Many a believer lives in the cottage of doubt, when he might live in the mansion of faith.
MICHIGAN
Sheridan, April 15.—The interest has gradually increased during the nearly seven weeks that I have been here, and a good work has been done. Twenty-two have decided to serve God and keep his commandments, most of whom were non-professors. Several have erected the family altar. Eleven have united with the church, and others intend to do so. The older members of the church, who were somewhat on the background, have most of them come up nobly to the work of the Lord, and express themselves much benefited by the meetings.
ORLANDO SOULE.
Dist. No. 14.—The quarterly meeting of Dist. No. 14 was held at Potterville, according to appointment. Delegations were present from nearly all the churches in the district. Bro. W. C. White and Wm. Potter, from Battle Creek, were with us. Two discourses were given. The work of the tract society and Sabbath-school was quite fully canvassed. The interest increased from the beginning, and although a business session lasting five hours was held on Sunday, it was with difficulty that we could close the meeting. The brethren and sisters went to their homes encouraged to renew the conflict, and determined to be still better prepared to report at the next quarterly meeting.
J. F. CARMAN, Director.
INDIANA
Fowler.—Some time ago I received an invitation from a brother in Illinois to labor in Fowler, Benton Co., Ind., as he knew of one family there that were deeply interested on account of having heard the truth in Kankakee, Ill. Circumstances were such that I could not well do so until last month.
I found Bro. Jones's people (the family interested) firm in the truth. Although they heard it two or three years ago, they did not fully embrace it until last September. When he did so, and advertised in the papers throughout the county that from that time his store would be closed on the seventh-day Sabbath, it caused quite a stir in his town, and the ministers preached on the Sabbath question. As the result of his advertising, he found three who had embraced the truth recently by reading some papers and tracts distributed by Bro. J. P. Henderson, about four years ago.
Soon after Bro. Jones embraced the truth, his mother and his brother's family took a stand. When we reached there we found eight observing the Sabbath. Bro. J. obtained a large hall, and we gave six discourses to deeply interested congregations. At our Sabbath meeting seven Sabbath-keepers were present, some of whom had never heard a sermon, having embraced the truth by reading. Every one took part in the social meeting, and our tears flowed freely as they expressed their love for the truth. Bro. Henderson aided in the meetings. These friends love to work in the cause. They are paying S. B. Four of them have joined the tract society; they are also taking the weekly Instructor, and holding a little Sabbath school in connection with their Sabbath meetings. To the Lord be all the praise for all that the truth accomplishes. S. H. LANE.
Noblesville and Mechanicsburg.—We had a profitable meeting with the Noblesville church, April 5 and 6. This is the first time the ordinances have been celebrated in this young church. All took hold well, and rejoiced in the blessing of God.
April 8–13, I was with the Mechanicsburg church. We held our meetings in a Baptist meeting-house four miles east of town, and had a good outside attendance. I was pleased to note improvement in the church during the past quarter. Some were surprised at the amount of their tithes for the first quarter in the year. May they continue to rise with the message, and not be of those left behind. W. W. SHARP.
REPORT OF LABOR.
By W. H. Littlejohn
Greenville, Mich., & Adams Center, N. Y.—From March 7 to 17, I was with the church at Greenville, Mich. So far as our brethren were concerned, they seemed to do all in their power to make the meetings a success, but I found it very difficult to create any interest to hear on the part of the general public. I trust, however, that the brethren in that place will not give way to discouragement, as I have no doubt that when the proper time shall come they will yet reap fruit from the good seed which they have been so long and patiently sowing in that portion of the great field in which, in the providence of God, they find themselves located.
