If men cared less for wealth and fame,
And less for battlefields and glory;
If writ in human hearts a name
Seemed better than in song and story:
If men, instead of nursing pride,
Would learn to hate it and abhor it;
If more relied
On love to guide,
The world would be the better for it.
If men dealt less in stocks and lands,
And more in bonds and deeds fraternal;
If love's work had more willing hands
To link this world with the supernal:
If men stored up love's oil and wine,
And on bruised human hearts would pour it,
If “yours” and “mine”
Would once combine,
The world would be the better for it.
If more would act the play of life,
And fewer spoil it in rehearsal;
If bigotry would sheath its knife
Till good became more universal;
If custom, gray with ages grown,
Had fewer blind men to adore it—
If talent shone
In truth alone,
The world would be the better for it.
If men were wise in little things—
Affecting less in all their dealings;
If hearts had fewer rusted strings
To isolate their kindred feelings;
If men, when wrong beats down the right,
Would strike together to restore it—
If right made might
In every fight,
The world would be the better for it.
Not Promise, but Begin.
The beginning of a new year is a favorite time for making new promises, vows, and resolutions, which are usually broken or forgotten, and are repeated year after year, almost always with the same result.
Such promises amount to but little. The Lord does not ask us to promise to obey him, but he asks us to obey him. He does not ask us to resolve, and covenant, and agree for months to come, but he asks us to serve God to-day, and trust Him “who is able to keep us from falling” for strength in the future.
Most of men's promises are made under circumstances of excitement, and are the direct fruit of a sinful course. When men have wandered, and feel condemned, they take a batch of fair promises as a peace-offering to the Lord, to find pardon and comfort. It is easier to promise for six months to come than it is to do one present duty now.
“What did you give for that horse?” said a man to his fellow one day.
“I gave my note.—Got it cheap, didn't I?”
That man's note was worth as much as most of the promises men make to the Lord. What does he care for our notes or pledges? He requires us to love and obey him to-day. Let us do this and trust in him for the morrow.
It is related that Mr. J. Hunt, whose labors God so greatly blessed amongst the cannibal Fijians, when about sixteen years of age, was seized with a fever, that threatened to prove fatal. Death was brought to his thoughts, with the deep conviction of his unfitness for the solemn change. Years after, in referring to this time, he says, “I thought it would be of no use to promise the Lord I would serve him if he would spare me, as I had often made such promises and broken them. The only way appeared to me to begin to serve God there and then according to the light I had. So I fell on my knees and began to pray. After prayer, I read my Bible in earnest, but began with the book of Revelation, which considerably affected me, though I understood but little of what I read, having no one to guide me. The conviction thus awakened and promptly and honestly yielded to, ripened into a true conversion, and a permanent change of heart.”
This is the true way. Do not waste your energies in promising to serve God, but begin! begin at once, and while your promises may be weak and worthless, God's promises will ever prove a sure foundation, an unfailing trust and rest.
Silent Influence
We are touching our fellow-beings on all sides. They are affected for good or for evil by what we are, by what we say and do, even by what we think and feel. May flowers in the parlor breathe their fragrance through the atmosphere. We are each of us silently saturating the atmosphere about us with the subtle aroma of our character. In the family circle, besides and beyond all teaching, the daily life of each parent and child mysteriously modifies the life of every person of his household. The same process on a wider scale is going on through the community. No man liveth to himself. Others are built up and strengthened by our unconscious deeds; and others may be wrenched out of their places and thrown by our unconscious influence.
Obituary Notices.
By I. Z. Lamb; S. J. Lamb
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.
DIED, in Pleasant Grove, Minn., Aug. 4, 1872, our darling, Wallie H. Lamb, aged fifteen months and three days. We laid our little one away for angels to watch until the Life-giver shall appear to claim his own. Funeral services by Eld. S. Pierce. I. Z. & S. J. LAMB.
Washing Dishes on the Sabbath.
THERE is, to some extent, a difference of opinion and practice on this question, and a subscriber asks our views in reference to it.
