THE following article from the Gilroy Leader explains itself. The article reviewed is generally looked upon as being a shameful one, which it is in truth. Our surprise at its publication was greatly increased when we learned that the Advocate is controlled by a minister. The Leader charges it directly upon him as the following item will show:—
“Parson Dickerman’s organ, last week, seemed quite irreverent. Didn’t want anything to do with Christ, unless it got his job work at his second coming.”
The “parson” passes for orthodox but, of course, is to all intents a spiritualist; as his views lead to a denial of the resurrection.
The last Advocate contained an article on our tent-meetings which well deserves notice. Though we gave it some attention in the tent, we ask the privilege of the Leader to expose its errors for the benefit of those who were not at the meeting. The article appeared as editorial, and thus the Advocate stands responsible for the sentiments contained therein.
1. It pays a singular compliment to the people of Gilroy, representing them as being specially favorable to “a quack doctor, a sensational preacher, or any humbug.” We have not thus judged this people; we think there is a mistake here. We have known such a case that a preacher, not being able to raise a sensation of his own, was ready to cry “humbug” to anything that presented itself. We do not pretend to judge of the motive that actuated this article. It thinks it a sufficient argument for Darwinism that the community go to the tent. This is unjust. If truth is preached in a tent, and people are instructed and led to think or to reason, there is nothing low or degrading about it. Some men preach in a theatre, and few are disposed to find fault with that. Our tent has never been used for any other purpose than preaching the Bible.
2. It says our “interpretation of prophecy is narrow and stupid.” It would no doubt be more satisfactory to the people if it would give a good reason for such an uncharitable assertion. The intelligent congregations who have candidly listened to our discourses know that they are neither “narrow” nor “stupid,” but are according to the plain reading of the Bible. It sets down our views of the United States as “insulting and blasphemous.” Whether we have a reason to think the United States a subject of prophecy, we will soon give the people further opportunity to judge; and we will at any time give the writer in the Advocate the use of the tent, if he will give his views of the same prophecy, and so let the people judge between us. It may appear, however, that his ideas of blasphemy are not very clear. We think there is no greater danger of blaspheming, to speak truthfully of the sins in the United States, than there is to speak disrespectfully of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Speaking of the signs of the times, it says the world is no worse now than it was described in Paul’s letter to the Romans: To us it seems as small consolation that, under the light of the nineteenth century, we are no worse than Paul’s description of the heathen, eighteen hundred years ago. In judging actions, privileges are to be taken into account. The Saviour said all the righteous blood that was ever shed should come on that generation, evidently because they had the examples and warnings of all the past before them. They were accessories after the acts to every persecution which had been carried on. Criminals of to-day, especially in the light which now prevails, are more guilty before God than those of two thousand years in the past. There is much boasting of light and privilege which is evidence, not of a high state of morality, but often of severe condemnation.
On this point it says, spiritualism is nothing new. In one sense it is right, Spiritualism prevailed in the days of Moses; the magicians of Egypt were mediums. Also in the days of the Saviour as frequent reference in the gospel proves. But Matt. 24:23-27; 2 Thess. 2:1-10; Rev. 13:11-17 compared with chap. 14:9-14; and 16:12-15, show that it will remarkably prevail just before the coming of the Lord, and in its present phase it is essentially new. If the writer is competent to edit a newspaper, he knows that spiritualism, as now prevailing, arose in Hydesville, N. Y. less than thirty years ago.
4. The most objectional part of the article is that which speaks of the second coming of Christ. It says, “the idea of Christ’s second physical appearance on the earth is too gross to be treated seriously.” Was not his first appearance on earth a physical one? It was. Is it not reasonable then, to consider that his second will be? To nothing but a physical appearing will the term “second” apply. Will the writer please to inform the people what a second spiritual or mystical appearing might be? Of course he must define when the first of that kind was. But on the second coming, and where Christ would come if he did come personally, we must quote as follows:—
“Of course Christ would come to the United States. He would not go to the ‘bloated aristocracy’ of the Old World. He would prefer a State, too, that has a reliable currency, not one that depends on irredeemable shin-plasters. If he should go to San Jose or Hollister first, and draw away trade from Gilroy, we should give him a cold shoulder. If he came to Gilroy, and had not common sense enough to know where the best job printing is done, we should suspect him of imposture.”
