Review and Herald, Vol. 38, No. 10.
The Advantages of the Sunday-Sabbath in being easily kept over all the GlobePage 2
Earlier text: To the Young among S. D. AdventistsPerilous Times.
By Uriah Smith
The Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to write for the benefit of the people of God, that the last days would be to them days of peril. “In the last days,” said he, “perilous times shall come.” Peril is danger, hazard, liability to injury or loss. Perilous times are such as are full of peril; times in which the people of God will be in danger of suffering loss. The warning of the apostle is therefore timely; for the only way in which we can pass unharmed through times of peril, is to have the perils pointed out to us beforehand, and to be put on our guard against them. What then causes the last days to be times of peril to the people of God? Paul goes on to say, “For [which word shows that what follows is the reason for the previous statement] men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Tim. 3: 1–4. We need enter into no argument to show that our own days are the ones of which the apostle here speaks; for abundant testimony is borne to this fact by the secular press, and by men of the world. They do not, indeed, undertake to show a fulfillment of this prophecy; for many of them are doubtless unaware that any such prophecy was ever given, or that thus it was to be in the last days; but the testimony they bear shows that men everywhere manifest the very characteristics the apostle here describes, both in nature and degree, and that consequently the last days have come, and their perils are around us. It requires no very extensive experience in the ways of the world to enable a person to see the inordinate self-love that rules in the hearts of men, the covetousness by which they are actuated, and the boasting and blasphemy that mortal men utter against God their maker in denying his existence, and making man his own Saviour. Pride is written on almost every brow. Disobedience to parents is the prevailing disposition of the rising generation. Thankfulness for favors is scarcely expected, such expectations have been so often disappointed. Unholy lives are the rule, and holiness the exception. Parents, with alarming frequency, show their lack of natural affection, by putting out their infant children to country nurses, where they well know they will suffer neglect, abuse, and often death, that they may be free to pursue their customary round of dissipation and pleasure. Men are held to their word, only by the most stringent enactments of the law. False accusations are unscrupulously raised to advantage self. Men are incontinent, walking, as Peter declares, speaking of the same class at the same time, after their own lusts; not falling occasionally, and under some sudden temptation, into this sin, but deliberately walking in this course. And they are fierce, filling the earth, as in the days of Noah, with violence. They despise and contemn the good. He who “departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.” While in an insane chase after pleasure, they drown all love for God, and put his fear from before their eyes. All these things are plainly exhibited before us; and on account of these, Paul declares that the times are perilous, or full of danger. But how do these things endanger the people of God, for whose benefit Paul writes? It must be that they do, else this warning would never have been put on record. But how is this? Suppose the world does give itself up to sin, and suppose even those who have a form of godliness, of whom Paul here especially speaks, are guilty of all this dark catalogue of crimes, how does that affect those who are truly the disciples of Christ? Evidently because this is the prevailing spirit of the age at the time when this prophecy applies; and whatever is the prevailing spirit and tendency of the times, the people of God are in danger of falling under that, and being influenced thereby. It has been so in all past ages. The nations of the earth had kings, and so Israel must also have one. In the days of David and Solomon, polygamy was the spirit of the time, and they were unable to keep themselves free therefrom. At a later age the devil raised so strong a tide toward idolatry, that Israel, time after time, fell into the snare. So in these times men are drawn, with almost irresistible power, into the commission of these dark crimes. The tendency of the age is in this direction. A strong tide sets toward perdition in these channels. The people of God are in danger of falling into the same spirit. How is it with us? The devil has come down in great wrath, knowing that his time is short. He means to swallow us up in the flood tide of iniquity which he is raising in the world. Are we entirely free from these sins? Is there no self-love, no covetousness, no pride, no love of pleasure, in our hearts? We cannot be the people of God and indulge in these things. There is no line drawn among the people, on the one side of which all are the people of God, notwithstanding they commit these sins, and on the other, all are children of wrath, though free from them. No; if we commit these sins, we belong to this class, whatever be our position or our profession. Let us examine ourselves well, and resist the insidious approaches of the enemy. Happy shall we be if we can escape the perils of these days, and in the soon-coming kingdom of glory, secure a home at last. U. S. Matters in California.
