Earlier text: PROPHETIC DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITED STATESHOW TO GROW IN GRACE OR MAKE PROGRESS IN PIETY.
Set it down as a certainty that this object never will be attained without vigorous, continued effort; and it must not only be desired and sought, but must be considered more important than all other pursuits, and be pursued in preference to every thing else which claims your attention. While determined to be assiduous in the use of appointed means of sanctification, you must have it deeply fixed in your mind, that nothing can be effected in this work without the aid of the divine Spirit. “Paul may plant, and Apollos may water; but it is God that giveth the increase.” Use the means as vigorously as if you were to be saved by your own efforts, and yet trust as entirely to the grace of God as if you made use of no means whatever. Be much in the perusal of the Holy Scriptures, and strive to gain clear and consistent views of the plan of redemption. Learn to contemplate the truth in its true nature, simply, devoutly, and long at a time, that you may receive on your soul the impression that it is calculated to make. Do not indulge in a spirit of controversy. Many lose the benefit of the good impression which the truth is calculated to make, because they do not view it simply in its own nature, but as related to some dispute, or as bearing on some other point. It is the humble, simple-hearted, contemplative Christian that is most likely to receive the right impression. Pray constantly and fervently for the influence of the Holy Spirit. No blessing is so particularly and emphatically promised in answer to prayer as this; and if you would receive this divine gift, to be in you as a well of water, springing up to everlasting life, you must not only pray, but you must watch against everything in your heart or life, which has a tendency to grieve the Spirit of God. Of what account is it to pray, if you indulge evil thoughts and imaginations almost without control, or if you give way to the evil passions of anger, envy, pride, and avarice, or bridle not your tongue from evil speaking? Learn to be conscientious; that is, to obey the dictates of your conscience uniformly. Many are conscientious in some things, and not in others. They listen to the monitor within when he directs to important duties; but in small matters they often disregard the voice of conscience, and follow present inclination. Such cannot grow in grace. Take more time for duties of the closet, and for looking into the state of the soul. Redeem an hour daily from sleep, if you cannot obtain it otherwise; and as the soul’s concerns are apt to get out of order, and more time than an hour a day for thorough self-examination is needed, set apart, not periodically, but as your necessities require, days of fasting and humiliation before God. On these occasions, deal faithfully with yourself. Be in earnest to search out all your secret sins, and to repent of them. Renew your covenant with God.—Memoir of H. Winslow. AN INTERIOR VIEW OF LIFE INSURANCE.
WHILE the life insurance companies with flashy buildings, velvet carpets, high salaries and large “commissions” are making assignments, it is well to recur to the old doctrine on this subject. Solomon taught it, and Ben Franklin preached it. The best life assurance policy according to the old doctrine consists of honesty, industry and economy. The honesty insures employment. The industry makes it profitable, and educates the possible widow and orphans to self-reliance and self-helpfulness. The economy puts aside every week and month and year a part of the earnings for the sickness and funeral and for a lift to the family while they are adjusting themselves to the new situation. The new plan so eloquently advanced by the occupants of the flash building, in flash pamphlets, on fine paper, with tony rhetoric and pictures of angels and shields, and all that—is the reverse of the policy of Solomon and Franklin. “Support us in luxury and idleness while you live, and we will support your wife and children in luxury and idleness if you should happen to die.” The gentlemen of the flash buildings and velvet carpets have managed to pile up half a thousand millions of dollars, besides what they have spent in high salaries, fine paintings, fine furniture, and liberal commissions. This money has been paid in by artisans, clerks, and hard workers of all sorts—men whose families would rather trust to insurance companies than make present sacrifices. That the whole system is based on wrong ideas of life and economy is evident. It does good in special cases, as does every ill wind. In very many late cases we notice, however, that the angel with that sword and shield, which we see in the beautiful steel or stone engravings on the advertisements and policies, so soon as the payer is under the sod, uses the sword and shield to fence off and hack and hew the widow and orphans. The sword is a sharp lawyer retained by the angel to fight the widow. The shield is a long lawsuit.—Chic. Interior. Up! sluggard soul! awake and raise
To thy blest Lord a song of praise,
Who lifts thee from the gloomy grave
When low on earth thou liest.
