The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 10
DECEITFULNESS OF RICHESPage 1
Earlier text: PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURE“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The life of the Christian is a life of faith. God cannot be seen with the natural eye. Heaven is far beyond mortal vision, and the angels are invisible. We behold not the Saviour as he walked the earth; we saw not his agony; we looked not upon his death or his resurrection: but we believe these things, and know that they are eternal truths. Faith gives vitality to the past, and glory to the future. The unseen is made manifest by faith; for the Christian lives above the world, and has a hold on heavenly realities. The more faith we have, the higher we rise above the clouds of earth, and the more unreal seem earthly pleasures. The many-mansioned home is a myth to the worldling, but to the believer it is something tangible. Faith looks beyond the veil of fleecy clouds, blue air, and darkness, and sees a “city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” It may be said that a life of faith is a life of uncertainty, based on unreality; but this is not so: the things we believe are revealed in the word of God, and demonstrated in our own experience. Without faith in divine things, what is life? What is its object? What is its end? The infidel fails to tell us. The worldling gives no answer. Nature reveals nothing, and we are left in darkness. God often tries the faith of his children. Ill-health, adversity, and bereavement, may fall like sharp arrows from a quiver, drawing drops of blood from the heart; but patience and faith will be followed by soothing balm that will heal the deepest wounds. Affliction tests the soul, and draws it near to God. All along life's journey, faith sprinkles flowers; and when the dark, massive portal that leads to silent chambers is reached, faith opens the door softly, and sheds a mellow light of glory over the coffin, the shroud, and the grave. The mourners can see with the eye of faith a morning when those white eyelids will quiver with life, those glassy eyes sparkle with joy, those pale hands gently unfold, those frozen lips breathe words of love, while the golden sunshine of an eternal day makes earth a pleasant land forever. THE DISCIPLE'S REWARD.
By A. Smith
A YOUNG German pianist, when engaged in acquiring his profession, was required by his preceptor to practice daily, for two whole years, upon a silent instrument. When, at length, he was allowed access to a responding piano, he was greatly astonished at the sweet and sublime harmony that answered to his touch. So the disciple in the school of Christ must practice long and patiently the tasks imposed by the divine Master, being often discouraged at the apparently useless results of his efforts, only sustained by his love for and confidence in the wisdom of his Lord, and by the hope of securing a moderate degree of triumph at the end of his long drill, though unable to determine the measure of that triumph by any known precedent. But, when the day of immortal glory will have dawned, and he is permitted to join with the heavenly choristers in the anthems above, his soul will thrill with a sense of the inherited glory as the astonishing result of his patient toil, and which, in this earthly vale of tears, “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,” and the measure of whose duration will be eternity. CONCERNING swindling stock speculation firms, the Boston Journal speaks as follows:— “1. A broker who had ‘inside’ opportunities to turn ten dollars into a hundred without risk, would keep his secret to himself,—would make the money for himself. “2. There is no sure and easy way to fortune by stock speculation, and the keenest operators, in very many cases, beggar themselves before they get through with it. “3. If you are promised a chance to make $100 or $1,000 without risk, be sure that it is a lie. “4. Be sure that the firm which makes the promise is a swindling concern.” CATHOLIC PLUNDER IN NEW YORK.
