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Signs of the Times, Vol. 1, No. 44.

The Sermon
Earlier text: The Essex Camp-Meeting

Duty of Parents to their Children.

By Ellen G. White

ONE of the "last days" is the disobedience of children to their parents. 2 Tim. 3:2. And do parents realize their responsibility? Many seem to lose sight of the watchcare they should ever have over their children, and suffer them to indulge in evil passions, and to disobey them. They take but little notice of them until their own feelings are raised, and then punish them in anger.
Many parents will have to render an awful account at last for their neglect of their children. They have fostered and cherished their evil tempers by bending to their wishes and will, when the wishes and will of the children should bend to them. They have brought God's frown upon them and their children by these things. Children are left to come up instead of being trained up. The poor little children are thought not to know or understand a correction at ten or twelve months of age, and they begin to show stubbornness very young. Parents suffer them to indulge in evil tempers and passions without subduing or correcting them, and by so doing they cherish and nourish these evil passions until they grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength.
Parents stand in the place of God to their children and they will have to render an account, whether they have been faithful to the little few committed to their trust. Parents, some of you are rearing children I fear to be cut down by the destroying angel, unless you speedily change your course, and be faithful to them. God cannot cover iniquity even in children. He cannot love unruly children who manifest passion, and he cannot save them in the time of trouble. Will you suffer your children to be lost through your neglect? Unfaithful parents, their blood will be upon you, and is not your salvation doubtful with the blood of your children upon you? children that might have been saved had you filled your place, and done your duty as faithful parents should.
God says: "I know Abraham, that he will command his household after him," and God gave him the honor of being the father of the faithful. It is the duty of parents to have their children in perfect subjection, having all their passions and evil tempers subdued.
Parents, correct your children. Commence while they are young, when impressions can be more easily made, and their evil tempers subdued before they grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength.
You should correct your children in love. Do not let them have their own way until you get angry, and then punish them. Such correction only helps on the evil, instead of remedying it. After you have done your duty faithfully to your children, then carry them to God and ask him to help you. Tell him that you have done your part, and then in faith ask him to do his part, that which you cannot do. Ask him to temper their dispositions, to make them mild and gentle by his Holy Spirit. He will hear you pray. Through his word he has enjoined it upon you to correct your children, to "spare not for their crying," and his word is to be heeded in these things.
It certainly must bring God's displeasure upon parents when they leave him to do what he has left and commanded them to do. God corrects us when we disobey, and go astray from him; and parents are bound by the word of God to correct their children when they disobey them, and show evil temper. Check the very first manifestation of passion. Break the will (but do it with feelings of tenderness, and with discretion), and your children will be far happier for it, and you will be happier. Your effort will be remembered of God, and he that is so particular as to observe the falling of the sparrow; he that noted and commended Abraham's faithfulness, will not pass by your efforts. He that never slumbers nor sleeps will be ready to aid you with his Spirit and grace, and will reward your feeble efforts.
Children are the lawful prey of the enemy, because they are not subjects of grace, have not experienced the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, and the evil angels have access to these children; and some parents are careless and suffer them to work with but little restraint. Parents have a great work to do in this matter, by correcting and subduing their children and then by bringing them to God and claiming his blessing upon them. By the faithful and untiring efforts of the parents, and the blessing and grace entreated of God upon the children, the power of the evil angels will be broken, a sanctifying influence is shed upon the children, and the power of darkness must give back.
When the destroying angel was to pass through Egypt, to destroy the first-born of man and beast, Israel was commanded to gather their children and families into their houses with them, and then mark their door-posts with blood, that the destroying angel might pass by their dwellings, and if they failed to go through with this process, there was no difference made between them and the Egyptians.
The destroying angel is soon to go forth again, not to destroy the first-born alone, but "to slay utterly old and young, both men, women and little children" who have not the mark. Parents, if you wish to save your children, separate them from the world, keep them from the company of wicked children; for if you suffer them to go with wicked children, you cannot prevent them from partaking of their wickedness and being corrupted. It is your solemn duty to watch over your children, to choose the society at all times for them. Learn your children to obey you, then can they more easily obey the commandments of God, and yield to his requirements. Don't let us neglect to pray with, and for our children. He that said "suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not," will listen to our prayers for them, and the seal, or mark, of believing parents will cover their children, if they are trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
E. G. WHITE.