To Him who lived and died to save,
Hosanna in the highest! To Him, thy Friend of friends, whose love
Exalts thee to a home above,
When thou, the world's poor outcast slave,
In grief and anguish criest,
To Him who lived and died to save,
Hosanna in the highest! His love a living stream hath found
For pilgrims faint on barren ground,
Their parched and languid souls to lave,
When earthly streams are driest,—
To Him who lived and died to save,
Hosanna in the highest!
—Joanna Baillie. THE SAVIOUR'S ADMONITION.
By G. S. Richard
“BEHOLD, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matt. 10:16. It seems to me that this admonition of our divine Lord is more needful to be carefully observed by us, upon whom the end of the world has come, than by those to whom it was directly addressed. As laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, we should exercise close study and careful thought, how we may successfully approach those whom we wish to win to a saving knowledge of the truth. While we are laying our plans, studying to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, let us pray to God for wisdom to direct our minds in the proper channel, and fit us for usefulness in his service. We have the assurance if we pray to him, doubting not, we shall receive liberally. Perhaps no branch of this great and responsible work of warning the world requires more of that caution given by our great Leader than the T. and M. work. By one unguarded word or impulsive act, a soul that might have been gained by a proper course may have his mind barred by prejudice that perhaps may never be removed. This should create within us a desire for that wisdom which, if put in practice, will give the glorious result. “Harmless as a dove.” Some are prejudiced more or less. How to approach such is often a difficult problem to solve, requiring us to move with discretion. All such cannot be gained in the same way. Some may become interested on one point, and some on another. Experience proves this to be the case. Fellow laborers in the great harvest field, seeing we are in the midst of wolves, let us seek for that wisdom that is able to make us wise unto salvation. Making good use of the time and talents lent unto us, let us send forth the silent messengers, working faithfully in that sphere of usefulness, in which God has designed we should labor. FRIGHTFUL RAVAGES OF WILD BEASTS IN INDIA.
An account has recently been taken in British India of the number of human lives that were sacrificed to the ferocity of wild beasts during the last three years. The figures reach the frightful and almost inconceivable number of 38,248 victims. Of this number 25,664 died from the bite of venomous serpents. The remainder were devoured by tigers—12,554 in three years, or 4,184 a year. In certain parts of the country the tigers have depopulated entire villages. They spring upon and carry away men in open day, upon frequented routes. Where rich and populous villages would otherwise grow up, the ferocious tiger renders habitation and cultivation impossible; and the inhabitants escape from those animals often only to die of misery and famine. Wherever the tiger exists, there is war to the death between man and him. One tiger during many weeks completely arrested the traffic upon a certain route, after having put to death more than a hundred individuals. In one instance an officer, at the head of his men, was seized and carried off by a tiger without its being possible to render him any assistance. In another instance, 108 persons were killed by the same tiger, a father, mother, and three children falling victims together in a single attack; and before the animal was finally killed by the bullets of a company of hunters, he succeeded in destroying seven of his opponents. Nor is the ferocity of the tiger limited to human victims. Flocks of sheep and herds of cattle are attacked; and for every man that is killed, it is estimated that sixty head of cattle are devoured. The loss of domestic animals during the three years is estimated at $5,000,000.—Messiah’s Herald. HOW TO MAKE PRAYER-MEETINGS INTERESTING.
- Prepare for the meeting, and do not rush into it with your heart filled with the world.
- Be interested yourself in it, and then it will be interesting.
- Do not expect others to arouse you from your lethargy and interest you, but seek to arouse others, and to interest them.
- Go there to worship God, to pray to him, and to sing praises and to commune with him and with your fellow-Christians.
- Exercise your mind in the service, and be not lifeless.
- Do not criticise others in what they do or say.
- Do not indulge in a fault-finding spirit.
- Do not occupy much time in speaking; but very few words are needed, and those should be earnest and very spiritual as well as edifying.
- Let every one be present and punctual.
- Join in the singing.
- Do not take the back seat, or that farthest from the leader of the meeting.
- Take some part yourself in the meeting, and it will be interesting to you.
