We have only to open our eyes to existing facts to see the progress and advancement of this work. By progress or advancement we do not mean that the multitudes will be converted and the masses turn to God. Far from that. From Rev. 7 and 14 we learn that the entire number that are to be redeemed from the earth when the Lord comes will be but a hundred and forty and four thousand, which would make but about one in ten thousand, admitting the general estimate of the present number of inhabitants in the world to be 1,300,000,000.
We ask, then, What shall we look for as evidences of the progress of this work if it is not in the conversion of the masses? What particular items can we look to as evidences that this work is going forward? I answer, first, in the spread of this truth, and secondly, the oneness that will exist among those who receive the truth. It would be folly in the extreme to suppose that the people of God or the honest-hearted were confined to any one sect or nation. But in every part of the world where the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ are to any extent cherished at the present day, there we shall find those who have hearts to receive that truth which will prepare them for the great day of God.
It would be equally foolish to believe that God had revealed in his word a message of warning of a Judgment to the inhabitants of this world, and it not lead the people to see eye to eye. Therefore we expect as we look over the world to see individuals in every nation, among every kindred, tongue, and people, not only becoming inclined to the Sabbath reform, but we expect to see a drawing together; not by any especial pressure brought to bear upon the mind, but the same Spirit that will lead men and women to God in America will do the same in England, in Scotland, in Ireland, and everywhere.
Selfishness leads to bigotry, a narrow mindedness, and exclusiveness. It is “me and mine.” It is a feeling that unless they follow us, they cannot be Christ’s disciples. This narrowness of feeling must be entirely laid aside and give room for the Spirit of God to work. It is God’s work and not man’s. Therefore God must lead in it. There are principles of righteousness which God makes tests of character, and when men are governed by these principles, they will voluntarily come together.
The disciples once found one that was casting out devils in the name of Christ, and they forbade him because he followed not them. Here was the same work being performed in which the Saviour and the disciples were engaged. And the Spirit of God had united them as far as the general work was concerned. Immediately preceding the second coming of Christ the truth will break out all over the world. It will lead people to adopt the same principles and practice, and to the same preparation of heart. Thus they will be united upon the principles of God’s moral government. This will be voluntary.
It is with the greatest joy that we witness these evidences at the present day in connection with the work of the third angel’s message of Rev. 14. Wherever the publications go, an effect is produced. Some become interested in the Sabbath reform and the subject of the near coming of Christ.
A letter was received from Glasgow, Scotland, a few days since, from a lady whose attention had recently been called to these subjects by reading. She writes, “I thank you heartily for the kind interest you have shown and for the papers and tracts you sent me. They interested me very much, especially the one which points out the fact that railways are a fulfillment of ancient prophecy. This never struck me so before, although I had read the prophecy referred to. One of the other tracts you sent me, namely, ‘Scripture References,’ is a particularly useful tract, and I am very glad to have it. I like the ADVENT REVIEW, and would gladly be a subscriber if I were able.” (The REVIEW has since been sent.)
And so it is everywhere the rays of light reach. There are honest hearts the world over; and when publications reach these precious souls, they will rejoice in the light.
The following from the Signs of the Times, the paper published on the Pacific Coast, is very much to the point:—
“We say, place a copy of the paper in the hands of every candid person that you think would read it. You cannot tell what the result may be. Only yesterday we heard of a brother in this State who understood the benefit to be derived from reading, and whenever he had an opportunity would place a tract in the hand of a friend with the request that he would read it. What was the result? When Eld. Loughborough came through that section, there were five souls requested baptism who had embraced the truth without hearing a sermon. But that is not all. Bro. Young received some tracts at the hand of this brother and was convinced of the truth. Well, he has been at work scattering the tracts; and now he writes to Eld. Loughborough stating that five have embraced the truth through reading tracts that he has given them, and asks advice about starting a Bible-class. And thus the work is going on, and these are the reports we are receiving from all over the land.
“Cheering reports are coming in of the advancement of the cause from all quarters. The report of the Michigan camp-meeting is truly encouraging; as also the reports of Elds. Loughborough, Canright and Van Horn. Since these reports have been received, we have received later word by letter from quite a number. We have the report of good camp-meetings in the Eastern States.