MR. DEXTER A. HAWKINS, of New York, has published in the Christian Advocate an exposure, such as have frequently come from his pen, of the rapacity of the Roman Catholic Church in the city and State of New York. We make the following extracts:— Some of the real estate given by the city of New York to the Roman Church. The cathedral block, and the block in the rear, which has a small brick chapel on it, were obtained from the city as follows: 1. The church got possession of a lease from the city at a nominal annual rent; 2. When forfeited for non-payment of this rent, the city waived the forfeitures, and, on payment of $83.32, converted the lease into a fee; 3. This lot, eight hundred feet long, running from Fifth to Fourth avenues, had no frontage on Fifty-first street, but was cut off from that street by a strip ten inches wide on Fifth avenue, and five feet six inches wide on Fourth avenue. The city made an even exchange with the church of this freehold strip for a much smaller leasehold strip on the block above. This gave the church the whole block—now, by the extension of Madison avenue through it, two blocks; and then the city paid the church $24,000 for said extension of the avenue, and also gave it $8,928.84 to pay an assessment, thus making substantially a donation of these two blocks—worth now, without buildings, at least $1,500,000, and a gift in money of $32,928.84. The city also gave the church the block above this, from Fifth to Fourth avenues, now two blocks, by two leases for ninety-nine years at $1 a year rent each. These two blocks, without buildings, are now worth at least another $1,500,000. The city, for $1 a year, gave to the archbishop for the “Sisters of Mercy” half a block of land on Madison avenue, between 81st and 82d streets. This, without buildings, is now worth at least $200,000. The city, for $1 a year, gave for the “Sisters of Charity” a whole block of land on Lexington avenue, between 58th and 59th streets. This, without buildings, is now worth at least $300,000. Total, five and a half blocks of land in the best part of the city, worth $3,500,000. In this city, this church was subsidized by the Tweed Ring and nearly $800,000 paid to it in a single year,—1869. In 1870, petitions from more than one hundred thousand citizens caused the Legislature to repeal the law imposing a perpetual tax of nearly $250,000 on this city for their parochial schools. On Washington’s birthday, 1872, a detailed exposure of this “Tweed Ring” subsidy for the three preceding years to the extent of $1,396,389.51 was made by the writer, and the subsidy in consequence fell that year to $410,251.12. In the autumn of 1872, the “Tweed Ring” were driven from power in both the city and State. The writer remained at Albany nearly the entire sessions of 1873 and 1874 to expose and denounce this class of legislation; and the annual sectarian appropriation bills, that had grown to over $1,000,000, were wholly defeated. This subsidy in this city was, in consequence, reduced for 1873 to $325,628.75, and for 1874 to $313,181.12. Constitutional amendments were prepared in 1873, and finally adopted in 1874, which, had they not been interfered with, and two pestilent clauses Jesuitically introduced into the amendments to Article VIII. by the skill and influence of a Catholic member of the Constitutional Commission, would have cut these subsidies up by the roots. These two legal wolves in sheep’s clothing were the apparently harmless phrase, “and juvenile delinquents,” in § 10, and the sentence, “This section shall not prevent such county, city, town or village from making such provision for the aid or support of its poor as may be authorized by law,” in § 11. Under “juvenile delinquents,” this church saved chap. 647, Laws of 1866, giving the Roman Catholic Protectory annually out of the city treasury $50 per head; and chap. 428, Laws of 1867, giving it annually $60 more per head (total $110 per head) of its inmates, thus securing a subsidy of from two to three hundred thousand dollars per year. So profitable to this sect is this Protectory, that they keep sentinels on the watch at each police court to induce commitments to the Protectory, and have had laws enacted compelling justices to commit to it. They made war on a public school connected with the city almshouse, and, by act of Legislature, broke it up for the purpose of getting possession of a portion of the inmates to swell their own numbers. Charity is the using of one’s own means for the good of others. It is the highest Christian virtue, and the duty especially of all the churches; but to get hold of and use public money to build up a sect under the pretense of charity, is hypocrisy. Immediately after the above amendment to § 11 of the Constitution, was adopted, this church made haste to set its skilled talent to devise schemes to connect whole broods of their institutions by a sort of sectarian suction-hose with the public treasury. It accomplished this under the word “poor” in the above sentence in § 11. They had the word “poor” defined by chap. 221, Laws of 1875, so as to include, among others, “the sick, destitute, friendless, and infirm,” and the occupants of their enormous boarding-house, built on land given by the city, and improperly called “The Foundling Asylum of the Sisters of Charity;” and by the same statute they grabbed the excise moneys, thus adding