Earlier text: THE CRUCIFIXIONWHAT ONE PARENTHESIS CONTAINS.
By John Nevins Andrews
THE book of Deuteronomy is a rehearsal of the forty years' wanderings of Israel in the wilderness. To the thoughtful reader of the Bible it is a record of remarkable interest. Indeed, we can never exhaust its treasures of instruction, and its lessons of experience. The second verse of the book is worthy of much more attention than it usually receives. It is given in a parenthesis, as though breaking the connected story by an important explanatory clause. Thus we read, Deut 1:2. "(There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.)" From Horeb, which is but another name for Sinai, or else another peak of the same mountain, to Kadesh-barnea which was close to the border of the promised land, there was a distance of eleven days' journey for the host of Israel. They remained at Sinai nearly one year, receiving the law, constructing the tabernacle, and organizing the camp of Israel. Then in the second year (Num. 10) the pillar of cloud removing, they followed its guidance to Kadesh-barnea. There were some hindrances, and much that was evil in their conduct by the way, yet eleven marching days from Sinai brought them to the land which God had promised, That they were not fit for it, had been made painfully apparent. Rebellion flowed from their evil hearts of unbelief, as naturally as water from a fountain. So it was proper that they should be subjected to a trial that should show how far they had profited by the wonderful dealings of God with them; that should, in a word, show just what they were. The report of the spies at this point in their history, furnished just the trial that they needed. Num. 13, 14. So upon the very border of the land of promise, the people almost as one man, broke out in such rebellion against God, that with a solemn oath he swore that they should never set their feet upon the soil of that good land. The spies that had visited the land, had spent forty days in examining it, and God fixed the period of their wanderings in the wilderness at forty years, each day of the spies' examination of the land, being answered by a year of wandering in the wilderness. What a terrible sentence to be pronounced upon a people just ready, as they supposed, to enter the land! They must wander forty years. And that was not the worst of it. When that time should expire, it was not the purpose of God that they should enter the land. No, by no means. On the contrary, every one of that host of men and women, with almost the smallest possible exception, knew that they should die before that period expired. And so they did; the second numbering of Israel attesting the fact, that not one of the vast host of rebellious men and women remained alive. Num. 26:63–65. And now at the end of their forty years' sojourn, Moses rehearses their long and weary307 wandering in the wilderness. How much time had they spent from Sinai to the promised land? About thirty-nine years. How far was it actually from the one point to the other? Only eleven days' journey. No wonder Moses could not enter upon this forty years of needless wandering, without pausing to tell his hearers that it was a distance of eleven days' march. What a significant statement that was. And how humiliating to those who heard him. Had every day been a day of overcoming, every night had witnessed their tents pitched a day's march nearer the land of promise. A very brief period after the great work wrought at Sinai, was sufficient to have taken them to the land which they sought. But they did not profit by God's dealings with them. They did not overcome. They went on, day after day, yielding to the power of Satan instead of resisting it, and so instead of a comparatively brief journey to the land of Canaan, they spent forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and every one of them, with two exceptions, failed of entering the land which God designed for them. How strikingly does this illustrate the religious experience of most professed Christians. In an experience of forty years, how many there are who have not traveled a greater distance than eleven days' journey, of a faithful disciple of Christ. How many at the end of this long period find themselves at the borders of Egypt and not of Canaan. How many whose heads are white for the grave, and who have been in name the disciples of Christ almost their whole lives, have spent, like Israel in the wilderness, at least as much time in traveling from the promised land, as toward it! How awful this is to think of! Fitly do such persons say, "I have made many crooked paths." They have indeed. And if they do not pay the penalty that Israel did, of