My last report was concerning our excellent camp-meeting, but as that report did not appear in the REVIEW, I conclude the manuscript must have been lost in the mail, and as Bro. White made some report of that meeting, I would not say much at this late date, save that the presence of Bro. and sister White at this meeting was hailed with joy. Although Bro. White was worn with past labor, and wearied with his journey from Colorado, and sister White was suffering from hoarseness and sore lungs, occasioned by a severe cold taken in coming over the mountains to California, they took hold with a will to lift in our camp-meeting; not stopping to seek their own ease, but with their usual self-sacrificing spirit, seeking to benefit the assembled brethren and sisters, and the crowd who came to hear.
Their preaching, exhortation, and counsel, were timely, and inspired courage in the hearts of our people. A goodly number made a start to serve the Lord in that meeting, among them the son of Bro. M. G. Kellogg. Ten have already been baptized. I learn from different points that the meetings, in our churches, have been more interesting and spiritual since the camp-meeting, and that there is more of a determination to make the cause of God of higher importance than anything else.
At the close of the camp-meeting, it was decided to pitch the tent again in Woodland, and with the aid of the testimony of Bro. and sister White, seek to move the cause still further on there. So, while they spent a Sabbath and first-day in San Francisco, Bro. Cornell and myself returned with the tent to Woodland. On Friday, Oct. 11, an election, previously appointed, was held in Woodland, to elect trustees to hold church property, and it was decided to secure a lot, and immediately erect a house of worship 32x46. We met on Sabbath at the house of Bro. Goude, and Sunday evening at the court house. The Tuesday following, our tent was erected again, and meetings commenced, in which Bro. and sister White joined us. The Lord gave them some freedom, but all our ministers know it is hard for others to come in to raise a second interest, especially if there has been a failure on the part of the ministers to rein up the people, and perform a thorough, practical heart-work for them during the first interest. This was about the situation in Woodland, which, with the usual prejudice in the minds of opponents against sister White's gift, made the labors of Bro. and sister White—not having had opportunity to recover from their colds, or from the wear of their journey to California, or the wear of the camp-meeting, and the labors in San Francisco—exceedingly hard.
The servants of God may labor in weariness of body, but if the spirit is free, and God signally blesses and helps to feed the truth to hungry souls, in the midst of their weariness they are refreshed with the health-giving power of God.
But although through neglect of proper labor in the first interest at Woodland, the favored moment to do the most wide-spread work had been unimproved, and although Bro. and sister White had heavy discouragements to labor under, God blessed them. Their preaching was a source of strength to the few who had embraced the truth, and was eagerly listened to by good, attentive congregations. Their labors moved out several new ones to take their stand, and told well in favor of the cause, of deep, practical godliness and truth. The Lord strengthened them to do the principal part of the preaching during the two weeks they were in Woodland.
Friday, Nov. 1, Bro. and sister White returned to San Francisco, while our tent was still standing in Woodland. We continued our meetings there until Tuesday evening, Nov. 5. As it had been decided to have Bro. Cornell remain in Woodland to present the matter of erecting the meeting-house, we took down the tent, and I came with it to San Francisco.
On Nov. 7, the tent was erected on the same plat of ground, on Market St., on which we held meetings last year. Meetings commenced with a good audience, addressed by Bro. White, the evening of the 8th.
I presume it will sound strange to some of our eastern brethren, who, in November cold, are hovering over fires to keep warm, to read of commencing a tent-meeting Nov. 8, and to tell them that it was so warm in the tent last first-day, Nov. 17, that we had to raise the wall so as to breathe comfortably. But so it is. We have two good-sized, sheet iron stoves in the tent, so that if evenings are cool, we can warm the tent sufficiently with the stoves.
We have already held eighteen meetings in the tent. Bro. White has preached six times, sister White seven times, and I have spoken five times. Our congregations have been both large and deeply attentive. The preaching has been about an even mixture of close, searching, practical discourses, alternated with the theory of the truth, presented in a clear, concise, solemn, and pointed manner, spiced with exhortation, and close appeals to the consciences, with an endeavor to arouse the moral sensibilities of the people. This preaching has told powerfully upon the people, and has swept away a vast amount of prejudice, and taken hold of many hearts. Bro. White's discourse last Sunday evening, on the Sabbath in the New Testament, was especially of this character. God helped him. It told greatly upon the audience, and brought some to decide to obey the truth.
