The more active portion of the Battle Creek church have of late been taking steps to interest all its members more fully in the missionary work. One week ago last Sunday evening a vote was taken to form a Vigilant Society. Last Wednesday night their first meeting was held. Those feeling interested in the work were invited to hand in the addresses of individuals to whom they wished one or more copies of the SIGNS and REFORMER sent, whereupon there were over nine hundred addresses handed in. Fifty-five joined the Vigilant Committee, and seven new members were obtained for the Tract Society.
One member of the church living 26 miles distant took a club of 12 extra copies of the SIGNS for distribution. Letters were read where they had been receiving reading matter, from Maine, Missouri, England, Illinois, Georgia, and Michigan. In each instance an interest had been awakened, and a further call was made for reading matter. In one of the above-mentioned places, a company was keeping the Sabbath as the direct result of reading the SIGNS and tracts; and, as yet, they had seen no Sabbath-keepers except themselves. Names of seventy-five members of the church, not residing at Battle Creek, were passed to various members present, who were to correspond with them during the coming week, to enlist their co-operation in this work.
Their commodious house of worship was comparatively filled. All seemed of good courage in the Lord. They have set their hearts to have a live church and give every member an opportunity to contribute of their influence to build up the cause of God.
S. N. Haskell.
SELLING TOBACCO.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Should Seventh-day Adventists sell tobacco? Of course not, for many good reasons. As a people, S. D. Adventists are thoroughly settled that tobacco-using is a bad, unjustifiable practice; because, in the first place, the system does not need it. It does nobody any good. In the next place, it does positive injury. It is a strong poison. No one can for years take into his system a poison without injuring him. Then it is a nasty, filthy habit, as everybody admits. It defiles a man’s mouth, blackens his teeth, soils his beard, and besmears everything where he is. Wherever a tobacco-user goes, he leaves his mark. You can track him in the church, in his own parlor, in the cars, and along the street. You can smell him in every wave of wind that passes his defiled body. His breath is offensive.
Furthermore, it costs money, an immense amount of money—money for which God will hold every man accountable, money which the cause of God needs, and money which should be paid for religious papers, for missionary work, and a thousand other good things. This the tobacco-user throws away. I know a professed Christian elder in Missouri who pays 37½ cents a year to support the cause of God, about which he talks very eloquently, but at the same time he pays the nice little sum of $20.00 a year for tobacco! Which God does he love best? Judge ye. From the above considerations the members of our churches do not use tobacco. Then we ask you, Can they conscientiously sell it to others? Of course they cannot. Hence none of our brethren who keep store or grocery deal in the article. I write this for the benefit of those newly embracing the faith, who probably might overlook this item, and engage in this bad business without thinking how wrong it is.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
“UNDER THE CURSE.”
By R. F. Cottrell
An old lady, where I am now laboring, has piously kept the first day of the week as the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and taught her children to do so; but a son of hers has discovered that the fourth commandment, which she had taught him to keep, requires him to keep the seventh, and not the first, day of the week, and accordingly has begun to keep it. And though she cannot gainsay the fact that the seventh day of the week is the day named in the commandment, but acknowledges it, yet she feels very bad that her son has embraced it, and has sent him a special request to read the third chapter of Galatians.
Now it seems quite remarkable that while the old lady kept, and taught her children to keep, the fourth commandment on Sunday, she never discovered that she was of “the works of the law” and “under the curse;” but now, for the first time, she has been led to the discovery, that if any one does really keep that commandment on the true seventh day, he is seeking to be “justified by the law,” and is “fallen from grace.”
The fourth commandment is but one of the ten; and if we shall fall from grace and be under the curse by keeping it, unless we substitute Sunday, the first day of the week, for the seventh day, what change will it be necessary to make in the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth commandments of the same law, to escape being justified by it and falling from grace? Shall we leave the little word, “not,” out of each of them, and keep them accordingly? In that case there will be no danger of our being justified by them as they now read.
