I ask pardon of the readers of the REVIEW for introducing this name again into our paper. And were it not for the hope of enabling a few honest souls here and there who do not know the facts to get their eyes open, I would not say another word in reference to him. My article in REVIEW of Oct. 15, on this subject, evidently stirred things some in Marion, Iowa, judging from an article in the Hope of Israel, from the pen of H. E. Carver, the editor of that paper. And I confess to some surprise at the positions which even he has taken. And as he has chosen to stand forth in this public manner as an apologist and defender of this man, and has justified the course of himself and the church over which he has presided as an elder, in receiving Fuller and permitting him to preach for them, we propose to let Mr. Carver shoulder this responsibility, and make a few reflections upon his attitude and statements.
Let the readers of the REVIEW notice this: Mr. Carver admits N. Fuller's wickedness in the past in taking advantage for years of his position as a minister of the gospel to seduce and ruin his own flock. He admits they have taken him into the church and permit him to preach for the leading church of their denomination, and justifies this action; and he only denies one out of the terrible catalogue of crimes that I laid to his charge, and this one, merely an unimportant charge compared with the others, viz., “that he took such a course in Macomb Co., Mich., that charges of a similar nature were preferred against him there.” Mark this, I did not say he was guilty of criminal conduct in Michigan. Of this I know nothing. I said that charges of improper conduct were made against him. I have in my possession a letter from a citizen of Macomb Co., Mich., who was personally acquainted with N. Fuller while there, and in this he states that just before he left for Marion, Iowa, he had to defend himself in a court of law against the charge of improper conduct toward a female, and although he was acquitted by the court, the statement I made is fully borne out by this fact. Mr. Carver quotes extracts from private letters to Fuller since he has lived in Marion to make it appear that I have been guilty of falsehood. Of course he has quoted those portions best calculated to prove his point; and it is not to be supposed that individuals writing private friendly letters to a person would state unpalatable facts as their opinion of the man they were writing to which might be prevalent in a community. Yet in these very extracts quoted are expressions which go to show that my statement was correct, although quoted to prove the contrary. Here are several: In a letter from Mrs. E. M. Davy to Fuller, she says, speaking of the future inheritance, there would be “no envious, jealous eyes to look on and misconstrue every word and act.” In another from I. Mudge, he speaks of his acquaintance being short, and says, “I am glad to say I have always felt that you were endeavoring to live a Christian, and my confidence in you has been confirmed.” In another from Wm. H. Osmun, occurs this expression, “Dear Bro., trust in God and all will be right in the end.” It is astonishing that a man of Mr. Carver’s cunning should quote extracts containing such expressions as these to prove that there were no charges made in that community against N. Fuller, and to prove me guilty of falsehood in saying that there were. Mr. Carver, in his desperation to escape from the terrible dilemma in which he at last finds himself, must be losing that peculiar plausibility in making things look smooth for which he has been somewhat noted. As this is the only statement he has attempted to contradict that I made, and as he has miserably failed to prove this one untrue, all reasonable people will draw their own conclusions as to the character of this man, who charges me with falsehood, with being “unchristian,” and with “imbruing my hands in my brother’s blood,” and thinking my “sin” (?) in making a statement of facts which he is unable to disprove, equal in “heinousness” with Nathan Fuller’s course in seducing his own flock
for years and lying to cover it up. Mr. Carver’s view of morality must be peculiar.
Again, Mr. C. thinks the course that should have been pursued toward Nathan Fuller by those against whom he had sinned, was to have extended the forgiving hand, and “helping their brother to regain his Christian character and reputation,” and quotes the following language of our Saviour as applicable in his case: “If thy brother trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him,” Luke 17: 3, 4, and calls the course of those who turned him out after his crimes were discovered, “unchristian,” because they did not give him “kind words of encouragement.” He speaks about the blood of Christ cleansing from all sin, &c., and compares Fuller’s case to that of Paul who persecuted the church before he was converted, who says of himself that he did it “ignorantly,” and compares it also to that of Peter, who denied his Lord under the terrible pressure of darkness and agony on the night of the crucifixion. Let us notice for a moment the record of the man whose case we are considering. Here is a minister of the gospel, making the highest professions of piety, preaching a preparation for the coming of Christ, and the obligation of the Law of God, deliberately taking advantage of his influence for a space of years to work the eternal ruin of those who looked to him for guidance, taking the livery of the court of Heaven to serve the devil in; and in cases where his hellish purposes were balked, falling upon his knees, and declaring it was the first and only time, and that he had, in an unguarded moment, been overcome, and begging with tears that they would keep it a secret, then going to another and pursuing the same course; and in other cases threatening individuals if they should inform against him, that he would, by virtue of his reputation for piety, destroy their influence, &c. Now Mr. Carver, his new found apologist, steps in, and compares this man’s case to that of the apostles Paul and Peter, and goes so far as to say (I quote his own words), “We are to forgive those who trespass against us, even though it be seven times a day upon a profession of repentance” (the italics are mine), as the principle applicable in this man’s case.
