p. 192 | Review and Herald, Vol. 33, No. 24. (6/8/1869)

Reports from Norridgewock and Tuscola County

From Bro. Putnam.

Bro. Smith: As it has been some time since I have written in behalf of the church at Norridgewock, Me., I would say that the church generally are striving against sin, although they have not yet resisted unto blood. And although some become almost discouraged at times, yet the cause moves onward. The Sabbath just past has been a day of interest to some here. Four have borne the cross of baptism to-day, three of whom were new converts. There are others not yet decided in regard to this duty.

Pray for us, that amid all the devices of Satan we may be enabled to become united and stand strong against the flood of evil, and at last go up and possess the goodly land. Wm. W. Putnam.

South Norridgewock, Maine.

Bro. C. D. Cook writes from Tuscola Co., Mich.: The truth found me in the M. E. church, a full believer in the immortality of the soul, and keeping the first day of the week. But I can tell you, of a truth, the Bible was not a very plain book to me at that time, therefore it was not half so interesting to me as it now is. Praise the name of the Lord, I now love his holy word, and love it the more, the more I read it.

It is my prayer that some messenger may be sent this way soon, long enough at least to organize a church. There are twelve of us who are trying to live out the truth. We are nine miles north of Watrousville. Cannot some messenger be sent to us. I believe if one could be spared long enough to deliver a course of lectures here, good might be accomplished. May God bless, and save his people from falling victims to the perils of these last days.

Sr. L. J. Geroy writes from Washtenaw Co., Mich.: Never was the power of Satan more manifest than at the present time. Truly he knoweth that his time is short. Oh! that our neighbors and friends could see the way, and walk therein, and so escape what is so soon to fall upon this guilty world. I feel more like doubling my diligence than I ever have before, so that I may be ready either for death, or the appearing of our blessed Lord. I ask an interest in your prayers, that I may ever be found faithfully keeping all God’s commandments.

Sr. E. M. Lewis writes from St. Law. Co., N. Y.: Never before did I see such beauties in God’s commandments. Just one year ago this present month, I commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, according to the commandment. For twenty-eight years I have loved the Bible; but oh! how different it now seems to me since I understand it better.

Last week a stranger took dinner with us, who said he believed the Advent doctrine, but had not faith, or strength enough to begin to obey. I entreated him not to put it off. The subject made such an impression that I lay awake the following night several hours, thinking of the important work before us as a people. It seemed if the whole world were present, I would lift my voice and warn them of coming danger. If I can encourage one to persevere, I shall be glad, and give God the glory.

Obituary Notices.

By John; H. F. Terwilliger

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.

Died, near Pleasantville, Iowa, April 16, 1869, of whooping cough and congestion on the brain, our dear little daughter Genetta Florence, aged 7 months and 16 days. Three dear children have we now sleeping in the ground, waiting the sound of the Archangel’s trump. May God help us to be ready to meet those sleeping ones and share eternal life with them.

JOHN & H. F. TERWILLIGER.

SANCTIFICATION.

By M. J. COTTRELL

This word is one, which, when used any where outside of the Bible, has conveyed to my mind the idea of fanaticism. I know not why, except it be for the reason that I have heard it most often used by those who were themselves subjects of fanaticism. But for some time past my mind has been called more especially to the consideration of this subject, from the fact that God's people are to be sanctified through his truth. And commencing a perusal of “Sanctification or Living Holiness,” by Bro. Bourdeau, I was surprised at the manner in which he treated this subject. I at once became deeply interested, and as the perusal continued, floods of light broke into my mind, and sanctification no longer has any association with fanaticism. But on the contrary I not only see, but feel, that in order to be a true Christian and a fit subject for God's pure and happy kingdom, I must become sanctified through his truth. And I wish to urge upon the young, one and all, the importance of seeking for a thorough knowledge of the reasons of their hope, and also of a clear understanding of the steps to be taken, the work to be done, in order to see the fruition of this hope.

My young friends, the means by which we may obtain this information are within our reach. The many tracts and pamphlets issued by our Association, are just the helps which we need. Yet who among us has ever read one-fourth part of these important books? They are sent forth to enlighten and convert an unbelieving world, and we who profess to be living out the principles they teach, do not more than half know what those principles are. We must render an account for these unimproved privileges, not to man but to God. Remember that we are doing work for eternity; are forming characters for life or death. Perhaps when these silent messengers have enlightened our minds, we shall feel the importance of their being sent forth to enlighten others. Time is passing. We must become sanctified now, or find no place among the pure at last. Young friends, what are we doing.