“Eld. Cornell is now in Guenoc, Lake Co., Cal. It is a place of but nine houses. Taking a circle of four miles in each direction there are but forty families, yet from the first his audience has averaged seventy-five.
“He went at the request of the only Sabbath-keeper in the vicinity. Five more had been reading our publications, and as soon as they understood the nature of the lectures that were to be given and had conversed with Bro. Cornell, they took their stand and kept their first Sabbath.
“Eld. Van Horn writes, Sept. 3: Our tent has now been pitched two weeks in Weston, Umatilla Co., Oregon. The interest is good and the attendance good for so small a place. We hope for good results.
“Bro. Loughborough reports: I have closed the tent meeting at Vallejo. Organized S. B. for the little company there amounting to $153.50 per year. A delegate was chosen to represent their company in our Conference, and a resolution passed by them requesting the watchcare of the Cal. Conference.”
It is our duty to sow the seed. Sow it in love, and with God’s blessing fruit will be seen in the kingdom of God.
S. N. HASKELL.
Mode of Refuting Error.
By R. F. Cottrell
ERROR quotes Scripture to sustain itself in opposition to the truth; and when it does so, it is well to quote another passage, as our Saviour did when tempted of Satan, to show that a wrong construction has been put upon the scripture which has been pressed into the service of error. We do this, not because one scripture contradicts another, but to show that, when rightly interpreted, they harmonize in the truth, and that they do not sustain error, only as they are wrested from their obvious meaning.
But we need not generally go to some other part of the Bible to find something to refute error. We can generally find its refutation in its chosen text, or the immediate context; and it is perhaps the best mode to find the refutation in the very place quoted, the stronghold of error. Out of many that might be given, we here give one example.
To make against the plain Bible doctrine of the future glorious kingdom to be established and inherited when the King of kings comes in his glory (Matt. 25: 31–34), it is claimed that the kingdom is already established, a spiritual kingdom set up in the hearts of the disciples of Christ. All the Scripture proof of this is found in the following text:—
“And when he was demanded of the Pharisees [not his disciples, but his captious opponents,] WHEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD SHOULD COME, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God COMETH not with observation, [or, outward show, margin,] neither SHALL THEY SAY, [that is, when it does come,] Lo here: or lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. [Margin, among you.] And he said unto his disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And when they shall say to you, See here; or, see there; go not after them nor follow them. FOR as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven, so SHALL ALSO THE SON OF MAN BE IN HIS DAY.” To what day does he here allude as the day when his kingdom shall be revealed? It is the day of his second and glorious advent. “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt. 24: 27. So it is clear that the text and context places the coming of the kingdom of God at the coming of Christ in his glory, when the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and be called to inherit an incorruptible kingdom, “a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.” Dan. 2: 44. R. F. COTTRELL.
Shadows of Coming Events.
The New York Herald of Sept. 23, 1874, gives the following review of the condition and prospects of Europe at the present moment. It strikes us that we see in this something of that “looking after those things that are coming on the earth,” mentioned in Luke 21:26. The Herald says:—
There is a constant rumbling in the Continent of Europe, and even the wisest men cannot read the signs. Peaceful as Europe seems, it is not a wholesome peace. We cannot accept the summer day as truly summer, when clouds, rent and torn with lightning, disturb the sky. We may have the harvest moon, or we may have the thunder storm, when the sun goes down. Question after question comes tumbling, one upon another, even as we read in the poet that “from peak to peak, the rattling crags among, leaps the live thunder.” Never did old Europe seem in so phenomenal a condition. England gathers her skirts about her, and, content with the guardianship of her embosoming seas, sulkily awaits the storm. France sharpens her saber and pike, watching and praying for the tocsin to summon the combat for Alsace and Lorraine. Austria, bothered with her finance and her artillery, prays that the shock may not fall until her currency is ready money and she has changed her cannon of bronze to steel. Russia, half civilized, half barbarian, looks with earnestness upon the Slavic dominions bordering her kingdom, and with barbaric passion upon the ungarnered possessions of Asia. Spain is beaten from shore to shore, at the mercy of every tempest. The smaller nations, rejoicing in the weakness which has at last become strength, huddle into the corners away from the storm, only hoping for the safety that comes with forgetfulness. Turkey feels that her doom is a question of time, and patiently awaits her execution. Germany pursues her destiny with eager, brutal resolution.
