“THEN shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” Matt. 25: 1, 2.
Read what follows. The solemn and stirring warnings which this chapter contains should be sufficient to arouse all who have faith in the promises or threatenings of the Bible. I am often led to say, If these things are so, I am not a Christian. The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few—home cares are consuming God’s people spiritually. What shall we eat? and what shall we drink? and wherewithal shall we be clothed? seem to be the questions. The same that keeps the world from embracing the truth, keeps the church in a lukewarm state. There must be a letting go of earth, before we can take hold of Heaven, and enjoy the benefits of being a Christian. A few feeble efforts, and then a settling down again, will never gain eternal life.
But you say you have to work for a living. All right; only learn to keep the sword of the spirit in one hand, while you work with the other; and let the wall go up. When help is needed, be ready to respond, Here am I, send me; only do not mistake another’s work for yours. In great humility cry, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? With many, it is too much work to be a Christian. A little more rest, and who shall say that this midnight slumber shall not prove fatal? Blessed are they that do his commandments. This perpetual round of ceremonies without the Spirit, is Satan’s easy chair, to lull into greater security.
We must not rest till we can say in truth, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. A relish for Heaven and holiness must be cultivated here. Heaven could not be enjoyed by the impure if it were attainable by them. Oh! that the world could be aroused to understand the loss they are sustaining in refusing to come to the fountain that is open for sin and uncleanness. A. P. LAWTON.
W. Winfield, N. Y.
Twelve Excellent Rules to Promote Harmony among Church Members.
1. To remember that we are all subject to failings and infirmities of one kind or another.
2. To bear with, and not magnify, each other's infirmities. Gal. 6: 1, 2.
3. To pray one for another in our social meetings, and particularly in private. James 5: 16.
4. To avoid going from house to house for the purpose of hearing news, and interfering with other people's business.
5. Always to turn a deaf ear to any slanderous report, and to credit no charge brought against any person until well founded.
6. If a member be in fault, to tell him of it in private, before it is mentioned to others.
7. To watch against a shyness of each other, and put the best construction on any action that has the appearance of opposition or resentment.
8. To observe the just rule of Solomon, that is, to leave off contention before it be meddled with. Prov. 17: 14.
9. If a member has offended, to consider how glorious, how godlike it is to forgive, and how unlike a Christian it is to revenge. Eph. 4: 2.
10. Remember that it is always a grand artifice of the devil, to promote distance and animosity among members of churches; and we should therefore watch against everything that furthers this end.
11. To consider how much more we can do in the world at large, and in the church in particular, when we are all united in love, than we could do when acting alone, and indulging a contrary spirit.
12. Lastly, to consider the express injunction of Scripture, and the beautiful example of Christ, as to these important things. John 13: 5–16, 35; Eph. 4: 32; 1 Peter 2: 21.
MANSIONS WAITING.
By M. J. C. Bahner
There is waiting up yonder in Heaven
Fair mansions of rich, shining pearl;
Sweet harps and bright crowns too are waiting,
And a banner which love will unfurl.
They are waiting till those who are victors
In the battle of life raging now,
Shall hear from the lips of their Leader,
There is rest, weary soldier, for you.
They are waiting till we shall be proven,
Our shoulders be fitted to bear
The yoke of our Lord without galling,
But with song, bursting forth full and clear.
They are waiting till those who, in sickness,
Are learning hard lessons indeed,
Shall in patience have learned them completely
And been from the crucible freed.
They are waiting till earth's mold'ring prison
Shall crumble, and powerless be
To hold from us longer our loved ones,
Who now are there hidden away.
They are waiting, those mansions of glory,
Till the sea shall deliver her dead;
When released from her caverns of darkness,
They will claim those bright mansions instead.
Yes, they wait till the toil shall be over,
Till the chosen ones all have been tried,
And then they'll be opened by Jesus,
And the faithful ones there will abide.
He will place on their heads crowns of glory,
In their hands sweet-toned harps of pure gold;
And they'll sing to his praise strains of music
That by mortals can never be told.
And, oh! can I join their glad anthem?
Can I 'mid that holy throng stand,
And with them sing the song of redemption
A victory palm in my hand?
Can I see the pure, sinless angels
The patriarchs long ago dead,
And more than all else see my Saviour
Whose blood was for me freely shed?