M. J. COTTRELL.

“I’LL TAKE WHAT FATHER TAKES.”

“What will you take to drink?” asked the waiter, of a young lad, who for the first time accompanied his father to a public dinner. Uncertain what to say, and feeling sure that he could not be wrong if he followed his father’s example, he replied:

“I’ll take what father takes.”

The answer reached the father’s ear, and instantly the full responsibility of his position flashed upon him. If he said, “I’ll take ale,” as he had always said before, his son would take it also, and then? And the father shuddered as the history of several young men who, once promising as his own bright lad, had been ruined by drink, started up in solemn warning before him. Should his hope also be blasted, and that open-faced, noble lad become a burden and a curse as they had become? But for strong drink, they would have been active, earnest, prosperous men; and if it could work such ruin upon them, was his own son safe? Quicker than lightning these thoughts passed through his mind, and in a moment the decision was made. “If the boy falls he shall not have me to blame;” and then, in tones tremulous with emotion, to the astonishment of those who knew him, he said, “Waiter, I’ll take water;” and from that day to this, strong drink has been banished from that man’s home.

The young lad, in his brief utterance, was really the representative of the generation to which he belongs. God has so decreed it, that the father is the highest authority in the world to his child. Who does not know that “My father said so,” is the end of all controversy with the little ones around us? Who does not see the parent’s tone, gait and manners, continually reproduced in the children whose nature is now as soft as wax to receive an impression, and rigid as marble to retain it, and who watch with a quick, imitating eye those who to them are God’s vicegerents?

Would that we could impress upon the fathers and mothers of this country, the solemn fact that the future character of their children is being formed by them; that if they are trained up in the way that they should go, when they are old, they will not depart from it; but that, if they become vain, sensual, and degraded, the seeds will have been deposited, and the bias given in the early morning of their lives.—Temperance Paper.

Remains of Antediluvians.—

Day before yesterday, while the quarry men employed by the Sauk Rapids Water Power Company, were engaged in quarrying rock for the dam which is being erected across the Mississippi at this place, they found imbedded in the solid granite rock, the remains of a human being of gigantic stature. About seven feet below the surface of the ground, and about three feet and a half beneath the upper stratum of rock, the remains were found imbedded in the sand, which had evidently been placed in the quadrangular grave which had been dug out of the solid rock to receive the last sad remains of this antediluvian giant. The grave was twelve feet in length, four feet wide, and about three feet in depth, and is to-day at least two feet below the present level of the river. The remains are completely petrified, and are of gigantic dimensions. The head is massive, measures thirty-one and one half inches in circumference, but low in the os frontis, and very flat on top. The femur measures twenty-six and a quarter inches, and the fibula twenty-five and a half, while the body is equally long in proportion. From the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, the length is ten feet nine and a half inches. The measure round the chest is fifty nine and a half inches. This giant must have weighed at least nine hundred pounds when covered with a reasonable amount of flesh. The petrified remains, and there is nothing left but the naked bones, now weigh three hundred and four and a quarter pounds. The thumb and fingers of the left hand, and the left foot from the ankle to the toes are gone; but all the other parts are perfect. Over the sepulchre of the unknown dead was placed a large, flat, limestone rock, that remained perfectly separated from the surrounding granite rock.

These wonderful remains of an antediluvian, gigantic race are in the possession of a gentleman who has started with it to his residence East. This gentleman, it is said, will send the remains to Boston, and possibly we may hear all that can be said on the subject by the learned in these things. It is supposed by some of our ablest men, among whom is General Thomas, that many more skeletons will be found during the process of excavating the granite rocks in this place. Some seem to think that these remains were deposited in this sarcophagus prior to the formation of the present strata of rocks that now abound here; but this is a mere conjecture.—Wisconsin Paper.

The Triumph of Making an Enemy a Friend

THE proudest triumph in a man's life is when he makes a friend of an enemy. Then joy is then akin to what angels feel as they rejoice over a sinner that repenteth.

READ THE SCRIPTURES.

