Earlier text: OUT OF THE NIGHTThe Importance of our Cause Being Properly Represented.
By George I. Butler
THE real success of every religious cause will be shown finally by the number of those who are saved by it, in the kingdom of God. The number of those who are thus saved will depend upon the way the people are affected in this world by those who have any such cause committed to them to advocate. The prosperity of the cause we love will depend upon the impressions made upon the public mind by those who represent it, just as much as any other. The salvation of certain men, and the damnation of certain others, is not fixed by some immutable decree, established from eternity. If it were so, what we might do or say in regard to ourselves or others would not change the result one whit. That decree of an omnipotent God would be brought about with a certainty, in spite of our puny efforts. But God has placed man's salvation upon the voluntary acceptance of a plan devised by himself, involving repentance for past sin, faith in Jesus Christ, and a life of cheerful obedience to his righteous laws, and the development of a character consistent with the principles of the government of Heaven. The plan thus devised is fixed by the decree of an omnipotent God. There is salvation in no other. Sure results are certain to follow from its faithful acceptance. We shall be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, and he will be the elder among many brethren. It will be readily seen, if these positions be admitted, that men's salvation will be affected by their own course of action and by the influence of others in bringing about that action. Nothing is surer in this world, than that we mutually affect each other by word, act, and demeanor. It is this fact which makes it certain that the blood of souls may and will be found in others' garments, for the reason that such have not used their influence to bring about good results, because they have not been careful to have their influence always tell on the right side. We claim to have a truth which is to test the world, and, unless we are wholly deceived and deluded, it must come in some way before all the enlightened people of our earth, either by the personal example of our people in the communities where they live, the circulation of written documents, or by the news of its progress among the peoples, or more directly, by those specially engaged in its dissemination as public speakers. The means last spoken of must ever be a principal one for the propagation and dissemination of religious views among those unacquainted with them. The living speaker can more readily affect ordinary minds, those which compose the rank and file of every cause, than any other means that can be adopted. It must, therefore, be very important that such represent the cause correctly. We know very well that unbelievers in any doctrine judge of its character by what they observe in its supporters. It cannot be otherwise than that every community will judge of our doctrine by what they see in those who profess it. And why should they not? When people claim to have religious views preferable to others, what do such views amount to, unless they make those who understand them better people than they were before they held them, or better than those around them who do not profess them? If their acceptance really benefits no one, what are they good for, any way? The practical test is the best of any. For example, if a believer in our doctrines, living in a community, is inclined to overreach in his deal, or is slack in paying his debts, careless of fulfilling his engagements, stingy, and little-souled, instead of being generous or accommodating; or boastful and contentious and abusive, is not the cause he represents sure to receive the discredit of it? A great deal that is called persecution by our people many times arises from the fact that their lives are unlovable, selfish, narrow and bigoted. Their religious views, instead of making them kind, tender of others' feelings, and meek and humble, and ready to listen patiently to others' objections, as they would if they would put them in practice, seem to have the effect to puff them up with spiritual pride, and give them an idea of their own superiority. The views they hold do not teach them to do this, but there were unpleasant characteristics existing in their hearts before, and the acceptance of these views are but the occasion for their expression. The practical carrying out of these views would broaden out their characters, and make them meek and charitable, and yet courageous and firm for right and truth. How powerful might be our influence, as a people, could all Sabbath-keepers, in the different communities where they live, be living illustrations of the religion of Jesus Christ, careful of others' feelings, ready to do good, honest, benevolent, charitable toward those differing from them, yet firm and true where principle is concerned, showing by daily walk and conversation that the principles of God's law and Christ's Spirit, were the guiding-star of their conduct. How many exceptions are seen, where contention, narrowness, and tattling, are manifest! Right principles must be held before our people, and practical religion urged upon their attention in plain and forcible terms, till these things are rightly understood by all, and practiced by all. And here comes in the importance of the ministry. If the importance of our people setting5 a right example be so great, how much more that of the ministry who go before the world as the special representatives of these doctrines. The people have a right to expect them to be living illustrations of the things they teach, for that is what they profess to be. And, to judge of the doctrines they teach by the men who teach them, are they not the accredited agents of the system of doctrines they teach? Does not each State Conference select them and send them forth provided with documents showing them to be duly authorized to represent the body of our people? Would they thus be sent forth, unless such bodies considered them proper representatives? There cannot be the slightest question but that people who know but little of us have a right to judge of the