If you observe these directions you will not complain of uninteresting prayer-meetings.—Christian Intelligencer. It is related in the Congregationalist, of the father of the late Rev. Dr. Storrs, of Braintree, Mass., a strong advocate of the doctrine of foreordination, that having once made an appointment to exchange with the late Rev. Dr. Osgood, of Springfield, he started for the latter place with his own team on the Sunday agreed upon; and when about half way thither, met Dr. Osgood driving down. They stopped, naturally, for a moment’s conversation, and Dr. Storrs soon glided into his favorite theme. “Why,” said he, “see how wonderful are the decrees of Providence. Here it has been foreordained from all eternity that we should exchange pulpits to-day, and sure we are met, talking the matter over.” “What’s that,” said Dr. Osgood, not quite sure on this foreordination business; “do you say that it has been decreed that we should exchange pulpits to-day?” “I do,” replied the other, solemnly. “Well, then,” returned Dr. Osgood, “I’ll break one of these decrees, for I shall preach in my own pulpit to-day;” and, turning his horse about, he drove rapidly homeward, leaving the astonished Dr. Storrs to return to Longmeadow, musing on the possible uncertainty of decrees. Missionary Preaching Against Lying and Stealing Meets Resistance
A WORTHY missionary clergyman from the North found his colored brethren and sisters quite forgetful of the moral law, and began to give them a series of practical discourses against lying and stealing. The congregation stood it for a Sunday or two, and then they revolted, and one of the deacons being their spokesman addressed their preacher thus: “We like you berry much, and want to make it comf’ble for you, but de fac’ is, you see, we dont like dis preachin’ about lyin’ an’ stealin,—we mus’ hab our Sundays for ’ligion.” The Love of Justice and the Fear of Suffering
The love of justice in some men is nothing but the fear of suffering from injustice. “A CURIOUS FACT.”
By C. W. S.
“The readers of the Crisis may not appreciate the following, but I could not help being interested in knowing there is a line of latitude under the sun where the most zealous observer of holy days is compelled, in spite of himself, to keep both Saturday and Sunday, having no choice of his favorite day. I commend the article to thinkers. Here it is: P. T. T. “THE PLACE WHERE THE SUN JUMPS A DAY.”
“Chatham Island, lying off the coast of New Zealand, in the South Pacific Ocean, is peculiarly situated, as it is one of the habitable points of the globe where the day of the week changes. It is just in the line of demarkation between dates. There high twelve on Sunday at noon ceases, and instantly Monday meridian begins. Sunday comes into a man’s house on the east side, and becomes Monday by the time it passes out the western door. A man sits down to his noonday dinner on Sunday, and it is Monday noon before he finishes it. “There, Saturday is Sunday, and Sunday is Monday, and Monday becomes suddenly transferred into Tuesday. It is a good place for people who have lost much time; for by taking an early start they can always get a day ahead on Chatham Island. It took philosophers and geographers a long time to settle the puzzle of where Sunday noon ceased and Monday noon began, with a man traveling west fifteen degrees an hour, or with the sun. It is to be hoped that the next English Arctic expedition will settle the other mooted question, ‘Where will one stop who travels northwest continually?’” The above appeared in the World’s Crisis of April 25. We are somewhat surprised that D. T. T. should commend to thinkers a statement so egregiously incorrect and so palpably absurd. It is true that there is a line where each day begins; but we have never before heard of the exact community where the calendar must be changed while the man of the house is enjoying his dinner, in order that it may indicate the true day of the week when he has finished. But the question may be asked, Is it not a fact that on those islands lying in longitude 180 degrees east or west of Greenwich, where the day changes, the people do have to make this change in the name of the day at every noon? The writer of the above extract, whoever he may be, would answer yes; and D. T. T. concludes that those people would be unable to keep the whole of any one day,—that should they set out to keep Saturday, that day would vanish at noon, and the remainder of the day would be Sunday afternoon. Before answering this directly, let us consider a few facts. Let a man, whom we will call A, start from the eastern coast of Asia, and travel westward, and another man, B, from the western coast of America travel eastward until they meet at London. If each has kept the reckoning of days correctly, and just as he would have done at home, he will have agreed in his reckoning with the inhabitants all along his route, and the two will agree when they meet. If they proceed until each arrives where the other started, they will still be in perfect harmony. Let them still continue. B takes the steamer at Yedo on one of the Japan Islands, and A embarks at San Francisco, and they meet anywhere on the Pacific Ocean, each having kept his own reckoning of the days as he would have done at home. When they meet, A says it is Wednesday, but B says it is Thursday. They cannot agree, so they steam on until each arrives at home, A at Yedo and B at San Francisco, just a week, we will say, after the meeting in mid-ocean. A says to