At the request of the General Conference Committee, I started on the 31st of March to visit the church at Adams Center, N. Y., where I remained until April 15. During these meetings Eld. J. N. Andrews rendered invaluable service by his counsel and labors. Eld. B. L. Whitney also, and several leading brethren in that part of the State, contributed largely to the success of the effort. Many things combined to make our labors wearing and perplexing; but, through the blessing of God, we left the church very hopeful that they had been permanently helped. We know of few churches anywhere which are better located for doing good, or which possess more of those resources which are necessary to success in that direction, than the church of Adams Center, N. Y. For a time their efforts have been entirely paralyzed; but we believe that the power of the enemy has been broken, and that they will now go free in God if they will follow persistently those things which make for peace. A club of forty subscribers for the Signs was raised, and a sufficient amount subscribed to obtain a circulating library.
W. H. LITTLEJOHN.
PENNSYLVANIA
By H. E. Robinson; J. E. Robinson
Oswayo, April 11.—Since our last report, we have held a series of meetings in a place four miles from here called the Eleven Mile. There was strong prejudice and bitter opposition to overcome, but four intelligent persons have embraced the present truth, and seem to be growing in the truth. They will meet with the company at Oswayo.
We next went to Millport, and held a few meetings. The interest was good, but on account of muddy roads we have been obliged to leave for a short time. In the meantime we have been holding meetings with the Sabbath-keepers at Oswayo and Coudersport, who came out during the tent-meetings held last summer.
We feel greatly encouraged to see the readiness with which these companies take hold of the different enterprises pertaining to the cause, and their disposition to work for those around them. At Coudersport sixteen have joined the T. and M. society. They have Sabbath meetings, and a very interesting Sabbath-school of twenty members, taking fifteen copies of the weekly Instructor. They have adopted the S. S. class and record books, and the contribution box is well remembered. At Oswayo twelve have joined the T. and M. society, and a Sabbath-school will be organized as soon as the going is good. The friends here are considerably scattered, which has made it difficult to accomplish all that should be done. Nearly all here as well as at Coudersport are taking the papers.
We hope to be faithful, and with the remnant receive a crown of life when the Chief Shepherd shall appear.
H. E. ROBINSON.
J. E. ROBINSON.
MISSOURI
Salisbury.—Since my last report we have had lively times in Salisbury. Dr. Jacob Ditzler, “the eminent divine,” as his bills have it, has been here, and has preached four discourses against the views held by Adventists, and one against infidelity, to large congregations. Dr. D. has a high reputation as a debater and a scholar. He is a minister of the M. E. Church South, and has traveled extensively in Europe. He lectures on infidelity in the large cities of the South, and has debated with Underwood the infidel, as well as with the most prominent debaters of the Disciple Church. He held one debate in Louisville, Ky., lasting twenty-one days, and is a sort of champion of his church, to go here and there to meet opposers. He is said to understand many languages, and has a library of many rare books. He is a shrewd, keen, foxy man, and a rapid, forcible speaker. He is not at all lacking in assurance, and in estimation of his own abilities. He throws all his might into his speaking, and makes very positive assertions. On the whole, I have never seen a more able opponent of the truth, nor hardly his equal.
He spoke the first evening on the condition of man in death. His discourse seemed quite commonplace and tame, and he did not do nearly as well as the people expected him to do, and the comments of the people were generally unfavorable. They were much disappointed. The next evening he took up the Sabbath question. For some reason he seemed like an entirely different man. His discourse made a powerful impression. His argument from the Scriptures was not strong at all; but he managed the matter so shrewdly, and brought in his appeals to the prejudices and feelings of the majority of his audience in such a cunning and forcible way, that it seemed as though he would sweep everything before him for a time. It was wonderful how he managed it, though our warmest friends were disgusted with the unfairness of his course, and the cool-headed, candid people saw through it all. His Scriptural argument was not at all hard to answer. He claimed that the Sabbath was first given to man as recorded in Ex. 16; that the original commandment was given in Deut. 5:15: “Remember that thou wast a servant in Egypt,” etc.; that the Sabbath was wholly Jewish, a sign between God and the Jews; that the Sabbath was not only a memorial of deliverance from Egypt, but a type of future rest; that it was enforced by the death penalty, and hence not to be a Sabbath in the Christian dispensation; and that any day of the week might be a Sabbath if God chose to make it one, and as proof he referred to the annual sabbaths mentioned in Lev. 23.