Yes, yes, I may yet be a victor
My Father has pledged me his aid,
If in him I but trust as I struggle
I can in the conflict succeed.
M. J. C. BAHNER.
Ought We to Be Discouraged?
By G. C. T.
Perhaps there is nothing which so hinders many of us from making progress in the work of preparation in which we are engaged as discouragement. This may come from various causes; but I wish to mention more particularly that which arises from a sense of our faults, and our condition in the light of justice.
We often hear such expressions as, “I never can be saved on account of my sins,” or, “The way is so narrow and I am so sinful that I have but little hope of salvation,” and similar expressions.
Now I have an idea that such feelings have a great deal to do with our progress in this great work. In the first place, do we not sin by distrusting God’s word? He desires that we should be saved. Who can doubt this when we think of all that has been done for us in the sacrifice of his dear Son, in the promises of his word, and the way in which he is leading us?
Then let us reason. If the Lord has done so much for us in providing a way of escape from death, and bringing us to the light of truth, and is now showing us what is contrary to his will, is it not good evidence that he desires us to be saved? and if so, then they that are for us are more than all that can be against us. Let us pray that our eyes may be opened as were the eyes of Elisha’s servant, that we may see that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Yes, the Lord wants to save us. For this he called us out from the world into the blessed truth. Let us thank him for a knowledge of our sins; and in the strength of the Lord, let us try to get rid of them all, believing that we can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us. G. C. T.
What does “subdue” mean in this place? Was not the earth, coming freshly made from the hands of its Creator, and given by him to man, in a state of perfection? Did it want any human skill, or hard toil, or taxing labor, to render its surface more beautiful to the eye, or productive to supply the wants of man?
Eden was given as the garden of God. Here was the residence of the representatives of the human race, ere they fell by disobedience. It was the home of Adam, the capital ground of the world.
As the garden, may it not have been given as a model for the children of Adam to pattern after, as they went forth upon the earth to make homes of their own? If so, there must have been a certain wildness, a kind of disorder that required subduing and arranging, to make it like that spot rendered perfect in every particular by an all-wise Creator.
Man must have something on which to bestow labor and exercise his mind, even in a holy state of being. If the earth needs subduing, there must be a model to pattern after. And what could be more stimulating to all the faculties of the mind and heart, than to strive to bring it up to compare as nearly as possible with the beautiful Eden, the home of those they could and would ever look up to as their first parents, the father and mother of them all? C. GREEN.
Idle Time.
How much of life is wasted from lack of calculation, and from not knowing what to do next. It is wise so to arrange our matters that every hour shall have its employment or pursuit; so that when one work is done, our hands shall readily find something else to do.
It is not necessary that our lives should be one continual round of unbroken drudgery. Needful repose is not idleness. Healthful relaxation is not idleness. Attention to friends and acquaintances, and conformity to innocent social usage, is not idleness. Time given to the service of God, to worship, prayer, praise, and social fellowship with the people of the Lord, is not idleness. All this may be done heartily as unto the Lord; for he wills that we should do it. But the labor to which man is appointed by the wise ordinance of God, while it allows him time for recreation and repose, preserves him from the listlessness and languor, and the misery and mischief, which are the bane and curse of idleness. We should study so to fill up our time that we shall be kept from the evil communications of a wicked world. And if we see around us an atmosphere of corruption and stagnation, instead of yielding to it, we are to remember that Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. And recollecting this, we are to dare to be singular, and lift up our example against the tide of surrounding sinfulness, and be diligent, and faithful, and earnest, no matter how the world may ridicule and oppose. Our moments are precious; and for their improvement we must give a strict account. And if we remember our responsibility, we may well adopt the saying of Dionysius the Sicilian, who, being asked by one who went to speak with him if he was at leisure, answered, “Heaven forbid that I should ever have any leisure time.”—The Christian.
The Living Sacrifice.
“I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Rom. 12 : 1.
The idea brought to view in this passage is of making a present to the Lord. The present embraces the entire person, which includes each member of the body—the ears, the eyes, the tongue, the hands, the feet, &c. Henceforth after having given ourselves to the Lord, we are to follow the directions laid down in his word for the use of each member. For instance, the eyes are to be turned away from beholding vanity, Ps. 119 : 37, and from seeing evil, Isa. 33 : 15; the ears are for the hearing of the truth, and are to be stopped from the hearing of blood. Isa. 33 : 15.