Thou Knowest.

By A. M. Driscall

"LORD, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee," was Peter’s grieved reply to his divine Lord, when asked the third time "Lovest thou me?"
The thrice repeated question reminded Peter of his thrice repeated denial of his Lord, and brought fresh to his mind the scenes of that sad, eventful night when his fears, doubts, and cowardice overcame him, and in his reply he felt no longer as in days past, like comparing himself with, or setting himself above, others. He did not say that his love was as great or greater than any of the other disciples. He offers no testimony of his own as to the love he feels for Christ. He could trust his deceitful heart no more. But appealing to another’s knowledge of that heart, which had proved better than his own, he says, "yea, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee."
Christ knew the conflicting emotions of Peter’s heart on the night of his betrayal. He knew the work of contrition wrought since. He knew the depths of his repentance, and his reply is a most emphatic affirmative response to this appeal. It is as if he had said, I have seen all that thou hast suffered, Peter, I do know that thou lovest me, and to prove to thee and thy brethren that I accept and acknowledge thy repentance, I reinstate thee in the apostolic office. I renew the great commission, feed my sheep, feed my lambs.
Peter’s severe trial had been a blessing to him, and not only to him, but to many others. He was no longer the same confident, boastful Peter, but humbled, converted Peter, ready for his great work.
Christ, the great commiserator of the human family, understands our natures, knows the discipline we need, and feels for the corrected, erring, and repenting, the same now as then. He knows our weakness, our frailty. He knows the strength of our adversary. He knows the heart, wearied and perplexed with the cares of to-day, burdened with anticipated duties of to-morrow, depressed with sadness, filled with foreboding fear and distracting doubt. He knows it all, and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and knowing this he offers rest to the weary, comfort to the sorrowing, and strength to the weak and doubting. To the Christian this thought is comforting; but can the sinner, the unbeliever find consolation in the thought that it is all known to God?
Man often judges and condemns by appearances and external evidences, while God, Christ, and angels, whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and whose ways are not our ways, look at the heart and weigh motives. Heaven always supports the right. And though at times the clouds lower and are heavy with darkness, the sun shines beyond, and in due time, just at the right time, they break, the light shines, and the right is vindicated. Oh, for a faith to trust in God in days of adversity as well as in days of prosperity; for a principle to do right regardless of man’s approval or disapproval. If Heaven accepts we are safe. If not, we are lost notwithstanding man’s favor.
When we reflect that underneath all our actions in life there lies a principle, a motive, and that these principles or motives are tested in the court of heaven, how important that they are right, and with what care should we guard our hearts, for out of them are the issues of life.
A. M. DRISCALL.

The Second Coming of Christ.

