Your ShelfYour Projects

Review and Herald, Vol. 37, No. 17.

The Alleged Discrepancies of Scripture
Earlier text: Men and Things

“IT IS WELL.”

Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him. Isa. 3:10.
WHAT cheering words are these? Their sweetness who can tell? In time, and through eternal days, 'Tis with the righteous well.
In every state secure, Kept as Jehovah's eye; 'Tis well with them if life endure, And well if called to die;
Well when they see his face, Or sink amidst the flood; Well in affliction's thorny maze, Or on the mount of God.
Well when the gospel yields Pure honey, milk, and wine; Well when the soul her leanness feels, And all her joys decline.
'Tis well when joys arise, 'Tis well when sorrows flow; 'Tis well when darkness veils the skies, And strong temptations blow.
'Tis well when at his throne They wrestle, weep, and pray; 'Tis well when at his feet they groan, Yet bring their wants away.
'Tis well if they can sing, As sinners washed with blood; And when they touch the mournful string, And mourn an absent God.
'Tis well when on the mount They feast on dying love; And 'tis as well, in God's account, When they the furnace prove.
'Tis well when Jesus calls, “From earth and sin arise, Join with the host of ransomed souls Made to salvation wise.”

Michigan Meetings at Watrousville, Tuscola, and St. Johns

By M. E. Cornell

Michigan.

SINCE my reports of meetings at Delta and Tittabawassee I have held twenty-three meetings in Watrousville, and eight in Tuscola. At these meetings some decided to keep the commandments. Some that had been in doubting castle came out, and the churches seemed to be encouraged. I endeavored to stir up the minds of the friends of truth in these churches, on the importance of individual effort in missionary labor, and a society was formed, and above sixty dollars raised as a fund for tracts. Prejudice was removed, and calls for labor were sent in. One petition with one hundred and twenty names, headed by a lawyer, plead earnestly for a course of lectures at the county seat of Tuscola County. This is deferred for next season. I held four lectures in Newton’s Hall in St. Johns, where the Spiritualists have a strong hold. I was several times interrupted by lawyers and others, but the truth bore away the victory, and the interest to hear more was quite general. As the hall was not secured for a full course of lectures, it was thought best to hold lectures at Rochester Colony. Here we held twenty-five meetings, and discussed one week. Several decided to keep the Sabbath. Seven united with the church at Greenbush—two by letter, two by baptism, and three others.
The physician of the place indorsed the lecture on health reform before a large congregation, and also publicly stated his determination to keep the Sabbath. His popularity here as a physician will give him influence among the people more than any other man could have, and opens the way for him to do good service for the truth.
I find my health so feeble that I have determined to take several weeks or months, rest, and if necessary, to change climate, and try to regain vital power for the service of the truth. I hope also to obtain a new fitting out in heart and soul, so as to be a new man in the cause. For this I beg an interest in the prayers of all with whom it is well in the Lord. M. E. CORNELL.

The Overflowing Cup of Christian Sorrow

THE Christian's cup may be brimful of sorrow; but for him the overflowing drop is never added.

Dunham’s District, Cal., March 23, 1871

By John Norton Loughborough

California.

At the time of my last report, Feb. 5, I was holding meetings in McPherson’s District. I remained there until our meetings were broken up by rains and dark nights. We held in all fifteen meetings. A few became interested to read, and furnished themselves with books, and I left to seek a more favorable locality for meetings.
On my way to this place, I held a two-days’ meeting, in connection with the quarterly meeting at Green Valley. Another family attended, and embraced the truth. I have now held nineteen meetings in this place during the last four weeks with good interest, although the protracted rain has hindered some. We trust the effort here will accomplish some good. I still expect to continue here for a few days at least. This place is nearly midway between Petaluma and Bloomfield.
While holding meetings here I have spent one Sabbath at Healdsburg, and three Sabbaths at Bloomfield. In H., one person united with the church. In Bloomfield, another one decided to obey the truth. The prospect seems to be brightening up before us in this State, and if we move so humbly that God can bless his truth proclaimed, souls may be converted to him. May God speed on the work. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Dunham’s District, Cal., March 23, 1871

Pennsylvania Church Meetings and Quarterly Report

By John Lindsey; S. A. H. Lindsey

Pennsylvania.