several hundred thousand dollars more to their annual subsidy. These so-called “foundlings” may be two years old when received by the “Sisters,” and may board with them, or under their control, till eighteen years old, if girls; and twenty-one years old, if boys. They may be indentured to this institution, if half-orphans, by either the father or mother; and the mother may board there, also, to look after the children. For every child boarding there, these “charitable Sisters” draw from the city treasury $138.70 per year; and for every mother boarding there, $216 per year; total, for a mother and a child, $354.70 per year, besides having the work of the children and mothers. Most of the hard-working laborers throughout the country would be glad to turn “poor” and support themselves, if they could draw from the city treasury at this rate. These advantages to this sect are secured by chap. 635, Laws of 1872; chap. 644, Laws of 1874; and chap. 43, Laws of 1877. The cost to the city treasury of this church boarding-house of the Sisters of Charity is now between two and three hundred thousand dollars per year. By concentrating their forces, and by a change of name or statement as to what they are doing, so as, on paper, to appear to be “aiding or supporting the poor,” nearly all their organizations have got back into the public treasury again, and the annual subsidy to this church is now as great as in the palmy days of the “Tweed Ring.” They may call any persons in their schools and institutions “the poor,” and so pension them upon the public money. There is but one effectual remedy for these subsidies and this easy way of living on the public money. It is for the tax-payers and the opponents of the State church and a State religion, and all friends of toleration in religion, to insist upon the striking out of these two Jesuitical clauses in the State Constitution, and the repeal of the statutes they protect. The Dubuque Telegraph gets after the church sociable in the following vigorous manner:— As the winter season draws near, church sociables begin to blossom into new life. We had almost been uncharitable enough to observe that this fact might be regarded as a public calamity, but out of respect for the feelings of many good and well-meaning persons who are active in church sociable work, we refrain. Still, the fact is none the less apparent that this class of entertainments is now regarded by many as nuisances. If the originators of church sociables intended them to degenerate into what they have, it would have been better for society and the churches had their originators died before their genius developed in that direction. But we have only to look backward a few years, and compare the church sociables of that time with those of the present day, to disabuse our minds of such a wrong and unjust impression as to the intentions of these supposed benefactors. The deplorable tendency of modern society to sacrifice comfort and good taste to conventionality and display, has made our church sociables the unpopular affairs they now are. Adding to this the desire on the part of churches to sap from the world's people every dollar possible, one need not be at a loss to discover in what manner this degeneration has been brought about. At present a church sociable is synonymous with a money-catching affair. If it is not that, it is a stiff-backed, unenjoyable arrangement, better calculated to repulse the average person than to attract. The plan now indulged in of holding sociables at private houses, renders them unpopular. Many persons who would be pleased to go are kept away because their station in society will not admit of their attendance upon a sociable at a home of wealth and luxury, where they are often held. It may be sad, but none the less true, that a system of caste prevails among members of the same church, and while all may meet upon a common level in the church or at the sacramental altar, such a thing is considered impossible in the social world. People worship at a different shrine when out of church. So the very persons who should receive whatever benefits may arise in a social sense from these entertainments, are debarred from them. Then, again, the system of petty begging carried on at these sociables disgusts the majority of people. The amount asked for is not what is objected to, so much as the manner in which it is secured. One might as well pass the hat around at a private party. It could be done with about as much propriety. OUR NATIONAL LIQUOR BILLS.
ESTIMATES are made from time to time, based on returns from the Internal Revenue Office, police and other places, hospitals, insane asylums, poor-houses and charitable institutions, from which it is calculated with reasonable certainty that our liquor bills amount yearly to not less than, - Direct expenses, $600,000,000;
- Indirect expenses, $600,000,000;
- Intemperance burns and destroys property, amounting to $10,000,000;
- It destroys 70,000 lives;
- It makes 30,000 widows;
- It makes 100,000 orphans;
- It makes 500 maniacs;
- It instigates 250 murders;
- It causes 500 suicides;
- It consigns to jail 500,000 criminals;
- And greater even than all this, it endangers the inheritance of liberty left us by our fathers, by debauching the voters and making instruments for upholding corruption by means of the ballot box.—Domestic Journal, Dec., 1879.
