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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 22

Spiritual Gifts
Earlier text: BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO

VIGILANT MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

(Concluded.)

ORDER OF MEETINGS.

The meetings of the Society are opened with singing and prayer, followed by the reading of the report of the preceding meeting, after which any business pertaining to the interests of the Society is in order. Addresses of individuals to whom the Signs may be sent can be handed in, cases of need can be brought up, those not taking our periodicals may be looked after, and letters which have been received during the previous week may be read. Then the Signs should be distributed among the members present, and the meeting closed with a season of prayer for special cases which may have come before the Society.
When the name of any person is reported to the Society, according to Art. V., the President should appoint a member to furnish reading matter to, and correspond with, such person. And it is expected of all members who may be designated to write or visit, that they should first seek the blessing of God upon the effort. All members of the Society are expected to state any convictions that they may have concerning writing to, or visiting, any particular individual. But nothing in the By-Laws shall prevent any visits being made where the way may open, though appointments have not been made. It is also expected that all absent members, wherever they may be, will unite with the Society in seeking the special blessing of God upon it and its efforts at the stated hour of meeting.
During the week, the Signs distributed among the members of the Society are to be sent out. After sending a paper for three successive weeks to the same individual, a letter should be written. If no response is made, cease sending him the paper, and try others. Some might be interested by continuing the paper, but the probabilities are that they would not be; and as the world is full of people who have not heard the truth, it is better to give others an opportunity to investigate than to continue to send papers to those who make no response.

SCATTERED BRETHREN.

Brethren and sisters living alone, or in company with others, but who are so situated that they can do nothing with the Signs themselves, should link their interests with some society that is in active operation. They should not feel that they can do nothing simply because they live alone. Many living alone can use five or more copies of the Signs themselves. Some sisters individually use fifty copies.

WORK FOR THE SOCIETY OR COMMITTEE.

The work of these societies or committees, should be, 1. To find interested readers for the Signs and other periodicals, by correspondence and otherwise. 2. To correspond with all who they may have reason to believe will be benefited thereby, especially lonely Sabbath-keepers. 3. To visit, converse and pray with such families as we might suppose our Saviour would visit were he upon the earth. 4. To become acquainted with each family in the church, and see that our periodicals are taken by them. 5. To see that those who are sick or destitute in the church where they belong, do not suffer for want of attention; and if not able to give relief themselves, to call the attention of others to the matter. In short, they should be vigilant committees indeed, to watch the inroads of Satan and make war upon him by getting the truth into his ranks by every possible means which is lawful in the sight of Heaven.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

The following questions are frequently asked:—
1. “How can addresses be obtained?”
Ans. From friends; from periodicals of all kinds; from corresponding agents. A successful method with some has been to correspond with individuals, stating that they were interested in missionary work, and wished to send out religious reading matter, and then asking these persons to send them names and addresses. Some have written to post-masters for names. Addresses may be secured by every lawful means.
2. “Should the brethren join the Vigilant Society?”
Ans. All are invited to join.
3. “Does money paid to the Vigilant Society constitute one a member of the Tract Society?”
Ans. It does not.
4. “Is it necessary for every member of the V. M. Society to join the Tract Society?”
Ans. They should do so.
5. “Must members of the Vigilant Society individually report to the Tract Society, if they are members of that Society?”
Ans. Yes, just the same as if there were no Vigilant Society. Then the Vigilant Society report will show what proportion of the work reported by the District Secretary was done by the members of the Vigilant Society.
6. “Should the Secretary be required to wrap all the papers, write all the letters, and perform all the general labor of the Society?”
Ans. No; this work should be divided among the members present at the meetings of the Society.
7. “How shall the postage be paid?”
Ans. Each individual should pay on the papers which he sends out, or it may be paid by donations.

POSTAGE ON PAPERS AND TRACTS.

