Earlier text: History of the SabbathTwo years since we suggested the necessity of organization, and had a right to expect that the subject would be met with christian candor by all of our people. In this we were disappointed. Some of our best men opposed, and stirred up that element of insubordination and lawless independence which has ever followed us as a people, and not a few distinguished themselves in heaping their anathemas upon us for suggesting such a thing as organization. Their productions will be preserved as memorials of their past misfortune in suffering reason to be dethroned by prejudice. Others secretly were in favor of organization, but dare not advocate it openly, until the scale turned in its favor, and now their tongues and their pens are employed in its advocacy. But, certainly, their labors on this subject were more needed eighteen months since than now. Then we stood nearly alone. The battle went hard, and we needed help; but many of our very prudent men saved their ammunition to fire away upon the subject of organization now when the battle is fought and the victory won. Almost every day we receive a communication from some good brother upon the subject of organization. A few only of these have found place in the Review. Some speak of being especially impressed to write on the subject. But if these impressions had come from a very high source, we are inclined to the opinion that they would have come when they were needed, and not now after the battle is fought. Therefore our good brothers will not mourn the non-appearance of their articles on organization, unless they have something especially new and important to offer on the subject. We recommend to keep the channel clear, and not let it get so pent up with matter that when it breaks away we have a flood on one subject. This gives the appearance of fitfulness. Rather, may we as a people stand in the counsel of God, and be ready to speak out boldly when there is necessity to speak, and thus keep the channel clear. There is danger of carrying organization to an extreme, to the neglect of other subjects. In many places believers are not ready. Bro. Cornell says, "Strike when the iron is hot." This is right. But if you work it cold it will break. We want to preach one Sabbath and first-day to the brethren, and let the warming influence of the present truth soften their feelings, and then affectionately and plainly set forth the evils of tobacco, tea, &c., and entreat all to leave these idols and turn fully to the Lord before attempting to organize. We shall not give these idolatrous souls up till we know they are joined to their idols; then we shall have to let them alone. May we not hope that all who have borne well the Sabbath cross will yet bear every cross necessary to secure the favor of God, a place in the bosom of Jesus, and the full fellowship of the saints? O God, help thy people to bear the cross that they may wear the crown. Habit is exceedingly strong with some persons. A sister once said, "If I must give up one, my pipe or heaven, I must give up heaven." She took her dreadful choice, and her course since gives proof that it was a final one. Such have a hard battle. Help them all you can. In your labors for such be firm, but kind. Do not suffer yourself to enter into the spirit of controversy with such. Come near to them. Get into their heart, if possible. Stand where you can help them. The Lord bears long with erring mortals. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." But if persons cling to their idols after they have been enlightened, convicted, and have been entreated to cast them away; if they reject the testimony of God's messengers, and of his holy Spirit; if they stand out with a spirit of war against those who are laboring to have the church clean "from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit," they are utterly unfit for a place in a church soon expecting to be translated to heaven. They might as well take Satan himself into the church. In some cases it would be best to postpone organization until faithful labor be bestowed upon those who have not overcome their idolatry. At Battle Creek none of these things troubled us. At Caledonia organization has been an injury, as the Sabbath-keepers there were not in a state to warrant the organization of a church. But a part were willing to enter it, and most of those were not in a fit state. That organization is given up as premature. When we were there a few weeks since they became united; but we could not organize them till they give evidence that they are overcoming their childish differences. We have great confidence in that body of brethren. But unfortunately they have fallen into the habit of willingly differing upon small matters. When all try as hard to agree, then they will be a united, happy people. At Wright we organized, after laboring for two days to reach every mind and heart with the word of the Lord. Some had not gotten victory over the filthy weed; but on resolving to leave it, and asking the prayers of the brethren, they were cheerfully voted into the number, where they would feel greater responsibility, and their brethren also would feel their duty to watch over them, and encourage them to carry out their resolutions. We should move no faster in organization than we can move in the light. Our first suggestions upon organization had reference only to those legal steps necessary to hold church property. Here has been our principal burden. Then we were driven up to be responsible for borrowed money necessary in managing our book concern to that extent that in case of total loss by fire, of which there was great danger in the old wooden building, we should have been left $3000 worse than