The above has the single merit of ‘honesty’ for it is not every paper, even political or secular, that would have the frankness to own that it would “give a cold shoulder” to Christ if his coming did not increase its job printing! And with all its boast of “brains,” we unhesitatingly give it as our opinion that no one who has brains enough to render him responsible, can speak thus of the advent of the Son of God without being guilty of blasphemy. For irreverence, for trifling with sacred things, it is rarely equaled, and its professed Scripture reason for denying the second coming of Christ is unscriptural. Indeed, we think, as Nasby would express it, that theology is not the Advocate writer’s “best hold.” Thus it says.—
“Christ said to his disciples: ‘It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send him unto you.’ He being the judge, his physical return will not be expedient for us.”
A partial presentation of truth is often the worst kind of error. In this case there is no excuse for the error, for the text quoted has no reference to his return; and the writer intimates that this is the Saviour’s decision on that subject. This is what the Saviour said: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself.” John 14:2, 3. When he went away the angels said: “This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven.” Acts 1:11. As he went physically, in their sight, so will he come again. And Paul said: “The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the triumph of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. 4:16-18. This is a physical coming, even as there will be a physical resurrection, and as we which are alive will certainly be caught up physically to meet the Lord when he returns. But if he does not return there will be no resurrection, and we shall lose the comfort of “these words.”
We regret that the Advocate has done itself the injustice to so present itself before the public. We hope its writer may feel the responsibility of his position, and speak as we all ought to speak in view of the solemn truth that for our words we shall be brought into Judgment.
J. H. WAGGONER.
Gilroy, June 10, 1875.
Duties and Rights.
By John Harvey Kellogg
THERE is an excellent idea brought out in the following extract from an article in the Examiner and Chronicle. They who are jealous of their rights often overlook their duties, upon which all rights are founded. A man engaged in treason has no rights under the government against which he is waging war. He has forfeited them all. An unqualified return to duty is the only way to have rights restored to him, and a steadfast adherance to and continuance in duty is the way to have those rights secured. Whenever again he chooses his own way, and refuses to submit to the constituted authority, his rights cease. Paul says we are the house of the Son of God "if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." Heb. 3 : 6. And Peter speaking to them "who have obtained like precious faith with us" exhorts them to build upon their faith, all the Christain graces, saying, "He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." But these things must be in us and abound, and we must give diligence to make our calling and election sure.
We often hear people confessing that they do not live up to their privileges. Now the truth is that privileges are much like rights in this respect—they seldom go before duties.
It is our duty to live for that which it is our privilege to enjoy. The confession is really an evasion—an emollient to the feelings. Whenever we fully discharge our duty we shall have no reason to complain of a loss in respect to privileges. Our own hearts and lives need to be watched with jealous care.
The deception in this method of expression is this: it is considered that in regard to privileges we have an option; in regard to duties we have no option, no choice; they are imperative. But if privileges are enjoyed through duties discharged, then there is in reality no such distinction, and strict honesty would lead to a stronger and more humiliating confession.
J. H. W.
“MORE OF DUTY—LESS OF RIGHTS.
“If Christians would consistently restrict themselves to thinking of duty, and refuse to indulge themselves in thinking of rights with regard to the Lord’s Supper, there would speedily come an end to controversies on the subject of “close” and “open” communion. There is just one command bearing on the point: “Do this in remembrance of me.” Let us all attend to obeying. That will solve the problem at once. The commands of Christ are all of them equally binding, and equally binding upon all. In a true and in a very solemn sense the command “Do this in remembrance of me” is binding upon every sinner as much as upon any Christian, and as much as the command Repent. But there is a natural order of obedience. It is obviously the intention of Christ that all communicants of the Supper shall first have repented. But quite as obviously it is Christ’s intention that all communicants of the Supper shall first have been baptized. If I think I have been baptized, that does not fulfill the purpose of Christ unless my thought corresponds with the fact. My thought, however mistaken, may indeed make it my individual duty to act accordingly, and, though unbaptized, obey the ordinance of the Supper. But if your thought is different and more just, perhaps, than mine, you certainly have no duty to encourage me in my mistake, either by word or by deed. Nay, it is then your duty to disturb my false persuasion, or persuasion believed by you to be false, in every suitable way of moral influence.”
