We say Saul of the Old Testament, because there are many people so ignorant of Bible history that they do not know but the two Sauls of the Bible are one and the same person. Should any one read this article, who confounds the two Sauls in the same person, let him immediately inform himself on this point; for the difference between these two men is almost infinite.
This Saul we are writing about was of the tribe of Benjamin (so was the modern Saul), and was a noble man as to his personal appearance, and had many excellent traits of character; but he very unfortunately possessed one hideous trait of character, which discolored and stained his whole life, public and private. This was his jealousy. True, he was selfish; but he might have escaped the snare of Satan if he had understood and appreciated the situation in which he was placed and the weakness of his character.
It is the office of the Spirit of God to convict the sinner of his sin, and having pointed his attention to the true God for pardon through his Son Jesus Christ, to follow up this work by helping the convert to overcome all the evil traits of the carnal heart.
Conversion is only a starting-point in the Christian life. It must be followed up closely with searching of heart and continued resistance of evil thoughts and words and acts, or it will wholly fail to regenerate the life, and apostasy will be the result. This was well understood by the good men of ancient times, and no doubt Saul the king was well instructed on this point by the prophet Samuel and others.
It appears that Saul the king was a true convert, and often the power of the Holy Spirit rested upon him; but the difficulty with him was, he did not take care to search his own heart and life, and conform himself to the holy law of God. His pride and love of power and desire of the praise of men were great, and his love of God was weak if it did exist at all in his mind. This caused him to overlook the rights and feelings of his fellow-men when they seemed to clash with his own interests and feelings.
Satan, aware of this weakness in the character of Saul, took the advantage, and spread out his snares for the jealous king with great skill. Saul became jealous of those around him, and especially of David, whose fame and merit aroused all the latent evil which had ever lurked in the heart of Saul.
The demon of jealousy arose in fearful rage in his heart, and Saul became quite a maniac at times, when this trait of his character was called out by the circumstances in which he was placed; and Satan, taking in the situation, was always near, to fan the flame to a high degree of anger and vindictiveness.
Had poor Saul the king taken care at an early period of his life and religious experience, to hunt out and resist and eradicate the evils of his carnal nature, it would have been an easy thing for him to see the ridiculous figure he was making of himself in sight of God and man, and what history would relate concerning him. At times he saw this; but it was only a momentary impulse, and he mentally relapsed into the old rut of malicious, blind jealousy, until it became impossible for him to break the fetters which bound him.
Saul's remark to Jonathan, his noble son, when he suspected the cause of David was espoused by Jonathan (see 1 Sam. 20:30), shows conclusively, that jealousy had long been the bane of Saul's peace, and that others had felt the edge of his bitter, vindictive jealousy and hatefulness in days gone by, and that some one had arisen in indignation against it, and that Saul had still carefully nurtured the old grudge, probably as baseless as the fabric of an idiot's dream.
No doubt, this trait in the character of Saul was understood and deprecated by his son Jonathan and other good people, and that he was fully warned of the danger of giving way to it; and it shows the character of Jonathan in a very beautiful light,—that he was so different from his father in this respect; and no doubt his heart was filled with sorrow and indignation to hear his good and noble mother called by dishonorable epithets, which she in no wise deserved. His large and noble mind comprehended the whole subject and the danger in which his father's blind passion placed his own interests and the interests of his family and people.
From the conditions of the parties in this disagreeable affair, we may safely conjecture that Jonathan was the counterpart of his mother in all that was pure and lovely and noble, and that she had suffered an untold amount of sorrow and abuse from the same trait in her husband's character, which so terribly afflicted the early public career of David.
Also we may suppose that Jonathan saw through the snare which Satan had woven so artfully for his father, king Saul, and had witnessed with pain the evil it had done in the domestic circle, and feeling keenly the dishonor and shame it entailed upon his father's family, with the deepest humility he resigns his own claim to the throne in favor of the youthful warrior whom God had evidently chosen to lead his people.