his Japanese friends, This is Wednesday; but they tell him it is Thursday. He finds that he has lost a day. He has traveled around the world from east to west, toward the setting sun, making the light part of every day longer, away from the rising sun, making the dark part of every day longer, so that when he gets home, he has seen the sun rise and set once less than his friends at home have witnessed it, although he can reckon up as many hours that have passed as they, for every day has been longer. B, at the same time, thinks that it is Thursday; but his San Francisco friends tell him that it is Wednesday. He finds he has gained a day. He has traveled around the globe from west to east, toward the rising sun, making every day shorter, so that he has seen the sun rise and set once more since he left home than it has appeared to do at San Francisco. Neither of these men found anything wrong in their reckoning until they met in the Pacific, and both found their reckoning all wrong when they reached home. The reader will notice also that although these men both reached home at the same instant, it appears that the day was decided to be Wednesday in San Francisco and Thursday in Yedo. When it is 5 o’clock P. M., Wednesday, at San Francisco, it is thirty minutes past ten A. M., Thursday, at Yedo. The school-boy can reckon this at home. He finds that Yedo is 262½ degrees from San Francisco, reckoning eastward from the latter. Every 15 degrees makes a difference of one hour in time; therefore the difference in time between these two places is 17½ hours. At any place east of San F., it is later in the day than at San F. Thus, the sun rises in Boston 3 h. 25 m. before it does in S. F., and when it is noon at San Francisco, it is 3 h. 25 m. later in Boston. So at Yedo it is 17½ hours later in the day, as the sun rises there 17½ hours before it rises at S. F. Then when it is 5 P. M., Wed., at S. F., 17½ hours later make it 10:30 A. M., Thursday, at Yedo. Bear this result in mind a moment, and observe that we have run our reckoning over the same line that A and B traveled in perfect harmony as to the days of the week. Let us reckon across the Pacific. From S. F. westward to Yedo it is only 97½ degrees, which gives a difference in time of 6½ hours. Now as we reckon west we find it earlier in the day. When it is noon in Boston, it is 35 m. past 8 in the morning at S. F. So at Yedo it is 6½ hours earlier than at S. F.; therefore when it is 5 P. M., Wednesday, at S. F., it is half past ten A. M., Wednesday, at Yedo. It cannot be both, yet in both cases the figures are correct. The difficulty is on the Pacific Ocean, where A and B found it; and it is just this: A new day has commenced there, and our last reckoning must be set ahead one day, when it will be right. Thus it is seen that one can neither cross the Pacific, nor reckon time across it, without changing a day one way or the other in the result. The mariner understands this, and every vessel that crosses the Pacific adds a day to its reckoning if going westward, and drops back a day if going eastward. This change of time is generally made on crossing the 180th degree of longitude reckoned from Greenwich. The vessel is provided with a chronometer which indicates the exact time at Greenwich near London. The mariner learns his time of day by taking an observation of the heavenly bodies. When he finds that his time varies just twelve hours from the chronometer, he knows that he is just half way round the world from Greenwich. At this point he changes the reckoning of the days. If it is Wednesday, and he is going west, he calls it Thursday; if he is going east, he calls it Tuesday; and in both cases, he comes out in harmony with the people where he lands. But this particular line is arbitrary. Somewhere while crossing that ocean the day must be changed. Just where this should be done, is a point that is left to be settled by the best reasoning. As far as the crossing of the ocean is concerned, it might not matter particularly whether the change were made in the midst of the ocean or nearer either coast. The day was given to Adam and Eve in the Eastern Continent. It commenced east of them; and as the inhabitants spread out over Asia, they found no discordant clash in the reckoning of the days. The pilgrims brought the day to this continent from the east, and it has kept on its even way across to the Pacific. God, who made the world to be inhabited, has so ordered it that in no land is there a division or break of time such as would result if the day line run through the midst of the United States; and even that most used ocean, the Atlantic, may be freely inhabited by neighboring ships, without any disagreement as to the day of the week. It would seem, then, that that line that marks the commencement of each new day should run from pole to pole without crossing habitable land. Such a line may be drawn through Behring’s Straits. It would touch no land unless possibly some very small islands in the midst of the Pacific, and would be about 168 degrees west of Greenwich. The inhabitants of all islands east of that line should number the days of the week with Americans; those west, with the Japanese. Let the islands agree with the continents in whose latitude they lie. Now we will answer the question proposed near the outset. Suppose the day line to run through Chatham Island. There would even then be no difficulty in a man’s keeping holy the whole of any day he might choose. There would be no changing of a day. That