Dear Brethren and Sisters in California: Since our late, excellent camp-meeting, I have been drawn out in my mind to say some things to you, and, as it is not consistent for me to meet with you again soon, I take this, my shortest method, to address you all at once, through the REVIEW.
I have occupied, in the past, much time in writing letters to you, and others. I am admonished that, for the sake of my health, and for the sake of this precious cause, I must lay aside so many business cares, and devote what strength I have to the spiritual interests of the work. I shall study to let these cares drop upon you, and to economize my time, and devote my energies to the study and proclamation of truth.
While the cause was in its infancy here, and the few did not realize what there was to do, or what needed to be done, it was important that some one should stand in the gap, and take responsibilities. Without any spirit of boasting, or complaining, I will simply state, what most of you know, and some of you realize, that I have had many cares and burdens upon me. Some of these, I am now confident, I might have laid down sooner, at the feet of others competent to bear them. Perhaps I had borne them so long I thought I must bear them. I am thankful for God's grace sustaining in bearing what was duty to bear. I have carried too much for one man, if, at the same time, I expected to do justice to my duty as a minister of the word. Caring for the temporalities has taken the strength that should have been devoted to the spiritual. This has been especially true during the last year. I have not had that time for earnest devotion and study of the word I should have had, to be an effective minister of Jesus Christ.
When coming home, it has been accumulated letters of business that has taken the time I should devote to my children. There must be a reform in these things. With God's blessing, there will be.
You appreciated, dear brethren, the weight that was upon me at our last State meeting, and came up nobly to the work. God bless you. By your actions then, and there, you showed a willingness to do, when you knew what to do, and I doubt not that you are anxious to act your part, so that the servants of God may “give themselves to the ministry of the word,” and not be caused to “leave the word of God and serve tables.”
When the elders and S. B. treasurers came up with promises to take responsibilities in their respective churches, and see that their dues are kept square, it was a relief; for it shifted responsibilities where they belonged. The prompt carrying out of those promises, has been a still greater relief. It is a lesson for young and inexperienced churches to learn promptness, and promptness in all things, is, under God, the mainspring of all true religion; and, in fact, of all true manhood. You have made good advancement in learning this lesson. Still persevere in the work.
To serve you as a State treasurer, when each church for themselves attend to their own finances, with none of the responsibility upon the State treasurer of collecting the funds, is a light task, and need not occupy—with our present number of churches in the State—fifteen minutes per quarter. In case all act promptly, the treasurer has simply to receive and disburse the funds under the direction of the State Conference, or State Committee, and make his entries on the books for the same, without any responsibility for its collection in the churches.
But, with the matter of this office of treasurer, freed from the embarrassments it has been encumbered with in the past, it is not my duty to hold the office. I give this timely notice, that at our next State meeting I may lay it down, and you choose some one of your number to hold the office of treasurer.
And here I would state that you will see by examining the Constitution adopted at our last State meeting, that it is the duty of each S. B. treasurer, after you have collected your quarter's S. B., and paid it over to the State treasurer, to report, on the blanks provided for it, to H. T. Hewitt, Santa Rosa, State secretary, the amount of your S. B. pledges per quarter, and the amount paid during the said quarter to the State treasurer. Bro. Hewitt is to preserve these reports, and, by the aid of them, he can, before the State meeting assembles, when making out his report of the standing of the State, compute the exact amount paid into the State treasury by the churches.
Copies of the printed Constitution, as adopted at last State meeting, are in my book-rooms at Santa Rosa. A copy should be in the hands of every officer in our organization, and in every family of our churches, immediately. Let the clerk of each church in California ascertain, directly, how many copies of the Constitution are wanted in your church, and write me at Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., Cal., and I will send you, free, the number of copies of the Constitution you may specify that you need, as also two blanks for the two remaining quarterly reports of our S. B. treasurers for this Conference year. Hand these, when received, to the S. B. treasurers for future use. They are to be used Jan. 1, and April 1, 1873.
You are aware that the greater labor, or perplexity, rather, is in constructing a piece of machinery, and getting it into running order, not in running it after all is in order. So with these matters of which I have been speaking. You are trying to find your place in the organic machinery, and to do your duty. It works well, and my mind is relieved.
