Earlier text: DEBATE IN RICHMOND IOWATHE FACTS WILL OUT.
By M. E. Cornell
"Saying peace, peace, when there is no peace." Jer. vi, 14. It seems that if the clergy of the present day were humble enough to acknowledge their mistake, they would cease to cry "Peace, peace" by preaching the world's conversion. In view of the signs of the times and undeniable facts, they appear stubborn. But their blindness is manifest when we hear them call those nations "Christian" who spend more for war preparations in times of peace, than for the support of the gospel! The testimony of scripture that "wicked men and seducers shall wax worse and worse," that "because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold," that at Christ's coming "all the tribes of the earth shall mourn" is entirely disregarded by those who say that before the end wars and tumults will entirely cease. The following statistics will show what the Christian (?) nations have been about. One of the American-Tract-Society authors states that Christian nations spend every day for war $2,000,000, about 300 times as much as is given by them for the spread of the gospel; that the United States have spent $500,000,000 in preparing for war in times of peace. The following is from the Advocate of Peace. "Cost of Wars. Look at the actual cost of some wars. From 1688 to 1815, a period of one hundred and twenty-seven years, England spent sixty-five years in war, three more than in peace. The war of 1588 increased expenditures, in nine years, $180,000,000. The war of the Spanish succession cost, in eleven years, more than $300,000,000; the Spanish war of 1739, in nine years, cost $270,000,000; the seven years' war of 1756, $560,000,000; the American war of 1775, $680,000,000, in eight years; the French Revolution war of nine years from 1793, $2,320,000,000. During the war against Bonaparte from 1803 to 1815, England raised by taxes $3,855,000,000; and by loans $1,040,000,000; in all $5,795,000,000, or an average of $1,322,082 every day! For 20 years from 1797, she spent for war purposes alone more than one million dollars every day! During ninety days, before and after the battle of Waterloo, she is supposed to have spent an average of about five million a day. During seven wars, lasting in all sixty-five years, she borrowed $4,170,000,000, and raised by taxes $5,940,000,000; 10,110,000,000 in all. The wars of all Europe from 1793 to 1815, twenty-one years, cost some $15,000,000,000, and probably wasted full twice as much more in other ways, thus making a grand total of more than forty thousand millions of dollars!" A late writer in the N. Y. Independent says: "Revivals and reign of peace! Yes, while I am writing I hear sounds of another revival, of the character of which there is no mistake. The sounds are the crack of rifles, the revival that of the military spirit in England." Public prints of late show that England is not alone in the revival of the war spirit. Every nation upon the face of the earth is partaking of the same spirit. "Prepare war, wake up the mighty men," is the order of the day. Ever since the fall of man, the world has acted upon the principle of "having peace if they had to fight for it," but no permanent peace is established. The Duke of Wellington says, "Men of nice scruples about religion have no business in the army or navy." A British officer says of the battle of Inkerman: "I saw them hanging on each other like gnashing bulldogs, and rolling over and over again, stabbing, tearing, cutting and wrangling like men who had lost every characteristic of humanity, and acquired more than tiger ferocity." A soldier at one of the battles of the Crimea says: "I never certainly felt less fear in my life than I did at that time; and I hope God will forgive me, for I felt more like a devil than a man!" A soldier wrote his mother, "I don't want to see any more crying letters come to the Crimea from you. Those that I have received I have put into my rifle, after loading it, and have fired them at the Russians." The sentiment of a popular minister, that "Sharpe's rifles are the best peace-makers" shows how they would introduce their millennium. So now when we read in the sermon on the mount, "Blessed are the peace makers," we must understand it, "Blessed be Sharpe's rifles!" Truly they have put darkness for light, and turned things upside down, but let us not sleep as do others. REPORT FROM BRO. BATES.
