THE California Camp-meeting is in the past, and we trust it has not been without some good results to the cause. The location was chosen, not only because it was central and would well accommodate all the churches, but because it was near to San Francisco, the central point of labor in this State. To find shade and water in any point accessible by railroad is difficult in California, and the free offer of a ground fitted for “picnics” so near the city, with good water, and reasonably good shade, seemed providential.
This much in its favor. But its situation in Marin Co., north of the “Golden Gate,” west of the bay, makes it almost isolated; and as it is only reached from the city by steamboat and railroad, and the times of sailing were not frequent, the meeting was not so largely attended as was expected. We were informed that the attendance was not as large as it was last year in Napa Valley. Yet there was a number from the city sufficiently large to thoroughly spread abroad a knowledge of our work, and we hope it may be the means of adding to the success of the tent-meeting which it is contemplated soon to hold in San Francisco. The attendance of our people was good. Besides the preaching tent, 60 by 96 feet, there were eighty-eight tents, and about four hundred people were camped on the ground.
We were much disappointed to learn that Bro. and Sr. White were detained by the deeply interesting work going on in the East, so that117they could not arrive on the ground before Sabbath morning. But all took hold with courage to carry on the meeting until their arrival, and the interest seemed to rise from the beginning. The speakers enjoyed considerable freedom, and the social meetings were generally good.
Bro. and Sr. White arrived on the ground about 11:20 A. M. on Sabbath. Bro. White immediately took the stand and gave a timely discourse on 1 Thess. 5. The argument showed that there is a time pointed out in the prophecies when we are to look for the coming of the Saviour, and to know that his coming is near; that it would have been wrong and unscriptural to look for him before that time; that a special work will be done for the people of God in that time to prepare them for the coming of that day, and that special responsibilities rest upon us in view of this work. It was instruction suited to the hour.
Sabbath afternoon Sr. White spoke on the subject of the barren fig-tree. Though clear and forcible in her statements of the truth, she was laboring under a severe cold taken on her journey, and it was with great difficulty that she could occupy her time on account of hoarseness. But the word took effect, and when an invitation was given to come forward for prayers many willingly moved out. Having been present on many such occasions we are free to say that we never saw a time when there was a more general deep feeling in the congregation. Not only those who came forward, but the whole people, seemed moved, and the Lord came near in our prayers.
On first day, the preaching was designed to meet the wants of those who do not understand our faith and also the wants of the church. But a large number of believers seemed to think the labor was altogether for the former class, and thus lost sight of their own need. This caused a declension of feeling from which we fear they did not recover during the meeting.
Monday was a profitable day. All the meetings were spirited, and the speakers enjoyed freedom.
Tuesday morning at half past eight we repaired to a stream fed by mountain springs where Bro. Loughborough baptized seventeen. The speaking was generally in the freedom of the Spirit during the day.
On Wednesday also there was great power in the word spoken. In the afternoon, instead of the usual sermon another baptismal season was enjoyed. Bro. White and Loughborough both officiated. It was a season ever to be remembered by all present. The pool of water was about eight feet wide, the trees overhead interlocking their limbs in a beautiful arch affording a welcome shade from the heat of the clear-shining sun. The sloping banks were literally packed with interested spectators, and more than all, the Spirit of God was present to bless. Twelve more were baptized, making twenty-nine in all. A number of these there made their first start in the Christian life, and several others had but recently embraced the faith.
One case we cannot forbear mentioning. It is that of a daughter of Eld. Z. Campbell who is extensively known as a preacher and more especially as a writer among the no-law Adventists. She and her husband, came to the meeting with personal friends through whose kindly influence they had become somewhat interested. Hearing the clear evidences of our faith they both embraced it fully, and she was baptized, rejoicing in the light of God’s moral law. Her intelligent testimony, coming from a full heart, thrilled the hearts of the whole assembly with joy. Many other interesting incidents we omit for want of time to mention them.
The cause of present truth has true-hearted friends on the Pacific Coast, and the Lord is with them to give success to his own cause. This work is of God and not of man, and it must triumph.
The closing meeting was advertised for 5:30 Thursday morning. But as a large number had to remain on the ground till near the middle of the day, another meeting was called for 8 o’clock. This was one of the best social meetings, if not the very best, enjoyed on the ground. The testimonies were all brief and pointed, and they manifested a love for, and confidence in, the truth which were truly cheering. Every lover of the third angel’s message who attended this meeting left the ground comforted and strengthened.