A FRIEND sends us the following clipping from an unknown paper:— A Pittsburg dispatch reports a recent disgraceful fight in the Presbyterian church there, between two factions, one favoring Rev. Mr. Woodside, and the other favoring another clergyman. Woodside attempted to go into the pulpit, when the other clergyman attacked him. A general fight ensued, extending throughout the whole congregation. For a quarter of an hour the battle raged furiously. Heads were punched, eyes were blackened, arms broken, and women knocked down. The yells and screams were frightful. The police were called in, and after some difficulty succeeded in quelling the riot. Several arrests were made. The church next morning presented a sorry appearance. Pews were broken, remnants of gas globes strewed the floor, hymn books and Bibles were scattered in all directions, and a large quantity of hair-pins and bangs have been gathered up. The utmost indignation prevails in church circles. The matter will be investigated by the Presbytery, and it is expected that there will be some clerical suspensions. The rival pastors were in the thickest of the affray. WHILE the Sultan shuts himself up in Yildiz Kiosk, surrounded by place-hunting pachas, who take care that nothing unpleasant shall reach the royal ears, the country is progressing from bad to worse. Misery, destitution, and famine have it all their own way in the provinces. From Europe and Asia comes the cry of distress; letters from Erzeroum give a fearful picture of the condition of several surrounding districts. At Bayazid people have gone mad from hunger, and many have been poisoned by eating roots and mosses. Grain is forbidden to cross the border from Persia and Russia, and the local governor is grinding three years’ taxes from the starving peasantry, his excuse being that the money is required for Constantinople. The vali, or governor-general, looks on with folded hands, and estimates that there is enough grain in the province to feed all the inhabitants. Possibly the quantity exists, but it is locked up in the granaries of the tithe-collectors or speculators, and might as well be in the heart of Africa, as far as the people are concerned. But the governor has ordered a list to be made out of the poorest; judging from experience in such matters, the officers employed will take a month to draw up this list, and by that time the destitute will be dead, and the commissioners—for the Turks can do nothing without a commission—sent to verify the list will report that they have not been able to find the people said to be in distress. The Turks give alms freely to professional beggars, to sturdy cripples and stout impostors; but to organize systematic relief they are incapable. A famine is kismet, and it is wrong to fly in the face of providence. The doctrine is consolatory for those who can believe in it, but it smacks a little of selfishness. On foreign aid alone must the wretched rely, and turn their imploring eyes to the alleviators of their distress of 1875—the British and Americans.—Boston Herald, Feb. 23. Mt. Hope.—According to appointment, I met with this church Feb. 21, 22. The attendance from abroad was small; but there is an encouraging increase in the interest here. The Sabbath-school is prospering, and the temperance work is receiving attention. The outside interest is encouraging. My brother will continue meetings here. O. A. OLSEN. Somerset.—Feb. 14 and 15, we held meetings with the little company here. Each family was at work lending papers and books; as a consequence, six were keeping the Sabbath, five of whom were ready to sign the covenant. All were anxious to have a church built, and offered liberally toward it. The brethren will please not expect us to write to them; we have no time. Will try to report when we have anything of interest. Pray for us. A. E. AND A. M. JOHNSON. Southern Wisconsin.—During the present winter I have visited all the churches composing districts 1 and 2 except Albany. I spent two Sabbaths with the Little Prairie church, two at Monroe, one at Oakland, four at Avon, and one at Johnstown. Except at Avon, we made no special effort to get the different points of present truth before the people, but labored to encourage and awaken the churches. We have the satisfaction of believing that, to some degree, this has been accomplished. There is on the part of nearly all an anxiety to see the work prosper, and a willingness to work, though some have lost their first love. In each district it was decided to see that all were provided with the REVIEW, Good Health, the Instructor, and Testimony No. 29, and to supply every family unable to supply themselves. This is the oldest field in the Conference. For a number of years, ministerial labor has been mostly withdrawn to other parts of the State; and there is now much to be done, both in the churches and in the many favorable openings for lectures. The churches are decimated by removals, death, and apostasy; but at every point some are interested in searching for truth, and with proper labor and influence may be brought in. As in other parts of the State, the people generally enter gladly into the temperance work, and good progress is being made. The prospect in this part of the State is not discouraging, but the great work to be done demands the earnest efforts of all, united with the help of God. G. C. TENNEY. Chicago.