We first inquire for ground on which we all stand together; and we apprehend we find it in the proposition that all work should be avoided upon the Sabbath, except that for which some necessity exists, such as the supplying of the wants of ourselves and those dependent upon us, administering to the sick, &c. We think all will be agreed upon this point.
Now we are prepared to advance to the next question, Is the washing of dishes on the Sabbath a necessary work? If it is not, then, according to the principle above stated, it is not allowable; if it is, it may be practiced.
Those who advocate this custom put in the plea that frequently a family is not sufficiently provided with dishes to have enough for the day's use without washing some. Under such circumstances, it would seem to be necessary to wash enough for the second meal. Also when a large meeting is in session, requiring the entire stock of dishes for one setting of the table, the same thing may be necessary.
But in these cases, would there be any necessity for washing the dishes, except after the first meal, setting them by after the second till the close of the Sabbath? And where the supply of dishes is sufficient, is there any necessity for washing them at all on the Sabbath? Yes, say some, they must be washed; for it is untidy and contrary to good housekeeping to have dirty dishes standing around. But would not the same argument apply to other things? For instance, we lay off the soiled clothing of the week, and put on clean raiment for the Sabbath. Why not then say that it is not allowable to have dirty clothes lying in the house over the Sabbath, and so go to work Sabbath morning and wash them all up? No one would think of this. And why cannot dirty dishes be disposed of so as to be as little annoyance as dirty clothes? And why should they, unless in the exceptional cases above referred to, be disturbed on the Sabbath? We think they should not.
And we would extend the same principle to other things. Let all acts of preparation for the Sabbath be done before the Sabbath begins. All bathing, shaving, boot-blacking, &c., should be attended to on our own time, not on God's. The natural tendency is, we think, to slackness rather than too great strictness in the observance of the Sabbath. We cannot too highly exalt the nature or the claims of this sacred institution. It is the holy of the Lord, and honorable. Let us not mar its symmetry by infringing upon its commencement or its close, nor stain its purity by any unnecessary secular work, but present it, week by week, as an offering without blemish unto the Lord.
The Ground Burning Up.
[From the Memphis Avalanche.]
ONE of the strangest phenomena of the times is reported to us from the site of old Fort Pillow, 60 miles above this city. It is no more nor less than that the bluff bank of the river, which rises 50 or 60 feet above the water-level, is on fire, and for the past several weeks has been steadily burning like a volcano for a distance of several hundred yards along the east side of the river on a line 10 or 12 feet above the water-level. At night, a lurid flame or blaze of fire rises from the side of the bluff to a height of two or three feet, which then spreads into smoke and passes on over the summit of the hill, distributing itself with the atmosphere and floating away skyward. The steamer Celeste, on her last trip, passed by the place in broad daylight, and at a time when a light wind blew from the shore, carrying the smoke toward the Arkansas shore and covering the river with a thick haze almost like a fog. What strange combustible formation comprises the river-bluff of the old fort, or what first set it on fire, to burn after the fashion described, is one of the most marvelous events of the times, and puzzles the people of the vicinity not a little. We shall seek to be further informed upon this wonderful phenomenon with no little curiosity.
Ordination.
On Thursday evening, Sept. 26, at Battle Creek, Bro. Sands H. Lane was solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands.
Ordination sermon by Eld. Geo. I. Butler, from 2 Cor. 5: 20, in which he set forth the important nature of the work in which the minister of Christ engages, the solemn responsibility that rests upon him, the help that the Lord has provided, and promised to his servants, the fearful consequences of unfaithfulness, and the glorious destiny that awaits the true workman, when the laborers are all called to their reward.
Prayer by Eld. I. D. Van Horn. Right hand of fellowship and charge by Eld. Butler. Benediction by Eld. Lane.
The blessing of the Lord gave evidence that he approved of the step that was taken; and the occasion was one of interest and profit, such as we could wish might be often repeated.
May Bro. L. as he goes forth more fully charged with the great work upon which he has been willing to volunteer, at a sacrifice of worldly emoluments and honors, be encouraged by the prayers of the people of God, upheld by the strong arm of Him, as whose ambassador he now stands before the people, and cheered by seeing many souls come to the knowledge of the truth as the result of his labors.