By M. E. Cornell
We sometimes find it necessary in these days of “false accusers,” and “evil speaking,” to make a defense and expose the injustice of our opponents. This we believe to be duty, not merely for the sake of personal vindication, but for the sake of the truth, that it suffer not on our account. The article of Bro. White’s, headed, “Our Opponents,” proves very timely for us. The refutation of the false statements of Eld. Grant, though plain and pointed, is so candid, and Christian-like in manner, that no one can take exception to it. As we looked over that copy of the World’s Crisis in which Eld. Grant endeavors to stir up a prejudice in the minds of the people, to destroy our influence, we were filled with astonishment, and would scarcely believe our own eyes. Many of Eld. G.’s friends here came to us to know what it meant, and freely expressed their minds about its injustice even before they heard our defense. They had not forgotten how Eld. Grant was pained on account of the injustice of the pastor of the Advent Herald party in Boston, Mass., in sending a note to a San Francisco paper, informing the public here that Eld. Grant was not an “evangelical” Adventist. So keenly did Eld. Grant feel the injustice and unworthiness of that effort, that he could not refrain from weeping when he read it. I confess that my own sympathies were roused for Eld. Grant, when I saw what Eld. Cunningham had done, it would seem through envy or jealousy because of the great stir caused by Eld. Grant’s lectures here. We experienced similar feelings years ago when several persons entered into a conspiracy to destroy the influence of Eld. J. V. Himes. But that Eld. Grant, who preaches so much about “charity,” and the “law of Christ,” to do by others as we would be done by, should be guilty of far greater injustice, even of misrepresenting the views of others, has caused feelings of deepest regret. Simultaneous with the Crisis effort came a bundle of tracts written by Wm. Sheldon, attempting to show contradictions in the writings of sister White. In looking over one of those tracts, we were reminded of the infidel tract entitled, “144 Contradictions in the Bible.” There is, however, this difference, the infidel tract is the more candid of the two. Several parties here, not of our faith, and who are of high standing and influence, are disgusted not only with the book, but the spirit that prompted sending such a tract here. Many are expressing a desire to hear sister White for themselves. In comparing Eld. Grant’s position in the Crisis with Wm. Sheldon’s tract, we find they are agreed only in one thing, namely, to do all they can to prejudice people against us and our views; but in the effort they overthrow each other. These two witnesses, one editor and the other corresponding editor of the World’s Crisis, send their testimony here to refute those troublesome Seventh-day Adventists. Let us compare the testimony of these witnesses and see how they agree when they try to destroy our position on the message of Rev. 14. Eld. Grant says: “It is further claimed that the third angel has been uttering his proclamation since 1844; but events show that they have located the third angel’s message more than twenty-five years before that of the second.” Again, “They have certainly made a great mistake as to the time, for they commenced sounding more than a quarter of a century before the events would allow the second angel to begin his proclamation.” World’s Crisis, July 5, 1871. “In Luther’s time special attention was called to the corruptions of the church of Rome ‘with a strong voice.’ Luther and others faithfully presented the apostasy, or fallen condition of the Roman church. It was faithfully and fearlessly proclaimed that God’s hand was in the work.” “Thus has Babylon fallen morally and politically. The moral phase of her fall had reached its ripest stage a long time prior to Luther’s day, but the startling proclamation of the fact, ‘with a strong voice’ was reserved till that epoch. . . . After apostasy had fully matured, God stirred up Luther, and others, to make the thrilling cry, ‘Babylon is fallen.’”—Sheldon’s tract, pp. 22, 23, 24. And these are the men to talk of the contradictions of others. Eld. Grant thinks we are very inconsistent in still holding on to the old Advent view that the second angel’s message was given as early as 1844, because the events on which such a message must be based were yet future. But Mr. Sheldon says the events were all ripe long before Luther’s time three hundred years ago, and that the message was given then! Now the query in the minds of the people here is, Which of these great men is right? We respectfully suggest that they call a council and come to some agreement among themselves before they attempt to speak of the lack of harmony in the faith of others. San Francisco, Aug. 10, 1871. The Theater in the Church.