Too Late.
SOME people are accustomed to be a little too late in almost everything. Late in going to bed and in getting up, in going to work, to their meals, and to their appointments. In short, they are habitually behind time everywhere, and that often greatly to their disadvantage. Business of importance is to be attended to, where thousands of dollars are at stake, and still they wait until the last train, and then barely come in sight of the station to see it leave without him. Only a little too late!
Being a little too late is often followed by fatal results. The up train is only a little too late. It is hurrying to reach the depot before the down train leaves; but the last moment expires, it leaves, and both trains meet with inevitable destruction. Wood and iron and human bodies are scattered abroad promiscuously. It is said that Napoleon lost the battle of Waterloo just because one of his marshals, who was to reinforce him, was a little too late, and the consequence was, the great general became a prisoner, an exile the rest of his days, living and dying on the lonely isle of St. Helena.
A murderer is arrested, tried, and convicted and sentenced to be hung; but mitigating circumstances influence the governor and a pardon is written and given to a messenger. The hour appointed for the execution arrives, and the prisoner is led forth and placed upon the drop, the rope is adjusted, the last moment expires, and the drop falls, when lo! the messenger appears with the governor's pardon, only just a little too late.
Worse than this! a certain man is convicted of sin, and convinced of the indispensible necessity of salvation. He understands what he must do to be saved, and he intends to do it, but not now. He has other ends in view for the present, and he imagines that there is time enough yet. To be sure, the Bible says, “Seek first the kingdom of God,” and he means to seek, but not first. He promises himself that he will be ready in a short time. But time glides imperceptibly, and he forgets that the soul is of priceless value—that he can give nothing in exchange for it, that he cannot afford to risk its salvation a single moment, and yet he defers, and before he is aware his probation terminates in some unforeseen manner, and it is too late.
This is not a mere fancy sketch. It has its counterpart frequently illustrated. It has been, and will be repeated. Multitudes are now trifling with the most vital interests of their souls. They are not saved and they will not be because they will not seek salvation in time. As they are living they will continue to live, and thus they will die, and be compelled to take up the sad lamentation, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” —Morning Star.
Friendship and Old Age.
As years steal upon us, and we come to tread the downward way toward the narrow house, our ideas of friends and friendships undergo a change, which change we may not recognize very readily, but still in moments of reflection, we are conscious that it has occurred. As we look back upon the long route we have traveled, we can but think of the “troops of friends” who at one time or other were the companions of the journey, and we ask, “Where are they? What has become of them all?” Some are away in foreign lands, and severed from us forever; some we have estranged from us, it may be by our own faults and shortcomings; some have cast us off, having themselves stepped higher up in the social scale; and some we have ourselves designedly relinquished, not we trust, because they have not kept pace with us in the worldly race, but either because they were such ties as we ought never to have formed, or because through vice or the force of temptation they have fallen too low. Then there are one or two, perhaps, who were in times past the treasure and glory of our life, whom one fatal mistake wrenched from us, in an evil hour, and ever since we have stood aloof ‘like cliffs which have been rent asunder,’ both of us, perchance, retaining the scars which ‘neither frost, nor heat, nor thunder,’ shall wholly do away. It is such remembrances as these which in the autumn or winter of our days, make us wary and watchful over the too scanty remainder of our life’s friendships.
Gladly, if we could, would we bridge over that dreary sea which flows between us and the alienated friends of past years; but that cannot be done—never was done yet in human experience—and so, accepting wisdom from the past, we guard the love that is left to us all the more jealously. We come to hate all quarrels and resentments, as the folly and absurdity, and the dreary results of them come home to us in those lone hours when, regretfully confronting the past, we can review the game of life and recall with bitterness the many false moves we made and the sorrows they entail upon us. Well for us that all is not loss—that friendly hands yet aid us in doing and suffering what has yet to be done and suffered, and friendly hearts yet flow with the sympathy we have learned to prize at its just value.—Leisure Hour.