We hope that more experience in this work will remedy one fault which extensively prevailed. It was the neglect of children by the parents. Many did not seem to realize that the children might be benefited by the meeting, and seemed inclined to let them play away from the meetings, while themselves went up to worship. By the direct efforts of Bro. and Sr. White a great change was effected, and we hope the remembrance of nearly two score of children who came forward for prayers, some of whom were baptized, may incite the parents to labor for the children, even at their homes. This is the closing message of salvation, and its work is to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers.” Children love this truth wherever proper attention is paid to them, and the parents must feel a responsibility to lead them to the Saviour.
As the church in San Francisco have resigned their hall in anticipation of the tent’s being pitched there after the camp-meeting, a large body of that church came over to Oakland Sabbath morning, and with the Oakland church crowded the hall full. After speaking to them, we gave room for a social conference season, and the testimonies were all in one direction, namely, that they had all received a blessing in the camp-meeting, and were thankful that it was their privilege to attend it. This was to us the very best evidence that the camp-meeting was a success, and will tell to the final good of the cause of truth.
Personally, we must confess to the gratification it afforded us to form a large acquaintance with the friends in this State. We met a few old friends, dear to us in “the States,” and many new ones, equally dear for the truth’s sake. God bless the cause and its friends in California. J. H. W.
Watch for Openings.
By Stephen N. Haskell
The prophet Habakkuk gives utterance to the following: “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what the Lord will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved [argued with, margin].” If we would be instrumental in doing good, it is necessary that we stand in the counsel of God, and watch every opportunity to exert an influence that will gather with Christ. There will be no lack of opportunities for doing good when our hearts are alive in the cause of God. If our thoughts are constantly employed upon our own interests, worldly schemes and plans will involuntarily seek for utterance, and even the Sabbath hours will not yield to us their sweet, hallowed influences; for worldly enterprises and interests will engage our thoughts.
God is preparing hearts to receive the truth upon our right and upon our left; and he has committed to us talents of influence by which we can reach hearts. It is the providence of God that brings us in contact with such individuals as may be benefited by our influence. The great day of reckoning will reveal the nature of the influence which we have exerted upon them, and our reward will be according to our works.
A few years ago, while traveling from one State to another, I found myself in company with a young lady with whom I had frequently conversed upon the subject of religion. But the perfect indifference with which she had ever treated the subject led me to the conclusion that I would never again speak to her about the salvation of her soul. I changed cars; and to my surprise I found that she also made the same change, and we were again in the same coach. I began to think that perhaps God’s providence was in this, and decided that I would converse with her once more relative to her future interests. At my first question, she covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. The result was that she gave her heart to God, and in a short time followed her Lord in baptism. This occurred about seven years ago, and her life has been exemplary ever since.
Angels are continually at work preparing the soil of the heart to receive good impressions, and shall we not be co-workers with them? Shall not our hearts be alive to the spiritual wants of those with whom we associate? If we live far from God, the living connection with him will be broken, our hearts will be indifferent to the needs of others, and our souls will be full of unbelief and darkness. Then, instead of being light-bearers, we become clouds of darkness, and thus unite with evil angels in their work. Our error is then twofold; first, we do not recognize the providence of God; and, secondly, if we find a poor sin-sick soul seeking for the healing balm, we are in no condition to render the assistance needed.
If we stand in the counsel of God, we shall ever recognize the voice of the good Shepherd. “My sheep,” says the Saviour, “hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” David had a happy experience in this direction, hence he exclaims, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.”
We believe in a truth which is to find its way to the hearts of the honest everywhere. We profess to believe that those to whom God has committed this precious light are the chosen channels through which it is to reach “many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” But how many are acting in harmony with this faith? How many are anxiously watching every opportunity to speak a word in its behalf? And where are the persons whose hearts are filled with joy at such openings? The truth is written out in tracts and pamphlets, and almost constantly there is an interest to read outside of those whom our efforts reach. In view of these facts, shall we fold our hands and rejoice in the prosperity of the truth, and say that we will wait until openings come to us? The openings are abundant, and it is for us to find and fill them. The fields are white already for harvest, and the Lord of the harvest bids us enter them, and whatsoever is right we shall receive. “He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal.”