Wearing of Gold.
A correspondent asks if we consider that the Scriptures forbid the wearing of gold. We do. Hear Paul: “In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.” 1 Tim. 2:9. And Peter: “Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel.” 1 Pet. 3:3.
Both these texts, it is true, are spoken in reference to women; but no one will claim that extravagance and folly are not just as bad, and just as much to be condemned, in men as women. We therefore consider these as general rules, having a common application to both men and women in the church of Christ.
But may it not be that the apostle simply condemns an undue display of these golden articles and ornaments, and not gold in itself considered? If this question can be answered in the affirmative, then we ask, What other sin cannot be excused on the same ground? But for what are articles of gold worn if not for display? since the same articles made of less costly material would be equally serviceable.
We believe in the letter of the Scriptures, as well as their spirit. And they expressly mention gold among the prohibited articles of personal apparel or adornment. We can therefore come to no other conclusion than that those who wear it, do so contrary to the teachings of the Scriptures.
And there is good reason in the rule the apostles lay down on this point; for there is no practical use, of which we are aware, for which gold is worn, where a less expensive material would not answer equally well.
But, says one, these articles that I wear, are not gold, but only gold washed; therefore they are not expensive. Why then do you procure these articles that are gold washed? Oh! to have something that looks like gold. Then you do not really like to wear gold, but only seem to do so; that is, so that people will think you wear it; and you would fain persuade your conscience into the belief that a sham service of Satan is not just as bad as a real one would be, and tenfold more contemptible. And how would this excuse sound at the bar of Judgment? “Lord, I did not really violate your word by wearing things forbidden therein, I only pretended to do so; I only took a course by which I should appear to the world to be transgressing your requirements; but it was all a sham.” As Bro. Waggoner justly remarked in the REVIEW a few months since, “Pretending to serve God, while you do not mean to serve him in fact, is considered a bad thing; but pretending to serve Satan, while in heart you do not mean to serve him, is worse if possible.” Let us at once abandon his service, both in reality and in pretense also.
Special Request.
By P. S. Thurston; H. W. Decker; I. Sanborn
The Wisconsin State Conference Committee have decided that we should put another tent in the field next summer. Therefore we hereby recommend that the elder in each church circulate a subscription to raise the necessary means, which will be about four hundred dollars, which we recommend to be paid by the first of January, and sent by the elders in post-office orders or draft on Chicago, to William Kerr, Monroe, Green Co., Wis.
We hope, dear brethren, you will attend to this at once; and if we should raise more than we should want for the purchase of a tent, it can be used to the glory of God in other departments of the great work.
P. S. THURSTON, } Conference
H. W. DECKER, } Committee.
I. SANBORN, }
Special Notice.
By I. SANBORN
To all the S. B. Treasurers of the Wisconsin State Conference: Please remember that the first of October is the time to send your quarterly report to the Secretary of the Conference, E. R. Gillett, Albany, Green Co., Wis. I. SANBORN.
The Best of Now and Here
“The west winds blow, and singing low,
Let’s hear the glad streams run,
The windows of our soul let’s throw
Wide open to the sun.
No longer forward nor behind,
Let’s look in hope or fear,
But grateful take the good we find,
The best of now and here.
English Bibles.
By Editor
We have on hand a good supply of English Bibles which we offer, post paid, at the following prices:
Diamond, Marg. Ref., Morocco, Gilt, $1.50
Pearl, " " " 2.25
Nonpareil, Ref. after verse, " " 2.75
" Marg. Ref., Circuit, 3.25
Minion, Ref. after verse, Morocco, " 3.00
" Marg. Ref., Circuit, 4.25
News and Miscellany.
“Can you not discern the signs of the times?”
SINCE April 15, 1872, the burnt part of Chicago has grown at the rate of one brick store, or iron building of four or more stories, and twenty-five feet front, for every working hour!
The volcano Mauna Loa, on the Island of Hawaii, S. I., is reported to be again in active eruption, presenting a scene of great magnificence......The British corvette “Cossack” has captured several persons and vessels engaged in kidnapping natives of Navigator's Island, to be sent from there to Australia.
