“Most persons are aware that ants are the most destructive kinds of insects ever known. Under their silent but obstinate work, the white ants have pulled down the most magnificent and strongly built palaces. Suddenly, when no exterior sign of their decay could have been perceived, they have crumbled down; and the whole of their internal structure, from the smallest piece of timber to the biggest rafter, the foundation, walls, and ceilings, proved to have been devoured and pierced and honeycombed throughout by these insignificant foes.
“Even now European papers relate the destruction by the ants of a splendid man-of-war, which looked as beautiful and as strong as ever, at its berth in a harbor, and which had just been discovered, on a casual inspection, to be rotten in every part of it. The slightest action of the waves beating against that ship, when hardly out of the harbor, would have demolished the whole structure, and brought her to the bottom of the sea.”
What could more vividly illustrate the power of persistent and unwavering workers, no matter how insignificant they may be? If those who are seeking the opportunity of doing some great thing would go to the ant, and learn a lesson of quiet, patient, and persistent toil, they might, instead of standing idly waiting for some great opportunity, enter at once upon labors abundant, unceasing, and sure to be crowned at last with marked and wonderful success.—The Wayside.
EARLY IMPRESSIONS.
A FEW years ago a company of Indians were captured on the Western frontier. Among them were a number of stolen children. They had been with the savages for years. Word was sent throughout the region inviting all who had lost children to come and see if among their little captives they could recognize their own. A long way off was a woman who had been robbed of her darlings, a boy and a girl. With mingled hope and fear she came; with fast-throbbing heart she approached the group. They were strange to her. She came nearer, and, with eyes filled with mother-love and earnestness, peered into their faces, one after another; but there was nothing in any she could claim. Nor was there anything in them to light up their cold faces. With the dull pain of despair at her heart, she was turning away, when she paused, choked back the tears, and, in soft tones, began to sing the touching hymn which she had long been wont to sing to her little ones. The first stanza was not completed before a boy and a girl left the group and ran up to her, exclaiming, “Mamma! mamma!” and she folded her lost ones to her bosom. So lives a mother’s early influence in the hearts of her children.—Sel.
Religion as Armor, Not Cloak
RELIGION is the best armor a man can have, but the worst cloak.
To Members of District No. 11, Kansas Tract Society
By A. W. Cone
TO MEMBERS OF DIST. NO. 11, KANSAS TRACT SOCIETY.
Dear Brethren, you all believe that we are living in the last days, and that God has a special message to be proclaimed at this time. As it is a special, important, and decisive message, God is calling out a special people to proclaim it. We claim to be the people that he has entrusted with this message which is to decide the destiny of the world.
To facilitate the spreading of the message, we have an organized Tract Society, which is to hold regular quarterly meetings each quarter. Now, what is the object of these meetings? Is it not to encourage and help one another in the great work? Are your duties all done when you have given away a few pages of tracts, and have handed a report to your librarian? You expect your director to be present at each meeting. Is your time more precious than his? If you have confidence in your officers, encourage them by your presence, counsel, and words of good cheer. Remember that they are mortals, and subject to discouragement. Then, too, if you fail to do the Lord’s work, the work will go on, but you will be left. If you are thus left, can you expect to hear the “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
Finally, brethren, do not let another quarterly meeting pass without being present, to stimulate others with your zeal. Remember your influence is felt beyond your little home circle—the district. The cause is one. The field is the world. Others have a right to expect us to work, shall they be disappointed?
Brethren, shall I see you all at our next meeting at Centerville?
A. W. Cone, Director.
LETTERS
Bro. James Parmelee writes from Park Co., Colorado:—
“The truth is gaining a foothold in this section. We are doing what we can in scattering our publications, and a few are almost persuaded to ‘keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’”
Sister Wm. W. Chase, of Waushara Co., Wis., says:—
“How often my heart swells with emotion, and my eyes fill with tears of joy and gladness, as I read of the progress of the cause. Truly the hand of the Lord is guiding this people; and I thank him that he has led me to see and receive the light of present truth. I rejoice that my lot has been cast in this day and age of the world.”
