A VOICE FROM A PRISON IN DENMARK IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
By John G. Matteson
The following is an extract from a letter from Bro. M. A. Sommer, containing his defense before the court. He was accused of manifesting contempt against the State church in an article on the Lord’s prayer in the paper which he published. He requested that this letter be published in the ADVENT TIDENDE, as himself was in prison and his paper confiscated. This remarkable transaction shows the truthfulness of the English adage, “There is something rotten in Denmark.” But it shows also, that there are some in that country who love truth more than error.
“Defense in the case against Mogens Abraham Sommer for the publication of Indøvelse i Christendommen, No. 1, 1874, and especially, for the article, ‘Our Lord’s Prayer’ against Notary Public Wadum of Veile.
“The gentleman insists that I, M. A. Sommers, of Bredballe Strand per Veile must be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, to pay all the cost of this case, and to have said number of my paper confiscated.
“The points of accusation are: 1. ‘We find in said paper the following words: “The terrible abuse of this prayer (the Lord’s prayer) on every occasion when the priest and deacon stand up as the advocates of the church, and repeat it carelessly, only because it must be said, makes a disagreeable impression on a mind that feels for religion and desires to respect it.”’
“How can the gentleman say that anything is said here of the State church? Are there no other priests and deacons than those in the established church? . . . The State church accepts the faith of Luther as the only true doctrine, and Luther teaches that Christ is the only advocate, and none beside him. Consequently my remarks can not apply to the Danish State church, if it still stands on true Lutheran ground.”
“We do not here speak of the use of the Lord’s prayer, but of the abuse of it, when it is read carelessly only because it must be read. Would not the gentleman himself feel disagreeably and wounded in his feelings, provided he had any interest in religion and respect for Christ, if he should step into a church—even if it was the State church—and hear the Lord’s prayer read about ten times by the priest and deacon during the services with expressions and motions as though they were fully in earnest, when he knew that religious earnestness was far from them in their every day life, and that they were perfect infidels and only performed for the sake of the revenues of the office? Yet because I have such feelings and write them, I must be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, &c. A man with common sense cannot possibly understand why such action should be taken, and knows not whether to laugh or to cry over such action.
“The second point of accusation is this: ‘It is written in said paper, p. 2: “If we consider still farther, how often unbelieving teachers, covetous and worldly-minded ministers, have repeated the Lord’s prayer, and said, Lord, Lord! our Father! when they made no effort at all to do his will, is it not then reasonable to ask such hardened souls, who always resist the Holy Ghost, to cease to take the name of God in vain; to cease to mock God by calling him Father, when they have no desire at all to be his obedient children!”’
“This is the crime alleged against me! These words are called mockery against the faith and service of the established church! For speaking and writing these words I must be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. I have preached these words before thousands of hearers, and they have been read by at least 4000, among whom are many ministers and teachers. Yet not one of these have told me that I have mocked and despised the faith and worship of the established church by these words. They acknowledge the sad truth that we find unbelieving teachers and covetous and worldly ministers in the world in one church as well as in another,—ministers who say their prayers with their lips, but whose hearts are far from the Lord, exactly in the same manner as our Saviour testified that the ministers and teachers did in his day. (Matt. 15: 9.)
“If the gentleman himself was zealous for the Christian religion, and knew that an unbelieving, covetous and worldly-minded minister declaimed the Lord’s prayer carelessly with his lips, I think he would exclaim: ‘I wish that priest would at once stop with his motions and pretensions. I know him well. He cares nothing for prayer. But when he can drink wine with his friends his whole soul is in it.’ Would not the gentleman say, ‘There are no greater blasphemers of God than such ministers, who put on the mask of holiness, and act the part of a hypocrite?’ . . . Yet when I have such feelings and publish them I am accused of mocking the faith and religious services of the State church.”
“I acknowledge that my words would have been worthy of censure if I had singled out a certain minister and said that he was a hypocrite, if he was not one. Had I for instance stated of the priest in Veile that he was a drunkard, a gambler, a usurer, an enemy of the cross of Christ, who only preached for the sake of the office, and generally whiled away his time in idleness and worldly enjoyment, then the question might have been introduced, whether my words ought to have been censured or no. But I have not said any such thing in said paper. The reason why is, because I do not know the priest in Veile at all. (He is by occupation, or ought to be, the shepherd of my soul, and for this I have to help pay his salary, but I have never seen nor heard the man.) . . .
