Earlier textCamp-Meetings in Iowa.
By George I. Butler
At the recent quarterly meeting of the State T. and M. Society at Sandyville, Iowa, the subject of camp-meetings for this spring was discussed. The Conference is large, and the number of ministers now laboring in the State is small. Some, of leading influence, are laboring in other fields. There is great need of labor among our own people, the members of our churches. Many of these, scattered all over the State, cannot go to our central meeting, as the cost is so much and the distance so great. Especially is this true of our young churches, the very ones most in need of such meetings. They need the instruction a camp-meeting furnishes; but many of the members of these churches cannot well be gone from home two weeks, or so long a time as it will take to go to the center of the State, the requisite outlay of time and money being too great. There has been much discouragement resting upon the minds of our people in the State, and we must make efforts to counteract it. We must make a general rally. The matter was talked up, and a unanimous vote was taken to have at least three camp-meetings in the month of June; the first near Fairfield, where a convenient place could be found. This will be within about a day's drive of Pilot Grove, Washington, Mt. Pleasant, Brighton, Richland, Sigourney, Bentonsport, Bonaparte, and little companies at other places. The second will be held near Indianola, where a good place can be found. This will be within a reasonable distance of the Knoxville, Monroe, Sandyville, Winterset, Adel, Afton, Osceola, Decatur City, Davis City, and Woodburn churches. The third meeting will be held in the western part of the State, not far from half way between State Center and the Missouri River, where a good place can be found, near Dunlap perhaps. It is hoped all the young churches in the western part of the State will make a general rally, and attend this meeting. Bro. Will Hankins, W. W. Conklin, and W. G. Brallier are requested to act as camp-meeting committee for the first meeting. Bro. A. J. Stifler, Jacob Shively, and A. R. Henry are requested to act in the second. Bro. Morrison will appoint the committee for the third meeting. If the brethren generally in the northeastern part of the State really want such a meeting, and can decide on a suitable place, they can have one also. But they are so scattered that its practicability seems somewhat doubtful. These meetings will be held within easy reach of nearly all our membership. They are designed to help forward our T. and M. work and our Sabbath-school interest; to instruct, inspire, and arouse our people; and to convert sinners, reclaim backsliders, and encourage the despondent. We want all our friends to bring their unconverted children, and to be sure to get those who are on the background to come. These meetings will be of that size most convenient to help those needing help. Our annual meetings are so large that many take no part, and it is difficult for some to get a chance to take a part, and unless they do they are but little profited. These meetings are to be held because there is great need of something being done to stir up our own people, and because they are so much more effective and economical than to have a minister go from church to church and speak to but a little handful at a time, and because in many seasons of the year the weather and roads prevent them. We want our people to plan for a general rally. Bro. Farnsworth and myself will most likely attend them all. On each Sabbath morning we propose to have a model Sabbath-school in connection with our meeting, for the purpose of giving instruction in this branch of the work. Bro. Nicola will give particulars in season. We shall thus bring these camp-meetings within easy reach of all our people, and we ask them to think and pray over this matter beforehand. Pray that God will make these meetings a great source of benefit to the cause in our State. Let all our brethren plan to attend in season. We expect these will be among the very best camp-meetings ever held in the State. We believe the Lord is on the giving hand, and better days are before us. “Courage in the Lord” should be our watchword. The Lord will be with us, if we will only be with him. Let us work while it is called to-day; for the night soon cometh when no man can work. Geo. I. Butler. Light and Darkness in Christianity
THERE is, in Christianity, light enough for those who sincerely wish to see it, and darkness enough to confront those of an opposite disposition,—Pascal. SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.
