The Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 9.
SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE, OR THE BIBLE PLAN OF SUPPORTING THE MINISTRYPage 1
Earlier text: To the T. & M. Workers of Dist. No. 1, VTSOUTHERN ILLINOIS.
By G. W. Concord
Jan. 21, I went to Oakland; but as Bro. Bliss had been with the brethren and sisters at this point for several days, and as he reported that field in a somewhat prosperous condition, we concluded we were more needed farther south; so he joined me, and we went to Martinsville. A word with reference to promptness: When a public speaker makes an announcement to meet the people at a certain time and place, he should allow no trivial cause to prevent his fulfilling his promise. I know of one case which is so in point that I am inclined to report it. One of our public speakers has never disappointed his congregation but once; and that was because he was advised not to go; “for,” said his friends, “the roads are fearfully rough, and it is so cold and stormy that nobody will be there.” Forty waited till 8 P. M., then, having learned again the lesson that even some preachers do not always fulfill their promises, they returned home. May we profit. At one of our meetings at Martinsville we learned that two of the members had used tobacco, some had staid away from the Sabbath meetings, and others had even neglected family worship. I well remember the words of father Bates, spoken, I believe, at the Wright Camp-meeting in 1868: “Every time the sieve shakes hither and thither, some shriveled grains will fall through.” He was speaking of the “Shaking time,” described in Spiritual Gifts. As I meditate upon the subject of “Falling from Grace,” in connection with these “perilous times,” I am sad! We need not hope for all to go through; for the Scriptures declare otherwise; but this we may, and should do—maintain a strict church discipline. The lack of this has been the ruin of many churches. We lack here; and unless we reform, with many of us life will be a failure. Preachers, be strict. Elders, be strict. Deacons, be strict. Clerks and treasurers, be strict. Lay members, be strict. Lord, aid us! May we all be strict, and kind, and good, and true. All the erring ones present at our business meeting at M. appeared to be penitent, confessed their wrongs, and were forgiven by all the brotherhood. They made solemn vows before the Lord. Now, if the church members will only be faithful, I am confident they will soon see an ingathering from among their children. Bro. Bliss returned to Coles Co. Conducted eight meetings and one Sabbath-school in, and near, Greenup. The church here is small, and the members are not rich; but I believe they love our Lord. However, several appeared to be wedded to the useless, costly, and harmful habit of coffee-drinking. I spoke plainly, and it was kindly received. I pray that they may do better. With Bro. G. F. Shonk I came last week to Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., Ill. Address us here. G. W. CONCORD. WASECA CO., MINN.
By F. W. Morse
We have closed labor near Janesville for the present. The meetings were continued for over five weeks. The weather has been so remarkably mild and pleasant that we have had meetings almost every evening besides upon the Sabbath. Twenty-four have signed the covenant to keep the commandments. A leader has been appointed, and Systematic Benevolence organized to the amount of $49.40 per year. By unanimous vote, they request the watchcare of the Conference. The burden of the work has fallen mostly upon myself, and I have felt sometimes considerably worn; but the Lord has sustained, and I feel now of good courage and strength to commence in a new field. Bro. D. C. Burch, of Tenhassen, is with me. We begin at a new place to-morrow evening. Pray for us. F. W. MORSE. Deceivers and the Deceived
MEN are so simple, and yield so much to necessity, that he who will deceive will always find him who will lend himself to be deceived.—Machiavelli. ENCOURAGE THE MISSIONARIES.
By WM. COVERT.