—The meetings in Chicago closed Feb. 9. Bro. L. Johnson was with me most of the time. We held meetings in the English and Norwegian languages. The Scandinavian brethren were somewhat discouraged. We tried to help them what we could, and left them somewhat encouraged. Hope the work here may prosper. There was some interest among the Americans; and a number are investigating the truth, with prospects of their taking hold. O. A. OLSEN. Aroma.—We are still holding meetings in two school-houses, and our first effort will continue over two more Sabbaths. We have had two Sabbath meetings. Several from St. Anne, Beaverville, etc., attended and took part, among whom were Bro. and Sr. Gros. May the Lord make them a blessing to his cause in these parts. Last Sabbath five signified their determination to be Christians, and a Sabbath-school of fifteen members was organized. We have had another conflict with spiritualists, whose complete failure led them to call a school meeting to turn us out of the house; but when it came to a vote, we had a majority, and our opponents met with another defeat. D. T. BOURDEAU. Feb. 20. Clyde, Allegan Co., Feb. 23.—Our meetings at Clyde closed Feb. 22. Forty-five discourses were given. Eleven persons, all heads of families, have decided for the truth. There are others who are convinced, some of whom will obey. Seven copies of the REVIEW were taken. One man, a licensed preacher of the M. E. church, acknowledges the truth, and says he shall obey. He subscribed for the REVIEW two months, and says it is the best religious paper he ever read. Sabbath meetings will be held here for the future. I shall endeavor to meet with them occasionally for some time to come. Smith’s Creek, Feb. 24.—We commenced meetings near this place Jan. 19, and have continued them nearly without intermission till the present writing. There was once a church of twenty-two members here; but about seven years ago the apostasy and influence of one man, the clerk and treasurer of the society, scattered the flock. Some gave up the truth; others moved away; some have died. We thought that, with the help of God, something might be done to re-awaken an interest here and to encourage the few who have been faithful under very depressing influences and great discouragements. The services have nearly all been practical, and of the nature of a revival. Crowds have attended, fully thirty have started in the service of God, twenty-five are pledged to the observance of the Sabbath, and the interest is unabated and spreading to other neighborhoods. Books are taken quite freely. We are canvassing for the REVIEW and our other papers. The Lord has heard our cries, and that this work may be permanent and a blessing to others still, let his people ever pray. Allentown, Feb. 23.—I commenced holding meetings here Feb. 19. The interest has increased from the first. The country is sparsely settled, but last night there were about fifty in attendance. Some came eight or ten miles. There seems to be deep feeling among the people. One young man has begun to keep the Sabbath, just from hearing our lecture on Dan. 7. I feel the need of wisdom, lest I mar the work. I ask the prayers of God’s people, especially those that are acquainted with me. Labor among the Churches.—Since my return to the Territory, have been visiting the churches, attending quarterly meetings, and giving special attention to tract-society matters; as the labor of tent season and my absence East had prevented my doing so for the last six months. Found matters in full as good condition as I expected, and the brethren all ready to work. Our general quarterly meeting was a success. There were representatives from nearly every company in the Territory. Ten of the Russian brethren were present. The officers of the tract society pledged their hearty co-operation in all branches of the work, and all went to their homes encouraged, feeling that the cause is in a prosperous condition. Have spent the last two Sabbaths in this place, and have succeeded in completing the organization of the Sabbath-school, organizing a tract society, and partially organizing a church. There are nine members in the church, and eleven in the tract society. Others will probably join soon. The brethren here manifest good zeal in the cause, and we have strong hope for their future success. Minneapolis.—I met with the little company here Jan. 13. They are composed of Swedes, Norwegians, and Americans. We held seven meetings with them. A tract society was organized, also a V. M. society, and forty-five periodicals were ordered. The Sabbath-school was re-organized, and a good supply of Instructors was ordered. We were glad to find these brethren, with one exception, in harmony, and to see them so willing to take hold of the work. In this city of 60,000 inhabitants we hope they will so let their light shine, that many will be added to their number. Any of our brethren visiting this place will be made welcome at 2018, 24 Av. S. JOHN FULTON. Blue Earth City and Tenhassen.