the case.

God's hand is in his work. Our hearts and interests should be one in a cause like this. Our prayers, like sweet incense, should daily arise for the advancement of every enterprise that upholds the cause of Christ, and every pulsation of our being should beat in sympathy with it. Banks are suspending payment. Speculations are becoming more and more uncertain. The money panics that we occasionally pass through are omens of what is coming. They are indications of a terrible financial crash which will help make the troublous times that are approaching. Business men are perplexed in view of what is coming. There is a fearful looking for those things which are coming on the earth.

But there are opportunities to make a safe investment. The truth, the rays of light, must reach the thousands who now sit in darkness. Who will be faithful stewards is an important question. Who will show their faith in the cause and work of God by taking an active interest in each step taken, and in every enterprise that promotes the cause of truth upon the earth? The cause of God calls for brave soldiers who will not shrink in time of battle—true hearts who will lift at every crisis.

The cause is rising. The work is moving forward. The Spirit of God and his providence call for action, and onward march is heard all along the line. True missionaries are wanted—men and women of sterling worth, who will not count their own lives dear unto themselves, if they can but advance the cause of truth. There never were opportunities when means could be used so effectually in this branch of missionary labor as now. Thousands of individuals are calling for light where the living missionary is unable to enter. If one hundred thousand dollars were now placed at the disposal of those who have charge of this work, it could be judiciously used in 1879 where every dollar of it would count for the purpose above described. We expect to see very much accomplished in this direction the coming year.

S. N. HASKELL.

The Closing Messages of the Gospel.

By R. F. Cottrell

NUMBER TEN.

THE IMAGE.—The image of the beast must be a government which strikingly resembles the papal power; not in its civil features, as represented by the number of its heads and horns, but in the exercise of similar power and authority. It is brought to life and clothed with authority in matters of religious worship by the remarkable government symbolized as a beast with two horns like a lamb. Rev. 13:11. If we can find the location of the two-horned beast, we shall learn where the image will be formed; for as the first beast was only a new form of the old Roman government, which was symbolized by the dragon of Rev. 12, and was established by the act of a Roman emperor, clothing the pope with universal and supreme power in matters of religious faith and worship; so the setting up of a standard of religious practice to which all must conform, will transform the lamblike beast into the image of the papal beast. The question therefore is, What earthly power fulfills the prophecy by answering the description of the second beast?

After describing the blasphemous and persecuting character of the first beast, the length of his reign, and his captivity at the end of that time, it is said: “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.” Rev. 13:11.

The most notable governments are always pointed out in prophecy, and those most nearly connected with the history of the church of God. As the word of prophecy is infallible, one government, and only one, will fill the description of this beast; therefore, the one which fulfills every specification in the description is the subject of the prophecy. Let us apply this rule in our search for the location of the two-horned beast.

1. It is “another beast.” Then it is not the papacy, which had just been described. In verse 12 papal Rome is called “the first beast.” It cannot be both the first and the second. The ten horns of that beast represented the ten divisions of the Roman empire. The principal governments of Europe are symbolized by these horns, and therefore are a part of that beast; hence we look in vain for this other beast in all their territory.

Our first parents were placed “eastward in’ Eden;” and after the flood the ark rested on Mt. Ararat, and thence the world was re-peopled. The course of empire, and the light of revelation, like that of the natural sun, have advanced from the east toward the west. Babylon, the first of the four great kingdoms noted in the prophecy, was situated upon the Euphrates in Asia. The dominion passed to the Medes and Persians; thence to the Grecians in the eastern part of Europe; thence to the Romans in the western part, extending to the Atlantic. And there was yet another wonderful power to be developed; and where shall we find it, unless we cross the ocean still toward the west? Here, in America, we find a distinguished republican government, now stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Thus the earth is spanned, and its utmost verge is reached. Bishop Berkley, in his celebrated poem on America, written more than a hundred years ago, expressed the thought thus:—

"Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts already past. The fifth shall close the drama with the day; Time's noblest offering is the last."

We find no place for this remarkable power to arise on the Eastern continent, and nothing there to answer the description; consequently we are compelled to look to the Western continent. Is it reasonable to suppose that the New World is left out of prophecy as worthy of no notice? Is there nothing on this vast continent worthy of a place in the prophetic programme of the history of the world? And is it possible that the United States, the first and most distinguished government of the New World, so nearly connected with the people and work of God, being the asylum for the persecuted and oppressed of all nations as the consequence of religious light and freedom, should be utterly unnoticed in the prophetic history of the world? Such an admission might reasonably be urged as an objection to the inspiration of the prophecies, since they professedly foretell the history of the world down to the end.