OUR last report closed Nov. 13, 1870. Nov. 14, we commenced meetings at Hornby, N. Y. Held fifteen meetings. Two young persons embraced Christ and his truth by means of this effort, who promise to be valuable members of the church. They wish to be baptized, and we wait with anxiety for the messenger of Christ to come and administer the sacred ordinance.
Sabbath, Dec. 3, attended monthly meeting with the Allegany church.
Dec. 5, held one meeting upon Voorhees Hill. Here we enjoyed excellent liberty. While we spoke from 2 Cor. 4:5, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake,” the Spirit of the Lord seemed to rest upon the congregation, and strong prejudices melted away like the snow before the warm rays of the sun.
Dec. 17 and 18, attended quarterly meeting with the Ulysses church. This was a season long to be remembered by all who were favored with the privilege of attending it. The blessing of God rested upon us all. An Adventist preacher who advocates the no-Sabbath doctrine, became deeply affected while we celebrated the ordinances of the Lord’s house. We cherish a strong hope that he will soon lay aside his opposition by embracing God’s truth.
Dec. 24, we decided to hold a series of meetings in the vicinity of this church. Perhaps we could not have selected a place where the tide of popular prejudice had reached so high a point as it had here. We had continued our meetings for one week when there was an effort to start a protracted meeting in an adjoining district, evidently for the purpose of drawing away our congregation. Their young people became so unmanageable that they were obliged to lock up some of them the second evening, and the third evening they had an audience of three, and closed. Then came a sort of “rush” to our meetings. But by the power of God they were held in check. Thus we continued till the evening of Jan. 4. Upon this occasion there were present a large number of young persons who appeared restless, yet they did not make any disturbance. At the close of our meeting we were politely informed by the school director that we could have the house no longer, as there was such an immoderate amount of tobacco used and spit upon the floor. This was annoying to teachers and scholars, etc. All this we assented to, giving him to understand at the same time that the Seventh-day Adventists did not use the filthy weed, and that we would be ashamed to thus defile the house of divine worship.
We suspected that this was not the real reason why he wished to close the house against us, and, sure enough, he arose presently, and remarked that he had known families who had been rendered homeless by this doctrine. Here we have it! It is “this doctrine” that is despised and rejected of men. It holds a reputation similar to its divine Author. Him they hated without a cause. John 15:25. The world hated him because he testified of it, that the works thereof were evil. John 7:7. He spoke unto them as “never man spake,” verse 46; he spoke words of truth, John 8:40, 45; gracious words, Luke 4:22; words of life, John 6:63, 68; words of admonition and warning, John 8:21-24, words of encouragement, Matt. 11:28-30. Just so the present truth speaks to us in these last days, and yet the unbelieving world are putting forth every effort to quench its life-giving power. Thank God, it is an imperishable principle that cannot die.
“Truth crushed to earth shall rise again, Th’ eternal years of God are hers.”
JOHN LINDSEY. S. A. H. LINDSEY.
Ulysses, Pa.

Loving Men Into Unity Rather Than Bombarding Them

By Beecher

FOR a thousand years the experiment has been tried of bombarding men into love and faith; and with what luck? Is it not time to see if we cannot love men into unity; if we cannot please men into unity; if we cannot drop the things that are disagreeable, and insist upon the things that are pleasing, for good, to edification?—Beecher.

Cattaraugus Co., N. Y.

By R. F. Cotterell

SINCE returning to this field, immediately after the meeting at Lancaster on the second Sabbath in March, the weather and roads have been very unfavorable to holding meetings evenings. Spent one Sabbath and first-day at Cherry Creek. Held two meetings. Found one new convert there to the Sabbath truth. Hope he will persevere. The next Sabbath and first-day I spent with the friends at East Otto. They are holding fast, and making some advancement. Several of their number, and in their families, were sick, which, together with other cares and the bad roads, prevented them from coming to the meeting at Cottage, which is just passed. We hardly expected that any would come from a distance of over twenty miles, but were happily disappointed to meet with six of the friends from Randolph. We have had a meeting of interest, and, I trust, profit. The cause is onward; and we hope that the next monthly meeting will prove successful. Let the brethren and sisters pray and labor to this end. In due season we shall reap if we faint not. Let none forget that the reaper receives wages, and gathers fruit to life eternal.
R. F. COTTERELL.

Faith and Works.

