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The Advent Review & Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 18

DEVOTION TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.
Earlier text: PATIENCE.

POPULAR WORKS OF FICTION.

By D. F. Newton

“How shall I speak thee, or thy power address, Thou god of our idolatry, the Press! Like Eden’s dread probationary Tree— Knowledge of good and evil is from thee?”
“And the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not surely die.”
Satan is transformed into an angel of light: the sweet is mingled with the bitter, gall and wormwood with honey.
Here lies the danger, the snare is concealed! These fashionable periodicals are Satan’s traps to catch the unwary; multitudes are caught in these snares of the Devil. They go after them “as an ox goeth to the slaughter: or as a fool goeth to the correction of the stocks. Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare and knoweth not it is for his life.” Prov. vii, 22, 23.
“Hearken unto me,” says Solomon, “now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.”
Never did Satan devise a more artful, subtle, successful stratagem to decoy the unwary, and fill the regions of despair, than when he set on foot these fascinating, popular weeklies and monthlies; that are flooding the land, darkening the heavens like the flies, frogs, lice and locusts of Egypt, but far more dangerous. They “go up and come into thine house, and into the bed-chamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading-troughs.”
Thus:— “Crimes in every shape increase, Judgments stalk throughout the land; Signs are borne on every breeze, That destruction is at hand.”
“While men slept the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Matt. xiii, 25.
Let us look at this question a moment, and turn it over.
1. Who are the writers of these love-stories, fictitious tales, novels, romances, fatal tragedies, horrid scenes of rape, blood and murder, that grace the pages of these popular weeklies and monthlies? With few exceptions, are they not known to be persons lax in principle, and loose in life? “As is the tree, so is the fruit.” “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?”
Books and papers have souls; they think, speak and act for evil or for good. A bad book or paper is as dangerous as a bad woman, a bad boy or a bad girl. Reading a bad book is keeping bad company, and reading a good book is keeping good company. Every book, every paper, has a soul breathing a spirit good or bad. It is the soul of its author, and when spread over the pages of the book, that soul acts upon its reader as truly as when acting directly.
2. If any good there be in these works, there is no good which cannot be obtained elsewhere.
3. Their general tendency is to evil. They often present virtue and vice in false colors.
4. The reading of them is a wicked waste of time which should be employed in the acquisition of useful knowledge. Precious hours, more precious than rubies, which God has given for noble and holy purposes, are wasted in ministering to the morbid appetite of a depraved heart. Golden moments lost, are not lost alone, because they carry souls upon their wings.
5. Their cost is another objection. Thousands of God’s money are lavished on these literary serpents, these poisonous reptiles, unclean things like the frogs spoken of by John, the Revelator, that proceed out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, for they are the spirits of Devils.” See Rev. xvi, 13.
6. These fictitious readings often lead to insanity and suicide. The imagination becomes wild and extravagant, like a ship in a storm without compass or helm. A distorted imagination unfits human beings to live and think and act, in this common-sense, matter-of-fact world of ours. Hence the many disappointments, the discontentments, the misery, the broken hearts, the insanity, and the suicides among novel-readers.
7. They weaken the judgment, the reasoning powers are unhinged, and all the perceptive faculties destroyed or greatly vitiated. More than this, all the generous affections of the heart, and all the noble sensibilities of human nature, become blunted and seared under their blighting and withering influence! The intellect is greatly injured by their creating a distaste for nobler and more solid reading. Men do not like to go from the splendid palaces of kings—from the soft and lascivious saloons and drawing rooms of dukes and counts, into the common walks of life—no, they would rather luxuriate amid the splendid castles and enchanted scenes of the novel-writer!