character of our people, and of the nature of our work, by the duly accredited agents sent forth to represent it. I bring this subject up in this manner that our people, and especially our Conferences, may realize the importance of selecting right men when they send individuals out to represent them. It has evidently been felt by some that a person receiving a license to preach among us had only to go out and spend his time laboring as it should seem proper to him, and he was entitled to draw his pay from the Conference whether such labor was a real benefit or not; and some have felt aggrieved if their claims were questioned. Now I am satisfied that the cause could far better afford to pay some for staying at home and being perfectly quiet there, than to pay them for representing us before a scrutinizing public. It is not merely ability to stand up in the desk and go through the set arguments of our theory that we want. Many a person could do that who would be a curse to the cause. A great many seem to think this is about all that is required. Many a boaster, full of self-conceit, unrefined in life and expression, and calculated to entirely misrepresent the real spirit of this work, could do that. But when they got through, what would be the result? They might have brought in quite a number who were like them, who would carry on the work of improperly representing us still further, till their lives would so disgrace us that at last we could bear with them no longer, and we should be compelled to cut them off. But the cautious, the refined, those who had a real position in their several communities and a reputation to lose, those who had some just idea of the real spirit of Christianity, would have gone home in disgust. And from that time on, it would be a moral impossibility to reach the very class we shall have to build up our cause with, if it is ever built up at all. Such as these are the real strength of any cause. We are in crying need of good, sensible laborers; men with discerning minds, and enough modesty to keep from bragging in the pulpit, or challenging the world to come and combat with them. But we cannot afford to send out the other class for nothing; much less to pay for such labor. We want men of piety, who fear God and who love humanity, whose souls are drawn out for the perishing; who are little in their own eyes, but mighty in God, with courage to go out into the strife for Christ's sake, and to pluck souls as brands from the burning. Men who know something about good manners as well as the reasons of our faith, who will be preachers in private as well as public, and upon whose souls the burden of the cause rests. Oh! how we need such men everywhere; we have room for one hundred where we have one. At our Conferences, there should be committees of our most discerning and judicious men, to consider applications for licenses and credentials, who will act for the good of the cause regardless of personal feelings. In their action, they should be exceedingly careful not to stand in the way of those who could help the cause, but should encourage such, while they should not grant licenses or credentials until they have some evidence that the applicant would be of real benefit to the cause. In case of those with whom we are unacquainted, and who know but little of our doctrines or the spirit of our work, we had better wait till we can act understandingly. A person who goes forth duly accredited with a license to represent us may, in presenting our views, leave impressions which will ever keep those receiving them from having favorable views of us; and they themselves are not prepared to go, even if they have good ability, until well acquainted with the nature and spirit of the work. We are in crying need of laborers, but we want the right kind. May God send us such plentifully this present season. Then will the work prosper and our strength greatly increase. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, June 4, 1873. Employing Time Profitably and Remaining Silent
BLESSED is he who employs all his time profitably, is silent on subjects that do not concern him, and passes through this tumultuous world like one that is dumb and heareth not, for the Lord’s sake. Men, and Things.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
It is well to keep the magnitude of this terrible evil before us. Every one who uses a drop of this worse than poison, should consider that he is doing so much to help on this work of misery and death. “The sales of liquors in the United States during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, it has been calculated by Edward Young, the chief of the Bureau of Statistics, amounted to six hundred millions of dollars. This total is made up as follows: Sixty million gallons of whisky, at six dollars a gallon retail, $360,000,000. Two and a half million gallons of imported spirits at ten dollars a gallon, $25,000,000. Ten million seven hundred thousand gallons of imported wine at five dollars a gallon, $53,500,000. Sixty-five million barrels of ale, beer, and porter, at twenty dollars a barrel, $130,000,000. Native brandies, wines, and cordials, in unknown quantities, it is estimated, have been consumed, involving an expenditure of $31,500,000. These figures, although not so large as some that have been published, yet give a total that should astonish the consumers of ardent spirits. This sum of six hundred millions of dollars a year would, in less than four years, pay off the National debt, or if invested in works of internal improvement, would complete all the unfinished and projected works in the United States.” The Present Truth.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