“In an age on ages telling,
To be living is sublime.”
“It is sublime to be living in expectation of soon seeing our blessed Lord. He has taught us when to expect him by the signs he has given us in his word; and when these signs come to pass, we know that he is near, even at the door. We know in whom we trust; his promises are yea and amen forever.
“And of those servants of the Lord who have left home, kindred, and country, to proclaim the third angel’s message, what can I say? Do I not speak the sentiment of each brother and sister when I say that our prayers ascend daily to the throne of grace, that God may give them strength, wisdom, and success in their labors, and a glorious crown at his appearing?”
Bro. T. L. Waters writes from Newaygo Co., Mich.:—
“Brethren, to us is committed the Sabbath, the down-trodden emblem of Jehovah. Let us resolve to carry it to the end. The mutterings of the last struggle are beginning to be heard all around us, and all chances for retreat will soon be cut off. Amid all the smoke and din, keep your eyes on the standard, and rally to it. You will find all the leaders in the great cause of present truth there; all the good brethren and sisters there, closed up in solid phalanx, a living wall to support and sustain God’s emblem in the final struggle. Though for twenty years a flanker, I have kept within bugle call of the main body, and now I’m coming in. I want to say to my brother and sister flankers: It is time to rally! We are getting close to the enemy’s line of battle; and if we don’t hurry up we shall be cut off. It is too late now to forage for the good things of this life, and we must fall in with the main body, and keep closed up.”
NORTHERN ITALY.
By John Nevins Andrews
I left Naples by steamer on Monday, Aug. 6, and arrived at Genoa on Wednesday afternoon. I had for a traveling companion a Baptist minister from America, with whom I had a very interesting conversation upon the Bible during the entire route. I left Genoa about 7 P. M., and arrived at Turin about midnight. Early next morning I set out for Luzerne St. Jean, near Torre Pellice, to visit sister Revel, who was the first person in Europe to embrace the Bible Sabbath from the preaching of Eld. M. B. Czechowski. I hoped to leave the next day, so as to reach Bro. Bourdeau at Valence at the commencement of the Sabbath. But I found several persons deeply interested in the truth, and I decided to remain till first-day morning, and do what I could to help them. I spent three days in constant discourse upon the truths of our faith. It was a season of great interest to me. Sister Revel has stood firm for the truth of God during many years, in the midst of great opposition. She is, I believe, a person of real piety; and her interest in understanding the word of God is very great. In this respect I have not often seen her equal. Within a year past, another sister has united with sister R. to keep the Sabbath. The son of sister R. has taken a full course of collegiate and theological instruction under the direction of the modern Waldensian church, which is Presbyterian in doctrine. I conversed with him considerably, and have sent him some of our best publications in English, as he can read that language.
I found in the village of Torre Pellice a man who understands the reasons of our faith in almost every point, and I may say truthfully he understands the subject better than some of our old brethren in America. He was instructed by Eld. C. and for a time observed the Sabbath. Though he is very poor, yet he had so much interest to hear that he hired some one to take his place in the silk factory where he works, and he devoted his time to listening and asking questions. He fully believes the truth and sincerely desires to obey. I think he will soon do it; yet to do it cuts him off from every means to earn his daily bread. His wife is a Catholic, but she is quite convinced of the truth. They have two small children. By commencing at five in the morning and working till seven in the evening he can earn forty cents.
At Torre Pellice I also met Elder Ferraris, who kept the Sabbath for a time and then gave it up. He seemed very glad to see me; and we had much conversation concerning the truth. He professes still to have a great interest for the Sabbath and the Advent faith, and wished me to tell the brethren that he still feels a great regard for them.
I am persuaded that much good can be done in this part of Italy. It is the country of the ancient Waldenses, and is situated at the foot of the Alps. I have never seen a more beautiful valley. I hope some man of God may soon enter this field.
