DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: We are still trying to be among the faithful few, and hope through the all-prevailing blood of Christ to be saved from this wicked and corrupt world, which is fast hastening on to destruction. It seems that time flies with double wings, and wickedness increases so rapidly that we can scarcely credit the evidence of our own senses. We can indeed praise the Lord for the precious truth, which if obeyed will keep us from all the unfruitful works of darkness. May we all heed the straight testimony: it is just what we need in these perilous times, to keep us from the grasp of the enemy who is ever ready in an unguarded moment to lead us away from duty. Oh, may we all have a double watch set over ourselves that we may be guarded against all approaching evil.
I feel to praise the Lord for all his goodness, and mercy, and hope to be found faithful. How can we be discouraged when we have such precious promises as the holy Bible contains? Blessed book! I still desire to love it more, and hope to profit by its teachings. We are very thankful for the Review and Instructor. We could hardly do without them. I feel it my duty to make any sacrifice that may be called for, that I may obtain the kingdom.
Oh, let us all awake to a sense of our duty, and be willing and obedient servants to our heavenly Father.
Yours striving for eternal life.
JULIA C. DEWING
Lockport, N. Y.
Faith in the Third Angel’s Message
By H. S. Gurney
From Bro. Gurney.
Bro. White: My heart seems to leap with joy at the thought that we are almost home. Although we yet look through a scene of darkness and perils, yet the promise of God lifts us above, where Jesus is, and our faith takes hold like an anchor in a sure place. How good to realize that angels are our protectors, and in the time of trouble no harm shall come nigh to destroy.
I rejoice that we have not been so held in darkness as to reject the third angel's message. This message shines so clear that we see how to work in order to be prepared for the coming of Christ. It leads our minds into the sanctuary, to behold Jesus, our Advocate, preparing to blot out the sins of Israel. While our wings of faith ascend there, are they not sufficiently strong to bear our children up and present them before our Advocate as subjects of mercy? Yes, we can, and presenting them there, we can make an urgent appeal, and plead with our High Priest, and having a clear understanding with parties concerned, we can base our plea upon conditions that cannot be denied.
I feel like taking new courage, and looking up for redemption. I will try to be faithful, and encourage faithfulness in my family, that we may together overcome every besetment, and stand on mount Zion to sing a new song. I would say, Praise the Lord! but I feel unworthy to come so near him.
I presume not one in a private capacity can feel a greater interest in the Eastern Mission than myself. I do not cease to pray for those who are called into the New England States to proclaim the third angel's message; that the angel of truth may go before them and confound the language of those who live in error, that confusion may fill their ranks, and the honest may find refuge under the banner of the third angel's message. My "understanding" leads me to pray thus.
There are many in that part of the field who seem to love the Advent faith, and have a clear view of the state of the dead and resurrection, who must yet see the harmonious work under the third angel's message. There is nothing clearer to me than the importance of thorough organization in order to effect any thing permanent in that field. I will try in every way to hold up the hands of God's faithful servants, and pray that they may move in much wisdom and patience. God can send another angel when a necessity is felt on the part of those engaged in the work.
From your brother in hope. H. S. Gurney.
Jackson, Mich.
Finding the Seventh-day Adventists
By Cornelia J. Hough
From Sister Hough.
Bro. White: I cannot express my gratitude to God, for his mercies to unworthy me. His goodness, and mercies, have followed me all the days of my life. In early youth, he called after me, and showed me, that I was a sinner, and that nothing but repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, could save me from eternal death. I resolved to leave my young associates, and serve the Lord, who became to me the chiefest among ten thousand and the one altogether lovely. I united with the Baptist church, but as it became popular, and conformed to the world, I was deeply troubled on the account of her sins, and felt that Jesus suffered, and was wounded, in the house of his professed followers.
Like a soul thirsting for a cooling stream, I longed to see a church that was plain, humble, and Christ-like. A little over two years ago I heard of the Seventh-day Adventists, that they were a peculiar people, zealous of good works. I said at once, that may be the people I have so long desired to see. I could not at first see the Sabbath, but soon the seals fell from my eyes, and I saw it in its true light.