coming short of the land of promise, it will be because godly sorrow works repentance unto life. Alas! what a miserable deception is much that is called Christian experience—what a dishonor to the cause of Christ, is such religion. Christian experience is nothing more nor less than forming an acquaintance with Christ, which becomes every day more intimate and precious. It is following on to know the Lord. It is adding grace to grace. It is walking with God. It is resisting the devil. It is humbling ourselves before God. It is overcoming temptation. It is keeping our face turned toward Canaan all the time. It is advancing always. It is retrograding never. It is bearing the cross of Christ. It is denying self. It is dying daily. It is not living ourselves, but having Christ live in us. Eleven days of such Christian experience is worth more than forty years of such as most persons are satisfied with. Why is it that men can never learn that the service of self and Satan, is not the service of Christ? That progress made with our back toward Canaan and our face toward Egypt, will never bring us to the land of promise. And even to journey in the right direction for a time, and to offset this with an equal or greater retrograde march, is to make no progress in the right direction. Can we find nothing in all this for solemn admonition? How much progress have we made in the five, or ten, or twenty, or forty years that we have been on the road? How far are we from the point where we set out to gain the kingdom of God? Are we even now gaining ground day by day? If not, it may be set down as a moral certainty that we shall never enter the land of promise. We can not afford to lose one day. 'Tis time we all awake; the dreadful day draws near. J. N. A. Is it true that the words the Sabbath, as found in the writings of Moses, might with equal propriety be rendered a Sabbath? This question is suggested by reading a Sabbath Manual which is quite popular in my neighborhood, and which conveys the above idea. ANS. It is not. The testimony of the Scriptures relative to the Sabbath, in Hebrew, Greek, and English, is as definite as it is possible for language to express. We all know how definite the testimony of our English version is, relative to this subject; and we may rest assured that the translators understood the laws of language sufficiently well not to have expressed it in this definite manner, if the original had not been equally definite. Mr. Wm. B. Taylor, in a discussion upon the Sabbath question with J. N. Brown, D. D., thus comments upon the Hebrew of the fourth commandment: "The command is not to keep a seventh proportion of our time, but to remember the Sabbath-DAY which is yom ha-shibingi, day the seventh, the day in which God rested; the only day that can be the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, as the Bible tells not that he even kept any other Sabbath. The fourth commandment is not general in description; it is as specific as language can make it. It designates a particular day by its proper name, and by the only name it had. 'Day ha-shibingi is the Sabbath.' Frequently as the Sabbath law is repeated, in no single instance does it describe a seventh portion of time, or even a Sabbath-day as its object: day the seventh is its inexorable demand." The Septuagint, a translation of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew into Greek, made by seventy two learned Jews, six from each tribe, about 285 years before Christ, is probably the best expression of the sense of the original Hebrew that has ever been given. It was highly esteemed in the time of Christ, most of the quotations which he and the apostles made from the Old Testament being taken from this version. A literal translation of the fourth commandment as found in this book, would read as follows:— "Remember the day of the Sabbath to hallow it. Six days you shall labor and perform all your works; but the day the seventh is the Sabbath to the Lord your God: you shall not do in it any work, you nor your son, nor your daughter, your servant, nor your maid-servant, your ox, nor beast of burden, nor any of your cattle, nor the stranger sojourning with you. For in six days the Lord made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all the things in them, and rested on the day the seventh; for which reason the Lord spake well of the day the seventh, and consecrated it." It is easy to see, therefore, that nothing can be further from the truth than to represent the testimony of the word of God respecting the Sabbath, as in any degree indefinite; and no one will do it, unless to serve some unworthy purpose. MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING.
