IT is a great relief to be able to work in a field where the Bible is not prohibited, and where the people can read it and come to meeting without fear of the Papal anathema. And having this privilege we have been able for several months to turn our hall to the best account both as a school and as a meeting-room; by which means the present truth has been announced to some hundred persons, some of whom we trust have carried it with them to other places.
I find the Arabs a very intelligent people, and willing to accept the truth, at the least the Coptic portion of them, who call themselves Christians, although they know little about Christ. There is also here a very peculiar, independent Arab Christian church. It was founded some five years ago by an Englishman, who as far as I can see must have been a member of the Plymouth Brethren. They study the Bible very deeply, are well versed in prophecy, believe in the near advent of our Saviour, but have adopted the popular theories with regard to the Millennium and Antichrist. They are fervent in Christian love, of an humble spirit, and willing to listen to others. But the great difficulty is in communicating with these worthy brethren, who speak only Arabic. We have some brethren who can speak and teach elementary truth in that language, but it is difficult to find one well versed in history and Biblical knowledge, and at the same time endowed with an humble and prayerful spirit such as is necessary for the announcement of the present truth. I hope however to be able to meet the difficulty, if God gives me some spare time when Bro. Bertola returns, whom we expect next month.
Some of these brethren came to several of our meetings in a spirit of Christian fellowship, and invited me to theirs. It was conducted in a very peculiar manner. They recognize no pastor, minister, nor director, but are all brethren on an equal footing. They sat all facing in the same direction, and there was no reading desk nor post for a speaker, only a small table with bread and wine.
We have brought the Sabbath question before them, and some of them are studying it seriously. Unfortunately, they cannot read any of our tracts. I earnestly hope we may be able to get out some tracts in Arabic and modern Greek. Here is a case where stereotype plates would be of great utility, if they could be employed.
As soon as Bro. Bertola comes I hope to be able to give much attention to our Arab and Greek friends, but at present the Italian work takes up nearly all my time. The other Italian church, which excommunicated our brethren so unceremoniously, has died a natural death, and we are now the only Italian Evangelical church in Alexandria.
I have urged the brethren here and at Naples to organize amongst themselves a corresponding tract society. Hitherto I have done this work myself, but as correspondence increases it is impossible for one person to attend to it all unaided. I find that correspondence and judicious tract distribution is, here as elsewhere, by far the most important part of our work. We thus preach in a circle of hundreds of miles around, and not within the limits of a small meeting room. Indeed it has been by this means that the churches of Bari and Alexandria were formed. And from this station we hope, if God blesses us, to form other centres in Greece, and perhaps even in India, with which country there is weekly communication.
I hope shortly to be able to report some fruit thus gained in Cyprus.
Bro. Rupp has been to Malta, where we have been sending tracts and papers for more than a year. He reports, what indeed is well known, that that little island is one of the greatest strongholds of Popery in the Mediterranean. Yet our labor has not been without fruit; one sister and one brother have taken an interest in the Sabbath question, (about which the former is indeed convinced), and with regard to our Lord’s speedy coming. Bro. Rupp has undertaken to keep up correspondence with them.
Our brethren at Naples remain firm in their attachment to the Sabbath; they are working actively and have gained some fruit since I left. They have elected two dear brethren to perform the duties of elder and deacon, and are earnestly desirous of opening another hall to carry on their meetings. I hope we may be able to open a small Sabbath journal in Italian, as we have friends in the Sabbath in isolated places all over Italy before whom the announcement of the truth should be kept up.
We are anxiously awaiting the coming of dear Bro. Andrews, of whose safe arrival in England we have just had news, in order that with his counsel and under God’s direction we may decide what is best to be done for the increasing requirements of our Mediterranean mission.
H. P. RIBTON.
Alexandria, Egypt, July 6, 1879.
The Closing Messages of the Gospel.
By R. F. Cottrell
NUMBER ELEVEN.
