Earlier text: The Temptation of ChristLetter from D. P. Curtis.
By D. P. Curtis
To my Brn. of the Seventh-day [Baptist] denomination. DEAR BRETHREN: My sense of justice, and respect for both myself and you, impels me to address a few words to you in relation to a change of position which my convictions of truth and duty constrain me to make. It is a fact, with which the most of you are acquainted, that for many years I have entertained some views of Bible teachings different from those which are held by the majority of you, particularly upon the nature of man, the destiny of the wicked, the nature and location of the everlasting kingdom, and the near approach of the second advent of Christ. Out of deference to the feelings of my brethren, I have refrained from the public advocacy of these views as fully and freely as I should otherwise have done. I had not come to consider them as being of such immediate importance as to demand a separation from you on account of them. Besides, I had indulged the hope that my brethren might, in time, come to look at these questions in the light that I saw them, and so there would be no necessity for a separation. But, while I can see progress in that direction, on the part of some, the lapse of time, and a clearer insight into the workings of the human mind, in the direction of a radical change in the religious convictions and sentiments of any considerable body of people, as a body, has convinced me that I need no longer indulge the hope that the mass of the Seventh-day Baptist church, nor any other denomination as a whole, will ever come to acknowledge the claims of these and kindred truths, to the extent that they will love them, and hold those in esteem who labor to propagate them as God's truth, and become willing to sacrifice their good name among men, and devote their time and energies and means, to the work of spreading them abroad in the earth. In addition to this, I have, within the last year, come to see other truths intimately connected with those before mentioned, which appear to me to be of such moment and of such vital importance to the church and to the world, as to require of me, not only a belief of them, but a consecration of myself to the work of proclaiming them, as the Lord may open the way before me, to the world. But while you, as a body, entertain the views and feelings that you do in relation to these questions, I feel that it would be highly improper for me to undertake to impose them upon you, by virtue of my position as a minister among you; for I hold that every church has an undisputed right to say what teacher and what forms of doctrine it will listen to and accept, and what it will not, while, at the same time, it is the duty of him who preaches to preach only what he is convinced is truth, and is his duty to preach; and, if the people to which he belongs are not willing to hear, then it is clearly his duty to leave them and go to those who will hear his message. I would, brethren, that you could all see these important truths for the last days, in the light in which they are presented to me in the word of God; then would you be ready to enter with me into the work of spreading the knowledge of them in the world without, and among the churches that are manifestly, though many of them, doubtless, ignorantly, doing the work of the “man of sin.” But I blame you not, I censure you not, because you do not see as I see. I know what it costs to take the steps that I have taken. I have not come to this point without a desperate struggle. No man of sound sense ever yet ranged himself on the side of an unpopular truth, for the truth’s sake, without costing him many a heart-ache. It is only by the exercise of strong faith in God that such a one will walk out on the naked promises, and face the stern realities of the situation. Brethren, I do not leave you because I do not love you. Said Brutus, when speaking of his slaying Cæsar, “If any one demand why Brutus rose against him, this is my answer, ‘Not that I loved Cæsar less, but Rome more.’” So I say in relation to leaving you, ’Tis not that I love you less, but truth more. I believe that the message of the first angel has already gone forth: “Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come” (Rev. 14:7), and that the work of cleansing the sanctuary is now going on, while the message of the third angel (Rev. 14:9-12) is being proclaimed in the earth, and that consequently we are down very near to the time of the end; and I feel that those whose business it is to proclaim the message have no time to lose in waiting for the slothful, or in parleying with the loquacious or the querulous. I feel that I have already wasted much precious time, and that I cannot afford, in view of the imminent danger of being found a slothful servant when the Lord shall come, to longer delay, to range myself on the side of those who are “looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.” Therefore, my brethren, thanking God for all that he has given me to enjoy in your fellowship in days past, and for the privilege of laboring among you and enjoying your confidence for so many years, and thanking you for all your sympathy and forbearance and brotherly kindness, and carrying the remembrance of these with me, I go forth from among you, and identify myself with that people among whom I feel that I can do more for my God than I can among you, the Seventh-day Adventist people. Affectionately yours, D. P. CURTIS. Alden, Minn., July 3, 1874. —Sabbath Recorder, July 16, 1874. The Love of God.