Great care should be taken in wrapping neatly and securely, directing distinctly, and stamping sufficiently, all matter that is sent by mail; otherwise, much labor and means will be lost. If deficient in any of these respects, packages of papers and books find their way into some waste-basket or rag-bag, where there is little prospect of their accomplishing any good. Letters are frequently lost, delayed, or sent to the Dead-Letter Office for the same reasons.
Librarians and individuals sending out large quantities of reading matter by mail would find it greatly to their advantage to have a medium size of letter scales.
The present law requiring one cent for every two ounces or fraction thereof, of strictly printed matter, on our publications amounts to the following:—
Our ordinary tracts and pamphlets, with light wrapping, require one cent for each 72 pages or fraction thereof.
Signs and REVIEWS require one cent for a single copy, and one cent additional for each additional two copies. Count ½ cent for the wrapper, and ½ cent for each copy of the paper. Two copies will not go for one cent, because with the wrapper they weigh over two ounces.
Good Health requires one cent for each copy, with ordinary wrapping. The Instructor, Stimme Der Wahrheit, Harolden, and Tidende require a trifle less than the Signs on large packages. One number of either the Instructor or College Record can be sent with one number of the Signs for one cent.
The postage on letters from the United States to Great Britain and Ireland, Greece, Greenland, Holland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey, is five cents per half ounce. On books or papers, it is two cents for two ounces or fraction thereof. Postal cards can be sent to these countries by annexing a one-cent postage stamp. Postage between Canada and the United States is the same as to any part of the United States.
Any writing on pamphlets, tracts, or bound books will subject the same to letter postage.

NEW YORK T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By Addie S. Bowen; B. L. Whitney

The State quarterly meeting of this society was held at Rome, N. Y., May 8–10, 1880.
The meetings on the Sabbath were good. Eld. Canright gave us excellent practical sermons, and a good spirit was manifested in the social meeting following the afternoon discourse.
The first business meeting was called by the President, Sunday, May 9, at 11:45 A. M. Opened by singing “World’s Harvest,” followed with prayer by Eld. Canright. As no State meeting was held last quarter, there were no minutes to be presented before this meeting; but the report of labor for that quarter was read, also the following for the past quarter:—
District No. Members. No. Reports Returned No. Members Added No. Families Visited No. Letters Written No. Signs taken in Club Subscribers obtained for Periodicals. Pages of Tracts and Pamphlets distributed Periodicals Distributed. Annuals sold and given away. Cash rec’d on Tract Fund and Periodicals.
1 ..... ... ... 27 7 20 95 9418 967 75 $108 60
2 49 17 ... 9 8 20 16 7988 99 112 24 77
3 63 35 ... 54 17 10 72 15808 614 492 52 50
4 78 28 7 140 43 14 73 22336 960 155 92 46
5 11 6 ... 88 ... 28 ... 7878 415 ... 26 90
6 ... 4 ... ... ... 24 ... 6262 60 ... 42 12
7 ... 18 ... 260 20 2 102 13922 344 201 71 81
8 58 27 1 34 45 ... 43 8820 905 627 74 92
9 34 12 14 55 39 1 19 11562 220 98 46 98
10 ... ... ... 32 6 ... ... 2574 138 24 9 27
*1 14 14 ... 245 16 10 75 11030 163 309 945 81
307 161 22 944 201 †1292 495 117598 4885 2131 $1496 14
The two reports were then compared, and in nearly every item a marked increase was shown in the present report over the preceding one.
The President occupied a few minutes in speaking of the proper management of book sales for the benefit of the society, and referred to the increase in the proportion of reading matter loaned. This he approved, giving instances to illustrate how much more real good can be done by gathering up tracts, etc., with a view of using again, and replacing with others, than if all were given away.
After some further remarks in regard to the encouraging features of the missionary work of ministers and colporters, the meeting adjourned to call of Chair.
Another meeting was called at 10:15 A. M., Monday, May 10. The main features of this meeting were the consideration of Les Signes des Temps and the Signs of the Times. The brethren were urged to take a more active interest, both in raising clubs, and changing from the eight-page to the twelve-page edition of our own Signs; and when the plan of paying for copies of the French paper for the missionary work in Europe was presented, the brethren and sisters very cheerfully and readily subscribed for one hundred and sixteen copies, and before the meeting closed, all but fifteen of these were paid for.
We feel thankful for the evidences that the blessing of the Lord was upon these meetings, and hope to see good fruits as a result of this quarterly gathering.
ADDIE S. BOWEN, Sec.  B. L. WHITNEY, Pres.