nothing. Now we have a safe, comfortable building. The Association is the safest savings bank in the country, and there are more to deposit, without interest, than the treasurer can accommodate, and all debts are paid excepting these deposits, amounting to about $4000. This matter has succeeded far beyond our expectations. The unpaid pledges will all be considered good. The hard times is a sufficient excuse for many who have not yet paid. A full list of all the paid and unpaid will be given before July, and we hope to be able to give a clean list of paid pledges. As long as the Association's publications are needed, the door will be open for donations from churches and individuals, and for the payment of pledges, and taking more shares. This will be a matter of necessity till these deposits are paid, then what is paid in, with all the surplus arising from the business of the Association, will go out in donations of publications to our missionaries. But as we turn from the present prosperity of the publishing department to the struggle of the past two years, sadness comes over us. We feel at least four years older than two years since, and sometimes fear that we never can fully recover from the effects of those heart-reaching discouragements which so nearly drove us from the brethren, and from that cause which was dearer to us than life. Again, our people have had great confidence in their self-sacrificing ministers. This confidence with many has been dreadfully shaken. The shock has been felt by all, and it is hard to recover from it. Until full confidence is restored between preacher and preacher, and between preachers and people, but little success can be expected. May God give wisdom to his servants that they may see the cause of the evils which have fallen upon us, and labor to remove it, that these evils may cease to tear down the cause of truth. We wish to say to the brethren East, that we much regret the discouragement and gloom that was upon us during our Eastern tour last summer, which made our labors of so little value. That sadness is wearing off, and we hope to regain our usual freedom before making another tour East. We have not forgotten the cheering words of Bro. A. Stone at the Wolcott, Vt., conference, "Courage in the war, brethren! Courage in the Lord!" May God bless him and make him strong to cheer on the fainting. On our Northern tour we enjoyed freedom, and began to feel the power of living faith as in past days. We hope to be able to rise above the discouragements of the past. It may not be our duty to again refer to the trials connected with the subject of organization. We advise all to make thorough work in relation to their past wrongs which have brought the cause into its present condition, and may God forgive past errors, and help all to press forward to the crown of life. A lack of confidence in each other will ruin us as a people. Then let us be faithful and true to our own consciences, true to each other, and true to our God. SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE.
By Editor
It was at a time when it seemed that our preachers must leave the gospel field for want of support that the subject of systematic benevolence was taken hold of. It was the apparent extreme necessities of the case that drove us to engage in the work of establishing among an unorganized people a system by which the cause might be sustained. Then our preachers might visit and labor with the most numerous and wealthy bodies of Sabbath-keepers, and not receive enough to pay such incidentals as plank-road and bridge fees, horse-shoeing, &c. Now those very churches have from ten to fifty dollars in the treasury, and urge more on their preachers than some choose to take. No one need be burdened, as it is an extremely light draft on the poor brother, and those who have so much of this world that the draft is large should be the last to object. It is a beautiful system, and should be guarded in every direction. Its object was, and is, to advance the cause of the third angel's message. You can find poor enough in the church on whom to bestow all your systematic benevolence money; but this is not the object of the system. And we judge from the experience of the past twelve years that in nine cases out of ten of the poor who might thus be helped, it would prove to them an injury. We would relieve present hunger or nakedness, but beyond this, with people who have strength to labor, or the means of a living, we can see no duty. We would say to our brethren that it may be your duty to know how means are to be expended before handing it out. This is your duty, as ministers who give the whole mind to preaching are generally very poor financiers. Be familiar with your preachers, and know their circumstances, and their wants, and know how the money you hand out is appropriated. We repeat that the object of systematic benevolence is the advancement of the cause of the third message. If your means thus raised be appropriated to other objects, then it will be time for you to withhold your liberal hands. A little imprudence on the part of some of our preachers will give a large place for Satan to tempt the brethren, and result in crushing the noble spirit of systematic benevolence among us. Then let the system be guarded at every point. We hope every brother and sister, who can enter upon this arrangement, have with the new year consecrated a certain sum for each week for 1862, to go into the treasury for the advancement of the third message. If all have not done so, we hope they will at once join a system which is in the highest sense scriptural, reasonable, and complete in the accomplishment of the object to be gained by it. WAS THE SABBATH INSTITUTED BEFORE THE FALL?
