By Joseph G. Wood; Clark L. Sweet; Merritt E. Cornell
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
An Invitation.
THE Ill. and Wisconsin Conference Committee are invited, if in their judgment they think proper, to appoint the next annual State Conference at Monroe, Green Co., Wis. By order of the Church.
JOSEPH G. WOOD.
THE next Monthly Meeting of the S. D. A. church of Exeter, R. I., will be held at the school-house, at Gardiner's Four Corners, Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 15, 16. Will some preaching brother come this way? An invitation is extended to the sister churches to meet with us.
CLARK L. SWEET, Clerk.
PROVIDENCE permitting, I will commence a course of lectures at the Methodist meeting-house in West Johnstown, Barry Co., Mich., on Wednesday evening, Feb. 5th, 1868.
M. E. CORNELL.
We are happy to give this week the article from Bro. R. F. Cottrell, entitled, Convalescent. The office and the brethren everywhere have sadly missed his communications during his protracted illness. May he speedily regain more than his usual degree of health, and thus be in a position to resume his former activity with voice and pen.
BEAUTIFUL!—One of the claims of the “Harmonial Philosophy,” or modern Spiritualism, is that it has a refining, elevating influence upon humanity, and that its utterances are of a lofty and soul-inspiring character. This is said especially of the communications purporting to come from the spirit world.
From the published communications in the “message department” of the Banner of Light (?), we are enabled to judge pretty correctly of the truthfulness of this claim; and certainly we seldom see in print more disgusting exhibitions of bar-room slang than in some of the above-named communications.
In a recent issue of that paper, a spirit, purporting to be that of an Irishman who died in a drunken fit in the station house, comes back to inform the policeman who abused him by kicking him into his cell, &c., that he may expect to have an Irish “knock-down” with him on his arrival in the “other world,” and one or the other of them will “get whipped.” The communication is interlarded with profanity and slang, and would grace the records of the “prize ring,” or the report of a bar-room fight.
And this is the “refining” influence of Spiritualism! Heaven pity those who wish to be thus refined.
W. C. G.
BEAUTIFUL AND USEFUL.—The Association has just printed, and now offers for sale, some very nice "Second Advent Cards." There are fourteen different kinds, printed in two colors, on extra nice, white enameled cards, 2½x4 inches in size, with an ornamental border containing four scripture mottoes. In the center is a verse of poetry from some sweet refrain on the advent, and a text of scripture about the end. Also one neat card illustrating the third angel's message. Good for presentation cards, or for the Sabbath School. They are neatly done up in a printed wrapper, and will be mailed to any address for 20 cents.
J. M. A.
Tracts.
By James White
I am glad to see the interest taken in the circulation of our tracts by those whose donations to the tract fund are seen from week to week receipted in the Review. But these receipts should have the company of many larger as well as small sums. The work is important.
In the vicinity of Wright, I design to circulate ten or fifteen dollars’ worth. Bro. E. Stafford is a member of this church, and is collector in his township. He asks for tracts to give to his townsmen as he meets them to receive their tax money. I have sent an order to the Office for tracts to be sent to him by mail. I shall order $100 worth to circulate in Michigan where we travel. Brethren in Michigan and elsewhere, send in your donations to the tract fund, and let them be judiciously circulated. Ministers know best how to do this. If others besides ministers have local interests to serve in this direction, let them purchase tracts and give away all they choose.
On leaving Bro. and Sr. Buck, of the Wright church, yesterday morning, they handed us $10 with which to do good. We decide to appropriate one-half to the tract fund.
JAMES WHITE.
A poor toper, as a last resort for more drink, took his Bible to pawn for liquor, but the landlady refused to take it. “Well,” said he, “if she won’t take my word or God’s Word, it’s time to give up.” And he went and signed the pledge, and kept it faithfully.
Note from Bro. D. T. Bourdeau.
By D. T. Bourdeau
UNEXPECTEDLY, but pleasantly, I spent last Sabbath in Quarterly Meeting with the churches of Johnson and Wolcott, at Johnson, Vt. Bro. Stone and Orcutt were present. Two discourses were given—one by Bro. Stone, and the other by myself; and all present seemed to be edified in contemplating the suffering part of religion, and the work of Elijah in connection with the gospel of the kingdom. The discourses were followed by remarks from Bro. Orcutt, backing up what had been said, and showing why modern revivals lack thoroughness, and are so short in their duration. Then followed a short, but spiritual, social meeting, in which all took part.
We were glad to see that Sr. Loveland had come up so rapidly from sickness, evincing in her experience the benefits of the Health Reform; and to learn that Sr. Churchill, of Stowe, was improving.
To-day we start on a short trip to Northern N. Y., and Grand Ligne Mission, C. E., where I have spent upwards of two years of my life in studying. May the Lord go with us.
D. T. BOURDEAU.
West Enosburgh, Vt., Jan. 24, 1868.
Meetings in New Portland, Me.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Bro. Goodrich and I have been here over two Sundays and have given thirteen discourses. The Universalist Meeting-house is empty, but not in very good repair. This they allowed us to occupy, so we began our meetings in it. But the Baptists invited us to occupy their house as it was warmer. This we did accordingly and most of them attended. Our congregation averaged from 70 to 150. This is a small country village. But when we struck the second message it stirred them exceedingly. As we followed this with the claims of the Sabbath, it made no small stir among them. They began to cry, “Division,” “heresy,” “false prophets,” &c. Yesterday (Sunday) the Methodist elder preached against the work, and waxed exceedingly warm. We replied at evening.
So here we are now. What the result will be we can not yet have any correct idea. A few have decided to keep the Sabbath. We still stay to carry on the work. We do not occupy the Baptist house any longer. In God and his truth we trust.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Jan. 27, 1868.
Notice.
By Joseph G. Wood
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Whereas, Wm. B. Davis, a member of the S. D. A. church of this place, was disfellowshipped and advertised through the columns of the Review for misconduct about the first of Jan., 1863, and,
Whereas, He has since that time been trying to make those matters therein set forth right, and has heartily repented and confessed his wrong, to the satisfaction of the church, therefore,
Resolved, That we say to our brethren that the wrong is all made right, and we cheerfully forgive that we may be forgiven our trespasses.
By order of the church,
JOSEPH G. WOOD.
Avon, Wis., Jan., 1868.
P. S. Time has developed the fact satisfactorily that the worst features set forth in the advertisement above referred to, were false, being based on outside evidence, from an unprincipled man. J. G. W.
“God has set up his Sabbath on earth as a signal of his royal presence, and there is no truer test of loyalty than the kind of regard that is paid to this sacred emblem. The law of the Sabbath, more than any other, puts men to the proof whether they will keep God’s commandments or no.”