By George I. Butler
THIS meeting was held about three miles from the city of Minneapolis, near Lake Calhoun, June 23-28. This is a beautiful miniature lake of clear water perhaps three miles across, ensconced among the low hills which are covered with trees, and quite a pleasure resort in the summer season. A little steamer takes occasional trips for the accommodation of those who resort thither. The grove where the camp-meeting was held is the same as that occupied for two years past. It is quite a fine one. The attendance this year was good. Between six hundred and seven hundred encamped upon the ground during most of the time. Minnesota now stands next to Michigan in the number of Seventh-day Adventists in attendance at the annual camp-meeting. Perhaps there is no Conference where the growth in membership for the last ten years has been so remarkable as in this State. Elder Haskell and myself reached the ground Wednesday, the 22d of June. A session of State Conference commenced that evening; the religious services the following morning. The preaching in English was mostly by us, as Eld. and Mrs. White did not attend this camp-meeting. This was quite a disappointment to many of our people. They were expected until Friday night. Eld. O. A. Olsen of the Wisconsin Conference reached the camp that day and with Eld. Johnson held services every day among the Scandinavians. As soon as the preaching in English closed, forenoon and afternoon, a discourse in that tongue was given. As many of that people could understand most of the sermons in English, and attended the preaching meetings, they had the benefit of five sermons a day. There is the happiest state of union and fellowship between the two nationalities. The preaching was plain and practical and seemed to take a deep hold upon the hearts of the people. Eld. Haskell gave a discourse Sabbath morning on the spirit of true sacrifice—not in reference to giving money so much as giving ourselves to God. It seemed to take a deep hold upon all present. Many wept freely, and the good Spirit came very near. It was a very powerful discourse, because the Spirit of God made it effective. In the afternoon after the discourse, the usual call for those who were determined to make a new and more complete consecration to God to manifest it by rising preliminary to calling them forward was made. From four hundred to five hundred arose, a large majority of the audience, so many that it seemed useless to undertake to call them forward to any particular seats. The large tent 60 by 100 was quite well filled. Ministers and people confessed their sins with tears. The President of the Conference stated he had never seen so deep feeling among the people at any camp-meeting there before. The whole day Sabbath was taken up in religious services. The people assembled in their tents which were designated for meetings with a person appointed to lead, and carried on the good work of seeking God. It was a time of great spiritual good. There was but a small attendance from the city on Sunday. The meetings in the afternoon and evening were much interfered with by rain, so no services were held at night. Indeed, it rained some about every day of the meeting, and the air was full of dampness most of the time. On Monday a special effort was made to carry the spiritual interests further. After the forenoon discourse a call was made for the unconverted and those greatly backslidden who felt their need of help, to come forward. About one hundred responded. Good testimonies were given. After a discourse on baptism, thirty-five were buried with their Lord in Lake Calhoun. After a good farewell meeting Tuesday morning, the camp broke up and we separated. Quite a number came to say farewell with eyes full of tears, feeling that God had greatly blessed them. Our business meetings passed off pleasantly. The tract and missionary work was in a more favorable condition than we expected. The ministers go out to labor with good hope and courage. Eld. Haskell returned East, while Eld. Olsen and myself started to attend the Dakota camp-meeting. THE SABBATH.
By Sabbath Recorder
THE fifty-two Sabbaths of rest, with which the year is interspersed, are like patches of verdure watered by ever-springing fountains, that dot the inhospitable wilderness and invite its fainting travelers to exhilaration and repose. Oh! precious day!—the workman's jubilee—the shield of servitude—the antidote of weariness. How it smooths the brow of care. How it brightens the countenance of gloom. How it braves the enervated limbs of labor. How it revives the drooping spirit. How it gives wings to the clogged affections and aspirations of the soul. How it lifts the groveler from his low pursuits and fills him with a noble self-respect. Companions of labor, have you ever attempted to compute the value of the Sabbath, even in this lowest of its uses, as a provision of rest for the body? Oh! glorious Sabbath, almoner and nurse of health. We, the children of toil, flee to the shadow of thy protection. Thou standest beside us like some guardian spirit, casting over us the shield of thy excellency, enfolding our jaded powers in thy sustaining arms, and saying to the encroaching tide of human selfishness, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." May thy bulwarks, notwithstanding all hostile assaults, stand strong among us as the everlasting hills, and be in all coming ages for a refuge and a covert to the children of men. A really sanctified Sabbath throughout the world would present one of the most interesting spectacles that could be witnessed on earth. Look forth on a Sabbath morning when all is peaceful and quiet, as God designed the Sabbath to be, and behold! the delectable representation of the Sabbath-rest! Then every sound would breathe softer, every tint gleam brighter, every scene would appear fresher, and we might read in every softened feature of nature the sweet tranquility of the Sabbath-rest. The gates of the temple of mammon are shut, and the gods of silver and gold are forsaken by their week-day devotees. The chiming bells, sounding alike across country and towns, are calling upon all men to cut the cords of their earth-bound thoughts and low cares, and go up to worship at the footstool of Jehovah.—Sabbath Recorder. Authorization of the Revised New Testament
Lord Chancellor Selborne, in a letter to the Rt. Rev. Christopher Wordsworth, Bishop of Lincoln, expresses the opinion that the revised New Testament cannot be read in the churches of the English church until it has been recommended or authorized by some sufficient public authority, and that any clergyman so using it incurs the risk of being an offender against the law. BE wisely worldly, but not worldly wise. REFORMATION IN ENGLAND.