4. The Scriptures teach that when Jesus appears, there will be two classes upon the earth. One class, the saints brought out by this proclamation, who will not be in darkness with regard to that event, and who will be looking and waiting for him; the other class, the wicked and unbelieving, who do not believe the signs nor regard the warning, and are scoffing at these things, upon whom that day will come as a thief in the night. These facts are clearly stated by Paul, in 1 Thess. 5: 1–6: “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” “Yes,” replies one, “that is just what I believe. That day will come as a thief in the night. This shows that the Adventists are mistaken, thinking that they can know something about it.” Not too fast, my friend. The next verse shows that all who are overtaken as of a thief by his coming will be destroyed. “For when they say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Verse 3. This verse gives us the class who will thus be surprised by that event, viz., those who are crying, Peace and safety. But the next verse brings to view the other class—the saints. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” Verse 4. Nothing could be plainer than this statement. One class will be overtaken as of a thief; the other class will not. Those who are thus surprised by his coming are found crying, Peace and safety; but what are the other class doing? This class are found in the light and watching. Watching what? Not simply their hearts, but watching the signs of the times. Here are one class, preaching that the world is growing better and will so continue to do until the whole world shall be converted. They have no idea that the Lord is coming, they see no signs of it. They do not believe he is. Now, suppose that the Lord should come to-day; would it not come upon them as a thief in the night? It most certainly would, for they do not even dream that such an event is at hand. Hence they would certainly be destroyed, for this is the very class spoken of. Christ says it shall come upon them as a snare. Luke 21: 35. They have got their attention on something away in the future, and are utterly blind with regard to the great and terrible events of the end of all things. The first they will know of it they will find themselves overtaken by it, and utterly unprepared for it. 2 Pet. 3: 3, 4, brings out additional facts touching these two classes in the last days. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” The time mentioned is the last days. What will come there? Scoffers. A scoffer is one who ridicules and makes sport of what somebody else is saying. But what is the subject that they are scoffing about? Their words show plainly what it is, viz., the coming of the Lord; for they sneeringly ask, “Where is the promise of his coming?” This shows that another class is preaching with regard to the promise of his coming. These scoffers proceed to argue the case. Why, say they, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. This language lets us into the subject of their scoffing. They are scoffing at those who are preaching it, opposing them in their work and trying to meet their arguments. This shows, 1. That in the last days one class will be found opposing and making sport of the coming of Christ. 2. That another class will be doing exactly the opposite of that, viz., preaching it and proving it. This again shows that there will be two opposite classes, the same as my proposition asserts. Daniel gives us some information on this. Speaking of the time of the end, the angel said to Daniel, “Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Dan. 12: 9, 10. This is in harmony with the other texts showing that the wicked will not understand with regard to the end, but the wise will understand. The same fact is brought out in Matt. 24: 44–51: “Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” Verses 44–47. This is the position of the faithful and wise servant. When the Lord comes, he finds him giving his household meat in due season. We have already shown what that means, viz., to be teaching truths which are applicable at that time. Now, what would be present truth just before the Lord comes? Would it not be the signs of the times, the fulfillment of the prophecies, and a warning to the people of the approaching Judgment? Most certainly it would. The context shows that this is just what the wise servant is doing; for that is the very subject that is under consideration. This fact is further proved by what the evil servant says, whose work is exactly the opposite of that of the wise servant. Listen, therefore, to what the evil servant is saying. “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Verses 48–51. By this we see that the evil servant is saying that his Lord delays his coming; that is, that the coming of Christ is not near at hand, as the other servant affirms. Now, while the evil servant is thus preaching against the coming of the Lord, and is feasting and making merry with the ungodly, the Lord suddenly comes upon him and he is destroyed. This text certainly confirms what I affirm in my proposition, viz., that there will be two classes when the Lord comes—one class faithfully teaching the people with regard to the signs of the times and the coming of the Lord; the other class opposing this work, and arguing that the Lord is not coming. 5. This warning message will last through one generation—then the Lord will come. God does not give his warnings to those who do not need them; hence, when a warning is given, it is always to that generation which will live to see the event of which they are warned. It was so in the days of Noah, and in other cases. God does not give his warning to one generation and let them pass off from the stage of action, and then bring his judgments on another generation. But the very men who hear the warning will live to see the consummation of it. The signs will be given, then will come the proclamation based upon those signs. In Matt. 24, after giving the signs which should mark his second coming, Christ says, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh.” Verse 32. Yes; when we see the leaves putting forth we all know that summer is at hand. “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Verse 33. When are we to learn this parable of the fig tree? Answer. When ye shall see all these things. This locates the time of which he is speaking, viz., when these signs have appeared. Luke gives it thus: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Chap. 21: 28. When are they to look up and know their redemption is nigh? When these things begin to come to pass. Nothing could be plainer than that. See verse 31. “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” Now of what time is he speaking? It seems as