By J. Hare

FAITH is the motive power; works the result. Works are the fruit, faith the tree. Faith and works are inseparably joined together; the one is as necessary to the other as the fountain is to the stream, or the heart to the physical life. As it is a principle in philosophy that like causes produce like effects, so it is an infallible rule that a man's works declare the nature or quality of his faith. James recognizes this principle when he says, Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. And again, Know this, O vain man, that faith without works is dead, being alone.
We might as well expect a dead man to produce works, as a dead faith. They are both alike impotent.
Paul and James both speak of different kinds of faith. James tells us that the devils believe and tremble; yet the devils do not believe they will be saved, hence their faith is dead in this respect. Paul speaks of a faith which, though it might produce many works, yet if it be destitute of a certain principle, viz., charity, it would be unavailing so far as salvation is concerned. Now it is evident that both these lack the genuine stamp. The great mission of Jesus to this fallen world was one of love; hence all that are united to Christ as the living vine, are moved by this same spirit, love to God and to mankind; or charity, as Paul has it; hence love becomes the great distinguishing feature between the children of God and the children of the wicked one.
Paul gives us a definition of faith. Heb. 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” It will be noticed that the words substance and evidence in this verse or definition of Paul's, have a deep significance, and will hardly be comprehended, except it be by the thoughtful Bible student; and not then, except he has such an experience as that which saves a man from the family of Satan, and adopts him into the family of God. All such may realize to some extent the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This whole chapter may be studied as one of much interest on this subject; and it may be that some in reading over the prominent list of worthies which Paul has brought to view, may feel that such faith is hardly to be enjoyed by the children of God at present. But why not? Why should not the children of God hold just as sweet and heavenly communion with their Heavenly Father at the present time as at any previous period in the world's history? God is said to be no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. Acts 10:35. The commandments of God which require holiness upon our part, still remain. We read also in 1 Peter 1:15, 16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Now if we go to Paul's definition of faith, we are driven to the conclusion that the child of God does enjoy all his faith lays hold of, and no more. We hear Christ upbraiding his disciples because of their lack of faith. As he stretches forth his hand to save a sinking Peter, he says, Why didst thou doubt? “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief; for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matt. 17:19, 20.
We have already shown that a correct faith will always produce corresponding works. Cleanse the fountain, and the stream will be pure. Make the tree good, and the fruit will be good. It may be there are those who are laboring under a different opinion on this subject; and although they feel that they are great sinners before God, yet they feel that by some good works, which they are going to perform, God will be brought under a kind of obligation to bless and save them; but they feel that just at the present time they are too wicked for God to accept. Let me say to all such that this is a deception of Satan. No man can ever work himself better. We have all violated the law of God, and have incurred its penalty, which is death; and if we could, from the present moment, keep the law perfect in every part (which is impossible), yet all our past sins would remain against us, and the penalty would still hang over us. All such efforts are like trying to make a clear stream below a muddy fountain, or good fruit grow on a bad tree. If it were possible that our works should be meritorious, then it would have been unnecessary that Christ should die for us. But seeing we are wholly dependent on Christ for salvation, we conclude with Paul that it is by grace, and not works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8, 9. “Therefore it is by faith that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.” Rom. 4:16. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Rom. 3:20–28.
We give a further reason why works cannot be meritorious. No man can produce good works till after conversion. After Christ and the Father take up their abode in his heart, his good works are the result of God's Spirit in the heart; hence we read, It is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure; hence we are beholden to God for strength to keep the moral law, or perform works acceptable to him.
Then let us not stay away from Christ because we feel unworthy, but come just as we are, all bruised and mangled by sin, and cast ourselves unreservedly upon Christ, believe with our hearts unto righteousness, make confession with the mouth unto salvation, and be assured that all things are possible to them that believe. Mark 9:23. The broken and contrite heart that believes and confides in Christ, never can be disappointed.
But beware of doubts and unbelief. The children of Israel fell in the wilderness because of unbelief. Afterward the people were rejected because of their unbelief, and broken off that the Gentiles might be grafted in. “And he did not many mighty works because of their unbelief.” Matt. 13:58. And he could there do no mighty works save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. Mark 6:5, 6.
Doubts and unbelief may be troubling some even among Sabbath-keepers with regard to the last work of God under the third message of Rev. 14, and the responsible position the people of God occupy. It can scarcely be otherwise but that unbelief at this point must prove fatal unless it is put away speedily and we betake ourselves to work in earnest, seeking from God the help that we so much need, that our faith may be strong in God, and that we may obtain a complete victory over the world, the flesh, and Satan, as well as over unbelief, and stand entire at last. J. HARE.
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Did the Red Heifer Typify Christ?