By S. N. Haskell
The treaty which put an end to hostilities between the French forces and those of the Reformers made no settlement of religious differences. During the war the Protestant ministers labored untiringly and without resistance to disseminate a knowledge of the truth throughout the kingdom. The firm hold which Popery once had upon the opinions and affections of the people was completely loosened, and when the force which upheld it was removed, this fabric which had stood for ages in Scotland fell to the ground. Its feeble and dismayed priests ceased, of their own accord, from the celebration of its rites; and the reform service was peaceably set up wherever ministers could be found to perform it. All that remained for Parliament to do, in church matters, was to sanction the move that had been made, and to abolish Popery. "Never before, perhaps," says the historian, "was a more important meeting of the estates of the kingdom held in Scotland. The attendance was numerous beyond all precedent." Many of the lesser Barons had ceased to claim the privilege of voting in this assembly. Among this class the Reformation had made great progress, and at this time they entered the assembly and were permitted to take their seats. After the meeting was fully organized, a petition was presented by some of the most zealous of the Reformers, which, embracing the whole papal church in one sweeping anathema, offered to prove that, if the word of God and the example of the apostles and primitive church were taken as authority, there was not one lawful minister among the popish clergy. It denominated them thieves and murderers, rebels, traitors, and adulterers, and demanded that they should be pronounced unworthy of authority in the church of God, and that they should be expelled forever from having a voice or vote in the great council of the nation; "which," it continued, "if ye do not, we forewarn you, in the fear of God, and by the assurance of his word, that ye leave a grievous yoke and a burden intolerable upon the church of God in this realm, so shall they be as thorns in your eyes, and pricks in your sides, whom afterward when ye would ye shall have no power to remove." This petition, which if not composed by Knox, received his sanction, also called for the restoration of the patrimony of the church which it seems some of the Protestant nobles had unjustly appropriated to themselves, to its legitimate use, —"the support of the ministers, the restoration of godly learning, and the assistance of the poor." This, according to Knox, was unpalatable doctrine to the nobles, who, waving the practical part of the question, required the ministers to draw up a confession of their faith, or a brief summary of those doctrines which they considered wholesome and true, and necessary to be believed and received throughout the realm. This arduous task was accomplished by five ministers, John Winrow, John Spotswood, John Douglass, John Row, and John Knox, in four days. "They performed this work," says the historian, "with the utmost diligence and care," taking example from no church in the world, "but laying God's word before them, made reformation according thereunto." The work was divided among them, and after each had accomplished his share, they met together and examined it with "great pains, much reading, and meditation, with earnest calling on the name of God." When read in Parliament, all who had any objections to it were called upon to state them, for which ample liberty was allowed them. After reading it repeatedly a vote was taken, three persons only voting against it. The reason which they assigned for so doing was this, "We will believe as our forefatheris beleivt." A few days later three acts were passed by Parliament: the first, abolished forever in that country the power and jurisdiction of the Pope; the second repealed all former statutes passed in favor of the Romish church; and the third forbade, under penalty, all persons from hearing or saying mass. Knox, whose zeal flamed high at this time, seized upon the opportunity afforded by the sitting of Parliament to deliver a course of sermons on the prophecies of Haggai, in which, he himself says, that he was peculiarly "special and vehement," the doctrine being appropriate to the times. MINUTES OF UPPER COLUMBIA CONFERENCE.