But there is our Missionary Society, which, in its partly organized condition, the past year, has been a source of more labor and care to me than all the rest. This will be helped, as you all learn and come up to fill your places. In this, I have been bearing burdens that no longer belong to me; and you will willingly take them when you know what they are. Some duties in the matter I have done, which I was not really responsible for. I write these things to prepare the way to lay all such duties down, that you may learn them, and with them receive the blessing of doing in this cause.
I do not wish to lay down one burden that is legitimate for me, or that I should bear, but to simply “stand from under,” and let those do the work of their office, that hold the offices. For all would prefer I should do this, and that I should devote the strength I have given to your duties, to the more effectual performance of my own work as a minister of Jesus Christ.
This work is great. Its field of labor is increasing. The harvest is white for the sickle; and, if we all come up to our duty in this advancing cause, we may all be reapers. There is ample room for us all to labor, and we may grow with the work if we bear our proper burdens, in our proper sphere.
Before making the suggestions I have to make, relative to the Missionary Society, I will make a few statements relative to its rise here. Before any direct system had been adopted in the States, with reference to State Tract and Missionary Societies, we began to see a necessity for some system of tract distribution. I commenced, by myself, to appropriate a portion of the profits on book sales to the purchase of tracts for gratuitous distribution in connection with meetings in new places. In the spring and summer of 1870, I distributed, in this way, about $30 worth of tracts, and had the pleasure of learning from the lips of several persons, that they had embraced the truth from reading those tracts.
By an article in the REVIEW, our State Committee brought this matter before our people here, and July 4, 1871, we organized a Tract Society, considering each Seventh-day Adventist as a member, and receiving quarterly donations as each were pleased to pledge. By remodeling our plan from time to time, we had, up to May, 1872, raised and distributed tracts and pamphlets, at wholesale prices, to the amount of about $350.00.
There were present, at the State meeting in Santa Rosa, in May, 1872, several who had embraced the truth from reading tracts. This had its effect to stimulate us to more earnest efforts in this direction, and we adopted the constitution recommended by the General Conference, counting each church as one division of the Tract Society, to have its quarterly meetings, with reports of labor, in connection with the regular quarterly meetings of each church.
The previous year, with our temporary tract organization, we became responsible, by vote of our State meeting for arrearages on the periodicals taken within the bounds of this State organization. Here was occasion for much labor in the shape of letters to delinquent subscribers. Here I have erred. It was the duty of the State secretary to either write these letters, or see that they were written. But, understand me, I blame no one; for none were instructed as to their duty in this matter; but, as I now call to mind about one hundred letters of this character I have written during the last year, I mention it as an item of the care connected with the duties of the Society.
I would here state that Bro. Kellogg has rendered me efficient aid in these matters, especially since our last State meeting. I lay down this burden also, but am willing to counsel with the proper officers of the Tract Society, and furnish them lists of delinquent subscribers, so that this work of collecting, as far as possible, may be completed, and that by the first of January we may present to the Association, with the opening of the strict advance pay system, a clean list.
Another point, in which my cares can be lessened, and the proper ones bear the burdens, is in the matter of business between this coast and the Office of Publication. Several letters containing means, written by our brethren, have been lost, and to avoid other losses, of a similar character, all the business has been sent to me, and then by me copied to the Office, and the means sent by me in money orders, so that, as yet, there has not a dollar's loss occurred. This occasions a great amount of writing. As a general rule, I shall lay this burden down, and would suggest this plan, let the business agent in each division of the Missionary Society open an account with the Office on the periodicals, and let each church, and individuals in the vicinity, do their business on REVIEW, Reformer, and Instructor, through the business agent of their church, he, keeping a book in which is an exact copy of each letter he sends—and on this I will show you my book if desired—and he, from time to time, send the means collected in post-office orders to the Publishing Office in such a manner that the Secretary of the Association understands it, but any one pilfering the mail would not, so there could be no loss. In time, we will get this arranged; if not before our State meeting, we can then.