By A. M. Driscall

The heading of this article is attractive to some minds, as it is repellant to others. It is attractive, because it is more animating to the Christian to think of meeting Christ, and very soon, than to dwell upon his history, as that of a Divine Person, once with us, now and for near two thousand years removed from us. There is also something especially pleasant in his second coming, as it is described to be as visible as was his ascending from Olivet; as it brings him back, this side of the river of death, to meet us, instead of our crossing to meet him; and as it enables us to realize the satisfaction the apostle Paul described as a “clothing upon,” in place of being “unclothed,” a life descending from heaven, to transfigure and swallow up mortality.
But the title above is to others repelling, as suggesting a less spiritual conception of Christianity, and contradicting the very letter of the gospel by fixing a date, not fixed in Holy Scriptures, but left indeterminate, and described as “the lightning,” sudden, instantaneous, and inexplicable. One extreme, however, generates another, and the very existence of extremes shows that there is a safe middle ground between.
It is not obvious that those believers are in the wrong, who allow themselves to be so repelled by extravagances on this subject, that they do not make the second coming of our Lord a frequent and joyous contemplation? It was so to the apostles; it should be so to us, as the current language of the New Testament shows. Every one has remarked how frequently the sacred writers exclaim, “The Lord is at hand.” This is, indeed, in one passage of the authorized version denied, but it is an evident and now recognized mistranslation, the apostle denying that “the day of the Lord is present.” 2 Thess. 2 : 2.
That it is at hand, our Lord himself, and all his apostles, in a great variety of ways affirm. The delusion seems to have seized upon the Thessalonian Christians, as it has upon so many others since, and at so many epochs, that the exact hour for Christ’s reappearance had arrived. Men stood idle, and excitedly abandoned their normal pursuits, instead of calmly awaiting an unknown and unknowable event. But it is written that believers “know neither the day nor the hour;” they are not permitted “to know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power;” “of that day, and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels who are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” This ignorance is made by Christ an argument for watchfulness, as if any day might prove “the day,” and any hour “the hour.”
The attitude of faith is that of listening to the foot-falls of an approaching Redeemer. Christians are described as those who “are waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.” They are “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.” It is the obedience of faith, neither to postpone the second advent to a distant future, nor to say that it has actually come, or is coming at a specified date. Church history shows that where the coming of the Lord has been regarded as fixed in the deep future, at an infinite distance off, the Christian life has been cold, and careless, and worldly. When, on the contrary, every crisis in the world’s history has been regarded a possible token of his near approach, a streak of light in the kindling east as a premonition of the cry, “Behold he cometh,” it is a reviving of the faith of apostolic times in a respect in which it is a pattern for us, and in which it reflects the current and characteristic teaching of the New Testament, which ends with the testimony, “Surely, I come quickly.”
No doubt “this world’s history is its judgment too,” but the world shall, also, in the course of history, see its Judge; “Behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” No dawn ever reddens in the east, but another dawn may spring above it: no sun rides upon the meridian, but another may eclipse it. And this expectation is evermore before the church; all the future is bright with his coming; at all times it may be the next event. No Christian may, consistently with Holy Writ, form a philosophy of history, which necessitates the postponement of the Lord’s coming to a distant future. The faithful Christian is one who “waits for the Lord,” and heeds the warnings of his approach.
“Faith's ear, with awful still delight, Counts them like minute-bells at night, Keeping the heart awake till dawn of morn, While to her funereal pile this aged world is borne.”
If this be a just representation of the characteristic teachings of the New Testament on this subject, the Christian should always associate the future with the coming of his Lord, his actual and visible coming, or some spiritual preparation for it. To his believing outlook every event has something to do with Him, and may be a precursor of the Advent. It is more in accordance with Christian believing and living, to think of the coming of Christ, than of the coming of death; near as the last is, the first may be nearer. If this sentiment seems to us strange and exaggerated, let us remember it did not seem so to the apostles and first Christians; and this difference should teach us that we have insensibly drifted away from early and consecrated habits of thought. And is not this fact an argument for special thought on this subject? How strangely significant is our Lord’s inquiry, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” If general forgetfulness and incredulity be a sign of his approach, it should make us more wakeful to the truth, “The Lord is at hand.”—WM. I. BUDINGTON, in American Messenger.

Middletown, Lake Co., Cal.

By William M. Healey

I commenced a course of lectures here two weeks ago yesterday, and have given seventeen discourses.
There has been much to attract the attention of the people, as they have had political meetings from three to four times a week, with the meetings of Grangers, Good Templers, Odd Fellows, and Free Masons, besides dances, shows, etc.
We also found certain parties here that seemed to think it their duty to go about the place and prejudice the people against us, telling them that we were a branch of the Mormon church, that we had the time set for the Lord to come next month, that we claimed to be the only ones who believed in the second coming of Christ, and that all who have not belonged to our church are lost, also some other statements equally false. But notwithstanding all the opposition Satan has brought to bear, we have had a very good attendance, and two families came out and kept last Sabbath. We hope for more. Pray for us.
W. M. HEALEY.

Gilroy and Hollister.

By John Norton Loughborough

The cause of truth is gaining ground in both of the above places. Our tent-meeting in Hollister closed Sunday evening, Sept. 5. On the closing day of our meeting, S. B. was organized amounting to $106.60 per year. A delegate was elected to our coming State Conference. A vote was passed requesting the watchcare of the Conference.
Up to the time of closing this tent-meeting, eighteen had signed the covenant. One of these has moved to Gilroy so that there are now seventeen enrolled in each place, and still others in each place who are keeping the Sabbath, who have not as yet signed the covenant, but doubtless will do so when they have an opportunity. Since my last report others have made pledges to S. B. in Gilroy. The figures for that company now stand $187.20 per year. The pledges we expect will be raised to about $300 per year in the two places.
As it was necessary to have the tent at the factory, in order to enlarge it for camp-meeting and for use in San Francisco, we closed the meetings as above stated, but Bro. Waggoner still remains to follow up the interest, while I attend to duties connected with preparations for camp-meeting.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Missionary Department.