The tongue is to be used to speak words of soberness and truth, to speak words of comfort to the afflicted, to warn the ungodly, to pray for those who persecute us, and to speak forth the praises of God. Great is the work of the tongue, and if used according to the directions given in the holy word, great good may be accomplished; but if, on the other hand, it is not bridled and controlled, what a vast amount of evil will be accomplished by it.
The hands, those useful members which have been given to man, what says the word of God concerning them? See 1 Tim. 2 : 8. I will, therefore, that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands. Again, hear the answer of the psalmist to the question, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Ps. 24 : 4. Is it not a sign that our souls are lifted up to vanity, if our hands are allowed to adorn these decaying bodies of ours? Will not our hands be considered unclean if allowed to prepare for our adornment those things which are forbidden in God’s word? How much precious time is wasted while the hands are allowed, day after day, to be used in that which is worse than useless. How few Dorcases in this generation, who with their hands are ready for every good work, and whose time is not occupied in trimming, ruffling, and flouncing, but in making garments for the poor and needy. Says the apostle Paul: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Rom. 6 : 12, 13.
Are we the Lord’s? Have we yielded ourselves to him to work the works of righteousness? God wants nothing short of the whole man. If we give ourselves to him, eternal life will be bestowed upon us in the end. Says the Saviour: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I will give unto them eternal life.” John 10 : 27, 28.—Woman and Her Work.
Despair Is a Sin
DESPAIR is a sin exceedingly vile and contemptible; it is a word of eternal reproach, dishonor, and confusion; it declares the devil a conqueror, and what greater dishonor can be done to Christ than for a soul to proclaim, before all the world, the devil a crowned conqueror.
Thoughts on the Book of Daniel.
(Continued from No. 15.)
CHAPTER XII.
VERSE 1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
A definite time is introduced in this verse: “At that time.” What time? The time to which we are brought in the closing verse of the preceding chapter, the time when the king of the north shall plant the tabernacles of his palace in the glorious holy mountain; or in other words, when the Turk, driven from Europe, shall hastily make Jerusalem his temporary seat of government. We noticed in remarks upon the latter portion of the preceding chapter some of the agencies already in operation for the accomplishment of this end, and some of the indications that the Turks will very soon be obliged to make this move. And when this event takes place, then, according to this verse, we look for the standing up of Michael, the great prince.
Who then, is Michael? and what is his standing up? Michael is called in Jude 9, the archangel. This means the chief angel, or the head over the angels. There is but one. Who is he? He is the one whose voice is heard from Heaven when the dead are raised. 1 Thess. 4:16. And whose voice is heard in connection with that event? The voice of our Lord Jesus Christ, John 5:28. Tracing back the evidence with this fact as a basis, we reach the following conclusions: The voice of the Son of God is the voice of the archangel; the archangel, then, is the Son of God. But the archangel is Michael; hence Michael is also the Son of God. But the expression of Daniel, “the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people,” is alone sufficient to identify the one here spoken of with the Saviour of men. He is the “Prince of life,” Acts 3:15; and God hath exalted him to be a “Prince and a Saviour.” Acts 5:31. He is the great Prince. There is no one greater save the sovereign Father.
And he standeth for the children of thy people. He condescends to take the servants of God in this poor mortal state, and redeem them for the subject of his future kingdom. He stands for us. We are essential to his future purposes, an inseparable part of the purchased inheritance; and we are to be the chief agents of that joy in view of which Christ endured all the sacrifice and suffering which has marked his intervention in behalf of the fallen race. Amazing honor! Be everlasting gratitude repaid him for his condescension and mercy unto us. Be his the kingdom, power and glory forever and ever.
We come now to the second question, What is the standing up of Michael? The key to the interpretation of this expression is furnished us in verses 2 and 3 of chapter 11. “There shall stand up yet three kings in Persia;” “a mighty king shall stand up that shall reign with great dominion.” There can be no doubt as to the meaning of these expressions in these instances. They mean, to take the kingdom, to reign. The same expression in the verse under consideration must mean the same. At that time Michael shall stand up, shall take the kingdom, shall commence his reign.
But is not Christ reigning now? Yes, associated with his Father on the throne of universal dominion. Eph. 1:20–22; Rev. 3:21. But this throne or kingdom he gives up at the end of this dispensation, 2 Cor. 15:24; and then he commences his reign brought to view in the text, when he stands up, or takes his own kingdom, the long-promised throne of his father David, and establishes a dominion of which there shall be no end. Luke 1:32, 33.