THE IMAGE.—CONTINUED.—Our forefathers who forsook their native land for the wilds of America, did so to escape religious persecution and civil oppression. They wished to be free to worship God according to the dictates of his word and their own consciences. As it has been said, they desired to found a church without a pope, and a state without a king. Accordingly the foundation of our government was laid in human rights. The DECLARATION which severed the American colonies from the mother country began thus: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The national constitution, in harmony with the declaration, says that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to office or public trust under the United States;" and that "Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This principle was expressed by Washington thus: "Every man who conducts himself as a good citizen, is accountable alone to God for his religious faith, and should be protected in worshiping God according to the dictates of his own conscience."
These are the principles on which our government is founded, the sources of its power and prosperity—the Republican principle of equal civil rights in the government, and the Protestant principle of freedom in matters of religious faith and worship. And it was the intention to keep these two powers or horns separate from each other, as the only way to secure their inestimable privileges to all. Did men ever devise a government so free, so mild, so lamb-like, and so well calculated to secure to all their God-given rights?
But notwithstanding its lamb-like appearance and profession, it is to speak as a dragon. These principles of freedom will be violated, and the cruel, persecuting spirit of the dragon will be developed. The speech of a beast in symbol represents the laws that are made by the government symbolized. Therefore laws will be enacted in contradiction of these principles of freedom. We believe that this refers chiefly to the future—that the mild appearance precedes the dragonic action; although the speech and spirit of the dragon has cropped out in times already past. We might speak of the whipping of Baptists, and the banishment and hanging of Quakers by law in the early history of our free government, and also of the horrid institution of slavery which so long existed, giving the lie to our profession of equal rights. Slavery is now supposed to be dead; but its spirit, in harmony with the Platonic view of departed spirits, still lives. It will yet be seen that the spirit of oppression and tyranny exists in our land.
5. The exercise of power. "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him." This exercise of power, as we have intimated, is mainly to be expected in the future, when the dragon voice shall be heard. The first beast was a persecuting power; so will be the second. The expression, "before him," means in his presence or in his "sight," as in verse 14. This is proof that both beasts exist at the same time, after the healing of the deadly wound of the first. The first looks on while the second performs his miracles.
6. The wonders. "And he doeth great wonders." The United States is a wonderful nation from the first. The astonishing rapidity with which it has arisen, spreading from the thirteen original states on the border of the Atlantic entirely across the continent to the Pacific, its increase of population and wealth, and all that constitutes a great and powerful nation, is without a parallel in the history of the world. Its advancement also, in the arts and sciences, mechanical inventions and improvements, is truly wonderful, exciting the admiration of other nations. Here steam navigation originated, the first steamboat being set in motion on the Hudson river. Here a Franklin drew down the lightning from the heavens, and here a Morse taught it to speak and carry messages to distant parts in a moment of time; and by the persevering energy of a Field, another American, the Atlantic cable has resulted, which brings the old world and the new within speaking distance, which were formerly separated by a voyage of weeks and sometimes of months. The Lord asked Job, "Canst thou send the lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, here we are?" To this the patriarch could make no reply. But now the electric fluid is daily and hourly sent to say to distant friends, here we are. In the wonderful discoveries and inventions of this fertile age, this nation is not behind any other.
But the wonders of the text are doubtless chiefly of another class. They are wonders wrought to deceive. It is true, the wonders to which we have referred may tend to deceive, from the fact that they may cause men to believe that the world is in such a state of improvement as to forbid the thought that the end is near. It may encourage the idea that the world is just rising to manhood, and that the fabled golden age is at hand. But we look upon modern spiritualism as the chief agency by which the deceptive wonders of the last days will be wrought. Our Lord foretold that false prophets should arise and show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect. Mat. 24:24.