DAKOTA

By S. B. Whitney

Madison, May 12.—Came here the 6th, and found the friends doing well. All, without exception, that started while I was here in the winter, are holding on faithfully. The outside interest in the village is especially good. On Sunday, held a meeting there, which was well attended. Several expressed anxiety to hear a course of lectures. Yesterday I baptized six, among whom was Sr. Howlitt, daughter of Bro. White of Jamaica, Vt. Bro. Olsen came here with me to engage in labor among the Scandinavians, of whom there is quite a settlement. Hope the brethren will pray for him, that his mission may be successful.
Sioux Falls, May 17.—On my way to this place I visited Flandreau and Valley Springs. At the latter place assisted our new District Secretary, Bro. Geo. E. Henton, in opening his books. Met with the brethren here last Sabbath. Find a good interest in the Sabbath-school and tract-society matters.
Expect to start the tent soon. As I look over the work of the last few months, while I see much to regret, there is yet much to encourage. The number of our churches has been doubled. Flourishing tract societies and Sabbath-schools are connected with every one of them, fully equipped with all the appliances recommended by our general associations, as far as their circumstances will admit, and a feeling of hopefulness and courage prevails throughout the Conference generally.
S. B. WHITNEY.

PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY.

By I. Sanford

On the way to my field of labor in Virginia, I stopped ten days in Berks Co., Pa., and held fifteen meetings. Five more had commenced keeping the Sabbath, making nine in all. They have excellent meetings every Sabbath, as they are all people of some Christian experience. Three were baptized. Quite a number more are convinced of the truth, and we expect they will soon take hold with us. They take ten copies of the German paper to use in the missionary work. They also keep on hand a good assortment of German tracts to circulate among the people, as they are all of German origin. We hope soon to see a large company of Sabbath-keepers in South-eastern Pennsylvania. May the Lord speed the day.
I have just closed a series of seven meetings in Camden, N. J. There have been five additions to this church since March. Three were baptized. They have an interesting Sabbath-school of thirty-eight members. Twenty-five Instructors are taken, and the Song Anchor is used in the school. They take twenty-nine copies of the twelve-page Signs, three copies of the REVIEW, and three of Good Health. They have a V. M. society, which is doing good work. Their tithes the past quarter amounted to a little over $25, and the penny contributions for the Sabbath-school exceed $5 a quarter. Last evening we organized a health and temperance club of ten members, which we trust will soon be much increased in numbers. All are anxiously praying and working for the advancement of the cause in Camden. Eld. Orcutt will attend their quarterly meeting, the second Sabbath in July, and assist in carrying forward the good work. I hope to spend a few days with them next fall in a protracted meeting; until that time, let every one see how many he can find who will read our papers and tracts, and thereby be led to attend the meetings. I. SANFORD.

Obituary Notices.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” Rev. 14:13.
STROUPE.—Died of inflammation of the lungs, at Spencer Mills, Kent Co., Mich., May 4, 1880, Edgar Stroupe, aged 32 years and 7 months. He leaves a wife and an adopted child, who deeply mourn their loss.
KELLOGG.—Died in Evergreen, Montcalm Co., Mich., May 6, 1880, Sidney M., son of M. S. Kellogg (deceased) and E. S. Kellogg, aged 18 years, 11 months, and 10 days. When quite young he gave his heart to the Lord, but for a time he wandered from him. In the early part of his sickness he returned with heartfelt confessions, and received the evidence of his acceptance. His dying testimony was, “Oh, how good the Lord has been to me to grant the forgiveness of all my sins.” We mourn not as others who have no hope. Words of comfort from 1 Pet. 1:3. L. A. KELLOGG.
DENNIS.—Martha Vernalis, wife of the writer, died at Henry, Marshall Co., Ill., May 8, 1880. She was born May 1, 1854, thus being 26 years and 8 days old at the time of her death. She embraced present truth shortly after our marriage, which occurred July 3, 1877. A short time before her death she testified that she did not commence to keep the Sabbath because I kept it, but because she believed it to be the duty of all Christians everywhere to keep it. She left a babe ten days old. We hope to meet her in the resurrection morning. Funeral sermon by H. David, M. E. pastor, from the words: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” A. J. DENNIS.