“Any one who understands the teachings of Christ and the apostles must acknowledge that that which in most religious denominations is preached under the name of Christian religion differs very much from the word of God, and it is astonishing how many errors have been accepted for Bible truth. This I have heard, not only in the State church long ago (for I have not seen a priest in his ornate robes during the last eighteen years in the established church, for it hurt my religious feelings even from childhood to see the priest arrayed in a robe which looked to me more like a fool’s robe, suitable only for a mask), but also in many other churches (for instance Henry Ward Beecher’s church in Brooklyn), and I have wondered at the doctrines that are offered to men in the name of Christian religion. . . .
“It is furthermore evident that since I have preached the gospel almost every day for the last twenty-five years, it would be the greatest self-contradiction for me to mock the evangelical Christian religion. I have only pointed out the abuse of the word of God. . . .
“I therefore insist that there is no lawful reason for the accusation, and pray to be delivered from the intended sentence. . . .
“M. A. SOMMER.
“Veile, July 17, 1875,”
The case of Mr. Sommer came before the different courts and was finished in February, 1876. He was first sentenced to four months in prison and to pay the cost, but appealed to the circuit court and finally to the supreme court, where he was sentenced to imprisonment for two months and to pay the cost, amounting to about 200 crowns ($50 in gold). He writes farther in his letter:—
“The time is near for the return of our Lord, and all who see light in his light will learn to understand that Satan has but a little time. For this reason he uses all the means within his reach to defend himself against the proclamation of the gospel and the revelation of the truth of God.
“Concerning the Sabbath I believe that most believers in Denmark agree with the Adventists that the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, and not the first. The last-named theory is only an invention of the pope, like infant sprinkling, confirmation, &c. Yet there is a great step from the understanding of this to the yielding of obedience to the commandment. I have presented my views on the Sabbath to some of our congressmen, as they are now about to present some regulations concerning the holidays. I have asked them to try to get the Sabbath changed from the first to the seventh day of the week, but they know only the rudiments of this world, and answer that the Jews keep the seventh day, but the Christians keep the first day in memory of the resurrection of Christ. But this is not found in the Bible, not a syllable of it. It is the great deception of the pope which through 1500 years has gained a reputation, and the ignorant hold on to it, as they do to many other papal errors.”
Mr. Sommer was released from prison, April 7, 1876. JOHN G. MATTESON.
IOWA
By R. M. Kilgore
ONAWA.
April 4, 5, we were unable to have but one meeting here on account of bad roads. Also re-organized Systematic Benevolence with an advance on the pledge of last year.
SMITHLAND.
April 8-10, after wading through water averaging a foot deep for about five miles, or nearly one-third of the whole distance, we arrived here in time for the meeting at the commencement of the Sabbath. I found the spirit of union and love prevailing among the brethren, and also a marked advance in the work and a growth of grace. The brethren here have diligently kept the books and tracts of the T. and M. Society at work among their neighbours, and, as a result, several have embraced the truth and are now keeping the Sabbath. At their organization a year ago, eleven persons constituted their membership, and now it numbers thirty-five. Eight were received into the church, and six were baptized at this meeting.
The subject of S. B. was presented, and although the brethren here are poor in this world's goods they raised their pledge from $115 to $208. Besides this, they have set to work to build a meeting-house this season. This is indeed much needed, and a neat and commodious house of worship in Smithland will greatly promote the interests of the cause there. God will bless the efforts of those who are devoted to his cause, and crown their labors with success.
SOLDIER VALLEY.
April 12, 13. Though this meeting was in the middle of the week, I found the brethren were ready to attend, and they remained till the close. Harmony prevails here, and those who have been on the back ground are striving for the mastery. May the Lord help them to come off victorious. One was baptized and added to the church; S. B. was re-organized and raised from $56 to $86.85.
These brethren, with those in the above churches, seemed to awake to the fact that they had failed in the past of returning to the Lord his own, and that they had been self-caring in not returning the first-fruits. May the Lord help us all to fully carry out, in the future, those principles which are so just.
DUNLAP.
The meetings here (on April 15, 16) were held in the Congregational and M. E. churches, which were kindly opened to us. The believers here are few in numbers, but firm in the truth. The attendance from without was moderate; gave five discourses.
At each of these meetings Bro. Bartlett rendered valuable assistance, as these churches were planted by him.