8. They beget a vain, volatile, trifling, frivolous mind. Dr. Arnold says: “Childishness in boys even of good ability, seems to be a growing fault, and I do not know what to ascribe it to, except to the great number of exciting books of amusement. Parents need to exercise the utmost watchfulness for their children, and to exhibit to them, in this particular, consistent example, lest they become enslaved to the pernicious habit of making these publications their mental food. The habit is to the mind what indulgence in intoxicating drink is to the body. In both cases there is a constant craving for excitement, and for an excitement which unfits the faculties and draws away the affections from duty, from Heaven and from God.”
9. Novel-reading and idolatry in dress, foolish talking and jesting go hand in hand; they aid and stimulate each other. Are not most habitual readers of fictitious works excessively fond of gay and expensive clothing—external decorations, ornaments of jewelry, of “gold, pearls, and costly array,” things strictly forbidden in the word of God? See 1 Tim. ii, 9, 1 Peter iii, 9.
10. They produce indolent and sluggish habits of thought. The habitual novel-reader unfits himself for intense mental application, as the history of literature abundantly shows. “The taste of such persons is like that of the epicure, who has long been fed upon highly-seasoned and stimulating food; he no longer relishes plain diet, such as nature and health demand.”
11. They are the stepping-stones to the theatre, the house of ill-fame, “the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” Prov. vii, 27.
12. They unfit the mind for devotion. Who ever knew a novel-reader, or one spending daily whole hours poring over the pages of “Harper,” “Godey,” “Peterson,” “Ballou,” “Leslie,” the “New York Ledger,” the comicals, and other mixed publications of a similar character, a diligent student of the Bible, a lover of prayer, a consistent follower of Jesus Christ? Was such a thing ever? “Can two walk together except they be agreed?”
13. They lay the ground-work for gambling and stealing. Young men that have their mind vitiated, and their moral sensibilities perverted by novels, will not endeavor to procure wealth in the ordinary way, by labor and patience; this is too slow a process to satisfy the fevered and excited mind. Fortune must be made at once.
14. They are one of the most potent engines the Devil has ever been able to plant upon our earth, to undermine the principles of virtue, and subvert the morality of the Bible. They drive the individual from the sanctuary, close the Bible, alienate the heart from God, and plunge the soul into temporal ruin and eternal death? The habit grows with our growth, and, if permitted to run on, will pollute the soul even in the world to come.
15. Finally, these popular works of fiction and foolish comicals poison the soul in all her faculties. “The whole head becomes sick, the whole heart faint,” the native depravity is fed and fostered, and, like the sickly plant of a hot-house, rapidly forced to maturity. The Bible, that “dread, wondrous book, the author, God himself, the subject, God and man,” that book which is a transcript of the Eternal Mind—that book which has “God for its author, truth without error for its subject, and Heaven for its object,”—that book has no charms for the novel-reader! No, it deals in truth and not in fiction! and he has no soul to enjoy the beauties of truth.
Novels are sharp rocks just beneath the smooth surface of the moral sea of life, around which float in shattered fragments the wrecks of lost and ruined millions! And yet others will still venture in that treacherous sea!
Satan was the first author of novels, and his followers have been quite successful in carrying out the principles of his school. It was he who first addressed the imagination and passions of Eve in the garden of Paradise; and was it not a deceptive and unfounded tale, that “brought death into our world, and all our woe?”
What can be done to stay this desolating scourge, issuing from the pit, so long as religious editors advertise and puff novels, romances, comicals, foolish, nonsensical, sickly, sentimental love-tales?
Ministers and ministers’ wives write novels, read novels; religious editors write novels, puff novels, read novels. “Woe to them that build by unrighteousness!” “Woe to thee that spoileth, and thou wast not spoiled.” “Woe to the rebellious children,” saith the Lord, “that take counsel, but not of me.” “Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.”—1 Tim. v, 24, 25.
Good books and papers preach; bad books and papers preach. One is a savor of life to life, the other of death to death! One preaches salvation, the other damnation! “As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport?”—D. F. Newton, in Advent Herald.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE, NO. 4.