The second annual meeting of the U. C. Conference, S. D. A., convened on the camp-ground at Dayton, W. T., June 2, 1881, at 9 A. M. President in the chair. Prayer by Elder I. D. Van Horn. Credentials of delegates called for, the following were presented: Walla Walla, Geo. Savage, T. Chabot, I. M. Johns; Milton, Wm. Russel, Wm. McCoy; Dayton, C. F. Phar; Pataha, Wm. A. Gibson. Voted that brethren H. Barkley, T. L. Ragsdale, E. E. Vinson, and Arthur Wilder, act as representatives from Fairview, Pendleton, Peala, and Basket Mountain, respectively. Voted that Elders J. H. Waggoner and I. D. Van Horn, and all members in good standing, be invited to take part in the deliberations of the Conference. Minutes of last meeting read and accepted. The President appointed committees as follows:— Resolutions, J. H. Waggoner, I. D. Van Horn, A. T. Jones; Nominations, I. M. Johns, Wm. McCoy, Ambrose Johnson; Credentials and Licenses, I. M. Johns, Ambrose Johnson, Aaron Miller; Auditing, Wm. Russell, Wm. Goodwin, C. F. Phar, Wm. A. Gibson, T. L. Ragsdale, E. E. Vinson. Elder Waggoner made interesting and profitable remarks on the necessity of members individually keeping up their interest in all branches of the work; and upon the growth of our country, and the necessity of energy upon the part of all that the growth of our work may keep pace with that of the country. Adjourned to call of chair. SECOND SESSION, JUNE 3, 2:30 P. M. Prayer by Bro. Wm. Russell. Minutes of last session read and accepted. Committee on Nominations reported for President, G. W. Colcord; Secretary, A. T. Jones; Treasurer, Wm. Nichols; Executive Committee, Wm. Goodwin, Ambrose Johnson. All of whom were unanimously elected. Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:— "Having examined the resolutions presented at your last Conference, we recommend that the brethren and sisters re-read, and continue to act upon them. As they cover the whole ground of duty, if you strive to live up to them it will be all that can be asked or expected of you as a Conference." The resolutions referred to are the following:— Resolved, That we all, as churches and individuals, hereby pledge ourselves to work to the fullest extent of our ability to push the great work of the third angel's message to a successful issue in all its departments. Resolved, That we deem the paying of tithes a duty enjoined in the Scriptures, and therefore we recommend that every member in this Conference adopt the tithing system and carry it out faithfully in all things. Committee on Credentials and Licenses recommended that the credentials of Elders G. W. Colcord and Alonzo T. Jones be renewed, and license be granted to Bro. Wm. Russel. Adopted unanimously. Adjourned to call of chair. THIRD SESSION, JUNE 7, 5:30 A. M. Prayer by Elder Waggoner. Minutes of last session read and accepted. Further action of Committee on Credentials and Licenses called for. Voted that the Committee be discharged, and the matter be left with the Conference Committee. Moved that a vote of thanks be tendered to the General Conference for the efficient labors of Elder J. H. Waggoner. G. W. COLCORD, President.
ALONZO T. JONES, Secretary. NORTH PACIFIC CONFERENCE.
The fifth annual session of the North Pacific Conference convened at their camp ground at Cornelius, Oregon, June 23, 1881, at 9 A. M. President in the chair. Opened by singing. Prayer by Eld. J. H. Waggoner. Delegates present: Salem, T. H. Starbuck and O. Dickenson; Beaverton, R. D. Benham; Damascus, Jas. T. Chitwood. The following representatives were received: East Portland, G. H. McCoon; Yaquina, Sr. Mary Kundret; Powell's Valley, J. E. Wilson; Coos County, Wm. L. Raymond; Tualatin Bend, J. D. Fleck; Corvallis, A. W. Benson; Cornelius, Sr. A. A. Carter. Eld. J. H. Waggoner was invited to act as a delegate from the General Conference, and all S. D. Adventists in good standing were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference. Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The following committees were appointed: Nominations, O. Dickinson, J. T. Chitwood, R. D. Benham; Resolutions, J. H. Waggoner, W. L. Raymond, and T. H. Starbuck; Credentials and Licenses, John Donaldson and E. Squires; Auditing, T. H. Starbuck, O. Dickinson, A. W. Benson, R. D. Benham, J. T. Chitwood, and J. D. Fleck. After remarks by Eld. Waggoner, the meeting adjourned to the call of the Chair. SECOND MEETING, JUNE 24, 9 A. M.
Eld. G. W. Colcord of the U. C. Conference having309 arrived was invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference. Reports of committees were called for. The committee on nominations reported, and officers were elected as reported, but the report was afterward reconsidered. THIRD MEETING, JUNE 26, 8:30 A. M.