Of the work of the Tract Society, I would say, It seems to me that what we see, of souls embracing the truth through reading, should stimulate us all to act. What we saw on the camp-ground at Windsor, Cal., Oct. 2 to 8, a number who have come out on the truth in that manner, I hope will have its effect. The librarian should immediately make out a list of the tracts you have on hand, and mail to me at Santa Rosa. In a few weeks there will be a fresh supply of books and tracts, so that your supply can be replenished. Send in your orders. There are several boxes of books on their way to California, and these should be placed in the hands of all candid ones who have a desire to read, whether they are here in California, or whether they are your friends abroad. Let us arise to do all our duties, and take hold unitedly for an earnest effort in the work.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
P. S. Let the officers in our churches in California preserve this article for future reference. J. N. L.
Truth is Valuable.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
Precious is the light given by the word and Spirit of God. Yet it is undervalued. It is not prized as it should be. As a people we are being instructed how to prepare ourselves for the time of trouble which we must soon see. But many do not realize that they need this teaching. They think it not necessary to heed it; showing by their acts that they do not believe. The time will come, however, that the unbelief that now blinds the mind and perverts the judgment will be torn away, and it will then be seen that, while they disregarded the light, they slighted their own mercy.
We may talk truth to our friends; but while we do not evince that we believe what we say, it will not affect favorably the hearer. To show that we are in earnest—that we are believers—is what is needed. We must prove our sincerity. And this we cannot do, unless we are sincere, having a living faith in what we say.
When do we purpose to come up to the light? If we are not now ready, when shall we be? I awfully fear that many that have been timely warned, and professed to receive the warning, will neglect the preparation, and so that day will come upon them as a snare. This must be the case from the present aspect.
The trouble is, men promise themselves that at some future time they will reform, but never come to the time. Those who will be prepared to meet the fearful time of trouble, must get ready for it; and the time is now. No future time will do. Nothing will be done to the purpose, till we say and feel that now is the time. Shall we heed the light, and heed it now? Would that we could persuade all to heed the truth and to walk in the precious light that God in great mercy has given us.
R. F. COTTRELL.
The Christian Sabbath.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
The opponents of God's holy Sabbath always have much to say about the “Christian Sabbath,” as though this was something different from God's ancient Sabbath. While we prefer to call Bible things by Bible names, and while we farther know that the terms “Jewish Sabbath,” and “Christian Sabbath” are neither of them in the Bible, yet, if there is any propriety in calling one day of the week above another the Christian Sabbath, we believe that this term should be applied to the seventh day and not to the first day. Let us look at the facts a moment. What does the word Christian mean? That which belongs to Christ, or, in other words, something that is Christ's. A Christian church is Christ's church. The Christian Sabbath is Christ's Sabbath. The Christian's Sabbath day, then, would be Christ's Sabbath day. Sabbath signifies rest; hence Christ's rest day.
Now we ask, Did Christ ever rest from his work upon the first day of the week? No living man can prove that he did. The Bible never names any such rest on that day. In short, there is no record of it. If a man claims that he did, it is pure assumption. He cannot prove it.
But did Christ have anything to do in making the seventh-day Sabbath by resting upon it? Most certainly he did. Look at the facts a moment. When was the seventh day made the Sabbath of the Lord? Answer: At the creation of the world, when God made everything in six days and rested on the seventh. Did not that make it God's Sabbath day? The Bible says so, and no one will dispute that. Now we ask another question. Who rested on the seventh day? Did not the same one who made the world in six days? Certainly. Then we ask further, Who made this world? The Bible is explicit on this point. It declares that Jesus Christ made it. Read a few testimonies. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3.
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature; for by him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible, and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Col. 1:15-17. See also Heb. 1:1, 2, 8-12.
Nothing could be plainer than these statements proving that Jesus Christ made our world. But does not the Bible say that the Father did it? Yes; but it tells us how he did it, that is by Jesus Christ, or through his agency. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” Eph. 3:9.
Jesus Christ, then, created the world by the authority of the Father; or, to say the very least, in connection with his Father. Then did he not work the first six days? Certainly. Then did he not here rest on the seventh day? Most assuredly. Then did not that make it his rest day, his Sabbath day as much as it did the Sabbath day of his Father? None can deny this. Then is not that the Christian Sabbath? The conclusion seems as plain to us as the shining sun. This fact shows further that Christ is as much interested in the holiness of the seventh-day Sabbath as the Father is. Hence he could truly say, Mark 2:28, “The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath day.” This is indeed the Lord's day whether we speak of the Father or the Son. D. M. CANRIGHT.
The Family of God.
By Jos. Clarke
THE inhabitants of the whole universe are the creation of Almighty Power, and were all originally designed to add to the happiness of each other and to the glory of God, and although some part of this family have fallen, and must be banished forever from existence, yet it is consoling to know that not a jot of glory or of excellence is to be abated thereby.