The rapid spread of spiritualism is wonderful in itself; and the wonders wrought are many. Many hold that it is all human trickery, and that it has all been exploded; but such are under a wonderful deception. It is true, spiritualism has had its imitations or counterfeits; and these may have been detected and exposed. But there are real wonders, the product of intelligent spirits. Of this the testimony is abundant. These have been increasing—advancing from rapping and table-tipping to writing, and from the invisible to the visible, and as some testify to the tangible. But the crowning wonder, as foretold in this prophecy, is that of bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men; a thing the false prophets of old could not do. The prophets of Baal called in vain for the fire from heaven; but it fell in answer to the prayer of Elijah. 1 Kings 18:19–38.
But though spiritualism may truly boast of wonders performed, its very foundation is a deception. Instead of its spirits being the spirits of the dead, "they are the spirits of devils working miracles." Rev. 16:14. They are the agencies by which the armies of the nations are to be gathered to the battle of the great day of God Almighty.
Though these deceptive wonders are universal in their spread, they belong especially to the power symbolized by the two-horned beast. Where did these wonders originate? In the United States. This confirms the view that it is the government in question.
7. The call for the image. "Saying to them that dwell upon the earth, that they should make an image to the beast." As we have said, this appeal is made to the people; hence it is only applicable where the people rule, as in the United States. An image of the papal beast is demanded. The image was the Roman church clothed with power to enforce its decrees by the laws of the State; in other words it was church and State united. Clothe the religious bodies of the United States with civil power to enforce certain religious dogmas on which they may be agreed, and we shall have an image of the beast. This is not yet done, but the demand for it is being made. There is a great and growing association in our country which is virtually saying to the people that they ought to make an image to the beast. They advocate what they call a "religious amendment" of our national constitution. In their own language they ask for "such an amendment as will indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all Christian laws, institutions, and usages, in our government, on an undeniable legal basis, especially those which secure a proper oath, and which protect society against blasphemy, Sabbath-breaking, and polygamy."
Our Constitution, as it is, forbids enforcing any religious creed by law; but the amendment they call for would give power to enforce whatever may be considered Christian laws and usages. When such a change shall be made we shall have an image of the beast; and the persecution of dissenters will be the logical result. Will they succeed?
The prophecy proceeds: "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Yes; the image will here be made; and all will be required to worship, that is, to obey, on pain of death. But here the history of the great controversy on earth closes with the deliverance of all the saints—"everyone that shall be found written in the book." Dan. 12:1. The word translated "cause" means no more than to decree and intend the death of God's people; for when it is said, he "causeth" all to receive the mark, it is evident that all who heed the third angel's message will not do it. Rev. 14:9.
R. F. COTTRELL.
One Hundred Dollars Lost.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
YES, so a brother said to me the other day. He had one hundred dollars to spare, which he could loan somewhere for a year. He knew that they needed it at the Review Office, that the Sanitarium needed it, and that the College wanted to hire money; but one of his neighbors wanted it, and he would pay a little higher interest; so he let him have it, although we had advised him to send it to one of our institutions. When the year was up the man failed, and the lender lost principal and interest. With a long sigh he said to me, "Bro. Cauright, I have been very unfortunate; I have lost one hundred dollars." Of course I pitied him; and not so very much, either.
This is only one case. Here is another brother with a long face, who tells me he has lost three hundred dollars. He had a nice place to make a little speculation, and get ten per cent interest; good promises, of course. The time is up, and now he would like to take one hundred dollars for his three hundred, and throw in the interest too. Poor fellow! But why did he not take our advice, and loan this money to one of our institutions?
And here is another man that I know of. He put several hundred dollars into the bank. He did not get so very high interest; but then it was handy, and he did not know about these institutions at Battle Creek, how safe they were. Now the bank has failed and his money is gone. All right, we said, let it go.
Everywhere I travel I find just such cases as this. Not only a half-dozen or a score, but plenty of them. I know of more than fifteen hundred dollars lost in Ohio during the last year in this way.