Dear brethren, I feel to praise the Lord for the light of the third angel's message. In it, there is something substantial, something for the mind to rest upon. Language, with me, is too feeble, to express my thanks to God, for presenting to me the light, and giving me a heart to receive it. Truly, the Christian's life, may be called a warfare. I find daily, many things to overcome. The way is straight, and narrow, but not too much so. Then to think of the prize at the end of the race. Oh, how glorious! Jesus said, I will go, and prepare a place for you. And I want to be ready when he comes again that I may be one of that happy number, whom he will receive unto himself. Will it not be worth a life of self-denial, and persecution, to become heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and be inheritors of his everlasting kingdom?
Cornelia J. Hough.
Manchester, Ills.
B. M. OSGOOD
By B. M. Osgood
From Sister Osgood.
BRO. WHITE : I wish to join my testimony with other dear brethren and sisters in speaking of the goodness of God. Though one of the lonely ones who seldom enjoy the privilege of meeting in the assembly of the saints on the holy Sabbath, yet I can truly say God is very good to me, and I feel to praise his name for it. The first Sabbath and first-day in this month I had the privilege of meeting with a few brethren and sisters at the house of Bro. N. H. Satterlee in Verona, and to listen to four very appropriate discourses from Bro. C. O. Taylor setting forth the times in which we live, the narrowness of the way that leads to life, and our duty, as individuals to be clad with the whole gospel armor, &c. We enjoyed a precious season in prayer and conference. I felt truly that it was good to be there. I returned from the place resolved anew in the strength of Israel's God, to go through with God's remnant people to Mount Zion. My prayer is, that God's people may be gathered together into one, be sanctified through the truth, and fitted for the coming of Jesus.
Your sister striving to overcome.
B. M. OSGOOD
Lairdville, N. Y.
JOHN FISHELL, JR
By John Fishell, Jr.
From Bro. Fishell.
BRO. WHITE: I would say that I am still striving to enter in at the straight gate, and am determined to go through, and enter the mansions prepared for the people of God. I believe we are living in a time when all that do not stand firm will be shaken out. God's people must be a pure and a tried people. He wants the whole heart and affections; therefore, let us offer unto him the sacrifices of righteousness, and put our trust in him. Let us praise the Lord, according to his righteousness, and sing praise to the name of the Lord most high, for he is good, and his mercy endureth forever. He is a present help in time of need. Oh let us believe and trust in God. Pray for me.
JOHN FISHELL, JR
Economy and Integrity
EconOMY is the parent of integrity, of liberty, and the sister of temperance, of cheerfulness and of health; and profuseness is a cruel and crafty demon, that generally involves her followers in dependence and debts; that is, fetters them with "irons into their souls."
Filling Life with God
THOSE years, months, weeks, days and hours, that are not filled up with God, with Christ, with grace, and with duty, will certainly be filled up with vanity and folly. The neglect of one duty, of one hour, would undo us, if we had not an Advocate with the Father.
Appointments.
Vermont State Conference.
THE Vermont State Conference will hold its next annual session at West Enosburg, Vt. on Friday June 3, 1864, at 9 o'clock A. M.
All the churches belonging to this Conference, and those who wish to unite with it, are requested to represent themselves by delegates; both from Vermont and Canada East.
According to the ratio of choosing delegates, there will be but one or two churches in the conference entitled to more than one delegate. Any church however few its members is entitled to one, if fully organized.
It is the constitutional duty of each of the churches to send a written report to the annual meeting of the conference of their standing, their losses, and additions of membership, during the year, also the amount of their s. b. fund.
Churches will also notify the Executive Committee, at or before the time of the conference, of the amount they will give each month from their s. b. fund during the conference year into the State Treasury for the support of ministers, tent operations &c.