MULLER says, “I fell into the snare into which so many young believers fall, the reading of religious books in preference to the Scriptures. I read tracts, missionary papers, sermons, and biographies of godly persons. I never had been at any time of my life in the habit of reading the Holy Scriptures. . . . . The scriptural way of reasoning would have been: God himself has consented to be an author, and I am ignorant about that precious book, which his Holy Spirit has caused to be written through the instrumentality of his servants, and it contains that which I ought to know, the knowledge of which will lead me to true happiness; therefore I ought to read again and again this most precious book of books, most earnestly, most prayerfully, and with much meditation; and in this practice I ought to continue all the days of my life. But instead of acting thus, my difficulty in understanding it, and the little enjoyment I had in it, made me careless of reading it, and thus like many believers I practically preferred for the first four years of my divine life, the works of uninspired men, to the oracles of the living God. The consequence was, I remained a babe in Christ, both in knowledge and grace.”

Appointments.

By E. O. NELSON; H. NICOLA

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

The next Quarterly Meeting of the church at Avon, Rock County, Wis., will be at Avon, June 26 and 27, 1869. Brethren and sisters from other churches are expected. Come, brethren, praying the Lord to meet with us. Cannot some of the ministers of this Conference meet with us? E. O. NELSON.

The next Quarterly Meeting for the Pilot Grove, Washington, and Iowa City churches, will be at Pilot Grove, Sabbath and first-day, June 19 and 20, 1869. We hope to see a general attendance at this meeting. Come, dear brethren and sisters, praying that God will meet with us, and refresh us by the influence of his Spirit. H. NICOLA.

The Health Institute.

By JAMES WHITE

BE IN SEASON.

I HAVE a few brief sentences to write relative to the Health Institute, located at Battle Creek, Mich.

1. It is prospering finely. It is crowded with patients. They seem to be happy. They are doing well. Some most remarkable cures are being wrought.

2. During the past year a large proportion of patients have been treated and boarded at half price. This has added to the embarrassments of the Institute. Many of these persons could pay nothing. Their relatives, or the church to which they belonged, or the benevolent fund, has paid half. The Institute has given half. There must be a larger proportion of full-paying patients at our Institute.

3. No persons should come to the Institute expecting reduction in prices without first corresponding, and making full arrangements.

4. Be in season. Let the afflicted obtain help while it may be obtained. One month at the Institute when you are beginning to fail will do more for you than one year after the other doctors have given you up, and there only remains the breath of life in you. The great object of the Health Reform and the Health Institute is to teach men and women how to live so as to best preserve and increase their fund of vitality. One half of the readers of the REVIEW would do well to spend from three weeks to three months at the Institute. Their money laid out at full prices would pay fifty per cent in the end. The advantages health-wise cannot be estimated in dollars and cents.

Are you feeble, and liable to break down? Come while you can be helped. Do not wait till you are so low as to only be able to reach the Institute just alive, to be told, on examination, that there is no help for you. Or if you stay, have to be carried up and down stairs, lingering a long time between life and death, a cause of sadness to every one who sees you, and a burden to yourself.

Be in season in this matter. Do not wait till you have eaten all the drugs in town, and have fairly gotten up an apothecary shop in your stomach, and you are nearly ready for the cemetery, before you decide to come to the Institute.

The object of the Institute is not to take these desperate cases that have been delayed and delayed till every ray of hope for health elsewhere has departed. Its great object is to save men from that terrible condition. You do not do the Institute justice to put off the matter of recovery till your case becomes doubtful. Come while it is a matter of certainty that you can be helped.

Come with a cheerful, liberal mind. Do not talk of reduction in prices. Come with the feeling that it is your Institute, and must be sustained and freed from its financial embarrassments. It is now conducted with economy. All connected, who receive pay for their services, manifest a good degree of true Christian benevolence. And we expect to see the same liberal spirit manifested by all true friends of health reform. We design to appeal to you, friends of humanity, of reform and of truth, to help the Institute by your liberal donations in its work of Christian philanthropy in treating the afflicted poor for half pay. If you will respond to the call, these can be helped. If not, they cannot be helped to the extent they have been the past year. This is a work of benevolence. Read the parable of the sheep and goats in Matt. xxv, and then say if this is not part of that very work. At the Institute, the hungry have been fed, the destitute have been clothed, and the sick and distressed have been, in a spirit of Christian sympathy, relieved. This has been done to Christ. Will you take part?

Battle Creek, Mich., June 4, 1869.