Into an examination of all the events that constitute, or are inseparably connected with, this change in the position of our Lord, it is not necessary that we here enter. Suffice it to say, that then the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. His priestly robes are laid aside for royal vesture. The work of mercy is done, and the probation of our race is ended. Then he that is filthy is beyond the hope of recovery; and he that is holy is beyond the danger of falling. All cases are decided. And from that time on, till the terrified nations behold the majestic form of their insulted King in the clouds of heaven, a time of trouble such as never was, a series of judgments unparalleled in the world’s history, culminating in the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven in flaming fire to take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel, accomplish the work of breaking the nations with a rod of iron, and dashing them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Thus momentous are the events introduced by the standing up of Michael. And he thus stands up, or takes the kingdom, marking the introduction of this decisive period in human history, for some length of time before he returns personally to this earth. How important then that we have a knowledge of his position, be able to trace the progress of his work and understand when that thrilling moment draws near, which ends his intercession in behalf of mankind, and fixes our destiny forever.
But how are we to know this? How are we to determine what is transpiring in the far off Heaven of heavens, in the sanctuary above? God has been so good as to place the means of knowing this in our hands. When certain great events transpire on earth, he has told us what events, synchronizing with them, transpire in Heaven. By things which are seen we thus learn of things that are unseen. As we “look through nature up to nature’s God,” so through terrestrial phenomena, and mundane movements, we trace the occurrence of heavenly scenes. When the king of the north plants the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain, a movement for which we already see the preparatory steps, then Michael, our Lord, stands up, or receives from his Father the kingdom, preparatory to his return to this earth. Or it might have been expressed in other words, then our Lord ceases his work as our great High Priest, and the probation of the race is finished. The great prophecy of the 2300 days gives us definitely the commencement of the final division of the work in the sanctuary in Heaven. The verse before us gives us data whereby we can judge approximately of its close.
In connection with the standing up of Michael, there occurs a time of trouble such as never was. In Matt. 24:21 we read of a period of tribulation such as never was before it, nor should be after it. This tribulation, fulfilled in the oppression and slaughter of the church by the papal power, is already past; while the time of trouble of Dan. 12:1, is, according to the view we take, still future. How can there be two times of trouble many years apart, each of them greater than any that had been before it, or should be after it? To avoid difficulty here, let this distinction be carefully noticed: The tribulation spoken of in Matthew is tribulation upon the church. Christ is speaking to his disciples, and of his disciples in coming time. They were the ones involved in that trouble, and for their sake, the days of tribulation were to be shortened. Verse 22. Whereas the time of trouble in Daniel is not a time of religious persecution, but of national calamity. There has been nothing like it since there was (not a church, but) a nation. This comes upon the world. This is the last trouble to come upon the world. In Matthew there is reference made to time beyond that tribulation; for there was never to be any like that upon the people of God in the future, after that was past. But there is no reference in Daniel to future time, after the trouble there mentioned; for that closes up the world’s history. It includes the seven last plagues of Rev. 16, and culminates in the revelation of the Lord Jesus, coming upon his pathway of clouds in flaming fire, to visit destruction upon his enemies who would not have him to reign over them. But out of this tribulation every one shall be delivered who shall be found written in the book—the book of life; “for in Mount Zion . . . shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” Joel 2:32.
To Correspondents.
By Editor
THOS. DEMMON: We have no recollection of the article you refer to, written to show that the Lord's supper was partaken of before the washing of feet. We do not think any valid argument can be brought to sustain such a position.
O. E. McCORD: We have three different question books, 10c each. We do not think it advisable to travel a great distance on the Sabbath to attend meeting.
N. HOYT: We think Paul in Galatians had in view that system by which the Jew supposed he was justified from his transgressions of the moral law. This explains those passages which certainly refer to that law.
E. B. S: The name you inquire for is B. G. Robb.
S. E. EDWARDS: We have not received the book.
G. McD.: For our part we would have nothing to do with swine, either by way of raising, selling, or eating them. If we lived in a section of country adapted to any other business besides swine raising, we would follow that; if not, we would move to some better location.
A. WIKE: The foregoing note will answer your first query. There is no spot on the earth where the sun shines the year round. It is only at the extreme poles that it is continuously visible for six months; and there the daily revolution of the earth can be marked with as much distinctness as in our own latitude.