is reserved for those who cross the line. Should the steamer come up to the line, and stop the captain need never change the day. But suppose a house stands on that line, and a family lives in each end of it. It is Monday in the east end all day, while at the same time it is Tuesday in the west end. It is Sunday all day in the west end, and the next day it is Sunday all day in the east end. If a man did not want to keep Sunday, he could cross the line till Sunday at home was over, and just ready to take him on the other side, then he could cross back. He could dodge the Sabbath in the same way, crossing the line back and forth as a man might, who had stolen a horse in Canada and another in the States. But no such place exists. God has carefully provided that his holy Sabbath may be kept, even on a round world. People should be in better business than creating in their own minds an imaginary obstacle to prevent the far-off heathen’s keeping the true Sabbath, over which to stumble into perdition themselves. The meridian lying 180 deg. from Greenwich is entirely an arbitrary line, and does not necessarily mark the point where the day begins, as the writer of the above note evidently supposes it to do. Some navigators reckon by the meridian of Paris, others by that of Madrid, and others by that of Washington. The meridian 180 deg. from Greenwich would serve a very good purpose, however, were it not that it crosses the eastern point of Asia. As for Chatham Island, which we are told lies “just in the line of demarkation between dates,” its extreme western border is not far enough west by 2⅔ degrees to touch that line. It is a productive island, about 90 miles in circumference; but it lies more than a hundred miles too far to the east to present even the imaginary necessity of keeping a part of two days, or of requiring more than one day for a Sunday dinner. There is nothing so very “curious” about a “fact” that does not come within a hundred miles of the truth. C. W. S. A STATEMENT OF FACTS.
By Stephen Nelson Haskell
We have heard nothing but good reports thus far from those who have taken a club of the SIGNS. We have heard directly from but a few, but we have yet to learn of a single club where they have taken hold of this work systematically, where they are not already seeing fruit of their labor. Not that in every instance individuals have embraced the truth; but an interest has been awakened in the minds of many. From one to nine are reported as having embraced the truth by the efforts of certain clubs; and these, too, within the last two months. This interest was first awakened by reading the SIGNS since the commencement of the present volume. Interested readers are found everywhere. The people are becoming interested in the subjects of the Sabbath and signs of the times as never before. No doubt the condition of the world and state of society have something to do with this; but it is evident that the Spirit of God is moving on hearts, awakening a spirit of inquiry, thus preparing the way for the solemn warning of Rev. 14:9-12, to finish its work. Another encouraging feature is this: Those using the SIGNS in the manner above mentioned find that they can use more than they can pay for. As they become accustomed to the work of finding interested readers, they find in a few weeks' time that they can use twice the number with greater ease than at first. Then as people become interested, and embrace the truth, those taking a part in such labor are inspired to labor with far more earnestness and devotion. Those churches which have moved forward in this enterprise find their spiritual condition much improved. An active interest is awakened to labor for others, among those who have never felt before that there was anything that they could do. It can be readily seen that if twenty copies of the SIGNS can be used weekly by one church, twenty times as much can be accomplished as though they used but one. The world is full of people, and the warning must be brought before them. And when God prepares their hearts to read, it becomes our duty to place in their hands the reading matter. God's providence has not only prepared the public sentiment for the spread of the truth, but also given us the publications to bring these truths before the mind. It is a fact that the present volume of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES is awakening an interest in the unbeliever that has not been witnessed in any previous period in the history of this work, or with any publications that have ever before been issued by Seventh-day Adventists. Those who are neglecting the present opportunity of clubbing the SIGNS, and thus laboring in a systematic manner to get the truth before others, are letting pass golden opportunities, which they will regret when the day of Judgment reveals the opportunities that were given them of using their talents so that when the Lord comes he might receive his own with usury. The Battle Creek church has live members in it; and the manner in which they have taken hold of this work has infused life into others, so that the interest in this work has been on the increase, as seen both in numbers of missionary workers and the desire to perform more labor of the kind. When the 153 copies of the SIGNS are distributed to its members, it does not average two to an individual. Some go home without any. We hear from all quarters, “What shall we do? Can't we have more papers?” This church alone can use at the present time with ease five hundred