It is hereby ardently yet humbly requested by the Committee and Ministering brethren that the Gen. Conference Committee make such arrangements as will permit Bro. Loughborough on returning to his Eastern mission to attend our conference; and that Bro. Loughborough will gratify us by being present to assist us.
STEPHEN PIERCE,
LEWIS BEAN,
JESSEE BARROWS, } Executive Committee.
Roxbury, Vt. April 18th 1864.
P. S. N. B. The Sabbath and first day following the conference will be devoted to religious exercises.
STEPHEN PIERCE.
To the Churches of the Different Quarterly Meetings in Iowa.
DEAR BRETHREN: You have no doubt been disappointed in seeing nothing ere this on the subject of quarterly meetings. Owing to the very bad state of the roads and weather, the matter has been waived for the present, and we now recommend that the present series be omitted, and that the next quarterly meetings begin just three months from the time they ought to have been. Of which we will give definite appointments in good time.
B. F. SNOOK,
D. ANDRE,
J. T. MITCHELL. } Conf. Com.
THE next meeting of the church at McConnel's Grove, Ill., will commence Friday evening, May 6th, and hold over Sabbath and Sunday. It will be held in the school house, at the village of Oneco, one mile east of my residence. A general turn out is expected from our sister churches. Come, brethren, we love to enjoy each other's presence, and should do so at least as often as once in three months. Bro. Ingraham is expected.
J. F. BALLENGER.
I will, the Lord willing, hold meetings where the brethren at Fairfield may appoint, beginning April 29, 1864, at half-past 7 o'clock, and continue over first-day. I will also hold meetings with the brethren at Vernon, beginning May 5, at half-past 7 o'clock, and will continue over first-day.
B. F. SNOOK.
Providence permitting, I will meet with the church in Convis, Mich., at the house of Bro. Smith, May 7, 1864, at 11 o'clock. Meeting on first-day at the school-house near Bro. Sellers', if he thinks best, and will give notice.
Also at Newton, May 14, at 11 o'clock.
JOHN BYINGTON.
The next quarterly meeting of the church at Mauston, Wis., will be held May 14 and 15, 1864. All persons interested in the cause of truth are invited to attend.
WM. RUSSELL.
Business Department.
By Editor
Business Notes.
A. Lanphear. Is Eldred in McKean Co., or Wayne Co. Pa.? Is the address of P. H. Murphy, Prentise-ville, or Prentiss Vale? Where is Mrs. Geo. Irish's Review sent?
R. F. Andrews. We have sent R. Fisher's Review regularly with the list, to Morison, Ill. In sending in new subscribers you should always state whether you took them at half price or not. Our custom is to credit at full price, unless otherwise ordered.
L. M. Gifford. We cannot supply back numbers containing the discussion between Elders Cornell and Grant to new subscribers; but we have it in pamphlet form at 10 cts. per copy.
John Barrows. We cannot remember every subscriber's address, nor have we time to look over a list of between three and four thousand to hunt them up. Those wishing their address changed must give the name of the Post Office to be changed from as well as that to be changed to.
RECEIPTS.