R. M. KILGORE.
OSAWKEE, KANSAS.
By Geo. Kennedy
SINCE my last report I have been laboring in this place. At first there was a good interest, but the enemy got in and prejudiced the minds of the people before I had time to get our positions before them. The Dunkards became frightened for fear some of their members would accept of the Sabbath, and sent to Nebraska for a minister to show up Sunday. He came, and pitched the law overboard as the old covenant, as he termed it. I asked him what sin was. He said it was the transgression of the law. I asked him what law. He said, The law of God. He also took the position that the law and the prophets were until John; then Christ abolished the law. I reviewed him. Some of the most influential families in the place have taken their stand on the side of truth. Bro. Cook, Ayers, Sharp, and Morrison are here now—all in new fields.
GEO. KENNEDY.
NEBRASKA
By C. L. Boyd; M. Wing
We are glad to report that the cause is progressing in this State. Urgent calls are coming in from all parts of the State. April 6–9, we held meetings with the brethren at Arago. Our audiences were small, but a good interest was manifested by those in attendance, and the brethren were much encouraged. We organized Systematic Benevolence for 1876 to the amount of $60.00. We expected to organize a church here, but as some of the Sabbath-keepers intend to move away soon, we thought it not best. April 11 to 16, we held some meetings with the friends at Salem. Rain and mud prevented a general attendance, so the attendance was not as good as we had hoped it would be, but we were not altogether disappointed. We enjoyed much of the blessing of the Lord. Some of the brethren of Arago came with us, and united with the small church consisting of nine members, which we organized here. The solemn ordinance of baptism was administered, by which six precious souls put on Christ, henceforth, we trust, will walk in the footsteps of our great Pattern. May the Lord guide them into the kingdom.
Sunday afternoon held an ordinance meeting. It was truly a solemn occasion; we felt to humble ourselves as in the presence of the Head of the church. There are several others who are keeping the Sabbath, whom we expect will unite with the church here.
C. L. BOYD.
M. WING.
Salem, Neb., April 18, 1876.
SOW THY SEED.
By W. D. T.
“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand.” Eccl. 11:6.
E’er the sun shall rise at morn,
Sow thy seed;
Though the world may laugh with scorn
At the deed.
Scatter it with willing hand
On the moist and fertile land;
Though some fall among the sand,
Scatter wide thy seed.
When on high the sun shall shine,
Sow thy seed;
Think not that ease should be thine
While there’s need
That the seed should first be sown,
E’er the ripened grain be grown,
For the seed-time soon is flown;
Scatter still thy seed.
When the lengthened shadows fall,
Sow thy seed;
Until darkness shroudeth all,
There is need
That the husbandman make haste;
If the harvest joys he’d taste,
Not a moment can he waste,
But must scatter seed.
When at night thou dost behold
All thy seed
Scattered freely on the mold
And the mead,
Then while rest, sweet rest, is thine,
While the stars above shall shine,
Nature and a work sublime
Bring to life thy seed.
Thou hast labored long and well
Sowing seed,
On the hillside, in the dell,
On the mead;
But, of all that thou hast sown,
It is yet to thee unknown
Which shall bear the most, when grown,
Of the ripened seed.
In this world, now full of strife,
There is need
That we thus through all our life
Scatter seed;
E’en a pleasant, cheerful smile
May a tedious hour beguile,
For we cannot tell meanwhile
What shall bear most seed.
Thus may we be blithe and free
Sowing seed,
Though we cannot always see
That the deed
Has achieved the end we sought,
Still we’ll labor as we ought
To apply the lesson taught
By our sowing seed.
—W. D. T., in Token of Truth.
MADISON CO., N. Y.
By CHAS. B. REYNOLDS.
After organizing a church at Chittenango Falls, commenced a series of meetings at Pompey Center, Onondaga Co. Interest increased until March 19, when the dragon was aroused. They “could not worship with any peace or comfort with that law right along side of their minister’s head.” So one of the deacons cast down the law of God, and the minister conducted their worship, preaching, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,” with God’s holy law of love under his feet. Then they locked us out of the building. However, the hotel keeper generously opened his hall for us. Continued meetings until April 6, when the weather was unfavorable, and the roads in a very bad state.