By Editor

Our last report closed with a meeting in prospect in Southern Iowa. After a pleasant ride of twenty-eight miles across the beautiful prairies, Oct. 2, with pleasant company, pleasant weather, and pleasant scenery, our journey reached its end and climax together in the town of Mount Pleasant, a thrifty and enterprising place of about 6000 inhabitants—a place which we found very appropriately named, if we take the “Mount” in a somewhat accommodated sense, it being a prairie but slightly elevated above the surrounding country. Here is a church of S. D. Adventists of fifty-four members. The tent had been transported from Pilot Grove, for the purpose of meetings here; but owing to unfavorable weather Thursday and Friday, could not be pitched before the Sabbath. Halls were therefore used on that day, in the forenoon the hall owned by the church, which proving too small for the congregation, the meeting was moved in the afternoon to Union hall where a good assembly listened to sister White. After the Sabbath the tent was erected, and seated Sunday morning in season for meeting at 10. The fact of the tent not being up on the Sabbath, and there being several funerals on first-day, operated unfavorably for a large congregation; yet a good representation of the citizens of the place came out, the congregation at one point in the afternoon amounting to about one thousand persons, to whom sister White spoke with much freedom, and apparently to good acceptance. Bro. White spoke three times. The brethren of the place, who, of course, best understood the conditions and wants of the cause there, expressed themselves as well pleased with the effort. The meetings can but result favorably to the interests of the truth there. There is a good foundation to build to, a spirit of honest inquiry seems to exist in many hearts, and we confidently expect substantial and permanent progress in the work in that section. A feature of especial interest was the readiness with which books were purchased from the stand by those desirous of investigating our views. The meeting throughout seemed quite like a second edition of the good Convocation Meeting at Pilot Grove.
Monday forenoon we visited the chief feature of the place, the Insane Asylum. This is a magnificent building, the largest west of the Mississippi. It stands in a lot of one hundred and seventy-three acres, presents a front of five hundred and twelve feet, while the outside line of the building gives an actual circumference of half a mile. Through the courtesy of the gentlemanly supervisor, Mr. Ashby, though our visit was outside of the hours designated by the regulations of the institution for the reception of visitors, we had the privilege of examining many features of this noble asylum. Of these we cannot here speak particularly. A grand, double stair-case ascends the rotunda, in the central portion of the building, to the height of three stories. From thence we ascended by spiral steps to the cupola, one hundred and thirty-seven feet from the ground. The view from so elevated a position in so level a country, the reader can well imagine, would be almost boundless. All the beauties which can be condensed into prairie landscape through the combined effort of nature and art are here presented at one view. But alas! we find in earth’s fairest spots, there is still need of the grave-yard; we are reminded that the curse is here, and “the trail of the serpent is over it all.” So we turn our eyes forward to the times of restitution when a redeemed earth relieved of the curse and all its blight, shall be given in everlasting possession to a redeemed people. Hence, as we are but pilgrims and strangers here, it matters but little in what portion of this world we make our brief sojourn. We long for the inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away; and we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” where men will no longer have occasion to build asylums for the unfortunate of their race, whose reason is dethroned, and where attendants for the dying and dead, will be needed no more.
At 2:48 p. m. we took the cars for Michigan, reaching Battle Creek at a little past noon the next day. Bro. and sister White have endured their arduous labors in the West, and the fatigues of the journey, without any apparent detriment to strength or health.
We now return to familiar Office duties, grateful to those who have so cheerfully taken upon themselves these duties in our absence, feeling also rested and refreshed by the brief relaxation we have enjoyed. We have seen much in our visit west calculated to give us new strength and courage in the great work of the third message. The spirit of love and union among the brethren that we witnessed at all the meetings, and their devotion to the cause of truth, were truly cheering. We have seen how highly they valued these truths, and what they have been willing to sacrifice to embrace them; and as we have seen this, we have felt a new sense of the responsibility that rests upon those who have important positions to fill in this work, that it be not marred by any wrongs or unfaithfulness on their part. The Lord give us all new consecration to his work, and bless and prosper his cause in all its departments.

LEAVING IOWA.