By Joseph Bates
DEAR BRO. SMITH: March 21st, we met with the church in Orange the second time. One more embraced the truth during the few weeks that we were absent. We spent the Sabbath and held several meetings in their school-house.173 Hopes were entertained that three others would receive the truth. On first day three more were baptized into the Saviour's death to walk in newness of life. They cordially invite Bro. and sister White to hold a conference in the Orange school-house this summer. Portland, Ionia, and North Plains churches are within a circuit of six, eight, and ten miles, and could be accommodated. If Bro. White makes such an appointment, and wishes to stop at Muer or Lyons R. R. station, Bro. Franklin Howe will endeavor to be there with a team to take them to his home, six miles distant. March 28th, came to Greenville; the church here had been in a tried state respecting erroneous teaching recently introduced. But we trust it is now withdrawn, and buried with the rubbish of Popery. We preached several times in the place of worship which the church have prepared in the village to hold their meetings. Some unsubdued ones seemed interested to hear, while the church was encouraged and strengthened in the Lord. On first day nine were buried with Christ in baptism, after which the church convened to wash one another's feet and receive the emblems of our dear Lord's broken body and split blood. How precious such seasons are to all those who are waiting for the glorious appearing of this very same Jesus. The church also unanimously resolved to adopt the systematic benevolence plan as set forth in the Good Samaritan No. 5. Also by special request of the church two of the brethren were unanimously chosen and set apart as deacons of the church. The churches in Ionia and Orleans are also struggling to be overcomers by keeping the commandments of God and faith of Jesus. They also, and at North Plains and Orange are carrying out the systematic benevolence plan. On our way home we were detained in Wayland on account of impassable roads. The people readily opened their school-house to hear our position for the first time. We gave them a number of our books, and left them talking about the Lord's coming. In our circuitous route home, we had the pleasure of one prayer-meeting with our brethren in Pine Creek. They with the churches at Watson, Allegan and Monterey, are still in the patient waiting time, expecting to be numbered among the victorious ones. P. S. I had arrived within a few miles of home before I saw Bro. Cornell's article inviting me to meet with the church at Chesaning, Mich. If the Lord will, I will endeavor to meet with them about the first of May. THE RIGHT WORD IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
By J. H. W.
A BROTHER in Ohio writes to me as follows of Testimony No 6: "I fully believe it is a testimony for the church. There are many things I know are true; and what I do not know, I fully believe. That the church ought to be of one heart and one faith I never have doubted; and I have faith, abiding faith, that the church are coming to that point; and I hope and pray to be one of that church. "You are aware how I have felt about organization, that I have been fearful of the result. I will now say that those fears are gone." Of the last conference he says, "I was satisfied that Bro. White was to be pitied; that he needed the prayers of the church more than their frowns. To sum it up in a few words, reason has triumphed, and there is one at least in Ohio that loves and respects Bro. and sister White." I thank the brother for this kindly expression, and I can assure him that there are more than one in Ohio who cherish the same feeling; and I am not without hope that reason will yet triumph over prejudice, and all will unite with him in this sentiment. I would ask the brethren and sisters to remember the cause in Ohio in their prayers. The cause of the third angel's message there is in a critical position, and the few who are struggling for unity with the body need your sympathy and your prayers. J. H. W. NOTES ON MEN AND THINGS.