EXPERIENCE PROVES THE BIBLE TRUE.
Puerile would it have been for the world to have risen in consternation when Barnum succeeded, with his movable wax figures in such perfect imitation of the human race, and cried for fear of the extinction of the race. They looked like men, moved like men, opened their eyes and mouths like men, and yet were only wax. Skepticism looks sometimes like truth, moves like truth, shines and speaks like truth, and yet is simply an ingenious lie. The true soldier of Jesus should fear skepticism, as a man one of these wax figures.
Is it not time for Christians to rise above the atmosphere of doubt, and walk in the light of God? We never doubt whether there is a sun when it shines on us and makes us warm. We can never doubt the existence of bread when we are eating it. He who feels the life of God, gets beyond the reach of philosophical questioning, which is the very atmosphere of the age. Brethren, you will not question whether prayer is a reality if every day you receive answers to your petitions; you will never doubt the atonement of Jesus Christ or his deity, if sin is your daily grief, and Jesus your abiding companion. You will look the scoffers of the age in the face, and say to them, "Our eyes have seen, and our ears have heard, and our hands have handled the word of life."
Let ministers lead their flocks to these heights, and glorious results will follow.—Central Baptist.
Slander
SLANDER.—Hell cannot boast of so foul a fiend, nor man deplore so foul a foe. It is a pestilence walking in darkness, spreading contagion far and wide, which the most wary traveller cannot avoid. It is the poisoned arrow whose wound is incurable. It is as fatal as the sting of the most deadly asp—murder is its employment, innocence its prey and ruin its sport.
The Illinois Camp-Meeting.
By Uriah Smith
THIS meeting was held near Sheridan, Ill., June 10–15, as previously appointed in the Review. Thursday found us on the ground in the pleasant grove chosen for the place of meeting. Ample preparations had been made for the occasion. This meeting was quite small in comparison with meetings in some other parts of the field, there being only eight tents on the ground and between one and two hundred brethren and sisters present. The meeting just held in central Illinois and the camp-meeting appointed for southern Wisconsin which will be more convenient for many of the brethren of northern Illinois, doubtless contributed to materially reduce the attendance at this meeting.
But though small in numbers, the meeting was excellent in quality. One of its pleasant features was the presence of quite a good representation from the new converts among the French in St. Ann and Kankakee, and their fervent testimonies, borne in their own tongue, in the meetings.
Great was the joy manifested by many who had come up from widely-separated places, at this privilege of meeting and greeting each other. To those who have had a happy experience in this direction, it does not seem strange that the psalmist sets it forth as so pleasant a thing for brethren to dwell together in unity. There are hearts in the Illinois Conference as cordially united in the Lord, and his work, as can anywhere be found.
The social meetings Sabbath at 5:30 and at 9, A. M. were good occasions. The testimonies borne were of a very cheering and encouraging nature. They gave evidence of coming from hearts that were intelligent in reference to the truth, and sound Christian experience. Bro. White spoke at 10:30 A. M., and sister White at 2:30 P. M. Their testimony was gladly received and highly prized by those present.
After a suitable intermission, the brethren and sisters again assembled for social meeting. Unexpectedly the subject of Christian temperance came up as the leading theme of the meeting, and as unexpectedly the meeting rose to an unusual degree of freedom. Many items of interest were related, and more real information was brought out than we remember ever to have listened to in a social meeting.
A case worthy of mention was that of a doctor from Kankakee. The truth found him under the chains of two ruinous habits: strong drink and tobacco. He related how in the strength of the Lord, he had grappled with and overcome the appetite for strong drink, and was now rallying for a conflict with the other, confident of success in that also. May his victory be speedy and complete. Thank God for a truth that will enter into no compromise with intemperance or any filthy habit. This is one of the best evidences that it is the truth which is to purify a people from all filthiness of the flesh, and fit them for the coming of the Lord. 2 Cor. 7:1; Tit. 2:13, 14.