From the evident allusion in this expression of Saul's concerning the mother of Jonathan, volumes of meaning may be safely inferred. A noble woman, allied to this terribly jealous king by marriage, after enduring every thing from her husband, who should have been her comfort and her support and her pride, but who, instead of this, became her slanderer and her bitter persecutor, is driven to throw off her allegiance to him, in order to protect herself and her offspring from the abuse of his cruel tongue.
But out of this domestic feud, in which one side is represented by a noble, pure-minded queen, the other by a jealous, haughty, selfish king, we see that there comes forth a noble prince, who inherits his mother's love of God and of her country, and who is willing to waive his own claims to the throne for the public good; and thereby he settles forever the honor of his mother, whom no tongue could otherwise protect from the low, scurrilous influence of a jealous, cruel husband and father, who could so far forget his high position and dignity as to slander those who were a greater honor to him than all his crowns, honors, wealth, and trophies.
Jonathan manifested in his excellent example, the training he had received from his mother; and in his forgetfulness of self, his devotion to truth and duty, and his really dutiful conduct to his father, he showed that in him were found the graces in their beauty and strength. And here, too, we are inclined to give great credit to the influence of that good mother, whom the cruel Saul named rebellious.
But what shall we say of this dreadful demon, which separates friends and families, and feeds the flames of discord, and creates perpetual unhappiness, shame, and disgust, consigning noble minds to the grave of dishonor and the rest of oblivion? What shall we do with this shameless trait, which regards neither goodness, virtue, nor the Spirit of God?
Is there a character so pure as to be a protection from this jealous influence? Is there a name so honorable or so elevated as to be outside of the suspicion of the jealous person? No!
Jealousy has an armor of its own, manufactured by Lucifer, in the depths of infamy and shame. It has Evil Surmising for counselor, witness, and advocate, and Satan himself for a judge, and all his demon companions for jury and officers of court.
Jealousy creates a liar from an honest man, or rather turns a once honest man into a liar. The jealous man lies first cautiously to himself, until he begins to believe his lies are the truth. Then he does believe them; and often such a man, like poor Saul the king, is given over to believe a lie.
Reader, are you a little jealous inwardly? Beware! It is like dynamite, a dangerous plaything. Keep clear of it.
JOSEPH CLARKE.
TO THE BRETHREN OF THE N. Y. AND PA. CONFERENCE.
By P. Z. Kinne
Dear Brethren: As it is well known among you that for some time in the past I have been in the dark and very much discouraged relative to myself, I thought it proper to make a statement through the REVIEW as to my present condition and future calculations. The causes which produced the above-named effects it is unnecessary to mention; but I will simply state that there has been no personal trial connected with it, and that my own mistakes and consequent wrong course have been the cause of all my trouble. But of this fact I have not been fully aware till recently. Having had a strong desire to understand my true condition, and if possible regain the blessing of the Lord, I decided to lay my case before members of the General and State Conference committees, and accept of their decision as light from the Lord. And this being done I now take my position to act in harmony with their advice and counsel, hoping thereby to secure the blessing of God, which, to me, is of more value than all earthly considerations.
And now, in consideration of the accumulating evidences that the Spirit of the Lord is at work (and that in an especial manner in this Conference), to arouse the people to the importance of immediate and energetic action in regard to our own eternal interests and the salvation of others, I feel like saying that I will try to profit by the things I have suffered, renew my consecration to the Lord, and trust that I may never again be left to withdraw the sacrifice from the altar.
Dear brethren, where you in the past have been injured or grieved by my wrong course and influence, do forgive me, and henceforth I will try to act in harmony with the Spirit and work of God.
Affectionately yours,
P. Z. Kinne.
THE LORD'S WORK.
By E. F. Cottrell
The work in which we are engaged is the Lord's work; and he is excellent in working. He never makes mistakes; but will carry forward his work to a glorious termination.
To be a co-worker with God is the highest privilege we can enjoy in our present state. We cannot be qualified for this without true humility. Human instrumentality at the best is imperfect and liable to err; but the Master is able to use fallible humanity as an instrument, and yet infallibly succeed in his perfect work.