While Bro. White stood in the desk, worn in body, yet with the crowd before him, under the influence of the Spirit of God, powerfully impressing minds, I thought two things: first, Bro. White is getting better fast to-night. Second, I thought, Oh! how needful that the minister of Christ have the Spirit of God, to go with the truth to hearts, and it is the mingling of the close, practical preaching with the theoretical, that keeps the truth warm in the soul of the minister, as well as keeping the material warm he wishes to work upon.
There are circumstances occurring here, almost daily, that forcibly impress our minds with what has occupied the minds of Bro. and sister White for some time past: that the time was coming, that the servants of God should place themselves in the world's great thoroughfares of travel, to scatter the truth. In this city of one hundred and seventy-five thousand inhabitants, are representatives of every nation on earth, and representatives from every State in the union. Here people are continually coming and going; so much so, that it was stated a few days since in the “Daily Call,” that there were “twenty-five thousand inhabitants here,” that were not here eighteen months since. A meeting thoroughly advertised, and properly conducted in such a place as this, will scatter the truth wonderfully.
Shortly after our meetings opened this time, a gentleman called upon me in the tent, said he had attended the meetings, and was deeply interested. Said his home had been in Connecticut, and that he was to sail the next day for Valparaiso, South America. He bought a large package of pamphlets on our faith. I gave him some tracts to distribute among the passengers as he got into conversation with them. Said he should also let his fellow-passengers read his pamphlets. He was an intelligent man of considerable force of character, and New England energy, although nearly seventy years of age. He read through one of the Health Reformers, liked it, and wished me to let him have some specimen copies. I did so, and he said he should try to get subscribers. So if the publishers of the Reformer get subscribers from South America, or the Southern Islands, they will understand one channel through which it found its way there.
This gentleman wished my address, as he said he wished to correspond with me, and should probably order more books and papers. May God bless him, lead him into the truth, and make him a channel through which this truth may be spread.
Last week we noticed a deeply interested gentleman at our meetings. Seeking an opportunity to converse with him, we learned he was from Placer Co., two hundred miles distant, and was here on business. He was formerly from Cornville, Me., and his wife's friends there keep the Sabbath. This was his first opportunity to hear the third angel's message. He had opportunity to attend eight or ten of our meetings, and returned to his home understanding more clearly our position. He bade us, with tearful eyes, an affectionate farewell. Our hearts are drawn out after him, and even while I write, our prayer to God is, to give this brother strength to take up the cross and follow him.
Yesterday, a friend was passing the tent, and called in to see us. He had just arrived in the city from Concord, N. H. Learning, in conversation, our peculiar views on the Sabbath question, he said he heard Eld. Andrews preach on that subject once, twenty years ago, in Concord; although he was no professor, he had believed ever since that the seventh day was the day to keep, and that he had been greatly amused many times since, in hearing ministers undertaking to establish Sunday-keeping, and in seeing people make such a fuss because Sunday was not kept holy. He attended meeting last evening.
These are some of the many cases that have come under our direct observation. How many among the hundreds that attend our meetings come from, and go to, distant lands, we do not know, as we have opportunity to converse with but few; but undoubtedly scores of those who attend will soon be journeying to various parts. So we all feel impressed that these great thoroughfares of travel, at the proper time, and in a proper manner, must be entered, and that thus the truth will be spread far and near.
The providence of God is favoring us with beautiful weather for our meetings. We shall do what we can to gather in souls here. The church seems to be waking up, to take hold and act their part in this work. Pray for us, dear brethren and sisters, and for the success of the cause in California, and everywhere. My courage was never better than now, to do what I can to lead souls to Christ.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
San Francisco, Nov. 20, 1872.
An Item from Adel.
The following, by H. Hull, which I clip from the Sabbath Recorder, was very interesting to me, and no doubt will be to those who labored with me in raising up that church. As will be seen, seeds were sown by our Seventh-day Baptist brethren. God gave us to reap the fruits.
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.
“Thy ways are past finding out. Thy truth shall continue unto all generations.”
Many years ago, there went a lone Sabbath-keeping family from Illinois to Central Iowa, and settled down to make a home. Years passed on, and in the providence of God, the family was broken up; the wife, still surviving the wreck, went East among her friends; but somehow, was not contented to stay, but returned, and settled again in the same town. Some four or five years since, Eld. O. P. Hull came to this beautiful land, to visit and lecture upon the Sabbath question. He soon obtained the ears of the people, and many turned out to hear the stranger. Infidel and Christian could but acknowledge the strength of the Scripture arguments then199presented. Time wore away, and the stranger went to his reward. Then came other strangers, and strangers they were. They put up their cloth meeting-house, and commenced their work, among other things teaching the people that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, and in due time, a Sabbath-keeping church was established to the glory of God, even in Adel.