Did it pay to create a debt of six or eight hundred dollars to be paid by the Tract Society of Indiana for the Voice and Reformer, that have been read by as many hundred families in our State during the last year? I answer Yes; most positively, yes! I do not think that we ever invested means to better advantage. If doubt exists in the minds of any of the members of our Society relative to this, they may be convinced by some practical experience in laboring in new fields. Go with me to a community where no missionary labor has been bestowed. Peddlers of all kinds and money-seeking lecturers have disgusted the people, and drained their purses, until they are so suspicious of strangers that it is with great difficulty that we can prevail on them to let us have a house in which to hold meetings; but perhaps, by fair promises, we are granted the privilege of speaking in the meeting-house or school-house. But now we have some other matters to consider. We must have wood and lights; also some place to board, etc. Very likely the wood and oil will cost us from three to five dollars if it is cold weather. Next, we inquire of the deacon about the hospitality of the place, and are coolly informed that Mr. Jones keeps boarders—only four dollars per week, with an additional fifty cents for washing. So by the time we have fairly started our meetings we have very likely spent eight or ten dollars. I have not overdrawn this, as the brethren at Rochester will witness. I know it cost thirty dollars there for board, before the present truth melted its way to the hearts of the friends at that place, which the Conference cheerfully paid. No missionary labor had been bestowed at that place before the tent went there. But we will now take you to another field of labor. The missionary has gone before us. We go there by invitation. Many have been reading the matter prepared at our houses of publication. The Macedonian cry is, “Come over and help us. Our church is free, also wood, oil, and the services of the sexton. We welcome you to our homes; we will do all in our power to make you comfortable.” The meeting is a success. But the best of all is, many are already waiting with their friends, as was Cornelius, to hear all things commanded of God. The Spirit of God is working on their hearts, and you are encouraged from the first. The angels of God are there, and are presently permitted to bear the tidings up to the heavenly court that sinners are being converted. And angels rejoice as new names are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. Our young men and women can, by the help of God and the publications, create an interest in the truth, and when it deepens, they can return to the same field and do good public work for Jesus. God bless the publications and the missionaries. And I pray that those who have been murmuring over this missionary debt may also receive a blessing, by having their eyes and their hearts opened, so that they may help to encourage missionary labor by their prayers and co-operation. Souls are ready to take hold of the truth in very many places where the living preacher has never been; and who can think their hearts are in the work when they are offering discouragement? Is our money more precious to us than souls? This kind of spirit would have kept Jesus from giving himself for us. I rejoice to learn that new fields are being entered, and that sheaves of good are being gleaned for the heavenly garner. PSALMS. 16: 8.
By JOS. CLARKE.
“I HAVE set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Here is the great secret of David’s godly life; he placed continually before his face, the presence of God. He did not, like his predecessor Saul, rush on in his own strength and wisdom, but in all important and trying occasions he sought unto God for direction. David lived habitually near to God; he called upon God every day; many times each day he praised God. Ps. 119:164. “On thee do I wait all the day.” Ps. 25:5. And in Ps. 88:1, he says, “O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee.” It was this every day and every hour service, which drew down from God favor and protection, and love, upon David and his people; and, following this course of thought and action, he could say of God, “He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” This was David’s rock of defense, his sanctuary, his secure place of rest, his place of safety, living close to God. When he did this, success crowned all his labors, and his foes were everywhere subdued. Living thus, the Christian is happy and safe; and living thus he has an influence for good; but when he backslides from God, and becomes lukewarm, then he becomes dead and barren in the work of God. When the church loses the power of its first love, it is exhorted to return, under penalty of being removed from the favor of God. It is not a trivial offense in the sight of God to become lukewarm in his service. See Rev. 2:5; 3:16. FALSE face must hide what the false heart doth know.