R. F. Cottrell.
Growth of Catholic Priests and Institutions in America
A HUNDRED years ago there were not more than 25 priests in the United States; in 1800 there were supposed to be 40; in 1830 the number had risen to 332, and in 1848 to 890. In ten years, from 1862 to 1872, the number of priests was more than doubled, having grown from 2217 to 4809. In 1875, there were, according to the official statistics of the various dioceses, 5074 priests, 1273 ecclesiastical students, and 6528 churches and chapels in the United States. There are, also, at the same time, 33 theological seminaries, 63 colleges, 557 academies and select schools, 1,645 parochial schools, 214 asylums, and 96 hospitals under the authority and control of the Catholic hierarchy of this country.—The Catholic World.
NEW YORK.
Clear Creek.
Friday, April 6, Bro. Reynolds and I began meetings at Clear Creek. Bro. R. held a tent meeting here last season. We found over a dozen good Sabbath-keepers, firm in the truth. They have kept up regular Sabbath meetings all the time. Sabbath day, friends came in from all around till there were forty-five present, young and old—all old enough to be Christians. I was surprised to find that there were so many Sabbath-keepers in this section. None of these came more than a dozen miles, and most of them much less. Nearly half of these were young people from twelve to twenty-five years old, Sabbath-keepers, but not professors, except a few. I have not often seen a more interesting class of our young people than these.
We tried hard to get them to give their lives to the service of God, but found them very slow to move. However ten, old and young, made a start, and spoke well. Could this have been followed up a couple of days, I feel sure most all would have yielded. But the parents went home with them Sabbath afternoon, and thus defeated all further efforts to help the most of them. I have found the parents in this county the most backward about helping their children of any in the State, and it has grieved me much. Sunday morning we had about a dozen young persons together, and enjoyed a pleasant season. Eight of them engaged in prayer with us.
Then we came together and organized a church of twenty-one members. Two were baptized. Sr. Bentley was elected clerk, and Bro. S. Thurston was elected and ordained elder. Others not present will unite soon.
We also organized S. B. amounting to $112 per year, and voted the third more for T. and M. The outside attendance was large. In fact, the house was crowded at every meeting. Our last meeting was a very solemn one. The Lord helped to reach the hearts of the people. One man, who had just finished reading the History of the Sabbath, fully decided to keep the Sabbath, and subscribed for the REVIEW. We could only stay two days. I leave this place with the saddest heart I have had this winter, not because we did not see much accomplished, nor because we had not very much to rejoice over, but because I saw so much more that ought to be done. But we have many churches to visit yet, and my time in which to do it is well-nigh spent.
There are scattered brethren and good openings all around here. We hope to see all these friends at the camp-meeting, where we will see what can be done for them. Bro. Watkins cheerfully bore much of the burden of the meetings, for which the Lord reward him. D. M. CANRIGHT.
North Gouverneur and Rome.
Met with the friends at Gouverneur, Thursday, April 3. I found four here who have lately commenced to keep the Sabbath. One of these, an influential man in the community, has been carefully investigating this question since a course of lectures were given here more than a year since, and now, with his good wife, has taken a firm stand to keep the commandments of God. This is another illustration of the fact that we can sometimes judge but poorly as to what has been accomplished by the apparent results at the close of a course of lectures. Three united with the church, and a good degree of interest was manifested in the missionary work. At my request Bro. H. H. Wilcox filled my appointment at Rossie. He reports the friends there all firm in the truth.
Our first quarterly meeting at Rome, April 7 and 8, was an interesting occasion. There was a full attendance of the church at the meeting on Friday evening preparatory to the ordinance meeting. Nearly all, as far as we could judge, engaged in the fast; and our meeting on the Sabbath was excellent.
Evening after the Sabbath the ordinances were celebrated for the first time in this church. The promptness and cheerfulness with which all the brethren and sisters engaged in this work, gave good evidence of the love of the truth and the spirit of union and harmony that prevails among those who have so lately received the truth here.
We found at our business meeting on Sunday, that more than three out of four had previously paid up their S. B. for the quarter; and those who have not done so will soon, so that we shall commence the new quarter with a clean record. The regular prayer meetings continue in interest, and are well attended; and a weekly prayer meeting among the sisters has been established. B. L. WHITNEY.
Parma.