By D. T. Bourdeau

We leave this State to-morrow after remaining in it upward of one year and four months, during which time we have enjoyed the favor of the Lord in laboring in his vineyard, and formed many happy acquaintances. We have had enough to do, but have been encouraged in seeing our labors appreciated, and in seeing much of the seed that we have sown spring up, thrive, and bear fruit to the glory of God. To him be all the praise.
At our last Convocation Meeting, my soul was refreshed in seeing the large gathering of Sabbath-keepers from different parts of the State, and in enjoying the presence and labors of our beloved Bro. and sister White, and Brn. Smith and Aldrich. It is indeed cheering to see Bro. and sister White standing in the light of Heaven, and earnestly engaging in the important work the Lord has assigned them. Their testimony is appreciated. Bro. White is not only coming up in health, but his preaching is characterized with even more than usual clearness, simplicity, power and experience, for which we would be truly grateful to our Heavenly Father. May Bro. and sister White still prove a blessing to the cause, and may we as a people ever stand by them and stay up their hands in their arduous work.
Our Convocation Meeting was excellent—just such a meeting as we love to attend, and as most conduces to the prosperity of the cause in Iowa. Its commencement was characterized with a solemn spirit of self-examination, and as each one endeavored to make an individual application of the truths spoken, and to take a step in advance by confessing the truth, and resolving to move forward in developing a Christian character, the sweet and gentle movings of the Spirit of God were gradually realized by those engaging in the work. This is the proper order: First, let the mind be enlightened in regard to our duty and condition; and then as we move out in harmony with the light given, and resolve to reform, we can reasonably expect the approving blessings of God's Spirit. If we were greatly blessed in our sins, we would feel no special need of reforming. The first office of the Spirit of God is to convince of sin, and we ought to feel just as grateful for a knowledge of our sins, that we may overcome them, as for an approving blessing, because we have forsaken our sins. The greatest blessing that we can have at certain stages of our Christian experience, is a knowledge of our defects that we may overcome them. But our good Convocation season is past. Those who enjoyed it have returned to their homes. The time has now come for them to carry out their resolutions, to watch unto prayer, and guard against the spirit and influence of the world. Those only who do this, will improve upon the privileges enjoyed at the Convocation. Since the Convocation Meeting, we have enjoyed a continual feast in the society of Bro. and sister White, Bro. Smith and others, and have improved in physical, mental, and spiritual health, as we have been relieved from the pressure of responsibilities which have for some time been upon us. We thank God for the strength and grace we have had while in Iowa, and as we return to Vermont to rest awhile, we would say to the dear brethren and sisters in Iowa, You will not be forgotten by us. All your favors will be remembered. You will often be called up in our imaginations, and will live in our affections, and be remembered in our prayers. Pray for us, and may we meet in the kingdom of God. In the meanwhile, farewell.
D. T. BOURDEAU.
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Oct. 7, 1867.
P. S. Until further notice, my P. O. address will be West Enosburgh, Vermont.
October 9, at Battle Creek. We reached this place yesterday afternoon, in company with Bro. and sister White, Bro. Smith, Aldrich and R. M. Kilgore, somewhat weary, but in good spirits, having enjoyed a most pleasant and prosperous journey. Never have we enjoyed ourselves better every way than we have for the past two weeks. The society that we have been in has contributed much to our happiness. It is the first time we have had an opportunity of devoting a portion of time almost exclusively to visiting with Bro. and sister White, for a long while. It has been a sweet repast to us. Praise the Lord for sweet union in this life, and the solid comfort it affords. If such is the blessedness resulting from pure, brotherly love here, what happiness will we not realize in the world to come.
Our pleasant surroundings have had a tendency to make our parting scenes in Iowa more endurable; yet it was difficult to leave Iowa. There is no place in this world that has more attractions to us as a field of labor, than Iowa. Here we have freely spent precious strength, and God's rich blessings have surrounded us; and here too we have true friends, who have faithfully stood by us and held up our hands in our labors. God bless these true friends of the cause; and may his prosperous hand attend our dearly-beloved fellow-laborer, Bro. Geo. I. Butler, and make him a blessing to his people and cause in Iowa.
D. T. BOURDEAU.

