Earlier text: THE SABBATH QUESTIONTHE SABBATH CONFERENCE AT BERNE.
By W. W. R.
BERNE, Switzerland, Sept. 9, 1879. The Conference of the Evangelical Alliance at Basle last week, which closed Sept. 6, is followed this week by a two-days' Conference of the “International Union for the Observance of the Sabbath,” held at this fine city of the bears, where the old and the new in architecture and in life are so well blended. There is a large attendance of delegates to this, the second meeting of the Union—chiefly from Germany, Switzerland, and France, with some from the other Continental nations, and from England, and four from the United States. The Conference was formally opened Tuesday forenoon, in the Church du St. Esprit, by an appropriate and excellent address in French by the president, Hon. Alexander Lombard, followed by a similar address in German by Gen. Otto von Büren, Senator and President of the Bernese municipality. The report of the Executive Committee of the Union detailed a year's work of well-directed efforts to secure a better observance of the Lord's day, and a fair measure of success. A few cordial words were then spoken by a Prussian General in behalf of Kaiser Wilhelm, whose sympathy and good will he was charged to convey. At the afternoon session, a paper was read reviewing carefully the progress made in all the sessions of the Union since 1876, proving that the cause is generally and surely gaining ground. Next came an excellent address from Rev. W. Atterbury, Secretary of the New York Sabbath Committee, offering the cordial salutations of American Christians and showing how profound an interest we must needs take in the work of the International Union, since our own welfare is so much at stake in the character of the flood of immigrants unceasingly pouring upon our shores from Europe. Our American Sabbath is a heritage from our fathers, not the Puritans only, but the Royalists, the Hollanders, the Quakers of Pennsylvania, and the Roman Catholics of Maryland. All the thirteen original states had Sabbath laws from the outset—and one cannot well overestimate how much our past and our future owe to this national institution. It is threatened by the flood of unchristianized and pleasure-loving immigrants—who are too often led to regard as an infringement of their rights what is in fact their surest guarantee—and by the vast extent of our railroad system and the eager rivalries of business interests. Hence our lively sympathy with any movement to make our European neighbors Sabbath-keepers, and our ready sympathy and aid. The institution is divine, not human, and our great dependence for both laws and customs is in its full and hearty acceptance by the Christian church as the holy day of God. The address was warmly received, and resolutions unanimously passed thanking America for its sympathy thus expressed, and by many letters to the Union, and hoping that its encouragement and its noble example might be still more useful in Europe. The evening of Tuesday was enlivened by a social reunion in the Münster Terrace, and an organ concert in the Münster itself.—W. W. R., in Illustrated Christian Weekly. If in this world only we have hope, we are of all creatures the most miserable. It is comparatively easy for the few of us who live in comfort, who have been refined by culture and thought till we can see how the shadows of time lend a new intensity and beauty to its lights, and how pain and suffering are a discipline in wisdom and goodness, to think this world a very tolerable one, and to regard human life as a grand and sacred possession. But think what life is to the countless myriads of our race; think what the world is, and has been, as a whole. Remember how in all ages the vast majority of men have been plagued by toil, by care, by fear, by sordid penury; how they have been crushed under the bloody heels of tyrants who were bound to protect them, maimed and tortured, stultified and coerced, by the very priests who were bound to enlighten and emancipate them; how they have been decimated and degraded by war, by famine, by disease, by ignorance, by superstition; and who can deny that, if this world be all, then human life, taken as a whole, is the most fatal of blunders, of curses the most terrible? If the tragedy of human life be pregnant with no Divine purpose, if there were no better time coming, no golden age of righteousness and peace—if, in short, we can no longer believe in the advent and reign of Christ, then surely every thoughtful spectator of this vast tragedy must say, “It were better for men that they had never been born!” But if we believe in this great promise, if we cherish this great hope, then can we with patience wait for it. And this is the very posture which our Lord enjoins. He would have us be like servants who watch for the coming of their lord, that, when he comes, they may open to him immediately. He would have us believe in, and look for, the advent of a better world, in which all the wrongs of time will be rectified. He would have us sustain ourselves under all the toils and sorrows of our individual lot, and under the still heavier oppressions of the world’s lot, by looking forward to that end and purpose of the Lord God Almighty which will vindicate all the ways in which we have been led, and all the painful discipline by which we have been tried and purified and refined. And whosoever holds fast this great hope for himself and for the world at large, he is a true believer in the distinctive promise of the New Testament, viz., the second advent of Christ, and may use with sincerity all the words and phrases in which it has been expressed.