The duel which is impending is not between France and Germany—which nations we are glad to hear are sisters (the writer means the people of the two nations) but between two principles, republic and empire. And there must be an encounter between these two principles, a terrible duel.
There can be little doubt, we fear, that in Europe at this moment everything tips toward universal gloom. Mr. Disraeli spoke recently of the great crisis about to appear in the world’s history, and he explained his course upon certain ecclesiastical questions by saying that when this crisis came he wished to have the Church of England protected against the storm. We do not attempt to fathom the meaning of the English Prime Minister, but we presume he referred to the struggle between liberalism, as represented by Prince Bismarck, and the ultramontanism of the Roman Church. Whether we look upon this struggle, from an ecclesiastical point of view, as that of the nineteenth century against the Middle Ages, or of the Gothic Empire against the United States of Europe, the forces on either side are gigantic, and the contest must in time assume proportions that history does not parallel. It may be that we are coming to the time spoken of in sacred writings, when the great battle of Armageddon will be fought and we shall enter upon the millennial period.
To the S. B. Treasurers of the N. Y. and Pa. Conference.
By S. B. Whitney
Dear Brethren: As the time draws near for your first quarterly report for the present year, allow me to call your attention once more to your duty in this matter. I feel constrained to do this because of the sad neglect of some. An effort is being made to arrange our Conference books and records in the better form, and have our business done in a more thorough and workmanlike manner. It is a duty we owe to the cause of truth; but in order to complete success, the co-operation of all, connected with the business of the Conference is necessary, and nothing is more essential than that the quarterly reports should be made regularly and promptly.
Your secretary is in a sense the auditor of your treasurer, but he cannot perform his duty in this respect, unless these reports are correctly made out and put into his possession. It is the duty of each church treasurer to see that all pledges are paid at the end of each quarter, and the money forwarded to the Conference treasurer; but when this is done, a report of the same should be sent immediately to the secretary, and this is the only sure way of avoiding or correcting mistakes arising from carelessness or unfaithfulness.
And here let me say that all who pay S. B. will at once see the necessity of promptness in paying their dues in order that the treasurer be able to perform his duty faithfully. Now, shall we not have a prompt report from every church for the first quarter ending Oct. 31? If any have not blanks, please let us know. The P. O. address of the treasurer is Chas. E. Green, Sackett's Harbor, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and that of the secretary is S. B. Whitney, Pottersville, Warren Co., N. Y. I would advise every S. B. treasurer to copy these addresses, distinguishing them by their respective offices, and place them in their S. B. books; so that, when they want to use them, they will not have to depend upon their memory, or hunt up this paper to learn them, or what is worse, neglect their duty because they cannot find it.
S. B. WHITNEY, Sec.
Pottersville, N. Y., Oct. 6, 1874.
The Lapeer, Mich., Camp-meeting.
By Uriah Smith
This meeting has added another to the list of triumphant camp-meetings for 1874. It opened very encouragingly on the day appointed, Oct. 1. Thirty-one church tents and two large circular tents were pitched. Between four and five hundred Sabbath-keepers were present. Only a few of these were among those who attended the Battle Creek camp-meeting, and many of them had never attended a camp-meeting before. This number, under the circumstances, was considered very satisfactory. Seventeen ministers were on the ground.
The opening remarks were made by Bro. Haskell, Thursday at 2 P. M. He gave a general review of the camp-meeting season, enumerating the good and encouraging seasons that have been enjoyed, and magnifying the goodness and mercy of God, in manifesting himself so graciously to his people. Though the eastern meetings did not show so large an increase of numbers as some of the western meetings, yet the work of the Lord was evident in that the brethren, though having labored during the past year under more or less unfavorable circumstances, were encouraged by the meetings, and went to their homes, newly established in the work of the Lord for this time, and with fresh determinations to press forward in the good cause. He set forth the great work which this message is to accomplish, and the many evidences of its remarkable advancement to the present time, in words of good cheer.