By D. T. Bourdeau
THIS is a very important question, and many of those who oppose the Sabbath are ready to answer it in the negative, that they may make it appear that the Sabbath grew out of the fall, and was one of those types which were to be superceded by the death of Christ. But we feel safe to answer this question in the affirmative. God rested on the seventh day, and set that day apart to a religious use, as soon as he had created the heavens and the earth. See Gen. ii, 1–3; Ex. xx, 8–11. God laid the foundation of the Sabbath by resting on the seventh day, and he completed the grand Sabbatic institution by blessing and sanctifying the day on which he rested. Now the record of the institution of the Sabbath precedes the account of the fall. But some will claim that the events brought to view in the second and third chapters of Genesis are not given in a consecutive order, and that our first parents may have fallen before the Sabbath was instituted. For the benefit of such we will introduce the following points: 1. Adam and Eve were created on the sixth day; and at the close of the sixth day God saw everything that he had made, and beheld, it was very good. Gen. i, 31. Everything that God made was good, and answered to the purpose for which it was made, at the close of the sixth day. Therefore it is inconsistent to say that Adam and Eve fell (were not good) on the sixth day. 2. It is not reasonable to suppose that Adam and Eve fell on the seventh day. As soon as they were created they saw the glorious and perfect works of the Creator, and knew that they derived their existence and all their blessings from him. They were sinless, and doubtless conversed with angels. Nothing prevented them from seeing their blessed Creator in his dazzling glory, and communing with him. God spoke to them in regard to their dominion and privileges, and gave them plain directions concerning their duty, showing them what would be their reward if they did right, and what punishment would be inflicted upon them if they did wrong. Now it cannot be made to appear consistent that beings thus privileged should immediately lose their convictions of duty, and strong impressions, and violate the plain command of their kind Creator the day after they were created. 3. Again, we read that on the seventh day God rested and was refreshed. Ex. xxxi, 17. "The Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary" [Isa. xl, 28]; and the idea of God's being refreshed implies that he delighted in his works, and in the act that laid the foundation of the Sabbath. But how can it be said that God delighted in his works when he rested, if our first parents, who were made in his image, and who were to have dominion over all the earth, fell from their integrity, and placed themselves under the government of the enemy on the seventh day? It is therefore evident that the Sabbath was instituted before the fall, and that it was not one of those types which were to end in Christ. Those types which shadowed forth Christ and his work implied that man had sinned, and that a way was opened for him to obtain salvation. But man had not sinned when the Sabbath was made, and he needed no types to show that he was a sinner, and that it was necessary for Christ to die. There is nothing about the Sabbath that is typical, and that points forward to Christ. The Sabbath is a memorial pointing back to creation. "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it." Ex. xx, 11. We have seen the Sabbath in Eden before types were instituted; and the Sabbath will exist in the new earth when all types and shadows will have vanished away. Says Isaiah, "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." Isa. lxvi, 22, 23. Dear reader, if you would be among that happy company who will love and keep the Sabbath in the new earth, keep the Sabbath here, and call it "a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable." Isa. lviii. Hide not yourself under the vain excuse that good men have not kept the Sabbath. The blood of Christ atones for sins of ignorance; but Christ does not promise pardon and life to those who live in willful disobedience. REPORT FROM BRO. CORNELL.
By M. E. Cornell
BRO. WHITE: The Lord is blessing his people in Eastern Michigan. Our meetings at Shelby were very solemn. The voice of the Spirit appeared to be that of solemn warning and reproof, wooing and beseeching his people to return to their first love. Confessions were made in the Spirit, and the church is greatly revived. Six signified their desire to obey the ordinance of baptism, which was to be administered by Bro. Lawrence on First-day. The testimony on organization was unanimously received, and the first steps were taken with very encouraging results. I trust we shall soon have an encouraging report from Bro. Lawrence. I came to this place (Tyrone) last week, but have nothing very encouraging to write concerning the cause here. The few are holding on to the theory, but all have not yet given up their idols. We meet for organization to-night. This will bring the test, and I hope will also bring the desired result. As Mormonism had been advocated here for some years, more or less, we took up a labor on that subject, showing its claims to be false. 1. Because the Mormons teach the final restoration and salvation of those who die in sin. 2. Because in the practice of polygamy they violate the plain teaching of the New Testament, and also of their own "Book of Mormon." 463. Because they teach that there is a plurality of Gods—one to each world—and that all these God's have equal power, and are alike in their attributes, and that these attributes constitute the objects of worship,—thus imitating the heathen in the worship of qualities, or principles. 4. Because they follow the Catholics in being baptized for dead persons. A Mormon woman out West had been baptized twice for Gen. Washington. 5. Because they contradict the Bible record in teaching that man pre-existed. 6. They generally admit that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and yet refuse to keep it till their god especially reveals it to them. Of course that will never be, for he never believed in any of the ten commandments. 7. Instead of letting their light shine by showing others their works, they went off to Salt Lake and put it under a bushel,—thus choosing darkness because their deeds are evil. From such delusions may the Lord ever deliver us. Amen.