Christian and Heathen Populations
All the Christian sects together in the world comprise a membership of about 330,000,000, whilst heathen worshippers count over 1,000,000,000, the Buddhists alone having 340,000,000. The Roman Catholic Church embraces 185,422,000 followers, all the Protestant folds combined, 195,834,000.
Public Debts
The public debt of the United States is about three-fifths that of Great Britain, yet the two nations pay almost the same amount of interest. The receipts of the United States the last fiscal year were $338,000,000; those of Great Britain in the same time $372,705,000; a surplus of $91,000,000—six times that of Great Britain. The U. S. government annually costs $166,500,000 beyond interest charges, Great Britain costs $224,500,000. All the pensions of the British government amount to $5,000,000; U. S. pension accounts foot up $35,000,000.
Newspapers of the United States
The total annual circulation of newspapers printed in the State of New York is 492,770,868, being more than twice the number printed in any other State. The next greatest number of copies is in Pennsylvania, where 233,880,332 copies are annually printed. Massachusetts also prints 107,791,953; Illinois, 102,686,204; Ohio, 93,594,448. Then comes California with 45,869,408 newspaper sheets per annum.
Religion’s Lasting Joys
“’Tis religion that can give
Sweetest pleasures while we live
’Tis religion must supply
Solid comfort if we die.
After death its joys will be
Lasting as eternity.
Be the living God my friend,
Then my bliss shall never end.”
Rules for the Government of Children
—THE following rules for the government of children are of great service to parents and teachers.
When you consent, consent cordially.
When you refuse, refuse finally.
When you punish, punish good naturedly.
Commend often. Never scold.
JEHIEL GANIARD
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
QUARTERLY meeting of the church at Waterloo, Grant Co., Wis., Oct. 19, to commence at ten o'clock and hold over first-day. Bro. Sutherland is expected to be present to preach the word. We cordially invite the brethren and sisters at Mount Hope and Bloomington to meet with us. Let us draw near to God that he may draw near to us and pour us out a blessing.
JEHIEL GANIARD
MONTHLY meeting for Tuscola, Vassar and Watrousville, churches at Watrousville, Mich., Sabbath and first-day, Oct. 12 and 13. Bro. Corliss will be present.
J. L. MILLER.
Quarterly Meetings in Minnesota.
Quarterly meetings in the Minnesota Conference will be held as follows:
At Greenwood Prairie, Oct. 5, and 6.
" Concord, " 12 " 13.
" Maiden Rock, Wis., " 19, " 20.
" A Church received into the Minn. Conf. at its last Session, twelve miles south of Austin, Minn., in Iowa, " 26, " 27.
Providence permitting I will try to be present.
STEPHEN PIERCE.
Providence permitting I will meet with the Tract Societies in different churches in Michigan, as follows:—
Potterville, Oct. 7.
Olivet, " 8.
Convis, " 9.
Burlington, " 11.
Newton, " 12.
Battle Creek, " 13.
Otsego, " 15.
Allegan, " 16.
Monterey, " 19.
Meetings to commence at 7 o'clock P. M., except Sabbath at 10½ A. M. E. H. ROOT.
QUARTERLY meeting of the S. D. Adventist church of Monroe, Green Co., Wis., Oct. 19 and 20. Also, the Missionary and Tract Society of Dist. No. 2, will hold its first session in connection with this meeting. We wish all members of this Society to send in their reports to the secretary, L. Hardy, of Monroe, one week at least before meeting. All are invited to attend this meeting. Come one, come all, prepared to work for the Lord. Bro. Downer will attend this meeting. Bro. Olds is invited.
O. H. PRATT, Elder.
Monroe, Green Co., Wis.
ORANGE, Sabbath, 10 A. M., Oct. 12, where Bro. Howe may appoint. Baptism will be administered if desired.
Oct. 13, with the friends in Odessa. Will Bro. John Larger circulate appointment, and will the friends in Odessa attend the Orange meeting.