By M. B. Lichtenstein

THE ordinance of the red heifer differs much from any other of the sacrifices; and as soon as the eye glances upon the description given in the nineteenth chapter of Numbers, it is plain to be seen that Christ is pointed out.
1. It needs to be a “red heifer;” Heb., parah adumah. “Parah” means fruitful; adumah is derived from Adam, which signifies the ruddy color of the first Adam, who was created of the dust of the ground. Christ also is called the second Adam, as he himself said to the high priest, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man [Heb. Test., Ben Adam] sitting on the right hand of Power.” Matt. 26:64.
2. The heifer was to be entirely burned; so Christ Jesus ascended wholly to Heaven; even a bone was not broken in his body; he was a perfect and complete sacrifice.
3. The cedarwood, hyssop, and scarlet, were cast into the midst of the burning fire. Cedar, it is well known, ranks with the tallest trees in the world; and hyssop, which is called in Hebrew “ezov,” is the same as “assev,” a kind of low grass. The changes in the words, from a to e and s to z, and the prolonging change from e to o, are according to the Hebrew grammar. And so the cedar may typify the highest degree of the nature of Christ Jesus, and hyssop, the lowest degree. Christ, being the Son of God, partook of the flesh and blood. Heb. 2:14.
The term, “scarlet,” is a mistranslation of the original. The Hebrew of it is two words, “tolaath shony,” scarlet, crimson, as Isaiah says: “Though your sins be as scarlet,” Heb., “shony,” “though they be red as crimson,” Heb., “tolaath.” Hence scarlet and crimson may be applied to the sins of the people which Christ Jesus took upon him.
4. It had two objects, its acceptance to God by its sprinkling, and burning, and the cleansing of the unclean. So also Christ in fulfilling the will of God said, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Matt. 26:39. He also by his blood cleansed the sinner.
5. It cleansed the unclean and defiled the clean. Jesus “touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean; and immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Matt. 8:3. Then again he defiled those which supposed themselves to be clean, saying to the Pharisees, “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth the man; but that which cometh out of the mouth; that defileth a man.” Matt. 15:11. Here he defiled them by convincing them of sin. Moreover, he cleansed those which were touched with his Spirit and then drank of his living water; but those which were only touched with his Spirit and did not taste of his living water; those he defiled and made them more guilty.
6. Last of all, this red heifer was the last one of the principal sacrifices named in the holy Bible; so was Christ Jesus the last and only sacrifice for the sins of the world. There are many more points which might be mentioned as typical of Christ in the sacrifice of the red heifer. I will leave the reader to follow the matter out according to his own pleasure.
M. B. LICHTENSTEIN.
Battle Creek, Mich., April 11, 1871.

Duty and Christian Liberty.

DUTY is not Christian liberty, but it is the first step toward liberty. We are free only when we love what we are to do and those for whom we do it. Let a man begin in earnest with, “I ought,” and he will end, by God’s grace, if he persevere, with “I will.” Let him force himself to abound in all small offices of kindliness, attention, affectionateness, and all those for God’s sake. By-and-by he will feel them become the habit of his soul.
He loves you better who strives to make you good than he who strives to please you.

LINES ON THE DEATH OF AN INFANT.

By L. D. Santee

Little hands are folded still, Little heart that ne’er was evil, Little mind that felt no ill, Knew no sin or tempting devil.
Thou art sleeping ’neath the pall, While the clover blossoms o’er thee; But above thy ashes fall Fast the tears of her who bore thee.
Sleep on, babe, in silent rest, Earth’s rude tempests wake thee never, And upon the Saviour’s breast, Soon thou’lt rest in joy forever.
Low within thy narrow bed, We must leave thee calmly sleeping, But above thy sunny head, Angels gentle watch are keeping.
L. D. SANTEE.
Princeville, Ill.

Obituary Notices.

By E. S. Lane

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.
DIED in East Genoa, N. Y., March 28, 1871, of scarlet fever, Frank W., youngest son of E. S. and B. A. Lane, aged 1 year, 10 months, and 26 days.
“As the sweet flower that scents the morn, But withers in the rising day, Thus lovely was the infant's dawn, Thus swiftly fled its life away.”
E. S. LANE.

The Population of the United States.