No work of God, during all time, was ever greater or more important than that which he is now doing. It is the finishing of the “mystery of God,” the closing of the great work of saving sinners, the sealing of his servants, the ripening of the harvest of the earth.
Let all who profess to accept this work as of God, beware of the Angel who is the true, though unseen, leader in the work. Let it be our highest ambition to humble ourselves, and so have a part in this work. “All the proud” are the subjects of God's wrath; and are not they proud who intend to take an independent course, out of harmony with, and not subject to, the body? God calls us to unity. Shall we not renounce self, in order to attain to that state of unity in which all the translated will be found? E. F. COTTRELL.
THE GREAT FIRE.
By Eliza H. Morton
While reading the History of Portland, not long since, I was particularly struck with the description of the great fire of July 4th, 1866, which destroyed one thousand five hundred buildings and laid the whole business part of the city in ashes. Speaking of the public buildings destroyed, the author says, “All of these passed away like shadows in that hurricane of unquenchable fire.”
As I read the above paragraph the following passage of Scripture came into my mind: “And he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” This text is often quoted to prove the eternal misery of the wicked. It seems to me that the word unquenchable is used in the same sense in both instances, and simply conveys the idea of ungovernable fire—fire that will burn as long as it can find fuel to consume. It will be thus in the great “burning day.” The fire that purifies the earth will destroy the wicked, and cause them to be as though they had never been. ELIZA H. MORTON.
TO THE INDIANA CONFERENCE.
By S. H. Lane
Dear Brethren and Sisters: It is fully time we were preparing for an active campaign during the coming summer. We have a fine field of labor in this State, and if we are united, and each one does the part assigned to him, a great work can be accomplished through the blessing of the Lord.
During the winter season, a good work has been done; but much more might have been accomplished had all been more active in the T. and M. work. We have permitted ourselves to become discouraged on account of being in debt, and when in that condition lost our disposition to work.
Through the energy and sacrifice of a few, the debt has been paid, and we are not only out of debt, but have on hand nearly $200.00 worth of publications at retail prices. We have of late, as opportunity has presented, tried to explain the workings of the T. and M. Society. Now that we understand its workings quite fully, our great want at the present time is men and women who will, in the fear of God, imbued with the spirit of sacrifice, distribute and sell our publications, and obtain subscribers for our periodicals.
Let us not decide that as spring has come the working season is over, but let us work all the more earnestly to get our views before the people. There are tens of thousands in this State who know nothing of our message. The map of the State presents a net-work of rail-roads. Scores of depots present places to advertise our works in every direction. Let us make one united effort to scatter the rays of light all over this Conference during the coming season by earnestly laboring in the T. and M. Society.
Your Conference Committee is very anxious that all who can labor in the harvest field by presenting the truth publicly should do so. In order that this be possible, it will be absolutely necessary for every church and all the scattered brethren and sisters to pay into the s. s. treasury all its due.
Two tents will be run this season. One a fifty-two foot tent which has been run but one season; the other, a new sixty foot tent, to purchase which, the means are on hand. Thus we are well furnished with tents. There are six young men in the prime of life, who are willing to labor, but are not able so to do without support. This can be furnished if all will fully adopt the plan of systematic benevolence. Shall this be done?
We need more of the spirit of sacrifice in this State, to enable us to see and feel it our duty to aid more in the cause of the third angel’s message, as it shall be carried on all over the broad harvest field. Let us all resolve to awake to the necessity of doing what we can by our influence, labor, and means, in the cause of God.
S. H. LANE.
Guard Well Your Thoughts
THERE is much in the expression of the poet: “Guard well your thoughts; your thoughts are heard in Heaven.” Our musings and meditations, all our fitting emotions and thoughts, of which men know nothing—these are fully understood in the world above. How careful we should be to think only that which is good, and of which we will be willing to give an account.
SEEKING FOR LIGHT.
By C. W. S.