FINDING “GIRL” IN THE BIBLE.

An English town-missionary, a short time ago, related a remarkable incident. There was a lodging-house in his district which he had longed to enter, but was deterred from so doing by his friend, who feared that his life would be thereby endangered. He became at length so uneasy that he determined to risk all consequences and try to gain admission. So one day he gave somewhat of a timid knock at the door, in response to which a coarse voice roared out, “Who’s there?” and at the same moment a vicious-looking woman opened the door and ordered the man of God away.
“Let him come in, and see who he is, and what he wants,” growled out the same voice. The missionary walked in, and bowing politely to the rough-looking man whom he had just heard speak, said:—
“I have been visiting most of the houses in this neighborhood to read with and talk to the people about good things. I have passed your door as long as I feel I ought, for I wish also to talk with you and your lodgers.”
“Are you what is called a town-missionary?”
“I am, sir,” was the reply.
“Well, then,” said the fierce-looking man, “sit down and hear what I am going to say. I will ask you a question out of the Bible. If you answer me right, you may call at this house and read and pray with us or our lodgers as often as you like; if you do not answer me right, we will tear your clothes off your back and tumble you neck and heels into the street. Now what do you say to that? for I am a man of my word.”
The missionary was perplexed, but at length quietly said,—
“I will take you.”
“Well, then,” said the man, “here goes. Is the word girl in any part of the Bible? If so, where is it to be found, and how often? That is my question.”
“Well, sir, the word girl is in the Bible, but only once, and may be found in the words of the prophet Joel 3:3. The words are, ‘And sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.’”
“Well,” replied the man; “I’m dead beat; I durst to have bet five pounds you could not have told.”
“And I could not have told yesterday,” said the visitor. “For several days I have been praying that the Lord would open me a way into this house; and this very morning, when reading the Scriptures in my family, I was surprised to find the word girl, and got the Concordance to see if it occurred again, and found it did not. And now, sir, I believe that God did know and does know what will come to pass, and surely his hand is in this for my protection and your good.”
The whole of the inmates were greatly surprised, and the incident has been overruled to the conversion of the man, his wife, and two of the lodgers.—Selected.

Notes of News.