though the blindest might see that it is the time when these signs shall appear. He says that when these signs do appear, then we may know that his coming is near, even at the door. The next verse tells how near. “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Matt. 24: 34. What generation? Not the generation he was talking to, as some have foolishly argued; but the generation he was speaking of, viz., that generation which shall see these signs come to pass. Because he says “this” generation, it does not necessarily follow that he meant the generation then living. Ps. 95: 10, furnishes a similar use of the phrase, this generation, “Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.” The psalmist says, “This generation,” and yet he was speaking of the generation which came out of Egypt five hundred years before. See Ps. 2: 7: “I will declare the decree; the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” “This day have I begotten thee,” says the psalmist. Was Christ begotten upon the day that the psalmist penned that? Certainly not. This language is quoted by Paul, and is applied to Christ’s resurrection a thousand years afterward. Yet the psalmist says, “This day.” How could he properly say, This day? Because his mind was carried forward to the time that that event should occur, and, speaking of that time, says, “This day,” that is, the time under consideration. So Christ, when he says, “This generation,” means the generation of which he was speaking, the one that should see the signs. Now we inquire for a moment, What has come to pass in our days? This thing has not been done in a corner. Everybody knows that for the last thirty-five years or more, there have been a class of people preaching that the Lord is coming in this generation. They have met with bitter opposition, with scoffing and ridicule, with persecution and slander, yet they have steadily gone forward and faithfully warned the world of the coming events. During the last thirty-five years, books and tracts upon these subjects have been scattered by the million, like the leaves of the forest, in every part of the world, till there is scarcely a school-district where they have not reached, nor a school-boy who has not heard the proclamation; and there are, to-day, scattered all through the land, not less than one hundred thousand souls who are expecting the immediate advent of Christ. I appeal to the reader, whether this proclamation has not been extensive enough and long enough to fulfill the prophecies and condemn the world? Paul says that Noah, by his preaching, condemned the world. Heb. 11: 7. But compare that a moment with this. He had no one to aid him in that work, but here are thousands engaged in this. He had no printing presses to publish his message; now, we have a score of them constantly aiding in this. He had not a tract; here, we have them by the thousands. He had not even a Bible; here, there is one in every house. He had no railroads or steamboats to facilitate his traveling; now, we can go to the ends of the world in a few days’ time. If, then, one man, without a single colporteur, without a paper, without a tract, without a Bible, by his single voice alone, condemned the millions of that generation, even the whole world, how much more will the proclamation here given condemn this generation. Suppose for a moment that the Lord should come in this generation, would they not be without excuse? Could they say that they had not been warned? They might say that they did not believe that the warning which they heard was from God, and that would be all that they could say. The antediluvians might have said the same, and all others who have been warned, and rejected the warning. Dear reader, we pray you to lay these things to heart and not pass them by lightly. It may be that God is in this work, after all. If you have not seen signs and evidences of the near coming of the Lord, is it because none such have appeared, or is it because you have not been watching for them? If not, give your attention to them. Do you know what are the signs of the last days? The Bible has given scores of them. Could you name a dozen? Might not many of them take place right before your eyes and you not know that they were signs of the last days, simply because you have not studied your Bible sufficiently on this point? May the Lord help you to wake up, before it is too late to embrace present truth. Look at it from our stand-point a moment. The Lord is coming; signs are everywhere appearing; the warning is sounding through the world; a people is being gathered out, waiting for his coming; the awful events of the Judgment and the plagues of the last days are about to burst upon us; the mass of the world are asleep; a worldly church and ministry are telling them of the golden age soon to come. If these things are so, what is your duty? Is it not to regard the signs, heed the warning, and join the little band who are trying to arouse the world concerning their impending doom? That this may be your decision is my humble prayer.
D. M. CANRIGHT. Ezra the Scribe
By R. F. Cottrell
WAS a remarkable man. He had a peculiar trait, which was truly singular. “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Ez. 7:10. Few are the persons that seek the law of the Lord, in order that they may do and teach it. If men sought to know what God requires, they could find the way. But they seek to excuse themselves from doing what God commands by willing ignorance of his law, or by persuading themselves that it has been abolished. One pleads ignorance of its claims that he may be excused from doing it; another cannot plead ignorance, and therefore claims that it has been abolished, so that he need not do it; and some make both these pleas, so that if one fails to excuse them from doing the will of God, they can fall back on the other; if the law remains unabolished and unchanged, they still fail to understand its requirements. It would be better, like Ezra, to seek the law of the Lord with a heart willing to do it. “Seek, and ye shall find.” The will of God is plainly revealed. The absence of a heart of willing obedience is the great cause of ignorance and error. BEWARE lest earthly comforts prove spiritual temptations.