2. We notice the manner of the rise of the beast with two horns. It was seen “coming up out of the earth.” The first beast, which is the same as the second form of the fourth beast of Dan. 7, rose up out of the sea. Here is a contrast in the symbols used. The four beasts of Daniel came up out of the sea by the striving of the winds. Winds are emblematic of war and strife. Jer. 25:32; waters of “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Rev. 17:15. Each of the four beasts arose by wars of conquest. As the waters are agitated by winds, the people were stirred by the commotions of war, and the result was the rise of those gigantic empires. In contrast with this the two-horned beast in its rise resembles the quiet growth of a plant springing up out of the earth; as if, away from the strivings of the people, the power was to arise by a natural growth in a territory previously unoccupied. The manner of its rise was to be, not by the conquest of other nations, but in a peaceable manner by natural increase and emigration. Such has been the history of the United States.

3. The time of its rise. Standing at the close of the career of the first or leopard beast, where he received the deadly wound, or was carried into captivity, which as we have seen was in 1798, the prophet says, “And I beheld another beast coming up;” as if he had not yet attained to his full power and greatness. Mr. Wesley looked for the whole work of the two-horned beast to be subsequent to this period. In his notes on Revelation he says of this beast: “He has not yet come, though he cannot be far off; for he is to appear at the end of the forty-two months of the first beast.” Eld. J. Litch truly says: “The two-horned beast is represented as a power existing and performing his part after the death and revival of the first beast.” Now since this work of wounding and healing took place at the very close of the past century, it follows that the work of the two-horned beast is performed in the present century; for he causes them that dwell on the earth “to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed.”

Now let us take a view of the world as it was at the close of the past century. What remarkable government was then rising in the world? Nothing can be found to answer the description in all the world, unless we look to this Western continent. And what do we find here? Colonies belonging to the governments of the Old World, the dominion of the first beast. Only one independent government here; and that is the United States. The declaration of independence was now about twenty-four years of age; the seven years war with the mother country in behalf of human rights was in the past; the difficulty with the French Directory arising from a demand of tribute from the United States, was settled by a treaty signed by Napoleon Bonaparte; and our government stood up a free and prosperous, though youthful nation, rapidly rising to power and eminence among the nations of the earth.

Thus at the right time, as well as in the right manner, we have a new and remarkable power, destined to be conspicuous among the nations of the whole world, rapidly “coming up” like a plant growing in a rich soil. And this is the only government in the whole world which could answer the prophetic description. And is not this nation, the asylum of the civilly oppressed and religiously persecuted, in which all civilized and Christian nations are so largely represented, worthy of a place in prophecy? And is it not reasonable and fitting that the closing messages of the gospel should go out from this western land to the nations of the earth?—that from this point should radiate the glory of the setting sun of the gospel of salvation to our race?

4. The character of this power. In it are found the widest extremes. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spake as a dragon. In the power thus symbolized there must be the fairest appearance or profession, but, ultimately, outrageously contradicted in practice. Horns are the emblem of power. The horns of a lamb must represent the mildest exercise of power. And is not the Protestant republican government of the United States the mildest and best government ever devised among men? No crowns were seen upon the lamb-like horns of this beast, as there were upon the ten horns of the first beast. It is evidently a government of the people. This position is sustained by the fact that the call for the image to be made is addressed to “them that dwell upon the earth,” and not to a king or an emperor. It is said to the people that “they should make an image;” then the power is in their hands.

What then do these horns represent? Not a divided, but a united government; like as the two horns of the ram in Dan. 8 represented the union of the Medes and Persians. And since it is a government of the people, with no crowned heads, the horns must represent two distinct principles upon which the government is founded, generally acknowledged by the people, namely, civil equality, and religious freedom. R. F. COTTRELL.

Ruling by Prayer.

"Lane has been making us trouble again. I dislike to tell you, but what can we do with him?"

Mrs. Houston stood by the gate with the tears running down her cheeks, as her husband, after an absence of a day and a night, drove up to his house.

"What is it now?" he asked, alighting from his wagon and going to his wife's side with a dark, discouraged look settling down upon his face.