Nathan Fuller can now congratulate himself that he has fallen into favorable places if he desires to return to his former course. An elder of the church, and an editor of a religious paper, proclaims beforehand that if a man who attempts and accomplishes the ruin of members of his flock, seven times a day, and turns as often and says, I repent, he must be forgiven. Was the like ever heard? Here are sins before which those of Hophni and Phinehas seem small, for we have no record that they made high professions of piety, for the purpose of ruining the souls of their victims, and yet God says of their sins they should “not be purged with sacrifices or offerings forever,” 1 Sam. 3:14, and they were the cause of the destruction of Eli and all his house. And now a man who has been very forward as a critic, for years endeavoring to show up the sins of the S. D. Adventists, sets forth such doctrine as this. Let it then be understood by all that Mr. Carver upholds and justifies the taking in of Nathan Fuller into the church of which he is elder, and also, his being permitted still to teach his people Christian ethics. Mr. Carver is welcome to his new found instructor, and Nathan Fuller is welcome to his new found apologist.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Nov. 7, 1872.
The Trichina Spiralis.
The following article we take from the Chicago Illustrated Journal, published by Horton & Leonard, Nos. 10 and 12 North Jeff. St., who have kindly granted us the use of the engraving for its illustration. We commend the article to the careful perusal of every one. The reason, it seems, why more people are not slaughtered by infected pork is because the parasites happen to be killed in cooking. But these disgusting animals, though dead, we would not suppose could be considered by any one the most inviting kind of food. The more startling fact, however, is, that these worms are now discovered in other kinds of meat, in fowls and in oysters. A person who, to meet the cravings of appetite, indulges in any kind of meat liable to be thus infected, and finds himself as the result doomed to inevitable death, from having taken into his system myriads of these loathsome parasites, to consume him as the worms consumed Herod, Acts 12:23, must feel that he has sold his life at a very cheap rate. Let all take warning in time. S. D. Adventists who have stepped out on the health reform by faith, will soon find themselves walking in this matter by sight. The Journal says:—
It may not be inopportune at this season of the year, when meat becomes more largely an article of diet, as the cold weather advances, to give to the public at large, and to pork lovers in particular, a little information resulting from recent investigations with the microscope.
The Trichina Spiralis or “Pork Worm” was at first supposed to be an inhabitant of pork only, but later investigation announces its discovery as an inhabitant of many if not all flesh-eating animals. It may be said, however, to be more naturally “indigenous” to the pig, as about one in ten of the hogs fattened for slaughter are found to be thus infested. So minute are they that a powerful microscope is required to reveal their presence, and an ordinary pork steak might contain enough parent insects to generate a million or so to infest the flesh of the unfortunate consumer. In a piece of flesh one-twelfth of an inch square and one-fiftieth of an inch in thickness, as many as twelve trichina have been observed, which would furnish seven thousand two hundred to the square inch.
The following cut represents the worm as it appears under a microscope of great magnifying power, and as found in specimens of deceased pork. When reposing, coiled in its tiny capsule, it presents the appearance of an egg-shaped mass, but upon being taken into the human stomach the capsule is dissolved by the gastric juice, and the liberated worm proceeds immediately to penetrate the surrounding coats of the stomach and the flesh, where it propagates its kind rapidly and indefinitely, causing a speedy and horrible death of its victim.
These insects have a wonderful tenacity of life, and when once introduced into the human system there is no remedy so far as science has yet been able to discover.