He took up the New Testament, and tried to show that everything typical and shadowy was done away, quoting Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14–16; Gal. 3:19; Heb. 9:10, and claiming that the Sabbath of the Lord belonged to these, though he did not say the ten commandments were done away, but claimed that the Sabbath was. He brought up the usual first-day texts, but handled them very mildly, making strong assertions of what he had shown, instead of giving the proof. Then he made a bitter attack on Bro. Andrews’ History of the Sabbath, and tried to show that it was unfair, repeating a sentence or two here and there, and making comments of a contemptuous character. His arguments would mislead those who were not informed, but no others.
His great effort was to belittle our efforts and issues, and to make them appear to be of small consequence in comparison with the work the churches were doing. He would have us fight infidelity, whisky, and crime of all kinds, which were so alarmingly on the increase, and save souls, instead of giving our attention to these “visionary” matters, and disturbing the efforts of the faithful churches, that were trying to do their utmost to save souls. He could not “come down” to such little themes. When he had his audience worked up to a high pitch, he illustrated our work by a man whose house was full of rattlesnakes, but who, instead of trying to kill them, went to hunting roaches, bed-bugs, etc., acting it out in a manner to fill his prejudiced hearers with great delight. It seemed to me like a mighty effort of Satan to ride over us, and sweep the board. It was something wonderful, though miserably unjust, and out of place in the pulpit. He spoke nearly one and one-half hours. He also spoke on the Sabbath question Sunday forenoon, and on the punishment of the wicked he gave one discourse. On the whole, he managed his case very shrewdly. Monday we got out handbills for a review. We could not get a church, the prejudice was so135strong, but we had a crowded hall. I reviewed both of his discourses on the Sabbath question in one discourse, and spoke over two hours. If ever God helped me to expose error and show up a man, he did in this case. Many prominent citizens were present, and the resident Methodist minister and a Presbyterian minister. We had a most triumphant victory. Outsiders and bitter opposers admitted it, and our cause stands higher than ever in Salisbury. The Methodist minister had stated to several that if I reviewed these discourses they should challenge me to debate, and Mr. Ditzler intimated nearly as much from the stand, but we have heard nothing more about it since my review of him. I gave three discourses in review on the Sabbath, the sleep of the dead, and future punishment. Our friends are stronger than ever, and others are interested. Eld. Berry, Baptist, commences a series of discourses on these points next Tuesday evening. Bro. Hollenbeck will stay, and follow him up.
Seventeen persons have signed the covenant, part of whom were keeping the Sabbath before. There are from fifteen to twenty more who are “almost persuaded,” and some are keeping the Sabbath, at least partially. I shall be disappointed if there are not as many as thirty Sabbath-keepers here in a few weeks; but while our opponents are making these attacks, and debates are threatened, they put off the final decision. But they are very friendly. They have given nearly $25 toward our expenses, and their sympathies are with us very warmly. I was never before in a course of lectures where it seemed that Satan disputed every inch of ground as he has done in Salisbury; but I believe God will give the victory. In this attack I realized more fully than ever before how Satan, in the near future, will bring to bear against the truth the great men, the learned, and the talented; but the Lord can use the weak things to confound them. His truth is mighty, and will prevail.
GEO. L. BUTLER.
Henry Co., April 16.—The most of the time since about the last of March I have been preaching at Bee Branch school-house, in the northwest corner of Henry county. I have given forty-three discourses, and eleven have signed the covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Others are fully convinced of the truthfulness of our positions. I obtained three subscribers for the Review, and two for the weekly Instructor. The Lord gave me great freedom, for which I praise his holy name.
J. G. WOOD.
SAY-WELL AND DO-WELL.