For Review and Herald.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD to which the money receipted pays. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
J. Marvin 2,00,xxv,1. E. Churchill 1,00,xxv,1. Eliza Foster 1,00,xxv,20. J. B. Slayton 1,00,xxv,1. L. Harlow 1,00,xxvi,1. W. G. Burbee 1,00,xxiv,9. M. H. Collins 1,00,xxv,1. O. Mitchell 3,00,xxv,6. J. King 2,00,xxv,13. B. Leach 1,00,xxiv,16. E. S. Lane 2,00,xxv,19. W. S. Fairchild 2,00,xxvi,1. C. Lawton 2,00,xxvi,1. A. Wright 2,00,xxvi,1. W. Lawton 2,00,xxvi,1. June Bacon 0,50,xxiii,10. Lucretia Potter 2,00,xxvi,1. D. D. Bartlett 2,00,xxvi,1. O. F. Allen 1,50,xxiii,14. J. E. Green 1,00,xxiv,22. A. F. Ellinwood 1,00,xxv,18. J Stratton 0,50,xxiv,18. H. Pike 0,50,xxiv,18. Mrs. A. B. Williams for Mrs. R. F. Cook 1,00,xxv,18. S. Babcock 1,00,xxiv,19. R. Babcock 2,00,xxiv,19. J. M. Lindsay for D. Ward and W. Kemp each 1,00,xxv,18. J. S. Crandall 1,00,xxv,18. J. G. Wood for P. Travis 1,00,xxv,18. Ch. at Avon, Wis. for Mary Farmer 1,00,xxv,8. Church at Green Vale and Plum River, Ill. for Eliza Miller 1,00,xxv,18. N. W. Vincent for Clara Haskell 1,00,xxv,18. E. F. Deboard 2,00,xxv,1. E. Burnham 0,25,xxiv,5. W. W. Miller 0,25,xxiv,5. S. J. Miller 0,25,xxiv,5. P. Miller 0,25,xxiv,5. L. Wiswold 2,00,xxv,13. F. Whitcomb 1,00,xxv,18. H. Bingham 0,80,xxv,21. G. H. Heacox 2,00,xxiv,21. Mrs. L. J. Streeter 1,00,xxv,18. D. V. Winna 1,00,xxv,18. Laura Hooker 1,00,xxv,18. J. Campbell 1,00,xxv,18. P. H. Murphy 1,00,xxv,18. S. Vincent for E. Marsh 1,00,xxv,18. H. Sage 2,00,xxv,14. A. Nelson 2,00,xxv,18. H. Sage for Jane Sage 1,00,xxv,18. E. O. Nelson for C. R. Nelson 0,50,xxiv,18. B. M. Smith 1,00,xxiii,1. A. R. Bennett 1,00,xxv,18. J. Mears 1,00,xxv,1. L. Urquhart for S. P. Taylor 1,00,xxv,18. E. Russell for W. Adams 0,50,xxiv,18. A. A. Thompson for L. Manning 0,50,xxiv,18. Eld. W. M. Stewart 0,50,xxiv,18. J. C. Gregory for R. T. Roberts, Eld. Clark and Eld. Buck each 1,00,xxv,18. T. Smith 0,50,xxv,14. P. Z. Kinne 0,30,xxiii,8. M. Adsit for Mrs. E. Holmes 1,00,xxiv,1. M. J. Nutting 1,00,xxv,18. L. M. Bedwell 2,00,xxv,12. S. Osborn 3,00,xxv,20. J. M. Been for M. Whetstine 0,50,xxiv,18. I. McCausland 3,00,xxv,9. H. Flower 2,00,xxiii,1. N. Hoyt 2,00,xxv,8. Mrs. P. Vahue 1,00,xxvi,18. P. E. Armstrong 1,00,xxvi,1. J. F. Byington 1,75,xxv,17. A. G. Wilbur 2,00,xxv,14. Mrs. L. Orcutt 1,00,xxv,18. D. B. Benwood 1,00,xxv,18. P. Gardner 1,00,xxv,18. D. L. Fogg 1,00,xxvi,18. J. Moody 1,00,xxvi,18. D. McCollis 1,00,xxv,18. A. Peavy 1,00,xxv,18. M. C. Williams 1,00,xxv,18. J. S. Hight 1,00,xxvi,18. J. H. Fogg 1,00,xxvi,18. J. Baker 1,00,xxv,18. G. W. Williams 1,00,xxv,18. H. Loop 1,00,xxiv,1.
Books Sent By Mail.