—The Expositor. The Christian Weekly, in its issue of Oct. 11, gives a new and somewhat significant theory of the hard times. The anxiety manifested to attribute the various social disorders to a disregard of the “Christian Sabbath” is one of the straws showing which way the winds of the religious and political world are blowing, and an evidence of the advancement of the Sabbath controversy. The Christian Weekly says:— The Presbyterian, in an editorial on “Corporations and the Sabbath,” suggests a thought that is worthy of careful consideration. As self-interest is the chief incentive by which they are governed, it may be well for them to inquire whether their persistent transgression of Divine law is not for their own hurt. The uniform judgment of business men is, that the country has suffered since 1873 by the over-production of its manufactured products. Taking the iron trade as an illustration of the ruinous prostration experienced in these years by this cause, it states the fact that “one-seventh of all the iron in market in some of its stages of production was made on the Sabbath;” and then propounds these practical and significant questions, which may well be weighed by other Sabbath-breaking corporations, and influence their action, now that prosperity seems about to return:— “If in 1874 one-seventh of all the iron in the market had been annihilated, would there not have been a fair demand—at a fair price for the rest? If one-seventh of the coal consumed by this Sunday production of iron had been left in the mines, would there have been need for the suspension of work to reduce the plethora at the seaboard, and would the rails and rolling stocks of our roads have been in the condition we find them if they had rested one day in seven or one year in seven? or if they are in good condition, would not their stocks be one-seventh better in market value than they now are, and stockholders who have been ruined be on their feet, and the helpless that have been breadless in consequence have a fair living?” No shadows yonder!
All light, and song!
Each day I wonder,
And say, How long
Shall time me sunder
From that dear throng? No weeping yonder!
All fled away;
While here I wander
Each weary day,
And sigh as I ponder
My long, long stay. No partings yonder!
Time and space never
Again shall sunder;
Hearts cannot sever;
Dearer and fonder
Hands clasp forever. None wanting yonder,
Bought by the Lamb!
All gathered under
The evergreen palm;
Loud as night's thunder
Ascends the glad psalm.—Bonar. Though we cannot see Jesus, we can speak to him. We can pray. We are permitted, yea, even commanded, to do this. How great a privilege to be allowed to speak to God! “Call upon me in the day of trouble.” “Watch and pray.” “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer requires no fine, well-arranged sentences. The simplest utterance of the heart’s desire is prayer. Those desires themselves, unbreathed, are prayers. We need not wait until we enter a church to pray. We may pray everywhere. Jesus is always waiting for the prayers of poor sinners, so that none ever escape his notice. His ear is always open. It is difficult to speak to kings and princes. They can only be seen occasionally, and then but few persons are permitted to come near them. But all, however poor and despised, may at any time come to Jesus with their petitions. Whatever good things you want for the soul, pray. You cannot pray in vain. You may be assured that such prayers will be answered. There are some things which even God cannot do. He cannot refuse to listen to a poor sinner’s prayer, for he has promised, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” “Ask, and it shall be given you,” said Jesus; and his word declares, “He cannot deny himself.” Then be encouraged to pray. However vile and helpless you may be, you are not too bad to pray. Pray, if you can only utter the petition, “Save, Lord, or I perish.” Make a habit of prayer. Find some place where you can be alone. “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and shut thy door.” Rise before the work of the day begins, that you may have time to pray. Lay open your heart before God. Tell him how vile and helpless and wretched you are. Confess your sins and cry for pardon. Read the Bible, and ask for that holiness which is commanded there. Say, “Lord, I am ignorant, teach me. My heart is hard, soften it. Convert me by thy Holy Spirit. Help me to come to Jesus, to believe, love, and obey him. Save me from sin, and fit me for Heaven.” And throughout the day let your heart often ascend to God, even while engaged in your necessary labor. “Pray without ceasing.” If the answer does not seem to come at once, pray on, and success is certain. A praying soul can never be lost. You never will perish while you are sincerely calling upon Jesus, saying, “Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner.” THERE is probably not an unperverted man or woman living who does not feel that the sweetest consolations and best rewards of life are found in the loves and delights of home. There are very few who do not feel themselves indebted to the influences that clustered around their cradles for whatever good there may be in their character and condition. Home based upon Christian marriage is so evidently an institution of God, that a man must become profane before he can deny it. Wherever it is pure and true to the Christian idea, there lives an institution conservative of all the nobler instincts of society. Of this realm woman is queen. It takes the cue and hue from her. If she is in the best sense womanly—if she is true and tender, loving and heroic, patient and self-devoted—she consciously and unconsciously organizes and puts in operation a set of influences that do more to mold the destiny of the nation than any man uncrowned by power of eloquence can possibly effect. The men of the nation are what mothers make them, as a rule; and the voice that these men speak in the expression of power is the voice of the women who bore and bred them. There can be no substitute for this. There is no other possible way in which the women of the nation can organize their influence and power that will tell so beneficially upon society and the State.—Scribner’s Monthly. Selfishness seems to be the concentration of all vices. The love of self, when predominant, excludes all goodness and perverts all truth. It is the great enemy of individuals, societies, and communities. It is the cause of all irritation, the source of all evil. People who are always thinking of themselves have no time to be concerned about others; their own pleasure or profit is the pivot on which everything turns. They cannot even conceive of disinterestedness, and will laugh to scorn all, who appear to love others as well as themselves. Selfishness is the very essence of the first original sin, and it must be corrected, or we are lost.—Bronson. GENERAL CONFERENCE.