April 8 and 9, held a two days’ meeting with the Chittenango Falls church. The inclemency of the weather prevented the attendance of many who much desired to be present. April 9, baptized six. It was a most encouraging and profitable season. Spent the ensuing week in house to house labor at different points. April 15, meeting at Chittenango Falls. After meeting, repaired to the water, and administered baptism to one sister who had resolved on full and glad obedience to God’s requirements, and to walk in the light, depending on the blessed promises.
April 17, 18, visited Morrisville. Found one sister rejoicing in the truth received through the publications. There appears to be an earnest spirit of inquiry here. I regard Morrisville as a good opening for tent labor.
The Chittenango Falls church now numbers 13 adult members. In each of the adjacent places where we have labored there are many who have acknowledged conviction of the truth. Much depends on the individual members of the church, to win the honest-hearted to obedience. We confidently expect each succeeding month to learn of additions to this church, through the loving, patient, persevering efforts of its members. Their weakness is their strength, for their dependence is in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Their T. & M. Society is in good working order. Our prayer is for God’s blessing on their zealous endeavors.
My address, till further notice, will be North Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y.
CHAS. B. REYNOLDS.
MISSOURI
By H. Wren
I AM thankful to say that there is now a great awakening on the subject of the Sabbath here in a large region. The prospect is that a large society will be formed before long. Eld. Rogers has written me that he will come soon and help the work along. Ten or twelve are already keeping the Sabbath, and many more are prepared to when we have an organization. We are unworthy instruments, but the excellency of the power is of God. We pray for his cause everywhere, and many times for those who are at the helm, though we have never seen any of them.
H. WREN.
Work at West Liberty and Jerome
From a private letter from Bro. J. B. Frisbie, we take the following:—
“We have had a good time at West Liberty, Mich. Some over twenty have covenanted together to keep the Sabbath, and the blessing of the Lord has rested upon them. They have established Sabbath meetings, with a Sabbath-school and Bible-class. Eight were baptized last first-day. The interest is still good. We expect others will soon go forward in baptism. Many have been convinced of the truth, some of whom we expect will lay hold of eternal life. Oh! may they not put it off too long. Too many have done this to their sorrow in the past.”
“This has been a hard field of labor. A number of years ago there were tent-meetings at Moscow. Some came out then on the truth, and some were convinced who have now taken a stand with us. Truth sown in honest hearts does not easily die out. There was once a church here, but it has been broken up by removals, deaths, &c.
“The Congregationalists in Jerome sent for me to occupy their meeting-house. They gave me a good hearing and treated me kindly. Quite a number acknowledged the truth, but they are slow to move. I do not despair of fruit yet of that labor, if it should be after some days.
“I have succeeded in getting some ten or eleven subscribers for the REVIEW.”
MINNESOTA
By L. H. Ells
Feb. 22, in answer to a call from the president of our Conference, I left Bro. Curtis at Ellsworth, Wis., where we had just commenced a course of lectures, and went to Burbank, Kandiyohi Co., Minn., to fill an opening made by the circulation of reading matter. I found a deep interest to hear on the part of the people, and great attention was given to the word spoken. After laboring here until the first of April ten signed the covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Several others are keeping the Sabbath who were not ready yet to sign the covenant, but I hope will be soon. L. H. ELLS. Medford, Minn., April 18, 1876.
OAKFIELD, MICH.
By E. VAN DEUSEN
Came to this place March 14. Commenced meetings in what is called the Spencer school-house, with a good attendance and good attention. As it was in a lumbering district, and snow came on just then, everybody turned out to help the lumbermen; still, my congregation kept up. I soon learned that the people came from one way, south of the school-house, and as there was a commodious house, one and one-half miles south in the center of my congregation, I moved my meetings to it. As the result of the meetings, over twenty were organized into a class. Last Sabbath and Sunday Bro. Burrill met with us. On Sunday ten were baptized. His report will cover the rest of the facts.
As Monday morning came, I thought I would make personal calls on those who had accepted the truth. Before night I learned they had a man on the ground to preach against us. I attended, and after his first meeting I made some remarks; on the second evening I did the same. On the third evening he extended his remarks till late. Last evening I reviewed. No harm has been done—not a soul has been turned that I know of. I am of good courage in the Lord and hope to be the means in God's hands of doing some good.
E. VAN DEUSEN
NO LAW, NO SYSTEM.