Those of our readers who are less connected with the active work have no idea of the earnest calls for preachers and for reading matter that are every day being received at this Office from individuals in all parts of the country, who have heard a little of the truth, and want to learn more. I would that these calls might reach the ears of scores of young men of talent in our midst, and call them from the farm, from the shop, the anvil, the counter, the schoolroom, and lead them to strike out into the darkness of this world under the banner of Truth, carrying the bread of life to honest, famishing souls.
It is not always best to wait till you can bring your circumstances around to your liking, before you move out to work in the cause. Should you make up your mind to do that, you may be sure that the devil will control the circumstances as much as possible. Circumstances sometimes demand that we wait; but when we are half glad of an excuse for not moving out, our difficulties are not inclined to grow less, and each succeeding year finds new weights upon us, new ties to bind us to the world.
If we feel that God demands that we assist in spreading the light of his truth, and yet circumstances prevent our obeying, our duty may be to work directly to the purpose of removing those difficulties; or it may be our duty to move out in spite of them. If God says “Go forward,” though the Red Sea lie before us, we should step in—the waters will divide. God will open the way when we move in obedience to his commands, though he lead us through dark places and over difficult hills, to try our sincerity and faith.
The Tract and Missionary Societies are doing a great work. Here is an employment in which all may join. All the different points in our faith are put in print. The people are being stirred up to investigate. It is easy to get their attention. Now is the Heaven-favored time for our whole army to go forward. We believe that time is short; that Christ is soon coming. That nice house, that costly furniture, those dollars laid in the bank, will be of no use to you or anybody else in a few years. Think of the perishable riches that will lie in ruins on the surface of this earth after the redeemed have been taken to the heavenly city, and the earth has been racked and depopulated by the plagues and the brightness of Christ’s coming.
Cities will lie in ruins. Stores will not be locked, but no thief will come in to steal, no busy clerk will arrange the wares nor dust the books. Banks will be open at all hours, but no lender shall come for his interest, no cashier shall ever close the vaults. The humming of the mill and the scream of the locomotive will be silenced forever. Our houses shall tumble down and rot away, and the flower gardens of our homes shall be filled with weeds. A thousand years shall these things lie waste, and no human being shall breathe the air of earth. Devils, in horrid discontent, with no man on whom to exercise their deceptive powers so long used to activity, will drag out the sad years with these ruins for home and the bones of their victims for company.
Will you heap up riches for the last days? James speaks of a class that will do so; and he represents them as having occasion to weep and howl for having done so. James 5. But the Saviour shows how dollars and cents can be turned to a better account. “Sell that ye have, and give alms,” he says; and he states the result of this in his next words: “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.” Here is a chance for you to make a transfer to the Bank of Heaven. That bank will never fail, and it pays a larger interest than you can get here; and he who invests freely, and gives his heart also, has the promise of life everlasting wherein to enjoy the proceeds.
When I commenced this article, I thought of giving a few extracts as examples of the earnest calls for information and help. A card from Georgia reads: “Please send me such papers as will enlighten me on your doctrines. Anything you may see fit to send, or any information, will be gladly and thankfully received.”
Bro. A. B. Rust, writing from Texas, says, “I now know of twelve or fifteen good openings for our ministers to step in and fill.”
A brother in Alabama, who is a Presbyterian minister, writes a very encouraging letter, from which we extract the following:—
“I am preaching your doctrine now whenever I minister in holy things. I am a minister of the Old School Presbyterian Church, but I am displeased with their doctrines, and have embraced your views. I have not yet publicly joined your body, or withdrawn from my own church. My object in writing is to get information on certain topics, preparatory to withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church and entering the S. D. A. Church.” “I preach for your people [a company who have recently embraced the truth] once a month, and hope to contribute to your Heaven-sent message and communion. I believe you are raised up in these last days, to warn the world of approaching doom, and I desire to join you in so noble a calling.”
“You shall not lose anything by your kindness to me in favoring me with your publications, as I will not only proclaim these truths, but pay you as soon as possible.”
“Your books are so valuable that I will never be satisfied till I read them all, even if I go in debt. I go in debt for no other thing, but I feel that I must have the information your publications contain.”