JAMES WHITE.

Tent Meetings.

By James White

I HAVE ordered a new sixty-feet tent from Chicago, and decide to first pitch it near Bro. Howe's, in Orange, Ionia Co., Thursday, June 17.

We design to hold two or three days' meetings each week in different parts of the State of Michigan. Our object is to call the crowd of those who have ears to hear from far and near. We hope to call together our scattered friends, and arouse our people to the duties and dangers of this time.

Come, brethren, from far and near. But remember the church at Orange is not large and wealthy. Come prepared to care for yourselves as far as is possible. Come with your small tents. The cloth should be the firmest, cut into strips twelve yards in length. These strips sewed together will make both the roof and the walls, making the tent of sufficient width and hight for convenience and comfort. Your tents will be just what you will want at the general Camp-meeting. Do not depart from the dimensions given, that there may be uniformity in all our tents. Small tent companies can have their tents short, or two can join together upon the ground. But let them all be of the same hight and width.

The meeting will be about eight miles from the railroad station at Ionia, and the same from Muir station. Those coming from the east will find a farm-wagon at Muir, Friday, to take them to the ground. Those coming from the west will find the same at Ionia. This meeting will be a poor place for invalids and small children. We hope to see a crowd of those who can endure the hardships of the war, and very plain preaching.

It is now expected that Bro. Smith and Littlejohn will join us in the labors of this meeting. The Michigan Conference Committee are requested to be present. Those in other parts of the State who want similar meetings, should make their wishes known.

The tent on the ground will cost me about $550.00. I pay for and manage this tent. Those who wish it pitched in their locality must do all the work of moving it, pitching it, seating the grounds, and in fact, meet all tent expenses. We will speak to the people. Those who wish to help me in this enterprise may send their donations to the Review Office, or to me at Greenville, Montcalm Co., Mich., or hand them to me at the several meetings we may hold.

We hope to be able to supply all with Hymn Books, and other publications, at these meetings.

JAMES WHITE.

Note from Bro. Cornell.

By M. E. Cornell

By request, I occupied the Baptist desk at East Addison, Vermont, last first-day in the forenoon and evening. I then applied for the house for a course of lectures. They granted the house by unanimous vote, and I commence to-morrow evening, June 1, and continue as long as the interest may demand. All seemed to be interested, and no objection was made to our discourses yesterday, except by the resident minister. He thought the angel that came to John, was one of the old prophets. That much he was sure of. His objection was not well received by his own members. So far, all works favorably. In company with Bro. O. P. Whitford, I am calling on the scattered Sabbath-keepers in these parts. I trust the way is opening before me here. M. E. CORNELL.

Addison, Vt., May 31.

The Late Conference.

By Joseph Bates

The last week has been a most deeply interesting season to the Seventh-day Adventists who assembled in Battle Creek to attend their annual General Conference, Michigan State Conference, Publishing Association, and Health Institute. Connected with these were the early morning and evening meetings, Sabbath and first-day preaching, and social meetings, all in harmony with the onward, closing work of the third angel, ripening off the harvest of the earth. The powerful appeals to move the people to labor in the vineyard of the Lord were soul-stirring and arousing, accompanied with the Spirit of the Holy One. The Lord strengthen his believing people throughout the wide harvest field to renew their choice and double their diligence to work for God and his precious cause, is my prayer.

JOSEPH BATES.

Monterey, Mich., May 26, 1869.

Business Department.

Not Slothful in Business. Rom. xii, 11.

Business Notes.

INFORMATION WANTED. A few weeks since some one (no name given) wrote from Bowne Mich., inclosing $10 for the advancement of the cause. A note of inquiry was put into the paper about this, from which we have heard nothing. Later some one from Bowne (no name given, hence we presume it to be the same person) sent $10 for Conference fund. No credit could be acknowledged as no name was signed to the letter. Again, May 30, some one writes from Bowne (no name given,) inquiring about the $10 he or she sent to the Conference fund. When the name shall be given we can answer the inquiries and give credit for the money.

RECEIPTS.

For Review and Herald.

Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD to which the money receipted 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 then be given.