Bro. E. B. Lane spoke in the evening on 2 Pet. 3:11, 12, showing what manner of persons we ought to be, in view of the day of God, which is a great and terrible day, and very near. It would require too much space to give a synopsis of the discourses given. Twenty-seven meetings were held. Four discourses each were given by Bro. and sister White, two by Bro. Haskell, and one each by brethren Lane, Matteson and Waggoner. But the regular discourses constituted but comparatively a small portion of the work accomplished by Bro. and sister W. They were ready, in all the social meetings, to give, as the occasion and the condition of the people demanded, the most encouraging and timely instruction.
The marked days of the meeting were Sabbath and Sunday. On Sabbath afternoon, after sister White had appealed to the people with unusual power and freedom, about seventy-five came forward for prayers, most of them apparently under deep and genuine conviction.
On Sunday, about three thousand persons were present. Bro. White spoke in the forenoon on 1 Pet. 3:15: “Give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” This brought him at once to the great pillars of our faith, the doctrine of the soon coming of Christ, personally, in the clouds of heaven, and the observance of the seventh day as the Sabbath. He claimed that one simple and, it would seem, self-evident principle of interpretation, is the magical wand that would bring order out of all the confusion created by mystical expositors respecting the teaching of the word of God, and clearly establishes our position on these great questions; and that principle is, that the Bible is to be taken as it reads, and means what it says, literally, except when some good reason can be shown why it should be taken figuratively. With appropriate remarks he then introduced such passages as Matt. 24:30-34; Mark 13:26, 27; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:10, 11; 1 Thess. 4:16; 5:4; 2 Thess. 1:7, 8, &c., showing that apostles, angels, and Christ himself, have testified to his literal second coming, in the plainest and most unequivocal language.
On the same principle, Baptists establish immersion; and he made it clear that this very principle which so plainly establishes the second advent and immersion, establishes also the seventh-day Sabbath. He appealed to the fourth commandment of the decalogue as the sum of all legal obligation on this institution. He showed that the law must be changed before it can enjoin Sunday-keeping, but that no power is competent to change it, less than that which at first enacted it. And if such change has been made by the proper authority, where is the record of it? What prophet at any time predicted it? What apostle has recorded it? Where can a copy of the revised edition be found? What printer has ever printed it? What bookseller has ever sold it? If a revised copy of that grand old document, the decalogue, is in existence, said he, we want to see it; pass it in, gentlemen—a reasonable request, but one with which ministers or people will find it hard to comply. Then he showed that the very fact that the millions of copies of this document, which are issued for churches and schools, for men, women, and children, read precisely as God first gave and wrote it, proves that those who talk so loudly of a change, have no faith whatever in their own assertions.
Never, we believe, has it been our privilege to listen to an argument commenced, carried through, and closed, more triumphantly. The crowd were held spellbound. In the midst of the discourse, a seat in the congregation broke down; but those sitting not more than two seats away, could not stop to look around to see what had happened; they were engaged with the subject and the speaker.
When the meeting closed, a buzz of voices was immediately heard all over the ground, from a general discussion of the Sabbath question. A few seemed to be excited well on toward feelings of anger, which is the best evidence in the world of overturned opinions; while more seemed to act with reason in the matter, and proposed, when hard-fisted facts had demolished their theories, to accept the situation as gracefully as possible.
A fitting counterpart to this was sister White's discourse in the afternoon. She dwelt upon the subject of overcoming by the exercise of Christian temperance. The wide range which this subject takes in the use of tobacco, tea, coffee, and extravagance in dress, was set forth with force and freedom. While men and women are striking earnestly against intemperance as manifested in the use of intoxicating liquors, the very germs of it are nestling snugly on their own tables in the rich food, highly-seasoned viands, and irritating condiments, which they spread before their children. The delight of the women when the mentally and morally stupefying influence of tobacco was denounced in appropriate terms, was exactly balanced by the delight of the men when the frivolity and extravagance of fashionable female attire was as unsparingly exposed. Men would be better prepared to discern spiritual things, and appreciate the difference between the sacred and profane, if they would stand forth in their godlike manhood, free from the debasing power of appetite; and women would be better prepared to stand by the side of their husbands as counselors, and even to take part with them in political matters, would they disenthrall themselves from the slavery of fashion, which dwarfs and belittles the mind, and leaves them no time to study the weightier matters of life. The good attention given throughout gave evidence that the telling points were seen, and will not soon be forgotten.