"Oh, that poor boy has sold his watch his grandfather gave him, to procure one of those little pocket revolvers that are so temptingly advertised in our papers. He got angry at his sisters this morning, and presently hearing him say in a loud voice, 'Take care there, or I will draw my seven-shooter on you!' I entered the room to find him standing on one of the chairs brandishing a loaded revolver, and pointing it at the girls' heads. I commanded him as calmly as I could to go to his room, but the scene gave my nerves such a shock that I have been in a tremble ever since."

"He obeyed you, did he?"

"He refused to give up the murderous little weapon, but left the parlor for his room, saying that he had got the best of this family now, and would bring them all to terms before he got through with this quarrel. I have been momentarily expecting that he would shoot himself, or some one of the family, and have listened for the report of the revolver till I am quite unnerved. I am thankful that you have come, but do not, I entreat you, go near the desperate boy till his paroxysm of temper has had time to subside."

"We shall have to send him to the Reform School," said Mr. Houston, decidedly. "His offenses heretofore have been grave enough to send him to a worse place. I will have lunch, and then immediately start for M——on the 12 o'clock train. Oh, it is hard; it is humiliating beyond measure to be obliged to acknowledge to the world that I have a son whose conduct is such as to bring him within the statutory provisions concerning commitments to the Reform School even."

Mr. Houston returned from his mournful errand just in time for the six o'clock dinner. When he went to his room to make his toilet his wife followed him. "What is the result of your journey?" she asked, as soon as they were alone. Her husband looked so distressed that she began to tremble again, and when he attempted to reply it was some moments before he could command his voice, or find words to make himself intelligible.

"The Superintendent of the School, a very pleasant, agreeable man, and a Christian, to whom I had confided, some time since, my anxiety in regard to Lane, listened to this new trouble with a grave sympathy which quite won my heart. When I had finished speaking, he said, 'Yes, Mr. Houston, you must have him sent here now by all means. He needs the discipline of this Institution. But before definite arrangements are made, I want to ask you one question: you say he has always been a hard case to manage; that you have tried every way to effect his reformation; that love, fear, and force have all been employed in the premises; and that you have even tried to hire him to alter his behavior, paying him a certain sum of money per day so long as he should commit no misdeed; but all these measures have failed. Now I want to know whether you have tried praying with him?'"

"'No,' said I, very much taken by surprise. 'I have never thought of doing that.' "'Well,' said the Superintendent, 'you must go home and pray with him. I don't feel as if I could receive him here or have anything to do with the case until the power of prayer at his home, and that in his presence, has been tried.'

"'I cannot pray before my family,' I said. "'What! you a church member, and do not have family prayer?' he replied.

"'No, sir,' was my answer, very deeply humiliated by the confession. "'Go home and set up a family altar to-night,' he said.

"'I cannot,' I pleaded. 'I have not the courage to broach the matter, even to my wife. We never speak upon the subject of religion.'

"'It is high time you take up this cross, if a cross it is,' he urged. 'How can you expect that son to submit his will to yours, when you do not submit your will to the Master? To-night at nine o'clock call your family together, read a chapter of the word of God, and lead in prayer. At that time my wife and I will go into our closets and pray for you all, especially for Lane. Let us now take the Lord Jesus Christ into our council.'

"I came away upon that. But what am I going to do about it? I don't know. I can never pray aloud in the presence of my family."

"Dear husband," replied Mrs. Houston, sobbing, "I have been thinking for a long time that we are shirking our duty in this direction. Do not have any more misgivings about it; do not hesitate another moment. I will arrange everything this evening—never fear. The Lord will pardon us, let us hope, and give us strength when the hour arrives."

"Has Lane been down stairs since?" asked the father, himself moved to tears.

"No; and he has had nothing to eat, and no one has spoken to him since breakfast," replied the mother.

"What if he should start to go down town to spend the evening?"

"I have a plan which I think will keep him at home to-night."

On his way down stairs, Mr. Houston went to his son's door and called in a pleasant voice, "Come, my son, dinner is waiting." Lane quickly opened the door, with his hair freshly brushed and neatly attired. He had dressed for dinner, although expecting, should he try the door, he would find it still locked upon the outside, and not doubting that he was to be again put upon a protracted diet of bread and water.

He came down stairs wondering on the way was it possible that his father in this controversy had espoused his cause against his mother; or whether, as it seemed most likely to him, the possession of the vicious little firearm had not indeed brought them all to "terms."