How gloriously pleasant it was to meet this band—to behold the falling tear (not of sorrow, but of joy), to hear them testify of the satisfaction they feel in the present truth, embraced and practiced, the prospect of one day meeting and spending an eternal Sabbath, the antitype of the long-lost and neglected truth, and to hear them sing,
“Thine earthly Sabbath, Lord, we love,
But there’s a nobler rest above;”
and to hear them say how thankful they were for the visit and encouraging words spoken to them by one of the dear Father’s messengers (Eld. N. V. Hull), two weeks since.
This church, though small, is strong. Their motto is, “In union there is strength.” I find they are earnestly pressing their views. Each one seems to be a missionary to spread the truth. I really thought, as a people, we might profit by their faithful and earnest work. Sabbath-keepers are invited to call and spend such time with them as they can spare, and they would be grateful to see Sabbath-keeping families settle in their midst.
FEAR NOT ’TIS I.
By E. L. Sands
“But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.” John 6:20.
’Twas eighteen hundred years ago,
The night was dark, the wind did blow,
The waves in fury o’er the sea,
Dashed on the shores of Galilee.
“Five loaves that day of barley bread,”
And “two small fish” were amply spread,
Where hungry thousands ate their fill,
On ancient Judea’s verdant hill.
In deepening sorrow of the heart,
Jesus withdrew himself apart,
“Into a mountain all alone,”
To supplicate his “Father’s throne.”
His chosen few, that bowed the knee,
Walked down in silence to the “sea;”
One form was absent from their sight,
He “was not come,” and now ’tis night.
Weary and tired, yet true and tried,
No hope of worldly ease or pride;
Their hearts were pure, though rude their fare,
And coarse the garments of their wear.
They slip the cable from the shore,
With callous hands they ply the oar;
Behold! and lo! he “was not come,”
Their prow points to Capernaum.
That weary night, tossed on the wave,
Their fearless hearts became less brave;
The lonely crew were sore dismayed,
They looked! and lo! they were “afraid.”
Pierced through the darkness of the night,
Above the wave, a glorious light
Unto the ship was drawing nigh,
And thus did say, “Fear not, ’tis I.”
When Jesus spoke, their fear dispelled,
Their hearts in sweet communion held
A foretaste of the by-and-by,
When He will speak, “Fear not, ’tis I.”
His voice they heard above the din
Of the fierce storm, and welcomed in
Their Master who had heard their cry,
And answering, said, “Fear not, ’tis I.”
No matter how the waves may roar,
The sky with clouds be all cast o’er;
We can behold our Saviour’s form,
Beyond the blackness of the storm.
No matter how severe the gale,
While o’er life’s stormy sea we sail,
Jesus will hear his children’s cry,
And sweet respond, “Fear not, ’tis I.”
E. L. Sands.
The Christian’s Shout.
By H. W. S.
Here is a scene in the history of the children of Israel, revealing in type one of those precious secrets of the Lord, which is progressively made known to them that love him. And perhaps there is no revelation made to the soul, after it has entered upon the life of faith, that is more practically valuable than this. For it is a secret in reference to Christian warfare, which, when it is discovered, makes this warfare a long triumphal progress.
This scene occurs when the children of Israel were brought before Jericho, one of those “cities great, and walled up to heaven,” which had so discouraged the hearts of the spies forty years before. Now upon their entrance at last into their promised land of rest, the first difficulty which meets them is this mighty city, opposing their onward progress. Well might their hearts be appalled at the sight of it. But the Lord said unto Joshua, “See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.” And then, after a few words as to their order of march, and the trumpets of testimony, he closes with these strange words: “All the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up, every man straight before him.” Strange, yet true, it was so. On the seventh day, “Joshua said unto the people, Shout, for the Lord hath given you the city.” So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets. “And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”
Now no one can suppose for a moment that this shout caused the walls to fall. And yet the secret of their victory lay in just this shout. For it was the shout of a faith which dared to claim a promised victory, on the authority of God’s word alone, while as yet there were no signs of this victory being accomplished. And according to their faith, God did unto them; so that when they shouted he made the walls to fall.
