p. 252 | Review and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 16. (3/31/1868)

Earlier text: REPORT FROM BRO. LOUGHBOROUGH

REPORT FROM OHIO.

By I. D. VAN HORN

SINCE my meeting at Appleton as given in my last report, I have been laboring in, and in the vicinity of Bowersville, and with good results. I have spent four Sabbaths with the little company of believers in this place, and our meetings at these times have given us much encouragement. The few who have embraced the truth here are growing strong, but they meet with a good deal of opposition, which only serves to make them more earnest and zealous in the truth.

On Sunday, Feb. 23, the brethren and sisters came together for the purpose of uniting and becoming an organized church. This was a public meeting, and there was a house full of spectators, a good share of whom came in out of mere curiosity. But this was a good meeting for us. Although there were so many to witness our order, yet a feeling of solemnity pervaded the meeting during the whole time, and it lasted between three and four hours. In our closing exercises, many in the house were affected to tears. We were successful in organizing a church of sixteen members. There are a few others that are preparing to join in a short time. Bro. Wm. Cottrell was chosen and ordained as their elder, and we have every reason to believe that a permanent church has been formed in this part of Ohio.

With a willing heart, and, unanimous consent this little church adopted the plan of Systematic Benevolence. Their figures amount to $106.50 per year.

They are moving out in the health reform as fast as they learn, and can make the change. The dress reform is being adopted by the sisters, which brings upon them the jeers, scoffs, and derisions of some of the people of the baser sort, and not only these, but from others who profess better things. The corners of the streets, and the doors and windows of the houses are well represented by this class of persons as we go quietly to our place of meeting every Sabbath.

“Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord.” I am glad the third angel’s message is bringing out a peculiar people that may be known by their appearance in the last days. Oh! that the pure truth may sanctify us by our making a full consecration unto God, that we may bear the cross here, and by and by wear the crown.

During my stay here this time, I have employed about two weeks in holding meetings in Bloomington, a little village about three miles south of Bowersville, where I gave twenty lectures. The result is, that five or six have become almost entirely convinced of the truth, but did not take any positive stand to obey it. Others that were living out the truth were greatly strengthened, so that our labor here has not been lost.

The cause of present truth has got a foothold in this part of Ohio that will stand till the Lord shall come to gather his people. May the Lord bless the work here, until there shall be a people fully prepared to stand with the remnant on Mount Zion.

I. D. VAN HORN.

Bowersville, O., March 18, 1868.

HAS ABEL PERISHED?

By Dudley Marvin Canright

POPULAR theology tells us that Abel, the first martyr has been in Heaven for about 6,000 years, as his soul went there at the time Cain slew his body. The Psalmist says, “In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” He has been among the angels in the beautiful city of God, singing praises to the Lord, and enjoying the blessings of Paradise. That is what theology tells us. In arguing upon the resurrection, Paul once said thus: “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” And again, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink for to-morrow we die.” Here Paul manifestly stakes all upon the resurrection. If the dead should not rise, he has had all his toil in vain, and they which have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. Now what I have to ask is, How can this be true of Abel, if he has actually been in Heaven for the last 6,000 years? He has lived in joy and pleasure for 6,000 years without a resurrection. Suppose the resurrection should not take place for 6,000 years more, he would still live during that time. Suppose it should not for a hundred thousand years, he would live during that time without a resurrection; but suppose still farther that the resurrection should never occur, would not Abel live eternally? Certainly, according to this theory. Then how could it be true that those that have fallen asleep in Christ have perished if there be no resurrection? Abel could live without a resurrection. But on the other hand if Abel actually died 6,000 years ago, and “fell asleep,” then he is sleeping in the dust now. If the resurrection should not occur for 6,000 years longer, he would still continue to sleep. If it should never occur, he would never awake from that sleep. Hence death would be an eternal sleep, and Abel would have forever perished.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

LUTHER ON PREACHING.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

In Marsh’s Ecclesiastical History, p. 272, he relates the following anecdote of Luther: “Luther had heard the celebrated Bucer preach a sermon, and invited him to supper. After commending the sermon, he said he could preach better than Bucer. Bucer courteously assented, saying, that by universal consent, that praise belonged to Luther. Luther then seriously replied, Do not think that I am vainly boasting; I am conscious of my own slender stores; nor could I preach so learned a sermon as you have done to-day; but my practice is this;—when I ascend the pulpit, I consider what is the character of my hearers, most of whom are rude and uninstructed people, almost Goths and Vandals, and I preach to them what I think they can understand. But you rise aloft and soar into the the

clouds; so that your sermons suit the learned, but are unintelligible to our plain people. I endeavor to copy the mother, who thinks the child better fed with the simple milk of the breast, than with the most costly confections.”