By WM. S. FOOTE
In looking over the writings of many of the illustrious dead, "whose praise is in all the churches," such as Calvin, Luther, Wesley, Clarke, Scott, Edwards, and many others, it is pleasant to observe how thoroughly satisfied they were with regard to the perpetuity of the law of God, and with what earnestness they speak of the necessity of obedience to its holy requirements. They had the same opinion with regard to the teachings of the Old Testament generally, knowing that "all scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine," &c., and that "holy men of old, spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," and that the church of God was built upon the foundation of the prophets, as well as the apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. "But "the mystery of iniquity" has been, and yet is, at work; and in fulfillment of prophecy, opposition to the law, and consequently to the government of God is increasing, "evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse," and the blind, blinded by the god of this world are leading tens of thousands down to irretrievable ruin. Some there are of whom we ought to expect better things, possessing the power of swaying the minds of thousands, and who could if that power was rightly directed, be a blessing instead of a curse to mankind. One of this class of teachers, in a sermon recently delivered at Brooklyn, N. Y., says: "The Old Testament requirements served their purpose during a social and physical development of mankind, and are rendered no longer necessary now in the moral instruction of the race." Did the apostle Paul mean to convey such an idea in Rom. xv, 4, when he said, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope?" But it may be thought by some that the social and physical development of mankind has progressed so far towards a state of perfection, that Paul and his companions in tribulation ought to be ranked among the moral and intellectual nobodies of our race, when compared with some of the religious teachers of this day. To look in, at, and beyond, Ezekiel's "hole in the wall" does not afford a prospect pleasant to dwell upon by a pious mind. Our object in taking notes of this kind, is to induce others to believe that we may not be out of the way in believing that the religious organizations of the present day, with their diverse creeds, constitute the Apocalyptic Babylon. And if it is so, it will be safe for the people of God to heed the warning, "Come out of her my people," and unite with those who, through grace, are rejoicing in the light of present truth. In love to souls, now perishing for the lack of knowledge, we say to you, Search the Scriptures, and if you cannot find sentiments there which accord with those taught by your religious file leaders, "touch not, taste not, handle not," it is death to do so. (Rev.?) H. I. Van Dyke lately delivered a very strong pro-slavery sermon at Brooklyn, N. Y., which rendered him highly popular at the south. He went to Charleston (S. C.) and delivered a speech at a meeting of a Bible Society there, and said, "On entering I saw the State flag, and imagined myself in some foreign country, but on landing found myself at home." Yes, at home among traitors and thieves, and like many others who are drunken with Babylonish wine at the present day, he is pretending to lead his followers to the city of God, within whose walls there will be nothing found which is unholy or unclean. And it seems that he is determined not to leave any expedient untried to win over unstable souls. And now, those who speak out a vision of their own hearts, have scores of followers, where those who "speak out of the mouth of the Lord," get one. A book entitled, "Lectures on the Apocalypse," is said to be attracting considerable attention in England. Its author, Rev. T. D. Maurice, maintains that the prophecies of John refer to the fall of Jerusalem, and the closing up of the Jewish dispensation. Unfortunately for the book and its author, the fall of Jerusalem happened twenty-six years before the banishment of John to Patmos. A writer in the N. Y. Observer of March 7th, says that the earth is gradually nearing the sun, "its track being spiral and will be curving inward, until with a velocity exceeding that of a cannon ball hundreds of times, it will dash itself into the body of the sun!" In that case there would be a "wreck of matter and a crush of worlds," which the writer may persuade some will take place. When we read the above we could but exclaim, "Thank the Lord for the light of present truth; for it is a perfect shield against the folly of this world and the wiles of Satan. No theory can be published, however absurd (if it only has the sanction of great names), relative to the destiny of the earth, or the teachings of the prophets, or even of our Saviour, but what will find adherents. Satan knows it, and at this time seems to be influencing the minds of many to get up as many cases of excitement in the public mind as possible, in order to draw people away from a contemplation of the truth." REPORT FROM BRO. HULL.
By M. Hull
Bro. SMITH: From Osceola I went to Afton. I found things in a bad state there. Some of the brethren had moved away, some had died a spiritual death, some were almost dead, yet supposed they were alive; while a few remained as lights to those around them. Prejudice reigns at Afton more than at any other place I know of, yet my congregations were large. The court-house was filled, and prejudice partly gave way before the truth. The interest was better than ever before in Afton. Some others resolved to keep the commandments, one of whom was baptized. A large majority of the people about this place are convinced of the truthfulness of our position on the law and Sabbath. Next I went to Decatur City. Here the brethren are trying to overcome. They are doing what they can to send the tent into new fields this summer. They have adopted the plan of systematic benevolence, and are living up to it. Here the interest to hear was not great; but the brethren were strengthened, and three others started in the way to the kingdom. I think a great work can be done in Iowa this summer. The interest never was greater than it is at present. We all want to see Bro. Waggoner come into Southern Iowa. May the Lord guide his people.