JOSEPH HOAG'S VISION.

Probably the most of our readers are familiar with an article purporting to be a vision of Joseph Hoag, which has gone the rounds of the papers for several years, and has been variously commented upon by the press. It was also published in the last volume of the Review, No. 13.
Whether it be true or false, it has met with a most signal and literal fulfillment thus far, and there remain but a few points yet to be fulfilled, and the signs of the times would indicate that there is a strong probability of the remaining portion of it meeting its fulfillment as literally as that which is already past.
The view purports to have been given in 1803. The substance of it is as follows: The guiding hand of the Lord is shown in conducting our forefathers from a land of oppression and establishing them in this country, and whilst they remained humble they were blessed and became a numerous people, but in their prosperity they became proud and haughty, and forgot that God who had nourished and protected them in the wilderness, and returned to every evil abomination and practice of which the Old Country was guilty, and suffered a dividing spirit to come among them. This dividing spirit commenced in the Church on points of doctrine, and next appeared in the lodges of the Free Masons, and last of all it entered Politics throughout the United States, and did not stop until it produced a civil war, in which the Southern States lost their power and slavery was banished from our borders.
Thus far its fulfillment is a matter of history. It concludes as follows: “When a monarchical government arose, and established a National religion, which made all societies tributary to support its expenses. Whilst beholding property taken from dissenters to
support this National religion, a voice proclaimed: “This power shall not always stand, but with this power will I chastise my church until they return to the faithfulness of their forefathers. Thou seest what is coming upon thy native land for their iniquities, and the blood of Africa, the remembrance of which has come up before me.”
The idea of this government ever becoming a monarchy will no doubt appear chimerical to most of my readers, but those who have been intently watching the signs of the times for the last few months will view it in a different light. Our best statesmen apprehend danger, and they look upon our government at this time as being in a more precarious situation than it was at any time during the rebellion. The President will not scruple to use any means promising success to further his insane and ambitious projects, and he is not wanting for advisers and abettors to urge and assist in carrying out his schemes of treason and disloyalty. The South would rejoice to see this government overthrown and a monarchy erected on its ruins, and there is a party in the North ready to unite with them in anything that would put down Congress and the ruling party, even to that of shouting, “Long live King Andy!”
The establishment of a National religion is what we expect and are looking for, and it is quite probable that God will use that power to chastise his church in order to bring them down to the simplicity of the faith. But in order to show that it is not mere conjecture on my part, and that there are grounds for alarm I give a few extracts from the papers of the day.

THE SOUTH PREPARING FOR WAR.

By E. S. W.