By Joseph Clarke
“He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.” Much is written in the Bible to inculcate the importance of love in the formation of character. The Old Testament is as clearly outspoken on this point as the New. Deut. 6: 5; 10: 12. All the writings of holy men breathe an influence of holy love, some to a greater degree than others. “Without this holy, divine love, the most self-sacrificing devotion is empty as the sounding brass or the tinkling cymbal;” 1 Cor. 13: 1–3; and with it the smallest act of charity becomes acceptable to God. Mark 12: 41–44. To gain possession of this love, and to hold it pure, is the great object and aim of all who would serve God acceptably. It is the gift of God, as was the manna of the wilderness; and it needs to be renewed every day, or it dies out in our own hearts. Our corrupt natures and corrupt world are not favorable to the growth of this love; therefore it needs to be daily renewed, as was the manna of the wilderness. This love is not to be gained by our personal efforts alone, but by prayer and supplication. It is retained by obeying its dictates; for the love of God impels and prompts to obedience, duty, and active, self-sacrificing benevolence; and he who would not grieve away the Holy Spirit of love must daily and hourly cherish the heavenly gift. Prov. 8: 34. The young and the old who seek this love will be careful to see that no vain or trifling subject engrosses the mind or the tongue, but that all is consistent and becoming those professing godliness. This love is elevating and refining in its nature, and tends to clearness of mind and health of body, and is capable (when it has free course) of subduing all the evil passions, and causing men to become angelic and heavenly in their character and influence. It was this which imparted wisdom to Solomon; to Christ and his followers it gave power and goodness; and all good men have triumphed only through this influence of love. To the martyrs this love gave patience and endurance, fortitude and firmness, and to the apostles it gave eloquence and holy fire, so that they spake with power, and men said of them as the Roman officers said of Christ, “Never man spake like this man.” To the child this love imparts industry and prompt, cheerful obedience. To the parent it gives skill and consistency in instructing and training; and to the household it gives quiet and happiness. To the community it speaks of prosperity and security; and to the rulers, aid and support in all that is good. But to the church especially this holy love speaks the language of Heaven, and reminds us of Eden, and points to the epoch of the apostles and the Pentecost, when the truth went forth conquering and to conquer. The work of God can be propelled only by means of this love; all other means alone are clumsy and powerless. To talk of this love is easy and smooth; but to pray so as attain to this love, and to live so as to retain it, is our every-day work; and if we have lost this precious gift, let us set about the work to regain it immediately though we labor long to recover it. Joseph Clarke. Harmonies of Mixed Theology.
By R. F. Cottrell
What I mean by mixed theology is that mixture of heathen mythology with the doctrines of the Bible, which is so prevalent in the Christian world at the present time. These two elements have about as much affinity as oil and water; and as these will not mix without lye to destroy their chemical repulsion, so a good deal of lying is necessary to make the doctrines of heathenism and the Bible harmonize. The two quotations following are from two adjoining pages of a book on “The expected Millennium.” Describing the second resurrection, he says: “There, from the sea of Sodom, many thousands rise from underneath the stagnant lake, who offered violence to the wayfaring angels, in the days of Lot, but now are suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” On the next page he says, “The place, therefore, of the departed spirits, who have died in their sins, is in the subterranean fires of this globe. There, in those flames, in the literal sense, did the soul of the rich man spoken of by Luke, 16:24, lift up his eyes, being in torment.” The apostle tells us that the Sodomites are “set forth as an example,” suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. To be set forth as an example to those who should “after live ungodly,” these must witness their suffering, or have a record of it. The ungodly of these days do not see the men of Sodom in the internal fires of earth, far beneath the sea; but they can read the record of what they did suffer long ago. “The Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.” Gen. 19:24. That this is what is referred to by Jude, and that this is the manner in which they are set forth as an example, is made certain by the testimony of Peter. He says, “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample to those that after should live ungodly.” This is an example to all future ages that the ungodly shall be consumed by fire and be turned to ashes. 2 Pet. 3:7; Mal. 4:3. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus says nothing about the soul of either. It speaks of both as persons. But the philosophy of the writer teaches that immaterial souls are tormented in material fire. Of course the rich man's desire was for literal water to cool his tongue, since he was tormented by literal fire. Such are the beauties of mixed theology. The Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day, 1572, and Other Persecutions by the Romanists.