P. STRONG.
P. S. I commence an eight days' debate with Eld. Mavity (Disciple), in Bushnell, Sept. 30, on the Sabbath and Sunday question, four evenings each. It would please me to see some one of our preachers present.
P. S.
THE monthly meeting of the Jackson church and the quarterly meeting of the Tract Society of the east half of District No. 4, at Leslie, Oct 5 and 6. Let each member make their reports to the agents in time for the agents to make their report to the director.
E. P. GILES, Elder.
MONTHLY meeting for Western New York will, Providence permitting, be held with the church at East Elma, Erie Co., Sabbath and first-day, October 12, 13.
Take Buffalo, New York, and P. R. R. from Buffalo to Jamison Roads. Teams will be in readiness to convey all comers to homes on arrival of each train on Friday, the 11th. CHAS. B. REYNOLDS.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the Review & Herald to which the money receipted pays—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Pastor's. If money to the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
$2.00 EACH. D W Milk 42-1, Geo Benton 42-1, B F Rood 44-14, H E Gardner 42-16, Mrs E Grantham 41-1, H L Doty 41-1, M A Morrison 41-1, H C Steward 42-1, Mrs J Craw 43-1, Geo H Sinclair 42-12, Peter Lorenzen 42-16, Wolney Powers 40-14, Geo Booth 39-1, Mary Gordon 42-1, Fanny Glasscock 43-1, D A Hill 41-16, John A Haughey 42-1, A M Mann 41-24, Bell Wright 42-16, T F Emans 42-9, S J Loomis 42-1, Dunham Moser 42-15, Catherine Myers 41-2, John Sprinkle 42-13, B B Frances 42-1, M Rounds 42-1, H Hiestand 41-15, E E Guild 42-11, Mrs S H Vedder 42-14, Warner Messenger 42-16, M B McReynolds 42-2, Mrs Amy Austin 43-2, J L Prescott 43-7, W Hale 42-1, J A Williams 42-15, Mrs Chas Townsend 42-16, J Hendry 42-14, Robert Brown 42-16, S A Holmes 42-1, M F Aldrich 43-1.
$1.50 EACH. John Aikens 42-16, Mrs Eunice H Barton 42-16, John Laforge 42-16, F L Goodwin 42-16, Clara Ferguson 42-16, Mrs S Wall 42-16, H Hilliard 42-1, J S Temple 42-1.
$1.00 EACH. Marian Covert 41-16, Moses Edwards 41-8, Wm Seward 41-16, Wm Cruzan 41-8, Sarah Eldridge 41-1, Emily C Day 40-23, John Clarke 41-17, Grace Holbrook 40-1, Mrs Nellie Kendall 41-16, P R Bailey 41-16, Wm McNaughton 41-16, S W Hickock 41-1, L Day 40-13, M C Russell 41-16.
MISCELLANEOUS. R McCormick $4.00 42-1, J Holiday 1.80 43-21, Mrs J Nanereth 2.50 41-14, Florence I Anderson 54c 40-16, Roswell Peck 2.46 40-7, F L McClaflin 2.50 42-14, Fanny Van Fosser 3.00 41-1, Wm Richardson 4.00 42-1, Daniel Beal 8.00 40-13, Wm Arthur 4.00 44-2, Isaac Daughty 25c 40-20, J L Edgar 3.25 43-7, Frank Johnson 4.00 41-10, M S Lathrop 50c 42-15, J E Hills 2.10 41-20, A D Tracy 5.00 43-1, C H Lansing 3.00 41-4.
Books Sent by Mail.