By John Norton Loughborough
Still our cause is gaining ground in England. Almost every day we learn of new ones who are becoming interested in the truth. The number of Sabbath-keepers is increasing every week. Yesterday we learned of another who will keep next Sabbath. Both our Sabbath and our Sunday-school are increasing in interest. We are now sending, through the post, about two hundred and fifty Signs weekly, and we receive some very favorable responses. So much precious seed sown must in due time produce fruit. There is one quite encouraging feature here,—those who become interested and those who embrace the truth seem to catch at once the missionary spirit, and do all in their power to interest others in the truth. We still hold meetings in our own hired house, and they are quite well attended. Our tent is to be completed next week. We have obtained lumber for seating, and the lamps for lighting it, and are designing to open it as a more public meeting place as soon as the weather permits. Many who have not identified themselves with us are favoring our tent enterprise. We have already received donations from friends in England toward the tent, to the amount of $70, and more is promised. We have also received favors from those of whom we purchased the tent and fixtures, amounting to $70 more. We praise God for all these tokens of his favor in the work. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. The T. and M. State Quarterly Meeting at Sandyville.—This was a very precious meeting, one of the very best of its kind that I ever attended. By request of the President, Eld L. McCoy, I was present, as he could not be spared from the Sanitarium. We had quite a large attendance of members from the surrounding churches, though but three directors were present. We had felt a great anxiety for a good meeting; for we realized that many of our brethren and sisters were more or less discouraged. A feeling of despondency has been slowly gathering over the minds of many in our State for some time past. All has not been accomplished that we have desired in the advancement of the cause in this State. Times are very hard. Quite a number of the leading ministers of the State have been called to labor in other fields. These and other causes had produced the effect spoken of. Many faces showed discouragement, but the Lord removed it before the meeting closed, and our friends went home with cheerful countenances. The Lord helped very much in the preaching. The Holy Spirit came in with great power. We had a precious meeting Sabbath forenoon. Many a heart was touched, and made tender. It was good to be there.
Our society business meetings were of great interest. There is an encouraging interest kindling up. The good effect of Bro. Haskell's T. and M. Institute held last winter at Sigourney is already seen in the greater efficiency of the officers, in improvement in keeping the accounts, and in the increased interest manifested to have everything done right. We never had as strong hopes for the success of our society as now. We had an interesting Sabbath-school meeting. The State secretary was present, and interesting items and remarks were made by many. The general interest in the Sabbath-school work in this State has never before been so great as now. The secretary has labored faithfully, by correspondence and in other ways, to arouse a deeper interest in this noble work, and his efforts will bear fruit. The plan of assigning each minister a field of labor was discussed, but no complete arrangement can be effected before the annual Conference in the fall. The difficulty is that there are only four ordained ministers now laboring in the Conference, while there are thirteen T. and M. districts, which ought each to have at least one minister to look after the churches, and the work generally. Arrangements were made for tent labor. Five tents will probably be run this season. The matter of camp-meetings was also considered, and the brethren and sisters were unanimous in favor of holding at least three camp-meetings this spring in convenient localities, where the brethren can come in about a day's drive. These are additional to the annual meeting in the fall, for the election of officers, etc. All seemed to feel the need of a special effort to arouse from our lethargy and discouragements, and to take hold in earnest. We felt that Iowa must place herself in her proper position as one of the strongest of our Conferences, and fill her place in the work of God. Young men of promise are coming up, and we have hopes of good days in Iowa. Altogether, we all felt that our meeting was very profitable. Personally, I felt very grateful to God for his amazing goodness and love to me. How good he is, and how grateful we should be to him. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, May 1. Paulding and Uniopolis.—I came to Paulding, April 25. Spoke twice in the court-house to a few. A goodly number of Sabbath-keepers came in on Sabbath and Sunday. I explained to them the nature of our work and the duties of our people. Nineteen gave in their names to form a church. Four were baptized. Some were sick, and some were to get letters before they could unite; so only twelve entered into church organization. Bro. Wm. F. Crouse was elected and ordained elder, and Sister Morehouse was elected clerk. The brethren obtained a full outfit for the Sabbath-school, including a club of sixteen Instructors; they also procured all our blank-books for the various branches of the work, and a set of Sister White’s works, costing, in all, $25. There are over thirty Sabbath-keepers in this place, mostly raised up within the last year by Bro. Rupert’s labors. There is good material here for a strong church. He will follow up the work, and probably gather in others who are still interested. They need a meeting-house. Sunday afternoon we came eighteen miles through the rain and mud, in a lumber wagon, over terrible roads, to Van Wert. This part of the country is newer, rougher, and wilder than Northern Michigan. I came to Uniopolis, Monday, April 28. This is a most lovely country, very rich and finely improved. A company of over a dozen Sabbath-keepers has settled here. Some have embraced the truth here. Bro. Rupert labored some with them last winter. They have a Sabbath-school and regular meetings, and have promptly adopted the tithing system, as every Christian should do. Hence I found their money ready, and no complaining. All business was laid aside and we spent all of Tuesday in meetings of various kinds. I baptized four, and organized a church of eight. The others will come in soon. We raised money enough to furnish the Sabbath-school, and supply the church with all our blank-books. I am much pleased with the zeal of this little company. There is a deep interest here, and all around them. The most pressing calls for meetings are made within a few miles on each side of them. We had the pleasure here of meeting Eld. Hamilton Hull, of the S. D. Baptists, who remained all through the meetings. Twelve miles from here is a company of over one hundred S. D. Baptists, of whom he is pastor. It is their only church in Ohio, though there are scattered members all around it, and three churches in the West have been formed from it. Both Bro. Hull and his church gave us a warm invitation to visit them. We regretted that it was impracticable to do so, at least at present.
D. M. CANRIGHT. Wakeman.—Sabbath, April 26, I baptized five persons, and organized a church of twelve members. Others are keeping the Sabbath, and will join soon. Officers: F. O. French, elder; F. M. Shepherd, S. S. superintendent; Gertrude M. French, church clerk; and Elvina Corban, treasurer. May they so live that the Lord can bless them, and add to their numbers.
H. A. ST. JOHN. Corsica, April 28.—Our meeting at Belleville closed very encouragingly last Wednesday evening. Thursday we returned to Corsica, after an absence of five weeks. Harmony and love prevail. The Sabbath-school is proving a grand success, as well as the Sabbath and evening prayer-meetings. They enjoy these meetings and can hardly wait for the Sabbath to come. On the Sabbath we celebrated the ordinances for the first time in this new church, and the Lord came very near. Sunday six were baptized, and joined the church. The Methodist minister preached three sermons against our views. Their house, which will seat about three hundred, was packed to overflowing. Sunday afternoon and evening we reviewed him at the private house of Bro. Stevens. The rooms, which were large, were quite full, many standing outside around the door. The Methodist minister’s effort amounted to almost nothing. He dealt largely in slang and mimicry, and accused us of ignorance, but when he criticised Hebrew and Greek words, his own ignorance was manifest. On the whole, his effort will greatly help our cause in this place. At the close of our review we repaired to the water, where six more were buried with their Lord in baptism, making twenty-six that have come into the church organization. There are still others who will be baptized, and come into the church at our next quarterly meeting. The masons are laying the foundation of our meeting-house, and the carpenters are framing the timber, and in a few weeks the house will be up and inclosed. A tract society was organized last night. Some of the Methodists have gone to the lawyers to get counsel to keep the brethren from desecrating the pope’s Sunday.