By Geo. O. States
On my way to meeting a stranger came up and asked me to ride. Learning he lived near an acquaintance of mine who was a first-day Adventist, I made some inquiries in regard to him. Our conversation then turned upon the first-day Adventists, and he remarked that they were like a lot of sheep with a dog among them—it scattered. He said they had no system among them. I asked him if they did have any regular organization. He said, Yes, a sort of one, but it did not amount to much. He then spoke of the Seventh-day people; it was different with them, said they had system in all their moves; that if they wished to send a missionary out they had the means already on hand to do it, and that they were very systematic in all their moves, and were a prosperous people, while the first-day people were badly scattered.
After some farther conversation I asked him his name, and was surprised to learn that he was a noted first-day Adventist minister. Learning that I was a Seventh-day Adventist, he remarked that if there was any day binding to the seventh, but he thought it did not make much difference which day we kept.
I could but think that their loose system was owing to their not having much regard for the law of God. The psalmist says, “Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them.”
GEO. O. STATES.
The Glory of Eden.
The glory of Eden—what was it? Fresh life everywhere bursting into activity and filling the young world with myriad emotions, forms and colors? No. Was it the joy and perfection of that animal existence which formed a part of the landscape? No. Was it the waving grass and hills with waving life? No. Was it the stars of gold in fields of blue above? No. Was it those green woodland retreats where angels and men walked and talked with Adam? No. Is it that river of crystal flowing through the land of gold and bdellium and onyx? No. Is it the tree of life? No. Was it Adam? No. Eve? No. Was it angels who from older worlds of light thither went to congratulate the new-made ones upon existence? No. God was there; but was he the glory of it? But, when he was there, the Sabbath pointed to his throne, where he sat and ruled myriad worlds with mighty power and mighty love. Then it was the glory. And if it was the glory of Eden, must it not now be the glory of earth?
That fresh life is gone from every form of nature. Earth's face is marred by sin, old and deep. Stars and skies are overcast by cold and sullen clouds. The forests are dwarfed and mangled. Rivers are dull and murky; the tree of life is removed; Adam dead five thousand years and Eve as long. God no longer walks with man; and angels find but few whom they do not repel. Still, there is a badge of Eden left—the Sabbath day. It brought the glory of earth and the glory of Heaven together every seventh day. It has outlived the sins and crimes and woes of man to point them back to Eden, and up to God. God would not forsake the world, nor would he have the world forsake him. So he keeps the standard of Deity aloft for men to rally.
Learning and Wisdom
LEARNING passes for wisdom among those who want both.
EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG.
By C. W. Stone
How can the youth and children, best be educated?” is a question worthy of the thought of every parent. The youth of to-day are to become the principal element of society. What future society will be, then, depends much upon the character of the youth of to-day; and that character depends for its formation chiefly upon three things: natural disposition, discipline, and association.
The little child has a certain disposition, and its first characteristics depending upon the formation of the brain and the health of the body. This early, pliable disposition is fashioned and molded by whatever it comes in contact with. Parental discipline is the first influence that acts. If that discipline is not what it should be, what God demands that it should be, the natural disposition may be molded as to become the pride of the parent. If that discipline is bad the mind of the child will be molded by it just as readily; and how many bad children and evil men can we find, for the cause of whose bad qualities we may point to bad discipline in early days. This is a serious question for parents to consider.
It is a sad fact that a large portion of those who assume the responsibilities of parents are not well qualified to govern or instruct. A parent who cannot govern his child, cannot love that child as well as if trained to obedience. The child is not so lovely, and no one will regard it as he would the child that obeys cheerfully the wishes of its parents. The little child that can understand should be taught by love and firmness to obey when spoken to once. A stick should never be kept on the shelf with which to scare into obedience. The child soon learns that if he minds just before the parent reaches him with upraised stick all will be well. This is a good way to teach a child to delay as long as he dares to. Never take the stick into your hand on such an occasion unless you use it; and do not use it as long as patient, loving firmness can effect obedience without it.
The reins of parental authority are held with a very slack hand at the present day. Quite too generally do boys and girls of fifteen feel it beneath their dignity to yield implicit obedience to mother’s wishes, and they do not hesitate to do what father forbids when they think he will never know it, and in some cases they do not stop to consider that point. As long as the son or daughter has a home beneath the parental roof, it is the duty of the parents to require and enforce obedience to proper commands.