The interest here is as great now as it has been since we began. We are having full houses, notwithstanding the meeting in the Baptist house. A Free Methodist minister has come in to present the claims of the first day, which is helping the cause wonderfully. The interest is extending for miles around, and we hear of one minister in an adjoining town, that is trying to defend his cause against the aggressions of the present truth.
Our last Sabbath meeting was another interesting occasion. Our work here seems only fairly inaugurated, and we hope for glorious things to report in the future. S. B. WHITNEY.
St Lawrence Co.
I was with the church in Rossie Apr. 4 and 5. In consequence of bad roads, high water, and sickness, held only one meeting. The rest of the time, was spent in visiting and looking after the interests of the cause. The members of this church are united and firm in the truth. There are those here, that a short time ago did not pray, that are now calling upon God in earnest.
I attended the quarterly meeting at North Gouverneur Apr. 7 and 8. This was a good meeting. On first day they came together to pay S. B. I spoke to them a short time with regard to the plan of raising means and its object, after which every member present came forward and paid his S. B. for the quarter. Some that have not yet joined the church, yet are keeping the Sabbath, pledged and paid. Three that are not keeping the Sabbath donated. This was all done with the greatest degree of cheerfulness I ever witnessed. The Spirit of the Lord was present to sanction this good work. HENRY H. WILCOX.
ILLINOIS
By G. W. Collord
Clyde.
At our next yearly meeting, the name of this church should be changed to Coleta. This is my home-church, and its members I dearly love. In the meetings I received encouragement, especially when attending to the ordinances of the Lord’s house and transacting business for the Master. A young brother who formerly worshiped with the Disciples, attending our celebration of Jesus’ humiliation and passion, said, “An equal to this meeting I never saw.” He and his companion now observe the Sabbath. We are expecting several to be immersed and labor with us in the future.
Dist. No. 11 is too slow in the T. and M. work; still we are accomplishing something. This is the youngest district in the State. We voted to form a club of twenty-four names, or more, for the SIGNS. Systematic benevolence is now paid much more promptly than hitherto. We also voted to pay an amount equal to one-third of our S. B. into the Tract Society treasury. Let union and zeal be seen.
McConnell’s Grove.
My brother Ivory and I came, last week, about fifty miles, over very muddy roads and through the rain, to meet our friends in Dist. No. 1. A goodly number of the members were present. We were made glad to meet Eld. H. W. Decker and eight of his co-workers, from Monroe, Wis. We worked, as these hitherto united Conferences always should, in harmony. At the close of Bro. Decker’s discourse Sabbath P. M., we enjoyed a social meeting. At first it was very readily seen that all was not right. There was no freedom in the meeting; but towards the close, the erring began to confess, and more light broke in upon us. By a standing vote nearly the whole congregation declared themselves at peace with each other. Now, friends, why not keep the door closed, and bolt the devil outside?
In our business session we gained some points of information from the remarks offered by our brethren and sisters from Monroe. Systematic benevolence was considered; a club of four for the SIGNS was formed; aid was voted to a poor, aged brother. This district voted, last winter, in favor of the “one-third.” We believe there is freedom still in store for Illinois.
Apr. 9. G. W. COLLORD.
INDIANA T. AND M. MEETING.
By J. W. Covert
This meeting was held at Alto, Howard Co. It was called to order by the vice-president, Bro. J. M. Rees. Bro. J. W. Covert was elected secretary pro tem.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted. It was then voted that each district hold its quarterly meeting the 12th and 13th of May, and that the State quarterly meeting be held the 19th and 20th of May. This State has five districts. No. of T. and M. members, 101. The labor during the last quarter is as follows: No. of families visited, 72; No. of letters written, 55; money received for membership, $29; donations, $11.49; book sales, $28.61; pages, 60,818; Almanacs sold and given, 150, bringing in $2.45. Total, $71.55.
No. of new subscribers: REVIEW, 16; INSTRUCTOR, 43; REFORMER, 1; SIGNS, 30; BATTLE CREEK COLLEGE 12. Distribution of reading matter: No. of REVIEWS, 422; INSTRUCTORS, 54; REFORMERS, 34; SIGNS 35; tracts and pamphlets, 45,276 pp., value, $28.29; periodicals, $4.26.