On first-day morning I set out for Turin, and at T. took the train direct for Valence. The route is by the way of the Mount Cenis tunnel. This tunnel is about eight miles in length, and requires some forty minutes for the passage. The train took me no farther than Grenoble that night. To show what a system of espionage exists in France at the present time, I will state that I was asked to write in the hotel register, not only my name, but also my age, my business, my residence, the place where I spent the previous night, how long I intended to stay in Grenoble, what place I was going to, and whether I had a passport. They told me that each morning the police came in to read their register. I have never seen the equal of this before.
From Grenoble I came direct to Valence. One or two persons have commenced to keep the Sabbath since I was here on my way to Naples. This time we had a baptism in which eight persons were planted in the likeness of Christ’s death. We found a retired place about one mile from the city by the side of the Rhone, and here we assembled with some degree of caution lest the police should break up the service. After this we celebrated the ordinances at the house of Bro. Gabert. It was a day of great interest. Probably within a few days there will be another baptism.
Bro. Bourdeau has made a great effort to strengthen the hands of those who have begun to keep the Sabbath, so that they may stand firm in the truth without his presence. He thinks they are now able to do this. The difficulties in the way of preaching and distributing tracts have greatly increased since President Mac Mahon has commenced his public efforts to overthrow the French republic and to re-establish the empire. After much prayerful consideration, Bro. B. and myself are both agreed that the time has come when he should change from France to Switzerland. Even our friends at Valence freely acquiesce in the change.
It was therefore judged best that Bro. B. should accompany me to Southern Switzerland, and that we should seek a place for the location of his family and the commencement of public labor in French Switzerland. We asked divine direction, and it seemed to us that we had it in the choice of the village of Morges, on Lake Geneva, near the city of Lausanne. Here we found a good place for his family at a reasonable rent. This is a village of 3000 inhabitants, and everything is apparently favorable for an effort at this point. Bro. B. returned to France for his family, and I returned to Bâle to get out the second number of the new volume of our paper. I hope to spend much time with Bro. B. in his labors in this new field. Is there no good man to join Bro. Ribton in the work in Naples? There are many English to hear the word of God in Naples, and Bro. R. can readily translate if Italians are present.
When on my way to Naples I was obliged to stop one night at Pisa. Here I saw something worthy of mention. In this city is a large marble edifice built in the twelfth century. It is in the form of an immense bell. It has nothing within it except a pulpit and a place for baptism. There are no seats and no galleries, but near the pulpit upon an elevation of two or three steps from the general level of the floor is a large font for immersion! It is nearly twelve feet square and some four feet in height, and was entered by means of steps. The first thing said to me by the man who has charge of the building was this: “You see that it was the custom of the church to baptize by immersion when this baptistery was built.” The Church of Rome has great veneration for sacred buildings, and little for God’s ordinances; so she has sacredly preserved this ancient font for immersion and sacrilegiously substituted sprinkling in place of burial in baptism. This font now stands empty, but in the top of the wall of the font they have cut a small cavity capable of holding a few quarts of water and from this little font in the top of the wall of the other the priest now sprinkles the people! It is very expressive to see this font for immersion, and the little font in its top for sprinkling. If the Catholic Church had continued the practice of immersion until after the Protestant reformation, all the Protestants would have been Baptists. But the truth is, that between the time when this church was built and the time of the Reformation sprinkling took the place of immersion, and so the Protestants brought with them from Rome sprinkling for baptism, and now they have the difficult task of proving that sprinkling is ordained in the Bible. J. N. A.
LOST MANHOOD.
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
CONVERSING once with an intelligent man in Stockton, Cal., he said, “A man that uses tobacco is not half a man.”
“If you place such an estimate upon it, why, then,” I inquired, “do you not quit the use of it?”
“That,” said he “is the very reason, because I have not manhood enough left to quit it.”