CHARLES IX. of France, a Roman Catholic prince, laid a snare for the destruction of the Protestants, by offering his sister in marriage to a Huguenot [a Protestant] prince of Navarre. All the chief men of the Huguenots were assembled in Paris at the nuptials; when on the eve of St. Bartholomew’s day, August 24, 1572, at the ringing of a bell, the massacre commenced. An unparalleled scene of horror ensued. The Roman Catholics rushed upon the defenseless Protestants. Above five hundred men of distinction, and about ten thousand others, that night slept in Paris the sleep of death. A general destruction was immediately ordered through France, and a horrid carnage was soon witnessed at Rouen, Lyons, Orleans, and other cities. Sixty thousand perished—and when the news of this event reached Rome, Pope Gregory XIII. instituted the most solemn rejoicing, giving thanks to Almighty God for this glorious victory over the heretics! According to the calculation of some, about two hundred thousand suffered death in seven years, under Pope Julian; no less than a hundred thousand were massacred by the French in the space of three months; the Waldenses who perished, amounted to one million; within thirty years the Jesuits destroyed nine hundred thousand; under the Duke of Alva, thirty-six thousand were executed by the common hangman; a hundred and fifty thousand perished in the inquisition; and a hundred and fifty thousand by the Irish massacre; besides the vast multitude of whom the world could never be particularly informed, who were proscribed, banished, starved, burnt, buried alive, smothered, suffocated, drowned, assassinated, chained to the galleys for life, or immured within the horrid walls of the Bastile, or others of their church or State prisons. According to some, the whole number of persons massacred since the rise of papacy, amounts to fifty millions!—Cottage Bible. Wm. Miller, in 1846, spoke as follows of the good promises of God to his people. They are as good now as then; as good to us as to him:— “I am feeding on the old promises yet.—The coming of that same Jesus, a glorious hope. The resurrection of our same bodies, a blessed prospect.—The inheritance of the same earth, a good promise.—The possession of immortality and eternal life, thrilling consideration.—A union of the whole family of Heaven and earth whose names are enrolled in the saints’ book of life, a brilliant idea.—Living with Christ, happy thought.—Without sin, blissful contemplation.—Where the wicked cease from troubling, a peaceful abode.—And where the weary shall be at rest, an eternal Sabbath.—The restitution of all things, glorious redemption, a Jubilee, a victory of our King—no more death, pain, fear; all evil banished, all glory revealed, at his coming. If these things are not good news enough to fill the soul with love and gratitude to God, for ages yet to come, then such men will never be satisfied with any bliss in the power of God to give. And yet, strange as it may seem, many of our advent brethren are dissatisfied, uneasy, and impatient to find something new or strange, and are making to themselves theories which are not true, and gods that are no gods. Well might the apostle say (James 5: 8, 9), ‘Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the Judge standeth at the door.’ They are like the children of Israel in the wilderness, saying, ‘Make us gods to go before us; for as for this man Moses we wot not what has become of him.’ Why can we not walk out by faith? May we be sober and hope to the end.” Labors Among the French and Americans.
