Bro. White: While meditating upon the past, and the perilous times of the present, my heart rejoices in view of the goodness of the Lord to me. I am glad he ever disposed my heart to love his truth. I love the strait testimonies now being borne for the special benefit of the church, and my prayer is that I may never be left to rebel against, or rise up to oppose, the work of the Lord, be it ever so strait or cutting. I feel a sweet union with the subject of organization, also the plan of systematic benevolence. I fully believe the Lord is fitting up a people for himself, and just in proportion as we receive these truths and live them out, we will grow in grace. I want to ever be found in my place, serving the Lord with my whole heart. I feel that I can gladly exchange the vanities of earth for a humble place with the despised few that are bending their steps Zionward. This dark world has lost its attractions for me. I long for a home beyond this vale of tears, and I consider it of sufficient value to forsake all else for the sake of this.
Sabbath-keepers have been my associates more or less for the past twelve years, and my attachment to them is stronger than ever before. I deeply feel for the lonely ones, those that have been deprived of meeting with those of like precious faith for years. I would entreat of such to hold fast their profession without wavering. We have the truth. The Lord is surely at the helm, guiding his people, and he will not leave one honest soul behind. "O, what a glorious hope is ours." If faithful a little longer we shall ever be with the pure and blest.
Your sister hoping to be there.
J. C. Preston.
East Palermo, N. Y.
Sister Prentiss’s Testimony
By Elizabeth M. Prentiss
From Sister Prentiss.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I am often cheered by the letters which appear in the Review and have long thought that it would be a pleasure (perhaps duty) to add my testimony to the list of those who have resolved to keep all God's commandments. For more than a year I have been striving to keep the Sabbath of the Lord our God. I am not weary, but delight in the law of the Lord. My heart glows with gratitude to him who first arrested my attention, opened my blind eyes, and turned my feet into the way of truth. I cannot praise him enough that I ever heard and heeded this last call of mercy.
I was awakened to the present truth during the labors of brethren Andrews and Sperry in the N. Y. tent, over two years in the past. I felt very secure however at that time. I was a Methodist and looked upon them as the false teachers of which we are told to beware. Their doctrine (for I did not suppose it was Bible) was very irritable to me. But I could not resist their oft repeated entreaties to lay aside prejudice and prove them. It was while trying to disapprove of them that God drove the light of his truth home to my heart. Glory and honor belongeth to him who has so graciously delivered me from error and made me to rejoice in the truth which was once so repulsive. He is still leading me and I can truly say that I now love both parts of the message—the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
For a long time I shut from my heart the light upon the gifts. The weight of evidence was so strong however that I could not help but admit that they would be in the true church; but I placed them away in the future. Fear of reproach or loss of a carnal friendship kept me from heeding the testimony which was already being given us. I thought it too severe. I would at least wait until I could see and then judge. There was no light in this position. I had bolted the door of my heart, and it was dark. In the bitterness of my soul I cried unto the Lord. He heard and helped me to take another step in the light. The joy of former days returned doubled, yes, tripled, when I believed and obeyed the voice with which he is now speaking to us. Praise the Lord for the way in which he is leading his people. It severs the cord of friendship from this popular world, but what are the pleasures, the fashions, the pride, of this life, when compared with the glory which awaits the faithful and obedient?
O, I want to share in that incorruptible inheritance, though it be by the sacrifice of all that is earthly. Our nearest and best friends may look coldly upon us, but we have one Friend in whom there is no variableness, not a shadow of turning, and a precious promise given us that 'the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
O I rejoice in these glorious truths. They lose none of their brilliancy to me, but like the pure gold shine brighter and brighter. Our Saviour is soon coming. How cheering the thought! But I sometimes fear that I shall not be ready, I find a warfare daily, having many, many foes within. But my only hope is in Jesus who is worthy. I feel like striving more earnestly to gain a home in the earth made new and with all the redeemed partake of the fruits of the tree of life and live.
Yours hoping to overcome.
ELIZABETH M. PRESTISS.
North Parma, N. Y.
L E T T E R S.
"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
From Bro. Squires.
Bro. White: Having been permitted, through the goodness of God, to return to my family in peace and safety, I hasten to inform you of it.
Some four months ago, under an excitement, I enlisted. I did not then understand the position of the Seventh-day Adventists upon the war, and being here alone, and no one to counsel with, I voluntarily placed myself in a position contrary to the commandments. As soon as the excitement passed off, I saw my perilous situation, and prayed night and day for deliverance. The Lord heard and answered my prayers. Upon the 5th day of December I received my final discharge from the service of the United States, and arrived home last Tuesday night.
I still love the truths as proclaimed by the third angel, and am trying to live them out. I request an interest in your prayers, that we may hold out to the end, and be prepared to stand in the time of trouble just ahead of us.