Sr. Chapman sent this good brother the SIGNS. With the true missionary spirit he says in a letter to her, “I will read and circulate the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and when I receive the necessary funds remit its subscription price—not that I refuse the gift, which I gratefully acknowledge, but that you may be able to perform the same generous act to some one else not even so well able to pay for it as I am. Although poor, I am not destitute, for God has prospered me, and in due time, when I reap the fruits of my labors, I give the tithe of it all to Him who gave me power to earn it.”
“I am amazed at the work of Mrs. E. G. White. That a lady could write so massive a work as this [Spirit of Prophecy] proves to me she must be the special favorite of Heaven. Never have I read such thoughts from the pen of a lady. May God richly reward her.”
A man writes from Kansas, “If you can send me some tracts or papers or anything that will lead into the light, you will oblige a seeker after truth. Others here are anxious to learn the truth. . . . I am poor and cannot send any money now.”
A brother in Alabama has withdrawn from the Presbyterian Church, having embraced the Sabbath truth. Now he sends for reading matter. He is poor. A poor brother in Ill., has been distributing tracts. He says, “They are doing good. Several accept the Bible Sabbath, and a few have decided to keep it. If some of our preachers could give a course of lectures here I think much good might be done.”
Bro. Bahler writes from Texas that a man who has lately found the truth writes to him thus: “I want the strongest Sabbath works. I am anxious to get the works as soon as I can. Our brethren are talking of dismissing some of us from the church, and I wish to prove to them why I have embraced the Sabbath as the Lord’s only rest day. There are a great many inquiring friends in this country, who would like to read some of your tracts. If you have any surplus tracts, please send us some.”
We might make this list much longer. The above are a sample of the earnest calls for help. The Lord is turning the minds of the people to his truth. Now is the time for every soldier of Christ to put the armor on and come up to the help of the Lord. Reading matter is what the people want; and the earnest, strong, long, and united pull of the T. and M. workers, laboring in a systematic manner, will be the means under the blessing of God of carrying the light of truth and the warning message to tens of thousands of our fellow beings, to whom eternal life appears as sweet as to us. C. W. S.
A PLAIN TALK TO THE MURMURERS.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Some Facts for Those Who Are not in Harmony with the Body.
Now let us apply these facts and principles to our work. Admitting that the time has come for the third angel’s message to be given to the world, the question arises, Has the Lord forgotten to attend to it? Is he not able to find proper men to do the work? Or has this message actually begun, and has somebody been engaged in giving it? Or we might ask, What is present truth, what are the truths which should now be preached to the world? Do we not all agree that the second advent is near, and the world is now to be warned concerning it? Do we not all agree that in the providence of God, special light is now being given upon the subjects of the second advent near, the kingdom, the new earth, the sleep of the dead, the destruction of the wicked, the doctrine of the trinity, the law of God, God’s holy Sabbath, etc.? All Seventh-day Adventists will agree in these things. The time has come that these truths must be preached to the world; and the third angel’s message of Rev. 14:9-12 is a prophecy of this work.
To come a little closer, we ask, If these truths are now being published to the world, by whom are they heralded? If we go to the first-day Adventists, we find them very zealous in preaching a part of them; but other parts, as the law of God, the Sabbath, the third angel’s message, etc., they not only fail to preach, but they are bitterly opposed to them, as we know very well. They, then, certainly are not preaching present truth. We cannot look to them as standing in the light and doing the special work of God for our time. On the other hand, our S. D. Baptist brethren love the law of God, and advocate the Sabbath the same as we do, but the second advent, kingdom, the new earth, the sleep of the dead, destruction of the wicked, the third angel’s message, and other important truths which we all cherish so dearly, they neither believe nor teach. They take no interest in them, and, indeed, frequently feel it their duty to oppose them. Then we certainly cannot look to them as giving this last message to the world. They do not claim to be giving it. They hardly think that we are in the last days.