By D. T. Bourdeau
Most of the time that has elapsed since we reported last has been occupied in defending the truth against the attacks of opponents. This we have done in replying to two opposition discourses by Eld. Chiniqui, and in engaging in a discussion of nine evening sessions with Eld. Auger, a Baptist preacher, on the immediate coming of Christ and on the Sabbath question. As opposition had to come, we felt it duty to meet our opponents face to face before our friends, that no advantage might be taken against us during our absence. A few feeble ones went back before the discussion, but their deficiency has been more than made up by others coming into the ranks. There are now about twenty keeping the Sabbath, and calls for labor are coming in from other neighborhoods. These we intend to respond to at the close of tent season. Yesterday a Bible-class and Sabbath-school were organized, and Systematic Benevolence was organized with those who were prepared to appreciate the subject, amounting to $107 a year. Bro. Andrews has added greatly to the interest by speaking quite often in English in the tent, and by laboring in the country. Last evening, by the request of some who were in for the first time, he spoke on the Sabbath question. At the close of the discourse a call was made for all to rise who believed that the commandments of God should be observed just as they were spoken, and all the congregation arose but three or four. Then an invitation was given for all who believed that the first day should be kept, and could produce one text in favor of its observance, and notwithstanding the Baptist preacher was present, not one arose. St. Anne, Ill., July 20, 1874. P. S. I heartily indorse Bro. White’s suggestion in regard to my brother’s joining me in the work. We could accomplish far more together in speaking and translating. And there is a large field before us West. Catholic communities that are half dissolved from the Romish church must be entered. French Protestants must be helped by seeing that there is power in present truth to convert honest and good-hearted Catholics. As a general thing, Catholics treat us better than Protestants; for they see that we are true Protestants in following the Bible on the Sabbath question. D. T. B. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
By John Norton Loughborough
SINCE my last report I see further signs of progress in the cause on this coast. June 28, in Oakland, Bro. Canright baptized seven more. July 1, I was present in San Jose at the opening of the tent-meeting there by Bro. Cornell and Canright. They had a good audience with good interest. I learn by letters since received, that there is an increase of interest at San Jose. I held meetings in Oakland from July 2 to 5, which closed this tent-meeting. Sabbath, July 4, we had a most excellent meeting, well attended. Comparing the status of matters now with last 4th of July, shows that some progress has been made here. July 4, 1873, sister Willis, formerly of the Santa Rosa church, was a lone Sabbath-keeper in Oakland. Now she can look around here and see about fifty who are obeying the truth. In our meeting on Sunday, the 5th inst., means to the amount of $162.50 was raised for fitting up a hall for meetings, on the corner of Broadway and Twelfth streets. There was also pledged $643 per year, Systematic Benevolence, for the spread of truth in this State. I remain here another week to be with them in the opening of the hall, and then go with this tent to some new place. By letter just received from Bro. Van Horn, I learn that some are coming out on the truth about every week in Walla Walla, and that the way is opening finely for building a Seventh-day Adventist meeting-house there. A brother also writes me from Santa Rosa, that four there, heads of families, have lately embraced the truth from reading tracts. So the truth is steadily moving on. Let us all work in the vineyard with our ability, our influence, and our means; doing with our might what our hands find to do. Maple Rapids, July 14
By H. M. Kenyon; A. O. Burrill
We closed our meetings at St. Johns, June 22, the interest to hear not being sufficient to warrant our staying longer. Two took their stand upon the Sabbath. June 24, we pitched our tent at Maple Rapids, fourteen miles north of St. Johns. Have held meetings up to the present time. We now have the coming of the Lord and the Sabbath truth fully before the people. Some have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and others are deeply interested. There has not been that interest manifested to hear which we desire to see, partly on account of the busy season of the year, and partly because of the secret influence brought to bear against us by some of the ministers of the place. We do not look for large results of our meeting here, but the way seems to be opening for labor during the fall and winter in school districts in the country round about. Several requests to this effect have been made already. Last evening a man and his wife came ten miles to the meeting for the first time, having just heard we were here. We found them deeply interested in the truth, which was the result of some friend's sending them a trial volume of the REVIEW. He is the superintendent of the Sunday-school where he lives, and he gave us encouragement to believe that a course of lectures in his place would result in much good. By his request we shall hold a few meetings there at present, and continue our meetings at the close of the tent season. We expect to remain here until camp-meeting, and after camp-meeting to pitch our tent in a new field. H. M. KENYON,