WM. P. SQUIRES.
Lansing, Mich., Dec. 21, 1862.
OBITUARY.
Died, at the residence of her father, in Fairfield, Iowa, Dec. 4, 1862, of inflammatory rheumatism, Miriam Martha Murphy, aged 13 years, 3 months, and 19 days.
The deceased, though young, was a lover of her Bible, and a constant reader of the same. She was beloved by all who knew her, especially by many young friends. She bore her sickness with fortitude and without a murmur; and when informed by her mother that she could not bear it long, and told to look to her heavenly Father for divine assistance, she commenced praying, and called upon her parents to pray with her. Her mother knelt by her bedside, and committed her dying child to the care of God. When her mother arose from her knees she exclaimed, "Dear mother, prepare to meet me in heaven; I am dying, but am not afraid to die;" and when her father came to her bedside she said, "Father, if ever I disobeyed you, or did anything to hurt your feelings, forgive me." He told her he would. She then bade her father and mother an affectionate farewell, exhorting them to meet her in heaven. She called upon her weeping friends around her bedside not to weep for her, but to prepare to meet her in heaven. She loved all that did the will of her heavenly Father without partiality.
"Unconscious now in peaceful sleep,
From all her cares at rest,
While friends around are called to weep,
She is divinely blest.
"Away from Satan's tempting snare,
Her faith's no longer tried;
In Jesus she is sleeping there,
For in bright hope she died."
ANNIE M. HULL.
Fell asleep in Jesus in Lodi, Wis., Dec. 4, 1862, Bro. Thomas Lindsay Jr., aged 16 years and 8 months.
Bro. Lindsay embraced the Sabbath under Bro. Sanborn's labors at Hundred Mile Grove, Wis., in the fall of 1859. He loved all the truths of the third angel's message, and made the Bible his constant companion. He was ready to lay by his armor, but desired to see the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ, for which he had so faithfully lived. His parents, brothers and sisters mourn the loss of his godly example and kind words.
"Asleep in Jesus, soon to rise
When the last trump shall rend the skies;
Then burst the fetters of the tomb,
To wake in full immortal bloom."
C. W. STANLEY.
APPOINTMENTS.
The Protracted Meeting.
THE results of our meeting are excellent. It is adjourned to Wednesday evening, the 31st, when it will continue each evening of this week. Next Sabbath there will be preaching forenoon and afternoon. At the close of the forenoon service there will be baptism. A general attendance from the towns around is desired.
JAMES WHITE.
THE Wisconsin conference committee appoint Quarterly meetings as follows:
Little Prairie, Walworth Co., Jan. 10, 11.
Oakland, Jefferson Co., " 17, 18.
Mackford, Greenlake Co., " 24, 25.
Marquette, Green Lake Co., " 31, Feb. 1.
Hundred Mile Grove, Columbia Co., " 7, 8.
Mauston, Juneau Co., " 14, 15.
From the date of the above appointments the Quarterly meetings will be held in regular succession every thirteen weeks.
ISAAC SANBORN,
WM. S. INGRAHAM,
J. G. WOOD,
} Conference Committee.
PROVIDENCE permitting a monthly meeting will be held at Irasburgh, Vt., January 10, 1863. A cordial invitation is extended to the brethren and sisters in this section to meet with us. Especially do we hope to meet the Sabbath-keepers here from Johnson and Eden, Wolcott, and Sutton, and Wheelock. Can we not ar-range at this meeting for monthly meetings in the above named churches, to follow each other in regular order, in connection with the churches in South Troy and this place? Brethren, let us get into working order. Will not brethren A. Stone and L. Dean meet with us?
J. BARROWS,
H. W. BARROWS.
CIRCUMSTANCES render it necessary that the January quarterly meeting for western New York, which was appointed at Carlton, be changed to another place. The undersigned therefore take the responsibility of appointing said meeting at Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y., to be held second Sabbath in January. Will the brethren in Parma make suitable arrangements?
J. N. ANDREWS,
J. M. ALDRICH.
Note from Bro. Cornell.
By Merritt E. Cornell
Bro. White: I have now given ten discourses in this place (Waukon, Iowa). Five and six loads of the brethren and sisters come up quite regularly, and render efficient aid in singing. Besides our people, we average about fifty, I think, and many of them are becoming deeply interested. Some sort of meetings are kept up every evening to keep the people away from the court house, it would seem, but some few men and women come in spite of popular opinion. Several are reading with interest. One man read a ten cent book about half through, and remarked that he would not take a dollar for what he had already received. The prospect begins to be quite fair for a good result here. In the mean time a good work is going on in the church, we think. The Laodicean message is being revived, and agitate! agitate! is the order of the day.
The more we agitate, the more freedom comes in—the more darkness is manifest—and the earnest ones are encouraged.