“The Washington Chronicle of the 19th says: Letters have been received here from the South, showing that the ex-rebels of that section, including certain newspaper editors, expect a renewal of the late civil war on the reassembling of Congress. The writer argues that the paroles given by the rebel soldiers to General Grant prevent them from fighting against the North again, except under the leadership of some recognized power in the Government, and they expect that President Johnson will furnish that leadership when Congress attempts to impeach him. The canards published in the Administration papers, apparently authorized by the President himself, especially through the columns of the Boston Post and New Orleans Picayune, regarding the intention of the Radicals North and their alleged inclination to forcibly depose Johnson from the White House, have so excited the people of that section that they are actually preparing themselves for a war. With these facts before them, our readers can readily perceive the significance of General Mower’s recent order in Texas and Louisiana prohibiting the establishment of unauthorized military picket guards at night in those States.
“PRESIDENT OR KING.—A Washington correspondent of the Rochester Express says: I have no doubt but Andrew Johnson has had a longing eye on a position that he regards as more permanent than being a republican executive; and that he has studied the chances of a change in our form of government in these perilous and revolutionary times, but there has always stood, and now stands, a lion in the door—the loyal army—grim, firm and defiant. If he only be in reality what he is in name, commander-in-chief, then, with this powerful organization to help him, there would be danger. As long as there stood a war minister like Stanton, backed by the incorruptible Grant, the idol of the army, he knew there was no chance for success, and this idea was abandoned. At the present time the worst possible influences center round this city. They swarm in the hotels and cluster in knots about the executive mansion. Among these are the worst of traitors—men whose venom is discharged with the serpents, and whose counsel would culminate in assassination, or other dark and hellish deeds, if their ends and purposes could thus be carried. Their presence spreads a great cloud black with gloom over the whole city. Their influence is like the upas, withering everything loyal that comes beneath its shadow. It is this influence that, for the present, controls Johnson. He is not yet sufficiently up to their idea of a hero; but if they can have control of him long enough, they hope to use him to further their ends by a great revolution. He promises them enough, but fails to meet all his promises. They ply him with flattering phrases; speak of his ‘Jacksonian decisions;’ tell him that ‘great men lift great responsibilities;’ that the head of the Government should be the judge of the law and the expounder of the constitution. He, poor fool, drinks in their flatteries and believes himself born to a great mission.”
The Cincinnati Commercial, in a lengthy article on the situation of the country says: “Without question, we may congratulate ourselves that General Grant is in possession of the head quarters of the army and of the War Office. He would not hesitate, in a great emergency, to use the military power to execute the laws of Congress to the extent of making the President a prisoner. We hear, though, that it is contemplated by the President to put Steedman in the War Office, and select for the command of the troops in the District of Columbia an officer who could be relied upon in a difficulty, to adjourn Congress at the point of the bayonet, and make the members captives. That these are exceedingly grave matters to talk about, no one need to be told. That the most deadly civil wars have grown out of antagonisms between departments of government, is a matter of history. That it is threatened, on the part of friends of the President that there will be found means to resist impeachment if it is attempted, is a fact of newspaper notoriety.”
It might be objected on the part of some that according to prophecy there never can be a monarchy in this country. We do not think there ever will be a permanent Kingly government established in the territory of the two-horned beast, but there may be an attempt to establish one, as there was an attempt to establish a Southern Confederacy, which existed in name for about four years.
Whether these things occur or not, we are assured that perilous times are upon us. The people of the different governments are like the pent-up fires of a volcano, ready to burst forth at any time. Kings and rulers hold their offices by a very uncertain tenure. The coming of Him whose right it is to reign, draws nigh, when all present rule, power and authority will be put down, and a reign of righteousness inaugurated. Satan’s lease of this world will soon expire by limitation, and the rightful owner will enter upon and possess it for ever, even for ever and ever. We who are looking for these things should act consistently, and instead of using all our powers and energies to procure favor and property in this world, which is so soon to be destroyed, should be making to ourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, so that when we fail they may receive us into everlasting habitations.
E. S. W.

FIFTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE VERMONT STATE CONFERENCE.