Now we ask the brethren this question: Who has ever lost a dollar loaned to one of our institutions at Battle Creek? Who has ever failed to receive his money when he wanted it? Not a man. For nearly a quarter of a century, brethren and sisters have been loaning their money here on interest or without interest, and not an individual of them has ever lost a dollar. Their money has always been ready when they wanted it.
Come, brethren and sisters, act reasonably in this matter. When you have a few spare dollars remember that here is the place to put them. If you can loan the money without interest, you should do so, or at a low rate, at least; for it is in the cause of God, in which you should have as deep an interest as others. No person is making a dollar on the income of these institutions. It belongs to you as much as to us. It will be an accommodation to the cause if you can loan your money here, provided you do not ask a high rate of interest; or better still, if you can loan it without any.
D. M. CANRIGHT, in Review.
How Shall We Escape?
By Dudley Marvin Canright
A WELSH minister, a man of God, beginning his sermon, leaned over the pulpit, and said with a solemn air, "Friends, I have a question to ask. I cannot answer it. You cannot answer it. If an angel from Heaven were here, he could not answer it. If a devil from hell were here, he could not answer it!" Death-like silence reigned. Every eye was fixed on the speaker. He proceeded, "The question is this, 'How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?'" (Heb. 2.)
Tithes of All We Possess.
By A. M. D.
Mr. Sherburne knitted his brows, gave a sigh, and leaned back in his chair. Mrs. Sherburne started from her knitting and her thoughts, and asked in a rather anxious tone:—
"What is it, Walter?"
"The same old story." There was a peculiar discouragement in his voice. "Another deficiency, as I supposed there would be, although it is larger than I imagined."
"How much?"
"One hundred and twenty odd dollars, and the insurance; well, say one hundred and fifty. I made a good deal of allowance in the summer because so many people were away and the collections small. And now it is worse than then."
She had been thinking before her husband spoke of what she would do this spring. She was tired of the green and gold in the library, so she would have a pretty drab moquette carpet with a blue border, chairs to match, the edges relieved with blue gimp, blue and pearl damask lambrequins over the white curtains, and blue picture cords. How lovely the room would look!
"It's too bad," she said, as a blue and silvery haze floated through her brain.
"I am willing and glad to contribute my share, always, but it is putting your hand in your pocket continually. Expenses must be lowered somehow."
"And Mr. Murray's salary is only eighteen hundred. You can't very well begin there. We could not live on that."
"No, we could not have the face to offer him any less," and Mr. Sherburne smiled over his perplexity.
"There must be something wrong about the giving," said Mrs. Sherburne, thoughtfully. "It seems as if we were giving all the time. The congregation is small, to be sure, and it comes harder upon those who can afford to give—"
"All can contribute something. I mean to have a good talk at the next meeting."
"I suppose we give away a tenth, at least?"
"O, more than that," returned Mrs. Sherburne, "and if every one did—"
She rose, and opened a drawer in her dainty writing desk, taking therefrom an account book.
"Walter," she said, with a smile, "just to be certain, let us count up our charities for the last year. Your income was—how much? At least you said you had invested three thousand outside of your business."
"Yes, and we spent nearly five; call it eight thousand. But I am sure we have given away eight hundred."
"I think we have," she returned slowly, "but let us be sure. We may owe a little," and she smiled archly.
Some moments of silent calculation elapsed. The Sherburnes were quite methodical in their habits, and always kept an account of expenses.
"Two hundred and thirty," said Mrs. Sherburne.
"Three hundred and ninety-seven," said Mr. Sherburne.
"Which only makes six hundred and twenty-seven," exclaimed Mrs. Sherburne in surprise.
Mr. Sherburne laughed. "I would not have believed it," he declared, good naturedly, and yet a little annoyed. "So we owe enough to make up the deficiency. And yet it seems as if we had given continually the past year. There was one hundred toward the debt, and our yearly subscription of two hundred—"
"We have not given it all to the church," said Mrs. Sherburne. "There have been some private charities. But you know we resolved when we were married to devote one tenth of our income to the Lord's work."