M. E. CORNELL. REPORT FROM BRO. WAGGONER.
By J. H. Waggoner
As circumstances are, I think it duty to say to the churches of Hanover and Hillsdale, that it is quite uncertain when I can visit them. Bro. Cornell informs me that he is called in another direction, and as the measles are in my family, I can form no idea of the time I shall be able to leave home. I commenced holding meetings with the church in Burlington, the evening after Sabbath, the 14th inst., and still continue. These meetings have been a blessing to many individuals, who by plain, faithful labor, have been led to see the darkness which has long enshrouded them. Confessions of wrongs, of years' standing, have been made; and difficulties, beyond the reach of unassisted human wisdom to ferret out, have been clearly made known and happily adjusted. Truly the Lord has assisted us in our efforts by his holy Spirit. These meetings have been held as preliminary to our organization, which we expect now soon to effect; and if any prejudice existed against this work at the commencement of our labors, it has entirely disappeared, the power of the Lord being so manifestly in the work of organization. We can now say of it as the poet says of the truth: "Its holy fruits and sweetness show
The author is divine." The most discouraging feature of our past work (if it is admissible to speak thus of such a work), has been this: that after the most faithful and efficient labor with churches, by which they were made to rejoice in the Lord and apparently stand free in the truth, they would soon relapse into coldness and darkness, and the same work would have to be repeated. This is evidence to me that there was some radical defect in our method of proceeding. We need to rise with more strength. The church needs more efficiency to prevent and correct wrongs. This can doubtless be attained by more perfect organization and order, by which alone the discipline of the gospel may be ensured in the churches. When this work is understood, appreciated, and unitedly acted upon, I think the cause will be materially benefitted by the increased efficiency of our ministry, who will thus be relieved of many burdens needlessly borne in the past. Lord prosper our efforts, is my prayer. Burlington, Mich., Dec. 26, 1861. Apology for a Missed Conference
By Editor
We are happy to hear that the brethren at St. Charles and vicinity are disposed to excuse us for not meeting them in conference. A severe cold and the bad going turned our course homeward from Owasso. We hope to be able to visit them soon.—Ed. COMMUNICATION FROM BRO. BOURDEAU,
By D. T. Bourdeau
DEAR BRO. WHITE :—I would say that my heart beats in unison with all the moves that have been made by those who feel the burden and weight of the cause, to establish order in the remnant church. I have ever loved order, and I have endeavored to exert an influence in favor of that organization set forth in the Review. I believe it to be reasonable, and in perfect harmony with the law of God and the principles of the gospel. Every effort that shuts out confusion and hatred, and promotes the well-being of the church, grows out of those principles which are the sum of all moral law; and those who oppose organization commit sin, and are convinced by the law as transgressors. May God help his people to see the exceeding comprehensiveness of his holy law. The measures that are being taken by the church in regard to organization, are to me a strong evidence that we are on the right track, and that God is about to do a great work for his people. I see a striking analogy between the present efforts of God's people, and the measures that were taken by the primitive church. “When the number of the disciples was multiplied,” it became necessary for the primitive church to introduce plans that were not known when the disciples were few in number; and it has become necessary for the remnant church to organize, though organization in its present form was not needful when Sabbath-keepers were few and far between. The early Christians did not overlook reason. On a certain occasion they were dwelling on order, and they thought that it was reasonable to so move that ministers might give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Read Acts vi. And what was the result? “The word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Verse 7. Some seem to be very anxious to see the work of the Lord prosper; but they oppose the very means that will appoint to each a place and a work in the church, and bring about the loud cry of the third angel. I hope that those who are about to organize will make clean work, and see to it that they are perfectly united with their brethren and sisters. “Grudge not one against another brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the Judge standeth before the door.” James v, 9. Christ knows our works, and he commands us to be zealous and repent. We have something to repent of. We have made a glorious profession; but we have been deficient in the Christian virtues. We must learn to combine meekness with plainness and decision when we labor with our brethren. We must first confess our own sins, and then the Holy Spirit will enlighten our minds, and we shall be prepared to show our brethren their sins. Says Christ, “First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” Matt. vii, 5. The trouble with some is that their minds are so befogged in consequence of their own sins, that they cannot see how to get at the faults of others. The eye is a very tender organ, and it would not take a strong blow to put it out. The feelings of our weak brethren are tender; and the most effectual way to get the mote out of our brother's eye is to get much of the gospel eyesalve, and go to our brother with meekness and in tears; and if he is honest his eyes will be anointed, and the mote will fall in tears of gratitude. We need much caution and wisdom in order to manage the subject of organization aright. Members should not be taken into the church promiscuously. We should not lower the standard of holiness to suit the tastes and notions of some. We should exalt the standard, and let the whole-hearted friends of the cause rally around it. THE REFORMATION.