He Will Be a Spiritualist.
By John H. Waggoner
Some of my friends have lately informed me (as if it were news) that the spiritualistic oracles had prophesied that I would soon be a spiritualist. I would say that to prophesy in this manner has been a standing pastime with those oracles for the last eight years. When Moses Hull denied God and his word in 1863, the prophecy was extensively circulated that I would be a spiritualist before the close of that year. Now according to their “philosophy” all things are equally right and therefore it is perfectly right to lie; yet they so far deferred to the feelings of those who have yet a conscience against lying as to insist that their prediction was true, and have therefore followed me for several years with the report that I was a spiritualist. By another rule of their philosophy a lie is only undeveloped truth, yet these two falsehoods have not developed into truth as yet.
Of the future I would speak with becoming humility. I have long ago discarded the view that it is not possible to fall from grace, and I endeavor to heed the injunction to “be not high-minded, but fear.” We “are not ignorant of Satan’s devices.” Realizing to some extent his power, his malignity, his wiles, the number and boldness of his subjects, and the fearful spread of his falsehoods and his influence, I rely solely upon divine protection, knowing full well that if I so depart from God as to drive away his Spirit, the spirit of darkness and evil will soon have undisputed sway over me. Dear readers, there is a power in spiritualism; an influence with which it is not safe to dally. As you value eternal life, I entreat you to heed the warning and avoid that influence which bewilders the mind, destroys the sensibilities, and drowns its victims in eternal ruin.
As this prophecy is persistently kept before the people, it is well to inquire how people become spiritualists, and what change must take place in order for me to be a spiritualist.
1. People do not generally become spiritualists by intelligent conviction, but by means of a mesmeric influence thrown over them. Take the case of Moses Hull. He was led to destruction through a discussion with what he declared to be “some demon speaking through W. F. Jamieson.” Of this discussion he said:—
“The arguments given through Mr. Jamieson were no stronger than those used by normal speakers with whom I have debated, but the influence I was not prepared to resist.”
And I might mention other and more recent cases where the fall of the victims is easily traceable to the same cause. True, they are not always aware of the fact, and they may not realize that their refusal to “receive the love of the truth” had prepared the way for this “strong delusion.” See 2 Thess. 2: 10–12.
A spiritualist lecturer recently said that people become spiritualists because they think. Let Mr. Hull testify again:—
“There was not only an unseen intelligence speaking through Mr. Jamieson, but there was an influence over the audience, and I am now satisfied over myself, such as I had never before witnessed, the power of which was so strong that for several days I was not only bewildered, but was really not myself.”
All who are acquainted with the operations of spiritualism will credit this testimony. Because they think? No. But because they are bereft of reason, and their volition is destroyed. Does a person mesmerized think? Is not the power of thought and volition usurped by another in mesmerism? All who are at all acquainted with this subject know that the influence exerted by spirit mediums is similar to that of mesmerism, only that it is much stronger, and does not, as in mesmerism, depend upon personal contact, but may be exerted at some distance. Mr. Hull well characterized it—he was bewildered—not himself. Do spiritualists deny this fact? Look for a moment at their testimony. Prof. Brittan, a noted author among them, said:—
“The trance mediums for spirit intercourse are equally irresponsible. Many of them are totally unable to resist the powers which come to them from the invisible and unknown realms.”—Answer to Mahan.
Think, do they? Reduced to a state of irresponsibility by an irresistible influence. Where, then, is their manhood, of which they so much boast? Reduced to a mere machine by some invisible demon. And we are accused of not thinking because we will not resign our will and reason to such control.
Judge Edmonds gives the following account of an influence that fell upon Dr. Dexter, his associate in his spirit investigations:
“It was altogether a very extraordinary manifestation. It was conducted throughout with unusual and indeed unknown violence. He took entire possession of the Doctor, not merely of his arm, as others did, and the Doctor said he felt an almost uncontrollable desire to strike me, and to commit other acts of violence.” Works, Vol. 2. p. 512.
With such testimony their works abound; indeed, the spirits promised years ago that their power would be more and more manifested as people became more and more passive! And Prof. Brittan said Davis was no more responsible in his writings than we are in our dreams. They are the last who should claim to be a reasoning, thinking people. All testimony confirms this fact, that people do not generally become converts to spiritualism by intelligent conviction, but by impressions173on the senses. I pray that God will keep me from the snares which would render me passive to such an unhallowed influence.