By John Norton Loughborough

"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." Eccl. 11 : 6.

Christ's Work.

THE apostles of Christ were true missionaries in every sense of the word. In them we have the most striking illustration of devoted workers in the cause of truth. That which, by precept, they have taught to others respecting advancing the work of Christ, they exemplified in their own life and ministry. They gave force to their teachings by an appeal to the course pursued by their Master.
Paul, in writing to the Philippian brethren says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man; he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. 3 : 4-8.
The above injunction was not made simply to ministers, but to the whole Philippian church, and through them to all believers in Christ. The manner they were to look upon the things of others was to be the same, and for the same purpose that Christ laid aside, for the time being, the glory and happiness of Heaven. It was that he might unselfishly devote himself to the work of saving men. If we arm ourselves with the same mind we shall be led out to do all we can to rescue souls from death, and direct them to the way of truth, and life, and Heaven.
That this is the import of the apostles' statement above is evident from his further injunction, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings; that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain." Verses 14-16.
The above statements present the fact that every one who receives the gospel of Christ is obligated thereby, not only to exemplify its truths in their lives, but to do all in their power, with the ability God has given them, to bring the truths of the gospel before the minds of others. Thus the apostles of Christ, and the primitive church did. With them it was not merely to be honorary members of the church, but to be all earnest workers.
To those thus laboring, Paul said, "We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end; that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Heb. 6 : 11, 15. These are the same persons he had told in the previous chapter, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." Heb. 5 : 12. Of course such a position as that described above is attained by inattention, and by failing to post themselves in the truth.
Peter's admonition to the whole church comes in with special force here: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts." That is, dedicate your life and energies to the cause of God, seeking to know and do his will, and making the advancement of his truth of more consequence than everything else. Seeking "first the kingdom." "And be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." 1 Pet. 3 : 15. In response to the injunction "be ready to give an answer," you say you cannot talk upon the truth; we say, you can fill your pockets with choice tracts and papers treating upon all points of this precious truth. Place these in the hands of the people. If you cannot talk, these carefully written tracts and papers will unexcitedly, patiently, and perseveringly tell their message, and in due time it moves hearts.
If you cannot frame language to advocate the truth properly yourself, you can at least act as a carrier of the truth to others in tract and periodical distribution. You can follow the truth thus distributed with your prayers, God will water it as read by the receiver, so that it may prove indeed to be seed sown upon good ground that shall spring up and bear fruit unto eternal life.
One of Paul's admonitions to the Galatians was in these words: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Gal. 6 : 10. While I would not claim that the above text has exclusive reference to disseminating God's truth by precept, none will deny that it embraces that duty, as that is one of the means of doing good. Our duty in disseminating the truth is in the same ratio of our opportunities to disseminate the truth. The greatest danger is that we shall be so taken up by, and overcharged with, our worldly cares that we shall not see golden opportunities to do good until they are passed, and it is too late to do the good.
What Paul commended in the faithful workers of his time was that they would "naturally care" for the advancement of the truth. He commended Timothy in the following language: "I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." Phil. 2 : 20, 21.
Here is where the hindrances come in to the faithful performance of missionary duties. The cares of life, pressure of business, and hurry of the world leads the mind away from that watchful, earnest, devoted position of Christ's apostles which placed them where they would gladly "spend and be spent" (2 Cor. 12 : 15) in the cause of Christ. What is demanded, and what we wish to see in this time, is that same earnest, unselfish consecration to God's work. When such efforts are made, they are sure to be followed with God's blessing, and will produce the same results the apostles witnessed.
Who will thus take hold of the work now, who will watch for the opportunities to do good, and take hold for a share in the great harvest of souls? The T. and M. system gives a chance for all to work. There is enough for all to do. Will we do with our might what our hands find to do? Will we? J. N. L.

Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Session of the S. D. Adventist General Conference.