Bro. Lane reported the T. and M. Society out of debt and two hundred dollars' worth of books on hand. It was then voted that said books should be equally distributed among the districts.
Adjourned.
J. W. COVERT, Sec. pro tem.
A LETTER FROM DAKOTA.
By CAROL LOU B. AURNER
EDITORS ADVENT REVIEW: My Dear Sirs, In March Eld. E. M. Farnsworth came here to preach and labor in behalf of your faith. He began his labors on Sunday127, March 11, in the public school-house in town. He has followed this by preaching once on each succeeding Sunday, and on such weekly evenings as the building was unoccupied—some four evenings out of the week. He is a young man and the first English speaking representative of the denomination to come here. He has been complimented throughout his stay with the largest congregations of any one at this time of the year for years, and has received courteous and friendly attentions from all as a rule.
There is here a S. D. A. church of forty members whose families, as they are nearly all heads of families, must include at least one hundred persons; but they are all Danes, who have from time to time had the service of the Rev. Mr. Hanson, a Dane. This church has grown up in the past three years. It started from a package of tracts sent to the post-mistress and handed by her to a Dane, a Mr. Nelson, because they chanced to be printed in his own language, to amuse himself with in the long Dakota winter. The reading of these aroused a curiosity in his mind to know of their teachings, which caused him to send to your office for more; and soon he began keeping the Sabbath day. It was a matter of jest and ridicule to his friends and neighbors; but he kept on till he succeeded in inducing this Eld. Hansen to come here, when himself and wife and brother-in-law, and wife were baptized (they had been Lutherans), and thus started a church with this brother-in-law, Andrew Fredericsen, as elder.
Now they have forty members who manifest a good deal of interest for their countrymen which are here, either Lutherans or Baptists. These say that the Lutherans make a kind of hospital or quarantine of the Baptist church, which takes them in and teaches them the grand truths of repentance and immersion by which they are fitted for the reception of new truths from the Bible as old as creation. The facts here seem to verify this statement, as very many of the Scandinavians under Baptist labor become converted, and unite with them; and soon, on hearing this Eld. Hansen or some other Seventh-day Adventist, or getting hold of tracts and papers, are filled with the spirit of inquiry; and the result in many cases, facts say, is the embracing of the Sabbath and the full Law.
Our county has a population of some three or four thousand, about half Americans I think, and the rest Scandinavians and Russians. These Russians speak German, and are Lutherans and Mennonites. Where is the Seventh-day Adventist who can carry the truth to them in their own tongue? They are bound to be a power of account in our county, as they must count one-third of the population and probably as much or more of its wealth, as some are very thrifty for this country.
Eld. E. M. Farnsworth is very kind in manner and fair in address, and his work has thus far aroused a good degree of interest among the Americans; and many are accepting tracts, and reading books, and investigating the grounds on which we have been observing the first instead of the seventh day in worship of God. To most of them the subject is new. They received the Sunday from faith in childhood's teachings, and supposed it was right of course; but now they are not quite so sure. Many are already convinced that the seventh is the day that the Bible gives with ample proof; but—but—“I have married a wife, and cannot go; and I have bought four yoke of oxen, and I pray thee to have me excused.”One, a Baptist, has already begun to observe the seventh day, and there are more to follow.
My dear sirs, I do not know as this letter will be acceptable to you, or that it will give you any pleasure; but I hope it will, both, and that you will find space for a share or all of it in your columns. I have been a Baptist for years, but under this young man's teachings, I began to investigate the Bible for the change of the Sabbath to the first day of the week; and the more I hunted, the more I did not find any support for my faith in said change. I have been a Sabbath-keeper since March 11. I am very anxious for my husband, who has been a Baptist since last September. He is much interested, and says he will observe the day “if it is right.” He will investigate this matter. I feel he will soon be with me. God help the truth here.
Very respectfully,
CAROL LOU B. AURNER.
ARE YOU DOING ALL YOU CAN?