—Shakespeare. Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the Review & Herald TO which the money received pays—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Papers. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged immediate notice of the omission should be given. $2.00. EACH. Freeman Nichols 49-8, Mary Hale 50-1, H P Gould 49-9, Constant Pecket 49-9, George Stockinger 49-10, C W Cook 49-23, T Demmon 49-1, W J Boynton 49-7, Mrs M E Byron 49-7, Alex Rankin 49-7, Louis Dervent 49-9, A G Scott 49-7, Mary Sevy 49-7, M A Christenson 49-7, Rand White 49-1, Sarah Richmond 49-9, M M Raymond 49-9, C M Shortridge 49-7, Maria Need 49-7, Mary Sharp 49-2, Wm O’Hara 49-7, Eli Lovelace 49-10, Dora F Rowe 49-15, R Starr 49-9, Mrs S M Merrick 49-9, Jas Bowles 49-7, G W Crater 49-7, Sarah Diehl 49-7, A M Steward 49-7, Francis Morton 48-18, James Bullock 49-9, Russell Hoag 49-10. $1.00. EACH. Fanny Morgan 49-7, R Carr 48-7, C D Osborn 48-9, H C Mallory 47-15, Jacob Deckers 48-9, John Frank 49-9, G C Wood 48-7, Mrs A W Shafer 49-9, Jonathan Green 49-9, Mary Tetters 49-9, H Oelmeyer 49-7, David A Jones 49-7, David H Price 49-7, Ralph Richardson 49-7, Freeman S Gilliland 49-7, Stephen Hickox 49-7, G R Pegg 48-7, B C Conger 48-7, O P Baker 49-7, Wm King 49-7, Mrs E Slocum 48-7, J B Dunlap 49-9, Augustus Munson 49-9, Martha Warner 49-9, Y M C A 49-11, N F Lyman 49-9, Wm C Oliver 49-9, M B Miller 48-13, Ethan Peck 49-7, John Maybe 49-7, Samuel O’Brian 49-7, Warren Moore 49-7, Luman C Smith 49-7, John Goodmeat 49-7, E R Power 49-7, E Niles 49-7, Wm Eness 49-7, George Moon 49-7, Mary Hubbard 49-7, D S Moe 49-7, James Cook 49-7, Miami York 49-7, Olina Gilbertson 49-7, Mrs Mary Redfield 48-7, E B Graham 49-7, M S Wilson 48-6, G T Butler 49-6, Jacob Hall 49-7, Julia Ashman 48-1, Dan’l Litchfield 48-8, Rev A E Fox 49-7, J D Dickey 45-6, M A Marquart 49-7, John Coats 48-1, Melvin Martin 48-7, Lucius Sanborn 48-8, O Hoffer 48-9, J Crandall 48-7, Mrs Abigail Simons 49-9, Mrs J H Shun 49-7, C D Orton 49-7, Mr James Crispell 49-7, Mrs Miranda Young 49-7, J E Titus 48-7, Wm Stewart 48-7, M N North 49-7, Mary Powelson 49-9, S T Winebrener 49-7, L H Ells 48-1, Alonzo Foster 49-7, Wm Francis 48-7, Mrs J F Bennett 48-6, Martin Kittle 48-7, Andrew E King 49-7, R S Downell 48-7, O B Swan 49-9, S D Covey 48-19, Mary A Robinson 48-7, Stephen Tracy 48-7, A M Holcomb 48-7, John D Buhs 48-7, C A Constantine 48-10, Mrs T N Burton 49-7. MISCELLANEOUS. C Kelsey $1.50 47-13, Wm Covert 25c 47-18, Mary Vanda 1.55 48-20, Isaac Baldwin 1.90 49-4, R Moran 50c 47-22, John Raedles $3.30 48-16, S D Barr 50c 47-18, Harvey Olds 50c 47-22, L E Grant 50c 48-7. E B Lane $4.08, J G Wood 75c, M E Burnham 25c, N L Wood 25c, S C Adams 54c, W W Collins 10c, F I Knowles 40c, M Uriel Stockwell 1.35, Francis Carlin 60c, Theo F Kendall 96c, James Ertzenberger 1.77, Miss C A Mosier 75c, Porter Gipson 50c, Andrew R Peterson 10c, M Wing 50c, D A Vandevoort 15c, Mrs M E Davis 25c, Geo Bisel 75c, P A Roberts 1.50, W C Wycoff 50c, O A Twist 1.10, I D Van Horn 3.00, J B Foster 25c, M Outwater 3.50, Davis Collins 1.50, Mrs D Sterling 25c, J D Triplet 25c, Mary Vanda 10c, Jacob Croy 50c, Mrs R E Childs 26c, J H Robb 8c, Chas S Gates 15c, J P Hunt 57c, Laura M Wood 25c, Stephen Tracy 25c, C W Cook 25c, James E Sanders 1.50, Sarah Harris 10c, Ole Hansen 10c, H W Decker 7.31, Alma Droullora 1.00, James H Hendry 25c, Alice Owens 25c, J O Reynolds 25c, S W Hastings 15c, John F Klostermyer 1.00, J G Benton 15c, Joseph Newsom 70c, A J Ayers 25c, Mrs G M Hall 6.25, C W Bisbee 3.00, Henry Hoover 1.25, Eld A C Long 1.70, J A Burkey 20c, John W Price 61c, Mrs F B Furlingame 10c, Perry Cance 10c, James B Masdel 10c, Ferris Blasdell 10c, Ferris Nowlin 10c, Chas Davis 10c, C W Robertson 10c, R Collier 10c, Mrs Thos Hansell 10c, Thos Hall 10c, Abraham Vines 10c, Col J H Cravens 10c, Wm S Kelley 10c, Miles Sparling 10c, L A Bramhall 4.00, James Holliday 1.00, E Van Duesen 2.00, W G Meyers 10c, Wm Bittner 25c, A J Corey 25c, C O Anderson 25c, A P Van Horn 7.85, Isaac Baldwin 10c, A D Eshelman 10c, David Lonsford 10c, Wm Evans 1.00, Wm Rankin 1.30, Rev A Ladd 20c, N F Lyman 60c, Henry Heath 10c, Wm Hecox 25c, John R Eliot 50c, Constantine Kemp 45c, Delia McDonald 25c, Elva M Cady 25c, H P Spicer 25c, W N Pile 25c, Geo I Butler 3.00, Levi Wilcox 55c, J R Wilson 75c, John Brown 75c, A McNeil 25c, Wm A Towle 25c, J W Oakman 10c, Harriet Carr 80c, James M