A. O. BURRILL. Meetings in Minnesota.
By Harrison Grant
I met with the church in quarterly meeting at Tenhassen, April 24, 25. Had an excellent meeting. Although this church has passed through trial and discouragement which seemed to destroy their hope, yet God has enabled them to arise, and, if they are faithful, they will yet go through to the kingdom of God. Three were baptized at this meeting. May 2 and 3, met with the brethren and sisters at Sibley, Iowa. I found a good company there keeping the Sabbath. Six went forward in baptism. I then organized a church here of sixteen members. Bro. Call was chosen leader. Systematic Benevolence was organized. I left this company strong in hope of eternal life. May 9 and 10, held a meeting near Mankato. Baptized four. Organized a church of eight members. Six or eight more are keeping the Sabbath here who we expect will soon join this church. Steps were taken toward building a meeting-house, and I hear that it is now in process of building. The 23d and 24th, met with the church at Litchfield for the first time. Glad to become acquainted with this people. This is the place where Bro. Lee struggled so hard to get the truth before his people. And I must say that this church gives evidence that the truth has a large place in their hearts. They feel the sacredness of the Sabbath and of the work in which we are engaged. I baptized one. Formed a pleasant acquaintance with this people, and hope to go on with them to the kingdom of God. The 30th and 31st, met with the friends at Grove Lake, Brn. Dimick and Hill labored in this new field last winter. About forty are keeping the Sabbath here, and the most of this number are in earnest. They have built a meeting-house, which is the first one that has been built by our people in Minnesota. I organized a church of thirty members on Sunday. Before we organized, we went to a beautiful lake. Twenty-two went down into the water and were buried beneath its waves to arise to walk in newness of life. Among this number was a sister seventy-three years old, three of her daughters, five of her grandchildren, and one great granddaughter who was fourteen years old. My prayer is that God will bless the efforts that this church is making in trying to prepare for a home in the kingdom of God. June 6 and 7, held a meeting with the brethren and sisters at West Union. This is a new field where Bro. Dimick labored last winter and spring. We had a good meeting here. On Sunday they went to Osakis Lake, where I baptized eighteen willing souls who wish to obey the truth. Returned to our house of worship, organized a church of thirty members, one of their number being chosen to lead the meetings. I then left West Union and many thankful hearts for what God has done for them. The next Sabbath I met with the church at Maiden Rock. Here the Lord still works—others still deciding to obey the truth. About twenty have commenced to keep the Sabbath here since last January. The T. and M. Society are doing a good work there, and we begin to see its fruits all over our Conference. Western Iowa Tent.
By J. W. McWilliams; J. Bartlett
We are at Missouri Valley yet. Last night we had about two tents full, or enough to fill two tents. We held a discussion on the Sabbath question with a Christian preacher. The truth triumphed over error. There is a good interest manifest. There are about twelve keeping the Sabbath already, and I think many more will commence soon. We are only about half through with the lectures. There are some Germans here that want to know more than we are able to make them understand. Two are already keeping the Sabbath. Can you send us some tracts? San Jose, Cal.
By Dudley Marvin Canright; M. E. Cornell
We have now held meetings here one week. San Jose is fifty miles south-east of San Francisco, in the Santa Clara Valley, one of the oldest, richest and most wealthy parts of the State. The climate is most delightful. Fruit, grain, and vegetables grow in abundance. The population of the city is about 10,000. The Catholics are very numerous, and there is also a strong spiritualistic and infidel element. The Methodists and other Protestant churches also have flourishing churches, schools, seminaries, &c. On the whole we have not regarded it as a very flattering opening. The first-day Adventists have labored here with but little or no success; yet for several considerations we thought it best to make an effort here. When we began our meetings, the city had just passed through a terrible excitement over the temperance question; and then the celebration of the Fourth came the same week that we began. We advertised freely in all the daily papers, and put up large and small bills all over the city. The first evening we had about seventy. This increased in three evenings to ninety. Then the excitement of the Fourth dropped it down considerably. To raise the interest if possible, we advertised to expose spiritualism in two discourses. We had printed a thousand bills and scattered them freely over the city. This had the desired effect, and for two evenings