The habit of using tobacco is a very slavish habit, more so than that of using ardent spirits. A lumberman of the Wisconsin pineries once told me that his men daily used both whisky and tobacco. Sometimes in cases of very deep snow their supplies would run short. If the whisky gave out, the men worked right along, but if the tobacco gave out his work stopped. There were very few men in the woods who were accustomed to use tobacco who could continue their work without it.
And yet with the evidence of its costliness, its filthiness, and its slavishness, men and women professing godliness wonder why we preach against its use. What reason can be given why it should be used? Why will professed Christian parents persist in setting an example before their children which, if followed, will deprive them of their manhood and make them slaves—bound slaves—to a filthy habit? The habit is disgusting to all who have refined tastes and sensibilities, and it is difficult to say which is the most disgusting, smoking, chewing, or snuffing. All filthy. See 2 Cor. 7:1. J. H. WAGGONER.
A FEW QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
By G. W. A.
A FRIEND asks:—
“1. Is Peter the rock on which the church is built? “2. What shall we understand about the church having power to bind and loose things in Heaven? “3. Was the apostle Peter the first bishop and pope of Rome?”
Ans. 1. The text to which the first question relates is Matt. 16:18: “And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” In this scripture two different Greek words are used for Peter and rock. The word translated “Peter,” is petros, and according to the standard Greek Lexicon of Liddell and Scott, it means, “a stone, a piece of rock,” such as lie loose upon stony ground, and which may be used; such as were thrown by ancient warriors in war. Petros occurs as a common noun but once, John 1:42. In all other places it is used as a proper name for Peter. The adjective petrodes, “stony,” derived from petros, occurs in the following places: Matt. 13:5, 20; Mark 4:5, 16.
The word translated “rock” is petra, and is defined by Liddell and Scott, and others, to be “a rock, ledge, cliff, or shelf of rock.” The classical lexicon just mentioned says, “There is no example in good authors of petra being used like petros for a single stone.” Pickering’s lexicon says the same. This would convey the idea that petros applied to a small, movable stone, while petra referred to a ledge, cliff, or huge boulder. The word petra occurs in the Greek New Testament in the following passages: Matt. 7:24, 25; 16:18; 27:51, 60; Mark 15:46; Luke 6:48; 8:6, 13; Rom. 9:33; 1 Cor. 10:4; 1 Pet. 2:8; Rev. 6:15, 16. This use of the word petra is quite explanatory of itself. The passage in Matt. 16:18 may be paraphrased thus: “I say unto thee that thou art Peter [petros101, a little stone], and upon this rock [petra, rock, or foundation-stone, referring to Christ himself], I will build my church, and the gates of hell [hades, the grave], shall not prevail against it.”
2. The power of binding and loosing, mentioned in Matt. 16:19 as being imparted to Peter, from chap. 18:18, seems to be imparted as fully to all true believers. It quite evidently refers to church discipline, and may mean this: When a church, standing in the light of truth, is led by the Holy Spirit to take action in the case of members, to receive, or to dismiss, in all probability that very action is ratified in Heaven. The same thing is taught in John 20:22, 23, where the risen Saviour having breathed on his disciples—not Peter only, but all of them—said: “Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain they are retained.”
Some commentators understand that the reason why Christ addressed Peter as having “the keys of the kingdom,” was because he first was to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and so open the door of faith to them. See Acts, 10th chapter.
3. In reference to Peter having been the first bishop or pope of Rome, many eminent writers protest that Peter never saw Rome. Certainly there is not the most distant hint in the New Testament that he was ever there, or ever addressed them a letter, inspired or uninspired. But he does write with much fervor “to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” 1 Pet. 1:1; and he also refers to the church at Babylon, 1 Pet. 5:13. See also his travels mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. But note, in all this, there is not a single hint of Rome, and much less is there an intimation that Peter had been there, and was their first bishop! That is purely a Roman Catholic invention.