SAY-WELL is good, but do-well is better;
Do-well seems the spirit, say-well is the letter;
Say-well is goodly, and helps to please;
But to do well is godly, and gives the world ease;
Say-well to silence sometimes is bound,
But do-well is free on every ground.
Say-well has friends—some here, some there;
But do-well is welcome everywhere;
By say-well many to God's word cleave,
But for lack of do-well they often leave.
If say-well and do-well were bound in one frame,
Then all were done, all were won, and gotten gain.
—Selected.
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.
By John Norton Loughborough
At the time of my last report I was preparing to visit a family in Oxford to whom we had sent the Signs. I made the visit, and found that the paper was being read eagerly by four families, and then sent to another neighborhood ten miles away to do its work there.
I found the family deeply interested in all the truth. They invited in several of their neighbors, and I gave them a discourse in the evening, and left them more reading matter. On Monday evening of this week I held another evening meeting in their house, with a larger audience. The interest is such that for the present I shall hold at least one meeting a week in this house. Last night this devoted brother attended the meeting held in our house, and said that he and his wife should keep next Sabbath. He brought me an invitation from the lady on the estate on which he works to call and visit her. This Christian lady has been reading our works, and is deeply interested. I have appointed to go there to-morrow.
Last Sabbath one more joined us in our Sabbath meeting. In the afternoon we organized a Sabbath-school. We had seventeen scholars, children of Sabbath-keepers, and these were divided into three classes. Some others also came in; we expect more next Sabbath. In connection with our Sunday-afternoon Bible class, we have started a Sunday-school for all who wish to attend. This calls in many children who are not with us on the Sabbath.
Each week we are now sending two hundred copies of the Signs through the post, to all parts of England, Scotland, and Wales. We get many favorable responses, and thus hear of persons interested, on the sea as well as on land. We also hear of many who are interested, but do not reply to our letters.
Work on our tent is going forward rapidly. In some respects it is an improvement over any tent I have had in America. Of the points of improvement I will speak more fully when it is completed.
During the past week a friend, on learning that we were making this tent for a public meeting-place, gave us £10 ($50) to aid in its purchase. All these things are tokens to us that the Lord's hand is set to the work, even here in Great Britain.
We now have about six meetings a week, and these, with our visiting and necessary missionary correspondence, keep us busy. We are free in the Lord, and feel that his arm is beneath, to strengthen us for our labors.
We would be pleased to get letters from all our friends in America, but as our reports in the REVIEW and Signs are quite full, we hope they will accept these as answers to their letters. This will save us much precious time. Our work increases, both in amount and interest and we shall therefore try to find time to report every week. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
April 3, 1879.
WISCONSIN
By O. A. JOHNSON
Henrietta, Richland Co., April 15.—Some over half-a-dozen have commenced to observe the Sabbath in this place. Among the number is a first-day Adventist minister who has opposed the seventh-day Sabbath. Many more are almost persuaded, but desire to hear the other side.
April 5 and 6, I attended the quarterly meeting at Debello. Eight were baptized, and five united with the church. A Wesleyan Methodist minister living about fourteen miles west of Debello has embraced our views from reading, and hearing a few sermons on the Sabbath and law. I expect to remain here some time yet.
O. A. JOHNSON.
IOWA
By George I. Butler
Mt. Pleasant.—The district quarterly meeting at Mt. Pleasant, April 12 and 13, was a good time for those who attended it. Several were present from Bentonsport and Bonaparte. The Lord blessed the word spoken, and hearts were melted in tenderness before God. On Sunday five new members were received into the Mt. Pleasant church. Six were baptized by Bro. Washburn, part of whom were from the other churches mentioned.