we have had from two to three hundred hearers, and a good deal of excitement. The spiritualists are greatly stirred, interrupting our meetings with questions and objections, and much loud talk at the close. But the sympathy of the audience is wholly with us, and we are making many friends. The spiritualists will reply to us, and we shall review them. We hope in this manner to get the attention of the people. The substance of the lecture each evening is written out by us and published in one of the papers each day as editorial. They put it in just as we write it, and are glad to do so. We have sold all the books we had on spiritualism. We are all well and enjoy good freedom in preaching the word. We feel much encouraged with the good success at Oakland. And then the glorious reports that come to us from all the camp-meetings are cheering indeed. Truly the Lord is at work for his people. The signs of the end are rapidly increasing. Now is our time to work. In the providence of God the winds are so held that we have peace and plenty all over the country. This cannot last long. The time of trouble is drawing on. It becomes us, therefore, to make the most of the present opportunity. We ask the brethren everywhere to remember us in all their prayers. San Jose, Cal., July 9, 1874. At the time of our last report we were about to pitch the tent at Rochester, the county seat of Fulton Co. Commenced meetings May 29. The congregations from the first ranged from seventy-five to four hundred. As our meetings progressed, some became deeply interested. When the interest was at its hight, court set, and as there were many cases which demanded investigation, night sessions were held. Several cases were tried for the sale of intoxicating drink. This caused quite a general excitement among the citizens, and all became more or less interested in the decision of said cases. At each nightly session of court, many were called away from meeting who under different circumstances would have attended. Court was in session two weeks. Notwithstanding the circumstances under which we were placed, our meetings, through the blessing of the Lord, did not prove a failure. Fifteen or more have taken a decided stand to observe the Sabbath, and thus obey God by keeping all his commandments. Held three Sabbath meetings.55 The Lord blessed and hearts were affected by the truth. Sabbath, July 4, was a good day with us. Several declared their independence of the papal Sabbath, and commenced for the first to observe the Sabbath of the Lord. Sold about $20.00 worth of books, and obtained several subscribers for REVIEW. Closed our meetings the evening of July 5. Bro. Waggoner remained to follow up the interest and to attend to baptism. We immediately shipped the tent to Bourbon, Marshall Co., which is a village of about one thousand inhabitants. Thus far have given seven discourses. The congregations have been large considering the number of inhabitants. The interest is on the increase, and we hope for a good work to be accomplished. Bourbon, Marshall Co., Ind. “I WANT TO GO HOME.”
By Mary Martin
“I want to go home,” said the little child;
And the sweet young face looked sad, but smiled,
As she thought of the loved ones gathered there,
And waiting for her the little chair. “I want to go home,” said a school-girl gay.
As she turned from study and glee away,
And high and noble thoughts would come,
As she sighed for rest in her peaceful home. “I want to go home.” There was anguish now,
On the quivering lip, and pallid brow,
She turned from the false, like a weary dove,
To a father’s home, and a mother’s love. “I want to go home.” The silver hair
Lay on her forehead serene and fair,
For amid her grief she had nearer come,
To Him who had promised sweet rest at home. Her grief was mine as she told me how,
She had threaded life’s dreary maze till now;
And hers my joy, as with softened tone,
She said, “It has driven me nearer home.” Oh, wondrous word! amid toil and care,
Who may tell of the music centered there?
But a sweeter tone by far is given,
When we speak of it as meaning Heaven. It is there the sorrow and heartache cease;
And there he giveth his loved ones “peace,”
And the invitation to all is, “Come”
Where the sinless dwell, to that cloudless home. Missouri Tent Meetings at Savannah and Whitesville
By T. J. Butler; L. R. Long
The Northern Missouri tent was pitched at Savannah in Andrew Co., June 11. We continued labor till July 20. Have forty-eight discourses in all. Eighteen have covenanted together to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; others are keeping the Sabbath. These meetings were conducted in the midst of discouragements, as prejudice and opposition were almost unlimited. Our attendance was generally very small, but the Lord has blessed notwithstanding, and induced about one-half of our regular hearers to embrace the truth. To him be the praise. We go from here to Whitesville, Andrew Co., Mo., where all wishing to communicate with us will address us until further notice. We desire the prayers of God's people. T. J. Butler,