J. M. Lindsay $1. D. C. Elmer 15c. E. Pike 20c. J. L. Baker 15c. J. E. Greene 15c. Mrs. S. Rummery 15c. E. Simmons $3,50. Wm. Lawton 75c. L. H. Densmore 15c. J. A. Dayton 15c. M. H. Collins 20c. Mrs. M. E. Steward 30c. J. Marvin 30c. E. Burbee $1,20. J. Strickland $3. W. P. Andrews $1. G. White 15c. B. M. Smith $1. H. Bingham 70c. L. Adams 15c. P. W. Merrill 15c. C. W. Olds $1. S. H. King $2,15. E. Lauder 15c. N. Fuller $2. C. O. Taylor $5. J. A. Smith 40c. E. M. Prentiss 15c. H. Flower 15c. D. W. Milk 45c. I. Causland 40c. M. B. Pierce 15c. M. Dennis 80c. M. Edson $2. T. Smith 60c. L. A. Richmond $1. Mrs. M. W. Stockwell 15c. M. W. Darling 15c. M. E. Ramsay 50c.
Cash Received on Account.
H. W. Decker $10,50. H. W. Decker for S. Newton $8. W. B. Castle $6. R. F. Andrews $7,50. Joseph Clark $1,58. I. C. Vaughan 40c.
Books Sent By Express.
A. Lanphear, Friendship Depot, via. N. Y. & Erie R. R. $11,77
General Conference Missionary Fund.
Harriet Hicks, (s. b.) 50c. Isaac N. Pike $20.
Michigan Conference Fund
FROM CHURCHES. Church at Orange $17. Owasso, $6. Jackson, (Donation) $20. Caledonia, $7. East Thetford, $8. Eureka and Fairplains, $25. Orleans, $12. Lapeer, $12,50. Locke, $5. Hanover, $15. Wright, $74. North Plains, $3. Otsego, $23,40. Lowell, $15. Monterey, $48,60. Watson, $1. Colon, $9. Hillsdale, $16. West Windsor $6. Woodhull $8.
INDIVIDUALS. E. M. L. Cory $1. M. W. Rathbun $1. Brethren at Leslie, Mich. $5.
Suggestions about Conference.
1. As the Small Pox is in many localities in Michigan, it is suggested that no persons should come to Conference who have the least evidence that they have been exposed to this disease.
2. As the gathering will probably be a crowded one, it is suggested that it will be a poor place for invalids, feeble women, and children. A large meeting is expected, and desired; and it should be understood that all cannot receive that attention, and enjoy as good accommodations, as if on a common visit.
3. Those who come to Conference will find it a favorable opportunity to furnish themselves with Charts, Books, &c., and pay for the next volume of the Review. They can also do a large amount of such business for their brethren who remain at home, if they choose to put it into the hands of their delegates.
Reporting.
By J. Clarke
"I HAVE done as thou hast commanded me." Eze. ix, 11. Suppose a city employ engineers to construct works of public utility, as is often done, how often reports are made, and printed, and circulated. A nation sends its armies into the field, do we not often hail with eager interest reports from them? Does not the report of the soldier find an open ear? Does not the report of the officer find a listening audience? Who ever thinks of discouraging such reporters? Let them write on. The weary traveler sits by the mountain side, and describes the landscape, and ten thousand eager eyes glance over the printed copy in the daily press.
The missionary journalizes his history, his experience, his travels, his observations &c., and the religious public carefully peruse the columns of the society magazine. The adventurer notes his exploits, and escapes, and enterprises, and history stereotypes his reports. The mariner reports his voyages, his discoveries &c., and sage philosophers are in ecstasies of delight.
It is naturally right and proper to report, and often to report. It does not manifest vanity as a necessity at all. If you employ a man, you expect him to tell you what he has done, especially if his work is away from yours, and you take an interest in it.
Now do we not like to hear often from those who are fighting the battles of the Lord? I say that for you to give a fair and candid report often duplicates the good you do by a reflex influence.
Report, report often; we want to hear all about it, and reports are the first articles we read after the editorial, which is seldom more interesting than after a battle with the enemy. J. CLARKE.
Remitting Bank Notes
By Editor
THOSE sending Bank Notes to this Office will please select United States Treasury Notes, and National Bank Currency, when convenient.
Remittances to the Treasurer
Bro. Ivory Colcord jr., Treasurer of the Illinois and Wisconsin, Conference, wishes that all remittances made to him may be in Green Backs.