M. HULL. THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL,
By M. E. Cornell
R. I AFFIRM that the soul can and does exist after the body is dead.174 Reply. Even if this could be proved it would not begin to prove it immortal. The word soul occurs over eight hundred times in the Bible, but is called immortal not once. The soul of man can die. Ps. lxxviii, 50; Eze. xviii, 4. That which is immortal cannot die; hence the soul cannot be immortal. R. Spiritualism was born in hell and cradled in the lap of devils. I am no Spiritualist. Reply. Immediately after the above he called us Naturalists, because we deny the immortality of the soul. The opposite of Naturalist would of course be Spiritualist. This is very significant when it is considered that the car of Spiritualism has always run upon the immortal-soul track. But the Elder's Spiritualism was clearly manifested when he quoted Rev. xxii, 8, 9, and argued that one of the old prophets was communicating to John on Patmos. If the soul or spirit of a dead prophet could communicate through the apostle John 1800 years ago, why not spirits of the dead communicate to us through mediums now? There is not one step between the Elder's position and Spiritualism. R. The rich man and Lazarus, either as a history or parable, proves the soul does exist after death. Reply. The words soul, or spirit, do not occur in the whole description. It is generally admitted a parable. Dr. Clarke says, "No metaphor is ever to be produced in proof of a doctrine." But if the rich man in torment represents the conscious souls of all the wicked between death and the resurrection, then God torments the wicked thousands of years before they are judged. But this is contrary to the scripture which teaches that God "reserves the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" 2 Pet. ii, 9. Also in 2 Pet. iii, 7, the "day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" are made synonymous. What is the use of a judgment for the rich man after he has been tormented 1800 years? That which proves too much proves nothing in the question. R. Holds up Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, to ridicule it, and then remarks, There are no direct spiritual communications at the present day except from Satan. It is fanaticism. Reply. Not only is the Bible against this position, but the experience of the most pious from the days of the apostles to the present, proves it false. Were Luther, Wesley, Fletcher, Bunyan, and a host of others, fanatics? Were there not a host of miracles performed among the martyrs for Jesus, during the dark ages? That Wesley believed in visions from God is evident from his Journal, Vol. iv, p. 49. "God suddenly and strongly convinced many that they were lost sinners; the natural consequences whereof were sudden outcries and strong bodily convulsions. To strengthen and encourage them that believed, and to make his work more apparent, he favored several of them with divine dreams, others with trances and visions." The real believers may be strengthened and encouraged by visions now as well as in Wesley's time. But Paul tells us, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. ii, 14. When men will refuse to keep the commandments of God, it is no wonder that the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to them. With them "the law is no more, her prophets also find no vision from the Lord." Lam. ii, 9. The result is also stated, "Where there is no vision the people perish." Prov. xxix, 18. THE FRUIT BLIGHT.