On Sunday at an early hour, visitors began to enter the ground, and soon the grove was swarming with them. It is estimated that there were some fifteen hundred present, a large proportion of whom gave good attention while Bro. White set forth, in a clear and forcible manner, the leading reasons why we are Seventh-day Adventists. Sister White spoke in the afternoon with freedom.
The business meetings passed off pleasantly. Four new churches were added to the Conference. The credentials of the three ordained ministers in the Conference were renewed and six licenses were granted. Others will doubtless engage in the work. Bro. C. H. Bliss was ordained to the ministry. Four were baptized.
Monday was rainy, but the large tent afforded a comfortable and pleasant retreat. Bro. and sister White occupied most of the day in full, free, earnest, and instructive talk to the brethren and sisters, just such as they needed, relative to the enlargement of the work, the broader views that should be taken, and the more comprehensive moves that should be made261for its advancement. It was a profitable day for the meeting. The brethren listened and pondered upon the things spoken with evident interest, and, we believe, go to their homes like men girded anew for the work.
The parting meeting, Tuesday morning, was the best of the feast. It was difficult to bring it to a close so anxious were the brethren and sisters to speak. Finally, by a rising vote, all testified that if they had received no good before, this one morning meeting would amply repay them for all the time, labor, and expense of coming to the place.
This meeting will exert a healthy influence upon the cause in Illinois; and we look for the work in this good State to exhibit more marked evidence of growth in the future than in the past. U. S.
Iowa Camp-Meeting.
By James White
THIS meeting commenced June 3, according to appointment, at Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa. We did not reach the ground until Friday afternoon. In consequence of the backwardness of the season, and bad traveling with teams, the number in attendance was not fully equal to previous yearly gatherings. Most of our people come to camp-meeting with teams, and could the camp-meeting be held the first of September these gatherings would be twice their present size. The number of family tents at the late meeting was thirty, besides the large tent and covered wagons where many lodged.
We were glad to meet Elder U. Smith at this meeting, who rendered most acceptable and efficient aid. We congratulate the brethren of the several Eastern camp-meetings on the happy prospect of his labors at all their meetings. We were also very glad to greet many on the Newton camp-ground, newly come to the faith.
We copy the following account of the Iowa Camp-meeting from Bro. Smith’s report before it leaves the ground, his to go to the Review and Herald and this to go to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES :—
Sabbath, June 5, was a day of the meeting which will long be remembered by those who were present. It commenced with a rich measure of the blessing of Heaven, and increased in interest till the close. The morning meeting at half-past five was one, the equal of which, in intensity of feeling and Christian activity, is rarely seen. It seemed, as it is sometimes expressed, that the people were making a “rush for the kingdom.” Sometimes seven were on their feet at once. One hundred testimonies were borne in three-quarters of an hour.
Following this, the morning season of family worship at the tents was an occasion of great feeling and deep searching of heart. And when the hour came for another season of public social worship at the stand, many came from their tents weeping, not tears of sadness and disappointment, but such as arise from a sweet feeling of contrition on account of the presence of the Lord and his love shed abroad in the heart. Thus this meeting opened with the same degree of spirituality with which the preceding one closed, and continued in the same spirit.
Some remarks were made by Bro. White of a very encouraging nature. He referred to the discouragements which the brethren in Iowa have met in times past, the apostasies that have taken place in their midst, and the goodness of God in sustaining the cause through it all, and raising up friends and laborers among them. The prosperity of the cause in this State, notwithstanding all adverse circumstances, is an evidence, strong and irresistible, that God’s hand is in the work, and calls upon every heart for thanksgiving and gratitude. His remarks took deep hold upon the feelings of the congregation. Many testified that they never witnessed a better state of feeling in a social meeting than was manifest upon this occasion.
Bro. White spoke in the forenoon with great freedom, bringing out things new and old from the great treasure-house of God’s word, giving such instruction as was adapted to the condition and wants of the people of God at this time.