The Kansas and Missouri Camp-Meeting.
By George I. Butler
This meeting has just closed, and we trust the interests of the cause in the State have been greatly advanced by it. We judge fully twice as many Sabbath-keepers attended it, as have ever attended any meeting held within the bounds of this Conference before. This good attendance was not because circumstances were more favorable for getting there than in the past; on the contrary, they were never worse. Heavy rains fell the Sunday previous to meeting, when many desired to start, and the streams were up very high, so that a large number had to leave their teams on the way, and take the cars some distance, and then look for other conveyance to the meeting from the railroad; while others, by going long distances out of their way, found bridges where they could cross the swollen streams, and got through. We were much encouraged to see the spirit of sacrifice among the people, which prompted them to make the efforts they did. A good delegation came from Doniphan County, upward of one hundred and fifty miles; and nearly the whole of the little church which I organized in Howard County, last winter, came about the same distance. During the first part of the meeting, there was a great scarcity of ministerial help. Many were much disappointed that Bro. and sister White were not present; and as Bro. Blanchard remained away to labor where there was an interest which had recently been started, and Bro. T. J. Butler was detained away till Sabbath, on account of sickness in his family, there was no one to take the burdens of the meeting but myself, and those who had recently received license from the Conference. But the Lord met with us by his Spirit. The preaching was designed to be close and practical, calculated to call the attention of the people to the real object for which they came together, and to show them what kind of a character they must form to stand the test of the Judgment. Sabbath was a good day. The melting Spirit of the Lord was present with power. Feeling testimonies were given by scores. Some twenty or thirty came forward for prayers, and all felt greatly cheered by the evident tokens of the Lord’s readiness to bless. Sunday, the crowd came, many hundreds in number, and as it was quite rainy, our meetings were not all that we should have been glad to have them; still, we got through the day as pleasantly as could be expected, considering the unfavorable weather. Monday, the day of closing, was profitable. Ten were baptized. Bro. T. J. Butler was ordained to the ministry by the laying on of hands, and our parting meeting was one of great interest. Many testified, with tears, of their determination to be more in earnest in the service of God than they had been in the past. Nearly all spoke of their being more than paid for their labors in coming to the meeting, and all seemed greatly cheered at the brightening prospects before the cause in this section. In the business proceedings of the Conference, there were also omens of good. The brethren seemed to realize more than ever before that they must carry their own burdens, if they would prosper in the Lord. There was more of a coming up, by far, than I have ever seen before, to grasp these burdens, and try to bear them: Our sessions were harmonious and pleasant. There seems to be no good reason, so far as I can see, why this Conference should not prosper if all will be faithful in bearing the burdens which fall to them. Two new churches were admitted to the Conference—Palermo, Doniphan Co., Kan., and Elk Falls, Howard Co., Kan. Others should have made application, either by letter or delegate. The Conference has two new tents ready to run, and men enough within her own limits to man them, from whom we hope to hear good reports the coming season. A great and good field of labor is open before them, which has not been spoiled by bad labor, and from which many invitations come pouring in for help. Why should we not look for good results? We shall expect to see good results, because we have great faith in the future of this cause where the people begin to realize its importance. Burlington, Iowa, June 4, 1873. Report of Meetings.