This is a good idea of preaching—one worth remembering. The mass of the people are ignorant of the Bible and spiritual things. Hence we must use simple language and ideas in order to reach them. But the most of the preaching of the day goes clear over their heads—is a sort of a sky gospel. Christ’s preaching was very plain and simple.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

REVIEW OF THURMAN.

By James White

The following notice we clip from the Advent Herald. A brief conversation with Mr. Thurman satisfied us that he was a man of unbounded egotism and assurance, and that he was not careful of any rules of criticism when a point was to be made. This opinion was confirmed on examining his book; and we can say with the editor of the Herald, “we only wonder that it found so many admirers.” J. H. W.

REVIEW OF “THE SEALED BOOK OF DANIEL OPENED,” Showing it to be Totally Unreliable. (By special request.) Also a Brief Statement of the Argument for 1868. By A. Hale. Boston, 1868.

The work of W. C. Thurman, which is here reviewed, is one in which we never had much interest, and never considered it “reliable.” The author's claim that he was “commanded” of God to write the book (page 55,) we never felt disposed to submit to, and only wondered that it found so many admirers. Eld. Hale, in his pamphlet of 64 pages, has effectually exposed many of its weak points—though the style in which he has done it is rather severe. Here is a specimen of his severity: “As a ‘reference book’ there is scarcely a material fact that is not placed in a false light; scarcely a question that is truly stated; nor a party brought to view that is not placed in a false position. God, his angels and prophets, interpreters, historians and chronologists, are all worked by the same profane hand into the performance of the same profane service. . . . I protest against this work of Thurman’s as an unmitigated and unpardonable scandal!” We advise the admirers of Thurman’s chronological views to get the pamphlet and read it. For sale at this office. “Price 15 cents; postage 2 cents.”

RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS.

[Bro. Smith: The following item, on the responsibility of parents, I clipped some time since from an old paper. Should you think it would serve as a moderate intimation of Christian parents to more faithfully discharge their duty to their children, you can give it a place in the Review, if you would be pleased to do so. A. S. Hutchins.]

"In Iceland, if a minor commits a crime, the parents are immediately arrested, and unless they can prove, to the satisfaction of the magistrate, that they have afforded to the child all needed opportunities of instruction, the penalty of the crime is visited upon them, and the child is placed under instruction."

The Icelanders, it must be admitted, have just ideas of the relation of parents to children, and of the resulting responsibilities. The logic of their practice is by no means obscure or doubtful. This is your child, is it? Yes. He is guilty of the crime alledged, you admit? Yes. How came he to do such a thing? Was he not placed in your hands in his tenderest infancy? Did not God give him into your care on purpose that you should train him up in virtue and piety? When placed under your care, was not that mind plastic to the molding power of parental teaching and training? Could you not have then impressed indelibly the lessons of piety and virtue? Did you do it? If not, then does not the responsibility of failure in this case rest on you?

Over and above this, to each Christian parent, God says—Devote your child to me under my revealed covenant, and I will accept the dedication. Train that child for me in humble faith, and I will aid your efforts. If you consent, I will be a God to you and your children after you.

Now with such a superadded pledge of divine co-operation, why should Christian parents fail in their training of their children for God and for usefulness? Must they not stand indictable before not human laws only, but before the law and bar of God, if the early defection of their children prove that as parents, they have been recreant to their high, tender, and sacred obligations?

Grateful Acknowledgment.

By S. Newell; Sarah P. Mead

DEAR BRO. AND SR. WHITE, and all those brethren and sisters who have so kindly aided in making up the box of goods and fruit sent to us from your place: Please accept our grateful thanks for it. Everything in it will be useful to us. The fruit is very nice and very thankfully received. Thank Willie for the books. The children are much pleased with them.

We feel all unworthy of such favors. They have been unexpected to us and we feel that we should be very humble before the Lord in view of it. May the Lord reward you abundantly for all your kindness to us. Your unworthy brother and sister.

S. NEWELL AND SARAH P. MEAD.

TRIBUTE TO SR. MARY MAXON FISH.