We take the following from the Evangelical Messenger, and would commend it to the thoughtful reader. Too much cannot be said in denouncing this sin: “Who has not felt while looking at the exhibitions and sceneries of modern Sunday-school festivals, &c., a strange consciousness coming over him that the theater had been slyly introduced into the church under an innocent name?” We confess that we have looked upon some of them with the most painful solicitude for the future of the children who were dressed to represent different characters and appeared upon the platform as actors, while the audience cheered them in their performance. We have never learned that any good has been accomplished thereby. The feelings which have been awakened, the tears that have been shed, and the joys that have been felt, were akin to those of the theater; the harm that has been done is positive and far-reaching. By these exhibitions the Sunday-school has been measurably turned into a nursery for the play-house. Read what a worldly man, a correspondent of the N. Y. Tribune, says of a recent Presbyterian Sunday-school celebration in Philadelphia: “‘The feature of the evening was a dramatic representation. The Four Seasons, in appropriate costumes, appeared under an arch inscribed with the name of “Jesus” in blazing gas jets; snow fell, grass grew, flowers, corn, grapes, and grain, sprung up, forming a fore-ground behind which stood Faith and Hope, who, in exquisite fancy dresses, recited their parts. A little girl then appeared, who with folded hands declaimed a prayer. The lights of the church were then turned down, a curtain arose, revealing en tableau a mother and children also kneeling in prayer. The Sixteen Seasons and Virtues assumed the attitude of worship, and the Holy Ghost, represented by a white dove, fluttering overhead. Red and blue fires were then lighted, and Faith and Hope kneeling supplicants, and the Holy Spirit disappeared in a blaze of glory. “‘Now it is but too evident that some of our Presbyterian brethren have been visiting the Black Crook. But what are we to think of the practice against profession? We boldly recognize in the drama a powerful agent of civilization and morality; while our friends denounce even plays which stir the profoundest and purest emotions of the soul, and through which great artists, as authors and actors, express to us the truths which life has taught them, as the work of the devil and seductions from hell. Yet they initiate their children into a weak and mawkish imitation of the poorest class of the spectacular drama for no purpose, apparently, but to gratify their vanity and to tamper with holy things. We would be willing to take our children to any play where the meaning was clean and healthy, and the acting not so bad as to corrupt their taste. We could call it wholesome amusement for them to laugh at Pantaloon or wonder at Harlequin, or to be bewildered by red and blue fires in a decent transformation scene; but to permit them to see the holiest and most awful thoughts which their innocent minds had yet conceived, their prayers and the answering Spirit of God, burlesqued in a farce show, is a sacrilege from which any thoughtful man would shrink. It would be impossible, indeed, to find such a dramatization at any theater. No respectable manager would dare to present it upon his boards.’” The Methodist Book Concern.