—Some time ago, an effort was made to build up the little church near Blue Earth City by giving a course of lectures; but though some were convinced, none took a public stand for the truth. A Freewill Baptist elder made a weak effort for the Sunday, which was unsatisfactory to most of his hearers. A similar effort was made for the church at Tenhassen, which resulted in the acceptance of the truth by some candid souls. A Methodist elder afterward made a raid against what he was pleased to call “the old broken-backed Sabbath,” which only served to confirm those who had accepted the truth. A good meeting was held with the church at Milford, Iowa. Then, by request, we began a course of lectures in a neighborhood of Scotch Presbyterians. The congregations were good when the weather would permit, and some acknowledged the truth, but none as yet have made a public profession of it. We hope for some fruit in time to come. W. B. HILL. C. KELSEY. Labor among the Churches.—I remained at State Center over the Sabbath and Sunday following our State quarterly meeting there. The church seemed to be somewhat revived by the influence of this meeting. On Sunday we organized a temperance society numbering about forty members. The brethren appeared to enter into this work with a willing mind. Feb. 6 to 12, I spent with the Sabbath-keepers at Hampton. This little company has had some discouraging things to meet, but we think our meetings were a source of profit. A few more took their stand in favor of the Sabbath, and this greatly encouraged the brethren and sisters. Several subscribed for the REVIEW and Good Health. Some of the brethren took a full set of “The Spirit of Prophecy,” and other books were taken freely. Tuesday, Feb. 10, we organized a church, and elected an elder and deacon. Three were baptized. The brethren are determined to go on in the way of life. Feb. 13 to 18, I spent at Lisbon. We were glad to find that union and love prevail in this church. I enjoyed freedom while trying to set before them the practical truths of the religion of Christ. We were glad to meet Bro. Henry Nicola, who assisted in preaching the word. Several subscribed for Good Health and other periodicals. They also took a commendable interest in supplying themselves with the writings of Sister White. They gave liberally to the widow and orphan’s fund, pledging $66.00, and paying the larger part of it down. I have experienced much of the blessing of God in157 these meetings while trying to speak a word in behalf of our institutions at Battle Creek. I feel sure that the cause of God is harmonious, that these institutions are vines of his own planting, and that we as a people shall prosper only as we give all branches of his work a liberal and cheerful support. Olin, Jones Co., Iowa, Feb. 20. One wept that his harvest was small,
With little of fruit or of grain;
While his neighbor, with barns running o'er,
Still followed the full-freighted wain. “How much didst thou sow,” I said, “friend?”
“A handful of wheat, less or more.”
“And didst thou expect broad acres would bend
To thy sickle from such scanty store?” Who sparingly soweth must look
For little of fruit or of grain;
’Tis only the bountiful sower can reap.
A bountiful harvest again. A lesson, I said, to thee, Soul,
For harvest time soon will be here;
Sow with a bountiful hand, lest thou weep at the last,
When the Lord of the harvest draws near. OHIO
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Springfield.—Have just closed a Sabbath and Sunday meeting at this place. The attendance was good, and we had some excellent meetings. Further instructions were given in the missionary work. All are supplied with Testimony No. 29, and seven copies of the Spirit of Prophecy were taken. Bro. William Cottrell was chosen elder of the church. They have a very fair Sabbath-school. Bro. Honeywell is canvassing the city for Good Health; has obtained nearly two hundred subscribers already, and has set his figures at one thousand. He will probably accomplish his object. He has also taken three hundred Annuals. One brother in another part of the State, who thought he could do nothing in this line, writes me that he has obtained forty-nine subscribers in three days. What a great work we might do in Ohio, if all would only try! Feb. 17, I visited the few scattered friends near Bowersville. Spent two days in the large, pleasant family of Bro. J. A. Haughey, who has taken hold of the truth, after being convicted of it for many years. Greentop, Schuyler Co., Feb. 20.