By An Episcopalian

MR EDITOR: You had, some time since, among your correspondents, a fine writer—Mary Maxon. Through her I became a reader of your columns, and an admirer of your church. She has lately fallen asleep in Jesus. I trust you have given an account of her triumphant death ere now, but suffer me to add a few words concerning this sweet saint. From her earliest childhood I have known and loved her. Of the sweetest natural disposition, there was still in her conversion a manifest change—a sanctification of character most impressive and affecting. But few knew how this lovely girl was called to suffer. It may not be proper to write of it here, but your people ought to know what a cross was laid upon those young shoulders in turning from the “church of her fathers,” to join you. Returning blessing for cursing, she remained steadfast, and was truly a light in the world. If there are many such developments of Christian character in your church, truly Christ is with you in all the power of primitive manifestation. For the love I bear to my angelic friend Mary, I bid you God speed, and implore your prayers.

AN EPISCOPALIAN.

News and Miscellany.

Can ye not discern the Signs of the Times? Matt. xvi, 3.

—INJURIES by the late flood have been very general, extending from Canada, through the States of New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. At Rock Island an ice gorge occasioned much danger, injuring the railroad bridge, and taking out the Moline dam. Also at Cleveland and Toledo the loss was serious. The injury done to bridges through the country is very great.

Number out of Employment in the City of New York.— In the month of January the World estimated that over 50,000 operatives—male and female—had been discharged from the workshops in that city. The New York Herald estimates the number out of employment in the month of March as augmented to 100,000.

—While there seems to be some danger of a new engulfment of the still partly buried site of Pompeii, another ancient city has come to the surface. Traces of a large ancient town near Castranova, in Sicily, high up on a plateau of the Cassera Mountains, have been discovered, and excavations are to be set on foot without delay.

Growth of New York.— A cursory examination of the income statistics of that metropolis will probably surprise even those who think themselves prepared to believe anything about New York, and will show how rapidly the city of New York is absorbing the real busy life of the country. For instance, the city of New York returns as heavy an income tax as the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts combined; nearly three times as much as Philadelphia or Boston; and eighteen per cent. more than the whole of the great State of Pennsylvania, and yet it is notorious that income returns in New York are more incomplete than anywhere else in the United States. But this is not the most striking view of the subject. While the incomes for 1867 in the whole United States show a falling off from the previous years, of over three millions, New York city shows an increase in her returns of over thirteen millions. All the other great cities show a large falling off of revenue, but New York continues to grow with a steadiness and rapidity that, considering the financial distress and industrial paralysis that has oppressed the country, is absolutely wonderful.

LOVE OF THE WORLD.

The sacred Scriptures represent the Saviour's disciples as persons who have little concern with this world; whose chief business here should be to glorify God, and press forward to Heaven. Jesus said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.” “Set your affections on things above, not on things on earth; for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” How full, how impressive, are those words of the blessed Jesus: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” This world was no object of his affection. He slighted its wealth, scorned its treasures, disregarding its fading pursuits, and all its deceitful maxims. It had no charms for him; its terrors could not alarm, nor its allurements entice him. He acted in it as a stranger come to perform an important commission, and then leave it. Are you one of his disciples? This world is no more to be the object of your affections than it was of his. This holy deadness to the present world is described impressively by the apostle Paul: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world.” If you are a follower of Jesus, you, too, must be crucified to the world, and the world to you. As you would escape eternal death, as you desire eternal life, watch against love to the world. It has been the ruin of millions. Beware of this rock. On it, crowds that seemed once setting out for Heaven, have made shipwreck of faith and eternal hopes. The world is Satan's grand temptation. If that bait fail, he has none more alluring to present. The world was the last temptation by which he tried the Son of God. “All these things,” said he, “will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” When that was rejected, he fled; he had no higher bribe to offer. Love to the world is the most fatal of sins. The Scriptures tell us of some eminently pious men that fell deeply, but as bitterly repented; but not one child of God is described who was a lover of the world. For this is not merely a single sin, a casual fall, but a state of mind, a disposition of heart, connected with all that is opposed to God and goodness. This sin is also peculiarly dangerous because it is peculiarly insidious. It steals into the heart, and governs there, and yet deceives the slave it governs. It kills hopes of immortality, and yet its wretched slave perhaps connects himself with a Christian church; professes the religion of Jesus; brings, it may be, no flagrant disgrace upon his profession; but still lives and dies deceived. Were he to become a swearer or a drunkard, his friends would disown him, as dead to God. His crimes would stare him in the face, and conscience might take the alarm, and bid him flee from the wrath to come. But the love of the world feels no such alarm. He stands as a member of the church, or perhaps sustains some office in it; or ascends the pulpit, and bids others flee from ruin; yet he is himself a child of hell, for he is a lover of the world. O my fellow-pilgrim, there is no religion in the heart while the world is loved. If any man, let his knowledge of divine truth be ever so extensive, let his profession be ever so strict, let his zeal for truth be ever so flaming, his character ever so amiable, and his standing in the church ever so long, yet, “if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