Brother, sister, are you doing
In the Master's field to-day,
All the work which he requireth?
Does not duty for you stay?
Is no corner of the vineyard
Left neglected or o'ergrown,
Which your hand might well have cultured
Had you all your duty done.
Are no vines left drooping, trailing,
Which support at your heart claim?
Is to be a true vine-dresser
Made your daily, hourly aim?
Are no poor ones suffering, starving,
Lacking just the aid that you,
From abundance which God gives you,
Could, most surely, well bestow?
Are no homeless ones extending,
Pleading hands for love and care,
Which your heart and hand might give them?
Will you not your bounties share?
—Religious Intelligencer.
Maryland Eastern Shore Appointments and Revival Call
By R. F. Cottrell
Maryland
The weather has been unusually stormy here, and our appointments have been broken off several times. Have just commenced at Preston, with a good and attentive audience. I would say to the brethren of the N. Y. and Pa. Conference that I heartily enter into the recommendation of our committee to seek God for a revival. The brethren here on the Eastern Shore have a quarterly meeting on the day appointed, April 7, and it will be observed; and I will do what I can to bring the desired results. Would there might be a tent in Pennsylvania the coming summer; would there might be one in Maryland. May God guide his servants to the right fields. Let us hold ourselves in consecration to the work, so that we can say from the heart, Here am I, send me.
R. F. Cottrell.
P. S. That part of Maryland on the eastern side of Chesapeake Bay is known as the Eastern Shore. I am not on the Atlantic Coast.
IOWA
By F. W. Morse
I COMMENCED meetings at Milford, Mar. 31. Have given eight discourses, and although it is an unfavorable season of the year for meetings, yet the attendance is good, and the interest seems to be increasing. The truth is taking hold of the minds of some. Pray for me. F. W. MORSE.
KANSAS
By J. Lamont
A church was organized at this place last Sabbath morning. Sixteen entered into church fellowship. We celebrated the ordinances in the afternoon. Two others united with the church on Sunday. the meeting continued a week. The outside attendance was small excepting the two last evenings.
They pledged about $25.00 for s. b. for the year. A few not present at the business meeting will raise this a little.
J. Lamont.
CONNECTICUT
We have received the following good report from Connecticut:—
Our monthly meeting for April was a decided success. Bro. Wood of Boston and Bro. and Sr. Hastings of New Hampshire were unexpectedly with us, and their presence and testimonies were very cheering. On first-day several of the neighbors came in, and Bro. Wood spoke in the morning from Isa. 62:10, and in the afternoon from Rev. 22:12. All gave the best attention. We re-organized S. S. amounting to $65, and one-third additional was voted for T. and M. work. After this, enough was pledged to pay for thirteen copies of the SIGNS, to be used in canvassing.
MAINE T. AND M. REPORT.
By J. B. Goodrich; Amos Holt
The second quarterly meeting of the Maine T. and M. Society was held with the church at Norridgewock, March 25, 1877. Prayer was offered by Bro. Haskell. Report of last quarter was read and accepted. Report of the present quarter read, which was as follows:—
No. of members, 183; reports returned, 62; families visited, 151; letters written, 73. No. of new subscribers for REVIEW, 11; INSTRUCTOR, 28; REFORMER, 7; SIGNS, 1; ADVENT TIDENDE, 1; HERALD, 1; College paper, 14. Distribution of reading matter: REVIEWS, 183; INSTRUCTORS, 52; REFORMERS, 48; SIGNS, 53; VOICE, 12.
Almanacs, 493. Value, $23.65.
Tracts and pamph., 58,457 pp. “ 65.37.
Books to libraries, 3,492 “ “ 9.30.
Total, 61,945 “ “ $98.32.
Received, for membership, $ 1.00
“ by donations, 39.12
“ from book sales, 6.40
“ Almanac sales, 19.06
Total, $65.58
Voted, To adjourn to call of chair.
J. B. GOODRICH, Pres.
AMOS HOLT, Sec.
From the V. M. Society of Armada, Mich
By Mrs. R. H. Wellman
FROM THE V. M. SOC. OF ARMADA, MICH.