In the evening, Bro. Waggoner gave a timely discourse on the great commission of Christ to his disciples, Mark 16:15-18, and the promise involved therein of the gift of the Spirit. He showed that this subject on which so much prejudice exists, has also an immovable foundation in the Scriptures of truth.
Monday was taken up principally with remarks upon tract and missionary work, and mention of many remarkable instances of good that have been already accomplished by it. The afternoon was a most precious season. About the same number as on the Sabbath again came forward for prayers. In the evening, Bro. White gave a clear and happy discourse on the subject of baptism.
Tuesday morning was the parting meeting. There were fourteen candidates for baptism; but as these were living in places soon to be visited by ministers, the baptism was deferred for want of time. At this meeting Bro. John O. Corliss, of Ithaca, was ordained to the work of the ministry. Prayer by Bro. White. Charge and right hand of fellowship by Bro. Waggoner. It was an impressive occasion, and one on which deep feeling was manifested by many present.
Thus closed the last camp-meeting of the season for the Conferences this side the plains, considered by those who have attended the others, as in many respects the best that has yet been held. Its effect upon the cause in North-eastern Michigan we are assured can but be excellent, and the brethren parted with the conviction that it would be the most shameful ingratitude to God should we ever forget all these tokens of his goodness. U. S.
Santa Clara, Cal.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
We closed our meetings in this place Sept. 20, after a stay of seven weeks. We came here designing to remain but a short time; but the attendance was so large and the interest so good that we could not get away till the present time. Though our meetings were so long continued, still we seldom had less than seventy-five out, and many times there were hundreds in attendance. Probably not less than six or eight hundred different persons have attended these meetings at different times.
We have seldom met such bitter opposition and such a real spirit of persecution as in this place. The first-day Adventists once had a flourishing church here; but it was divided and broken up by Eld. Miles Grant preaching his hobby of sanctification. Some of the few who went with him left no means untried to misrepresent and slander us. They would not come to hear a word themselves, and went from house to house to keep away as many as possible; thus doing the very work which they everywhere and so loudly condemn in the sectarian churches. This course has killed their influence in Santa Clara. A favorite and oft-repeated illustration of the ten commandments, used by one of their ministers in his arguments against us, was, that the law was an old dead carcass which we had dug up and were gnawing its bones—a very chaste and elevated illustration! I notice that these sanctified men delight in such language, showing the purity of their hearts, from whence it comes.
We had our tent on the public plaza. Some became so exasperated that they determined to drive us out of town; and one man, whose office gave him the authority, ordered us to move our tent from the plaza. This created great indignation in the public mind against those who had undertaken this mean persecution. A convenient location was immediately offered us, and a large number of prominent citizens and influential men turned out to help us move our tent. We had enough hands to move a dozen tents, so that it was all moved and pitched by 9 o'clock in the morning. Wealthy men, to show their sympathy, handed me sums as high as $10. Neither was this all. They turned out to hear us, so that our attendance was much larger than before.
I sold about $25 worth of books, obtained eighteen names for the Signs, and twenty-five have embraced the Sabbath. Among these is one first-day Adventist preacher, a young man of good education and good ability. He will make a good leader for the church at present, and we shall hope much for him in the future. Sister Tallman, the daughter of Eld. O. R. Fassett, has embraced the Sabbath and is a zealous worker in the cause. Besides those who have come out decided, we have a large number of warm friends who take a deep interest in the cause, attend our meetings, acknowledge the truth, &c.