All the forms of religion may be assumed, all open sins be renounced, by him who yet remains a lover of the world. The drunkard may become sober, the lewd grow chaste, the liar true, the pilferer honest, the profane reverence his Maker's name, the Sabbath-breaker frequent God's house, and the prayerless learn to pray, and yet this master sin, this treacherous vice, may lie hidden within. And the man who has undergone the change now described, may be as far from God, and perhaps farther than when he drank in iniquity like water. Then, he had some fears that his state was bad; now, he thinks that all is right; and yet, because he loves the world, all is wrong. Perhaps you inquire, How shall this secret evil be discerned? The mention of a few marks of it may assist self-examination. Love to the world rules within, if, for the sake of profit, ease, or pleasure, you are kept back from accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord, your Saviour, and your all. Jesus said, “He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” Love to the world rules in your heart, if through fear of loss or injury, you persist in what you know to be sinful. If, for instance, there be anything in your trade or avocation, that you know is inconsistent with religion, and yet, to avoid loss or secure gain, you persist in following this, by so doing you plainly show that you love the world more than God and your own soul; that you are no Christian. “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple.” Common reason may further convince us, that love to the world is to be known by anxiety to acquire worldly good, and unwillingness to part with it.—Pike's Guide.

THE REFORM DRESS.

By JOS. CLARKE.

THE January number of the Health Reformer, contains a fine representation of the reform dress, as worn at the Health Institute, and adopted by the sisters of the S. D. Adventist church.

This style is certainly beautiful, because it is natural, and becoming. It is conducive to health, and must be very easy and comfortable. We commend the good taste of those who have adopted it; it is the only style we have ever seen, faultless in all respects. Beautiful, and neat, and comfortable as it is, and coming as it does from so high a source no doubt some see only deformity in it: perhaps, if it had emanated from the ladies of Paris, or London, or New York, it might have more favor with such.

The taste may be perverted, as well as the judgment; the bigoted errorist, holds the first and seventh, to be one and the same day; another with perverted taste, admires the wasplike waist, the trailing skirt, and the feeble step; the Chinese belle, is complacent over her little club foot; and the flat-head Indian, thanks his parents for the pains they took to flatten his head, while it was soft and pliant; each of these is confident, his or her way is refined and becoming.

Nature is baffled; the human frame is forced out of shape, in order to bring it into subjection to the goddess of fashion, who, despite her intimacy with the vilest characters in the world's great cities, is yet worshiped, by many professing godliness.

JOS. CLARKE.

CUMULATIVE ARGUMENT.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

A RECENT writer, in a long-winded argument for the first-day Sabbath, said that his argument was cumulative, each point strengthening the other; and then went on with a false statement respecting a revealed fact, basing a probability upon this, and then appealing to the practice of the heathen who had departed from God into idolatry, to complete the argument and prove the testimony of the fourth commandment to be false.

This has led me to some reflections. Truth is ready made and easily stated by those who choose to accept of it. It depends upon proofs—direct revelations from God—and not upon probabilities that contradict the word of God. If we are asked why we observe the seventh day, we can give our reasons in a nutshell; reasons that will carry conviction to the heart, morally, as the little minie ball finds its way to the heart, physically. God commanded the keeping of the seventh day; every reason that existed for its institution, still exists for its continuance; and he has never taken back the command, nor changed the day.

We once heard a man try to prove that the Sabbath commandment was abolished; and he proposed to make it appear by establishing the truth of nine propositions. Had he had Bible proof of one proposition, namely, that God had abolished the Sabbath, the other eight need not have been called up. But his argument was cumulative. He must bewilder the minds of his hearers by leading them through long labyrinths of thought, so as to enable him to step by the only proof that was needed unperceived.

One of our ministers lately gave a good illustration of the cumulative argument in favor of Sunday, drawn from the eight texts that speak of the first day in the New Testament. He examined these texts one by one, showing that not one of them proved the first day to be the Sabbath, but most of them proved the direct converse of the proposition. As he was lecturing in a school-house, the black-board being behind him and the chalk lying by, as he showed each separate text amounted to nothing in favor of the first day, he made a cypher on the board to keep it in memory, till he had eight cyphers standing in a column. Then to test the combined strength of this argument which is cumulative, not depending on any one text, but upon the eight combined, he asked his hearers to add up that column of cyphers, and find what the whole amounted to.