A. O. BURRELL. CHRISTIANA, NORWAY.
By John G. Matteson
The Lord has helped us hitherto. In him we trust. At the beginning of this quarter (April) the building society met. The secretary read his report, which showed that the committee had been very successful in renting the house to responsible parties. The whole rent (not including the hall for meeting) amounts to about 2,350 Kroner annually ($626.66). To this will be added about Kr. 500 for some apartments which we cannot rent before May, making, in all, about $760. This pays more than the interest. The treasurer’s report showed that he had received since Jan. 25, in weekly payments and donations, Kr. 551 ($147). The first payment (Kr. 500) on the capital has been met. We need means to fit up the hall in a respectable way for meetings. About one-fourth of this sum is in the treasury, and the rest is coming. During the five months since I commenced meetings in my own hired house, the people have, besides the above, put Kr. 636 ($170), in the boxes, mostly in small coin at each meeting. This is enough to pay the rent, fuel, advertisements, and all other expenses for meetings, besides a pulpit and thirty seats. Then there has also been donated by friends Kr. 118 ($31.50) to the home mission. This is certainly doing well in these hard times, and in this country, where it is more difficult to earn fifty cents than to earn a dollar in America. Besides the seats I bought, Bro. Swenson, agent for the National line, has lent us seventeen seats for use in meetings. This brother assisted me much when I first came here. I counsel with the committee for the building society about every important move, as they are brethren of some judgment. One of them is a contractor who keeps thirty men at work. He, with his family, has been converted from the world in our meetings, as well as many others. My heart is encouraged. The Lord gives new strength in body and mind. The truth looks good to me. I have clearer views of the Lord and of his work. I am trying to get into a calm and close union with God. I feel reconciled to his kind providence. I am much encouraged by seeing the great interest in this work manifested by our brethren in America. May God bless them abundantly. JOHN G. MATTESON.
Osterhaugsgaden 12, Christiania, Norway, Apr. 7. Labor among the Churches.—April 14, I spoke at a school-house six miles southwest of where our camp-meeting was held in Osborn county, where a sister has embraced the truth as the result of that camp-meeting. I had a good congregation, and there is quite an interest to hear further. April 15–20, I was at Oak Creek in Smith county, where a number of our people from Iowa have recently settled. They have been holding Sabbath-meetings, and have created some interest in the minds of some to hear our views. I held eight interesting meetings with them. Several made a start for the first time to serve the Lord. On Sunday six were baptized, and a church of fourteen members was organized. Twenty-seven joined the Sabbath-school, and several the T. and M. society. Ten copies of the Instructor were taken for the use of the Sabbath-school. The different officers in the society, school, and church were selected, and a delegate was appointed to represent the church in the Conference. The brethren are in close circumstances, but are ready to adopt the tithing system. I confidently expect that several others will soon go forward in baptism, and unite with them. The brethren in this part of the Conference are setting a worthy example in supporting all branches of the cause, and the blessing of God is following their labors, and additions are constantly being made. SMITH SHARP. The evening of April 23, I met with the church at New Liberty. April 24–27, I was at Prairie Grove, Republic county, where there are eight or ten scattered Sabbath-keepers. I held five meetings with them, and tried to encourage them all I could. There is some interest to hear further. Bennington, Ottawa Co., May 1.—Our labors at Dry Creek closed April 28. Twelve began, for the first time, to keep the Sabbath. Six others were already keeping the Sabbath, making eighteen in all. The Lord has been blessing greatly. Souls have given their hearts to God, and accepted Jesus as their Saviour. How good it is to see poor sinners plunging into the healing fountain filled from Immanuel's veins. Opposition was quite bitter, the opposing party wearing badges, and coming to meeting with them on. The last evening while we were organizing a T. and M. society, the nuts were taken off from two of the wheels of our buggy, thus endangering our lives as we drove through a dangerous place after dark. We are now at Bennington for a few days. Bro. Sharp will be here this week to organize a church. M. AND H. ENOCH. FAITH IN GOD.
By Allie A. Santee
Oh, for more faith in God!
Faith all unquestioning;
Though we pass ’neath the rod,
He in good time will bring
Joy to the aching heart,
Rest for the weary one,
Blessings and strength impart
Until the journey’s done. Oh, for more faith in God!
Faith in his willingness
Ever to hear our cries,
Ever to help and bless;
Laying aside all fear,
May we with gladness sing,
Feeling our Father’s near,
Guiding and sheltering. Oh, for more faith in God!
Trusting his love for me,
Hopefully looking for
That home awaiting me.
Bidding adieu for aye
To life’s tempestuous sea,
Welcoming joyfully
Heaven’s eternity. Oh, for more faith in God!