THE complete returns of the enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States under the census of 1870, foot up as follows:
States. 1870. 1860. Gain per ct.
Alabama, 996,988 964,201 3.5
Arkansas, 483,179 435,450 11.
California, 560,285 379,994 47.5
Connecticut, 537,418 460,147 19.8
Delaware, 125,015 112,216 11.5
Georgia, 1,200,609 1,057,286 13.6
Florida, 187,756 140,424 33.8
Illinois, 2,539,638 1,711,951 48.4
Indiana, 1,680,046 1,350,428 23.9
Iowa, 1,191,802 674,913 76.6
Kansas, 362,872 107,206 238.5
Louisiana, 732,731 708,002 3.5
Kentucky, 1,321,001 1,155,684 14.4
Maine, 626,463 628,279 †.29
Maryland, 780,806 687,049 13.7
Massachusetts, 1,457,351 1,231,066 18.4
Michigan, 1,184,296 749,113 58.1
Minnesota, 435,511 172,023 153.2
Mississippi, 834,170 791,305 5.5
Missouri, 1,715,000 1,182,012 45.1
Nebraska, 123,000 28,841 326.5
Nevada, 42,491 6,857 519.7
N. Hampshire, 318,300 326,073 †2.4
New Jersey, 905,794 672,035 34.8
New York, 4,364,411 3,880,735 12.5
North Carolina, 1,069,614 992,622 7.7
Ohio, 2,662,214 2,339,511 13.8
Oregon, 90,922 52,465 73.4
Pennsylvania, 3,515,993 2,906,215 21.
Rhode Island, 217,356 174,620 24.5
South Carolina, 728,000 703,708 3.5
Tennessee, 1,257,983 1,109,801 13.4
Texas, 797,500 604,215 32.
Vermont, 330,552 315,098 5.
Virginia, 1,224,830 1,219,630 4.3
West Virginia, 445,616 376,688 18.3
Wisconsin, 1,055,167 775,881 36.
Total, 38,095,680 31,183,744 21.1
Dis. Columbia, 131,706 75,080 75.5
Territories,
Arizona, 9,658 ...... ......
Colorado, 39,706 34,277 15.9
Dakota, 14,181 4,837 193.2
Idaho, 14,998 ...... ......
Montana, 20,594 ...... ......
New Mexico, 91,852 93,516 †1.8
Utah, 86,786 40,273 115.6
Washington, 28,901 11,594 106.2
Wyoming, 9,118 ...... ......
Total District and Territories, 442,500 259,577 ......
Total of States, 38,095,680 31,183,744 21.1
Total of the United States, 38,558,180 31,443,321 22.6
He who sins against men may fear discovery, but he who sins against God is sure of it.

Future Labors.