"And I have never regretted it. My income was three thousand a year then, and though I am not rich, I feel that I have been prospered abundantly."
"How much do you suppose our church expenses are in the course of the year?" she asked.
"I can tell you very soon," turning to his books. "For pastor's salary, eighteen hundred, sexton, music and incidentals, five hundred, and a floating debt of four hundred has been paid. Three thousand a year would be ample, and allow us a little on the church debt."
"There are in our congregation at least five men who have as large an income as you."
"The Thompsons and the Wests are much richer. I have no real estate besides this house."
"Granting that each one gave five hundred, which would still allow a margin for outside charities, you see there would be three thousand immediately."
Mr. Sherburne glanced up in surprise.
"Then there are five families who spend perhaps two thousand a year, and twenty perhaps who spend a thousand, and quite a number of poor people, though very few are destitute. So it seems to me that our regular church income ought to be between three and four thousand without any special effort."
"What a calculator you are! I have never looked upon it quite in that light."
"I had occasion to go to the laundry this afternoon while Mrs. Briggs was ironing. She asked me for some old clothes for a poor woman whose husband had died suddenly, and we had a little talk about giving. She said she had always considered it a sacred duty to lay by one tenth of all she earned, which she did every Saturday night. She earns from eight to ten dollars a week. That must be a great sacrifice to her, although it is a great pleasure as well. Her whole heart is in the cause. And the apostolic injunction was 'to lay by as we were prospered.' God has blessed us in every respect—in health, prosperity, happiness, and our two lovely children. Surely we can do this for the sake of Him who died while we were yet sinners. Even if it is for a poor, struggling church, it is for His sake as well."
"A very good sermon, my dear," said Mr. Sherburne. "I am almost sorry that you cannot come to the meeting to-morrow night and explain the matter in this straightforward way. Why, if we church members, we Christian men and women, give one tenth even, which surely is not so wonderful a sum, there would be no want in our churches. We should not have to preach begging sermons, and there would be a surplus in the treasury for the calls of needy brethren. And if such a woman as Mrs. Briggs, with a hopeless invalid son, can do it, surely we more fortunate people ought."
"And we surely mean to try," she said with a sweet smile, her face still flushed and her eyes brightly earnest.
"I will never complain again until I have looked over my accounts," said Mr. Sherburne. "I am afraid our charities appear much larger to our partial eyes than they really are. Neither will I add what I ought to give with what I have given."
Melrose was a pretty city suburb. The residents had found it rather inconvenient to go down town two or three times on a Sunday. By degrees, two or three chapels had been built. Mr. Sherburne and several of his brethren had resolved theirs should be free. Subscriptions paid monthly or quarterly, and collections at the principal services, the chief dependence. For two years there had been considerable enthusiasm, but now it was an old story. "You are always begging," one member after another said; and Mr. Sherburne being treasurer, sometimes found his task hard and ungracious.
But he went to the meeting the next evening with a light heart, and a check for one hundred and seventy-five dollars in his pocket. The pastor's monthly stipend was due, the last quarter to the sexton, the insurance, part of an unpaid coal bill, and several small odds and ends.
The brethren glanced at each other in dismay.
"There must be some unpaid subscriptions," said one.
"The collections have fallen off a good deal," said another.
"It seems as if we were making special efforts all the time," said Mr. West, in a rather dissatisfied tone.
Mr. Sherburne rose in his grave, quiet fashion.
"Brethren," he began, "I have a few words to say on this subject. Last evening my wife and I had a little talk. We resolved long ago that, since the Jews gave a tenth of their substance toward religious purposes, we as Christians could do no less on principle. Even this, to my mind, does not cover the whole ground. It seldom compels us to cast into the Lord's treasury all that we have. Mrs. Sherburne and I were quite sure that we had kept our pledge the past year, but come to look over our accounts we were surprised to find quite a deficit on our side. I am very happy to make an offering of this amount to-night, which more than covers our indebtedness. And I am resolved never to complain of giving largely again until I have given more than a tenth of my income. Some of our poorest members do this, and I, for one, will not be shamed by the widow's two mites."