They have been known to live for three days in a temperature of forty-five degrees below the freezing point of water, and they have been boiled in thin slices of meat for twenty-two minutes without killing them, but a heat of one hundred and seventy degrees is said to be sufficient to dissolve the albumen, which forms the surrounding capsule of the insect, and thus destroy it. This being so, we advise lovers of pork to see to it that they do not eat their steak rare, and as the trichina has been found in oysters also, those who have been in the habit of rapturously “gobbling” them raw will reflect solemnly after reading this article before they again indulge in this refreshing pastime. Just think of it! You might be swallowing a million in “one fell swoop.”
The founder of the Jewish law showed great wisdom in forbidding the use of swine’s flesh, and the Jews, unto this day, religiously abhor the use of pork as an article of diet. Many of our best medical authorities concur in the wisdom of the Mosaic precept, and recommend its entire discontinuance. But the command given to Peter—“kill and eat”—will continue to have the precedence, and our bills of fare still bear the significant words, “pork and beans” and “ham and eggs,” which will be ordered and eaten, by voracious pork eaters, in spite of trichina spiralis, or any other disease which may result from taking pork-steak rare.
Christian Duties.
THERE is a transforming power which changes what appear to be crosses into the highest Christian privileges, the moment we approach them in the spirit of cheerful obedience; and I almost feel that that word cross should be forgotten in the pleasure derived from following Christ in his commandments and ordinances. Our shadow will never frighten us so long as we keep our faces toward the sun; and so the shadows of what we call crosses will not trouble us if we keep our faces to the Sun of Righteousness in the spirit of alert obedience.
Suppose, now, we were to carry the same cheerful alacrity into all the departments of Christian life and service—how would the whole atmosphere of our being be changed from darkness to the very sunshine of the divine presence.
We sometimes contemplate important duties with fear and dread; and as we hesitate, the “cross,” or, more properly, reluctance to undertake it, becomes the shadow of a giant to torment us, until we are completely unmanned.
DR. SOLOMON GRANBY'S PRESCRIPTION FOR IMPATIENCE.
“Read daily the 3d chapter of James, and at every symptom of an attack, repeat the 5th and 6th verses of the same chapter, abstaining from food, if necessary, and spending a season alone in prayer to God.”
St. Clair and Lapeer Cos., Mich.
By D. H. Lamson
I left home to attend meetings as per appointments in REVIEW, Sept. 19. Held in all, up to Oct. 28, thirty-seven; some of them in connection with Bro. Kenyon in a new place in the vicinity of Almont, Lapeer Co. Nearly all that took a stand for the truth at the first in this place, are still holding on, though we have not as yet been able to perfect an organization. Hope to be able to establish the work here soon. The Lord is, we trust, raising up those who can lead the flock. May those who profess to love the truth here, never bring a reproach upon it.
Oct. 5 and 6 were spent in quarterly meeting at Memphis. This was an important meeting, especially to the new churches within reach, and the scattered ones who could attend. The meetings were largely attended, the churches of Oakland, Lapeer, Almont, Greenwood, and Smith’s Creek, being represented. The last three are new churches. Two of them, Smith’s Creek and Greenwood, were admitted to the Conference at its last session. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to pervade all hearts. On first-day, there were baptized, one of them the leader of the class at Almont. Bro. Kenyon was with us, having arrived the day before, on his way from home to a new field of labor. Bro. Gurney was not present, having an appointment at Alaiedon, under the advice and counsel of the Conference Committee. The meeting at Memphis had been long contemplated, for the more especial benefit of those who had more recently embraced the truth. This place was the most central for all, and the house here was large enough to contain all that would be gathered. As it was, the large house of worship was well filled. The social meetings were spirited, at two of which as many as sixty testimonies were given in the hour taken for each of the meetings. All were encouraged.
Oct. 12 and 13 were appointed for meetings with the Greenwood church. Had not visited them before since April. All were alive to the work, and an increasing interest outside. A few meetings held with this church soon, would doubtless add to their number. Twenty-two, I believe, are now keeping the Sabbath. May all here follow the example of their elder in the putting away of idols.
Sunday eve, Oct. 10, and Monday eve, Oct. 14, was at Abbotsford, where a course of lectures was given last spring. A few here are friendly. Six, I believe, are trying to live out the truth. Shall try to help them some during the coming winter.
Oct. 19 and 20, at Almont. Assisted Bro. Kenyon in several meetings in a new field. Some interest is apparent.