The “Encyclopedia Americana,” under the word Peter, well says: “The tradition that he [Peter] went to Rome, and was crucified there, in the year 67, rests only on the legends of the Roman Church, on which, also, the pope rests his claim to be considered the successor of this apostle.” We may also add that Paul says he was “not a whit behind the chiefest of the apostles.” 2 Cor. 11:5. If the popish view is correct about Peter’s exalted place among the apostles, and being the first bishop of Rome, then Paul must be mistaken. Which shall we believe, Roman Catholic tradition, or the divinely inspired apostle Paul? G. W. A.
THE VERMONT CAMP-MEETING.
By Uriah Smith
The ground selected for this meeting, near the village of Morrisville, was very beautiful. The executive and camp-meeting committees spared no pains to make the arrangements complete and the meeting attractive in all its features. The people of that vicinity were surprised at the preparations, and still more surprised at the meeting. The Methodists had held a camp-meeting but a short distance from our ground only two weeks before; and an effort was made by some to convey the idea that the meeting of the Adventists would be only a “pocket camp-meeting,” which it would not be worth while for the people to interest themselves in very much. But when on Sunday it proved to be the largest gathering ever held in Lamoille County, that illusion was effectually dispelled.
A visit to that Methodist camp-ground and a careful noting of its location, arrangement, accommodations, and various appointments, in comparison with the arrangements made by our people at Morrisville, would be a profitable lesson for any one. We cannot be too thankful that when the camp-meeting era among S. D. Adventists was inaugurated by Bro. White, he took care, with his usual clearness and foresight, that order, neatness, system, and liberality should be cardinal features of these occasions. It is this that has given to our meetings much of their efficiency and good results. It seemed to be especially so in the present instance.
The large circle was well filled with tents, and the attendance of brethren and sisters was larger than usual. Seats were provided for 2,500 people at the main stand in the center of the ground, while the 60 ft. tent was provided with seats and a stand, to be used in case of rain.
Bro. and Sr. White and Bro. Haskell were at this meeting, to the great joy of the brethren. Sabbath, Sept. 8, the day appointed as a fast day with especial reference to Bro. White’s state of health, was observed on the camp-ground. It was a good day. There was freedom in prayer, and good tokens that these prayers were not in vain. The Lord’s blessing was with his people in large measure.
Sabbath afternoon sister White spoke with great freedom and effect. About one hundred came forward for prayers, manifesting deep feeling and an earnest purpose to seek the Lord.
Sunday afternoon she spoke on the subject of temperance. It was one of her best efforts on that question; and, judging from the action of the people while she was speaking, and their remarks afterward, it was just what they wanted to hear. The audience of full three thousand, hundreds of whom could not find seats, were held as if spell-bound. Those who were seated listened attentively, and those who were standing, stood almost motionless during the hour and a half of the discourse. Those not of our faith pronounced it the best discourse ever given in that county.
On Monday twenty candidates presented themselves for baptism; but as some of these were living where they would soon have an opportunity of going forward in that ordinance at their own homes, their cases were deferred. Thirteen were baptized by Bro. Hutchins and Bourdeau in the Lamoille River, near by the ground.
The outside interest was good and increased to the close, and an excellent impression has been left by the meeting. More than this, conviction has been left on many minds, according to their own acknowledgment, that we have the truth. We were happy to meet some good souls from the ranks of the First-day Adventists, who here committed themselves upon the truths of the third angel’s message. The brethren consider it the best meeting ever held in Vermont, and are greatly cheered and encouraged as the result.
U. S.
LANSING CAMP-MEETING.
By S. N. Haskell
That the camp-meeting to be held at Lansing Sept. 18 to Oct. 1, will be a meeting of special importance is evident from many considerations.
It will probably be the largest gathering of Christian Sabbath-keepers that ever has been held upon this continent or in any portion of the world for centuries. Reports will be given at this meeting of the progress of this work in different parts of the world. Reports of the working of the different Institutions and Associations now in operation to carry forward this work will also be given.