$1.00 each. C T Snyder 35-1, L P Russell 35-1, D Hewitt 35-1, J Adams 35-18, R A Morton 35-18, H T Hewitt 35-18, C Range 35-18, Dr J S Williams 35-18, J G Maxwell 35-18, J G Walker 35-18, H Allen 35-18, J V Reid 35-18, D Chamberlain 35-18, D Finlay 35-1, M L Huntly 35-1, M D Williams 34-14, S H Beal 34-1, C M Nichols 34-1, C A Wilbur 34-1, F Woodard 34-17, R F Gould 35-1, C Green 35-1, C A Sanford 35-1, T Massengill 35-1.

$2.00 each. Julia M Leef 36-1, L C Patterson 34-1, D R Leighton 36-1, C W Stanley 34-12, S Howland 37-10, P A Marvin 36-1, S Paine 35-1, H W Barrows 35-16, M S Gillett 35-20, W H Place 36-1, W P Merritt 35-1, Geo Carter 35-1, M Crompton 35-1, L J Andrews 33-8, Sarah Horton 35-15.

Miscellaneous. A N Van Orden $2.25 34-20, C E Miller 1.20 35-1, Geoffrey Mills 1.20 35-1, Nancy Davis 1.20 35-1, Mrs J Shearer 1.50 34-1, Mrs M Perry 3.00 34-1, M W Neale 3.00 35-1, M J Neale 2.00 34-1, W R Irish 4.00 35-19, A Loveland 3.00 35-19, John Smith 4.00 35-1, Mrs A Diamond 4.50 35-2, Mrs N P Hollis 85c 33-24, Mrs Parsons 60c 33-24.

Books Sent by Mail.

Sarah A Snyder $2.24, C S Warner 1.00, A W Chaffee 1.12, W Boynton 1.00, Pease Mills 50c, J G Estell 40c, E Bowyers 1.12, Potter E Cole 1.12, F W Southworth 87c, M E Williams 13c, C K Farnsworth 1.75, N Keyser 13c, Hattie Parsons 1.00, C Hennessey 1.13, Mrs M Thompson 20c, D A Owen 10c, John Smith 1.00, W P Merrifield 45c, B F Gould 25c, Libbie Squier 2.25, Mrs M Parsons 40c, C A Sanford 2.00, G W Morse 1.15, Daniel Baker 1.12, Truman Loomis 2.24, John Leland 1.20, D Smouse 2.25, Mrs L T Heller 1.12, M J Barthol 1.32, C W Crofoot 1.35, P C Truman 1.32, J B Ingalls 4.48, A M Smith 1.12, Albert Erway 1.35, Julia A Griggs 1.33, Simeon A Howe 1.12, A L Burroughs 1.12, Lucius Winston 1.12, Maggie Wilkinson 1.10, Tabitha Mount 1.12, B G Allen 1.32, John W Wolfe 2.50, Robert Ladlee 1.12, Miss Sarah Glascock 1.32, A W Smith 1.32, C A Bates 1.13, M H Bates 1.12, W T Hinton 1.00, Lucinda Gould 1.12, N T Furman 1.32, E P Cram 1.32, Wm G Watson 1.12, Ellen W Morse 1.12, M E Reynolds 1.12, A L Alverson 1.32, Mary E Parker 1.32, W H Chesebro 1.05, Mrs M A Cramer 1.12, J McKinnis 1.12, V Moore 1.12, Mrs Nancy Gibbons 1.00, Louise B Pierce 1.12, Mrs R F Parsons 1.12, G R Austin 1.12, Mrs S Vincent 2.30, Reuben Loveland 2.25, John Starr 1.12, Daniel Barriclow 2.25, Nervilla Grant 3.56.

General Conference Missionary Fund.

Clara J Birch $3.00, Mrs F Glascock 5.00.

For California Mission.

C A Sanford $1.00.

Books Sent by Express.

Elder M E Cornell Vergennes, Vt. $17.37.

Cash Received on Account.

H F Philips 2.00.

Advent Keepsake Edition

A new and plain edition of the Advent Keepsake is ready. The reading matter is the same. Plain muslin binding, and plain edge. Price 25c. Postage 4 cts.

James White’s Post Office Address

The Post Office address of Eld. James White for the present is Greenville, Montcalm Co., Mich.

George I. Butler’s Post Office Address

The post office address of Eld. Geo. I. Butler, is Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Where Their Worm Dieth Not

By F. GOULD

F. GOULD: For a brief exposition of the expressions “Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched,” see Mortal or Immortal, pp. 87, 88.