Then he began to do up the separate parcels in envelopes and address them. There was a hush of silence in the room.
"Brother Sherburne, I expected to help make up the deficiency," said Mr. West. "We must not allow you all the generosity."
"Mine is just a debt," replied Mr. Sherburne. "I hardly call it generosity until we give more than we can afford, and feel the pinch somewhere."
"You may add another hundred to my yearly subscription," exclaimed Mr. West.
"And to mine," said Mr. Landor. "I confess that I have not come up to the Scriptural injunction in giving. It has sometimes seemed a hardship to be importuned for one thing and another, yet I have been prospered year after year. I have hardly thought of myself as a steward of the Lord."
The ground being once broken, the brethren began to compare notes. They could not help but see that with an average of much less than one-tenth they would be in a very prosperous condition. It was a personal question with them, and it was not necessary to gauge their benevolence by what Brother Smith or Brother Brown did. They parted with a warm and heartfelt shake of the hand, each resolved to do a little better in the future.
The church at Melrose prospered abundantly. One and another wondered what could be the secret of its success. They gave to the missionary cause, to their poorer brethren; little debts were wiped out, and salaries paid promptly. Yet the congregation was scarcely above the average of ordinary churches in pretty country towns, not to be called a poor church, but many with available resources fell into a languishing state. The pastor is disheartened, the brethren are always importuning.
Is it right? If we felt the matter as obligatory upon us as the Jews did, would the cause drag wearily? If we laid by as we were prospered, thinking of our Lord and Master first, would it seem a heavy burden to us, and grievous to be borne? Ah, this fund, this tenth, would be the most precious part of our earnings, the most joyous of all our gifts. We should not lay it grudgingly upon the altar, and glance at it with longing eyes that strangely enough magnify it to twice the amount. For "the Lord loveth the cheerful giver."—A. M. D., in The Methodist.
The Home Circle.
By Marianne Farningham
INGATHERING.
Praise for the joy of the harvest weather!
The sunny days and the star-lit nights
Are making all things glad together,
In the golden time of the year's delights,
When many a heavily-laden wain
Is bearing homeward the gathered grain.
Men's hearts are reading the old, old story
Of God's great goodness to all the earth,
Written again in the Summer glory
And sung in measures of joyous mirth;
He heeded the prayer that His children said,
And gives them richly the daily bread.
So the cheery sights of the rapid reaping
By busy hands in the harvest-field,
The watchful care of the laborers, heaping
The wealth of life which the grain-stalks yield,
The gleaners who follow the stubbed way
Are themes of rejoicing through all the day.
So shall the world in its Summer beauty
Of silvered river, and shady wood,
Urged by its thankfulness, love and duty,
Join in the anthem, "The Lord is good.
And men and maidens and children bring
Their tribute song to the heavenly King.
Praise for the joy of the harvest weather!
Praise for the sheaves of the golden corn!
Praise for the flowers that laugh together,
For the rest of night, and the light of morn!
Praise for the love that is over all,
And the God who hears when His children call!
—Marianne Farningham.
An Enriched Heir.
By Henry Varley
WHEN in the United States I heard of a young man whose father had recently died. He left him a large estate encumbered with a very heavy mortgage. By the time the annual interest was paid on the debt there was little or no income left for him. It so happened that an English engineer was visiting the place, and he said, as he walked with him through the estate, "I strongly suspect that you have both coal and iron beneath this soil." "Do you?" said the young man, his face lighting up at the very thought. Well, the result was that mines were opened on that estate, and in less than three years that young man had not only paid the interest but the mortgage, and was a wealthy man, by developing the resources that were there.