One proof to the point is better than a dozen that say nothing to the question. One direct statement of the word of God will outweigh, with the unprejudiced seeker for truth, the longest chain of manufactured probabilities that the champions of error can forge.

R. F. COTTRELL.

Failure to Meet.

By John H. Waggoner

I WENT to Parma as appointed in Review, but the storm was so severe, and the water so high, that we could not get to Tompkins. We had good meetings on the Sabbath at Bro. Burwell’s. While examining the evidences of our faith, and the promises of God to sustain and deliver in the time of trouble, we all rejoiced in his goodness to his tried, but trusting people.

After the Sabbath, as it was yet storming very hard, I thought best to return to Battle Creek. So I got on a freight train, and went as far as Marshall where we were stopped by a break in the railroad. Next morning I walked to Bro. Barker’s, about six miles, and he brought me through with his team.

I did not go to Convis, as I could get no conveyance from here, and Bro. Byington informed me that the state of the roads was such that they would not go from Newton. Besides, it was judged best for me to spend the Sabbath at Battle Creek. I have since learned that Bro. Byington went; that the roads were not so bad as supposed; and his presence at the meeting was quite opportune, though the meeting was small in numbers.

I commenced to labor some in the third angel’s message in 1852, and these are the only appointments I have failed to meet. Had circumstances been under my control, I should probably have met these. I hope yet to meet the friends in Convis, if the Lord will.

J. H. WAGGONER.

Note From Tompkins.

The good work begun a short time since, when Bro. Hutchins was with us, is not ended, but has been steadily progressing. We tried, by prayer, fasting, and much perseverance, to get out of our lukewarm condition; the Lord has heard and occasionally answered our prayers. We have kept up our prayer-meetings through the week. Our children have started in the service of the Lord. Others have attended our meetings until our house has been crowded. The solemnity of eternity has pervaded these meetings; we have felt the burden of souls upon us, and as we have tried to exhort others to come to the Saviour, the blessing of the Lord has rested upon us in great abundance, for which we feel to praise his name. Will some one of the preaching brethren meet with us at our next Monthly Meeting, which is the first Sabbath in April? The next meeting would be at Parma, but we take the responsibility to appoint it in Tompkins, that is, if you get this in season to give the appointment through the Review. There are some that will go forward in the ordinance of baptism, the first opportunity.

Yours striving for eternal life, E. P. GILES.

We will try to have a minister at that meeting. COM.

MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD.

On and after Monday, Dec 30, 1867, Passenger Trains will run on this road as follows:

GOING WEST.

LEAVE.	MAIL.	DAY EXP.	EVE. EXP.	NIGHT EX.
Detroit,.......	7:10 A.M.	11:00 A.M.	5:55 P.M.	10:30 P.M.
Battle Creek,	1:35 P.M.	3:48 P.M.	11:15 P.M.	3:40 A.M.
Chicago, Arrive,	9:00 P.M.	10:00 P.M.	6:30 A.M.	11:00 A.M.

GOING EAST.

	MAIL.	DAY EXP.	EVE. EXP.	NIGHT EX.
Chicago,......	4:30 A.M.	7:00 A.M.	4:15 P.M.	9:40 P.M.
Battle Creek,	11:45 A.M.	1:05 P.M.	10:35 P.M.	4:50 A.M.
Detroit, Arrive,	5:45 P.M.	6:10 P.M.	2:45 A.M.	10:00 A.M.

☞ THESE trains will run by Chicago time, which is fifteen minutes slower than Detroit time.

Obituary Notices.

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.

DIED, in Madrid, N. Y., Feb. 11, 1868, of consumption, Eunice Hall, aged 75 years.

Sister Hall was among the first to embrace the present truth in this vicinity, and continued a firm and practical believer till her death. She carefully investigated every point for herself, and near the time of her death expressed an increased confidence in all the truths of the third message. Her last illness was quite lingering, but not extremely painful, and she gently fell asleep in Jesus.

Discourse by the writer from 1 Thess. iv, 18.

S. B. WHITNEY.

I AM a stranger to you, yet it is my painful duty to inform you of the death of my dear father, John Butchart.

He died of congestion of the lungs. His end was peace and happiness; he died as one that had served the Lord for many years in the hope of eternal life. He was sick three days only. Age, 81 years and six weeks. CATHARINE BUTCHART.

St. Joseph, Mich., March 20.

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