CAMP-GROUND, Battle Creek, Mich., Aug. 15, 1875, 9 A. M. Conference opened with prayer by the Chairman, Eld. James White.
The following delegates were present:—
From Michigan, S. Brownsberger, J. H. Kellogg, E. R. Jones, J. S. Day, R. J. Lawrence, E. S. Griggs.
From Ohio, H. H. Van Camp.
“ Wisconsin, Eld. James White.
“ Indiana, Jas. Harvey.
“ N. Y. & Pa., E. W. Whitney.
“ Iowa & Nebraska, F. H. Chapman, H. Nicola.
From Illinois, Eld. T. M. Steward.
“ Maine, S. Howland.
“ Vermont, Eld. D. T. Bourdeau.
“ New England, Eld. S. N. Haskell.
“ Minnesota, John Fulton.
“ Kansas & Missouri, Theo. Brackett.
“ California, Eld. James White.
Some of these were not regularly appointed delegates, but being more or less directly from the States they represented, were invited by the Conference to act as such.
Reports from State Conferences show the present standing of the General Conference to be as follows:—
Gen. Conf. Summary for the year 1875 Names of Conference. Ministers. Licentiates. Churches. No. of Members. S. B. Fund Pledged. S. B. Used by Churches S. B. Fund pledged to State Conf. S. B. Fund pledged to Gen. Conf. S. B. Fund on hand.
Maine. 1 3 9 266 $848.87
New England, 1 3 15 350 2300.00
Vermont, 2 5 17 323 1780.22
N. Y. & Pa. 8 4 35 591 2799.22
Ohio, 1 2 12 266 1494.34 250.00
Michigan, 17 14 71 2226 6431.70 2486.83 1000.00 $4642.57
Indiana, 3 2 8 158 935.22
Wisconsin, 6 12 37 933 3400.00 100.00
Illinois, 4 6 22 700 1800.00 150.00 2410.00 100.00
Minnesota, 6 9 28 700 2500.00 696.81
Iowa & Neb. 8 8 45 384 1640.17
Kansas & Mo. 4 8 22 345 1696.81
California, 2 14 450 4000.00
Swiss Mission, 2 5 200 300.00
Minutes of the last session read and approved.
On motion, the Chair appointed the following committees:—
On Nominations, H. Nicola, E. H. Root, E. W. Whitney.
On Resolutions, U. Smith, S. Brownsberger, J. H. Kellogg.
On Auditing, Jerome Fargo, F. H. Chapman.

SECOND SESSION.

Monday, Aug. 16, 7:30 A. M. Prayer by Eld. D. T. Bourdeau. Minutes of last session read and approved. By vote, Eld. N. V. Hull, delegate from the S. D. Baptist General Conference, was heartily welcomed to a place in this body. Eld. Hull responded with some very friendly and cordial remarks touching the relation of the body he represented, to the S. D. Adventists, to which Eld. White in behalf of the Conference replied. By vote, all present in good standing were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference.
The Nominating Committee recommended the following persons as officers of the Conference the coming year:—
For President, Eld. James White.
“ Secretary, U. Smith.
“ Treasurer, Miss Freddie House.
For Executive Com., { Eld. James White, of Battle Creek, Mich., and Oakland, Cal., “ J. N. Loughborough, of Oakland, Cal., “ J. N. Andrews, of Neuchatel, Switzerland.
These persons were thereupon unanimously elected to the offices named.
The report of the Committee on Resolutions being called for, they presented the following, which were considered and adopted:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.