S. N. HASKELL.
Explorations and Discoveries in Nineveh.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
“MR. GEORGE SMITH’S late work, giving a detailed account of his discoveries in Nineveh in 1872 and 1873, deserves a somewhat more extended notice than has yet appeared in the columns of the Interior. It may be known to your readers that Mr. Smith, becoming interested some years ago in Oriental Antiquities, applied to Sir H. Rawlinson for permission to examine the large collection of paper casts of Assyrian Monuments in the British Museum, and there found and deciphered a set of tablets containing the Chaldean account of the Noachic deluge. The interest which was awakened by the publication of this valuable relic of antiquity led the proprietors of the London Daily Telegraph to offer one thousand guineas for further researches in Nineveh, and Mr. Smith, selected to conduct the expedition, gives us the results in his recently published work. These results we summarize as follows:—
“1. The discovery of additional tablets containing many lines wanting to make the previously found account of the deluge complete. We now have nearly the whole of the Chaldean record of this important event.
“2. The discovery of tablets containing fragments of the history of Sargon, king of Assyria, detailing the expedition of this monarch against Ashdod, mentioned in Isa. 20:1.
“3. The discovery of an important syllabary which furnishes a key by the Assyrians themselves, by which the cuneiform characters may be deciphered, and the correctness of former readings tested.
“4. The discovery of sculptures and mounds, yielding inscriptions, stating that they came from the temples of Nebo and Merodach, two noted names frequently met with in Scripture history.
“5. The discovery of bricks inscribed to Tiglath-Pileser who conquered Israel about B. C. 745.
“6. The discovery of a terra-cotta inscription of Sennacherib, the well-known assailant of the chosen people, whose disastrous expedition into Palestine, B. C. 726, is mentioned in 2 Chron. 32.
“7. The discovery of tablets whose inscriptions make frequent reference to Erech, the city named in Gen. 10:10. In one of the tablets, named by Mr. Smith the “deluge series,” the conquest of this city is described.
“8. The discovery of a tablet whose inscription confirms the Mosaic account, that in the days of Abraham Babylonia was under the dominion of Elam, or Persia.
“9. The discovery of a tablet containing on one side a deed of land given by Merodach Baladin, king of Babylon, mentioned in 2 Kings 20:12, 13, and Isa. 39:1, 2; and on the reverse side emblems of gods whose aid is invoked to punish any violations of the rights and privileges granted by the deed.
“10. The discovery of tablets with inscriptions relating to Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king reigning 1,300 years B. C., and mentioned prominently in 2 Kings 17:18.
“11. The discovery of a tablet containing such a minute history of Assyrian conquests that Sennacherib’s statements to the children of Judah contain no idle boast. Compare 2 Chron. 32:9–17, with Smith, pp. 243–245.
“12. The discovery of a tablet of Tiglath-Pileser in which the name of ‘Azariah of Judah’ is frequently and specifically named, and his defeat by this Assyrian king distinctly recorded.
“13. The discovery of other tablets of the reign of Tiglath-Pileser, in which the names of Azariah and Jehoahaz, of Judah; Menahem, Pekah and Hoshea, of Israel; Rezon, of Damascus, and Hiram, of Tyre, are prominently mentioned, and many historical incidents with which these persons are connected in Scripture explained and confirmed. Tiglath-Pileser’s campaign into Syria to assist Ahaz, king of Judah, is also given. This is a very valuable tablet, fully confirming many statements in 1st and 2d Kings.
“14. The discovery of tablets which supplement and confirm M. Botta’s previous discoveries touching the expedition of Sargon against Ashdod; still further illustrating the statement in Isaiah 20:1.
“15. The discovery of several new inscriptions concerning Esar-Haddon, son and successor of Sennacherib, prominently mentioned in 2 Kings 19:37; Ezra 4:2, and Isa. 37–38.
“16. The discovery of an inscription upon the eye-ball of an image of Nebo, making mention of Nebuchadnezzar; also the discovery of three other cuneiform texts of the reign of this monarch on dated contract tablets.
“17. The discovery of one text of Evil-Merodach, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, the king who released Jehoiakim from prison. 2 Kings 25–27.
“18. The discovery of a tablet belonging to the reign of Nergal-Sharezer, who ascended the throne of Babylon on the death of Evil-Merodach. Compare Jer. 39:3, with Smith, p. 386.”