God had declared that he had given them the city, and faith reckoned this to be true. Unbelief might well have said, “It would be better not to shout until the walls do actually fall, for should there be any failure about it the men of Jericho will triumph, and we shall bring dishonor on the name of our God.” But faith laughed at all such prudential considerations, and, confidently resting on God’s word, gave a shout of victory, while yet to the eye of sense that victory seemed impossible. And long centuries afterward, the Holy Ghost thus records this triumph of faith, in Heb. 11:30: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.”
Jehoshaphat is another example of this sort of faith. In 2 Chron. 20:2, we read that it was told him that a “great multitude” had come up against him. He spread the case before the Lord, and received as an answer the wonderful promise: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed; to-morrow go out against them, for the Lord will be with you.” Jehoshaphat believed what God said, and he and his people marched out to meet their enemy, as confident of victory as though they had seen that victory already accomplished before their eyes; so that they even appointed singers to praise the Lord, and to sing the song of victory as they went out to meet their foe. And we read that, “When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the enemy, and they were smitten.” And when the children of Israel came near them, “they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.” “More than conquerors,” merely, “they were three days in gathering the spoil, it was so much.”
The principle of warfare, typified to us in these beautiful scenes, is that declared in 1 John 5:4: “And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” It is a mode of warfare incomprehensible to the natural man; a mystery even to the Christian whose faith has not advanced beyond the failing experience of the seventh of Romans; but radiant with the light of the Holy Spirit to every soul that has entered upon the life hid with Christ in God. Such, and such only, can understand the full meaning of the words of our Lord, when he said, “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” They read in them the secret of an already conquered foe; and they can go out to meet their enemies, claiming the victory before the battle has even begun, so that they become in very truth, “more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”
We must observe that Joshua did not say, “Shout, for the Lord will give you the city,” but, “Shout, for he hath given it.” And neither does our Lord say, “Be of good cheer; I will overcome the world;” but, “I have overcome” it. There is a mighty difference between these two; as great a difference as there is between meeting an army all in battle array, and meeting one routed and demoralized by an acknowledged defeat. It is well known that so long as an army can keep secret the fact of its being conquered from its conquerors, it can still make some show of resistance; but the moment it becomes conscious that its defeat is known, it loses all heart, becomes utterly demoralized, and has no resort left but to flee.
The secret then lies in this—to meet our enemy as an already conquered foe, and not as one who has yet to be conquered. And it is the one secret above all others which Satan seeks to hide from the church, and in which he has only too well succeeded. A dear Christian, who had been fearfully beset by temptation, and had found a complete victory impossible, was told this secret by another to whom it had been revealed. Her soul rejoiced in the discovery, and she said afterward it seemed to her at once as though she could almost hear Satan, as he slunk away, exclaiming: “There, she has found out my secret! She knows now that I am an already conquered foe; and I shall never have any more victories over her again.”
Surely, it is true that Jesus has fought our enemy and has overcome him. And if our faith will only reckon him to be overcome, and will dare to raise the shout of victory, when it comes in sight of any foe, we shall surely find, as the Israelites did, that every wall will fall flat, and that a pathway will be opened up straight before us to take the city.
And now a few practical words as to how to do this. Our usual way of meeting temptation has been, perhaps, with a cry for help. We have said, over and over, “O Lord, save me! O Lord, save me!” Let us meet it hereafter with a shout of victory, instead. Let us say by faith, He does save me. The walls may look as high and as immovable as ever; and prudence may say, It is not safe to shout until the victory is actually won. But the faith that can shout in the midst of the sorest stress of temptation, “Jesus, save me, he saves me now!” such a faith will be sure to win a glorious and a speedy victory. I have tried this often. Temptations have come in like a flood—temptations to irritability, or to wicked thoughts, or to bitterness of spirit, or a thousand other things. I have felt my danger of sinning, and my fears and my consciousness have said to me, Jesus will not save at all! But my faith claims continually, “Jesus saves me—saves me now!” and the salvation is glorious. Sometimes it seems so untrue that Jesus can save me, that I have to say aloud that he does save, forcing my lips to utter it over and over, shutting my eyes and closing my ears against every suggestion of the devil to doubt. But, untrue as it may seem at first, I always find that according to my faith it is unto me, and that when I shout, the Lord never fails to give me the victory.