Sister White spoke in the afternoon on Luke 19 : 41, 42 : “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes.” She spoke with unusual liberty, closing with a powerful appeal to those who were present not to be unmindful of this the day of their visitation, lest their condition become like that of the Jews, and the things that belong unto their peace be hid from their eyes. And when an opportunity was given for those who wished to start anew in the service of Christ to come forward, about fifty came to the front, many of whom were for the first time making a move in this direction, and were very interesting cases. After prayers this company was distributed into three tents, and the work of labor continued. Some touching and impressive testimonies were borne, which it was good to hear.
On Sunday, the congregation numbered upward of two thousand. Bro. White spoke in the afternoon, sister W. in the forenoon and evening. Our readers are so well acquainted with their labors that it is only necessary to say that they probably never enjoyed greater freedom. Yet this can give but a very inadequate idea of the interest of the occasion. In the evening when, perhaps the congregation was the largest, though the evening was unusually chilly, the large crowd was held as if spell-bound under the powerful address of sister W., and many of those who had come in from without were moved to tears.
On Monday another move was made for those who were here making a new start in the service of God. Fifty-five came forward, giving evidence of a good work wrought upon their hearts; and all bore testimony to their desire and determination henceforth to live the Christian life.
The business sessions of the Conference passed off harmoniously, and its action showed a good degree of zeal for the prosperity of the cause in this good State. The credentials of the nine ministers belonging to the Conference were renewed and licenses granted to ten young men to exercise their ability in publicly presenting the stirring and important truths for this time to the people. The list included four who received license for the first time at this meeting. And there are still others who may yet labor publicly in the work. The wants of the cause are urgent. Calls are pressing in from every quarter. Would that there were a hundred, where now one can be found to respond to these calls, and enter the openings that are multiplying on every hand. May the little army of workers in Iowa, who feel the wants of the cause, have strength and wisdom imparted to them to accomplish a measure of what their zeal would prompt them to do.
Six new churches were added to the Conference, increasing materially its membership. The truth has secured a good foothold at many points, and accomplished a good work. It was remarkable to learn, as one after another of noble men arose to speak in the social meetings, how this one had been rescued by the truth from infidelity, that one just saved by it from going into spiritualism, another recovered from the saloon and gaming table, and so on. Truly the truth has effected many marvelous things in many cases here.
From the citizens of Newton and vicinity we have received the utmost respect and courtesy. Not the least manifestation of rowdyism, or disposition to make disturbance, was witnessed, and it was not even found necessary to establish a night watch, so undisturbed were we in the enjoyment of our privileges. W. S. Benham, editor and publisher of the Newton Free Press, in his issue of June 2, gave quite a full notice of the meeting, from which we make the following extracts :—
“The Seventh-day Adventists of Iowa, and Nebraska, both States being included in one Conference, held their annual Conference and camp-meeting at Evans’ Grove, just southwest of Newton, commencing last Thursday and closing on Tuesday. This is the second year of the Conference and camp-meeting at this place, and its central location and pleasant remembrances may make this the place for its permanent establishment. The grounds were admirably arranged, the great pavilion located on the east side, with a semicircle enclosing over two acres, upon which ample seats were spread before the platform, while in the adjacent timber the teams were hitched and fed, a well dug on purpose, furnishing the requisite amount of water for all.
“It is proper to state right here that no orders were given in regard to deportment on the grounds, no guards or sentinels placed on duty, and that from the opening to the close there was not an attempt at disorder or a symptom of rowdyism manifested. The people who came together for the camp-meeting attended strictly to business, and the spectators at all the meetings showed that respect which was due to them as strangers and fellow-citizens. We do not mention this fact as being unduly creditable to Newton and vicinity, but it is well known, the country through, that it is not very unusual for camp-meetings held by any denomination to be interrupted by rowdies, and that a kind of police has to be established to maintain order. In fact, in years past—we trust not to be repeated—the local officials have had to be called upon to make arrests of this class of offenders.
“The rains along early in the week made the roads quite muddy for a while, and the grounds at first were rather disagreeable, but when it was rainy the spectators were few, and the regular attendants could crowd into the pavilion, so the meetings three times a day, with committee meetings, business meetings, &c., went regularly on, the same as if the weather had been all the time pleasant.