The above is from the Interior, Chicago. These late discoveries are of great value in establishing the truthfulness of the Bible records. An abundance of such evidence is constantly being brought to light. In this skeptical age God is willing to give his people the strongest evidence on which to rest their faith.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
The Two Descriptions.
By Robert Atkins
My hearers, am I not stating truth when I say: Go where you will, either to the platforms of Bible societies, or to the pulpits of churchmen, or dissenters, and you will hear one uniform tale of the increasing piety, and of the extending success of the gospel? You will almost be persuaded that the ministers and the churches are as holy and as zealous as they well can be; that the world is mending every day through the influence of the religious example, and that we may shortly expect the triumph of the gospel—the fulfillment of the promise that the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Now, without stopping to inquire what influence such statements as these, or such opinions; however modified, of the church and of the world, are likely to produce upon either, let us see how they accord with Scripture and with fact. It is plainly stated by our Lord that until the end of the present dispensation, there should be the co-existence of Christianity and anti-Christianity; that the tares should grow together with the wheat until the end of the age—not the end of the world, as it is rendered in our translation; and, if this be true, when shall every knee bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord? When shall righteousness cover the earth, and when shall the earth be filled with the glory of the Lord? Most certainly, if Christ’s declaration is to be taken, not during the present dispensation.
The apostle Paul informs us that iniquity, which, at the beginning of the dispensation, only worked by way of mysteries, in the latter days would assume the character of an actual manifestation. In his second epistle to Timothy, he also declares that “in the last days, perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; . . . ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; . . . men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith;” and that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” And the apostle Peter gives this addition to the awful picture: “There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” Here are two descriptions of the last days—the present age—as widely different as two descriptions can possibly be; the first is of man’s drawing, and the second of God’s. Which of the two will you believe?—
Rev. Robert Atkins.
Round Grove, McLeod Co., Sept. 26, 1875
By D. P. Curtis; L. H. Ells
Minnesota.
In the good providence of God, after an absence of some six weeks, during which time we enjoyed pleasant seasons with our families, and with the brethren of the Wells, Mankato, Kenyon, Concord, Medford, and Hutchinson churches, in quarterly meetings, we are again in our field of labor. We reached Round Grove Wednesday evening, the 22d, with our tent, and have it pitched on a beautiful grass-plot in front of the residence of one of the brethren. We find the company all steadfast in the faith, though some of them are in trial by reason of opposition from sources which render the trial very severe and hard to be borne, but we trust and pray that the grace of God may be sufficient for them.
We held our first meeting in the tent on Friday evening, and yesterday met in the school-house where we held our meetings last summer, and had an excellent Sabbath-school and social meeting, in which our hearts were made glad by witnessing the growth of those who had taken hold before we left them, and in finding that some others had embraced the truth while we were absent, and also that a goodly number of the children desire to learn the way to life and find a home in the everlasting kingdom. Several are taking hold of the health reform, and have given up their tea and tobacco. One sister, seventy-two years of age, has laid away her snuff-box, having no further use for it. Several persons were in to-day to hear us for the first time. We confidently expect that there are others in this community who will yet hear the truth, and will investigate, believe, and be saved.
There has been a strong effort made by some would-be-leaders in the community to prejudice the people against us and our cause, and some of the brethren have suffered pecuniary losses on account of their faith; but we believe that these things will all work for the confirmation of the brethren, and the furtherance of the truth. We believe that the Lord is at work, and we desire the prayers of our brethren that we may work in harmony with him.
D. P. CURTIS,
L. H. ELLS.
Round Grove, McLeod Co., Sept. 26, 1875
As the Dew.
When God selects the dew as the image of the working of his Spirit upon the spirit of man, he selects, perhaps, the gentlest, as well as the most beautiful, emblem which the whole range of nature supplies. Yet in the settling of the dew, at first as an invisible film of moisture, its gathering into dew-drops, its absorption by the plant, is involved the mighty forces by which the worlds are formed and guided in their orbits. Destructive forces are often noisy and violent. In the emotions, speech, and conduct of men, violence is often a sign rather of weakness than of strength. The Holy Spirit is so gentle in his working just because he is almighty. So it was written of Him to whom the Spirit was given not by measure: “He shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.” His doctrine is dropped as the rain, and distilled as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb. Men’s hard, haughty, flint-like hearts, which the lightning could not melt nor the earthquake rend, were won and subdued, they knew not how, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. He was as the dew unto Israel.