A Christian car-man, of a naturally harsh temper, had entered upon this life of faith, but was sorely beset with temptations when about his daily work among his ungodly companions. He stopped one morning on his way down to his stand, at the house of the minister who had led him into this rest, in order to ask him how he could best meet and conquer them. After explaining to the minister the suddenness of the temptations, and the want of time even to pray for help against them, the car-man said: “Now can you tell me of any short road to victory, that I can lay hold of just at the needed moment?” “Yes,” replied the minister, “when the temptation comes, do not stop to pray for help, but, instead, by faith claim at once the promised victory, and Satan will instantly flee.”
The car-man went on his way to his daily work. As usual, he was met by the taunts and sneers of his fellow-workmen; and he soon found that they had jostled him out of his rightful place in the ranks, and had pushed him back to the end of the train of cars. The temptation to anger was very great, but folding his arms he said at once, “The blood of Jesus cleanseth me!” and his heart was filled with perfect peace and content. Again he was tried; a heavy box was so rolled as to fall on his foot and badly hurt him. And again he folded his arms and repeated his shout of victory, and at once all was calm. And so the day passed on. Trials and temptations abounded, but his triumphal shout carried him safely through them all, and the fiery darts of the enemy were all quenched by the shield of faith which he continually lifted up. Night time found him more than conqueror through Him who loved him, and his fellow-car-men were forced to own the reality and the beauty of a religion that could so triumph over their aggravating assaults.
Dear Christian, try this. Go out to meet your enemy, singing a song of triumph as you go, and I can promise you on the authority of God’s own word, that according to your faith it shall be unto you. Meet your very next temptation in this way. At its first approach, begin to give thanks for the victory, and you will find such a triumph as you have heretofore scarcely dreamed could be. Thus shall life become a continual psalm of praise, as you sing, “Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the work of thy hands.”—H. W. S.
One of the Cruel Customs of the Chinese.
“The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.” Ps. 74: 20.
BETROTHALS are made by the parents in China, sometimes when the children are quite young, and between parties who never see each other till the wedding day. It is quite contrary to established custom for the latter to speak to each other, even if they should meet, and it is considered still more indecorous if the girl should speak to any other young man. If the relatives of the fiancé bring an accusation against the betrothed girl, and there is the least shade of truth in it, she has her choice of deaths, and there the matter ends. A well-instructed Chinese young lady does her mother credit by choosing to starve. She is then locked up. At the end of seven days the door is opened and the body carried out, and buried without a coffin. Three instances of this kind have come under the knowledge of a missionary lady, one of which she mentions as follows:
“When walking through the fields I often stopped and spoke to a young Chinese lady, who was a most beautiful girl.
“Often I had spoken to the women of her mother’s house, telling of ‘Jesus and the resurrection.’ One evening, seeing a number of women in the gateway of the house, I walked down to them, intending to talk to them. They seemed to be preoccupied, and could not listen, so I bade them good evening and passed on. Just as I left the gate two men came out, bearing a figure wrapped in coarse matting. Supposing it was a goddess, I asked them where they were going. They either did not or would not hear me. I presently saw that it was not a goddess, but the dead body of a woman. I shall not soon forget the feeling with which I saw that the dainty red satin shoes were rubbed to tatters, whilst the soles were clean and scarcely walked upon. I spoke to the men again, but they quickened their pace, and in the gray of the evening disappeared with their burden in the direction of the sea-shore. I retraced my steps, wishing to know why an unconfined corpse was being carried from the rich man’s house. The women had all retired into the court-yard, but outside there sat a little girl I knew. She was weeping quietly, and wiping her eyes with the corner of her jacket. ‘Who is that, my dear, whom these men have just carried away?’ I asked. ‘It is my eldest sister,’ she said. ‘Then why have they taken her out in matting?’ said I. ‘Oh, do not tell them,’ she said, ‘and I will tell you all.’ We were good friends, that little Chinese maiden and myself. Then she went on to say how her sister, one time, when standing on the road, not far from the gate, got talking to a young Chinaman, and how she had often talked to him, and had been seen by the uncle of her betrothed speaking to this man a short distance from the house, so one night her father’s brother and the uncle of her betrothed came, and these two men, and her mother and aunt and the girl’s two brothers, gave her the choice of how she would die. ‘That night she was locked up in the mill-room, and I never saw her again,’ said the child, with a fresh burst of weeping. Well I knew the mill-room, without a window, only a small grating high up, just under the eaves, not a movable thing in the place, only the two huge mill-stones, and on one side a raised platform built of brick, that served as a bedstead. What a tale of agony those red shoes told! I could mention many things as truly horrible, but this will suffice.—Home and Abroad.