We have hired a good hall, in which we shall have regular meetings. Wishing to raise $75 on the rent, we simply named it to them, and in a few minutes, without any soliciting, $110 was pledged, though many of our friends were not present. Every Sabbath, one or more new ones have taken their stand with us. On the last Sabbath, three publicly decided to keep the Sabbath. One of these was from San Jose.
So closes our tent-meetings for the season. I have been constantly in the tent for five months. Bro. and sister White and Bro. Loughborough labored more or less with us while in Oakland, and Bro. Cornell was with me most of the time, excepting the last three weeks at Santa Clara. As the result of these meetings, about one hundred have embraced the Sabbath, and I have baptized forty-seven. Have obtained ninety subscribers for the Signs, and have sold between $250 and $300 worth of books. What we have received in donations and for the use of our tent has much more than paid our running expenses. My health seems to be fully recovered, so that I labor as constantly and as hard as at any time before. I never felt of better courage and stronger confidence in the work than now, nor did the end ever look more near to me than at the present. We now go to camp-meeting, where we hope to enjoy a good season. D. M. CANRIGHT.
San Jose, Cal., Sept. 22, 1874.
The Indiana Camp-Meeting.
By Stephen N. Haskell
We left the Ohio camp-ground in company with Eld. E. B. Lane and wife, and sister White, for Kokomo, Ind., Tuesday, Sept. 22. Circumstances were such that it seemed duty for Bro. White to leave the Ohio camp-ground Monday, so he was not with us in Indiana. This lack of course was seriously felt by those who had the responsibility of the meeting as well as by those for whom we tried to labor. We found the camp-ground much improved in comparison with what it was last year. The circle was much enlarged. Twenty-two good-sized tents were pitched upon the ground. Two hundred Sabbath-keepers were present, and quite a number of them were those who had embraced the Sabbath in the past year. Two churches were received under the watchcare of the Conference, numbering thirty-two members, and representing $200 of Systematic Benevolence. A number of companies besides were spoken of, but S. B. had not been arranged, nor leaders appointed, and their admission to the Conference was therefore deferred.
This Conference is evidently coming up in numbers, spirituality, and interest in the general work of the third angel's message. This is as it should be. Our work is an aggressive one. Our ministers are missionaries. With their cotton churches, they enter, during the summer months, into villages and cities, and during the cold season, into school-houses and meeting-houses, to present the truths applicable to the present time, raise up companies of believers, organize them into churches, and then leave them to work for themselves and for others, and give of their means to carry the truth into “regions beyond.” The brethren in this Conference are beginning to feel the spirit of this. When the interests of the cause in California were presented, and the prospects of establishing a publishing house there were set forth, five men freely volunteered to be one-hundred-dollar men for that purpose. Then came the book funds. Over five hundred dollars were raised in a few moments for that enterprise.
This Conference was able to pay their ministers liberally, and was anxious thus to do. The question of donating to the General Conference came up. They were anxious to give two hundred dollars. When this was objected to on the ground that there was not that amount in the treasury after paying other claims against the Conference, the reply was, “Then we will put our hands into our pockets and make it up.”
Our religious meetings were also of deep interest. Sabbath was a day that will long be remembered by many who were on the Indiana camp-ground. At the close of sister White's discourse Sabbath afternoon, without any apparent excitement, at least one-half of the congregation feelingly came forward as an evidence of their desire to start anew in the service of God. Many of these had commenced to keep the Sabbath under the recent labors with the tent, but had been too well contented with the mere theory.
Monday was a precious season. After listening to a discourse upon baptism, we repaired to Wild Cat Creek, where sixteen candidates cheerfully followed the example of their divine Lord, in baptism. The Spirit of God rested upon us. It was truly refreshing to witness the formality which is so common melt away under the influence of the love of God; and as these individuals came up out of the water, they would embrace their friends on the shore, and amid tears of joy express their determination to serve the Lord faithfully. Stout hearts melted. Many an eye of those who were witnessing the scene filled with tears.
On Sunday, about fifteen hundred people were present, who paid the closest attention to the word spoken. Monday evening was our parting meeting. So far as we could judge, nearly every one that came forward for prayers on the Sabbath, spoke, while some spoke for the first time.