Quinly 1.10, Chas L Boyd 2.00, Asa Burrows 3.00, L McCoy 1.25, Geo Stockinger 35c, H E Hanson 18c, T P McReynolds 25c, T W Pringle 35c, B H Hallack 25c, J L Voris 25c, C W Hartshorn 25c, L B Heller 25c. C H Bliss, Lovington, Ill., $15.12, T M Steward, Waldron, Ill., 5.22, H Nicola, Sigourney, Iowa, 5.00, D M Cartwright, Rochester, Mich., 3.70, Jacob Knechtel, Wernersville, Berks Co. Penn., 6.00, M B Miller, Colon St Joseph Co. Mich., 13.49, Y M C Association, Detroit, Mich., 3.54, B C Chandler, New London, Henry Co. Iowa, 4.50. Samuel Thurston, Randolph, Catt. Co. N. Y., $37.80, O F Guilford, Clyde, Sandusky Co. Ohio, 38.65, B L Whitney, Manlius Station, N. Y. 93.75. Dist No 2 per R Sawyer $71.60, Dist No 6 per D M Canright 45.50. Hastings (S B) $43.07, Antrim (S B) 33.00, Hillsdale (S. B.) 14.50, E Saginaw (S B) per J G Benton 10.00. Battle Creek (S. B.) $1000.00. John F Klostermyer $5.00, “A Lover of the Truth” 10.00. Ill. Conf Fund (s. B. C A Constantine) $2.60, C W Cook 1.50, D M Canright 41.98, Wm V Field 36.00, Cal T & M Society per Signs Office 5.75, John Matteson 8.00, Mo. T & M Society per J A O’Bryan 9.60, Kan T & M Society per J A O’Bryan 9.60. S. D. A. Educational Society.
Ind Conf $50.00, Albert Wike (s.B.) $3.00, M E Karshner 2.00. Quarterly Meetings in Minnesota
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Salem Center, Ind., March 11 and 12.
S. H. Lane. Quarterly meeting of the N. Y. and Pa. T. & M. Society, Dist. No. 3, will be held at Adam’s Center, N. Y., March 4, 5, 1876. Please be prompt with reports.
D. B. Green, Director. The next quarterly meeting of the Hundred Mile Grove church, Wis., will be held March 11, 12, 1876. A cordial invitation is extended to the friends of the cause.
N. M. Jordon. The quarterly meeting of the Serena church, Ill., will be held at their meeting-house March 25, 26. Will the brethren and sisters of the Wedron church meet with us? Cannot some minister meet with us?
Alfred Nettleingham, Elder. Quarterly Meetings in Minnesota.
| Monticello, |
March |
4, 5, 1876. |
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| Chicago Lake, |
“ |
11, 12, “ |
| River Falls, |
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18, 19, “ |
| Maiden Rock, |
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25, 26, “ |
| Lake City, |
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28, “ |
Quarterly meeting of the Ohio T. & M. Society, Dist. No. 3, will be held at North Bloomfield, March 18, 19, 1876. We hope to see a general gathering of brethren and sisters in this part of the State. Let all our T. & M. members who cannot be present send in their reports in time for the meeting. We most earnestly desire a report from every member in this district at this meeting.
R. A. Underwood, Director. The T. & M. Society of Dist. No. 6, Ohio, will hold its first quarterly meeting in connection with the quarterly meeting of the Defiance church, Sabbath and first-day, March 25, 26, in the Bethel church, near the farm of C. G. Daniels, Paulding Co. We want all the members to report in person who can, and those who cannot, to send their reports to my address, Defiance, Paulding Co., Ohio. We especially invite all the Sabbath-keepers within this district, who have not become members of the church or T. & M. Society, to come prepared to engage with us in this great work. Brethren, don’t forget your S. B. pledges.
C. G. Daniels, Director. We are happy to give this week the remainder of Bro. Canright's sermon on Systematic Benevolence. We also give another portion of the article on “Our Country’s Progress.” This is taken from a large volume just published by Thos. Belnap, entitled, Centennial History of the United States. We shall give the remainder of the article next week. Our readers will be much interested in the reports from Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Michigan, &c., in our Progress Department. Business notes from brethren in different places, speak of unusual interest where they are laboring; and they promise reports soon. As a whole, the articles in this number are more lengthy than is consistent with that variety of matter which is desirable in every paper; but in the present case the intrinsic interest of the articles themselves will make them seem short to the reader, and more than make up for the lack of variety. U. S. The Trustees of the Educational Society gratefully acknowledge the receipt of one hundred dollars from Eld. Jas. White, one hundred from L. McCoy and wife, and twenty-five from Bro. Harvey, for the school apparatus. This is a good beginning toward the two thousand called for. Will it not stimulate others to equal love and good works toward this enterprise? Spiritual Songs.