Among the persons baptized were several very interesting cases. One was that of a sister born in Norway, who has given herself to the care of the insane for some twenty years past, some of the time in Norway, and for quite a number of years in the Insane Asylum in Mt. Pleasant, until completely broken in health. Becoming acquainted with a family of our people, she embraced the truth, and was baptized. She was in feeble health, and her friends feared it would injure her to be baptized. She came up out of the water with her face beaming with pleasure, and without the slightest injury. Another case was that of Sister Martha Ashbaugh, eighty-four years of age, who embraced the truth twenty-three years ago by reading. Two papers accidentally fell into her hands, and attracted her attention. She has since taken the REVIEW every year, and has kept the Sabbath alone all this time. She had never seen but two Sabbath-keepers till last fall, and had never heard a sermon until that time. She spent several years in Montana. She has remarkable use of her faculties for one of her age. It was truly affecting to see one so aged following her Lord in baptism.
God blessed our meeting to the good of all our souls. To his name be the praise.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Battle Creek, Mich., April 18, 1879.
KANSAS
By Smith Sharp
Marsh Creek.—I was with the little church at Marsh Creek, April 5, 6. I think they have made some advancement during the past quarter. The Sabbath-school is more interesting, the meetings are better attended, the Sabbath is kept in a better manner, and the T. and M. work is in a better condition. Two were added to the church, one was baptized, and the ordinances were celebrated.
Friday, April 11, the tent was pitched near Bull City for the district quarterly meeting. Nearly one hundred of our people were in attendance. Twenty or twenty-five came forward for prayers on Sabbath, some for the first time. On Sunday thirteen were baptized, the majority of them strong men and women in the prime of life, starting for the first time to serve the Lord. It was indeed encouraging to see them breaking down in contrition before God. It was a blessed privilege to be kept busy during the entire time between meetings Sabbath afternoon in conversing with those who were anxiously inquiring the way to Heaven. The T. and M. report showed far more labor performed in Dist. No. 1 than had ever been done in one quarter before, and the above shows the result of it. Eld. J. H. Rogers, who was passing through on his way to his home in Missouri, was with us and assisted in the meetings.
SMITH SHARP.
Bull City, Kan., Apr. 14.
TENNESSEE
By G. K. Owen
Springville, Henry Co., April 17.—I commenced holding meetings in this county April 6. Several are keeping the Sabbath, and the interest is rapidly increasing.
My address, for some time, will be Springville, Henry Co., Tenn. G. K. Owen.
CHRISTIANA, NORWAY.
By John G. Matteson
The work is progressing. Souls are becoming settled in the truth; others are investigating all the time. Not a few of this little company are men and women who have come right out from darkness and sin into the light of the truth. Families that cared nothing for Christ before are now reading his word, and bend their knees in prayer. Their desire for liquor and tobacco is overcome, and they are cultivating a taste for something purer and higher. The blessed hope is cheering many a soul. Many others are struggling to come to the light. About eighty persons are keeping the Sabbath, besides the children. Our Sabbath meetings are seasons of refreshing from the Lord.
We have beautiful weather this month. The air is fresh and invigorating; yet much sickness prevails, principally on account of ignorance in regard to the laws of health. And it has been a very hard month for many who are without work, and some without bread. With a few exceptions, our brethren have work; but wages are very low, and it requires quite a struggle to get along. The Lord has helped us hitherto, and in him we trust, knowing that he will do all things well.
Our tracts and papers are scattered. Several young men are active in bringing them out. Others get some occasionally. A brother from Sweden got quite a number of tracts to sell and distribute as he went on foot to his distant home in Sweden. So others, from different parts, are helping to spread the light. Soon the ships will go out from here to all parts of the globe. Oh that we had more men to help disseminate the precious truths of God.
JOHN G. MATTESON.
Osterhausgaden 12, Christiania, March 25.
Notes of News.
—France is still pardoning communists.
—A dispatch from Alexandria, Egypt, dated April 14, says a great fire is raging in Cairo.
—An enormous avalanche lately fell in the Austrian Tyrol, crushing nine houses and killing over thirty people.
—The Oneida Communists are experiencing the results of advertising, in the way of increased applications for membership.
—Peru and Bolivia have concluded an offensive and defensive treaty, and both countries have declared war against Chili.