—I am holding meetings five miles east of Greentop and fifteen miles west of Bible Grove, at the “Roberts school-house.” Meetings began a little more than four weeks ago, but have had to stop several times for a few days at a time. The interest has been good so far. There are now about fifteen new Sabbath-keepers, and will probably be a few more. They are mostly heads of families, and are people of good influence. There are now altogether about twenty Sabbath-keepers in this vicinity. We hope Eld. Geo. I. Butler will visit us before he leaves the State. This is the most promising field to build up our cause in that I know of in this portion of the State. The Sabbath-keepers here are all favorable to health reform, and some of them are beginning to reduce it to practice. Salem, Jewell Co.—Our meetings at Porter’s Ranch, Smith Co., closed Feb. 7. The congregations were good to the last. I was several times challenged for a discussion; and the propositions were at last drawn up and signed by myself and a Baptist preacher. But my Baptist friend failed to make his appearance until three days after the discussion was to have begun, and then only to lock the house against me. I obtained a private house for Sabbath meetings. Eleven have signed the covenant; six of these were keeping the Sabbath when I came here. We expect others to join them soon. The 14th, a Sabbath-school was organized, with twenty-eight members. I am obliged to go to work at my trade now for awhile, but shall try to meet with these dear ones every Sabbath for some time. I have sold books and tracts to the value of $4.47, and obtained three subscribers for our periodicals and a club of Instructors. May the Lord bless the message. Labor among the Churches.—Since the first of December we have labored among the following-named churches: Ligonier, Sevastopol, Bourbon, Bunker Hill, Thorntown, Noblesville, Mechanicsburg, West Liberty, Rochester, and Wolf Lake. Last tent season Eld. Sharp and myself closed labor at Sevastopol. Several embraced the truth. In October I organized a church there of nine members; and five were added during our last visit. They pledged s. b. to support the Conference. They hold meetings in a hall belonging to one of the brethren, which they have seated and carpeted for this purpose. They have a good Sabbath-school, and the Lord is blessing their efforts. At Bunker Hill, through the blessing of the Lord, we were enabled to settle a difficulty of long standing, which was of so serious a nature that the church had accomplished but little for some time past in the missionary cause, and some had ceased to attend the meetings and the Sabbath-school. A brother who has for a long time been a prominent member of the Baptist church, united with us. Five years ago he heard the truth, since which time he has read our publications, and step by step he has become convinced of the truthfulness of our position. Last spring he accepted the whole truth. This brother was elected leader of the church. The T. and M. work was revived, and they are again enjoying good meetings. At Ligonier and Rochester the meetings were few, but good. One united with the church at each place. The meetings at Thorntown were good, but there was not so much accomplished as we desired to see. This church has passed through some severe trials. One united with the church. At West Liberty the meetings were good. Two united with the church, and the brethren were greatly cheered. At Noblesville the meetings were excellent. They were continued nine days and evenings. Several embraced the truth. Four united with the church, and two were baptized. This church has a good Sabbath-school, and the members are laboring in the T. and M. work. The membership of this church is constantly increasing, and they feel the necessity of a house of worship. They have part of the material for one on hand, and expect to build soon. At Mechanicsburg the meetings were interesting. We were very glad to meet the leader of the company of Sabbath-keepers at Grant City, who embraced the truth under the labors of Elds. Rees and Shrock. We have just concluded a series of meetings at Wolf Lake. The Lord greatly blessed, and the results have been good. Some have embraced the truth, and thirteen united with the church. They have just completed a fine meeting-house, 30x42. It is nicely finished and furnished. At all the places we have mentioned the turnout has been large. In some of the churches quite an interest has been created to purchase and read Sr. White’s works, and the T. and M. work has been revived. Bro. A. W. Bartlett has faithfully labored with me during the last three months. Truly the Lord has blessed our labors. SELLING ANNUALS.
By F. Starr
I RECENTLY called at a house where four years ago I sold a Health Almanac. It was so highly prized by the family that they thought they could not do without the information it contained; so, in a conspicuous place, the Almanac for 1876 still hung, quite well preserved. They thought that now they could let it be replaced by the Annual for 1880; and, as might be expected, they readily subscribed for Good Health for the present year. Such instances show that the circulation of the Annual is not to be condemned. MICHIGAN TRACT SOCIETY.