The youth cannot always be in the presence of his parents or guardians; and unless he be very strongly fortified against bad example, or wise enough to keep out of bad company, he will at such times absorb the spirit of his associates. It is very important, then, that parents know where their children are, and with what company they associate. Here is where the greatest danger lies. The boy who at home is thought by his parents to be free from those vices which have ruined so many promising young men, and brought desolation to so many happy homes, though he may be innocent now, is liable to be led into evil by fast companions. The evil may have a charm for him; he may be so carried away with the gravity of his leaders that he will begin to plot and plan secretly to be with them; and step by step will he go on, concealing from his parents what he knows to be wrong, until he loves the scenes of midnight revelry, debauchery and crime. Parents, it is your duty to know where your children spend their evenings; and doubly is it your duty to know where they are and what they are doing when they are out at midnight.
“Oh, the morals of the times!” St. Paul has well described our day in 2 Tim. 3:1—5. Please read. A great responsibility rests upon parents. Theirs it is to give the first lessons, to make the first impressions. “As the twig is bent so the tree is inclined.”
The principal part of the training which a person receives should come from his parents. How easy it is for the observing teacher of the public school to tell what kind of training each of his scholars has received at home! This leads us to speak for a moment upon the duties of parents and guardians in relation to the public education of their boys and girls.
The true teacher is keenly alive to the interests of his school. He watches anxiously every move of the school, and calculates its effects upon its character. Everything that would tend to attract the mind of the pupils from their studies, is regarded as a foe. He tries to elevate the aspirations—to create a desire in his pupils to excel. He tries to open to their view the great store-house of knowledge, and he labors to impress them with the necessity of giving their time and energy to the study of their books.
Parents are anxious to have their children improve. They wonder why it is that their children go to school term after term and still make no progress. Why do they go over the same ground so many terms and know so little about it at last? I can give you some of the reasons. The mind when overtasked will not grasp and retain every idea that passes through it. Those thoughts that are the most exciting will make the deepest impression and last the longest. When a youth is attending school, all unimportant business or pleasure should be avoided. One of the most deadly foes to the school is the party.
The party occupies the mind for a week before and a week after its occurrence, provided there be time between two parties. “Whom is John to carry?” “Who is going with Lucy?” are the important questions. The day of the party arrives. From two to twelve pupils want to be dismissed at recess to get ready for it. The guests assemble. The tin is rolled, and the pawns are paid. Sometimes singing is introduced, which is well; but if all the knowledge one ever gets is what he hears uttered at parties, he never will be noted for his wisdom. There is nothing in the party that elevates the mind or refines the manners; but the effect is powerful in the opposite direction. It gratifies the desire for chaffy chit-chat and foolery. It creates a reciprocal desire in boys and girls to be together. This, though right when regulated by common sense and sound judgment, is allowed to rise to such a pitch as to make boys and girls silly and imprudent. On every occasion the boys are on hand to see the girls home. It is so apparent in many cases that we fear the evening prayer-meeting itself would lose its charm for each if the other were not there to go home with.
We have watched the working of this evil carefully, have noted its effect upon the mind of the pupil; we have compared the advancement of the pupils when attending to nothing but their school duties with the progress of the same ones while suffering the pangs of the girl-boy mania; we find here a fruitful cause of slow progress in books. The pupil may, by putting all his energies at work when he does study, contrive to recite very well; but he will not remember. He comes to the class with a green lesson just studied, and while he can remember how it looks in the book he can repeat it. Ask him about it to-morrow, and he can’t remember, but he can tell you everything that was said and done at the party last week. Give me a lesson that is ripe, one that was learned yesterday, one on which the mind has had time to dwell.
Let me speak especially to parents. I need not tell you that your school costs money—you are alive on that point; but I cannot say that you are awake to the duty of seeing that your children are obtaining an equivalent for your money. If you cannot discover in what the pupils seem to be interested by talking with your own children and watching them, visit the school; inquire of the teacher. The keen observer will tell you much, not only by the conversation of his children, but by their countenance and actions. Watch them closely. If they are not interested in their studies, will you not see if there is not some outside attractions that are the cause? Are they dissatisfied with some restrictions of the school-room? Find out who it is that says the most about it; find out who their leader is; ascertain the facts from the right source, and see that your children are not beguiled into wrong doing by more positive characters in school. One disaffected scholar of a positive nature will work much evil in a school in a short time. He will work as a leaven, until a disturbance is made.