The committee appointed to present resolutions to the Conference, suggest the following for their consideration:—
1. THE SCHOOL. Whereas, We recognize the hand of God in establishing a school in the city of Battle Creek, for the special purpose of presenting facilities, under favorable circumstances, for the thorough education of the youth of S. D. Adventists; and,
Whereas, Its establishment is unmistakable evidence that God would shield our children from the wicked influences so current in our public schools,
Resolved, That we hail with grateful hearts this new institution as meeting, in a measure, the providence of God.
Resolved, That this enterprise is worthy of our most hearty patronage, and that we do all in our power to recommend it to the friends of the cause of present truth and health reform generally.
2. THE HEALTH REFORM. Whereas, The subject of health reform has now been agitated among us for more than half a score of years; and,
Whereas, We have found that the uniform result of the practical adoption of its teachings has been to increase physical, mental, and moral strength, and thus to promote spiritual growth,
Resolved, That we hereby express our confidence in the principles of health reform, and urge its more thorough adoption by those among us who have as yet made but little progress in this direction.
Resolved, That we especially urge upon our ministers the importance of this reform as a most efficient means of giving them clearness and strength of mind to present Bible truths in the most forcible and impressive manner.
Resolved, That, in view of the benefits which we have ourselves received from practicing the teachings of health reform, and of the intimate relation which it sustains to the general cause, we urge upon the friends of the cause everywhere greater energy in the promulgation of these truths by personal efforts in the circulation of health publications.
3. FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY. Whereas, The fulfillment of the message of Rev. 14:9, which is to go to nations, tongues, and peoples, and is to be fulfilled but once, is the highest evidence of the nearness of the end; therefore,
Resolved, That the wonderful facts which have recently come to our knowledge relative to the springing up of the principles of this message in different parts of the world, almost without the aid of the living preacher, reveal to us, as nothing else could, the hand of God in this work, and call upon us for corresponding action.
Resolved, That we recommend the Executive Committee to take immediate steps to establish a printing office in Europe, to issue periodicals and publications in the French and German languages, and also to enter the openings presenting themselves in Great Britain, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Hungary, Africa, and Australia.
4. THE WORK ON THE PACIFIC COAST. Resolved, That we have great cause of gratitude in the continued prosperity of the work on the Pacific Coast, through which already about a thousand souls in the territory between Mexico and British Columbia are rejoicing in the truth; and we recommend our people to take stock liberally in the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, that it may be immediately placed on a permanent basis.
Resolved, That we approve of the invitation extended by the Michigan Conference to Eld. J. N. Loughborough, to labor for a time in Michigan, to help the suffering cause in that State.
5. CONDUCTING CONFERENCE SESSIONS. Resolved, That, in our judgment, it would add great interest to the proceedings of our Conference, if each annual session should be opened with an anniversary sermon, pertaining to some portion of our Conference work; and, if suitable persons should be appointed to present essays, or address the Conference, upon such subjects of interest as the meeting might determine, these appointments to be made one year in advance; and we recommend that this course be pursued.
6. A MAMMOTH TENT. Resolved, That the General Conference should own a mammoth tent or pavilion, at least 80 by 120 feet, which can be used at our larger camp-meetings or other important gatherings, as occasion may require.
7. CONFERENCE CONSTITUTION. Resolved, That the Secretary prepare the Constitution of the General Conference, embodying all the amendments up to the present time, for publication in pamphlet form.
Respectfully submitted, U. SMITH, S. BROWNSBERGER, J. H. KELLOGG, Committee.
8. LEADERSHIP. The following resolution was submitted to the Conference by Eld. Geo. I. Butler:—
Whereas, In the session of the General Conference held in the autumn of 1873, a resolution was passed endorsing a tract entitled Leadership, written by Eld. Butler; and,
Whereas, It has been shown that some of the sentiments contained in said tract were incorrect; therefore,
Resolved, That the resolution above referred to be, and the same is hereby, recinded.
Pending the adoption of this resolution, Eld. White made very clear and forcible remarks on the subject, setting forth the manner in which his mind had been led in this matter, resulting in his writing out almost immediately the articles which subsequently appeared over his signature in the Signs and the Review, before he knew that any objection was raised against the address referred to. He also set forth ably the principles of Leadership which, according to the Scriptures, must hold in the church of Christ.
It was then moved to amend the resolution by striking out its second and third clauses, and substituting in their place the following:—
“Whereas, Further examination has shown that some of the sentiments contained in said tract were incorrect; therefore,
“Resolved, That the tract referred to be placed in the hands of a committee (said committee to be appointed by this Conference) to be so revised as to correspond with the better understanding which now exists on the subject of Leadership.”
The amendment was carried, and the resolution as amended was then unanimously adopted.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

Bal. on hand at commencement of the year, July 31, 1874, $1,920.46 Received during year, 5,515.17 Total, $7,435.63 Paid out during the year, $6,331.51 Bal. on hand, Aug. 9, 1875, 1,104.12 Total, $7,435.63

THIRD SESSION.

Prayer by Eld. White. On motion, the Chair appointed U. Smith, S. Brownsberger, and J. H. Kellogg, a committee of three to revise the address on Leadership, according to resolution No. 8.
On motion, Eld. White was appointed to speak on the Wants and Progress of the Cause at our next annual meeting; S. Brownsberger, on the subject of Education; Dr. J. H. Kellogg, on the subject of Health Reform; Eld. S. N. Haskell on the subject of Tract and Missionary Operations; and Eld. U. Smith, on the subject of our Publications, in accordance with resolution No. 5.
Adjourned to call of the Chair.
JAS. WHITE, Pres. U. SMITH, Sec.