By J. Clarke
THE reformation from Papal errors of the sixteenth century, led on by Luther and his associates, was the dawn of the glorious light that now shines upon the world. The wasted, worn-out saints, driven into the wilderness of error, then began to emerge from the wilderness. The reformers only began the work; it falls to the lot of the present generation to fully complete what was then so gloriously begun. Already do we see the man of sin revealed in all his hideous deformity. Pride, spiritual pride, laid the superstructure of the Romish church. Man would steal the glory of God and appropriate it to himself. This monstrous evil has fully developed itself in the Papal church; and Luther, as he tore off the mask from this mother of harlots, began by bringing to light the true principles of christianity, the glory of the reformation. Thus, "The helplessness of man, the omnipotence of God, were the two truths that Luther desired to re-establish. That is but a sad religion, and a wretched philosophy, by which man is directed to his own natural strength. Ages have tried in vain this so much boasted strength; and while man has, by his own natural powers, arrived at great excellence in all that concerns his earthly existence, he has never been able to scatter the darkness that conceals from his soul the knowledge of the true God, or to change a single inclination of his heart. The highest degree of wisdom attained by ambitious minds, or by souls thirsting with the desire of perfection, has been to despair of themselves. It is therefore a generous, a comforting, and supremely true doctrine, which unveils our own impetency, in order to proclaim a power from God by which we can do all things. That truly is a great reformation which vindicates on earth the glory of heaven, and which pleads before man the rights of the almighty God." "No one knew better than Luther the intimate and indissoluble bond that unites the gratuitous salvation of God with the free works of man. No one showed more plainly than he that it is only by receiving all from Christ that man can impart much to his brethren. He always represented these two notions—that of God and that of man—in the same picture." "And thus it is, that after explaining to the friar Spenlein what is meant by saving righteousness, he adds, 'If thou firmly believest these things, as is thy duty (for cursed is he who does not believe them), receive thy brethren who are still ignorant and in error, as Jesus Christ has received thee. Bear with them patiently. Make their sins thine own; and if thou hast any good thing, impart it to them. Receive ye one another, says the apostle, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Rom. xv, 7. It is a deplorable righteousness that can not bear with others because it finds them wicked, and which thinks only of seeking the solitude of the desert, instead of doing them good by long-suffering, prayer, and example. If thou art the lily and the rose of Christ, know that thy dwelling-place is among thorns. Only take care lest by thy impatience, by thy rash judgment, and thy secret pride, that thou dost not thyself become a thorn. Christ reigns in the midst of his enemies. If he had desired to live only among the good, and to die only for those who loved him, for whom, I pray, would he have died, and among whom would he have lived?'" "It is affecting to see how Luther practiced these charitable precepts. An Augustine monk of Erfurth, George Liffer, was exposed to many trials. Luther became informed of this, and within a week after writing the preceding letter to Spenlein, he came to him with words of comfort. 'I learn that you are agitated by many tempests, and that your soul is tossed to and fro by the waves. The cross of Christ is divided among all the world, and each man has his share. You should not, therefore, reject that which has fallen to you. Receive it rather as a holy relic, not in a vessel of silver or of gold, but in what is far better, in a heart of gold, in a heart full of meekness.' D'Aubigné's Hist. of Ref., Vol. I, chap. 8, pp. 217, 218." The great and prominent truth of the reformation was that of grace, the grace of God, not of man, for the whole fabric of the Papal church was founded in human pride, man was exalted to be the head of the church, to pardon sins, and to dispense blessings to all mankind. At this radical error, Luther discharged the artillery of truth. He placed man in his true position, as a helpless, unworthy being, dependent upon an omnipotent God for grace and pardon, and that this grace