By James White

At present we can form no definite plan of future labors. It is true that camp-meeting season is near, and our people in different States are trying to secure our labors at their meetings. But we can give no definite statement to any one. We should be glad to attend all the camp-meetings of the season, and, with the blessing of God, could do so as well as not, if others who have an equal interest in the cause would share the labors, sacrifices, and responsibilities, with us.
After overworking last season, we returned from camp-meeting labor, late in the season to find neither of the editors of our three periodicals at their posts. Either from sickness, or from other causes, they were from the Office. The Secretary also was absent, recovering from fever.
During the season, in addition to other arduous labors, we had sold books, taken subscriptions for our periodicals, and done other business for our Office, amounting to about $8,000. Very much of this business still remained noted on pass books, and not closed up. We needed a month, at least, to attend to home matters preparatory for winter, close up unfinished Office business, and obtain a little rest. But here were three periodicals to edit. One hundred letters, many of them requiring thought and an answer, were waiting our arrival. Instead of taking rest, we took hold of this great amount of work, and, like a man exerting himself to put out a fire in a building, we rushed from one thing to another, till failing health and discouragement led us to decide to call the General Conference in February instead of March, with the design to lay all our burdens down at the feet of the brethren, and take one year’s comparative rest.
But General Conference did not release us from one burden; but in addition to former burdens, laid upon us several new ones, such as the management of the Health Reformer, and the building of the new Office. We have been compelled to discontinue the articles in the REVIEW AND HERALD entitled, Our Faith and Hope, simply because we had not time to prepare them.
The new building, and the lots upon which we place it, will cost not far from $10,000. This sum must be raised, principally from those brethren who have not taken stock in the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association. Who will see to the raising of this amount? This will take thought, and care, and energy.
Again, there are more than $2,000 due from the subscribers of the Health Reformer. We have sent out in the April number, bills amounting to more than $1,000 to those only who have not paid up to volume five, number one. There are at least $5,000 due on the REVIEW AND HERALD, and $500 due on the Youth’s Instructor, making the sums due on our periodicals not less than $7,500. These are matters of importance. Who will look after them? We know of no man among us, at the Office, or away from it, that takes the least responsibility of this department of the work, excepting ourself, and we cannot as yet find time to properly attend to it.
And, again, we might call attention to the wants of the Health Institute. Present indications warrant the supposition that there will soon be more patients there than can be accommodated. There are a very few persons who should receive back a portion of their stock, as soon as others will take new stock. This matter needs attention. A building worth $5,000 must be put up immediately for Lecture hall, and dining room, on first floor, and rooms for patients, on second floor. There should be raised at once, $10,000 for the benefit of this worthy institution. This will require effort and energy. A good example was set at General Conference. The sum of $1,500 was raised by the comparatively few present.
Those who were guilty of bad management at the Institute, which involved losses have been separated from it, and prudent, God-fearing men and women have the charge of it under its present flourishing condition. They deserve the encouragement and co-operation of all the friends of health reform. The wrongs of unworthy persons caused a great reaction in the feelings of the friends of the Institute, and produced great discouragement. But there are no reasons why such feelings should continue. The causes of the discouragement have been removed, as far as they can be, and doubt and distrust on the part of the friends are unreasonable.
While there is so much work suffering to be done at headquarters, which is left for us to do, our friends cannot reasonably expect us to attend the camp-meetings, unless they can devise means for our release from Battle Creek.
The question may here be asked, What can be done to release Bro. and Sr. White from Battle Creek, so that they can attend our camp-meetings? We give first a general answer as follows: Let all the friends of the cause, whether they be ministers or people, act promptly, and cheerfully, and liberally, their part in the cause, and expect of us to make only our proportional part of the sacrifices, and do only our proportional part of the work. This course will free us from extra toil, and lift us above present discouragements, and give us courage to go forward and bear a free testimony.
But some may desire that we give a more particular and definite answer. For the benefit of such we give the following particulars:—
1. All of our preachers, and many of our brethren and sisters, should write short, spirited, clear, godly articles for our periodicals. Every one of our ministers should report himself as often as once in two weeks in the REVIEW. We should have each month as many as ten short articles from preachers and others for the Health Reformer. And ministers and people should remember the precious Youth’s Instructor. A proper attention to this part of the work would add greatly to the interest of our periodicals, and the general encouragement of all at the Office.
2. Each State Conference should become responsible for the payment of our periodicals circulated in its State. We can furnish to proper persons in each State a printed list of all the subscribers of the REVIEW AND HERALD, Health Reformer, and Youth’s Instructor. Traveling ministers have a good opportunity to attend to the collection of dues. The president of the New England Conference stated to us in February, that they would be responsible for all subscribers in that Conference. Will others do the same? Let each Conference collect all that should be collected, and let those be marked free that should not pay. Then the Association will discount one-fourth, and means can be raised to pay the Association three-fourths, by donations from the liberal in each Conference. And while this is being done, it can be ascertained if our periodicals are sent to unworthy persons, and discontinued to such. Also, at the same time, many new subscribers, both paying and charity subscribers, can be obtained. Shall this good work be done? We have nearly worn out our lives to build up our publishing interests. And now, at this encouraging, thriving, condition of things, if our friends excuse themselves from prompt co-operation in sustaining the publishing interest, they may expect, while we carry the burdens here, that we shall feel perfectly free in excusing ourselves from camp-meeting labor.
3. The amount of stock taken in shares of ten dollars each in the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, and donated to it, is only $30,000. This was principally taken ten years since, by the few believers at that time. Since that time, our numbers have increased at least fourfold; and but very few of those who have come to the faith during the past ten years have taken any stock in the Association. Now let these come up and bear their proportional part, and the Association’s stock will be raised to at least $100,000. Besides twenty years of the best of our lives, we have stock, and have made donations, to the amount of $500 in the Association, and propose to make the amount $600. Will our brethren, who should be equally interested in this work, take equal share in it? If they will, we can go on with the work free from embarrassments. Will our ministers take hold of this work? Will they set the example, and encourage the people to follow? If they will co-operate with us in this work, God willing, we will co-operate with them in their camp-meetings, and the general interests of the cause.
4. The amount of stock taken in the Health Reform Institute is $30,000. This is taken by a comparative few. Should all others, equally interested, take stock as the few have done, the entire amount would not be less than $100,000. We have taken stock to the amount of $1,000. When others come up to the work, and free the Institute from embarrassment, we shall offer one half of our stock for sale; for $500 would be our proportional part of at least $200,000. The directors must go on immediately and put up a building for lecture room and dining room below, and good rooms for patients and offices on the second floor, which will cost $5,000. Will our ministers in the several States take hold of this matter? And will our people everywhere bear their proportional part of the work, according to their ability? If they will, it will be a matter of great relief and encouragement to us; and they will find us ready to co-operate with them to the utmost in their local interests in the several States.
5. Should we attend any of the camp-meetings, we should be glad to work as hard there as other ministers. But we shall never add to the general oversight of the meetings, religious and business, the sale of books, and general business of periodicals, and the like. Let each camp-meeting employ suitable men for this work. It will then be an excellent opportunity for State Conference Committees to see that all subscribers in the State pay up. Will our camp-meetings take this work off our hands? Without pledges that they will, they need not ask us to meet with them in camp-meeting.
The matter is now quite fully before our people. We shall not make calculations to meet our people in any of the States in camp-meetings, unless State Conference Committees have sufficient interest in the matter, to offer cheerful co-operation. Not three years since, camp-meetings among us as a people, were an experiment. We took hold of the work, determined that they should be a success. We have labored against prejudice, coldness, indifference, slackness, and sometimes against feelings of rebellion, because we plead that all connected with the meetings should be in order and respectable. We now design to write on the subject of camp-meetings, and then leave all to form their opinion of the manner of conducting such meetings.
JAMES WHITE.