Although rebellion has marred for a time a small part of the work of God, yet in due time all is to be restored again, more glorious than before; and from this sad event a lesson is to be learned, which will forever secure the universe from the recurrence of a like catastrophe.
Happy indeed will this family be, when all are gathered from this sin-stained earth, and united to the family above. Soon this is to be consummated in the resurrection of the righteous from the dead.
THE ADVENT now near is the festal day of Jehovah, to which he looks with intense interest, when his family of ransomed ones will be complete, and not only angels, but Jehovah and his dear Son, will rejoice over the rescued and the redeemed.
It is to be the festival of God, when he will rejoice over his work, and his labors will be rewarded with success and victory, in the greatest and most important war ever waged.
JOS. CLARKE.
McLeod Co., Minn.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
THE Lord still continues to bless our labors in this section. We have now been in this county three months. About eighty are now keeping the Sabbath, of whom only one was in the truth when we came here. Still, the way is opening before us. We now have Sabbath meetings in three different places; and I have just commenced a course of lectures in another neighborhood, where eight are already keeping the Sabbath. I did not expect to see many out, but the whole neighborhood turns out, and there is as good an interest as I have had anywhere. Yet, there are some ten or a dozen places more, right in this immediate vicinity, where they are earnestly urging for meetings. The interest has been such that I have tried to do more than I ought to, preaching nine or ten times every week, and visiting during the day.
Bro. Grant is with me, and greatly aids in carrying on our prayer-meetings and visiting from house to house, &c. Bro. F. W. Morse is coming to help me soon, so we hope to occupy these fields, more or less, during the winter. Probably we shall have all that all three of us can do till spring. We are thankful to God for such an opening for the truth, especially after having so little interest during the forepart of the season.
Last Sabbath, the friends in Hutchinson had an excellent meeting, in which several made their first start to become Christians. All are settling into the truth and learning to love it. Bro. Grant led the prayer-meeting here, and Mrs. Canright the Bible-class, while I attended the meeting four miles out of town, at what is called Bear Creek school-house. Preached on the gifts. Then we had a most excellent social meeting and a good Bible-class. On Sunday, about forty brethren and sisters came together at Bro. Whitlock’s, and I spent nearly all day in talking to them on practical duties, the progress of the cause, and what the Lord was doing for us. Here, we also had another good social meeting, in which several made a start for the kingdom. Preached that evening to a full house. All the American families in that neighborhood are now keeping the Sabbath. I believe there is not a single exception. A few weeks ago, some of these were first-day Adventists, some Baptists, some Methodists, some Presbyterians, some worldlings, &c. Now they are all united in the truth. This is more remarkable from the fact that many of these had, heretofore, been strongly opposed to the Advent doctrine, and would not attend the meetings, nor unite with them in Sabbath-school. One good sister said to me, “Bro. Canright, we have set up here nights to hate the Adventists.” Another said that if an Adventist came into his house he would set the dog on him; but we have now preached in his house several days, and have not been bitten yet. He and his whole family are obeying the truth. Another man, after attending a few of our meetings, being asked if he was becoming an Adventist, replied, “When you hear that I have become one, you may set it down that I am crazy.” He and his family are now rejoicing in the truth. A sister and her family embraced the truth while her husband was absent. When he came home, and found what had occurred, he felt terribly, and said that his peace was destroyed, and the harmony of the family was forever gone. He wept like a child. But, after praying over the matter, and becoming composed enough to hear and read in regard to it, he soon saw the beauty there was in it, and now rejoices with them in the truth. The tears run down his cheeks as he speaks of the glorious light he sees in it. Who can deny that this is the work of the Lord? A half dozen, or more, school teachers are among those who have received the truth. We hope to see them becoming useful in the cause.
This is a very new country, and, quite generally, the people have not many conveniences; yet, nearly all have homes and are industrious people. They all make us welcome to their simple fare, and seem to share with us what they have most gladly. When people feel this way, we can put up with most anything.
Bro. and sister Cox and Bro. and sister Pugh, in town, furnish us with good homes, and do everything for our comfort when we are here. What we miss most is fruit, of which there is scarcely a taste.
Preachers abound in this section, as it will be seen in the fact that more than twenty have attended my meetings, more or less, in this section. I have not softened the truth any for their sakes. With a single exception, not one of them, thus far, has ventured to say anything in opposition; not so much as to raise an objection to our meetings. A great effort is just now being made to send away off East, or somewhere else, for a smart man to meet us. This shows that they think their cause is a desperate one, requiring the best talent and greatest experience to defend it. How they will succeed remains to be seen.