was not to come by proxy, through priests and popes, but immediately from heaven in answer to the prayer of faith; and the proclamation of this simple but mighty truth caused the pope of Rome to tremble, and the pillars of Romanism were shaken by the mighty thunders of the reformation. Those reformers broke the ground and sowed the seed. It grew and became a mighty tree, and now as the fruit is filling in the topmost boughs, let not cavilers cavil, and despise, and wonder, if the fruit is as radical as the root. Let no one be surprised if the mature fruit of such a tree should comprise in itself all the pith and marrow of both dispensations, the old and new. Let no one wonder if the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus should be the great and mighty principles which are to make a final end of evil. God did not require of Luther and Melanchthon to do more than prepare the ground, and sow the seed. He reserved for the last generation of the reformers to preach the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, as foretold in the third message. See Rev. xiv, 9-12. 47God hath made everything beautiful in its season, or his time [see Eccles. iii, 11], and to everything there is a season and a time. See verse 1. So in every age, as sin and Satan develop the matured fruits of sin, at such times certain mighty truths of revelation are brought from the armory of heaven to bear upon such errors until they are battered to the dust. And then as again Satan tries new arts, so in like manner are other weighty truths brought from the arsenal of truth to destroy the works of Satan. Thus the great testing truth in Athens when Paul was there, upon Mars Hill, was the resurrection, and by this he tested them; for they, by teaching the immortality of the soul, denied (in effect) the resurrection. Some mocked, and generally they turned away from him, for this great truth of the resurrection struck athwart their favorite tenet. At the time of the reformation the doctrines of grace were buried under such a heap of human merits and religious forms, that it was enough for one generation of mighty men to do to remove this collection of rubbish, and bring to light the doctrines of grace, and display them to a world whose eyes were weakened by long dwelling in darkness and the shadow of death. More light would have dazzled those eyes so long accustomed to midnight darkness. But to minds enlightened by the rays of light emanating from heaven in the nineteenth century, a greater light has appeared. Upon us has beamed a great and glorious light. The Bible, scattered everywhere among people early taught the rudiments of learning, with additional light from various and divers sources, has prepared the public mind to appreciate in some degree the message of the angel who stood in 1844 with his right foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth, and sware that there should be time no longer [see Rev. x; xiv, 6, 7]; and the increasing light since developed is now preparing a people to appreciate and improve the reforming influence of the principles of the third message of Rev. xiv, 9-12. These reformatory principles, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, are only the ripe fruit of the seed sown by the early reformers. See Luther's discourse on the first commandment, Hist. of the Ref. chap. 8, p. 210. That Luther and his associates did not arrive at the matured conclusions and results of their own teachings, is no more surprising than that a college freshman is not a senior, or that a child is not a man. NOTE FROM BRO. LAWRENCE.
By R. J. Lawrence
We met yesterday at Bro. Fenner's to receive members and baptize. We had a good congregation of attentive hearers. I spoke from Mark xvi, 15, 16. The Spirit of the Lord was present to help. After meeting we repaired to the stream where ten were buried in the likeness of Christ's death, among whom was my wife and my oldest son. Never before was a baptismal scene to me so pleasant. The whole transaction of the day passed off most interestingly. Never before did I see candidates go into the water so eagerly. Their very appearance went to show that they were dead. After baptism we returned to the house. Thirteen more were received into fellowship, making in all thirty-three. We then organized a Bible Class, and elected Bro. Hiram Fenner superintendent, and Bro. Wm. Potter, assistant. I was invited by some of the spectators to come into that district and give lectures. Pray for us. Yours striving to overcome. Rochester, Mich., Dec. 30, 1861. ORGANIZED.