Geo W Boggs 25c, B G Allen 50c, Lillie J Null 3.10, Geo Koon 1.00, I W Fry 25c, Lucy Harris 35c, J Clark 1.00, D F Randolph 25c, Mrs Lucy Kelly 50c, A Lorberg 20c, S Gorsline 35c, C L Sweet 1.50, D Inman 50c, Mrs M A Reed 2.25, J Huntsinger 15c, C A White 4.00, E B Carpenter 50c, Vita Morrow 60c, D C Phillips 25c, J F Frauenfelder 75c, T S Harris 75c, A C Hudson 50c, Wm Freed 5.00, Client Johnson 25c, E Lamphier 20c, T Demmon 75c, D McAlphine 1.00, H Hilliard 25c, S A Burlingame 1.00, J Lindsay 25c, W C Ellis 1.00, Mrs S P Atwood 20c, Wm H Morgan 10c, H M Erway 70c, B M Caswell 50c, D Stanback 25c, J H Waggoner 4.35, A Grattan 1.20, N Grant 25c, Milton Southwick 25c, J R Israel 50c, N Hodges 1.69, A Thew 25c.
Books Sent by Express.
M J Bartholf Whitewater Wis. $5.94.
Cash Received on Account.
R M Kilgore $16.00, Geo I Butler $175.00.
Shares in S. D. A. P. Association.
Samantha L Crouse $10.00, Fanny Glasscock $10.00, Sarah Glasscock $10.00, Thomas Alverson $20.00, C R P $10.00.
Michigan Conference Fund.
Church at St Charles $8.00, Convis $30.00. Charlotte 25.00, Warren Sanborn $7.00.
General Conference Fund.
Received from Ohio Conf. $250.00, John Utts 5.00.
Review to the Poor.
Thomas Alverson $3.00.
Book Fund,—$10,000 Wanted.
Amount previously received, $5307.88.
Miscellaneous. J Edgerton and wife $12.80.
Fifteen Dollars Each. A friend. Thomas Alverson.
HYGIENIC BOOK FUND.
$200.00 EACH. H B Stratton.
$75.00 EACH. A W Maynard and wife.
$50.00 EACH. A O Burrill and wife, C K Farnsworth, C W Comings.
$30.00 EACH. L D Comings.
$25.00 EACH. D R Palmer, D E A, S A McPherson, S N Haskell, J N Andrews, P C Rodman.
$20.00 EACH. A C Bourdeau, J H Waggoner.
$10.00 EACH. D T Bourdeau, D A Owen and wife, B Hill, R A Hill, E P Kellogg, Thomas Alverson, A A Bradford.
$7.00 EACH. A W Gould, M A Gould.
$5.00 EACH. M E Bourdeau, J H Minisee, D W Milk, Betsey Maynard, Robert Sawyer, C Green, Cyrenius Smith, W C Sisley, H S Gurley, Geo Maynard, Sarah Maynard, M B Cyphers, Wm Ings, Jane L Ings, A M Mann, Alden Green, D A Robinson, H A Weston, S W Randall, L H and M L Priest, S B Sturgis, D Daniels.
$4.50 EACH. J Crandall.
$4.00 EACH. J S Day and wife.
$3.20 EACH. L A Bramhall.
$3.00 EACH. J E Titus, H S Guilford, S Martin, M L Huntley, H Chase, H E Haskell.
$2.00 EACH. R Thayer, W E Beach, Reuben Griggs, John Stringer, Martha Cyphers, Addie Cyphers, M P Styles, A M Weston, R B Wheeler, E W Kimball, C W Reed, L Sweet.
$1.50 EACH. H W Dodge.
$1.00 EACH. Hickman Miller, D A Babcock, H L Birmingham, M C Trembley, Nora Walker, Emily B Colvin, S M Swan, S Campbell, A Burwell, Sarah Ross, B M Hibbard, A Ryman, S Eckert, Wm Patterson, Levi Wilcox, A Avery, J Taber, David Sevy, M Randall, J H Murray, J P Hoffman, L E Rathbun, S E Clark, D W Bartholomew, Stephen Perry, D Newcomb, N M Stringer, Charles Cook, A brother, A sister, J G Brown, H G Arnold, C L Sweet, E McComber, Wm Brown, A friend, M Haskell, C Brown, C McNeal, M E Harris, L Emery, S A Beach, Mrs B G Allen, M Chapman, Nancy Gibbs, E R Dewey, Mary Gibson.
50cts EACH. E B Daniels, A Frost, Esther Doty, A F Fowler, Alice Canfield, G W Frank, Samuel Green, S J Smith.