Oct. 26 and 27, at Smith’s Creek. Though the weather was exceedingly unfavorable, the attendance was good, and the occasion profitable. Spoke Sunday morning on Systematic Benevolence. The system was commended, and heartily entered into by all. Several who are not with us fully, spoke highly in its favor, and helped some in the work. The best of feeling exists, and more labor can be bestowed there with prospects of success. Twenty are here now keeping the Sabbath, all heads of families but one. In the absence of Bro. Weeks, their elder, Bro. Daniel Sumner takes charge of the meetings and Sabbath-school. Many of the youth and children are interested in this branch of the work. Hope that none will forget how important it is, and all bear a part in it.
Ill-health and matters of business compelled my return home Oct. 28. Expect now to spend a good share of the winter and spring in St. Clair Co. May the Lord open the way, and guide in judgment.
D. H. LAMSON.
The Prayer-Meeting.
By M. Wood
“THEN they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Mal. 3:16, 17.
FROM the whole tenor of this beautiful passage of Scripture we may be assured that those who meet in the name of Jesus to worship God and adore the Saviour, pray with, and exhort, one another, and encourage each other by their testimonies to keep God’s commandments, will be highly pleasing to the Lord of hosts. It is an evidence that our delight was in him (God), and that we feared the Lord, and thought upon his name. It was the custom of Jesus when upon earth, to meet with his people for the worship of God. The apostle Paul used the following beautiful language: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching, and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Col. 3:16.
HOW is it with us when the appointed hour for social meeting arrives? Does it find us filling our station, and serving God with constancy and zeal, performing as far as lies in our power the duties of a Christian, having hearts filled with gratitude and love to God for the privilege of serving Jesus, the Master? or do we devise all manner of excuses, in order to absent ourselves from the house of prayer, and thus lose the blessing which God has in store for them that forsake not the assembling of themselves together in the name of Jesus?
Let us study the character of the ancient Christians. They had such love for the social gatherings that they would risk their lives for the privilege of meeting with a few of like precious faith. Notwithstanding the danger connected with the attendance of these social meetings, they never swerved from the path of duty. Frequently were they driven to the mountains and tombs, caves and valleys, still there was no faltering on their part. They were determined to serve God at all hazards, realizing that to be detected in the service of God was death in a most cruel manner. I doubt very much if they were ever heard to exclaim, when the hour for prayer-meeting arrived, It is too hot, or too cold, too wet, or the distance is too great, or I feel tired, or there will be but few there, or we shall be detected, and persecuted, and burned at the stake, or torn to pieces by wild beasts. The primitive believers were just the reverse of all this. They despised the world and its flattering allurements. They took up the cross and denied themselves. They boldly confessed Christ, and suffered for his sake. They trusted God for all things, and so took joyfully the spoiling of their goods. And what was the blessed fruit? They abounded in consolation, they grew in grace, they shone as lights in the world, they felt joy and peace in believing and obeying God.
But now we see professing Christians, even many of whom we charitably hope well, languid in their graces, timid in their confessions, fearful of consequences, and fearful of offending. Sad symptoms these of spiritual decay! In such, the spirit of the gospel is not exhibited, its character is not exemplified, and Christ is not glorified.
Oh! that the Lord may quicken his people, and revive his work in the midst of these last days. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The cross of Christ is heavy to bear when the foolish and vain things of this earth occupy the largest part of our mind and time; but when the soul is filled with love toward the Saviour, and we feel an increasing desire to reach out after God, and a thirsting after righteousness, then will the cross of Christ appear light, and even pleasant to endure. We shall love the house of prayer, and assemble with the children of God. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:2, 3.
It is at the house of prayer that the weak and the strong meet together and mingle their voices in prayer and praise to the Almighty. We have common sins to confess, and common wants to be supplied. We have similar temptations to overcome, and all need the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. Then let us not forget the assembling of ourselves together; and let us exhort one another, and all the more as we see the day approaching. Oh! may the Lord help us to wake up and have a realizing sense of the solemn and perilous times in which we live. How soon the privileges which we now enjoy will be among the things that were. Then let us improve every opportunity offered in attending our prayer-meetings, and strive, by faithfully discharging every known duty, to seek a close walk with God. Let us draw nigh unto the Lord, and he will draw nigh unto us, and bless us. M. WOOD.