By R. F. Cottrell
A PORTION of the churches in Western New York have organized in accordance with the recommendation of the Battle Creek Conference. At Olcott a commencement was made with seventeen members, at Somerset with ten, and at Mill Grove with eighteen. The number of each of these will probably soon be increased. Some were absent at the time of organizing that will offer themselves when they have opportunity, and a few were undecided. No one, however, has opposed the measure. I have also learned that a church has been organized at Eagle Harbor, under Bro. Saunder's administration, but I am not prepared to give the number. There remain to be organized two churches; one at Lyndonville, and one in Monroe Co., composed of the brethren at Clarkson, Parma, and Rochester. These I presume will be ready to organize at the first opportunity. May the church soon come into unity and order, and be disciplined and prepared for the great work before us. R. F. COTTRELL. Letters from Adventist Believers
Sister Sarah Philo writes from Bunker Hill, Mich. :
“The Review has not fallen to the ground here, for there was another sister told me last Sabbath that she was keeping the Sabbath, and would like to be baptized. We are starving for preaching here. Bro. Cornell, cannot you and your companion come and stay a week in Bunker Hill. You strewed the seed when you was here; come and see if it is not coming up. The Review is a welcome messenger to us three neighbors. I was sixty-six years old the 13th day of November. I do not use coffee, tea, snuff, or tobacco, or wear hoops. I want to wear the crown.” Sister P. Barrows writes from Bridgewater, Vt. :
“We should be very glad if some of the preaching brethren would come to Bridgewater with the third angel’s message. We do not have any preaching on that subject, but there are a great many Advent believers who think that the scenes of this world will close in a very few years. If any brother should come this way he would find a home with us while he stayed. Please direct as usual to Geo. Barrows, Bridgewater, Vt.” Bro. C. W. Stanley writes from Hundred Mile Grove, Wis., Dec. 24, 1861 : “Last Sabbath and First-day the Hundred Mile Grove Church came together in their first Quarterly Meeting, and enjoyed a blessed feast in the bonds of more perfect order, and a more perfect unity of the faith. “The Lord is jealous of his own humble remnant church, and will soon present it to his Father a peculiar people, zealous of good works. “The door of the church was opened and seven more were added to our number. We followed the order of S. B. in Good Samaritan No. 5, and put our all on the altar. The amount for 1862 will be $175.” MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN.
By Isaac Sanborn
I MET with the church at Mackford, and after preaching on the gifts, and the necessity of more perfect order, sixteen were organized, a few standing back. At Rubicon a church of sixteen was organized, and at Koskonong another of eighteen. Quite a number stood back. At this meeting the enemy tried hard to keep us from organizing. Eld. Perry and some others opposed. Bro. Ingraham joined me at this meeting, and assisted me much. All of these five churches now testify that organization is one of the best things that they ever had done for them. The churches have all taken their apportionments for the running of the tent next season, as voted at the Avon Conference, last Sept. My address is Monroe, Green Co., Wis. Davis Believers Embrace the Sabbath
Sister R. Wilkins writes from Davis, Ills., Dec. 15: It is my greatest desire to be numbered among the children of God. I am trying to serve God and keep all the commandments. I pray God to give me perfect faith, that I may be enabled to reach out by faith and take hold of the precious promises in his holy word. It is about four months since the people in this place heard the commandments and the third angel's message preached in the tent by Brn. Sanborn and Loughborough. I thank God that they came and enlightened the people on this subject. I pray that God's blessing may be theirs abundantly now and forever. There are nine here that have embraced the Sabbath. We have a good many things to contend with, but with the help of God we shall stand the test. Although there are but few of us, we have our prayer-meeting every Sabbath. I have been reading Spiritual Gifts and Testimony for the Church. I have not one doubt but they are of God.– Be earnest; struggle on and up
The rugged hill of life;
Drink to the dregs the brimming cup
Of earnest toil and strife. Rouse! dream not all thy hours away;
Labor, and toil, and strive;
This is no world for idle play—
A reckoning must arrive. Be earnest! gird thy armor on;
Look not at praise of men;
Look for the prize of only One—
The Great and Holy Lamb. Be earnest! wake thy sluggish soul;
Rouse for the noble fight;
Give up thy heart—yea, give the whole,
And work with all thy might. Be earnest! stop not, no delay,
Act in the present hour—
Yea, act, and acting, humbly pray
That God would give the power. Be earnest! though thy labor seem
To thee to come to naught;
Work on—ere long a heavenly gleam
Will show what thou hast wrought. And when at last the toil is o'er,
When death's dark hour shall come,
Thou'lt hear the welcome message sound,
"Servant, thou hast well done."