By John Nevins Andrews
DR. LANAHAN, the assistant agent of the Methodist Book Concern, believing that he had discovered fraud and mismanagement in the affairs of that establishment, made his discoveries public and called for some action on the part of the authorities of the church. A partial investigation was undertaken by a committee, which presented a report that satisfied nobody. Further inquiries were then proposed, and Dr. Lanahan undertook the collection of evidence to substantiate his charges. In the course of these proceedings the personal relations between the assistant agent and his immediate superior had naturally become unpleasant. Dr. Lanahan was opposed at every step of his researches. He was denied access to the books, and driven to apply to the courts for a mandamus to compel the exhibition of accounts which it is natural to suppose the concern ought to have been anxious to show in its own vindication. Hereupon the book committee, without ascertaining what foundation there was for Dr. Lanahan’s charges, put him on trial for making them. He has been found guilty and recommended to the bishops for removal from office. The result of their action is obvious. No employe of the book concern who discovers anything wrong hereafter will tell of it if he values his place. The cardinal rule of business in that establishment is to keep things quiet, and the worst offense that an agent or assistant agent can commit is to let any scandal get out. It seems to be the determination of the majority of the committee that there shall be no genuine examination of the real question at issue, lest the result prove “detrimental to the concern.” There is a large body of laymen interested in the welfare of this great Methodist institution, and to them it appears that the concern is suffering detriment not half so much from the charges of Dr. Lanahan as from the attempt of the committee to smother the charges, instead of looking into them.—N. Y. Tribune, June 21. REMARKS. No one can doubt that there is something in the “Book Concern” which will not bear the light. Instead of either proving that Dr. L.’s charges of wrongs in the business of that institution were unfounded, or if well-founded, proceeding to correct them, the book committee stifle the investigation and twice bring Dr. L. to trial for creating this scandal to the detriment of the church. Though Dr. L. was virtually acquitted on the first trial, some time since, by the withdrawal of the case by those who brought the charges, this time he has been condemned by the committee, and only saved from removal from office by the veto of Bishop Ames. We hope the facts will come out as they are. J. N. A. NOTWITHSTANDING the Great Teacher has so beautifully and impressively shown us the folly of giving ourselves up to anxiety, with reference to the wants of to-morrow, how apt we are to do so. We do not really mean to be distrustful toward the overruling Providence, yet we often hang our heads in doubt, and pour out lamentations from our hearts, as if we had never been told of God’s faithfulness to his offspring, or that ever he “opens his hand to satisfy the wants of every living thing.” We should make up our minds to walk through all the changes of our earthly life in trust. If we would be and seem like men of “cheerful yesterdays and confident to-morrows,” we must consider to what improving tasks the trials of this world introduce us, and also reverently keep in mind the verity that God’s vision is boundless and impartial, while our own is small and dim, and opens and dilates out to see the things which come nearest to ourselves, and which, often, are only baubles or toys.—Sel. Truth: An Eternal Element of Divinity
Truth is an eternal element. It is an essence of divinity. Man must grasp this essence; he must press it to his soul; it must be his spiritual life, and rule all his thoughts and actions. Truth must ever be with him, continually abiding with him. Only in this way can he be natural. Only so can he resemble the Redeemer. To be unlike God is to be unnatural. ’Tis true, opposites exist. Light has its shade, cold is opposed to heat, hate is antagonistic to love. Truth itself is opposed by error. But with one path, one genuine course remains for him to follow. It is the path of right, of truth, of justice, of love, and of unwavering fidelity to God. Only so can the soul live out its noblest attributes, and harmonize with the purposes of the Creator. Moral purity can alone qualify us for this mission. Mr. Dyer on Drunkenness and Vice in New York
Mr. Dyer paints the following sad picture: The rum holes, lager beer saloons, distilleries, breweries, houses of degradation, gambling houses and theaters of New York, would occupy both sides of Broadway from the Battery to Central Park, more than six miles. The inmates of the prisons, reformatory and charitable institutions, marching one yard apart, would form a procession several miles long. Thousands of children have already become drunkards. Children from the age of fourteen years down to infants of four years are daily met in a state of intoxication. Very many of the scholars often come drunk to the mission schools. The little creatures have many a time lain stretched upon the benches of the Howard Mission, sleeping off their debauch. Your Influence Is Felt by Others
Do NOT delude yourself with the vain notion that your influence is felt by no one. There are many eyes watching you every day that you think never see you at all. Humility Among the Full: Flowers and Dew
WHEN flowers are full of heaven-descended dews, they always hang their heads; but men hold theirs the higher the more they receive, getting proud as they get full. Significant Items.