Missouri and Kansas.

By James White

We hope to be able to give a definite statement in next week’s REVIEW, concerning tents. We shall expect to hear very soon from brethren in Missouri and Kansas relative to camp-meetings in those States. Would July suit them better than May? They can have their choice. If all the Sabbath-keepers in Daviess Co., Mo., will actively unite in a camp-meeting in that State, we think they should have one by all means; but if they cannot, we think it would not be practicable to have one in that county. Will Bro. J. H. Rogers and Bro. Cook, two of the Kansas and Missouri Conference Committee, immediately write in reference to camp-meetings? We shall immediately correspond with tent-makers in regard to two large tents for that Conference. Elders Canright and Littlejohn are appointed to attend Western camp-meetings. J. W.

Appointments and Meeting Notices for April 1871

Appointments.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Monthly meeting at East Otto, Catt. Co., N. Y., the first Sabbath and first-day in May. It is expected that Bro. E. B. Saunders will attend this meeting. R. F. Cottrell.
Wright, Mich., Sabbath, April 15. Blendon, the 16, at 2 P. M. Leighton, the 19th, evening. John Byington.
Providence permitting, I will meet with the church in Blendon, Ottawa Co., Sabbath and first day, April 15 and 16. By request, I will meet with the church in Newton at their quarterly meeting commencing Sabbath, April 22. Joseph Bates.
Quarterly meeting of the church of Bowersville, Ohio, April 29 and 30, 1871. Brethren are invited to attend, and absent members are requested to report. You will also re-arrange and send your S. B. with your report as usual. Come, brethren, and let us enjoy the rich blessing of the Lord together. Will Bro. O. Mears please meet with us? J. Q. A. Haughey.
Monthly meeting of Seventh-day Adventists at the Mason school-house in Howard Co., Ind., commencing on Friday evening, April 21, and lasting over Sabbath and first-day. Especial invitation is given to the Brn. Lane to be present. Chas. Seaward.
Quarterly meeting for the Iowa City, Pilot Grove, and Washington churches, at Pilot Grove, Iowa, Sabbath and first-day, April 22 and 23. Meeting to commence Friday evening. H. Nicola.
Providence permitting, I will meet with the church in Stowe, Vt., April 22 and 23; at Johnson, 29 and 30; at Wolcott, in quarterly meeting, May 6 and 7. We earnestly desire that all our brethren and sisters belonging to these churches, will meet with us, or report by letter their present standing; and that every member will be prepared to pay up their S. B. for the first quarter of the present year. Let us not be behind in this matter. Will Elder A. Stone meet with us at Johnson and Wolcott? A. S. Hutchins.
Continue reading: News and Miscellany