As a specimen of the work being accomplished by the Vigilant Missionary Society, I send you the following copy of a card received from a lady in Iowa, in answer to some tracts and papers accompanied by a postal card. I think it will be of interest to our missionary workers:—
“MADAM: Your kind favor of March 15 has been received. I have never had the pleasure before of reading any books or papers advocating the ‘seventh day’ or ‘Second Advent’ doctrines. It was indeed a pleasure to me to have an opportunity of investigating the subject. I can say as far as I have seen, I find nothing to object to. It really meets my own views on the subject. I have thought a great deal about the prospect of the nearness of the end, and that spiritualism was a fulfillment of prophecy.
“I like the papers real well. I read them with much interest, and I am going to get my neighbors to read them. I believe that Saturday is the true Sabbath. I have always been a Methodist; but I want all the light I can get. I wish to walk in the right path, and do all the good I can. Please let me hear from you again soon, and if I can be of any assistance or do your cause any good, I would be happy in so doing. I would like to investigate the subject further. Please let me know where you found my address.”
This lady was an entire stranger, her name being taken from a newspaper. Doubtless there are many similar instances, where the SIGNS or a tract accompanied by a few earnest words and a prayer for its success, has found hearts waiting to receive the truth. We see some of the fruit of our missionary labor, but God alone knows the real amount of good being accomplished. Let us send out God’s truths. Our sacrifices will not be in vain. The harvest alone will reveal all of the fruits. Let every lover of present truth work, earnestly work, till every one shall have had a chance to investigate these important truths, and Jesus shall come to reward the faithful ones. MRS. R. H. WELLMAN.
Obituary Notices.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.”
Fell asleep in Jesus, near Morrison, Jefferson Co., Colorado, March 21, 1877, of consumption, Sister Sophia E. Wright, daughter of Stanbury and Mary F. Wright, aged 32 years. She, with her family, embraced the third angel’s message six years ago in Kansas, since which time she has been a faithful commandment-keeper. She died in the triumphs of faith, and rejoiced in the goodness of God. She leaves an aged father and mother, one brother, and eight sisters. But we realize that we part but for a moment.
She is gone! but her memory lingers
Round each dear, familiar spot;
A holy influence breathing
In our hearts to perish not.
R. H. Stewart.
Died, in Richfield, Mich., Feb. 5, 1877, Russel Peters, aged 78 years and 19 days. This aged Bro. fell asleep in hope of a resurrection with the just. For many years he has professed faith in the truth, and has endeavored to keep all the commandments of God.
In his last moments he seemed to feel that the Saviour was near, and that he was only to sleep until the morning of the resurrection, then to enter a life where sickness and death should never come. Discourse by Eld. Hait, Free Methodist, from Matt. 24:44. GEO. RANDALL.
Died, in Colon, Mich., April 2, 1877, Sr. Cynthia Schellhaus, aged 84 years, 2 months, and 25 days. She embraced the truth nearly twenty years ago, under the preaching of Elds. Joseph Bates and J. H. Waggoner, and from that time she has been a pillar in the church of her choice. It has been the privilege of the writer within the last four years to listen with rapt attention to her stirring exhortations, which breathed the spirit of the Master. Remarks were made by the writer from 2 Pet. 1:5–11. D. F. Q.
Died, January 16, 1877, at Waterloo, Wis., of scarlet fever, Vina, youngest daughter of Bro. and Sr. F. A. Elwell, aged 1 year, 5 months, and 9 days. Burial services conducted by Eld. J. Ganiard. Remarks, from Job. 14. V. L. G.
Fell asleep in Jesus, on April 2nd our dearly beloved brother, Chas. W. Bartlett, aged 20 years. He embraced present truth two years since, and died in the Lord, having kept the faith, having fought a good fight. C. possessed a gentle and loving disposition, and won the hearts of many by his Christian demeanor.
He recently graduated at this place, and soon after his graduation attended the B. C. College; but unfortunately he labored too hard, both physically and mentally, which resulted in his death.
As we placed him in his bed of earth, we were greatly cheered with the “blessed hope” of a soon coming Jesus. Remarks by the writer, from Rev. 14:13.