Almont, Mich.
By H. M. Kenyon
I came to this place Oct. 9. Commenced meetings, Oct. 13, at the Webster school-house about five miles north of here, where Brn. Lamson and Brackett held a few meetings last summer. Have now continued my meetings six weeks, each evening, as the weather and roads would admit. As the result, nine have fully committed themselves to keep the Sabbath, all heads of families.
Have held meetings each Sabbath with the friends at Almont, and endeavored to encourage and build them up in the faith. With a few exceptions, all are united and happy in the work. Have felt some of the blessing of the Lord while presenting the truth to the people. I feel of good courage to labor in the work, desiring to keep humble, where the Lord may use me to his glory and the advancement of his cause.
H. M. Kenyon.
Nov. 25, 1872.
Rich Misers Compared to Devouring Whales
I CAN compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly as to a whale; he plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful. Such whales have I heard on the land, who never leave gaping, till they've swallowed the whole parish—church, steeple, bells and all.—Shakspeare.
Obituary Notices.
By J. Q. A. Haughey
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.
DIED, near Bowersville, Ohio, of putrid typhoid pneumonia, Oct. 26, 1872, Margaret Cottrell, wife of Eld. Wm. Cottrell, aged forty-six years, eight months, and seven days, after an illness of four weeks. She bore her affliction very patiently, and with Christian resignation; earnestly exhorting her children and friends to go on to perfection, and that they must lay down the folly and fashions of the world, and follow the meek and lowly Jesus, if they are ever saved; to live out the precious truths of the third angel’s message, and the health reform, and never give it up; and to be careful of their example before the world and their children. We believe our dear sister rests in hope, and will come forth in the resurrection, clothed in immortal bloom and vigor. The friends of the cause here feel that they are truly bereaved of a mother in Israel. We hope the family and friends may ever remember her exhortation, and live accordingly, that they may be prepared to meet each other when the Life-giver, with all the retinue of holy angels, shall come to reap the harvest of the earth.
J. Q. A. HAUGHEY.
Appointments for Tract Society and Quarterly Meetings, 1872
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Providence permitting, Elder S. N. Haskell will be present at the meeting of the Tract and Missionary Society at Clyde, Ohio, Dec. 14, 15, 1872. Gen. Conf. Com.
A general gathering of the friends of the cause in Western Iowa and Nebraska, at the Barcus school-house, six miles south-west of Onawa, Iowa, Dec. 14, 15. The design is for a quarterly meeting of the churches of Soldier Valley and Onawa, Iowa, and Decatur, and Mt. Pleasant, Neb., also to organize a Missionary and Tract Society. We will be glad to meet all our friends there. The scattered ones are especially invited. Those desiring baptism should come prepared. It will be necessary that those near should bring bedding, and that all should bring the blessing of God with them. H. Nicola, R. M. Kilgore.
Monthly meeting for western New York, at Olcott, Niagara Co., Dec. 14, 1872. E. Tarbox, Clerk.
Quarterly and Tract Society meeting in Iowa, District No. 3, at Pilot Grove, Dec. 21, 22. District No. 4, at Mt. Pleasant, 28, 29. Meetings to commence Friday evening. Come, dear friends, to work for the Lord. H. Nicola, J. T. Mitchell.
The meeting for the scattered friends of Iroquois Co. (noticed by Bro. Andrews in last week’s Review) will be held at Danforth Station, four miles north of Gilman, Dec. 20–26. We invite all the friends to come praying that God will meet with us. Our monthly meeting here for the second Sabbath is postponed until Bro. Andrews comes. Wm. E. Price.
Providence permitting, I will attend the next quarterly Tract and Missionary meeting for each district of Vermont, which will be held as follows:
1st district, at Bordoville, Dec. 7 and 8.
2d “ “ East Charleston, “ 14 “ 15.
3d “ “ Wolcott, “ 21 “ 22.
4th “ “ Bristol, “ 28 “ 29.
5th “ “ Jamaica, “ Jan. 4 “ 5.
The agents of the several churches should be prepared to report the working of the Society in the churches that they represent, at the quarterly meeting for the district to which they respectively belong.