By A. C. Bourdeau; W. J. Cross

According to appointment by the Committee in the Review, the Vermont Conference held its fifth annual session at West Enosburgh, Vt., Friday, Sept. 13, at 9 o'clock, A. M. Bro. A. C. Bourdeau called the meeting to order. Prayer by Eld. J. N. Andrews. The credentials of delegates were then called for, and examined. There were eleven delegates present, representing eight churches. Two churches were represented by letters only.
Moved, By Bro. M. Gould, that we invite Elders Andrews, Howard, and Taylor to take part with us in the deliberations of this Conference. Carried.
On motion, a third section was added to Art. VII of the constitution as follows: “This Conference may at its discretion, invite all persons present who are members of churches in good standing, to take part in the discussions of business; but not to participate in voting.”
On motion of Bro. L. Bean, all brethren present in good standing were invited to take part in the deliberations of this Conference.
The minutes of the previous meetings were read and accepted.
Moved, That a committee of three be appointed to nominate officers for this Conference and for the coming year; whereupon Brn. Wm. White, S. H. Peck, and F. Gould were appointed as said committee.
The committee on nominations presented their report, showing the following result: President, A. C. Bourdeau; Secretary, W. J. Cross; Treasurer, F. T. Wales; Executive Committee, A. C. Bourdeau, D. T. Bourdeau, and L. Bean. By vote of the Committee this nomination was ratified.
The reports of the churches were called for and read.
On motion, the church at Andover, Vt., was admitted to this Conference.
Whereas, The churches of Dunham and Sutton, C. E., and of Troy, Vt., have become enfeebled by death and removal of families; Therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend the remaining members of these churches to unite with the church in East Richford.
On motion, the church was empowered to appoint an auditing committee. Bro. H. Bingham, S. H. Peck, Wm. White, M. Gould, F. T. Wales, and F. Gould, were thereupon nominated as said committee. Adjourned till 2 P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Met according to adjournment. Prayer by Bro. L. L. Howard. On motion, it was voted that the name and place of the Roxbury church be changed to Braintree.
Resolved, That no church should ever consider that their systematic benevolence is disorganized because it has not been re-organized for the existing conference year; but that those persons whose names are entered upon the S. B. book should consider themselves holden to continue to pay as during the previous year, unless they report their inability to do this to the S. B. treasurer; and also that the S. B. treasurer of each church should hold his office until his successor is chosen.
Resolved, That we recommend to those of our brethren within the limits of this Conference, who live remote from our churches, that they unite with that church nearest to themselves.
The Treasurer's report was then called for, read and approved, showing the following result:
Cash in treasury at close of last Conference year, $31.34
Received during the year, 1,518.52
Total, $1,549.86
Paid to ministers, $1,149.21
Paid to A. C. Bourdeau, expenses to Battle Creek, Mich., 14.00
Paid on Missionary Fund, 16.00
Paid for Conference Blanks and incidentals, 20.65
Paid to erect Battle Creek meeting-house, 50.00
Cash on hand to balance, 300.00
Total, $1,549.86
A. C. BOURDEAU, Treasurer.
Resolved, That we express our approval of the course pursued by Bro. A. C. Bourdeau in appropriating $50.00 of the Conference Fund toward erecting the S. D. Adventist meeting-house at Battle Creek, Mich.
The resolutions of Gen. Conf., passed at its annual sessions of 1866 and 1867, were approved as follows, under their respective heads, which please read in Review, in minutes of Gen. Conference:
Unorganized Churches, Statistics from Secretary, Ministers' Reports, Expulsion of Members, Resolutions on Dress, Fields of Labor, Letters of Commendation, Members Moving, Spiritual Gifts, Appeal to Mothers, Health Reform, The Health Institute, Reform Dress, War, Humiliation.
The resolutions on Health Reform, Reform Dress, and Humiliation were endorsed by all the brethren and sisters present.
Adjourned to the call of the Committee.
Sunday at 8 o'clock A. M. the Conference was called in session by the Committee. Prayer by Bro. C. O. Taylor.
Resolved, That we express our gratitude to God for the faithful labors of Bro. and sister White with us in former years; and for the recovery of Bro. White's health; and that we extend to them an earnest invitation to visit us again at their earliest convenience.
The report of the Auditing Committee being presented was approved by the Conference.
The credentials of the following ministers were renewed: A. C. Bourdeau, D. T. Bourdeau, A. S. Hutchins, A. Stone.
Resolved, That we express our deep regret that in our great lack of ministerial labor in this Conference, Bro. Stone has suffered other things to occupy his time when he has been greatly needed by our suffering churches and scattered brethren; and that we express our anxious desire that he shall hereafter give himself fully to the work of God.
Resolved, That we request the Executive Committee of this Conference to personally state to Bro. Stone our deep convictions on this subject.
Voted, That the districting of this state and Canada, and arranging Quarterly Meetings, be referred to the State Conference Committee.
Resolved, That we pay $125 of our funds to the Gen. Conf. Missionary Fund.
Resolved, That we pay $125 of our funds to the S. D. A. Publishing Association.
Resolved, That we pay $50 of our funds to the charitable fund of the Health Reform Institute.
Voted, That the doings of this Conference be published in the Review.
Adjourned to the call of the Committee.
A. C. BOURDEAU, President. W. J. CROSS, Secretary.
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