Where else shall we look then? If we go to other Protestant churches; we find them still farther in the dark, and much more opposed to all our work. Are there then any people on earth, who are preaching the whole truth which we believe? Yes, verily; Seventh-day Adventists are proclaiming these truths. Every point which we hold as sacred, they are teaching, and those peculiar truths which we denominate “present truth,” they are especially engaged in promulgating to the world. Do we believe in the near coming of Jesus? They are advocating it. Do we believe the saints inherit the new earth? They teach it? Do we believe in the sleep of the dead, and destruction of the wicked? They preach it everywhere. Do we believe in the holy Sabbath and law of God? Who are more zealous in its defense than they? Do we believe the third angel’s message is due now? This is their battle cry. This is inscribed on all their banners, and carried in front in every battle. Surely, to us who believe these things, this is very strong presumptive evidence that this is the people whom God is leading, whom God has raised up. All that is being done in the world to advocate these truths as a whole is being done by this people.
They have succeeded in establishing several printing offices, from which tons of tracts and books and papers are going out all over the land, bearing these blessed truths. They have a school where men are trained to teach these doctrines. Their ministers are pushing out in every direction, heralding them to the world. It is through some of these agents that every last one of us has received the truths for which we now profess so much love. Every day upon our knees we thank God for the present truth. But stop, my brother, where did you get this present truth? You did not first find it out, did you? I know that you did not, and you know it too. You know that I tell the truth when I say that there is not a Seventh-day Adventist in all this broad land but that has received these blessed truths through the very channel to which I have been pointing. Reader, I want to press this point. Where did you get the light on these subjects that you now have? I can tell you. You either first read it in some paper or book published by the S. D. Adventists, or else you heard it from some one who had got it from the S. D. Adventists. Let any man hold up his hand, who can deny this. Well, who started this? Did Elder Canright? No. He received it from the lips of one who had already preached it for years. Did Elder Butler or Elder Haskell or Elder Smith—did any of these men first dig it out, and start the stone rolling? They have helped some since it has started; but I ask, who started it? Where is the fountain head of this stream, so far as human means are concerned? You anticipate my answer, for you all know very well.
We go back to the close of the first and second messages in 1844; in the following year our good Father Bates began to keep the Sabbath and teach this in connection with his Advent views. In a few months’ time Brother and Sister White also received the Sabbath, and united its observance with the Advent doctrine. They very soon received the light upon the subject of the Sanctuary, the sitting of the Judgment in Heaven, and all those kindred truths which explain the disappointment in 1844. Here they received light upon the third angel’s message, and took the position there and then, that the time had now come for the third angel’s message to be given, after the close of the other two, and thus finish the last warning to the world. Shortly, Eld. J. N. Andrews joined them in this work. So these brethren began to preach this message to the world; but they were without means, without position, without churches, without influence, and everything in the message was new, and it had to be searched out and defended. Yet their faith in the message was then as strong as it is now, and their confidence in its final triumph was expressed in very strong terms. To all human appearance, they had no hope of success; but still they went to work in the fear of God, studying, preaching, traveling, and meeting all kinds of objections and opposition. Elder Bates wrote the first little book in favor of the Sabbath, which was ever published by an Adventist Sabbath-keeper.
In 1849, Brother White, by a great exertion, published the first paper advocating the third angel’s message, the Sabbath, and the Advent united. Of course I have not space to relate all the struggles, sacrifices, and arduous labors they put forth to advance the work of this message,117Suffice it to say, that all the Sabbath-keeping Adventists, from the start, looked to Brother White as the leading mind in the work. None were more hearty in this feeling than Father Bates.
The first Conference ever held by Seventh-day Adventists was appointed and attended by Bro. White, Elder Bates, Elder Andrews, and other faithful men, co-operating with him, and Sister White also uniting her labors with his. They went everywhere, exhorting the brethren, encouraging the churches, counseling the ministers, and pushing on the work. They moved the paper from one place to another. While the REVIEW was published at Rochester, N.Y., Brother Uriah Smith embraced the truth.