While attending these meetings I will also meet the brethren and sisters at Berkshire, Dec. 10; Richford, Dec. 11; Sutton, Dec. 18; Johnson, Dec. 24; and Andover, Jan. 1. Meetings to commence at 6½ P. M. except Sabbath and Sunday. Shall we not make up our minds to work for God, and to make a clean work in paying our Systematic Benevolence up to Jan. 1, 1873, at these meetings? A. C. Bourdeau.
Princeville, Dec. 6–12.
Gridley, “ 13–18.
Iroquois Co., “ 20–26.
(Where Bro. W. C. Price may appoint.) We hope to see all the friends of the cause in Iroquois County at this meeting.
Pontiac, Dec. 27–31.
Otter Creek, Jan. 1–5.
Vermilionville, “ 3–7.
Sereena, “ 8–13.
We are anxious for a general attendance of all the friends of the cause within the limits of the above meetings. We expect to give attention to the Tract and Missionary Society, and other important matters. R. F. Andrews.
P. S. As our Conference is very much embarrassed on account of means, we expect our brethren will make their calculations to settle up all arrearages on their S. B., and, if possible, three months in advance, at these meetings. R. F. A.
Present Omens.
By E. F. Cottrell
THE signs of the times are thrilling. Judgments, in the form of tremendous fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, eruptions, famines, pestilences, disease, and plagues, are admonishing all to prepare for that day of which it is said, “It shall come as a destruction from the Almighty,” that it is “great and very terrible,” so great that “none is like it.” Who will take warning and get ready? This is a question for each to answer for himself. A little time remains in which to work. Who will improve it? The trial of our faith is at hand; it is even here. Victories must be gained by us who have been dilatory that will cost a severe struggle. Shall we delay the entire consecration which we know we must make, if we ever see the inside of the city of God. God help us all to make it now.
The value of faith in the work of God will soon be appreciated. Light on the health reform and on labor in the cause are valuable, if followed. If not, “this is the condemnation.” Light is given, but men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. How much better to renounce the evil and walk in the light.
Backslider, your chances are becoming more and more doubtful; yet if you will make a mighty and persevering effort now, you may be saved. Let not the present time pass without a desperate effort.
E. F. COTTRELL.
Spiritualism in Asia.
ONE of the plain prophecies which point out the extent of the work of spiritism in the last days, mentions “the whole world” as the field of its operations. The following short article which we clip from a late number of the Methodist, shows that it is now entering the only remaining territory of all the earth which has not already felt the blight of its present development. Truly it is fast approaching the climax of its work, to gather all nations to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. Rev. 16: 14. The Methodist says:—
“Behold what a great matter a little fire kindleth!” The Rochester spiritualists little thought of the immense evil they were letting loose on the world when they started their absurd imposture. The mischief has spread over the New World, over England and France, and much of the remainder of Western Europe; and though its sway has been but temporary in these countries, it has, nevertheless, ruined the religious faith and moral character of thousands; it has reacted into unbelief and downright infidelity with other thousands, and sent still other thousands to insane asylums. At last, it has reached the remote East, and entered the most fertile field of superstition in the world. An East India correspondent of the London Times says that “spirit-rapping” has become a mania among the Hindoos, and that it threatens to spread over the whole country. It could not find on earth a more congenial soil for its superstitious extravagances. It may penetrate all Asia from this source, for if it once gets far enough northward to infect the Buddhists, it will be likely to extend over all the interior and eastern range of the continent, for Buddhism is the only live “ism” of all that region.
A Word of Explanation.
By J. H. W.
In regard to the failure of the MS., I can only say that I mailed my affirmative article to Eld. Vogel early in the month, over three weeks ago, but have received no response as yet. Possibly there has been a miscarriage, or misdirection. As I had not at that time selected a place of labor, my address was Battle Creek, from which place I have looked for it to be forwarded. As two articles are published together, I usually retain mine till I receive his answer.
My address at present is Jamestown, Greene Co., Ohio.
The influence of the prevailing horse plague is felt on meetings as well as on all kinds of business. Very few teams go on the road, and families, living a mile or more from the place of meeting, do not get out. I was informed yesterday at Xenia that the mail was carried from that place to this, eleven miles, by a man on foot, and business men have walked over the same road, not being able to get a horse at any price. Though horses are sick, more or less, all around, it is not so much what is, as what is feared, that makes the trouble. Out of the cities I do not think it so bad as report makes it; but if it continues to spread until spring opens, its effect on the farming interests cannot well be imagined. And yet people will not consider how easily their earthly hopes may be blighted.