M. E. C.
Books to Ireland.
By Editor
On reading the recent communication from sister Martin, Ireland, Bro. McPherson, of Berlin, Mich., sends $4,75, and says, "Send sister Martin the books she desires." Bro. J. M. Aldrich, of Somerset, N. Y., also writes, "I have $10 if thought best to send a box of books and tracts to Ireland."
If there could be a mission to Europe; if we could send a well-qualified, devoted, and godly missionary, our people would send in hundreds at two weeks' notice for such an object. If all our ministers and their partners in life were as devoted as our people are, much more could be accomplished, and we might have a man that we could spare, and recommend to a mission to Europe.
We would say that sister Martin has money at the office, and has had for the past year or more. Brethren, when more money is wanted we will notify you.
☞ Special Notice. ☜
By Editor
To CORRESPONDENTS.—Please notice the following rules. If you will notice them, you will save our Secretary much perplexity and time.
1. State all your business items distinctly, and put them all on a sheet by themselves, or on the last leaf of your letter, so that it may be torn off when the letter is opened.
2. Always, in writing to this Office, give your Post Office, State, and County. If your Post Office be one name and your town another, give both, stating which is which.
3. If you wish your paper changed to another Post Office, first state the name of the person, the Post Office, County, and State where it is sent, then the person, Post Office, County, and State where you wish it sent.
Publication Agents.
Our publications can be had of the following persons at Office prices.
J. B. Lamson, Rochester, N. Y., Lyell-st.
H. Bingham, Morrisville, Vt.
S. H. King, Orleans, Mich.
I. C. Vaughan, Hillsdale, "
Wm. S. Higley jr., Lapeer, "
J. S. Day, Monterey, "
Isaac Sanborn, Monroe, Wis.
T. M. Steward, Mauston, "
B. F. Snook, Marion, Iowa.
W. H. Brinkerhoof, Knoxville, "
L. B. Baker, Alba, Pa.
L. Lathrop, Freeport, Ills.
All orders by mail should be sent to the Review Office.
Note from Bro. Bates.
By Joseph Bates
BRO. WHITE: The monthly meeting in Watson, Allegan Co., Mich., Sabbath, Dec. 13, was rather thinly attended, by reason of the storm and heavy traveling. Yet, by perseverance, some from Monterey and Otsego met with the church in W., and were encouraged and strengthened to continue in well doing.
On first-day evening we had an interesting meeting with the church and children of the Sabbath-school. Within a few weeks one has united with the church.
The next monthly meeting was appointed to be held at Pine Creek, town of Otsego, the second Sabbath in January, 1863.
JOSEPH BATES.
Monterey Dec. 19, 1862.
Note from Bro. Ingraham.
By William S. Ingraham
Bro. White: In time I met my appointment in Oakland and Lynxville. Our meeting at Oakland was very encouraging, and we all felt the importance of pressing together. I tarried here two days, and started for my next appointment. The church in Lynxville has been distracted and much discouraged by the numerous trials through which they have been called to pass. They have had many church trials, but the tinkering they have had has not had the effect to relieve them from the difficulty, but led to more confusion. My exhortation to them was to dwell less upon small difficulties, and all press together for the kingdom, but be sure to lay aside all their idols and filthy practices, that Satan might not hinder them. Some tokens of good were manifested. Truth and conviction seemed to fasten upon the people that came in to hear.
I hope the church in this place will fully realize the necessity of struggling manfully for life.
Wm. S. Ingraham.
Hardships in Confederate Mississippi
A MERCHANT from the interior of Mississippi describes the people as suffering great hardships. Cotton can be bought for 8c. per pound Confederate money. Large quantities have been burnt along the river banks, and for twenty miles back, from Vicks-burgh downward. Flour at Jackson, Miss., is $40 per. barrel; coffee, $4 per. pound; tea, $17; women's shoes, $15 to $17; men's, $25.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.
By Editor
Business Notes.
L. Schellhous : There are 50 cts. due on Instructors.
J. B. Frisbie : The Review has never been sent to A. B. Sweet, Rensselaerville, N. Y.
S. D. Covey : Your credits were all entered on our books, but part of them were accidentally omitted in Review.
The address of Eld. B. F. Snook is Marion, Linn Co., Iowa.
RECEIPTS.