ARTHUR W. BARTLETT.
Died, at Chase’s Mills, N. Y., Robert Clemons, aged 70 years. He was a believer in the personal coming of Christ, and at the time of his death was associated with the Seventh-day Adventists. He leaves a son, three daughters, and an aged widow, who are sustained by the hope they have in the resurrection of the dead. Remarks from Ps. 17:15. C. PIKE.
Died, in Gallatin, Daviess Co., Mo., March 12, 1877, little Minnie, only daughter of John and Sallie A. Snider, aged 3 years and 20 days. Funeral discourse by the writer, from Jer. 31:15, 16. C. H. CHAFFEE.
Died, Apr. 1, at Brightwood, Mass., our only child, Arthur P., aged three months. Funeral services by Eld. H. Pratt, first-day Adventist. We hope to meet our lost one when Jesus awakes his sleeping saints.
F. R. AND L. M. RICHMOND
Washington, Iowa, Feb. 2
By Mrs. T. A. Swezey
FROM AN AGED SISTER.
I believe it my duty to write a few lines for the REVIEW, to inform my brethren and sisters what the Lord has done for me. I can say with the Psalmist, “Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Ps. 40:5. I feel that the Lord hath done great things for me, whereof I am glad, and for which I praise his holy name.
I am one of the lonely ones having but little privilege of meetings; but I believe the Lord is willing to work for the lonely ones when they strive to walk in his commandments and humble themselves before him. I praise the Lord for the light which hath shown upon my path. Truly I can say, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Thanks be to the Lord, who hath opened my eyes to behold this precious light. It hath shone into this poor darkened heart of mine; and by his assisting grace I mean to let it shine before others, however feeble its rays may be, that some poor soul may catch its rays, and thereby be led to find the narrow way. I want to bear some part in the vineyard of the Lord, let it be ever so humble.
The faithful and true Witness counsels us to buy of him gold tried in the fire, that we may be rich. I can see no other way of buying the gold than in yielding obedience to the commands of God. He says in his word, “Separate yourselves from the world, submit yourselves unto God. Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
Again the true Witness saith, “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” If we want the dear Saviour to come in and sup with us, we must be willing to open the door of our hearts and let him in. May God help me to buy that gold tried in the fire, that whenever I am brought to the trial of my faith, I may come forth as pure gold meet to behold his lovely face. May I be clothed with the white raiment, even the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and be found worthy to appear before him when he cometh upon the white cloud.
May the blessed Spirit of God and his precious truth be and ever abide with his dear people everywhere unto the end. May his eternal truths be written indelibly upon our hearts and consciences. God’s truth is marvelous in our eyes, angels rejoice in beholding his glory and his truth. May the Lord keep us near him. Let us heed the voice of the true Witness; let us watch, therefore, that we keep ourselves from lusting after the things of this world. God will have a peculiar people, a separate people. Let us strive to overcome, that we may finally receive a crown of righteousness. Mrs. T. A. SWEZEY.
Washington, Iowa, Feb. 2
COMING AGAIN.
By Charles P. Whitford
Our dear Saviour, in answer to the important inquiry, “When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?” says, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Matt. 24:3; Luke 21:28. The promised signs have been seen first in the heavens. God has hung them out, to the astonishment of the infidel world; penciled in lines of fire, pillars of fire, and clouds of vapor and smoke. The signs have since been seen on the earth beneath, distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear.
According to the fulfillment of promised signs, the time evidently must be near when our dear Lord will come again. Now it remains for us to watch soberly, and not to be over-charged with those things about which our Lord has warned us. Let us not cast away our confidence, nor be ashamed of our hope which hath a recompense of so great a reward. Oh! let not this world be a snare to us, neither suffer the unbelievers in these great truths to beguile us; for in a little while the wicked shall not be. Ps. 37:10; Obad. 16; Mal. 4:1.
CHARLES P. WHITFORD.
Character Injured Only by One's Own Acts
Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts.
A THRICE-WELCOME VISITOR.