By F. A. Buzzell
THE following resolutions relating to the observance of Sunday, were passed at the recent New England Methodist Conference held at Roxbury Mass. We add the italics. “Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to the support of the New England theory of the Christian Sabbath, by the influence of a positive example, by Christian influence of public prayer and preaching, by petition, and by the political influence of citizenship in the caucus, at the polls, and in the Legislatures.” “Resolved, That we have a right to the Lord’s day as a religious institution, fundamental in a Christian State, and to legislative and police protection from any and all practices which would disturb our sanctuary worship or our quiet on that day.”79 “Resolved, That it is a sin against God and man for us to oblige, ask, invite, or allow, a fellow-creature to secularize the Lord’s day for our pleasure or profit, etc.” Readers of the REVIEW, and those who have heard the third angel’s message proclaimed, we think, cannot help seeing in these resolutions, sentiments that tend rapidly to the completion of the “image to the beast.” Rev. 13:14. The Rev. Dr. Ewer says, “I still point to the patent fact that every Roman Catholic nation in the world, and that every Protestant nation in the world has become riddled through and through with skepticism, and he is a bold man who will deny this fact. I still point to the fact, therefore, that Christianity as a doctrinal system, is, under both the Roman Catholic and Protestant presentiments of it, a patent failure—that it has lost its hold upon the enlightened world. It is no use to close our eyes to this enormous wreck.” The condition of the religious world does not prove Christianity a failure, but rather attests the truth of the Saviour’s words that the way to life is narrow, and few find it, and of Paul that the form of godliness will supplant the power in the last days. The failure is on the part of the learned ministry who have cried, “Peace and safety,” when destruction is impending for the abounding iniquity. The Congregationalist says that Alexander Dumas, was the author of twelve hundred volumes and not one of them pure! Butler, in his speech on the bill to suppress lawlessness in the South, says of the K. K. Klan, of North Carolina, “from the testimony before the Committee, of James E. Boyd, that the strength of the K. K. of that State was 40,000, that its object was to overthrow the reconstruction policy and disfranchise the negroes.” WHY MARRIAGES ARE DECLINING.
“A. T. Stewart has sold twenty shawls this season [last] worth $3,000 each, and one worth $4,600. One woman ran up a bill for $20,000 at his store in a couple of months. At the recent ‘Charity Ball’ in this city (New York), a lady paid $10,000 for diamonds to shine in on the occasion.” Streator Meetings and a Fanatical Hearer
By R. F. Andrews; T. M. Steward
OUR meetings at Streator closed on the evening of the 8th. We had a very singular experience in that place. While we were confident that the Lord was with us, we could not account for the people staying away so much, making due allowance for haying and harvest. But we waited patiently for the Lord to reveal the mystery, and he did explain it to our satisfaction. When we first commenced our meetings, we had a fair congregation. Among our hearers was a man who claimed to have been called of the Holy Ghost to preach and to have special manifestations of the Spirit, which he called Holy Ghost religion. (We are confident the man is deceived, and it is fanaticism.) He had held meetings in the neighborhood until the people were disgusted with him, and had no confidence in his manifestations (this we learned afterward). He seemed to be much interested in our meetings at first and told the people we were God-sent men, and it was truth, and they were now having their last call, and it was just what he had been preaching to them only a little plainer. (He is a very illiterate man.) The people began to think if we were preaching his doctrine they did not want to hear, so they staid away. He attended one of our Sabbath meetings when quite a goodly number of our brethren and sisters were down from Northville. We had an excellent meeting. He and his wife made up their minds to keep the Sabbath. We trembled for the cause. But the next morning as he was praying (so he says), the Spirit told him to beware; there was danger ahead. He now concluded we were false teachers and the Sabbath a strong delusion. So he came to our meeting to warn those who had commenced to keep the Sabbath, telling them “there was danger ahead.” He proposed to preach against us. As soon as his neighbors saw that we did not indorse his manifestations, they came out, and the interest increased to