And as the work is greatly increasing new ways and means will be devised to co-operate with the providence of God in the spread of this last message of mercy. As the meeting will hold over two Sabbaths and does not close until Oct. 1, if those from the distant parts of the field cannot be present the first week of the meeting, there will be opportunity the second week.
Therefore we invite one and all where it is consistent to be at this annual gathering of God's commandment-keeping people, and unitedly seek him, learn more of his work than heretofore, and return home better prepared to enter his service.
S. N. Haskell.
WHAT LAW?
By R. F. Cottrell
“Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.” What law did our Lord mean? It was a written law, for a law not written has no jots or tittles. All Christians are agreed and know that circumcision and the sacrifices and ceremonial ordinances of the former ages have entirely passed away, being abolished, blotted out, nailed to the cross. The law of which Jesus spoke can be no other than the moral or primary law, briefly comprehended in the ten commandments, written by the finger of God and also in the books of Moses. Does he mean some new law which was to take the place of the old, the “law of Christ,” or the New Testament law? Not a word of the New Testament was written for years after the Lord made the emphatic annunciation, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets.” A fool would know without being told that he did not come to destroy that which did not exist. He spoke of the law and the prophets then existing, and in the possession of the people. This law was not to be destroyed, nor even a jot or a tittle, a letter or a mark, pass from it, till heaven and earth pass, or, till all the prophecies, promises, and purposes of God should be fulfilled.
The law of which the Lord spoke was law before he came, and was still to be law; for from the fact that he did not come to destroy the law, or to change it so much as a jot or a tittle, he draws this conclusion: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.” This language applied to all future time, unlimited duration. Who then can be so hardened as to teach the people in this enlightened age and land of Bibles, that the primary law of God, the moral law, has passed away, wholly or in part? Who dares to do so? Certainly not R. F. COTTRELL.
HAVE YOU FAITH?
By Roswell Fenner Cottrell
As the predicted “voice of one crying in the wilderness” was fulfilled by John the Baptist, “preaching in the wilderness of Judea,” so the voice of the “third angel,” foretold 1800 years ago, is being heard in almost all the earth. It is the final warning to prepare for the coming of the Son of man, the closing message of man’s probation. It calls upon “the meek of the earth” to “seek meekness,” and upon the righteous to “seek righteousness.” Zeph. 2: 1–3. This is preparatory to “the day of the Lord’s anger,” the wrath “without mixture,” the seven last plagues which are to follow at the close of this solemn and fearful warning. Those who have fully heeded the voice of God will escape this most terrible of all calamities, while those who have neglected it will miserably perish.
Are these things really so? They are most assuredly, if we can trust God’s word to foretell, and his providence to fulfill his promises. This is all we have to rely on; and is it not enough? It is enough for the believer, but for the doubter and unbeliever nothing is enough to induce belief.
The prophecy of the closing messages (Rev. 14: 6–12), is so plain that no one need mistake its meaning. It must be evident to every careful reader that these messages are to be preached to the inhabitants of the earth as the last warnings of the gospel; and that the third will be followed by the day of wrath and the coming of Christ. Just before the coming of the day of the Lord the message of the third angel—the solemn warning against the worship of the beast and his image, and, on the other hand, the watchword and rallying cry, The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ in their purity and entirety—will constitute the great theme of true believers and furnish the most important topic of discussion for the world. The commandments of the moral law of God will be pressed upon the attention of men, eliciting a more general discussion concerning their perpetuity and unchangeability, and consequently the obligation or non-obligation to keep them as written in the Bible, than has ever been the case since the great apostasy and the dark ages of the papal rule.
Such is truly the case at the present time. These commandments are in agitation and dispute as never before; and men are taking sides for or against. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is being embraced in almost all Christian lands, together with the faith of the soon-coming of Christ; and a people are organized and at work who believe that the time is come for the last message, and that it is their specific work to publish it to the world. These things are the strongest evidences possible to all believers in the fulfillment of prophecy that the time has come and that this most solemn and fearful warning is present truth.