Many who had been upon the background felt the necessity of doing more in the cause of God than ever before. Nearly all the brethren remained till the very last meeting, feeling much encouraged and strengthened to enter the service of God more devotedly than ever before. S. N. HASKELL.
G. W. COLCORD
By G. W. Colcord
Illinois.
We are rejoiced to know that some good has been accomplished in our last effort. Spoke forty times in Arthur; and during this time held twenty-one other seasons of worship, including Bible-classes and social meetings. Held them in the tent and four school-houses. Obtained twenty names for our periodicals, and sold more of our publications than at any former effort. The people seemed to be a kind and hospitable class. We went among them by invitation, and received our board free throughout the meetings. In the meantime, feeling compelled to do thus, have commenced to build a meeting-house in Lovington—a frame building, 30x40, to be erected by the united efforts of many friends.
Last Monday evening, spoke in the Dehart school-house; and at the close of the discourse, one more soul declared in favor of this good cause. Only three or four have, as yet, openly embraced the Lord's holy Sabbath, as the result of these meetings in, and near, Arthur; still, for others we shall pray, labor, and hope.
The whole community, including several surrounding counties, are becoming stirred. Repeated verbal and written invitations come in, urging us to “come over and help” them. I could now name ten or more places to which we are more than simply invited. A non-professor met me, yesterday morning, and said: “I’ve heard you but three times; but it sounds more like the truth than any preaching I ever heard. Come to our place and give us a course of lectures and I will board you free.”
A young man came to me and sat down in the car, saying, with broken words and moistened eye: “I want to do right,” &c. I sold him some books, and gave him my address, expecting to hear from him soon. He wants the REVIEW.
Brethren and sisters, the fields are white!127The opening providence of God is far in the advance of us. Let us do more. I must do more! I go to the general meeting at Green-up, and perhaps from there to one of the above-mentioned new fields. Pray for your unworthy brother.
G. W. COLCORD
Campbell, Coles Co., Ill., Sept. 30, 1874.
MUSINGS
By H. M. Van Slyke
So frail am I, so sinful, too,
How shall I walk the journey through?
Is best my own,
Or the appointed way,
As hastens on the dawning day?
Shall I court the world to save a friend?
Or all my powers to Jesus lend,
And trust his grace,
His pure and matchless love,
To seal my prayer in Heaven above?
Be this my thought: like Esther meek,
What is appointed only seek,
There favor find,
Of man, and heavenly King;
For Jesus will salvation bring.
H. M. VAN SLYKE.
Hamilton, Mo.
A. S. HUTCHINS
By A. S. Hutchins
Vermont.
Each Sabbath since our camp-meeting, I have spoken to the brethren and friends at some point. The first Sabbath in this month, was with the brethren assembled at Johnson. After services, I baptized one. Truly, the blessing of Heaven rested upon us. The following week, I visited lonely and scattered ones. The next Sabbath, held a meeting at the house of a friend in Fayston, who, with his companion, was much interested in the solemn truths preached at the camp-meeting. After the discourse, she fully committed herself on the Sabbath, and commenced its observance. Her kind and very friendly husband seemed to throw around her every influence to encourage her in this direction. May he soon obey, and find that peace and consolation in the Lord which he so much desires may fall upon his wife and dear children.
On Sunday, preached at a school-house in another part of the town. The Free-will Baptist minister kindly gave the time of his appointment, and attentively listened to the word spoken. He seems a man of candor, possessing the spirit of love and good-will to all.
The next Wednesday evening, spoke at Greenville. On Friday, preached a funeral sermon. On Sabbath, scattered ones from six towns were together. Sunday, attended another funeral, after which I preached again and baptized three. One was added to the Granville and Warren church, after perfecting organization as far as we could, and two to the Roxbury church. These meetings and funerals (neither of the deceased were of our faith) have left a deep impression upon the minds of the community for good, we humbly trust. On Monday morning, two gentlemen of candor admitted frankly that on the Sabbath question and the nature of man, we have the Bible truth. One Methodist family subscribed for the REVIEW. We need and seek a deeper work of grace.