In 1855 Brother White moved the REVIEW Office to Battle Creek, Michigan. Here, by his advice, the first S. D. A. meeting-house was built. To us now, it is rather amusing to know that some zealous brethren opposed that as a move in the wrong direction, as a denial of our Advent faith, as a long stride towards apostasy! But what would our work have amounted to now, had that fanatical view carried?
From first to last, a good share of the trials which the brethren have had with Brother White has been on such points as this. He has always been crying “broader plans,” while others have pulled back, and felt great alarm at such moves. Time was too short, this was too much like the world and the nominal churches, &c., &c. And because their fanatical, narrow-minded views were not heeded, they turned to fault-finding, and some of them have done nothing else for the last quarter of a century.
At length the question of church organization came up. Of course, on the start, our people were very few and much scattered. Largely they had been expelled from the other churches for their Advent faith. Hence there was naturally a strong feeling against organization. But when our people became more numerous, and larger bodies began to be formed here and there, it became evident that some kind of organization must be entered into, to save the cause from confusion and ruin. Here, again, Brother White was the first one to strike out in favor of church organization. As unreasonable as it may appear to us now, a large majority of the brethren and sisters were opposed to it. Influential ministers also took a decided stand against it. But the counsel and argument of Bro. White, together with the influence of Sister White, finally carried it, and church organization became established among our people.
Who now questions the wisdom of that? No one. We all see that it was absolutely necessary. Confusion and ruin must have unavoidably resulted without it. Here again these narrow-minded murmurers had a good chance to show themselves, and they improved it well. They set up a terrible cry of “popery” and “one-man power.” Some of them left our ranks entirely, and have done nothing but howl about it ever since. They have proved themselves zealous and able in only one direction, viz., to tear down and scatter.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
VISIT TO CALIFORNIA.
By Uriah Smith
A CONTINUOUS ride of six days and five nights brought us from Battle Creek, Mich., to Oakland, Cal., where we arrived in the late afternoon of March 31. And pleasant as was the transition from the two feet of snow which we left in Michigan, to the green fields and blooming flowers of this land of warmth and spring, the cordial greetings of the old friends from Battle Creek, and the new friends of California, were more pleasant still. We find Brother and Sister White with the armor still on, and still kept bright by constant use. They are, as well they may be, encouraged by the measure of success which has crowned their arduous efforts on this coast, and are still laying plans, and consecrating themselves anew, for the advancement of this work, which by Heaven’s immutable decree is marching on to still more marked success and final victory.
And we were happy to meet Eld. Loughborough, after a separation of nine years, since he came to introduce the message into this part of the land; and Eld. Waggoner who has been laboring for two years in this Conference; with others who might be named.
The Signs office, so like the parent institution in Battle Creek, seems like a familiar acquaintance. Here the presses are publishing the same truth, and books and papers are going out speaking the same things. Through the efficient management of those who have had charge of the work here, and the co-operation of the Tract Societies, this Office will probably prove to have been more than self-sustaining the past year, which will be a most encouraging record.
On the evening of the 31st, a meeting was held to arrange preliminaries for the Biblical Institute. Bro. White, under whose management this enterprise will go forward, set forth the matter before those present in a clear light; and the prospect seems every way fair for a profitable season.
To-day, April 1, a State quarterly meeting of the California T. and M. Society was held. The reports showed the same interesting results that follow the distribution of books and tracts in other places.
This evening has witnessed the dedication of the S. D. A. meeting-house in Oakland. This house deserves more than a passing notice. In architectural design and finish, it is a credit to Bro. Jones, the builder, and the other members of the building committee; and while it is not so large as some other churches, it is generally conceded to be, so far as it goes, as neat and pleasing a church building as there is in the city.
In the dedicatory discourse, Bro. White was unusually free, and happy in his choice of points to present to the people. The house was crowded to its utmost capacity; and the earnest attention of the intelligent audience, gives good assurance that the strong points made will not soon be forgotten by them.
Thus has closed our first day in California; and the words of the closing song of the evening’s service may fitly close these few lines, as an expression of the feelings of the writer,—