How often Christians rebel against this character of divine grace! They want sudden, violent emotions; convictions of sin to make men weep and beat their breasts, and cry out, “What must I do?”—raptures to lift the soul into paradise, uncertain whether in the body or out of the body; gifts to convert hundreds by a single sermon; love to Christ so warm that self-denial will be no trouble, and martyrdom be coveted as a luxury; impressions so irrepressible that doubt shall be slain on the spot, never to rise again. We wish for Niagara, not “the dew.” But God who best knows how to carry on his own work says, “I will be as the dew unto Israel.”
The words shadow forth the secrecy of the working of divine grace. How silently, how secretly, the dew fulfills its gentle ministry! Every one takes notice of it when it lies thick on the grass and drips from the trees and hedges in the morning sunshine, and each dewdrop sparkles like a diamond and is colored like a rainbow. But who can tell when it began to fall? You were walking at sundown on the greensward that had seemed all day as dry as dust. A slight chill crept over you, scarcely perceptible; stooping, you swept your hand over the grass and found it damp. The dew was there, but you could not tell when its first cool, reviving breath stole out of the warm twilight upon the thirsty herbage. Through the dark night it gathers, obeying most fixed laws, yet with the most delicate, incessant variety of operation, never two nights, two hours, quite the same. The morning light reveals its abundance and beauty, and in the unclouded sunshine it vanishes.
Even thus secretly, silently, mysteriously does the Spirit of God often work. Not, indeed, always. Sometimes his visitation is like the rain of summer, heralded by thunder and lightning, every drop visible in the open sky, and the gathered torrent rushing down the streets and highways. But churches are not to suppose they can be revived only by Pentecostal showers. Christians are not to be discontented with themselves or with one another because they cannot fix the day and hour of their conversion to God. The blessing may be just as real, possibly even more precious, if it comes “as the dew.”
This image represents to us, moreover, what we may venture to term the humility of the divine Spirit. It is written that God humbleth himself to behold the things done in Heaven and upon the earth. The disdainful pride of human greatness, which scorns to pay attention to what is little and lowly, is at the very farthest remove from the likeness of God. What a tiny thing is a dew-drop! Yet it is a vast globe compared with one of those minute particles, or molecules of water, of which it is made, and by means of which God carries on his work, in building up the plant-tissue and providing food for man and for beast. Nowhere is divine power so marvelously displayed as in the realm of the infinitely small.
If in the natural world God works by what is least, we may infer by analogy that in the spiritual realm Christians are very wrong in despising what is least. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
It is not enough that we keep open the eye, the ear, the hand, of the spirit; all the invisible pores of our spiritual nature need to be kept open likewise, if we would inherit the blessing which comes “as the dew.”
The inexhaustible fullness of divine grace, and also the conditions under which it works, are forcibly presented under this image of the dew. Where did all this treasure of dew—these countless millions of purest water drops—come from? Even from the very air which seemed so arid while the plants faded in the119scorching sun. It was all there all through the summer day. What hindered it from falling? Only the sunshine. God had to withdraw one blessing to make room for the other. The Spirit of God is ever near to us in unexhausted fullness, illimitable power. How easily the dew may be hindered! The shadow of a cloud is enough to prevent its gracious ministry, and keep Gideon’s fleece dry when the herbage all around is drenched.
You have prayed, it may be, sincerely, earnestly for the dew of God’s grace to bathe your thirsty spirit, purifying, refreshing, fertilizing it. What hinders? Perhaps, while the hot sunshine of worldly prosperity (which also you have prayed for) rests on you it cannot descend. God may see the cold shade of trial, loss, disappointment, the dark night of weeping to be the indispensable conditions for the fulfillment of this prayer. Then, as all earthly scenes of beauty and familiar home-marks of joy grow dim, and the night breeze blows chill, the stars of promise shall shine bright in the cold, clear sky, and love beyond all earthly love, peace passing understanding, faith that overcomes the world, and even joy unspeakable and full of glory, shall descend and fill the heart which had no room for them before.
God only knows what this promise means, and how and when it can be fulfilled. It will be “as the dew.”—Christian Weekly.
IN DUE SEASON.