By J. Clarke
“And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee.” Rev. xviii, 14. “And the apple tree, even all the trees of the field are withered.” Joel i, 13. Those engaged in fruit culture, well know that fruit trees have not done well for a number of years. There is a blight upon all kinds of fruit trees. The pear blight is peculiarly destructive; often whole orchards are destroyed from this cause. In once instance that I know of, a gentleman showed me (two years ago) a single twig. “That,” said he, “is all that remains of forty dollars' worth of young pear trees lately set out.” As to apple trees, I can testify that they are dying. The wood is unsound. I have practiced grafting for some nine years, and it is now very uncertain whether grafts will grow in old orchards or young orchards, whereas eight or nine years since, I did not lose generally more than from three to ten per cent. The Dollar Weekly Times in its agricultural column not a great while since, said:— “Of the necessity of planting new apple trees there can be no question with any one who looks abroad all over the North Eastern states. The old orchards are rapidly wasting; not because the natural period of old-age decay has come, but from a prevailing and unaccountable cause of death. The leaves in summer lose their lively green color, new wood is not formed, and the old wood dries up and dies, sometimes whole limbs, and sometimes only the outer twigs; and the fruit grows gnarly and almost worthless, and at length the tree is only a cumberer of the ground. “It is of no use to contend against the fact that there is a general blight upon apple trees. Remember that the day of old orchards is gone by.” The potato blight is perhaps as striking and remarkable an event as any on record of the kind. Something like twelve or fifteen years ago the potato crop was nearly destroyed by an unaccountable disease which infected not only whole fields, but seemed at once to fall upon the potato crop all over the earth (I think) not upon a state or county, but at once, the poor man's food was nearly annihilated. Distress and famine followed. Ireland buried her thousands of starved wretches, whose sufferings were extreme; and the wail of her agony was heard across the ocean (and cargoes of food were transported to her shores, which gifts were speculated upon by hard-hearted men there, and much was kept on hand until it spoiled in the ware-houses); other parts of Europe were distressed on the same account; in this country the loss was severe, although the abundance of other crops prevented famine. Since that time the potato crop has been a very uncertain crop, so much so that many farmers are obliged to buy their seed in the spring. The disease remains, and is seen in many fields, perhaps most fields bear some marks of it, more or less. The potato blight was general, we heard of it from every quarter of the globe; scientific men have endeavored in vain to find its cause or remedy. Consider such facts as these, at such a time as this, and as you meditate upon them, answer the query, if they are not the forerunners of the fulfillment of such prophecies as Rev. xviii, 14, and Joel i, 8–20. INFIDELITY AND ORTHODOXY.
By H. James Kittle
Commandment keepers have become familiar with the above words, by having the former applied to them by their opponents, while at the same time their opponents claim the latter as being appropriate to themselves. What is infidelity when applied to things pertaining to religion? Webster says it is "disbelief of the inspiration of the Scriptures, or the divine original of Christianity; unbelief." Now is there a people in the world that have a more unwavering belief in the Scriptures as the word of God, and that they are to be obeyed, than commandment keepers, or Seventh-day Adventists, who for the sake of the Bible and its purity have come out from the nominal church and the world, and thus drawn upon themselves the anathemas of both. But how is it with those who claim to be orthodox, which Webster defines to be, sound in the Christian faith; believing the genuine doctrines taught in the Scriptures? Press them upon the subject of the Sabbath. Oh, that is done away or changed to the first day. Ask them where and when it was changed,—oh, it was done by Christ and his apostles, they will tell you. Ask them where you will find a record of it, and you will be pointed to the fathers as authority. Quote some passage from the Bible that proves man to be mortal, and they will tell you. We have nothing to do with that. The writer was once talking with a man that makes quite a figure in one of the professed orthodox churches, and told him that his position on the immortality of man would prove universal salvation, and quoted Rev. v, 13 as proof. "Oh we have nothing to do with that," was the reply. And when reminded that it was the Infidel's business to deny the Bible, but the Christian's to own the whole, and if any part was denied, it was equivalent to a denial of the whole, he made some apology. Another of the same church, in reference to the same passage, said there were a great many that doubted that the book of Revelation was any part of the Bible. Now I believe in calling things by their right names, and those who deny the Bible, or any part of it are Infidels, and those who are sound in the faith of the Bible are orthodox. Greensburg Cross Roads, Ohio. THE THREE PERSECUTING POWERS.
By R. F. C.
THE DRAGON, THE BEAST, AND THE FALSE PROPHET.