In the Shadow.

I WALK through darkened paths, yet know My Father marks the way I go; I cannot see his tender smile, But feel his clasping hand the while; And, since he heeds the sparrow's fall, I trust his love, in spite of all.
Borne through the dark by loving arms, I sometimes shrink with vague alarms; Yet closer cling, that I may hear The voice that whispers in mine ear. "O trembling soul," it says to me, "Rest in the love that clings to thee!"
I cannot tell if long the way By which I go, through night, to day; But, soon or late, I know my feet Will walk in sunshine, broad and sweet; And, soon or late, before mine eyes The radiant hills of peace uprise. —Sel.

Not Altogether Lost.

By J. H. Waggoner

SOMEBODY sent the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to some other body who would not read it. A man happened into the shop of the latter, and saw it, and asked him how he liked that paper. He said he never read it, and would not look at any paper that pretended to tell when the Lord was coming. His ungrounded prejudice was too strong to allow him to read enough to have his error corrected. But this friend had seen some of our publications, and was interested, and so obtained the SIGNS of the man who would not read it. To him and to his wife it was a source of instruction and consolation. And we have no doubt it contributed somewhat toward this family, living alone from other Adventists, taking hold of the Sabbath of the Lord. He lives seventeen miles from Hollister, and was present to give a good testimony in the tent Sabbath, Aug. 28.
Even when rejected, and apparently doing no good, the publications are silently doing their work. "Be not weary in well doing." The great day will reveal good done where we now see nothing. "Be not faithless, but believing," and work on.
J. H. WAGGONER.

Health Department.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2.

Of What Material Are you Made?

Reader, of what kind of material is your body made? Do you not think this an important inquiry? Suppose you are to hire a house built; would you not think it an important part of the bargain to specify of what kind of material it must be made? Would you not care whether the builder used soft bass-wood, rotten, shaky oak, poor pine, good pine, sound black walnut, or hard, fine-grained maple? Certainly you would. There would be a vast difference in the strength, and durability, and worth of your house, according to the material used. If you put in poor material, you might putty it, and paint it, and varnish it, so that it would look very fine for a short time; but it would be a poor house still and would soon fail you.
If, then, it is important that we use good, sound material in building a wooden house, how much more important that we use the best of material in building the house of our bodies. I have a body weighing one hundred and forty-two pounds. Some thirty years ago, it weighed only six pounds. Of what kind of material, then, is the additional one hundred and thirty-six pounds composed? Of course it is made up of the material which I have been putting in there for the last thirty years through the organs of my mouth and stomach. Can any one be so foolish as to think that the nature of the material I have been daily using to build up my body makes no difference in the strength and durability of that body? When a carpenter can make a strong, durable house out of rotten wood and putty, then can the stomach build up a sound, strong, healthy body out of poor food.
As simple as this fact is, thousands of people never stop to think of it. They eat and drink as though the nature of their food had not the remotest connection with the strength and health of their bodies. They will swallow diseased meat, fine flour, from which nearly all the life has been ground out, poisonous tobacco and tea; then when the poor flesh made out of this miserable material begins to give way, they go to puttying, painting, and varnishing it up with drugs, pills, and patent medicines! Then if they die prematurely, it is a mysterious dispensation of Providence! For shame! Friends let us wake up, open our eyes, and examine the food we eat, the material with which we are daily building these bodies of ours.
Look around the world a moment. Who are the strong men, the active men, the business men, the great men—the bone and sinew of society? With few exceptions, they are those who have been raised in poverty, fed on corn bread and potatoes, and had plenty of fresh air, and the free sunshine. But what becomes of the children of the wealthy, those raised in luxury, fed on pies and cakes, rich food, tea and coffee, and shut up in tight rooms, and kept away from the fresh air? The vast majority of them sink below the common level, drag out a life of aches, pains, and pills, and go down to an untimely grave. They were not made of good material. They could not stand the rough and tumble, the storms of life. Others better and stronger made, rose up, pushed them aside, and took their places. Reader, what kind of material are you building with? How are you preparing your children for the storms of life?
D. M. Canright.
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