the close, so the last week was the most interesting of all. He wanted to preach against us, and the people wanted to know what he could say; so we let him have the privilege one evening, of one hour and fifteen minutes. He undertook to show that the Sabbath was a type; and that Christ entered the most holy place at his ascension. Of course he failed, and all could see it. We reviewed him the same evening. We appointed the next evening for our last meeting. The Lord was with us, and it was the best of all. We felt relieved when this man took an open stand against us, for we were satisfied he stood in the way. It was the Lord’s will that he should develop himself so as to cut off his influence. We think the Lord has worked among the people. Some twenty have taken a stand for the truth, and others we think will. We were often cheered and encouraged by the brethren and sisters from Northville, some of whom came nearly every Sabbath. One of us will go back there next first-day to baptize. On the 9th, we took down our tent and moved fifteen miles to Farm Ridge, and pitched it the same day. We have held five meetings, our congregations are large and intelligent. We think it the best opening we ever had. May the Lord help us. Pray for us. R. F. Andrews. T. M. Steward. Grant Co., Wis
By O. A. Ganiard
WITH feelings of gratitude I attempt to write a few lines, to cheer or encourage some lonely brother or sister. I feel unworthy and incompetent to write, but I do not feel excused on these grounds. It is nearly four years that I have been identified with Seventh-day Adventists. During that time I have been trying to learn in the school of Christ, and to-day am satisfied that my effort has not been in vain, for I know that Jesus has the words of life; and may our Heavenly Father ever give us grace and faith to submit to the instruction given us through the law of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the testimonies of the Spirit. With these I feel it is our privilege to go on to perfection. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. For the first time I had the privilege of attending the camp-meeting at Milton Junction. I feel that I was richly paid for the effort I made to go to that meeting. I do feel determined by the help of the Lord to profit by the words written for our instruction. I do desire to do right, to be an humble, every-day Christian. I will seek for a daily and a living experience, do every duty, bear every cross, to have the favor of God and the abiding witness of his Spirit that my ways please him, that I may have a home in his kingdom when Jesus comes. Columbia Co., Wis
By S. W. Pack
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I desire to express my gratitude to God that he has given me such light to see where I stand in this world's history; to know that Jesus is soon to come the second time without sin unto salvation. The columns of the REVIEW being open that we may speak one to another, we ought to avail ourselves of the opportunity, and exhort one another daily, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. Heb. 10:25. In Mal. 3:16, we read, “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” This ought to inspire us to advance the cause of truth. It appears to me the injunction of the apostle Paul referred to above is applicable especially to us; for while most of the religious denominations are expecting a good time coming, sounding the peace-and-safety cry and looking for a temporal millennium, we are looking for the day of trouble; Dan. 12:1; the destruction of the wicked and salvation of the righteous. We are living in a solemn time; some are giving up the truth, departing from the faith, and denying the Lord who bought them. This ought to stimulate us in our Christian warfare. Our language should be that of Joshua, Let others do as they will, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” O, let us take heed to the faithful and true witness in his exhortation to the Laodiceans. Oh! how offensive to God is this lukewarm condition! “I would that thou wert cold or hot,” or in other words, I wish that you were either wholly for me or wholly against me. As we are living in this age of the church, let us not feel exalted and think we are increased in spiritual goods and need nothing, and know not that we are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, destitute of spiritual life which makes the cause in which we are engaged to be in a languishing condition. If we had more of the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, more of the spirit of Christ, we should see more of a pressing together and less dissension. It is high time now that we wake up to a sense of our danger and our duty, and try to help each other on the way to