L. R. Long. Marlow, N. H.
By R. M. Kilgore; D. A. Robinson
We pitched the tent here and began meetings on last Friday evening, with an audience of twenty-five persons. Although it has rained constantly since, our audience has increased until it numbered eighty-five last night. The people seem anxious to hear. They are courteous and kind. We believe, and our prayer shall be, that God will bless our feeble efforts, that many souls may be added to his church of such as shall be saved. We ask the prayers of the people of God. Marlow, N. H., will now be our address. R. M. KILGORE,
D. A. ROBINSON. Southern Illinois Tent.
By C. H. Bliss; G. W. Colcord
We commenced our effort here July 1. Have held eleven meetings. Our congregations range from seventy-five to two hundred. We notice the church leaders treat us coolly, others seem indifferent, and some we hear work against us in secret. However, each evening we see a few earnest ones in their usual places in the congregation listening to the truth spoken. Pray for us. Our P. O. address is Lovington, Moultrie Co., Ill. C. H. Bliss,
G. W. Colcord. North Pacific Mission.
By James White
ELDER VAN HORN reports favorably from Walla Walla. In a letter of June 25, to Eld. Loughborough, he says:— “I rejoice with you in seeing the progress of the work on this coast. I am much interested in the establishing of the cause in Oakland. I hope and pray that a strong church of good and faithful men and women may be raised up there, that shall be able to guard the publishing interest that is now started there. I am much pleased with the appearance of our new paper, and shall pray and work for its support. I believe with all my heart that the Lord is leading Bro. White in his work on this coast.” “The way things have shaped here makes it necessary to keep the tent here in Walla Walla city for some time yet. Should we take it down and move to some other point, the harvest coming on soon would give us but a small attendance, and that would leave the friends here no place to meet. Then the ministers of the place are now preaching opposition sermons on the Sabbath and immortality questions, and were not the tent here we should have no place to call the people together to reply. Then I think we are doing more good here than we could in a new place just now, for some new ones start out almost every week.” There is still due us, of the $1,000 for this mission, the sum of $297.35, which we shall be glad to receive from the friends of the cause as they regard it their duty to donate. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” DIED, near Patricksburg, Owen Co., Ind., July 4, 1874, of consumption, my dear wife, aged thirty-two years, nine months, and twenty-four days. She embraced the Sabbath with me about three years ago, under the labors of Brn. E. B. and S. H. Lane, and gave good evidence of true conversion. She bore her affliction with great patience, and expressed herself ready to go. We have good hope that, if faithful, we shall meet her in the kingdom.
D. H. OBERHOLTZER. DIED, in Westbury, P. Q., July 6, 1874, Mary Andrus, aged fifty-four years. She leaves a companion and two sons to mourn their loss, but not without hope. She has been a professor for quite a number of years. She belonged to the M. E. church when first I knew her. For the last few years she has tried to walk in all the commandments of the Lord blameless. We trust she sleeps in Jesus, to awake in the morning of the first resurrection.
JOHN CLAYTON. DIED, in Lodi, Wis., July 10, 1874, after an illness of about four months, Mary, daughter of Robert and Mary Jane Paul, aged four years, nine months, and ten days. A short time before she died she sang “Sweet Hour of Prayer” with such distinctness and tenderness that those who were present were affected to tears. We laid her away in the tomb to rest in sweet hope of soon meeting when Jesus comes. Discourse by Eld. Kellogg, Methodist, from Ps. 90:12.
N. M. JORDON. DIED, in Ripon, Wis., July 3, 1874, of consumption, Helen Amelia, daughter of J. W. and N. G. Sanders, aged twenty-three years and five days. In 1867, while a patient at the Health Institute at Battle Creek, Mich., she made a public profession of faith in a crucified and risen Saviour by following him in the sacred ordinance of baptism, and uniting with the S. D. A. church of that place, since which she has never swerved from the position then taken. During the past two years she has seemed to have more than a usually deep Christian experience, and as she herself drank of the fountain of living waters she seemed impelled to carry the refreshing draught to others; and no self-denial or labor was too great if by it she might alleviate physical suffering, or give one ray of light to those sitting in spiritual darkness. She felt the assurance that all her sins were forgiven that no stain remained. She sweetly sleeps in Jesus.
J. W. & N. G. SANDERS.