Eld. Lombard, Adventist, attended several of my meetings, while in this section. He and his wife seem to be sincere, earnest Christians, seeking for the truth. I hope God may help them to see the whole truth. Bro. White thinks there is danger of us older preachers getting above the simplicity of the work, so that we cannot content ourselves to preach to small congregations. No doubt there is danger of this. But I think I have had a pretty good trial of small congregations this year. At the time I read his article, I was preaching in a little, old, log school-house, in the brush, where my head almost touched the ceiling, while standing up. Eighteen or twenty make it comfortably full. I have preached here to congregations of six, ten, fifteen, and so on. But I kept to work till I got my whole congregation. It is just such houses as this in which I expect to labor all winter. The next one we have in view is covered with bark. So, until we have a little more room, there is not much danger of our being puffed up very high! But as long as we find good, honest-hearted people, who are willing to receive the truth, we are very glad to labor under just such circumstances. We shall take steps immediately to build a meeting-house, some four or five miles out of town.
Tobacco flourishes here in all its glory; but we shall never give it rest, till all have cleansed themselves of it. Among those who first embraced the truth, very few now use it. I believe that when the subject is fairly set before them, and they realize what a dirty, filthy habit it is, injuring the health, destroying their minds, their tempers, breaking down their nerves, and squandering their Lord’s money, I say, I believe that they will give it up.
We have abandoned the idea of going to Iowa this fall. It was no small sacrifice of feeling to give this up; but, all things considered, probably it is all for the best.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Oct. 22, 1872.
THE LORD'S HIGHWAY.
By Elmira O. Davis
“There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: the lion's whelps have not trodden it.”
THERE is a path no vulture's eye hath seen,
Nor lion's whelp hath ever walked therein;
Nor world's foot hath pressed the holy soil.
None but God's ransomed ones shall tread
The bright highway that leads to Zion's hill.
This shining road is cast above
The dark death-damps of earth;
Above its noise and strife,
Its perils and its pain,
And pestilential breath.
These inhale life and strength
Through breezes borne from yonder mount,
Where immortality begins to flow.
Through all its boundless realms,
Its limpid streams bear healing in their flow.
Its fountains gush with everlasting life.
Its fadeless verdure whispers low,
“No blight shall mar our loveliness.”
The little birds in warbling, sing,
“We live forever here.
No archer in our bowers, to take
The fatal aim, and bring us low.”
Life! life eternal! comes in every breath;
It beats in every pulse.
Who walks the King's highway,
However weak, or frail, however faint, he be,
Or lame, or deaf, or sick, or blind, be he,
Will glow with strength and vigor. There,
As a young roe, the lame shall leap;
The blind unclose their eyes, the deaf shall hear,
The stammering tongue be loosed,
To sing God's praises through eternal life.
Those humble ones of earth,
Who'er struggling on their toilsome way,
Shall bask, ere long, beside the cooling fount;
And eat the fruit plucked from life's healing tree;
Whose leaves shall all their maladies relieve,
And health and immortality restore.
Oh, wondrous love! that could devise a plan,
To save lost man, and bring thy ransomed ones
To their lost home once more.
No ravenous beast, nor serpent vile, nor unclean bird
Shall find thy bowers, O Eden!
None, none but God's redeemed shall, singing, unto Zion come
With everlasting joy upon their heads.
ELMIRA O. DAVIS.
Battle Creek, Mich.
Cattaraugus Co., N. Y.
By R. F. Cottrell
AFTER attending the meeting at East Elma, the second Sabbath and first-day in October, which was a meeting of interest and of profit as I hope, I came to this county. Commenced meetings in Farmersville, an entirely new field, Oct. 15. Held two meetings which were well attended, and then went to the quarterly meeting at East Otto. Had an encouraging meeting. Between thirty and forty Sabbath-keepers were present. Bro. Welch, the director of the Tract Society for this district, and others, were present from Portville, and a representation from Cottage and Randolph, also. There is reason to hope that the meeting will prove very profitable to the interests of the cause in this part of the great field.
I have returned and resumed meetings at Farmersville. The interest manifest is as good as could be expected, and I remain to labor as long as it may be duty. I earnestly pray that my labor may not be in vain. I trust it will not. I hope at least to benefit the good family that have received me, and seem anxious to do everything in their power to make me comfortable. They are not members of any church; but parents and children are courteous and kind, and some of them, if not all, are religiously disposed. May God bless and save them. Brethren, pray for me.