Ye who sow with anxious yearning
And your tireless vigil keep,
Waiting, watching, patience learning,
“If ye faint not, ye shall reap.”
Though the harvest long delaying
Cause you, sorrowing, to weep,
Still believe this faithful saying—
“If ye faint not, ye shall reap.”
Ground now dead and barren seeming,
Blooming shall awake from sleep,
For the promise rises beaming—
“If ye faint not, ye shall reap.”
Seeds of truth around you flinging,
On fair mead and rugged steep,
In your ears one truth be ringing—
“If ye faint not, ye shall reap.”
Fearless tread the path of duty,
Joy shall cause your hearts to leap,
When, from fields of golden beauty,
“If ye faint not, ye shall reap.”
Rolla, Missouri.
By George I. Butler
OUR meetings in Rolla have closed at last. They continued over four months, though I was absent myself about a month, during which time Bro. Allen labored as he was able. Since my last report, I have labored hard to bring to a decision all who could be reached. Bro. Allen was called away on account of poor health and because he was needed at home, so I was left alone with the tent for several weeks. I preached nights and talked days, and labored very hard. As a result, I leave forty-three who are determined to keep the Sabbath of the Lord; thirty-eight of these signed the covenant. There are others of influence and standing in the community who, I believe, will yet take a stand with us.
From the first, there has been a great effort from many quarters to hinder the work. At times the prospect was very discouraging, and it seemed as though there surely would be a failure. But I felt determined not to leave the work to ravel out, like a stocking partly knit, if it was possible to bring it to a better state, remembering the counsel of one who has given us all valuable instruction on this point. Among those who have been greatly benefited by the meetings are several who had become almost if not quite infidels. Nothing but the present truth could have reached them.
We were very fortunate in securing the hall just vacated by the Baptists for our place of meeting. We had to put a stove into our tent just before the meetings closed, the weather was so cold. We obtained twenty-four subscribers for the Voice or the REVIEW, six for the Reformer, and fourteen for the Instructor, and sold quite a quantity of books. It is very hard to obtain money in that part of Missouri. There was much sickness, which interfered seriously with our meetings as many could not attend during the last few weeks on that account. Seven were baptized. Since the discussion, our opponents have kept exceedingly quiet. The discussion had a very excellent effect, as it settled the minds of many. Our victory was complete.
I shall now labor in the Iowa and Nebraska Conference. God has been very merciful to us in rewarding our poor labors with some increase, for which we feel very grateful to him. We are of good courage to labor on in this blessed cause. Bro. Allen will meet occasionally with the friends in Rolla this fall and winter. We hope there will yet be a strong church there.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Oct. 6, 1875.
Central Iowa Tent.
By A. Kilgore
Six weeks ago, the tent was pitched in this place. An earnest, energetic effort has been put forth, and, as the result, about thirty are keeping the Sabbath. Many of these never had made a profession of religion; others have been led by the light they have received to more fully give their hearts to the Lord, and to more understandingly accept Christ as their Saviour, by receiving the truths of the third angel’s message. Many are convinced of duty, yet hesitate to decide. With few exceptions, all who have heard what has been spoken acknowledge the truth of our positions.
Presentiments in the minds of some here seem to have prepared them to hear and obey the truth. We believe the Lord guided his ministers to this place in answer to prayer. The people generally are very friendly and hospitable, and by their liberality our expenses have been greatly reduced. May the Lord reward and bless them. The weather is very cold for tent work, but with the tent closed as closely as possible, a good heating stove set up in it, and good backs to all the seats, it is made quite comfortable, and even attractive. The interest still seems to be good. The congregations average about one hundred. How long we shall remain here is undecided. The ministers of the place, thus far, have made no public effort to oppose the doctrines preached in the tent.
On account of business, Bro. McCoy was called home a short time ago, and the burden of the work now falls on my brother. Pray that fruit of the effort put forth at this place may be seen in the kingdom of God. A. KILGORE. Nevada, Oct. 1, 1875.
Gratiot Co. Quarterly Meeting.
By R. F. Phippeny
The quarterly meeting of the Ithaca and Alma churches is in the past. Bro. A. N. Fisher met with us, and spoke on the occasion. It was a profitable meeting. The word so earnestly spoken, the touching appeals, and the powerful exhortations, must certainly have found a lodgment in the hearts of those present. We judge so also from the testimonies that were given. We can but thank God that we were permitted to meet together. Let us earnestly strive to profit by what we have heard. Let us search our hearts, see that our motives are pure, live near to God, and so finally have a part in the heavenly inheritance.