—A prophetic conference was recently held in Mildmay Hall, London. Dr. Horatius Bonar and other distinguished Adventists were present.
—The corpse of a Russian student was recently found labeled: “Sentenced as a traitor by the Socialists’ Revolutionary Committee.”
—Another failure is reported from England, that of the old established firm of Charles Gumm & Co., ship and insurance brokers.
—The Revolutionary Committee of Russia have issued a proclamation threatening the life of the Czar, and a second St. Bartholomew.
—The Boston Herald of March 21, says: “Zion’s Herald wants a revival of the old-fashioned Sabbath. But that would be Saturday.” The Herald is right.
—The Presbytery of New York has felt called to protest against the habit increasing among their families of buying and reading Sunday newspapers.
—Chin Lan Pin, the Chinese Ambassador, has sailed for Spain, with his suit, to open an embassy at Madrid, leaving Yung Wing to attend to matters at Washington.
—The municipality of Paris propose to honor Washington and Lincoln by changing the names of two of the streets of that city to Rue Washington and Rue Lincoln.
—General Garibaldi has written a spirited letter in favor of universal suffrage, convoking a meeting of the Republicans of Italy for the 21st inst., to take measures for the agitation of the subject.
—The population of the Hawaiian Islands, December 27, 1868, is officially stated at 57,985, of which 44,088 were natives. There has been a decrease in the number of natives and half-castes of 4,023 since 1872.
—Sunday, April 13, two bombs were thrown into the Church of San Antonio Seville, in Spain, with the object, it is believed, of creating a panic, and stealing the valuable sacramental plate belonging to the church. Several persons were injured.
—A great storm occurred at Szegedin, Hungary, Sunday, April 13, which destroyed 60 pile-driving stands, and carried away and sunk rafts and lighters laden with materials and provisions. The loss of life from the inundation is now known to be much less than was at first estimated.
—On Mr. Henry Morgan’s 20th anniversary as a reform lecturer, he addressed a large assembly of the citizens of Boston on Boston, comparing 20 years ago with the present. In the course of his remarks Mr. Morgan said, “Then, sin was considered a transgression to be punished; now, it is considered an infirmity to be condoned.”
—On the evening of the 16th, a terrific tornado swept through the lower part of the State of South Carolina, causing great destruction of life and property. In the village of Waterboro more than 100 dwellings and all the churches were swept away, and three-fourths of the inhabitants are homeless. Fifteen persons were killed, and many wounded.
—On the morning of the 14th of April an attempt was made to assassinate the Czar of Russia, the assassin firing several shots at a distance of only two paces. The Czar’s escape is considered little less than miraculous. This is the third attempt that has been made on his life. Of it we may say, More Internationalism! And in this connection we read that 1,140 Revolutionists have been arrested in Russia within the last two weeks.
—On the afternoon of April 14, a terrible cyclone struck the town of Collinsville, Ill. Ten houses were leveled to the ground, a little girl was killed, and several persons were badly injured. The loss is estimated at about $50,000. It was a curious incident of the storm, and one which well illustrates its force, that a horse and buggy were carried to the height of 20 to 30 feet, and dashed to the earth, crushing the horse to jelly, and smashing the buggy to splinters.
—Harper’s Weekly speaks as follows of the trial of T. DeWitt Talmage: “The trial of Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Talmage before the Brooklyn Presbytery on the charge of falsehood, is likely to be protracted. As might be expected, the proceedings have revealed bitternesses which might better have been left to die out of the memory of men. The defense has been conducted by Dr. Spear and his associates, with great skill, and in both direct and cross examination painful scenes have occurred.”
—Another engineering scheme on a great scale is proposed by General Fremont, for bringing back the waters of the Gulf of California to their old basin in Southern California, and thus creating an inland sea 200 miles long by 50 broad. He insists that it can be done at a cost of $1,000,000, and that it would result in transforming what is a desert into a habitable district, and bring incalculable gain to Southern California and Arizona, whose great wants are water and moisture, which this change would supply.—Christian Weekly.