By James White
The readers of the REVIEW will notice on the last page of this week’s issue the appointments of our General Conference, also the anniversary meetings of our several associations and societies. These are to be held in the Tabernacle at Battle Creek, Mich., at the dates given in the appointments. For several years in the past our General Conference has been held at the time of our great Michigan camp-meeting, in connection with the anniversary meetings of the Publishing Association, the Educational Society, the Health Reform Institute, and the General Tract and Missionary Society. And while some have urged that the great amount of business necessary in this arrangement detracted from the spiritual interests of the camp-meeting, on the other hand it has seemed necessary to hold the annual business meetings of our legal associations and societies at the time of the greatest gathering of their friends who were stockholders in them, as the majority of stock in some of them must be represented in person or by proxy in order to elect officers and transact other business according to the law under which they are incorporated. Our camp-meetings have come to be of great importance; and in order that they continue to be that source of strength to the cause they have been, general attendance throughout the several States in which they are held should be encouraged. And as our people and our work are practical, all the friends of the cause should be encouraged to take a lively interest in all branches of the work discussed at our business meetings. Our general meetings should therefore be held at such places, and at such times, as will secure general attendance. No part of the field needs the blessings of a general camp-meeting as much as that portion of the State of Michigan where our institutions are located. The reports of such meetings in past years show that they have been the means of the conversion of many college students, persons at the Sanitarium, and those connected with the publishing work. During the present camp-meeting year, this matter has been controlled by others. And however much we may regret that the old plan, proved to be successful in the days of our prosperity, is exchanged this year by those who desire the benefits of new experiences, it is very probable that experience may convince them that changes are not always improvements. And as experience is valuable, and as it is always best to do the very best we can, we have urged the necessity of a Biblical Institute, to be held with the series of meetings on the occasion of the General Conference and the several society meetings, as the means of calling together at Battle Creek many of our ministers and those who have the ministry in view. At a business meeting of the church at Battle Creek, held after the Sabbath on the 11th, a committee of five was appointed by the chairman of the meeting, to take into consideration the matters of the General Conference, Biblical Institute and annual meetings of our several institutions located in this city, to report the following evening. The result of the work of this committee may be seen in the appointments on the last page, and the following resolution reported by Eld. McCoy, chairman of said committee, which was adopted by a rising vote of the Battle Creek church, at a brief session after the close of the service on the evening of the 12th:— Resolved, That we, the S. D. A. church at Battle Creek, cordially invite the General Conference to hold its next annual session with us, and in connection therewith a Biblical Institute; and that we solicit not only an attendance of delegates from distant States, but a full attendance of brethren and sisters so far as practicable, cheerfully offering the hospitalities of our homes to all who may attend, while with us. As the members of the church at Battle Creek take upon themselves the blessed burden of entertaining so large a crowd as they hope to see at our General Conference, several things may be suggested. 1. That those who come should bring bed clothes, buffalo robes, straw ticks, camp-chairs, and other conveniences and provisions similar to those usually taken to our camp-meetings, excepting stoves and tents. Lodging quarters can be found for one thousand in the old meeting-house, in the spare rooms of the printing buildings and College, and on the floors of spare rooms in all our dwellings. 2. That as the Biblical Institute will hold during the autumn college term of nearly nine weeks, the class should be a select one, its members to be selected by the trustees of the Educational Relief Fund of the several Conferences. In those Conferences where no such trustees have been appointed, the Executive Conference Board are requested to act in this matter. 3. The members of the Biblical Institute class may expect board free during the Conference week only. 4. That the first object of our educational efforts has been, and should be, the education of men for the ministry, so far as time, means, and circumstances will permit. 5. That the length of the term will give ample time for only one lesson each day, excepting on each first day of the week, when there may be two; therefore students can take a special course of other studies suited to their wants. 