R. F. PHIPPENY,
Ithaca, Oct. 6, 1875.
D. DOWNER
By D. Downer
Wisconsin Tent, No. 3.
CLOSED tent labor at Osseo, Sept. 28, 1875. God has brought seventeen into the truth there. Others are interested. Bro. Jordon’s labors were blessed of God. He remains at Osseo to labor. I am praying that I may know and do the will of God. I often weep while viewing the fast ripening field.
D. DOWNER
Galesville, Wis., Oct. 6, 1875.
Living in the Sight of God
LIVE in the sight of God. This is what Heaven will be—the eternal presence of God. Do nothing you would not like God to see; say nothing you would not like him to hear; write nothing you would not like him to read; and read nothing of which you would not like God to say, “Show it to me.”
Report of Maine Tract Society Meeting.
By J. B. Goodrich; T. Bryant
THE third annual meeting of the Maine T. & M. Society was held on the campground in Richmond, Sept. 6, 1875, according to appointment. The President in the chair. Prayer by R. S. Webber.
The secretary being absent, Bro. T. Bryant was chosen secretary pro tem. The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted, after adding report of Dist. No. 2, which was not received in season.
The Nominating Committee was appointed by the Chair. S. B. Gowell, A. W. Law, and J. A. Davis, were appointed said committee.
Report of labor for present quarter is as follows:—
No. of members, 162; reports returned, 28; No. of families visited, 38; letters written, 13; total amount of money received, $33.51; No. of subscribers for REVIEW, 1; Reformer, 1; distribution of reading matter, REVIEWS, 67; Instructors, 11; Reformers, 41; tracts and pamphlets given away, pages, 37,434; value, $47.75; total number of names sent to Office during the year: For Voice of Truth, 102; Reformer, 58; REVIEW, 3; Instructor, 3.
Value of books on hand, $185.82
Amount due the Office, 59.09
Sent to Office Sept. 10, 50.00
Balance now due, $9.09
The report of the Nominating Committee being called for, the following names were presented: For President, J. B. Goodrich; Vice President, R. S. Webber; Secretary, Amos Holt; Treasurer, J. E. Baker. Directors: Dist. No. 1, T. S. Emery; No. 2, E. Lobdell; No. 3, Enos Leavitt. These candidates were all duly elected.
Meeting adjourned sine die.
J. B. Goodrich, Pres.
T. Bryant, Sec. pro tem.
Doing and Being.
By H. F. Phelps
Did you ever think, dear reader, that one might do a great many things that he ought to do, and yet come very far short of what he should be? It is one thing to do, and yet quite another thing to be.
The Bible is replete with instruction as to what we should do; and we, as a people, speak much about doing. Action, not profession alone, helps to make up the Christian character. Says Christ, “Whosoever shall do the will of my Father;” “They that hear the word of God, and keep it;” “If ye do whatsoever I command you.” In all these, a blessing is pronounced upon those who do. And Peter declares in regard to certain things, “If ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” Again, James says, “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
Now it seems to me to be a fact that one may, to outward appearance, do these things, or many of them at least, may keep the Sabbath, may profess much zeal, may attend upon religious duties, and yet not be what he should be. Now listen, “Be patient.” How many impatient—Christians, I was going to say, but they are not wholly Christians if they are impatient—there are. Again, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love.” How many times do evil surmisings and jealousies arise instead of love. “Be gentle to all men.” “Be ye holy.” “Be perfect.” “Be of good comfort”—not always fretting. “Be of one mind.” “Be ye therefore followers of God.” Simply professing to be a Seventh-day Adventist will not make us followers of God. It is no outside work. “Be pitiful.” “Be courteous.” Politeness is befitting a Christian in every sense of the word; and, “finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord.”
Inasmuch as we are so liable to be deceived in ourselves, let us see how the apostle uses the word with not, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” If we sow to the flesh we shall reap corruption. God help us to do, and while we try to do, may we also be just what we profess to be—lights to the world. Let us not be deceived in ourselves, and thereby deceive others; but let us dig deep, build upon the rock, and in thus doing be saved at last.