—The scandalous law of the Territory of New Mexico which gave the control of public education to the Jesuits, has been, very properly, abrogated by Congress. The advocates of free and unsectarian education now demand a general school law; this the Jesuits oppose, and they are holding the rod over the Catholics, especially over the Catholic editors. The Vicar-General of the Catholic Church in the Territory has issued a notice to the press, in which he calls the public-school system “the pampered and legitimate child of impiety,” and the papers that advocate it impious. It is well for our people to learn the temper of the church in a region where it has, or its leaders think it has, complete sway over the popular mind. New Mexico offers an interesting study of Romanism.—Harper’s Weekly.
LETTER FROM SWEDEN.
The following is from a brother in Sweden to James Sawyer:—
“DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: To-day I received yours of Feb. 16. I greatly rejoice that the brethren in America have an interest for me. I will give you some account of my relation to the cause.
“I have long had a determination to preach the word of God to my fellow-men, and have even attempted to make this my calling. I once was a laborer among the Lutherans. After I was baptized, I labored among the Baptists; but since I have embraced the Sabbath of the Lord, and have been expelled from that church, my way has been so closed up that I have had to work at my trade to sustain myself. To the Lord will I look, and if it is his will that I should labor for the glory of his name, I feel sure he will open the way before me. It is my desire still to meet Bro. Matteson in Norway. I am yet very ignorant in a knowledge of the truth, and need some Aquila and Priscilla to instruct me. If the Lord will, and I live, I shall go to meet Bro. Matteson. For a long time I was alone here, but now there are five Sabbath-keepers, and more are convinced of the truth.
“I thank you for the addresses of the Sabbath-keepers which you sent me, and if my time permits, I shall write to them. I have corresponded with Bro. A. O. Decker in Njurunda, and he says there is an open door for the truth in that place.
“I am personally acquainted with Fernholm, who publishes a paper called ‘Tidens Tecken,’Signs of the Times. When I was expelled from the church, I wrote to him. In a letter to me he said: ‘It is clear from the testimony of the whole Bible that the Sabbath has not been changed by divine command. The apostles kept the seventh day. There are many in our land who begin to understand it.’ Two years ago he expressed himself to a friend thus: ‘At home, in Kristianstad, we have desired to form a church of Sabbath-keepers.’
“There was also a Baptist from Göteborg, who visited the Conference at Stockholm last summer. This man had learned something about the Sabbath question, and he spoke of it in the Conference. Bro. Fernholm corresponds with him. A Baptist minister told to me that Fernholm keeps the Sabbath.
“Yours, etc., L. G. Olson.”
NEBRASKA
By Daniel Nettleton
Albion, etc.—For the last four weeks I have been laboring with those who embraced the truth during the winter through the efforts of Bro. Starr and myself.
March 10 to 20 I was with the little company at Albion. We held five meetings, in which we enjoyed much of the blessing of God. The friends here are earnest in the missionary work, by which others are being interested. Two more have taken a stand for the truth.
From Albion I went to Halifax, where I remained one week, speaking five times on the practical workings of the truth. An effort was made in favor of the Sabbath-school, and a new interest was taken in this branch of the work. There are now twenty Sabbath-keepers here. The brethren were strengthened and encouraged.
March 29, I met with the company at El Dorado. The Lord blessed us.
April 5 and 6, I attended the quarterly meeting at Raeville. This was a precious season to us. Brethren and sisters from abroad were with us. Two precious souls were buried with their Lord in baptism, and two united with the church by letter. This church was organized nine months ago with a membership of thirteen, and now has a membership of thirty-one. When the roll was called, every member was present, and responded. This church is growing in grace, and in the knowledge of the truth. Our meetings were held in their new meeting-house. May the dear Lord keep this little company from falling, and preserve them all unto his heavenly kingdom.
My address, for the present, is Tekamah, Burt Co., Neb. DANIEL NETTLETON.