Trust in his mighty arm,
Sheltered beneath his love,
Ne’er to feel pain or harm,
Ne’er to feel doubt again,
No more wild questioning,
Trusting him restfully,
As to his hand I cling! Dassel, etc.—May 20, I baptized eight persons at Dassel. At Fairhaven, May 21, I organized a church of ten members. Some were unavoidably detained at home. There will be about twenty members when all join that will. Nearly all pledged one-tenth of their increase to the cause of God. The Sabbath-school at Dassel is flourishing. It has forty-seven members. The Sabbath-school at Fairhaven numbers twenty-one. Yorktown and Alexandria.—April 14-21, I was with the church at Yorktown. Some are growing in grace. Two were baptized, and three were taken into the church. An elder was selected and ordained. I labored with the friends in and near Alexandria, April 22-28. They are so scattered that it is very difficult to get them together. They have much opposition. I trust it may work to their good. W. W. SHARP. Dedication at Birmingham, Mich.
By E. R. Jones
As appointed in Review, this meeting was held April 26, 27, services beginning on Friday evening. On the Sabbath we were much disappointed in not seeing a goodly number of our friends from surrounding churches, only one or two being present from other places. The church at B. numbers only fourteen or fifteen members, but they have zeal, and are devoted to the work. A little less than one year ago, Eld. J. O. Corliss pitched his tent in Birmingham, and for the first time the people of that place heard the stirring truths of the third angel's message. Many scoffed, while a few honest souls received the faith, and were obedient. The ministers of the place have spared no pains to fill the minds of the people with prejudice, and they have been partially successful; but still there are some who hear candidly. The brethren soon began to feel the necessity of a house of worship, and earnestly went to work to build one. They trembled as they worked, fearing the whole matter would prove a failure; while the enemies of the truth, like some of old when the walls of Jerusalem were being built, looked on with derision, hoping, as every outward demonstration gave evidence, that the work would come to naught. They were prospered far beyond their expectations, and soon, to their own surprise almost, they had a house 30x40 feet, all finished, plain and neat, and an honor to the young cause there, ready for dedication. When this fact was announced, and the opposers saw the cause which they had confidently hoped a few months would effectually erase, settled on a permanent foundation, their hopes were turned into dismay, and the feelings of some bordered hard upon bitterness. But for all this, when they considered how short a time had elapsed since the truth was first preached there, the few who received it, and their financial condition, they could but say that the zeal of the brethren was commendable, and their work wonderful. On Sunday afternoon the house was filled to repletion, and some went away, being unable to get in. The congregation gave very excellent attention for more than an hour, while from 1 Pet. 3:15 were set before them the two great features of our faith. After this the brethren and sisters, by a rising expression before the people, solemnly dedicated themselves anew to the service of God; then we all bowed down, and besought him to accept this offering at our hands, and let his blessing rest upon it. The occasion will not soon be forgotten by the friends at Birmingham, and if they will remember their vow, and walk in peace and love, and let their lives correspond with their building, we believe the time will come when their good house will be well filled from Sabbath to Sabbath with those who love God, and keep his commandments. E. R. Jones. A SEEKER after truth, Geo. F. Wood, of Onondaga Co., N. Y., writing to the Office, says:— The tracts and books you sent me have all arrived safe. I am thankful to say, that God, by his Holy Spirit, is sealing the truth to my heart. I am investigating them, one by one. I have proved to my own satisfaction the mortality of the soul and the destruction of the wicked,—not by the nondescript dictionary of the orthodox churches, but by the word of God. I am now studying on the Sabbath question. Please send me “Thoughts on Daniel,” “The Saints’ Inheritance; or, the Earth Made New,” and “Matthew Twenty-Four.” Pride, Policy, and Power
By Henry