By Editor
The edition of this work is now exhausted. No more orders can be filled till another work is prepared. This we trust will soon be accomplished. But send no more orders till some further announcement. The following additional tracts have been issued in the German language and are now ready for circulation:— The Present Truth, 32 pp. Seven reasons for Sunday-keeping Examined, 16 pp. The Sanctuary of the Bible, 16 pp. The following item is sent to us by Bro. F. A. Barlow, of Iowa Co., Iowa, clipped from a paper of that State:— The question “whether or not a Seventh-day Adventist can be compelled to attend court as a witness on Saturday,” was raised in Keokuk, and decided by Judge Blanchard that he can be, and a refusal would be contempt of court. The State of the Churches.
Can any one read the following declarations from persons qualified to judge, and occupying positions which would lead them to pronounce a contrary opinion if they could, and then deny that such a change has come over the religious world as is indicated in the second message of Rev. 14. Speaking of the unlasting effects of Modern Revivals, the Examiner and Chronicle says:— “Communities are burnt over with wild excitements; thousands received into the church to be turned out again, or retained as dead weights; society filled with very wicked men, ex-church members; and the very soil worn out, as by the old Southern mode of cultivation, so that rational and scriptural labor for souls is rendered almost a hopeless task.” The Rev. George F. Pentecost, of Boston, speaks as follows about the spiritual condition of many of the churches of to-day, according to the Christian Statesman of Jan. 8, 1876:— “A confession can be had from the lips of the pastors of most of our churches that in our midst there are wicked, unholy, corrupt men who maintain their positions, and are saved from a righteous discipline either by their wealth or social position. It is true of this church, and it is true of many of the churches around us. If a ship should go to sea with as many rotten timbers as we have spiritually rotten members, it would go to the bottom in twenty-four hours.” And again: “This departure from Christ has been brought about largely by the terrible and shameless worldliness of the churches. The drift of the churches in their social life, in their religious work, in their management, is to worldliness. One thoughtful, intelligent layman, a member of a church which is a leader in its denominations, said the other day: “Our church has degenerated into a great, strong, social, fashionable organization.”” The following item is beautifully illustrative of what the Bible says respecting the seal of the living God, Rev. 7:1–3, &c., and shows how it can be called the name, as it is in Rev. 14:1:— “In Persia, Afghanistan, and many parts of India, even to the present day, engraved gems are worn as signet-rings; and a merchant or trader never places his name in writing to his written transactions, the impression of the signet answering the same purpose. The loss, therefore, of this jewel is equivalent to the loss of a name, and the authority for its use by any but the owner, equal to a power of attorney.”—Watch-Maker’s Magazine, December, 1875. Bro. Van Horn writes that they are preparing to commence labor in Western Oregon. The work he says is slowly moving on there. Report Money Paid to Treasurer
By D. T. SHREMAN
WILL the members of Dist. No. 2, Iowa & Neb. T. & M. Society, report to me the money they have paid to the treasurer since June 17, 1874? Please do this at once, and oblige, A Colossal Statue of Liberty
A VERY taking and poetical idea comes from France in the proposition to erect (jointly by French and American contributions) a colossal copper statue of Liberty, two hundred feet high, to be used as a light-house on Bedloe's Island, in New York harbor. The statue is to commemorate the ancient alliance and friendship between France and the United States during the revolution. Prospect of a Great European War
If a Russian correspondent of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat is to be credited, there is to be a great European war between France, Austria, and Russia, upon the one hand, and Germany, England, and Turkey, upon the other. England’s Cattle Disease Losses
ENGLAND has lost a million dollars by the cattle disease. Over 500,000 animals have been affected in England and Wales. The P. O. address of John Helligass, treasurer of the T. & M. Society of Kansas, is Bloomfield, Elk Co., Kan. A POSITION to work for a Sabbath-keeper on a farm. The applicant is a single man. Address D. H. Cosselman, New Era, Oceana Co., Mich. Sabbath-Keeper Farm Worker Wanted
A SABBATH-KEEPER wanted to work on a farm by the month or year. For information, address Daniel Glunt, Osceola, Clark Co., Iowa.