Now, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—the possessors of the unsearchable riches of Christ, but we must dig deep into the mine of our spiritual inheritance in order to come into the enjoyment of its spiritual wealth. Many Christians fail, through weakness of faith, to enjoy all the comforts and blessings and privileges which are their portion through God's gift to them of his Son Jesus Christ.—Henry Varley.
Reports from the Field.
By J. L. Wood
Santa Ana, Cal.
AMONG the First-day Adventists who were interested, is a minister who went one season with a tent in the East, and expected to go with one here as soon as he could get his business arranged; but he came to my meetings and heard, and has now come out square on the truth. I have been anxious about some help, and the Lord has given it to me. It is just what I need. I see the work of the Lord in this. I have every reason to believe he will be a great help to us.
A Disciple preacher wanted to debate, but backed out because he could not have his own way, and went off saying he would not debate at all. I think it is just as well, and a little better. J. L. WOOD. Aug. 7, 1879.
Edgefield Junction, Tenn.
By George K. Owen
We left our field of labor in Henry Co., July 14. Bro. J. H. Dortch brought us more than a hundred miles in a covered wagon over rough roads. One needs to travel in Tennessee to fully understand the term, "rough roads." Reached this place July 18. Found the tent already pitched; and our hearts were cheered by seeing the brethren and sisters coming in from various directions until the largest number of Sabbath-keepers ever convened in Tennessee was present. Our quarterly meeting commenced that evening. Up to Sunday evening five discourses were given. Two interesting sessions of the Sabbath-school were held, all the schools having learned the same lesson. Business and social meetings filled up the rest of the available time. A good interest was manifested in the tithing system, and some very interesting testimonies were given by those who had adopted it and proved the Lord true to his promise.
Sunday P. M., six followed their Lord in baptism. Three were added to the Edgefield Junction church. The Cross Plains church was organized. At the closing meeting, Monday morning, Brn. Yates and Dortch were ordained as local elders of their respective churches. The Spirit of the Lord was present, and a determined settling into the work manifested. On account of the increasing outside interest we continue meetings every night in the tent, which stands only a few steps from the railroad station, where the voice of Bro. E. B. Lane eight years ago gave the first sound of the third angel's message that was heard in Tennessee.
We could not return and continue our labors in Henry County on account of yellow fever.
July 28. We have continued our meetings here in the tent one week since the close of our quarterly meeting. Two more were baptized yesterday, making eight in all since our quarterly meeting commenced, and four have been added to this church. We thank the Lord for these omens of good.
G. K. Owen.
Neillsville, Wis.
By T. B. Snow, C. Holmes
WE have given in all twenty-eight discourses. Have met with some opposition.
The M. E. presiding elder came on with a volley of abuse and assertions, and concluded by saying, "Here Adventism explodes." We took notes, and announced a review. Bro. Decker being in the vicinity, we requested him to review the discourse, which he did to the satisfaction of all. The next day twelve were baptized by Bro. Decker. There are six others who are keeping the Sabbath. We hope for a few more in this place.
July, 30. T. B. Snow,
C. Holmes.
Liberty Center, Ohio.
By O. F. Guilford
SINCE Bro. Canright's report a few more have joined the church in Liberty Center, and three new ones have commenced to keep the Sabbath. The interest is such in this vicinity that we have thought best to divide our force for a short time, Brn. Bigelow and Hoffer going four miles west to hold a series of meetings in the Christian Union Church. Arrangements for building a meeting-house are progressing finely.
July 28. O. F. GUILFORD.
Central City, Neb.
By Daniel Nettleton, Geo. S. Richard
OUR meetings have been interrupted by the wet weather. We have had two Sabbath meetings, with a good attendance. Twenty-nine discourses have been given. Eight have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and others, who are convinced of the truth, we think will obey. We have closed our tent-meetings, and will follow up the interest by visiting and holding meetings in the schoolhouse.
July 27. Daniel Nettleton, Geo. S. Richard.