The Committee on Credentials and Licenses reported: For credentials, I. D. Van Horn and Wm. L. Raymond; For licenses, T. H. Starbuck, A. G. Roberts, A. W. Benson and R. D. Benham. It was voted that credentials be renewed to Elds. I. D. Van Horn and W. L. Raymond. After remarks by Eld. Waggoner upon granting licenses, it was voted to grant licenses to T. H. Starbuck and A. G. Roberts, and colporteur's license to A. W. Benson. A motion to grant license to R. D. Benham was withdrawn by his request. The committee further reported the name of O. Dickinson to receive credentials. Motion was withdrawn by his request. Eld. I. D. Van Horn presented a resignation of his office as President of the North Pacific Conference. FOURTH MEETING, JUNE 26, 5 P. M.
J. T. Chitwood moved to accept the resignation of Elder Van Horn. O. Dickinson asked Elder Van Horn for further explanations, which were given, and followed by remarks from Elder Waggoner and others. Voted to receive the resignation, and Elder Waggoner was called to the chair. Voted to refer all the Conference officers back to the Nominating Committee for reconsideration. FIFTH MEETING, JUNE 27, 8:30 A. M.
The Committee on Nominations handed in a second report: For President, ——; for Conference Committee, T. H. Starbuck and W. L. Raymond; for Secretary, Edith Donaldson; for Treasurer, O. Dickinson. The officers elected by the first report all resigned, and the second report was accepted and the officers declared elected. Resolutions were read by Eld. Waggoner. Believing that "the end of all things is at hand," and that great and ever-increasing responsibilities rest upon us as a people to whom is committed the work of proclaiming the third angel's message:— Resolved, 1. That we acknowledge our indebtedness to divine grace as the recipients of so great a trust as that of the last warning to be given to probationers, and that we pledge ourselves to renewed faithfulness in fulfilling our high calling to spread the light of the present truth to a perishing world. 2. That we hereby express our thanks to the S. D. A. General Conference for the part it has borne in sending this light to us through Bro. Van Horn and others, and for assistance in our camp-meetings, and we regret that anything has ever occurred to cause distrust of our faithfulness to this work. And we ask the General Conference not to withdraw its care over us, even as we shall not withdraw our allegiance from the work as God, in his providence and by his Spirit, has ordered it. 3. That we accept with gratitude the counsel which God has given to us through sister E. G. White, and humbly ask for grace to use aright those messages of love which God is sending to his people. 4. That we deeply deplore the want of union which has existed among us in this Conference, and sincerely promise to cultivate the grace of brotherly kindness; not to murmur against the action of the body; but to study more and more those testimonies which our Lord has given for the perfecting of the saints till we all come into the unity of the faith, and shall keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace. 5. That we will not only pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers, but we will put forth efforts to the best of our ability to develop the gifts and talents which may be among us, and to assist those to go forth as laborers who may consecrate themselves to the work of God. 6. That we deeply sympathize with our dear Sister Van Horn in her affliction, and our hearts and our prayers shall go with Brother and Sister Van Horn wheresoever God in his providence shall cast their lot. Voted to adopt the resolutions as read. After remarks by Eld. Waggoner and others upon the general work, the Conference adjourned. WM. L. RAYMOND, Secretary. RED BLUFF, CAL.
By E. A. Briggs
Tent meetings at Red Bluff were closed Sunday evening July the 3d. The effort there resulted in seven earnest souls signing the covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Two of these were baptized Sabbath, July the 2d, in the Sacramento river; after which all the members of the church took part in the ordinances, and a blessed season was experienced. During the meetings at Red Bluff, Brn. Scott, Hemstreet, and others, did good service in canvassing and visiting. We have now held one service in Orland, and feel encouraged to hope that a good work may be wrought in this place. Pray for the work here. E. A. BRIGGS. KNIGHT'S FERRY, CAL.
By J. D. Rice
Closed our meetings at this place June 28. Left four on the covenant to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Others are reading and investigating further, whom we expect to see take their stand in favor of the truth. We have tried to sow the seed faithfully, and hope to see fruit thereof in the kingdom of God. Came to Oakland to attend to Conference duties. Will leave this week for Lakeport, where, with Bro. Isaac Morrison, I expect to begin a series of tent-meetings. We ask to be remembered in your prayers.