This message must be heard before the coming of Christ, and it must furnish the all-important theme of investigation; and yet there are those who tell us that the Advent is at hand, even at the very door, who know nothing of this warning, only to oppose the faith that it is now being given. The fulfillment of this prophecy must of necessity constitute the most thrilling event in the closing history of the church; and yet, while they profess to believe that Christ is at the door, they can point to nothing under the whole heavens as its fulfillment! Brethren, awake! Ye who love our Lord Jesus Christ and his glorious appearing, know ye that the people who are ready for translation without death at his coming, will be able to trace their experience in the fulfillment of this closing message of the gospel. Those who remain alive to meet the coming King with joy, will be those who answer the given description: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Can this description apply to those who say the ten commandments are abolished and consequently can point to no complete moral code in all the Bible?
Do you believe in the fulfillment of the prophecies which prove that the second coming is at hand, and wonder at and mourn over the unbelief of those who do not admit this most evident and all-important truth? and do you expect to meet that grand and awful event with the joy of the believer, while you ignore this merciful warning, so evidently the last to mankind? Will the Scriptures be broken, and the Lord come without the fulfillment of this promised closing proclamation? Know you that the word of the Lord cannot fail of its fulfillment; therefore if the advent may be looked for immediately, this message is in the world; and if it is in the world, where is it, but with those who have been professedly proclaiming it for more than a quarter of a century?
Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that this promised message is in the world and doing its fearful work. It is separating the precious from the vile and bringing believers into unity of faith and practice in respect to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The leaven is at work in all these States and territories, in the Canadas, the British Isles, and almost every nation in Europe, also in Africa and the Indian and Pacific isles. The questions of the law of God and the second coming of Christ are before the people as never before since the dawn of the Reformation. Is this accidental? or is it the work of God in the fulfillment of his word of promise? Faith says it is the latter. Faith believes God will do what he has promised; and when he fulfills his pledges, it gives him credit by accepting the fulfillment. And when God fulfills his own word in his own way, let all the people say, Amen.
R. F. COTTRELL.
QUITMAN, GA.
The following from Bro. C. O. Taylor was delayed, and although written Aug. 22, did not reach us in season for the Progress Department:—
New places in which to speak the truth are opening. Last Monday I went ten miles, to meet an appointment that had been out four weeks. On reaching the meeting-house about noon, my first thought was that the appointment would be a failure, there being no other house in sight on account of the woods. I learned, also, that the hour was three P. M., a busy hour, and on the first laboring day of the week. Surely, thought I, we shall have our labor for little. But to my surprise, some time before the hour the house was well filled, and when meeting commenced every seat was occupied, and some were outside. I closed at five.
Although the weather was warm, and some of the seats had no backs, there was the best of attention and order. I remarked to one who had come ten miles, that the meeting had lasted two hours. Said he, It did not seem an hour. Then if our brethren could see with what eagerness they reached out, and even crowded, to get an old back number of the REVIEW or SIGNS, they would send more. I was not going to leave another appointment. But they called for it. I left one for the third Monday in October, at two P. M.
I go next week about two hundred and forty miles toward the center of the State, to visit a family that has been keeping the Sabbath for several years. I shall look for persons that I think would be benefited by reading. If any of our T. and M. workers wish to send the SIGNS to such, on trial, they will please inform me, and the number of names they wish. Reading matter is doing much in the South in calling the attention of the people to the message. Sixty or seventy families are reading the SIGNS. Hundreds have read the REVIEW, and are learning, for the first time, that there is such a people as Seventh-day Adventists. All Adventists have been classed together. They have not been known as separate bodies.
I think all this southern soil is as ready for the present truth as it ever will be. I look for no more opposition here than in other parts of the field. What is most needed is tents to go into the villages. The preaching and singing are so new and different that the greater part are much interested. The best time of the year to hold tent-meetings would be from the first of October to the first of May.
This field is large. I am but a drop in the bucket. Come to our help, you that want a place to labor, and do good while you can. All these chances will soon be past. This is the only world in which we can do good to suffering, fallen humanity. C. O. TAYLOR.