Lane was given to stealing out of the house evenings, and frequenting questionable resorts in company of boys who were nearly as wayward as himself; but to-night Mrs. Houston forestalled any such course by saying as soon as dinner was over, "I wish, children, you would make two or three panfuls of pop-corn balls, to carry to the charity festival to-morrow. The materials are all ready, and Lane, you must superintend the popping of the corn and the preparation of the molasses and sugar."

This was one of the lad's favorite pastimes, and he went about the business in hand with alacrity, his brothers and sisters obeying his many orders, glad to have this new outbreak blow over without developing into a regular warfare between him and his father.

When eight and a half o'clock came, Mrs. Houston was called out into the kitchen to see the result of the evening's labor.

"Thank you, my good children," she said. "They are as nice and white and shapely as any that could be made by the confectioners themselves. Now wash up so as to be in the parlor when the clock strikes nine, there is something else pleasant in store for you."

The young people obeyed, wondering and eager. At nine o'clock precisely their mother folded up the day's newspapers, put them in the wall-pocket, and brought a large Bible and placed it upon the reading-table.

Mr. Houston's voice trembled a little as he said, "It has been brought very forcibly to my mind to-day, that I have been shamefully neglecting my duty and the highest welfare of you, my children, in not joining with you in the study of this blessed word and in family prayer. To-night we will begin a different course, and see whether we will not all be made happier and better by following it." He read a chapter, and then knelt down. His wife and children followed his example, all except Lane. He sat bolt upright with a stern, pale face, and perturbed air, now and then casting quick glances towards the door as if meditating an escape.

The poor father at first could find no words to express his conflicting thoughts and deep prayerful desires, but as he called to mind his friends, the Superintendent and his wife, on their knees for him, at that very moment, his stammering tongue was unloosed, and his unburdened soul found a wonderful freedom at the throne of grace. As the now wrestling Jacob was closing a most tender and pathetic appeal in behalf of his erring son, and that all might submit their rebellious wills to Christ's loving sovereignty, Lane rose from his chair, crossed the room, and kneeling by his father's side, threw his arms around his neck, sobbing, "Pray on, father! pray on! I have tried to ask God to cleanse my wicked heart, but I could not get to him at all myself; I know he will hear me now, when you are all willing to pray with me."

The whole family rose from their knees with melted hearts and tearful faces. It came out that the two eldest daughters had been in the habit of praying in secret, and they declared this to be the happiest hour of their lives.

Lane was completely subdued. The leaven of repentance and faith toward God had worked entire reformation and healing. He stepped up to the table and laid the loaded revolver upon it near his father's side. "It is I who have brought you to terms," he said. "I don't think you will have any more trouble with Lane. Forgive, oh forgive me, my father and mother, and brothers and sisters, as I hope in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ!"—Selected.

Warrington, Ind.

By J. M. Rees

The interest seems to be on a constant increase. About fifty were present at our meeting last Sabbath. Some are keeping the day. Last Wednesday evening a Baptist minister spoke on the subject of the “Christian Sabbath.” He took the position that Christ came to keep the law for us; but before he concluded his remarks he affirmed that Christ broke the law in many instances, and commanded others to do the same. The friends of Sunday are dissatisfied with his attempt. We reviewed the discourse Thursday evening, before a large audience. Books

sell freely, and quite liberal donations are made. We ask the prayers of God's people, that much good may be done here.

July 21. J. M. REES.

A Surprised Reply

"No," said I, very much taken by surprise.

College Faculty and Student Rebellion

By Editor

The subjoined paragraph is from the New York Tribune. It would be pleasant light-reading in certain educational institutions on this side of the continent. As a sample of irony it is superb:—

"The insurrectionary spirit of the average college faculty is one of the strongest proofs of the degeneracy of the times. The outbreak now is at Williams, where the faculty actually attempted to restrict the operations of the students' base-ball nine within home limits, doubtless with some insolent purpose of preventing neglect of studies during base-ball 'tours' over the country. The students are now engaged in suppressing their professors by means of 'serenades.' This would be a harsh measure, probably, even if the music was intended to be good—but this is a case where harsh measures are justifiable."

Keep Children Children

MAKE the bridge from the cradle to manhood just as long as you can. Leave your child a child just as long as you can—especially if you live in the city. Be not in haste to force your child into premature development by intelligence or anything else. Let it be a child, and not a little ape of a man running about the town.—Buffalo Advocate.