R. F. COTTRELL.
Farmersville, Catt. Co., N. Y., Oct. 24, 1872.
Genesee Co., Mich.
By S. H. Lane
WHILE laboring with the tent last summer at Flushing, there were several living about seven miles distant, in the township of Mount Morris, who became so deeply interested in the truth that they embraced it, and have each Sabbath attended meeting at Flushing. After the camp-meeting, when we returned to follow up the interest in and about Flushing, these friends were anxious that we should hold meetings in their neighborhood.
October 7, I commenced a course of lectures. Was granted the use of two school-houses, which are located four miles apart. We occupy one an evening, the other the next.
The people at first were very much prejudiced against our views, and had been warned by the minister not to go and hear; consequently the congregations at first were very small. Notwithstanding this, we have labored on, and the congregations have increased from the first. Some, however, are so prejudiced that they will not come and hear.
The Methodist minister has spoken twice against our positions. Thus far we have paid little or no attention to his objections, and have tried to reach the people by presenting the plain truth as brought to view in the word of God. If we can succeed, by the blessing of the Lord, in convincing those who are honest at heart that we have the truth, they of necessity must see, sooner or later, the absurdity of the objections urged against our positions.
We have just reached the Sabbath question. What the result of its presentation will be we know not. We hope and pray that the Lord may bless the effort.
Each Sabbath we meet with the friends at Flushing. Nearly all who of late have embraced the truth seem to be growing in grace. The Lord greatly pours out his Spirit, and we are blessed in our meetings. To him be the praise. S. H. Lane.
Labors and Victory in Bloomington, Wisconsin
By D. Downer
Wisconsin.
SINCE my last report I have been trying to labor on. Bro. Atkinson left me to work on our meeting-house at Mt. Hope. Soon Bro. Sutherland went home, leaving me alone. People at Bloomington seemed determined not to yield. Our tent was considerably injured by wind; that, in connection with cold weather, compelled us to strike our tent. Interested persons then tried to get the Methodist church. Just as I had given up all hope, they sent word I could have it. Since then I have been cautiously presenting the truth.
My congregation has been good. But few professors came out. Those that did, came to find fault. Many times while there I wept in agony, so great was my desire to see the glory of God manifested among the people. People had lost confidence in professors. Many times I have wept as I have felt I must leave Bloomington almost entirely in possession of our common enemy.
About one week ago, while speaking on the state of the dead, one of the ministers arose and disputed me. I noticed his remarks kindly. He interrupted me again, and seemed quite agitated, and said he would review me in his church, which he did. I attended. His audience was large and attentive. I reviewed him before the same people in a discourse of two hours and a half. Mighty angels I believe were sent to defend the truth, and the word of the Lord won a great victory. Since that, God has worked powerfully for us. Nearly every meeting has since been attended with deep feeling.
One thing has greatly aided me at Bloomington.167Bro. and sister Osborn were members of the Baptist church six years ago, but have since been Sabbath keepers. They have been faithful and have the confidence of the people, which has encouraged us to labor on.
I think I have never seen a greater change in so short a time than I witnessed at Bloomington. My last sermons were made solemn on account of God's presence. The long looked-for time seemed to have come, and there was certainly a very melting time. All, or nearly all, were in tears as we showed them their sins and pointed them to Christ. Several have declared their intentions to keep the commandments of God. Many are now favorable and ready to defend the truth who were opposing it bitterly.
We leave with them $23.00 worth of books. They are anxious to hear and read more of this truth. I now have to leave for Monroe, to attend a general gathering of the brethren there the 19th and 20th of Oct., then attend a meeting at Burns where several of the scattered saints are expected to assemble.
As I leave this field for a few weeks, I look back over my summer's work. When I started out with the tent I trembled, this being my first year in such labor. I cannot tell what the final result of our summer's work will be. It now looks truly encouraging. It has been a summer of agony and tears. How refreshing it seems to stop awhile and breathe free once more. But one burden is removed only to give place for another. Who has greater trials than the watchman? God raises up a company of believers. We learn to love them for their works of love. Then how sad it is to leave them. But we are almost home. Do we believe it? Do our actions show it? Are we groaning under our burdens? Oh! brethren, come one and all, to the rescue of God's truth. Let us throw away formality and pride, and see what God will do. Let truth shine. If it gives light, people will see it.