J. D. RICE.
Oakland, Cal., July 10, 1881. A CORRESPONDENT of the New York Observer, writing from India says:— It is as hard for a native to become a Christian to-day as it was fifty years ago, and each convert costs the missionary as much trouble and care to-day as fifty years ago. Within the last month my husband has baptized several converts from Hindooism, some belonging to this city (Moradabad), and others to the surrounding villages. Tauna, a resident of this city, was turned out of his house and shop, his tools appropriated, his trade ruined, his wife insulted, and was forbidden to draw water from any well in the vicinity; all his caste-fellows went in a body to the landlord and threatened to leave the neighborhood if Tauna the Christian was not turned out at once. Ratan Das, a farmer, was beaten with shoes, his bullocks and carts and tools seized, his wife dragged off, his house destroyed, and finally himself driven out of his village and threatened with instant death if he ever returned. Sukka, our gardener, has for some months past attended our meetings and shown considerable interest in them. His caste-men, suspecting him of wishing to become a Christian, seized and bound him, and called a council. They tried to intimidate him by threats and blows and insults. They asked, “Have you associated with native Christians?” “Have you eaten with native Christians?” “Do you wish to be a Christian?” He replied, “Yes,” each time. Then they beat him more, and threw dirt at him, and persecuted him, and drove him and his wife out of the neighborhood, denouncing and cursing them. Since then the Mohammedans have tried to coax his wife away, and his mother-in-law joins with the Mohammedans. His caste-men will restore him to caste for one hundred rupees; but this is more than two years' wages, and Sukka prefers to be a Christian. If I find him, if I follow,
What his guerdon here?
Many a sorrow, many a labor,
Many a tear. Native Christians realize the full force of this little stanza. NORTH PACIFIC T. AND M. SOCIETY.
THE fifth annual session of this society was held on the camp-ground at Cornelius, Oregon, June 23, 2:30 P. M. Prayer by Eld. G. W. Colcord. Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Committees were appointed as follows: On nominations—J. Donaldson, A. W. Benson, and J. E. Wilson. Resolutions—T. H. Starbuck, O. Dickenson, and W. L. Raymond. SECOND MEETING, JUNE 24, 2 P. M.
The report of committees was called for. A report of labor was read by the Secretary. The Committee on Nominations reported. A motion to accept the report called forth many remarks but no action. THIRD MEETING, JUNE 27, 2 P. M.
The motion to accept the report of the Nominating Committee was withdrawn, and the committee reported as follows: For President, —; Vice-President, A. G. Roberts; Secretary, Wm. L. Raymond. Directors—Dist. No. 1, C. B. Fitzgerald; No. 2, T. H. Starbuck; No. 3, J. E. Wilson. The report was accepted and the persons declared elected. The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:— Whereas, The books and papers of the S. D. A. Publishing Association have been greatly blessed for the enlightenment of the minds of men in regard to the wonderful truths of the third angel's message, leading them to pray for more light, and an earnest desire for some living preacher to teach them more fully the way, and Whereas, We have noticed the earnest thankfulness and gratitude of those who have come forward and accepted the truth, often thanking them with tears for their kindness who have given or loaned to them books and tracts, showing that the reading they have had has been no small part in their conversion, Resolved, First, that every S. D. Adventist should do all in his power to place these publications, both tracts and periodicals, in the hands of every one whom he can influence to read them. Second, That we regard the publications not less the right arm of the Most High, for subduing the hearts of men than the ministry itself. Both are needed, and neither will work as well alone as when they are united. Third, That in harmony with the resolution passed last year to raise $1,000 for the T. and M. work in this Conference, we will put forth our earnest efforts this year to effect this object. Fourth, That here is a field where our young men and women can work, who have expressed themselves, and prayed so earnestly that God would open the way for them to do something for the Master, and who have at this camp-meeting consecrated themselves anew to his service. Fifth, That since Bro. J. D. Van Horn has been obliged to resign his position on account of the ill health of his family, leaving this society without a head, we earnestly request the General Conference to send us some one who can efficiently instruct us in this work, and lead those who would gladly labor in this cause. The resolutions were adopted as read. A report was read from the Secretary's books which was accepted. It was voted to purchase a bill of Bibles from Sr. Van Horn. A paper was circulated among the brethren and sisters, and pledges to the amount of $301.35 were made toward the reserve fund. After singing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," the meeting adjourned. WM. L. RAYMOND, Secretary.