Read the minds of your children. Keep posted. Guard against everything that will turn their minds from their business, the study of their books. As a teacher, we labor to impress the pupils with the duty they owe their parents and their Creator, and to improve the God-given privilege of educating themselves. We labor to interest them in their studies, and ask them to let alone parties and night rides, and give their energies to the business of school. Do parents want a successful school? Do they want to see their children advance? Let them co-operate with the teacher in shielding our school from the contaminating influence of parties, late hours, and evil associates. We leave the subject right here. Twenty articles of this length would fail to express all that we feel upon the school question. We want to see good results from our labors. We like to see children improve; and when a pupil by orderly conduct and close application to study shows a disposition to learn, he has our respect, our love, and all the assistance he will accept. Parents, visit the school!—C. W. STONE, in Frontier Sentinel.
BENEVOLENCE
A benevolent man is a happy man; he cannot be otherwise; for it is a universal law of our nature to be made happy by making others so. Those evil passions, such as envy, hatred, malice, and pride do not exist in the heart of a benevolent man. These malign passions are found within the heart of the selfish man, which lead him to deception, fraud, murder, or crimes of the most heinous nature. Yea, the very worst elements in such a one's nature are in activity against him.
A benevolent man has a heart cleansed from all those evil passions that would have a tendency to cause him to commit any act of injustice. He lives to make others happy, for their happiness is his, and he thus realizes the truth of the divine assertion, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Bunyan once put the following riddle into his own peculiar verse.
“There was a man though some did count him mad,
The more he gave away the more he had.”
The benevolent man has no difficulty in finding its solution, for he has already learned that for every act of liberality he has received a rich reward; and if not in like, which is often the case, it has been in the true enjoyment of doing good, and making others happy by tenfold. Conclusively, every benevolent man by experience has found that acts of benevolence bring home to his heart happiness and joy which the cares of this world can neither give nor take away.—Sel.
HOW IT SHOULD BE.
By H. A. St. John
President. Dear Brother director, I am truly gratified to greet you at this State quarterly meeting of the T. & M. Society. My own heart is very much encouraged by the omens of good, and tokens of progress everywhere manifest in connection with this glorious cause. How is it with you?
Director. I can assure you, brother, my courage never was better, nor my hope brighter, than to-day. I have been trying to work some in the vineyard, and to encourage my brethren to work for Jesus, and as a consequence I feel stronger in the Lord and am fully assured of the speedy triumph of our solemn message.
President. Praise the Lord! I know we may exhort one another, and thereby build each other up in the most holy faith. I am very anxious to inquire how you have responded to the roll call for the present quarter?
Director. I am very happy to inform you that I have obtained a report from every member in my district. 'Tis true, I have made some exertion to secure a report, but I am doubly paid by renewed courage; and besides this, I think the brethren will more easily and readily report next time.
President. How encouraging your good work is! I am so glad to see you. You are right in laboring faithfully to develop a reporting system. It is only a part of tactics, to be sure, but what could an army do without tactics, and of what use are tactics unless understood and practiced? Our efficiency to work in union and concert depends upon this. We must understand how to work together, and the strength of our union will be felt over the land. But I must inquire about donations. Do your members send their reports quite generally without any solicitation? Have you examined your records in this respect?
Director. I have examined my reports, and it gives me pleasure to inform you that every report contains a donation. Some of them are small, it is true, but the least we can do for Jesus is precious in his sight.
President. Oh, how cheering! Just as it should be. Somehow your words impart courage. Our sacred fund is kept mainly by donations. Should these fail, our work is seriously crippled, if not wholly retarded. Donations, great and small, should come in quarterly from every member. They should come cheerfully, for God loveth the cheerful giver. I know that our excellent quarterly meeting is over and for a time we are called to suffer a few words of counsel. Encourage all your members to donate liberally in the coming quarter. Although we are all free from debt, taking annually a new start, yet with liberal gifts the free-will offerings must come in to keep the blessed cause moving. See if you cannot get a donation of not less than a dollar from each one the coming quarter. Some, no doubt, will do much more than this. Encourage all to do so, because they love the precious truth which the money will buy and scatter abroad. Encourage all to report because they love union and concentration of effort. Encourage all to labor, because they love the precious souls, and the blessed cause of divine truth. Now, brethren, all farewell.
“Refreshed again we start,
Though for awhile we part,
Yet always joined in heart,
We'll meet in glory.”