PACIFIC S. D. A. PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION.
The fourth annual meeting of this Association was held in Oakland, Cal., April 1, 1879.
James White, John Morrison, W. N. Glenn, M. C. Israel, and J. E. White were unanimously chosen to act as directors for the coming year.
The financial report shows the following:—
Total value of the Association, including book account and cash on hand.
$84,702.05
Association owes on book account and notes,
43,351.91
Assets after debts are paid,
$41,350.14
Immediately following the stockholders' meeting the following officers were elected: President, James White; Vice-president, J. E. White; Secretary, L. D. Abbey; Treasurer, John Morrison; Auditor, H. C. Blake; Publishing Committee, J. H. Waggoner, J. E. White, and L. M. Hall.
It was voted that the editors of the Signs for the past year be continued for the coming year; that Eld. J. H. Waggoner be chosen as resident editor; and that Sister L. M. Hall assist him in this work.
A LETTER FROM ENGLAND.
By WM. INGS.
The following letter addressed to the V. M. Society at Battle Creek will be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW:—
The interest in England far surpasses all our expectations. The Signs is doing a wonderful work. It seems to be just what is needed to prepare the way for the living preacher. For example: a copy was sent to a person; the man examined it, and said it was just what he had been hungering for. Bro. Loughborough made him a visit. He heard Bro. L. preach two sermons, and now he and his family are with us. This brother is now interesting others in the truth. This is just what any one will do who is thoroughly converted to the truth.
The work of scattering our publications is not alone confined to those who accept the truth. There seems to be a power which compels men not identified with us to do missionary work. They say they cannot keep a tract with them; that our publications are wonderful, and they are compelled to believe whether they obey or not.
A few extracts from letters received from those who are reading the Signs may be of interest. A paper was sent to a young man in Kent county. He states that he has been to America, has heard Bro. L. preach, is convinced of the theory of the truth, likes the Signs, wants it continued, and will send the subscription price. A gentleman writes from Staffordshire that he is well pleased with the Signs, and the tracts sent him, and says he lends them to all that will read.
A person in Scotland says the Signs is a good paper. Its matter is rich, and the language is suited to the masses. I met a gentleman the other day, and handed him the Signs, when he stated that his friends near Salisbury were receiving it from America. He said they were delighted with it, and it was going the rounds of the neighborhood, and creating quite an interest. The paper referred to was sent from your V. M. Society.
A person living in Southampton received a copy of the Signs from some one living in Portsmouth. This person's address was sent to the Oakland, Cal., V. M. Society. The individual became interested in the papers received, and is now interesting others. Another who is receiving the Signs expresses her joy for the good things she finds in the paper, and is preparing to contribute to the mission.
If you do not get answers to your letters, do not be discouraged; for you do not know the amount of good you are doing by your letters and papers. Your Christian letters make an impression not easily erased. About four years ago I sent a missionary letter to a person living in the north of England. The other day a person from here saw this gentleman, and on mentioning my name he produced the letter referred to, which he had carried in his pocket since receiving it. This shows how such letters are appreciated.
Bro. and Sr. Loughborough are as busy as bees, and are full of courage. God is in this work. Let us all take courage, and go forward.
WM. INGS.
A THEOLOGICAL SKIRMISH.
By P. C. A.
Mr. Fuller, a Baptist minister, and a boasted Greek and Hebrew scholar, delivered a discourse at Otto, Pope Co., Minn., and endeavored to establish the claims of the first-day Sabbath by such absurd arguments as are common on this question. By request, Bro. Geo. W. Stuart reviewed him. There was a large congregation in attendance; and, although it was Bro. S.'s first address before a public audience, yet he handled the subject well. Our opponent's flimsy arguments were swept away, and the light of truth shone out more clear and beautiful than before. There are some here, as there are in every community, who will follow their leader, let him lead where he may; but the honest and unprejudiced think more of our doctrines than they did before. P. C. A.