—Stuyvesant, N. Y., was recently destroyed by fire.
—It is said that there are 63,000 prisoners in the Russian prisons.
—The distance by railroad from New York to San Francisco is 3,320 miles.
—The Flower Mission of New York City distributed 150,000 bouquets last season.
—A resolution to adjourn on the 31st inst. has passed the House of Representatives.
—In one district of Persia there have been 600 deaths from famine since January.
—During the year ending April 30, 1880, 198,876 immigrants landed at New York.
—Over 1,000,000 brook trout have been placed in the streams of Wisconsin this year.
—The total amount of the donations for the relief of the distress in Ireland is $2,910,000.
—The English Salvation Army is in Philadelphia. Its present brigade numbers 700 persons.
—It is estimated that in the various countries of the world, over 6,000 different kinds of postage stamps have been issued.
—There is a rumor that a company of American capitalists have obtained a concession to construct a canal across the Isthmus.
—On the 20th of May, Parliament was formally opened, and listened to the reading of the Queen’s speech by the Lord High Chancellor.
—In Russia, the diphtheria has become a prevailing epidemic, and the government has devoted $300,000 to the establishment of hospitals.
—Of the persons who recently wrecked a train on the Andalusian Railway in Spain, 13 have been sentenced to death, and 13 to imprisonment for 20 years.
—A dispatch from London states that on the 15th, 25 persons were killed and about 60 injured by the explosion of a boiler in the Birchills Hall Iron Works.
—Seven of the 37 members of the class that has just graduated from the Union Theological Seminary of New York, are going as missionaries to foreign lands.
—The strikes in France are terminating. “It is generally believed,” says a late dispatch, “that they were provoked and organized by some secret political committee.”
—Mexico is threatened with another revolution. Troops are collecting at the old town of Senorita, about 150 miles from Yuma, on the line between Mexico and California.
—A young nobleman in the district of Putiloff, Russia, a Nihilist, was recently arrested. At the moment of his arrest he was shot by his father, who then immediately committed suicide.
—The Mormon Church has excommunicated six of Brigham Young’s daughters for causing the imprisonment of his executors, who had defrauded the “prophet’s” heirs out of $1,000,000.
—A bill has been introduced in the German Diet which so modifies the laws complained of by the Catholics that it is thought a reconciliation can now be effected between Germany and the Vatican.
—A dispatch from Constantinople states that 50 brigands have been killed near Salonica, others captured, and their prisoners secured. They were all armed with the best of modern weapons.
—It is stated as an evidence of the prosperity of the French Republic, that during the past year 2,600,000 Frenchmen have deposited in the savings-banks $153,800,000, an average of nearly $60 each.
—It is thought that Mr. Maynard, Minister to Turkey, will succeed Judge Key as Postmaster General. His name will probably be sent in for confirmation with that of Judge Key as District Judge in Tennessee.
—Goschen, British Ambassador to Constantinople, has visited France, going from there to Austria. As a result, it is believed that Turkey will shortly be summoned to give a categorical reply to the collective representatives of Europe.
—An English liquor-dealer advertises for ladies of high social position to canvass for his wines among their acquaintances. He tells them that they may thus realize from £100 to £300 per annum without interfering with their social position.
—The Will of the People, the organ of the Russian Nihilists, is written, printed, and circulated in the most secret manner, and in spite of the vigilance of the police. But it is found on the table of the Czar, and under the pillows of statesmen and generals.
—An artesian well is being bored in Boston, for the purpose of determining whether or not there is under the city an available supply of pure water. The depth of the well now exceeds 300 feet, and two small streams of excellent water have been found.
—The famine in North Hungary is increasing; 1,400 people have no food but grass, nettles, and mushrooms. Troops of emigrants are leaving the country; but the government has given the authorities orders to stop them, and some have been arrested by the police.
—On the 21st inst., news was received of the suspension of the Reading Railroad Company and its dependent corporations. The indebtedness of the railroad company, as stated by one of the directors, is between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000. The miners regard the suspension as temporary.
—The new National Museum at Washington will probably be ready for use next fall. It is a one-story structure covering about two acres of ground. It contains 17 large halls for government collections, and numerous small rooms for laboratories, offices, and the general work of scientific investigation and classification.
—There are in England 20,000 fox hounds, kept for sporting purposes. If to this item we add the expense of keeping hunting horses, huntsmen, and whippers-in, with grooms and stable boys, we have an annual outlay, which, if thus applied, would add greatly to the comfort, and increase the happiness, of the laboring class.
—In the investigation of the Madison Square Garden disaster, the jury brought in a verdict that the falling of the wall was due to the faulty construction of the building. They censured the Harlem Railroad Company for employing a civil engineer as an architect, and the Department of Buildings for negligence of duty in allowing the addition to be erected contrary to law and in a faulty manner.
—The M. E. General Conference has elected four new bishops; viz., Dr. E. O. Haven, President of the Syracuse University; Dr. Cyrus Foss, President of the Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Ct.; Dr. J. F. Hurst, President of Drew Theological Seminary; and Dr. H. W. Warren, of Philadelphia. But the Conference decided not to elect a colored bishop, although the colored brethren urged their claims quite persistently.
—The action of the New British ministry in appointing a Roman Catholic peer, Lord Ripon, as Governor General of India, and another, Lord Kenmare, as Lord Chamberlain, called out a remonstrance from the British Reformation Society, through Lord O’Bannon. This action of the Ministry, together with Gladstone’s reply to Lord O’Bannon, defending the appointments, gives the Conservatives hope, as it is almost certain to awaken the prejudices of the Nonconformists, particularly those of Scotland.
—The new Lenox Library, in New York City, contains a magnificent copy of the Mazarin Bible, printed in Metz, by Gutenberg, in 1455. It is the first book printed from movable types, and yet, strange to say, it is one of the noblest monuments of the “art preservative of all arts,” in existence. There are only two copies of this Bible on this continent, the other being owned by the heirs of the late George Brinley, of Hartford, Conn. The last copies sold at the Perkins sale, London, June 6, 1873, brought $17,000 for the one printed on vellum, and $13,550 for the one on paper.
—In view of the possibility of war between Russia and China, the following facts relative to the Chinese army and Navy will be of interest: The entire strength of the army, exclusive of officers, is, on paper, 826,000 men. The most of these troops are badly armed and seldom drilled. Barely 50,000 of them are armed with European weapons and drilled according to the principles of European tactics. Probably not more than half of this force could be actually brought into the field. The navy is also weak and inefficient. There is a rumor that the Chinese propose to re-organize their army and navy.