THE NEBRASKA CAMP-MEETING AGAIN.
By Eugene W. Farnsworth
We wish to say a few words more respecting our camp-meeting. This will be the most important meeting ever held in Nebraska; for as the work enlarges in that part of the field, these meetings become more important. We therefore look for the largest gathering of our people we have ever had there. The wants of the T. and M. work will be largely considered, and in view of this we want to see every director in that part of the Conference at the meeting. We want to see the elders of every church there; and if there are persons who wish lectures given in their neighborhood this winter, we want them there.
If there are those who have become discouraged and cold in the work, you, of all others, should be there; and to this class I especially appeal, because you seldom see the necessity of attending such meetings. If you feel indifferent about attending the meeting, there is cause of alarm in your case, and that indifference is a sufficient reason why you should be there. After you have attended one or two meetings of this kind, your indifference will wear away, and you will see more clearly where you stand. Then there are those who feel that they enjoy the blessing of God; to such we would say, You are absolutely needed there, and I know it will not be necessary for me to say much to induce you to come.
Let the elders of our churches and the directors of our T. and M. Society see that all are there that can possibly get there. Remember the time and place—Oct. 4, Fremont, Dodge Co., Neb. Let every one be on the ground the day before, Wednesday, and let none stay away for lack of tents; for a place will be provided. Only bring your bedding. We invite all our ministers in the western part of our Conference, who can consistently leave the meetings they may be holding, to be present with us. We wish to make some calculations for our winter's work. Bro. Nicola, President of the T. and M. Society, will be there.
As the time for this meeting draws near, let us earnestly seek God’s blessing and help. I am anxious that this meeting should be instrumental in imparting new life and zeal to the hearts of our people. We expect God will be with us by his Spirit, and this will be sufficient. So we can only add, Let none stay away.
E. W. FARNSWORTH.
Indianola, Iowa.
A CALL TO NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA.
By Chas. L. Boyd
Dear Brethren, your continued calls have been heard, and the second Nebraska Camp-meeting is soon to be held. The first, which was held last October, was a grand success. Those who attended will need no urging to come again. But some were not there, and, having lately embraced the truth, have never had the privilege of attending one of our camp-meetings. Such cannot realize their importance and value. The chosen people of God used to come long distances, and, often, under unfavorable circumstances, to meet together to worship the Lord of hosts. We have been inquiring for the “old ways,” and having found them, let us walk therein. Many of you have heard a course, or a part of a course, of lectures, which has led you to accept this glorious truth, and you have hardly seen the face of a minister since, while some have never heard a discourse. To all such I want to say, Come up to this “feast of tabernacles.”
And now I want to urge you to be in season. You cannot afford to lose the first meeting. If you come late, you are not prepared to enter into the spirit of the meeting, and the meetings are interrupted by new arrivals, who must pitch their tents and greet friends. To avoid this, for your own sakes and the sake of others, come to the ground one day before the meetings commence.
It is thought the place most central for all interested has been selected. It is rather late in the season, so come prepared for cool evenings and mornings. Perhaps this is the most favorable season of all the year for this locality. Let all come prepared to take care of themselves, and one or two of their friends. Provision and horse feed will be on the ground, at reasonable rates. Dear brethren, commence at once to make preparation for the CAMP-MEETING. Let every camping place by the way be a witness that you have wrestled with the angel of the Lord, to come with you. CHAS. L. BOYD.
A Good Man Does Good Wherever He Is
A GOOD man will be doing good wheresoever he is. His trade is a compound of charity and justice.
To Those Coming to the Nebraska Camp-Meeting.
By Chas. L. Boyd
APPLICATION has been made to the officers of the U. P., S. C. and P., A. and N., and to the B. and M. R. R. companies in Neb., for a reduction of fare to those coming to the Fremont camp-meeting. This favor was granted last year over all but one of these roads, and I trust it will be renewed this year.