Belvidere, Ill.

By R. F. Andrews, R. Vickery

WE closed our effort in the tent at Belvidere, July 9, continuing meetings in the Universalist church till the 13th. Four embraced the truth. The brethren all seem greatly encouraged. Twelve were baptized, two of whom were from Rockford. The Sabbath-school is in a flourishing condition.

R. F. ANDREWS, R. VICKERY.

Pittswood, Ill.

By Daniel T. Bourdeau

We closed our effort with the tent near Pittswood, Sunday, July 20. Last Sabbath ten more persons were baptized. These were mostly children and youth. It was a blessed season. Among those who were baptized was a young Frenchman with whom I first became acquainted in France, where I took great delight in teaching him the truth. His testimony before his baptism was touching, and evinced intelligence. He will now prepare for the ministry. This was his object before embracing the truth. He will be with us at least till the Illinois camp-meeting.

We have given twenty-five discourses here since July 4, have baptized sixteen persons, obtained eleven subscribers for the Review, one for the Signs, and three for the College Record. We left forty-one members in the new church. D. T. Bourdeau.

Ellicottsville, N. Y.

By D. T. Fero; D. B. Oviatt

WE pitched our tent here June 26. Have given in all twenty-three discourses, on the prophecies, second advent, and Sabbath. There is a deep interest manifest. At the close of our meeting last Sabbath, eighteen expressed their determination to keep the commandments, the Sabbath precept included. All these may not prove reliable, but we look for a goodly number to obey the truth.

We have had an opposition sermon on the Sabbath, from "Rt. Rev. A. C. Coxe, bishop of western New York." We also have the influence of Dr. Morin of Boston, against us. He is teaching "science, falsely so-called." This, together with the opposition of the local ministers, makes a strong current to meet. But so far the Lord has graciously sustained his work, and in him alone we humbly trust for its success. Praise his name.

D. T. FERO. D. B. OVIATT.

Reports from the Field.

By S. B. Whitney

Sioux Falls, Dakota.

IMMEDIATELY after my last report, a series of heavy rain storms, and the excitement of the fourth of July, injured our interest very much, so that up to the time of our camp-meeting the attendance was small. But that meeting, which was a good one, served to bring the interest up somewhat, and since moving back to our old ground the attendance has been better, though not what it was at first. Our congregations are steady, however, and the interest deep, several already acknowledging the truth, and one family having decided to obey.

Our camp-meeting was a great encouragement to the brethren in the Territory, and the organization of a Conference, a Sabbath-school and health and temperance associations, in addition to our T. and M. society, gives a permanence to the work which will infuse new life into the cause. It seemed almost too much to expect that Bro. and Sr. White could visit Dakota; but their presence was very highly appreciated by us all, and their words of admonition and encouragement will not soon be forgotten. Bro. Hanson's labors were a great help to our Scandinavian brethren. The attendance exceeded our most sanguine expectations. Our meetings were characterized by a good degree of freedom. Several sought and found the Lord. On Monday eleven were baptized. Most of the brethren remained to the close, our last meeting being one of the best; and we all felt that our first camp-meeting in Dakota was a decided success.

S. B. WHITNEY.

Education.

EDUCATION does not commence with the alphabet; it begins with a mother's look; with a Father's nod and approbation, or sign of reproof; with a sister's gentle pressure of the hand, or a brother's noble act of forbearance; with pleasant walks or shady lanes; and then come the bloom and buoyancy and dazzling hopes of youth: the throbbings of the heart; when first it wakes to love, and dreams of happiness too great for earth; when woman with her grace and gentleness, and fullness of feeling, and depth of affection, and blushes of purity, and the tones and looks which only a mother's love can inspire—and these are only a small part of our education.

Our education will be finished with our lives; day by day we learn by sad experience some new phase of humanity; learn that the friend in whom we placed implicit confidence is unworthy of it—learn that all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Our education teaches us that man was made to mourn; that disappointment is the lot of man and woman. It teaches us how to fight the battle of life, but alas! it does not always teach us to fight it successfully. The knowledge that is gained from books we would not undervalue; but it is worthless unless we combine it with actual experience of life. Pythagoras said if he did not, when night came, feel that he had learned something through the day, he felt that he had lost a day. Reader, every day of your existence should be to you so much gain; and as we grow old and decrease in physical strength, we should increase our mental resources.