By Stephen N. Haskell
April 17, I left Battle Creek for Iowa, where I spent three weeks. From there, I went to Illinois, and remained two weeks; then, to Minnesota, where I also spent two weeks. The tract and missionary interest has been considered at each meeting, and a good degree of interest has been manifested on the part of the brethren and sisters in each State, in not only attending the meetings, but also in taking hold of this branch of the work. In Iowa, we held meetings with the friends at Richland, Knoxville, Sigourney, also in Eld. Morrison’s neighborhood, and Osceola. Our Richland meeting was small, as the roads were almost impassable. At Knoxville and Osceola there was a good representation of the brethren and sisters, in their respective localities; especially at Knoxville, they manifested their interest in the missionary work by remaining together from 9 A. M. until 2 P. M. on first-day, with an increasing interest, and at the close pledging for a fund in the tract and missionary work, also, to settle the indebtedness on our periodicals, about $475.00, a portion of which was paid. A large portion of the time at Osceola on Sabbath and first-day was spent together at their meeting-house, and I trust it was not an unprofitable time. At this place, also, they donated freely; and, from reports since received from Bro. Nicola, the same lively interest is taken in other parts where he has visited, so that they now have a capital of nearly five hundred dollars, enough to settle their indebtedness at the Office on the delinquency of those whose periodicals have been stopped. This is as it should be. A sufficient fund should be kept on hand in every State for the T. and M. Society not only to have a supply of tracts and pamphlets with every company of brethren and sisters, where they are members of the society (and all should become members), but so that a good supply of the various kinds may be kept in reserve, and the society be in a condition to do a cash business with the Association, as this is the only proper basis on which the Tract Society can do business. Then, the friends of the cause will always be in a condition to take hold and carry forward every enterprise that may come up in connection with present truth. I formed a very pleasant acquaintance with Bro. Nicola and Bro. Harvey Morrison, and when I left the State it seemed like parting with friends. At Aledo and Serena, Ill., the meetings were not large, but of some interest. The brethren in this State did nobly in relieving the Publishing Association from their share of indebtedness, as a Conference, on the delinquent subscribers, and at these two meetings, they donated some three hundred dollars more than enough to settle this matter with the Office, which will be used as a T. and M. fund in this Conference. The brethren in this State need help, and I have reason to believe they would appreciate it. The brethren are very much scattered, and could there be held, sometime in September or October, three tent-meetings, with the proper help, especially to help the church in those things where they need especial instruction, of about a week’s duration each, I think it would be of a great benefit to the cause in this State. At the last one of the tent-meetings, there could be a session of their Conference, and some time might be devoted to the tract and missionary work, as that would be their annual meeting. May 22, I arrived at Stewartsville, Minn. Knowing something of the condition of things in this State, and the struggles of the brethren to meet their Conference expenses in the past, we did not expect that much could be accomplished here except to organize a T. and M. Society, and to receive, perhaps, the initiation fees from those who wished to become members. The traveling was then very bad. Teams, with empty wagons, would get stuck in the traveled road. This was the case in the vicinity of Jo Daviess; yet the brethren turned out better than we could reasonably expect. Although our meetings were not large, they manifested the same liberal heart and lively interest as in other places, and in some respects went farther. They appreciated the assistance the General Conference had rendered them in the past, and raised money enough to settle all the claims of the Association on the delinquent matter against this Conference, and donated for a Tract Fund sufficient to meet present expenses, and have pledged, besides, about $425.00. Let the same interest and consecration be retained and manifested in every enterprise—the School Fund and Health Institute—and they will find in the day of Judgment that they have laid up a good foundation against the time to come. The plan adopted by each of these Conferences on the matter of delinquency has been as follows: First, To pay the S. D. A. Publishing Association its claims against them on the various periodicals which have been stopped. Second, Place in the hands of each director the names of those whose papers have been dropped and the sums due, and he visits or corresponds with each person who is thus indebted in his district, and collects what he can, which is reserved as a fund to send the periodicals to the worthy poor and such as the board of directors, at each general meeting, may decide would be benefited by reading them. Third, To make it a special point to learn who are the worthy poor, whether their names have been dropped or not, and to see that they are not deprived of any of the periodicals which they may be interested in, or any reading matter which they should have and are unable to purchase, especially such works as the Testimonies, How to Live, and Appeal to Mothers. Minnesota not only raised money to pay the past indebtedness in this matter, but has relieved the Association of a number of names of this class, and paid six months in advance, at three-fourths the usual price. We are fully satisfied that the friends of the cause, everywhere, only need to understand its wants and the relation they sustain to it, and a system whereby they can act efficiently, and they will consider it a privilege to sacrifice to carry forward this work. The cause of God is the best of all causes, and if we would save our means, our reputation, and our life, it will be by sacrificing or investing in the cause of our divine Lord. Let no one think that what is done in this direction, prompted by a pure motive to glorify God, is lost. It is a sure way to save it. It transfers it from mortal life to the immortal shore. Those who have sacrificed their health and even life for Christ’s sake and the gospel have sent a poor mortal life in advance, which will be exchanged for immortal health in the kingdom of glory. Houses, lands, earthly friends, and everything this world calls dear and precious can be thus safely placed beyond the reach of the fiery element of this world, and thus secure to themselves a treasure in the Heavens. See Luke 12.