Zion. To us are committed great and precious truths. What are we doing to spread these truths? Are we circulating as many tracts as it is in our power to do? It was the tracts that was the means of bringing me into the truth when preaching and private discussion failed to convince me on a single point. I know of a church that bought some tracts more than two years ago, and many of them still remain uncirculated. This is like burying the one talent in the earth. Had the money these tracts cost been put into the Office, it would have helped advance the cause, but as these tracts lie in the desk at the church from one year to another, they are doing neither the cause nor the church any good; this should not be. Now if each member on the Sabbath were to take only seven tracts and distribute one every day during the week, and so on until not one is left, then get another supply; what an immense amount of good might be done! “Little strokes fell great oaks.” When we think of the sufferings of our blessed Saviour, and how much he has done for us and is still doing, we ought to do more in return. Let us, while life is ours, improve the precious moments; work while the day lasts; and let each one see what he can do to advance the cause of Christ. Without an effort there is no prize; without a cross there is no crown; without we suffer with and for Christ, we cannot expect to reign with him. Let us consecrate ourselves anew to the service of God; let us pray unitedly for the outpouring of his Holy Spirit, and for his blessing upon us and our works, for the working time will soon be past. Soon Jesus will come in power and great glory. Then let us be prepared to meet him in peace. Oh! that we could realize that the harvest of the earth is almost ripe, and Jesus will soon make his appearance to reap a doomed world. Many, I fear, who should be giving the alarm are fast asleep. To such I would say, “Wake up, wake up, and be doing! for the night cometh! work for Jesus while the day lasts. Work for the spread of the glorious truth of the third angel’s message and the coming of Christ in his kingdom, for the honor of his Father’s law, and for the salvation of a perishing world, so that we may receive the welcome plaudit: Well done! and be partakers of that inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. What a glorious calling is ours! How glorious is the Christian’s hope! May God help us all to walk worthy of our high calling for his dear Son’s sake. Your brother in Christ. He teaches best who best doth learn;
We give what we receive;
We cannot give unless we get.
Let none their hearts deceive. He teaches best who best doth pray;
Enriched by prayer we give;
Our cries and tears bring down the rain
Which makes the seed to live. He teaches best who best doth live:
'Tis thus the truth we know;
The power which living hearts doth win
From earnest lives must flow. He teaches best who best doth love:
This quickens, yet controls;
This grace must live and reign in those
Whose aim is to win souls. He teaches best who best doth show
The merits of Christ's death;
Through whose kind words true love doth glow
And breathe in every breath. Great Peace Have They That Love Thy Law
“GREAT peace have they that love Thy law.” Report from California.
By John Norton Loughborough
Since the last report by Bro. Cornell, published in No. 6 of REVIEW, we have closed our tent meeting in San Francisco. The fierce north-west “trade winds” and evening fogs made it too cold in the tent for meetings; so we secured a church on Harrison St., about 30x60, where we hold about six meetings a week for the present. As the result of our meetings thus far, about fifty have taken their stand upon the truth, and since moving our meetings, new ones are interested who did not attend the tent meeting. The effort by the Crisis party to use smut affected some who go by prejudice instead of sound reasoning; but those who had candidly heard us through, were not moved by such things. The running expenses of the tent meeting, amounting to over $200, were promptly met by those interested in the work. About $200 worth of books have been purchased, and we have distributed about forty dollars’ worth of tracts. We are trying to follow up the work in public and from house to house. Bro. Kellogg moves to-morrow to Healdsburg, and expects to throw his whole time and energies into the proclamation of these truths. Our hearts are encouraged to still push on the work. Pray for us, that we may so move that God’s signal blessing may attend our efforts. I am truly grateful for the visit of Bro. Cornell to this coast, and that I have the privilege again of participating with him in his earnest labors to advance the cause. Earnestly desiring that the truth may be advanced in God’s own time, by his means, everywhere, I remain, by his grace, at my post of duty. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. San Francisco, Cal. Monterey, Aug. 11, 1871