6. That the opportunities for improvement will probably be better the present autumn and the next winter than they will be at any future time. Mrs. W. and the writer design to remain at Battle Creek to assist in those departments of the work where our labors are most needed. 7. That the time has come for the friends of education to act liberally and with vigilance. The trustees and officers aforementioned will please act promptly in the performance of their official duties. Many will need no assistance, a less number will need some help, while a still smaller class will need means by loans or donations to pay their board. In all doubtful cases, correspondence should be held between trustees and managers of the Institute before such leave their homes. 8. That in most cases delegates to the General Conference can be taken from those who attend the Biblical Institute. 9. That as the Educational Relief Fund is not designed to pay traveling expenses, but to relieve those who need help in defraying expenses at our college, no encouragement should be given of assistance to meet traveling expenses. 10. And, finally, a crowd of students is expected at the autumn and winter terms of the Battle Creek College, as special attention is to be given to the theological department of our beloved school. For the first time since the 4th of June last, the church in Battle Creek had the pleasure of again listening to Bro. White, on Sabbath, Oct. 11. He comes out of the labor and fatigues of thirteen camp-meetings the past season showing that he has endured the strain of the long campaign remarkably well. A full congregation assembled at the Tabernacle on the day above named, and listened to a discourse on Matt. 5:16. The text led him to take up the preceding portion of the chapter to ascertain who these are, and what character they exhibit, who are the light of the world; and from the great ocean of truth furnished by our Lord’s sermon on the mount, many gems were brought forth and set in pleasing array before us. The truth was presented in a close, searching, and pointed manner, and the solemn and important question was pressed home upon the congregation, Are we such characters as the salt of the earth and the light of the world? If not, we need to be in earnest haste to become such—to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst after righteousness, to be merciful, pure in heart, peace-makers, and to so hold up the standard of godliness that the world will now, as it ever has done to the righteous in ages past, persecute us for righteousness’ sake. And if we are such characters as are here set forth, then our duty is equally clear to take that high elevation before the world which is here enjoined. We must not hide our light under a bushel, but let it shine to all around. God has made us debtors to the world by giving us a truth which is to test the last generation; and this can be done only by our boldly proclaiming it, and faithfully living it out, before our fellow-men. In the afternoon further remarks were offered upon the same theme, supplemented by a social meeting. In the evening a meeting was held to decide upon the coming anniversary meetings, and make provision therefor, as elsewhere noticed in this paper. Sunday evening sister White spoke to a large congregation in the Tabernacle. Her discourse was based on Luke 21:34–36, and was an impressive delineation of the dangers which especially threaten the religious life of God’s people to-day. Intemperance, in eating as well as drinking, and in the cares of this life, was set forth as one of the great causes of spiritual apathy and blindness; and a strong appeal was made in behalf of Bible temperance as essential to the success of any efforts to live out the Christian religion. A striking comparison was drawn between the days of Noah and Lot and our own time. This was forcibly presented as a significant sign of the times, inasmuch as Christ declared that as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so it should be in the days just before his second coming. Luke 17:26–30. Then they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, planting, building, buying and selling—not that there is anything wrong in these things, in themselves considered, and when followed in a moderate degree and for the right purpose,—but in excess lies the sin and the evil; and this is the experience of many to-day; this is the tendency of the age; this is the danger. The discourse was throughout a wholesome warning against those things which tend to hinder the spiritual advancement of professors of religion, and was listened to with marked attention. After the discourse a committee was appointed to make preparations for the coming General Conference, and the anniversary meeting of the Educational Society, Health Institute, and Publishing Association, as appointed in this number. The resolution welcoming the General Conference and the Biblical Institute here, as found in another column, was adopted, also the following resolution inviting Bro. and sister White to remain with us during the winter and labor for the important branches of the work in this place, as much as is consistent with other duties. Resolved, That we invite Bro. and Sr. White to remain with us through the winter, and labor so far as consistent with other duties in behalf of the church and the institutions located here, promising to second their efforts and co-operate with them to the extent of our ability. Unanimously adopted by a rising vote.