I still desire the prayers of those who can prevail with God. D. DOWNER.
Mt. Hope, Wis., Oct. 15, 1872.
Southern Illinois.
By C. H. Bliss
It has been some time since I have reported through the REVIEW; yet I have not been all the time idle. After our labors closed at Martinsville and York during the first part of the spring and summer, my health being rather poor, I returned home, where I spent a few weeks working on the farm, and visiting among the friends and relatives, and occasionally holding a few meetings, as the way opened.
Aug. 28, started to Annapolis, Crawford Co., where Bro. Colcord was engaged in giving a course of lectures in the tent, with apparently good interest; but very many coming down with the chills and fever in connection with some other things, caused the interest to decrease very rapidly until but few came out. Sept. 22, our tent was struck by a small gust of wind, and a place torn in the top about twenty feet long. The canvas is very rotten in the top. The sides are quite good yet. It being in good order for storing away, we concluded to take it down and hold meetings in a hall which was freely offered.
We soon closed our meetings there with no apparent result. However, I think a very few in that place may yet embrace the Sabbath. I believe two or three have already expressed their determination to do so.
Friday, Oct. 10, I commenced meetings in Bro. Hiestand's neighborhood, near Palestine. Have spoken twelve times, with increasing interest. Have already presented the Sabbath question. Many acknowledge that it is truth. But oh! how few there are that have vital stamina enough to cause them to act. May God arouse the slumbering people ere it be too late. If the interest continues, I shall remain here several weeks yet. May the Lord direct. Brethren, pray for me. C. H. Bliss.
New York.
By Henry H. Wilcox
CLOSED the meeting at Pitcairn, Oct. 13. Gave twenty-four discourses. The interest was good to the close. Seven have embraced the truth, two of whom never made a profession before, making in all thirteen now keeping the Sabbath. By the help of Eld. C. O. Taylor, organized a church of nine members. Baptized seven. Others, I think, will join soon if the church maintains a close walk with God. Never did I meet with a more friendly people than in this town. Thanks to the many kind friends for favors shown me while laboring among them. I now leave for home to arrange for winter, then to return and labor as the way may open. Truly, God is good.
HENRY H. WILCOX.
East Charleston, Vt.
By D. T. Bourdeau
LAST Sabbath, over fifteen came forward for prayers in this place, most of whom gave in their testimonies. The field is new here, and it takes much hard labor to move the people. We have been thankful for Eld. Hutchins’ help for the past ten days. It has been a great relief to us in our worn condition. My brother is expected to join in the work this week. We are arranging to organize a Sabbath-school and Bible-class.
We are holding meetings at another point, four miles from this place, where a few have embraced the Sabbath in connection with the work here. The way is opened to hold meetings at two other points, where the people have not had a fair opportunity to hear all our lectures.
We are more than ever convinced that the work of the ministry is a great work; that it takes more than the argument to move the people; that we must have much of the Spirit of God to remove prejudice and melt down hearts; that we must come close to the people; that it requires much love, patient labor, and heavenly wisdom, to give the preachers as well as the people a fair chance to understand and receive the message, so as to not prematurely close their ears, or sacrifice the important truths for these times.
D. T. BOURDEAU.
October 25, 1872.
CHARLES LEE
By Charles Lee
Minnesota.
I HAVE continued my labor among the Swedes, and though I have had a great opposition, I have met with some success. The priests have done all they possibly could do to withstand me, so as to hinder me in my effort to lay the truth before the people. They have written in their periodicals the most detestable falsehoods against me. They have gathered their friends for the purpose of disturbing us at our gatherings, and to break up our meetings. They have shut their school-houses against me, and forbidden me to enter within their colonies; and I, the “false prophet,” as they call me, have been the great theme of their discourses in the pulpit as well as at their camp-meetings. But still, in the strength of the mighty God, I have ventured on to seek the scattered and perishing sheep.
My fields of labor have been in three different places, and in all those places there are now some that keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and are trying to get ready for the coming of Jesus.
In Chicago Lake, Chicago Co., where I have been of late laboring, there are twelve that are keeping the Sabbath, and seven of them desire to become organized into a church. May God keep them in his care, and impart strength to them, that they may continue to serve him, and at last receive eternal life in his kingdom.
I hope that the brethren will remember me in their prayers.