By Joseph Bates
QUARTERLY meeting for Newton, Burlington, and Convis, was held in the new meeting-house in Convis, Sabbath and first day, July 29, 30. Much interest was manifest in gathering to this meeting to receive the blessing of the Lord. One was added to the church; two others applied, one for admission, and one for baptism; another sorrowing deeply for all his past transgressions, sought forgiveness of the Lord. July 31, I held a meeting with a few friends in Grass Lake. August 1–7, I met with the church in their quarterly meeting in Genoa. Here we held six interesting meetings, and celebrated the ordinances as divinely appointed. A brother and his companion, who recently commenced keeping the Sabbath in the message, at Howell, came and were baptized and united with the church. Another who had been waiting, came ten miles and was baptized. A young lad of thirteen who had sought the Lord in Locke, came with his parents some twenty-six miles, and was baptized. The church was encouraged and strengthened in the Lord to press forward in the message. God bless, encourage, and strengthen, all those we have visited, is our prayer. I accepted the invitation and had the pleasure of being at the Health Convention at Battle Creek, July 27, and was highly gratified with the entertainment, and good order, and arrangement of the meetings. I hope the orderly and attentive hearers who listened to the extemporaneous addresses of Bro. and sister White on that occasion will endeavor to profit by their teaching how to live, and how to avoid disease and sickness, and have health and strength to glorify God in their bodies and spirits which are his. ALBERT WIKE
By Albert Wike
EDITOR OF REVIEW: It is no more than a duty I owe to God and my brethren and sisters to acknowledge my sins and forsake them. I am the person Bro. W. C. had reference to when he wrote you a question about the sale of tobacco; whether it was a test of membership in the S. D. Adventist church. The information received through the REVIEW gave me additional light on the subject, and I was troubled over the matter. As I am carrying on a family grocery on a small scale, it seemed impossible to get along without such articles. I will not buy to sell or use either of the articles any more, swine’s flesh or tobacco. I am a firm believer in the doctrines taught by Seventh-day Adventists. I am a firm believer in spiritual gifts. I am trying to practice present truth, and keep pace with the message. Letter From Kickapoo on Progress and Watchfulness
Bro. J. Deming, Jr., writes from Kickapoo, Wis.: It is twenty years, or thereabouts, since I commenced to take our dear paper, and I cannot do without it. We are cheered from week to week with the progress of the cause in other fields. But time is passing, and there is need of watchfulness. Sister Rhodes Testimony on Sabbath and Humility
Sister Julia A. Rhodes writes from Riley Center, Mich.:—I confess to the world that I have broken God’s commandments; but henceforth while I live, God helping me, I will keep holy the Sabbath day, and observe all his holy laws, that I may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. We read in Isa. 58: 13, 14, that “the mouth of the Lord has spoken” a blessing for them that keep his holy day. Who will dare to say they cannot understand the Sabbath is binding, when the word of God is so plain? O Truth! thou art a jewel! Truth loses in no conflict; suffers from no misusage or abuse, and retains its vitality and strength after every assault. It is the power in which the feeble are mighty; the strength in which the weak grow strong. The first time I ever saw the washing of feet and took a part, was at Memphis. I looked back to the time when the Lord was here, when he girded himself with a towel, and washed his disciples’ feet. Oh! what an example of humility is this! If ye know these things, said he, happy are ye if ye do them. May the Lord help us to do all his will; then shall we have his Holy Spirit with us in power. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Died, in Eau Galle, Dunn Co., Wis., July 10, 1871, Alice G. Hovey, wife of James F. Hovey, aged fifty-two years and four months. Sr. H. was born in Yates Co., N. Y. She embraced the present truth fourteen years ago in Cascade, under the labors of Eld. T. M. Steward. She was a firm believer in its doctrines. For the last year she had been making special preparation for the great change. Died, in Jerome township, Midland Co., Mich., in the fifty-ninth year of her age, sister M. Bardwell. Sister B. was a firm believer in present truth. G. B. BARDWELL.