If we thoroughly examine, we shall find that pride, policy, and power are the three principal ingredients in all the disturbances of churches. —Henry. It is wise and well to look on the cloud of sorrow as though we expected it to turn into a rainbow. —A RAILROAD is to be built to the top of Vesuvius. —THERE are 5,173 inland lakes in Michigan. —PRESIDENT HAYES has vetoed the army bill. —APRIL 26 was the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. —A BERLIN dispatch says that advices received by way of Warsaw represent that bombs are exploded in St. Petersburg daily. —THE mills at Manchester, N. H., have shut down, owing to a rise in the Merrimack River, and 2,000 operatives are temporarily out of work. —A CIRCULAR has been issued to the governors of the various Russian provinces which virtually puts the whole empire under military rule. —A CONVENT in Belgium has recently been declared bankrupt, one of the largest bills being for cigars for the sisters! —NEW JERSEY cattle are prohibited from being imported to New York on account of disease prevalent among them. —THE last sheets of the Bible translated by Drs. Riggs and Williamson into the Dakota language, have passed through the press. —THE National Reform Association, whose object is to secure the religious amendment of the Constitution, is to hold its annual meeting at Pittsburg, Pa., May 6, 7. —THE indefatigable and destructive Mr. Krupp has just completed a steel rifled cannon that throws a 1600-pound shell fifteen miles. At such a range he would scarcely shoot at an object smaller than a first-class city. —THE British defeated the Zulus in a recent engagement; but a dispatch from London dated April 29, says the Zulus have recovered from its effects very rapidly. Sickness is more or less prevalent among the British forces. —PRINCE ALEXANDER of Battenburg has been elected to the princedom of Bulgaria. It is said on good authority that the Prince stipulates that the Russians employed in Bulgaria shall retain their posts five years, and afterward be naturalized if they so desire. —As a young lady was recently about to be admitted into one of the religious orders in the hall of the Saidi Palace of Sulmona, Italy, several government officers appeared, and put a stop to the proceedings on the ground that those orders are prohibited in Italy. —CANADA is threatened with an immigration a thousand times worse than that of the Chinese or potato bugs; for the French Jesuits have written to their brethren in Montreal, asking if they can be received there, as they expect to be expelled from France within the next six months. —SIXTEEN members of the House of Representatives are Methodists, 11 are Presbyterians, 10 are Christians, 7 are Baptists, 4 are Catholics, 3 are Universalists, 3 are Quakers, 1 an Episcopalian, 1 an Israelite, 1 Unitarian, 1 Independent, 1 Congregationalist. We don't wish to be understood, however, as considering it a religious body. —A SYNDICATE composed of nineteen banks and banking firms of New York and Boston, on Thursday, 17th inst., subscribed to $150,000,000 four per cent bonds, and $40,000,000 funding, which closes the ten-forty loan certificates. This is the largest single subscription ever made to a government funded loan in this or any other country. —ACCORDING to the fourth annual report of the British Workmen Public House Company in Liverpool, the receipts of their 34 coffeehouses are about $5,000 a week; they accommodate 3,500 persons, and serve 10,000 gallons of coffee, 4,000 of cocoa, 3,000 of tea, and 400 of pea soup weekly. The profit last year was $16,500. —A MERCHANT in Allegheny City, Pa., named Russell, is preaching the doctrine that the world will come to an end in 1914, the “forty years of trouble” to precede that event having commenced in 1874. Russell has made 150 converts, some of whom are extravagant in their religious behavior, and a great deal of excitement has been caused in that region. —THE editor of a North Carolina paper, writing on the consumption of drink, grimly observes: “If the population of the State is 1,070,120 souls, our people pay $8,500,960 for liquor, about $1,000,000 for education, and for their religion $269,830. That is, they think eight times as much of whisky as of Christian faith.” Such reflections will strike home in other places besides North Carolina. —In the news column of the Christian Weekly of May 3, we find the following significant and interesting item: “The Jewish Messenger repeats the rumor that a prominent Jewish synagogue in this city proposes to hold its services on the Christian Sabbath, and expresses its trust ‘that no congregation will so lose its self-respect as to consent to a course so utterly at variance with Judaism.’ Sincere Jews lament the growing decay of reverence for their Sabbath.” —THE panic in Russia grows more intense daily. A great fire at Orenburg, one of the great market towns on the Ural River, to which many have been banished, is ascribed to political incendiaries, while the most extraordinary precautions are taken to protect the Czar from assassination on his travels, the whole route to Livadia having been taken possession of, traffic suspended, and the line fringed with soldiers during his journey thither. A guest caught with a loaded revolver on his person at a reception is seized and suspected of some fearful design. In short, all classes seem to be in some such frame of mind as though they were standing on a mine which they expected every moment to be exploded. —THE European Messenger presents some valuable facts in relation to the National Church of Russia. The number of persons in holy orders is about 100,000; there are 420 cathedrals, 38,502 churches, and 12,408 chapels. The total annual revenue of the Church is 20,000,000 rubles. The translation of the Bible into Russian was finished in 1877. The first edition of 24,000 copies has been sold, and a second is in preparation. There are 532 monasteries and convents; in