We have acquaintances to-day who have learned nothing by experience; whose education is no more advanced than it was twenty years ago, and we can but think that they lived a fruitless life. Education begins with our birth and ends with our death.—Ex.

The Home Circle.

LIGHT THROUGH CLOUDS.

BECAUSE I hold it sinful to despond, And will not let the bitterness of life Blind me with burning tears, but look beyond Its tumult and its strife; Because I lift my head above the mist, Where the sun shines and the broad breezes blow, By every ray and every raindrop kissed, That God's love doth bestow; Think you I find no bitterness at all, No burden to be borne, like Christian's pack? Think you there are no ready tears to fall, Because I keep them back? Why should I hug life's ills with cold reserve To curse myself and all who love me? Nay, A thousand times more good than I deserve, God gives me every day. And in each one of these rebellious tears, Kept bravely back, he makes a rainbow shine. Grateful I take his slightest gifts; no fears Nor any doubts are mine. Dark skies must clear, and when the clouds are past, One golden day redeems a weary year; Patient I listed, sure that sweet at last Will sound his voice of cheer. —Selected.

Sleep the Best Stimulant.

THE best possible thing for a man to do when he feels too weak to carry it through is to go to bed and sleep a week if he can. This is the only true recuperation of power, the only actual recuperation of brain force. Because during sleep the brain is in a state of rest, in a condition to receive and appropriate particles of nutriment from the blood which takes the place of those which have been consumed in previous labor, since the very act of thinking consumes, burns up solid particles, as every turn of the wheel or screw of the splendid steamer is the result of consumption by fire of the fuel in the furnace. The supply of consumed brain substance can only be had from the nutritive particles in the blood, which were obtained from the food eaten previously, and the brain is so constituted that it can best receive and appropriate to itself those nutritive particles during a state of rest, of quiet, and stillness in sleep. Mere stimulants supply nothing in themselves; they only goad the brain, force it to a greater consumption of its substance, until that substance has been so exhausted that there is not power enough left to receive a supply, just as men are so near death by thirst and starvation that there is not power enough to swallow anything, and all is over.

Santa Ana, Cal.

By J. L. Wood

In our Sabbath meeting to-day five more signed the covenant, making twenty-one in all. Eight or ten more are keeping the Sabbath, who will probably sign it soon. I have not had the help I needed to give my time as fully to the work as the cause demanded. July 26. J. L. Wood.

Nevada City, Cal.

By R. A. Morton

OUR interest here is increasing. There was a very great prejudice against us when we came. The ministers did all they could to increase it. Their folly is becoming manifest, to the praise of God, and we think will become more so soon. R. A. MORTON.

Michigan.

By E. B. Lane

Since our last report we have labored principally among the churches. At Wright they have a large and successful Sabbath-school in which all, old and young, take an active part. At their quarterly meeting they renewed their interest in the T. and M. work, raising their subscription on the SIGNS from 30 to 102 copies. At Gaines two were baptized and united with the church.

E. B. Lane.

Abusing the Baby.

It is a subject of marvel to most people that so many children die in infancy; but to an observing mind the wonder is that any children live to maturity. When you and I feel miserable we want to be left in quiet. Repose is the sweetest remedy for nervousness or other ills; but baby is trotted, bounced, toted, “ketchie-ketchied,” chucked under the chin, poked in its cheek, or somebody’s thumb is thrust into its toothless mouth, irrespective of a need of ablution, and then if a baby isn’t happy it is reputed very irritable. Tickling the baby’s feet, creeping the fingers like the motion of a mouse across its breast, and up into its fat, sensitive neck-wrinkles, is another mode of abusing baby. Of course the child laughs, and the idiots who torment it forget that it is the same expression with which they reply to a similar process from the hand of some mischievous but torturing friend; and yet we all know that this laugh from a man is a hysterical outcry of nervous irritability. When the laugh ceases, weariness brings weeping, or perhaps a restless and unrefreshing sleep, followed by depression, and probably by indigestion and colic. Nothing should ever be done to startle a child—even a too frequent playing of bopeep, if violent, has been known to bring on St. Vitus’s dance. All surprises are dangerous to the nervous system, just as all sudden atmospheric or dietetic changes are very unhealthy, and sometimes fatal. If music is selected to please the young child’s ears, it should be gentle and soothing.—Sanitarian.

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