Good Health.
A Clean Body.
CLEANLINESS is said to be next to godliness. And yet there are some men who profess godliness, who do not seem to understand what it is to be cleansed from "the filthiness of the flesh."
They will talk about religion with a pipe in their mouths, or the juice of tobacco oozing over their lips.
If they come near you, so that you are compelled to take in the perfume of their breath, you'll not think of roses and pinks, but of old carrion. If they occupy a seat in the railroad car, a pool of tobacco juice in all its loathsomeness defiles the floor so that no one else can occupy it thereafter without defilement until it is cleaned.
What would we think of a woman professing godliness, who would thus defile herself?
Now God has but one standard of purity, and however men may be disposed to excuse the filthiness of each other, God will no more excuse filthiness in men than in women, and women cannot afford to excuse it in themselves, or in men.
Think of the hundreds of clean, pure, sweet-breathed women, who are compelled to inhale the horrid fumes of tobacco-tainted breaths and old pipes for years, and the multitude of pure babies forced to kiss the tobacco-befouled lips.
No wonder so many of the delicate little creatures die. The only wonder is that any such live!
It may be the baby is sick in its cradle. The mother has watched over it all day with untiring devotion. But it is better now, and her heart dances with joy. The doctor thinks it will get through now without further dosing.
But the father comes home in the evening, and as soon as the supper is over sits down near the cradle with a pipe or a cigar. The air the sick baby breathes is soon impregnated with tobacco smoke. The mother is startled to see how pale and sick her child is.
"It gets worse about this time every evening," she tells the doctor, who comes in haste at her summons. The dosing is repeated, the smoking goes on, sickness, spasms, and death follow.
So, many a man has smoked his own child out of the world!
But this filthiness of the flesh interferes with home comforts. Many a man lives in a rented house who has smoked up enough tobacco to build and furnish a house of his own. Then wife must deny herself, because rents are so heavy. She and the children must drink hydrant water without ice, because it is extravagant for poor people to pay even five cents a day for ice, while the husband will walk off with a five or ten cent cigar in his mouth, which will be followed by others during the day.
And then the filth that is made in the house because of this vile habit—the extra work and worry—who can compute it?
No wonder women hate tobacco.
Let the same standard be lifted up for men as for women—the gospel standard, a pure soul in a clean body.
"Purity is safe and cheap."—The Christian Woman.
Tamaroa, Ill.
By C. H. Foster
I began meetings here July 11, in the Baptist church. After I had spoken once on the Sabbath question the doors were closed against us. I spoke a few times in a hired hall and visited considerably; and as the result, ten have promised to keep the Sabbath, among whom are two ministers. To the Lord be all the praise. C. H. FOSTER.
July 25.
Ogdensburgh, New York.
By Charles B. Reynolds
Nine adults have embraced the truth. To-day we organized a Sabbath-school and Bible-class, consisting of twenty-two members. The interest here is just in its commencement. Our hope is in God.
July 26. Chas. B. Reynolds.
Slick Rock, Ky.
By S. Osborn
Our meetings here in the tent have been well attended, but the people are slow to obey. Three are keeping the Sabbath, and persecution is beginning to rage against them in the form of ridicule, which seems to be a powerful argument. S. Osborn.
July 28.
Savoy, Texas.
By R. M. Kilgore
We closed our meetings here last evening. The tent was filled. At our Sabbath-school more than a hundred were present. Our social meeting was very interesting and profitable, a large number taking part, some for the first time. The Spirit of the Lord was in our midst. There are now more than twenty who are keeping the Sabbath, all heads of families.
R. M. Kilgore.
July 21.
Norman Hill, Texas.
By A. W. Jenson
WE shall hold no more meetings at present during the week, on account of the decrease in interest since the presentation of the Sabbath question. Five have taken a firm stand for the truth, one of whom was a confirmed infidel.
A. W. Jenson.
July 29.