By J. Fargo; Jennie Thayer
This State having been divided into three sections, instead of one general State meeting there were three sectional quarterly meetings for the quarter ending Jan. 18, 1880. The meeting in Section 1 was held at Monterey, Jan. 18; in Section 2, at Flint, Jan. 25; and in Section 3, at Orleans, Feb. 8.158 At these meetings the various branches of our work were considered, and all seemed anxious to do their best in coming up to the right standpoint. It is the general testimony that the interest in the T. and M. work is increasing; and although the severe storm and almost impassable condition of the roads in many places prevented the holding of church quarterly meetings, and hence comparatively few local societies have reported, yet the following summary is in many respects better than the quarterly report of a year ago:— | 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 Fund and Periodicals |
|---|
| 1 |
89 |
37 |
4 |
32 |
25 |
22 |
4 |
13831 |
413 |
404 |
$49 87 |
| 2 |
84 |
47 |
2 |
24 |
35 |
41 |
17 |
7816 |
406 |
227 |
97 36 |
| 3 |
300 |
64 |
12 |
123 |
303 |
396 |
29 |
24287 |
3220 |
7275 |
193 84 |
| 4 |
102 |
30 |
.... |
11 |
18 |
.... |
70 |
11397 |
840 |
775 |
120 33 |
| 5 |
107 |
23 |
.... |
9 |
27 |
137 |
5 |
2255 |
168 |
155 |
48 72 |
| 6 |
126 |
49 |
.... |
16 |
14 |
56 |
40 |
10323 |
809 |
746 |
122 53 |
| 7 |
78 |
48 |
1 |
30 |
40 |
55 |
9 |
10582 |
1038 |
223 |
91 78 |
| 8 |
74 |
18 |
2 |
48 |
41 |
67 |
.... |
2887 |
168 |
253 |
38 00 |
| 9 |
47 |
22 |
2 |
38 |
9 |
43 |
7 |
3845 |
331 |
100 |
29 71 |
| 10 |
88 |
43 |
1 |
75 |
34 |
110 |
11 |
6877 |
1213 |
312 |
93 64 |
| 11 |
87 |
29 |
.... |
25 |
54 |
.... |
15 |
11124 |
493 |
261 |
24 35 |
| 12 |
11 |
10 |
.... |
49 |
5 |
.... |
13 |
14863 |
63 |
125 |
5 61 |
| 13 |
32 |
7 |
1 |
50 |
30 |
19 |
.... |
15021 |
625 |
63 |
32 45 |
| 14 |
58 |
54 |
1 |
22 |
29 |
47 |
28 |
30441 |
1062 |
403 |
75 89 |
| 15 |
32 |
17 |
.... |
11 |
10 |
.... |
31 |
4522 |
154 |
117 |
11 00 |
| 16 |
17 |
18 |
.... |
10 |
4 |
30 |
9 |
4819 |
315 |
298 |
8 84 |
|
1332 |
516 |
26 |
578 |
678 |
1023 |
288 |
174890 |
11318 |
11737 |
$1043 92 |
One brother who did not report said that he did not doubt but he and his wife had handed out more reading matter during the quarter than was reported by their district. He promised to report in future. Another expressed his regret that in the past the T. and M. work had been regarded as secondary, and hoped that it would no longer be considered in that light. He gave it as his opinion that every individual who can get even a penny can answer the call which was made a few years ago from all parts of the field for more laborers, and yet no one then thought that the Lord had such an excellent plan perfected for sending forth the last message of mercy. At the Orleans meeting, Section 3 adopted the following resolution:— Resolved, That the present indebtedness of District 12 be apportioned among the districts of Division 3, Michigan T. and M. Society, in proportion to the credit of the respective districts. The President of Section 2 urged the society to greater zeal during the ensuing quarter than has been manifest in the past, as there never was so favorable an opportunity to labor as at present. The time is short, and just in proportion to our work will be our future joy. We ought to be in earnest, that it may at last be said to us, “Well done.” J. FARGO, Pres.