copies of the SIGNS. And if the numbers and the desire to labor should continue to increase as it does in other places, within a few weeks they would want at least one thousand copies. They have already over twelve hundred addresses, mostly carefully selected names; and over five hundred of them are addresses of reading people in the South. The number, instead of diminishing, increases weekly. The letters read every Wednesday night, which have been received during the week previous, are enough to melt hearts of stone if they have ever been softened by present truth. Ministers and teachers are becoming interested, and scores are actually begging for more reading matter. Some promise to pay in the fall; others when they draw their salary as teachers; while there are many who hold out no inducement to pay, because of poverty, and yet feel as though they must have the reading. The secretary of the General Tract Society is receiving letters; and the testimony is of the same strain, “We want reading matter, especially the SIGNS.” Judging from the present prospect, as many as one thousand copies of the SIGNS can be used in this branch of the work outside of the Conference limits within one year. They will be sent to all parts of the world where the English language is spoken. Also there will be calls for the Danish, Swedish, French, and German periodicals, wherever those languages are spoken. Much of this expense will have to be met by friends of the cause. Now we ask, What shall be done? Shall these cases be met? Ten dollars where there is one now invested in the missionary work would not meet the demand and fill the calls for spreading the truth. These statements of facts are not made impulsively, nor unwarranted by circumstances. When our people unitedly and systematically take hold of this work, clubbing our periodicals, sending out our tract distributors to canvass cities and villages, they will find that there is no end to the openings for the truth. A PLAIN TALK TO THE MURMURERS.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Some Facts for Those Who Are not in Harmony with the Body. In all my acquaintance among the thousands of our people, and I have had a very extensive acquaintance with them, I have always noticed that those who have rejected the testimonies have largely lost their zeal in the cause, lost their faith in the work, their piety and devotion, and have become cold, unfeeling, and dark in their minds. They have been of no benefit to the cause, and no ornament to Christianity itself. I now refer to those who have had a chance to become informed upon the question, and have taken their stand against the visions. Of course there are a good many who know but little or nothing about them, and have taken no position one way or the other. I do not refer to them, but to those who have taken a decided stand against them. I know whereof I affirm, and I have yet to see one single exception. Right in connection with this, I want to call your attention to that which has had a powerful influence upon my mind touching this question; viz., the failure and ruin which has every time overtaken those who have undertaken to hold on to the message and the present truth and still oppose the testimonies. Ever since the work began, persons have risen up here and there in opposition to the visions, or perhaps to the work of Bro. White, and have taken their stand against them. They said that they believed the Sabbath, the advent doctrine, the messages, indeed, all parts of present truth except the testimonies. They claimed that the visions and the position of Bro. White were a hindrance to the cause, and a stumbling block149 in the way of its advancement; that if these were removed, then the cause would progress finely. So they have started out to try the thing. They have generally begun by protesting that they were in harmony with all the truth except those points named. On several occasions not only individuals but even companies have started off on this track. Here now was certainly a good chance to see what the Lord thought about it. Let us read the counsel of Gamaliel upon this point:— “Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to naught. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” Acts 5:34–39. This has always been esteemed most excellent advice. He says, Let these men alone; if this work or counsel be of God, it will stand, and you cannot overthrow it; but if it is of men, it will come to naught. Thus he proves this by citing two cases. One Theudas rose up, and drew a large company after him; but he soon came to naught, and his followers all perished. Then a certain Judas tried his hand at the same thing; but he ended in the same manner, and his followers were all scattered. Now, says Gamaliel, this is the way it will always be. If the work is not of God, it will all come to confusion; but if it is of God, all the powers of hell cannot arrest it. Now apply this undoubted principle to the history of those who have drawn off from the body of Seventh-day Adventists. I have known of them, and have been more or less acquainted with their history from Maine to California. Six different papers have been started in the interest of that rebellious work, and all, except one, have gone down. Let us notice them, not in the order of their date, but as they come beginning in the East. A good many years ago, a certain Ransom Hicks, once one of our people, in harmony with our work, became disaffected on a small point of difference, and as