“In nearly all the States the membership is sufficient to make up a Conference, the largest being in Michigan, with the publishing headquarters at Battle Creek, where two newspapers and all the books and tracts for the Society are issued. There are few so extensive publishing houses in the country, about $100,000 being there invested in the publishing business. At Battle Creek they have a College just fairly started, with an endowment of about $60,000, and a Health Institute where chronic diseases are successfully treated without medicines.
“The Conference arranges the work for the coming year, assigning the elders to duty in the several locations, appoints both clerical and lay missionaries, and acts upon all questions that may come up from the people affecting the faith, conduct, and progress of the sect. The attendance at these camp-meetings is voluntary, and we were informed that this meeting had about the average attendance of members. There certainly was about the same number present as last year.
“An incomplete computation showed that there were present, as regular attendants of the meeting, about five hundred persons, and among them were delegations from Knoxville, Poweshiek Co., Kellogg, Monona Co., Burt Co., Nebraska, Pella, Fort Dodge, Afton, Mt. Pleasant, Caloma, Brighton, New London, Washington, Hook’s Point, Victor, Pilot Grove, Woodburn, West Union, Monroe, Osceola, Elkhorn, Pleasantville, Adel, State Center, Richmond, Anamosa, Marion, Richland, Sigourney, Frederick, and Winterset. The bulk of these delegations had commodious tents, of which there were about thirty, in some of which as many as twenty-five persons were well accommodated, while many who came in wagons made their conveyance a comfortable home during the meeting. Probably a dozen families and delegations were assigned space in the Pavilion, and with appropriate partitions therein found pleasant quarters. There were quite a number of individuals who came singly and without conveniences, and to all these the kindest hospitality was shown by their brethren, and they were made to feel themselves as much at home as if they owned the best tent on the ground.
“Of the elders in attendance and taking an active part in conducting the exercises we may appropriately mention James White, U. Smith, Ellen G. White, R. M. Kilgore, Henry Nicola, C. L. Boyd, C. A. Washburn, J. T. Mitchell, and Harvy Morrison.
“Eld. White has made the subject of his present discourses his life-study, and its propagation his life-work. He is the associate of Elders Smith and Andrews in publishing the Review and Herald, Voice of Truth, and SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
“Mrs. White is a preacher of great ability and force, much called for as a speaker at the camp-meetings of the denomination all over the Union, and a large share of her time is given to this work.
“Eld. Smith is pleasant in appearance, an earnest advocate of his doctrine, and preaches with good effect.
“The tents are being struck as we go to press, and directly those attending the meeting will return to their respective homes, firmer, and stronger after this season of instruction and mutual pledges to each other of faithfulness to the faith.
“The meeting has been in all respects a success, and while the people of the town and vicinity have every reason to be pleased, we trust that the visitors from abroad will have none but pleasant recollections of the second camp-meeting at Newton.”
Thirty-two rose to signify their desire to receive baptism at the first opportunity.
At the closing meeting, Tuesday morning, Bro. J. Bartlett and Bro. J. W. McWilliams were ordained to the work of the ministry. The occasion was a most interesting one.
Thus the meeting closed, the brethren we believe, all feeling that this, the opening meeting of the season, has furnished a most encouraging beginning. May they remember that the real success of the occasion is mainly to be determined hereafter, as it will depend upon the way in which the impressions received shall be cherished, and the resolutions formed shall be carried out.
From May 26 to June 8, a period of thirteen days, Mrs. W. has spoken fourteen times, and we have spoken eleven times, besides the labors of business sessions and many other matters; and we have traveled in this time more than thirteen hundred miles. We hold meetings to-night, June 9, with the church at Victor, Iowa, and take the train for the Illinois Camp-meeting at three to-morrow morning.
We never enjoyed preaching the word as well as now, and are fully decided that this is our last year of business life in connection with the work of preaching and editing. For the future, by the grace of God, the cause shall be served by our voice and pen. We have been pressed into wrong positions, and then deserted to carry a triple burden, for the last time. We are now very happy in the prospect of laying these burdens down at our next General Conference, when we can give ourselves to the word of God.