2. What change must I undergo to become a spiritualist? Having in my possession a large number of spiritualist books, by the most noted and best endorsed of their authors, and having read considerable in their periodicals, and heard some of their public utterances, I am prepared to judge and speak advisedly on this point.
1st. I must deny God. To this all spiritualists run with undeviating certainty.
2d. I must deny the Bible. A great change indeed; for I dearly love it now; but I cannot be a spiritualist and hold on to the Bible as the inspired word of God.
3d. I must deny Jesus Christ as my Saviour. This strikes to my heart; feeling as I do my urgent need of him. And my prayer is that he will not deny me. But not a word is necessary to show that no man can be a spiritualist who trusts in Christ for salvation.
4th. I must renounce all reverence for everything I now hold sacred in Heaven and on Earth, whether persons or principles.
5th. I must renounce allegiance to all authority and all law whether human or divine.
6th. I must renounce every institution which would restrain my actions, marriage institution included.
7th. I must renounce all sense of responsibility, and deny such popular distinctions as right and wrong.
8th. I must so far contradict the last-mentioned denial as to affirm that, while it is perfectly right to violate law, it is wrong to take any steps to prevent, or punish for, the violation.
I know not of a single author of any repute among spiritualists who does not teach either directly or indirectly, all that I have here set down; many of them in the most direct terms.
Reader, do you like the character to be developed under the teachings and influence of spiritualism? And do you blame us for shunning that influence which leads the victim passively into such abominations? The heathen would blush to acknowledge such abominations; yet they are boldly avowed by spiritualists, both male and female.
J. H. WAGGONER.
Burlington, Mich.
Camp-Meetings.
By James White
We designed to prepare a little work on the subject of camp-meetings; but this, with many other things that should be done, we shall have to leave undone for want of time and strength. We will, however, make a few suggestions through the REVIEW:—
1. God has greatly blessed this means of grace, so much so that there remains not a single doubt as to the utility of holding camp-meetings.
2. In order that camp-meetings held by Seventh-day Adventists be a success, there must be a sacrifice of time and means, a spirit of labor with both ministers and people, promptness, and a love for order.
3. The grounds should be located in reference to their being accessible to our people, and also the crowd, pleasant location, shade, ample room, and good water.
4. Everything about the grounds should be neat and orderly. Teams should not be allowed to stand near the ground, and the deportment of men, women, and children, in the family tents and on the ground, should be unexceptionable. It should be the duty of the camp-meeting committee to see that all these matters are right, so that the unbelieving will be led to admire our orderly and Christian deportment.
5. No controversy whatever should be allowed on our camp-grounds. The common lawless habit of collecting in little knots about the ground to listen to unsanctified and unlearned controversy from novices and soft heads should be promptly broken up. Such conduct lowers the dignity of the occasion.
6. There should be a complete provision stand on all our camp-grounds at which everything should be sold that the camp-meeting committee should approbate an outsider to sell. What they would forbid others to sell on the ground, they should not sell themselves; and what they would allow another to sell, they should themselves sell. Let the brethren take this matter into their own hands, provide for the crowd, and furnish at such prices as will go far in meeting expenses for the accommodation of the crowd. This is simply justice in the case. We call in question very much the custom of liberally providing for the crowd at camp-meeting, practiced at one or two-days’ meeting in Missouri. But of this the brethren in the different States must be allowed to judge.
7. Each camp-meeting should have a full assortment of our publications. The Association will furnish them, delivered at the depot in Battle Creek, at one-third discount from published prices. The managers of camp-meetings can sell and give away as in their judgment is best. Here is a laborious part of the work that we leave others to do. If the camp-meetings do the work of properly supplying the people with our publications, the camp-meetings should have the profits. Each camp-meeting should meet the expenses of books and tracts given at such meetings, by donations, or otherwise.
8. Each Conference should take measures for the wider circulation of our periodicals, and see that the proper persons, and no others, receive them, and should become responsible for the payment of those periodicals circulated in the several State Conferences. JAMES WHITE.
Our Address.
By James White
UNTIL further notice, our post-office address will be Washington, Wash. Co., Iowa.
JAMES WHITE.
God Will Provide for His Work
GOD will never withhold from those who trust him the means to carry on his work.