these are 10,500 monks and 16,000 nuns. The schools connected with the churches and monasteries are 6,321 in number; the universities, gymnasia, and scientific schools number only 363. —The Christian Weekly, in its issue of May 3, says: “The self-asserting supremacy of the Roman Catholic Church over the laws of the State is manifesting itself in Missouri, where the priests willfully evade the requirement to file a record of every marriage performed, and are determinedly opposing the passage of a Marriage License bill, on the ground that their church laws made in Rome are all that they shall obey. They not only openly threaten disobedience, but dare the Legislature to pass laws infringing on their liberty. They know their political power, and defiantly threaten to use it against the party that opposes them. Shall Rome rule America?” —ST. PETERSBURG, APRIL 29.—The police are openly arresting the people by batches at all hours of the day. Hitherto the arrests were made at night. On the slightest suspicion against any person his whole family are arrested, and domiciliary visits are paid to all their acquaintances, these leading to further apprehensions on the most frivolous grounds. There are few pedestrians or carriages on the streets, but an endless line of porters are seated on stools at every door, with stout sticks. Covered prison-vans regularly pass with a police officer mounted beside the driver, and General Gourko drives round in an open drosky, escorted by Cossacks cracking their whips. The inhabitants are not accomplices of the Nihilists, but apathetic spectators. —THE emigration of the colored people from the Southern States has attained such large proportions that the churches are assuming the duty of giving aid. A national emigration society has also been established, of which Senator Windom is president, and the Hon. Edward M'Pherson secretary. A committee of the citizens of Wyandotte, Kansas, announce that they will send men with the emigrants, to find unoccupied government lands suitable for settlement. Trustworthy men will also go with them to assist in their first labors. It is now said that the freedmen have had their attention directed to Kansas since 1869, and that numerous families have been settled there for several years. The movement is not so precipitate as was first believed. Some system of help covering the whole country is very much needed. —THE Mormons have just been in conference at Salt Lake City. The statistics show a grand total of 11 apostles, 2 counselors, 50 patriarchs, 4,260 seventies, 3,241 high priests, 9,615 elders, 1,347 priests, 1,515 teachers, 2,097 deacons, 52,555 members, 75,556 officers and members, 33,661 children under eight years of age; total, 109,218; 20,308 families, 531 marriages, 1,186 male births, 1,150 female births, 2,209 children blessed, 1,826 members received, 1,400 removed, 1,298 baptized, 484 female deaths, 103 excommunicated, 1,041 receiving support. In his address before the Conference, George Q. Cannon appealed to the principles of religious liberty which actuated the founders of our government. The Constitution, he declared, needed no amendment. It was broad enough for all. “No man or woman properly constituted fails to respect people who have been persecuted as we have been. But we have not suffered in vain. The time will come, and that soon, when we shall be in power.” “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth.” Rev. 14:13. Burroughs.—Died of heart disease, in Battle Creek, Mich., April 30 1879, David J. Burroughs, aged 66 years, 10 months, and 20 days. Bro. Burroughs, previous to uniting with the S. D. Adventists, was for twenty years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church to 1859. The same number of years, since that time to his death, he was a member of the S. D. A. church of this city. He died in full faith of the views of this people, which he has held with unvarying interest ever since embracing them, and confident of a part in the first resurrection. Funeral May 2. U. S. Thompson.—Died of consumption, at his residence near Shawnee, Kan., April 24, 1879, Bro. William A. Thompson, in the forty-third year of his age. Bro. T. was baptized one year ago last July. His disease was a lingering one; but he bore his sufferings patiently, and was cheered by the Christian's hope till death relieved him of his sufferings. His wife and six children deeply mourn their loss. Remarks by the writer. Chas. E. Stevens. Belden.—Died of diabetes, at Mooers Forks, N. Y., March 28, 1879, my beloved father, Albert Belden, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. Father had been a great sufferer for many years, but when the cruel hand of death laid hold of his feeble frame, his sufferings were intense, though borne with patience. It is about twenty-five years since father received the light of present truth, and during that time the Bible and the Review have been his almost constant companions. His dying words, “Farewell, we'll meet again,” speak comfort to us as we remember that he now—
Sleeps in peace beneath the ground,
Free from all sorrow, care, and pain;
Soon the Archangel's trump shall sound,
And then, oh then, we'll meet again.