AFTER MANY DAYS.

IN 1835, Dr. Meadows, in making a journey along the coast of China, called for a few hours at a small island, where he distributed some tracts and small religious books. The island remained unvisited by any European for thirty-three years, when a missionary went thither and began to preach the gospel. To his astonishment, one of his hearers said, “We know that doctrine;” and on being asked whence they had obtained their knowledge, the man replied, “Many years ago a foreigner came here and left some little books and other writings, which contained that doctrine which you preach. He gave them to my father, who charged me when dying to read them, and keep them carefully, and, perhaps, some day God would send some one who would teach us the doctrine more fully.” The result of the seed sown by Dr. Meadows, thirty-three years before, was the formation of a church which speedily numbered sixty members, and is now in a healthy and thriving state. Surely these facts contain encouragement, not only for missionaries, but for tract distributors generally, and for all who are engaged in sowing the good seed of the kingdom.—London Missionary Chronicle.

Report of Wisconsin T. and M. Society, for Quarter Ending April 1, 1880.

By Mattie A. Kerr

Districts No. Members No. Reports Returned No. Members Added No. Families Visited No. Letters Written No. Signs taken in Clubs Subscribers obtained for Periodicals Pages of Tracts and Pamphlets distributed Periodicals Distributed Annuals sold and given away Cash rec’d on Tract Funds and Periodicals
1 54 13 ... 12 47 10 ... 49 3725 538 $63 99
2 40 13 ... ... 41 25 31 3478 765 344 38 99
3 50 ... 1 19 20 34 ... 2957 98 151 15 03
4 23 10 ... 5 5 15 20 2966 147 49 8 16
5 46 16 4 12 6 12 2 3524 152 123 21 63
6 3240 33 ... ...
7 48 30 2 ... 8 ... 90 6228 339 100 35 95
8 27 27 ... 4 42 17 6 3317 571 482 12 63
9 37 22 2 44 12 10 ... 9979 378 293 38 45
11 50 ... 3 96 32 28 33 9758 774 83 26 36
12 24 19 2 1 16 7 ... 1455 92 25 27 37
13 26 ... 16 ... 11 15 51 3101 587 55 37 40
15 42 12 ... 16 1 ... 7 1246 115 30 6 58
17 29 10 4 4 5 ... 21 1780 222 45 16 01
18 13 17 3 48 9 ... 2 3786 57 180 5 30
509 190 37 261 237 182 396 60585 4868 2390 $353 85
The local societies at Mt. Pisgah, La Grange, Lisbon, Chicago, Burnside, Raymond, and Racine failed to report.
MATTIE A. KERR, Sec.

REPORT OF MISSOURI T. AND M. SOCIETY, FOR QUARTER ENDING APRIL 1, 1880.

By D. C. Hunter

District No. Members No. Reports returned No. Members added No. Families visited No. Letters written No. Signs taken in Clubs Subscriptions obtained for Periodicals Pages of Tracts and Pamphlets distributed Periodicals Annuals sold and given away Cash rec'd on Tract Fund and Periodicals
1 17 14 4 11 14 .... 4629 355 37 $47 40
2 18 17 .... 15 9 15 5 11665 450 33 16 40
3 46 32 4 120 58 35 26 18362 598 161 33 05
4 51 19 .... 57 121 23 27 23947 990 151 32 55
5 9 6 .... 3 1 .... 1137 3 16 4 80
6 13 8 .... 28 2 .... 2 3847 137 48 10 05
7 22 15 2 9 7 .... 18 2028 120 25 14 50
1 31 25
176 111 10 243 212 73 78 65615 2653 471 $190 00
D. C. HUNTER, Sec.
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