On Patmos' lonely island the loved disciple saw
Three notable oppressors with saints proclaiming war;
The first, the great red dragon, with features fierce and rare,
The Pagan superstition erecting everywhere. But after some few ages the dragon's power grew weak,
His votaries forsook him, the living God to seek;
So feigned he too conversion, and lo, the beast uprose,
With all his Papal terror, truth's progress to oppose. The ancient Pagan images, its doctrines and its laws,
Were now entitled Christian, to help his hellish cause;
'Twas thus the wily serpent pursued his artful plan,
And ages upon ages the blood of martyrs ran. But two and forty months was all the time allowed the beast,
And ere the period ended so had his strength decreased,
His days of rule were shortened, his power to call for blood,
The earth had oped her mouth for saints and swallowed up the flood. And yet there is another to act upon the stage,
Through whom the same old serpent will manifest his rage;
A beast which though he outwardly was lamb-like, fair and mild,
Spake like the Pagan dragon, ferocious, loud and wild. Though all men are made equal, so holds he in his creed,
The slaves from out their bondage must nevermore be freed;
And though in things religious all men are to be free,
It means, when laws divine with human laws agree. Once empires, thrones and kingdoms with Papacy made bold,
To slay the host of martyrs with cruelties untold;
But now a fair republic, a Protestant so mild,
Usurps the dangerous power, and with the same runs wild. The old red Pagan dragon turned Papist on the day
He saw that Christian doctrines were like to bear the sway;
He seizes on the Scriptures and keeps them all unseen,
And offers for a stipend to tell what they must mean. At length from out its prison the Bible has been freed,
And loudly now is heralded as Protestants' sole creed;
The cry is now The Bible, the Bible, that alone—
Come drink from the pure fountain that flows from out the throne. High hope is widely cherished, the Bible has been freed!
And now 'tis thought that Satan is overcome indeed—
He sees that mere profession is but an azure gause,
And lo, he now espouses with Protestants their cause. The Bible, scattered broadcast, is laid upon the shelf,
And the man is seldom met with who reads it for himself, And though some few, like Timothy, have read it from their youth,
Tradition still is followed instead of living truth. The last great persecution is drawing on because
Some few will heed the Bible, and keep its righteous laws,
While others, the great masses professing still the same,
Hold on to Papal errors and all their groundless claim. The battle soon is coming, choose now while yet ye may,
The Bible and its precepts and Jesus to obey;
Soon closes up probation—then will the dragon rage,
And battle with the remnant most cruel will be wage. But short shall be the conflict, victorious the saints,
Redeemed from all oppression, and freed from all complaints,
With shouts and songs celestial, triumphant will they sing
The praises and the victories of Jesus Christ their King.
R. F. C. “Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.” BRO. SMITH: As I read Bro. White's cause of discouragement in No. 6, Good Samaritan, my sympathies were greatly aroused; and I beg this opportunity to say that Bro. and Sr. White have my sympathies and prayers; for I have realized that they had more of the burden of this message to bear than any one else. I have the utmost confidence in their christian character and honesty of purpose, and I humbly pray that the Lord may bless them abundantly in their arduous labors of love to the world. I hope they will not forget us in their Western tour. Be it known to all that our doors are open, and our heart is enlarged towards them. And as far as myself is concerned, I am willing to aid in bearing their burdens. I am willing to draw wood or carry water, or even be a door-keeper if I can but do good and enter the kingdom at last. I do feel some of the responsibilities that rest on me, and I beg an interest in all your prayers that I may have wisdom to move aright. I am sorry that I have done anything by which the cause of truth has been evil spoken of. It is not my wish to bring reproach on the cause of Christ, or to hinder the third angel's message. May the Lord speed on the message is my prayer. I hope Bro. W. will make his calculations to stay one or two weeks with us when he comes. He shall be heartily welcomed to the best fare we have. May the Lord prosper them. REMARKS. The above seems very kind; but it can be of no service to us until Bro. Steward takes his position with his brethren, and confesses where he has injured the cause and its true friends. He has professedly been with the body, but in fact has occupied a sort of middle-ground between the true friends of the cause, and those who retain the rebellious spirit of the once “messenger” party. Bro. S. drank in that poisonous spirit, and never can be free from it until he retraces every step taken in that