By E. G. Rust
Our mails are such to this distant field that we have received our dear REVIEW at times, for three weeks in succession, on Fridays. It comes as a Sabbath feast to our souls, and is our only means of communication with the dear people of God scattered abroad. We want to make an earnest appeal to have our Texas package shipped early, so that we may always be able to receive it on Fridays, for our Sabbath reading. E. G. RUST.
Dallas, Texas, Apr. 9, 1877.
A WORD WITH THE SISTERS.
By Maggie Melzger
We hear the sisters say they would sign the s. B. pledge, if they had any income. And why should we not sign the s. B. pledge? Are we not each individual members of the church? Are we not each acting on our own responsibility? Shall we not each have to answer for ourselves? And do we not each have a work to do? Is it right that the pledge be mostly made up by the brethren, and we not try to help? It is an old saying, “Where there is a will there is a way,” and we surely have the will. Of course there are a great many sisters that have all they need, and can do as they choose; but the other class, is there not any way that they can help? There are a great many of the sisters that have sewing machines, and do a good deal of sewing for cash. Keep an account of all you make, and in the course of a year it will amount to considerable. And there are a great many of our sisters that are farmers’ wives and daughters. And these keep poultry, bees, and raise vegetables and other things to sell. Now why not count the product as increase?
Now, cannot you keep an accurate account of what you make, and at the end of each quarter find what the tenth is? Some may think it would be too much trouble to keep an account. What do we have without trouble? Do our ministers preach to us without trouble? Can they do it for nothing? While some others are sending them here to preach to us, ought we not to be sending others to new fields? and while we see so many fields open, and calling for labor, how can we look on and not try to do something, if it is only a little? We will have to give an account in the day of Judgment. Let it be said the sisters did their part. “Give and it shall be given unto you.” MRS. MAGGIE MELZGER.
This fact is expressed concerning a company whom we, as a people, profess a hope of joining. But do we sufficiently consider the requisite point of character? It is true that in our own strength we shall never be able to conquer on this point or any other. Hence we are to welcome the means God sends, that will enable us to search our hearts and motives, and by his help root out whatever there may be that is displeasing to him. Conviction of sin is the first step God takes to rid us of it, and this conviction he brings about by means of his word.
It is astonishing what an amount of white lies are spoken and acted by us who claim to follow the meek and lowly One. Frequently we hear a professedly Christian mother say to her little one, If you are not good, mamma will go off and never come back, when she very well knows that earth does not contain an inducement that would tempt her to fulfill her word.
Mother, you lied to that child, and whether he believed you or not, the mischief done to the little mind must be great. If he did not believe you, he must have thought that the one to whom he should look for love and care was not to be trusted; and how can you expect him to have a very deep respect for his obligations to you, when your words display so little regard for yours to him? If he did not believe you, he must certainly have known that you did not speak the truth, and how can you blame him for following your example when he fancies it to be for his interest?
But your child was not the only one injured. Your heavenly Father saw the guile in you, his older child; and unless you repent and seek forgiveness and overcoming grace, you may be a greater loser than you imagine. And it is not always to the children that we speak and act dishonestly. How often in conversing we commence relating an incident that we have known or heard, thinking it to be spicy and to the point, but before we are done, become conscious that without a little addition, it is going to fall rather “flat,” or not meet the point at all. Well, let it “fall flat,” then, and think a little farther next time. You would probably suffer more, and worse results follow to yourself and others, from the consciousness of having told an untruth even in ever so small a matter than you would simply to know that you did not succeed in making the conversation agreeable.
If conversation must be stupid without a little “manufactured spice,” let it be stupid until some better way can be invented to enliven it. It is not at all necessary to tell all our affairs to others, and there may be many things that it is our duty to conceal where we can do so honestly. May we all through Christ obtain that divine wisdom that will enable us to please our Father and benefit our fellows. And let us all remember that “the remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.”
JULIA E. DUFFIE.
A Stuffy Church and the Closed Window
An old-fashioned minister was preaching in a tight, unventilated church, in which by some means a window was left partly open. A good deacon during the sermon closed it. The minister stopped, and turning to the deacon said in solemn tones, “If I were preaching in a jug, I believe you would put the cock in.”