For Review and Herald.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD to which the money receipted pays. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
W. B. Castle 1,00,xxii,9. A. J. Richmond for C. Beach 1,00,xxiii,1. J. F. Shaw 3,75,xxii,12. A. J. Richmond 1,00,xxii,1. J. E. Titus 1,00,xxii,1. W. Barden 1,00,xxi,1. C. Weed 1,00,xxii,1. H. S. Gurney for S. Gurney 0,50,xxii,1. A. G. Carter 1,00,xxiii,1. S. C. Perry 2,00,xxii,1. Mary Fairbanks 1,12,xxi,1. Mary A. Graham 1,00,xxii,13. B. M. Hibbard 1,00,xxii,1. Sophia S. Post 1,00,xxii,1. J. Bartholf 2,00,xxiii,1. M. J. Bartholf for P. S. Steeves 1,00,xxiii,1. B. Radabaugh 1,00,xxii,1. M. Alexander 1,00,xxii,3. J. Welton 1,00,xix,12. L. S. Gregory 3,00,xxiv,1. B. S. Brooks 2,00,xxiii,1. Catharine Tosh 1,00,xxiii,1. S. Chance 1,35,xxi,4. W. Lea 0,65,xx,18. E. M. Prentice 2,00,xxiv,1. W. Dawson 1,50,xxiii,14. W. Hoag 1,00,xxii,15. M. C. Hoag 1,00,xxiii,9. J. Kimble 2,00,xxii,1. W. P. Squires 1,00,xxi,1. A friend for Elizabeth Smith 1,00,xxiii,1. J. H. Sparks 4,50,xxiv,1. D. Overton 2,00,xxii,1. M. Ross 2,00,xxiii,1. D. Kellogg 0,50,xxi,1. M. S. Kellogg 0,50,xxi,1. C. Sweet for Mrs. S. Williams 0,38,xxi,1. P. McCormick 2,00,xxiii,1. H. Smith 2,50,xxiii,1. C. Smith 2,50,xxiii,1. D. J. Shirly 4,00,xxii,1. Susan Jones 1,00,xxi,18. B. M. Smith 1,00,xxiii,1. W. A. McIntosh 2,00,xxiii,7. C. Sheldon 2,00,xxii,1. D. W. Hull 1,00,xxiii,23. C. Baker 5,00,xxii,1. R. C. Ashley 2,00,xxiii,1. C. Sweet 1,00,xxiii,1. Mary L. Scott 1,00,xxiii,1. H. H. Satterlee 2,00,xxii,1. D. Andre 2,75,xxiv,1. C. Monroe 2,00,xxiii,1. J. Stryker 1,00,xxiii,1. S. Vincent 2,00,xxi,1. C. F. Hull 1,00,xx,1. Betsey E. Place 2,00,xxiii,8. C. Wilber 1,35,xx,18. M. Edson 1,00,xxii,1. W. S. Lane 1,00,xxiii,1. F. N. Bartholomew for Lucy Spencer 0,50,xxii,1. Mrs. C. Stevens 2,00,xxiii,1. J. H. Parks 1,00,xxii,1. A. B. Pearsall 1,00,xxiii,1. C. Woodruff 1,00,xxi,1. W. Janes 2,00,xxii,1. Ellen Bolser 1,00,xxii,1. W. Carthy 1,00,xxii,1. Hannah Van Horn 1,00,xxiii,1. W. Havirland 3,00,xxii,13. D. Steckel 1,00,xxiii,1. J. Nichols 1,00,xxiii,1. D. Farnham 3,00,xxi,1. Mrs. L. Borers 2,00,xxiii,1. W. Irish 3,00,xxiv,1. Ch. at Orinoco, Minn., for T. Harlow, 1,00,xxii,1. G. Cope 3,00,xxiii,1. J. B. Webster 1,00,xxiii,1. G. Smith 2,00,xxi,1. J. Hull for C. R. Ogden 2,00,xxiii,1. J. Hull 2,00,xxiii,1. M. C. Holliday 1,50,xxiii,1. J. T. Ashley 1,00,xxii,1. J. Place 2,00,xxiii,1.
For Shares in Publishing Association.
C. H. T. St. Clair $5. Geo. W. States $5. A. Woodruff $10. H. Woodruff $10.
Cash Received on Account.
J. Bates $5. J. H. Waggoner $2. N. Fuller 50c. B. F. Snook $10.
Books Sent By Mail.
G. J. Crandall 40c. Charles Allen 40c. L. C. Tolhurst $1.25. A. G. Carter 31c. G. W. Eggleston 25c. Emily wilcox 35c. S. A. McPherson 25c. W. K. Loughborough 25c. A. S. Hutchins 25c. F. Berger 50c. J. G. Wood 25c. H. S. Gurney 25c. I. N. Van Gorder 25c. C. M. Holland $2.50. L. S. Gregory $2.21. D. W. Milk 25c. I. C. Vaughan 25c. J. M. Aldrich 25c. J. Stryker $1. Polly Conklin 12c. M. Edson 15c. J. S. Mathews 25c. M. Bennett 10c. D. A. Wetmore 25c. E. Starbuck 15c. W. Morse $1. J. Hull $1. M. C. Holliday 25c.