direction, and commits himself fully with those who suffered by its wholesale slanders. Until he does, that old spirit of jealousy and fault-finding will soon kindle, and brethren cannot safely put confidence in him as a laborer. All this talk about sympathy, and welcome to best fare, &c., amounts to but little in the face of facts. Bro. and Sr. White do not ask for sympathy, or help of any kind. Old friends seek opportunities to supply every want. All we need to free us from present depression is to see certain ministers, like Bro. S., taking a position to save themselves and the cause around them from ruin. The Lord sent us to Mauston, Wis., last fall to bear a testimony for him. Some received it, others were held in check by the testimony, while a few rushed on and disgraced the cause, and one poor soul, who broke in upon us with wild shouts while preaching, is now in the Insane Asylum. It is true that Bro. S. (as he stated in his confession, or self-justification), wished us to let them alone, which was like the entreaties of175a freezing man to be left undisturbed. Thank God that some were saved from disgracing themselves and the precious cause. Bro. S. says in his confession, “The reason I advocated it, was not because I was established in it, but because I could not see anything trampled under foot regardless of feelings.” Here is a grave charge against Brn. Ingraham, Sanborn and White, which never should have appeared in print. The statement gives a false idea, which is as untrue as any untruth. There was not a lack of regard for the feelings of any one, unless regard for feelings be construed to be perverted sympathy which leaves errors uncorrected, and fanaticism unrebuked, and poor souls to rush on to insanity and to ruin. Bro. S. invites Bro. and Sr. White to his house. It was in that house that we labored to help the very one now insane, but our influence was cut off by Bro. S. and his wife. What kind of a welcome could we feel in that house while that wrong remains unconfessed? At that time Bro. S. requested us to take Mrs. W.'s books away from his house. What kind of a welcome could Mrs. W. feel in that house, and her books shut out? We are disgusted with such inconsistencies, and beg to be excused from laboring in connection with such men. This effort to occupy a sort of middle ground is our greatest discouragement from spending precious time in Northern Wisconsin. Any man to labor there after the blighting influence of wild fanaticism is to be pitied. But his lot is harder yet if he has to meet the blind, inconsistent course of those who attempt to take a middle ground. Here I will give an extract from a note from Bro. C. W. Stanley of Lodi, Wis. “I am acquainted with all those that were in the fanaticism, and not one to my knowledge as yet acknowledge sister White's visions, or receive the straight testimony. The tendency is to reject all gifts.” Let Bro. S. look around upon the field of slaughter, and reflect upon the consequences of his course. If he did not directly help on the fanaticism, he hindered those who would have pulled souls out of the fire, and looked on until the work of death was finished. He and his have cause for the bitterest repentance. When they fully confess their havoc of the flock of God, and take their position with the body, then we can cheerfully labor with them, and do all in our power to make them happy. Until they do, we beg to be excused from following in their wake. True, M. R. S. has written what she regards a confession, but it is so lengthy, so explicit in the delineation of wild and groveling acts of fanaticism, and so lacking in real humility, that we could not publish it. A real sense of the injuries done the cause would produce brokenness of spirit. And in such a frame of mind a few words of real confession would send a thrill of joy and gladness to the many hearts which have been caused to bleed in consequence of the Mauston fanaticism. Sister Mary Palmer writes from Anamosa, Iowa: "I write a few lines for the first time for the Review. It has been but a few months since I commenced trying to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I feel to thank the Lord that I have had the privilege of hearing his precious truth, and that I have had a heart to obey it. I hope by the grace of God to overcome all evil ways. I want to be among that happy number that will be ready and waiting for the coming of Christ, and meet him with joy. What a happy meeting that will be if we are only prepared. When he appears we shall appear with him in glory, and enter through the gates into the holy city. There will be joy and gladness, and sorrow shall flee away. Brethren and sisters, my prayer is that we may all be faithful unto the end, for we find no promise except to those that hold out. "The Bible is a new book to me. I once read the Bible because I thought that it must be read, not because I loved to read it. But now I read it because I love it. I know not what I should do if I were to be deprived of my