the testimonies condemned his position, rather than renounce his theory he chose to begin a war on the testimonies. He was going to do a great work. He started a paper in Rhode Island, called The Voice of the East. He obtained quite a number of subscribers, as all of that class rallied around him, to hold up his hands and bid him God speed. But, alas for them! his race was a short one. His little paper soon ceased to exist, and thus that move came to an end. Not far from that time, another man, by the name of Lonsdale, not satisfied with the effort of his friend, thought he would undertake a similar project. So he started a paper in Providence, R. I., called The Voice of Truth. Every where we went we were sure to be followed by a bundle of his papers. This was done to get his objections into a new church before our brethren had become settled in all the truth. He held out longer than his predecessor; but finally that “voice” became silent, and I have neither seen nor heard any thing of him or his paper for several years. Coming West, at about the time the REVIEW was moved to Battle Creek, in 1855, a much more formidable party of these seceders came up, called the Messenger party, from the paper which they published, which was called the Messenger of Truth. About this time, Bro. White was very poorly in health. Sr. White herself was not very strong; and the influence of this faction made our cause look rather discouraging. These disaffected ones thought it was a splendid chance for them to strike. They made a grand rally. A number of ministers went into it, and quite a number of believers were drawn into this movement, some because it just suited their unconsecrated and rebellious souls, and others through sympathy with those who had drawn off, and still others who were really deceived by them. A press was bought, and the first number of their paper was issued Oct. 19, 1854. The publishers stated in it that it would be “published semi-monthly as long as the cause of God demanded it.” Now they boasted great things. The cause was all right. All they needed to do was to leave Eld. White and the hated visions out of the question, and then everything would go on swimmingly. As all the honest ones were coming with them, the message now was to go with power. The tares had been plucked up, the Achan had been rooted out of the camp, God would bless them greatly, Eld. White would soon die, and the visions would be exposed. Now this certainly was a good chance to try the principle of Gamaliel,—if this be of God it will stand; otherwise it will come to naught. What was the result? Just what it has always been and always will be in the cause which God abhors. Bickerings, quarreling, and division soon came among them. Every man wanted to be leader. Each one thought he knew more than the other. Jealousies soon separated them. The leaders found that there was not a sufficient spirit of self-denial and sacrifice among the brethren to sustain their paper and support the cause. Evidently they found that “the cause of God” did not demand that it should be published longer! So after struggling on for a short time the paper died, the shop was closed, the members were scattered here and there, and their churches were broken up, till there was not a single church left of them in all the world. Many of the honest, after a sad experience, came back, and united with the body; but most of them got so far into the dark that they entirely lost their reckoning, and made shipwreck of their faith. Some struggling ones here and there are still left with just life enough to oppose us. This is the burden of their souls, and all they live for. One would naturally suppose that these examples would be enough, and that others would not try it. But no, rebellion dies hard. A few years after this, another party came up, of the same class exactly, and on the same principle, to try the old issue over. It was headed this time by one Eld. Crammer, in western Michigan. In these parts another office was set up, and a paper started, called the Hope of Israel. It also was a semi-monthly. Around this leader and this standard rallied all the remnants and wrecks and odds and ends of these other exploded parties. Great things were promised again. Several ministers of small talent, and not with the best of reputation, banded together, to run this enterprise. In their paper were reports from Maine, from Massachusetts, from New York, from various parts of Michigan, and from the West. What a grand prospect! Now they would show them how to do it. Their brethren before them had made mistakes somewhere, but they were to avoid them all this time. A Conference was formed, and the party became so strong that they sent for Eld. Crammer to come to the State of Maine to attend a Conference there. But here fanaticism ran wild among the believers, and the cause was disgraced, and began to crumble. Quite a number of them came back with humble confession, and joined our people. One went here, another there; and finally the same event happened to them that had to all the rest. The party went down, the paper stopped, the office closed. One who was prominently connected with the publication of that paper joined the Mormons, and went to Palo, Ill., to work on Smith’s paper. There are a few odds and ends of that party left yet, but all in the utmost confusion—just the right material to work into the next secession as we shall see. Another testimony that God is not in these moves. But all this was not sufficient for some.