Almeda Thompson. Eaton.—Died in Fremont, Waupaca Co., Wis., April 17, 1879, of a complication of diseases, Sister Mary S. Eaton, aged over seventy years. Sister Eaton was a worthy member of the Fremont church, and the brethren and sisters will miss her very much. She had in spirit of peaceful submission to the will of God, and her last hours, though passed in much suffering, were made bright by the sustaining grace of God. We laid her in the grave, hoping to meet in the morning of the resurrection. Funeral discourse by the writer, from words found in 2 Sam. 14:14. A. D. Olsen. West.—My father, James West, died in New-comerstown, Ohio, March 2, 1879, aged 59 years and 15 days. He died in the full triumphs of a living faith. Finley N. West. Dickey.—Died of pneumonia, March 30, 1879, our dear mother, Mrs. Rebecca Dickey, in the seventy-seventh year of her age. About sixteen years ago, she became interested in the Sabbath question, the coming of the Lord, and other kindred truths, all of which she heartily embraced and in which faith she remained until death. When her change came, she was prepared for it, having finished her life-work while in health. Eld. C. A. Washburn offered consolation on the occasion of her funeral from the words of Paul found in 1 Thess. 4: 13–18. Her funeral was attended by many sympathizing friends. She leaves a husband eighty years of age, with whom she had shared her joys and sorrows for fifty-five years, also two sons and two daughters to mourn their irreparable loss. M. and H. Dickey. Time is gold; throw not one minute away, but place each one to account. LINES ON THE DEATH OF MARY F. ANDREWS.
[The following lines were written at the time of Sister Mary's death, Nov. 28, 1878, and at the request of many friends are here given to the readers of the REVIEW.—Ed.] 'Twas a lowly home in Bethany
Where our Saviour found a safe retreat;
Supremely blest with such a guest,
Simon sat with his friends at meat. There came a woman of humble mein;
Tears freely flowed, though no word she said,
But she brake an alabaster box,
And poured the ointment upon his head. Of the friends who thought they loved him well,
None to applaud; but with critic eye
They turn to the Master sitting there,
And only murmuring, ask him, “Why?” It was so precious ’twere better far
That the costly ointment had been sold,
And the money given to help the poor;—
Not so said Love, but Avarice cold. Now hear what the Heavenly Teacher saith,
To him it seemed both right and good:
“Of her it shall evermore be told
That for me she hath done what she could.” Dear Saviour, our alabaster box
We have broken on thy sacred head;
Our hearts are stricken and lowly bowed,
And upon thy feet our tears we shed. Father, forgive, if another way
Has better seemed to the tear-dimmed eye;
Forgive, if the quivering heart-strings breathe
Sometimes, ’mid the deepest anguish, “Why?” And oh, accept of the gift we bring;
There is naught more precious we can bestow;
And what we cannot in earth’s dark night,
In the morn of eternity we shall know. And as “the odor filled all the house”
From the costly box so gladly riven,
So shall the fragrance of this young life
Remain till the endless life be given. And then—have patience, poor heart, and wait;
For there cometh o’er death a victory.
The meeting and crowning time is near,
And oh, what bliss it will bring to thee!