Bible. It is my almost constant companion. I love to read the Advent books and the Review. It does me good to read the letters from the brethren and sisters that are scattered through our land. There are but few Sabbath-keepers in this place; but we do not feel discouraged. The Lord has promised where two or three are met in his name, there to be with them. "O how thankful I am that I have seen the truth, while many are left in darkness. I often wonder why I was led to believe in the truth, and strove to obey it when I had so much opposition to encounter; but I know that it is by the grace of God that I have been enabled to come out from the world and embrace unpopular truth. I feel that I have a great work to do before I shall be able to stand at the coming of Christ. I believe that he is soon coming, and I want to be ready to meet him. I feel my unworthiness and sinfulness in the sight of God. If I am ever saved, I shall be a sinner saved by grace." Sister B. M. Osgood writes from Lairdsville, N. Y.: "The Review comes to us weekly, laden with cheering intelligence from God's remnant people, some of whom like myself, are so far separated from others of like precious faith as to be deprived of meeting with any on God's holy day, to worship the Lord of the Sabbath. To such, probably the weekly visits of the Review are doubly welcome. I sometimes look forward with joyful anticipations to the time when all God's dear children will be gathered together at home, in that many mansioned house, of which Jesus told his disciples, just before he left them to go to his Father. Glorious home! Thrice happy place! No more sin or sorrow, or suffering; but rest, eternal rest. May I so live as to find an abundant entrance there, is the prayer of your sister seeking for immortality at the appearing of Jesus." Bro. L. Bartholomew writes from Medford, Minn.: "I feel like adding my testimony on the side of truth. The word says that they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another, and a book of remembrance was kept. Yes, dear brethren and sisters, there is an account kept of all our works whether good or bad. If we neglect our duty in improving our talents, shall we not hear the awful sentence, Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Can it be possible that we could appear before the Lord and say, Lord, my talent was so small that I could not do much, and I was ashamed to expose myself, and thought it was others' duty to talk and write, and I would try to be a christian and say nothing. Will not the declaration apply to such, Whosoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him will I be ashamed before my Father and all the holy angels. "Dear brethren and sisters, let us come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and put our whole hearts into the work, and act as though we felt what we believed. The time that is spent in fixing useless articles, and meditating on making money, &c., let it rather be spent in meditating on what we can do for the glory of God and the promotion of his cause." Sister H. Barden writes from Leslie, Mich.: "I love the truth of the third angel's message, and have a heart to do what I can for the cause of truth. I wish to be found ready and waiting, my lamp trimmed and burning. I wish to be one among those who keep all the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus. I feel encouraged to go on, and wait a little longer, when our Lord will come and take his waiting people home. I am not without trials and crosses, but am striving to overcome all the evils of my nature, that I may be able to stand at last with God's people on Mt. Zion." Faith Amid Suffering
By E. L. Barr
BRO. SMITH: As my feeble health makes it quite burdensome for me to write, it would save me much time and labor to say through the Review to my kind friends East, that for almost one year past I have been a sufferer under the oppressive power of disease, and for a while expected to go into the grave; but God's preserving mercy was extended to me while his faithful children took the best of care of me, so that I am now gaining slowly, and expect to more rapidly as soon as the season is such that I can engage in some light out door work. And now though weak in body and in mind, yet my faith and confidence is strong and unshaken in the solemn truths of the third angel's message, and the great and last work that it is accomplishing in the world. God's hand is set to the work, and it will go forward "whether we live or die, survive or perish." And now, if in the providence of God you should never hear from me personally again, let me say to one and all, Get the love of the blessed truth so deeply rooted in your hearts that its sanctifying influence will be seen in all your life, and receive as the sentiment of my heart the words, yes the kind comforting words of the Apostle as recorded in 2 Cor. xiii, 11. Yours in love of the truth, hoping for rest when the suffering, refining process is completed.
E. L. BARR.
Nile, Allegany Co., N. Y.