The Quarterly Meeting at Pilot Grove, Iowa, was well attended. A number of the Washington church were present, and a few from Iowa City. These came in good season, and staid until the meeting closed. This is as it should be.
The church at Pilot Grove had been holding meetings each successive evening for a week previous, and also in the day-time on Friday, it being one of the days appointed for fasting and prayer. The burden of these meetings was, that each one might examine his own individual case in the light of the truth that we profess to believe. We had a season of prayer each meeting, in which many took part, imploring God to help us to arouse from our slumbering condition. We felt that the Spirit of the Lord was present to indite prayer for us. Considerable time was taken by the writer, reading such portions of Scripture thought to be best suited to our case; also such parts of the testimonies as best suited our present wants, as individuals, and as a church. As we were led out to make some very pointed remarks, and stirring appeals, these were backed up by the Spirit of God, and sent home to our hearts and consciences with an unusual degree of force. Praise the name of the Lord for his goodness and long-suffering toward us! When we reached the place where the Spirit of the Lord could have an influence over us, and we began to compare our lives by God's holy law, in the light that it shines forth under the present truth, we found ourselves very far short of what we should be, with all the light we have had. A spirit of confession came in, and nearly all had deep heart-felt confessions to make to God and each other. Those that had personal difficulties with each other, broke down and confessed their wrongs; thus love and union were restored without those long, sickening church trials, of which we have had so many in the past. Never before did we realize the individuality of the work that we are engaged in, and the importance of getting right in the sight of God in order to have the Spirit of Christ reign in and rule over us. How terribly mankind can be deceived! Many count themselves good Christians and at the same time hold malice and hatred against some one for whom Christ has died. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
The tender, melting influence of the Spirit of God was present when our brethren and sisters came in from a distance to enjoy the meeting with us. They entered heartily into the spirit of the meeting. Many hearty confessions were made from these, and some of them were led to say that it was the best meeting that they ever attended, the good camp-meetings not excepted. God's care and tender mercy has been very great toward us; this should lead us to walk humbly and softly before him. These meetings, which held every evening except one, for two weeks, will result in great good, if we only hold what we have gained. Let us be mindful of the fact that it is one thing to make a desperate effort and gain some victory, and quite another thing to hold that victory. The latter is far more difficult of the two. Some that had backslidden and were almost ready to give up, have renewed their courage and started anew; others that had never started, manifested their desire to go with us to the kingdom. And still others that have been looking too far away from home for duty, and perhaps spending much precious time building air castles, and contriving in their own imaginations what they might do in some future time, have concluded to commence the work in their own hearts, and in their own families. Here is a field of labor for us all, that we can all work in with safety. We are in a much better condition to profit by the close, searching Testimony No. 18, than we were before our meeting.
H. NICOLA
From Sr. Townsend.
By C. Townsend
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: It is eighteen months since I commenced to keep the Sabbath so much talked of in the REVIEW. It has not been my lot to hear any preaching. By the mysterious ways of Providence, three years past, I was met by a sister of the Advent faith, who handed me some papers to read, which led me to investigate the Sabbath question, and decide on the correctness of keeping it in place of the first day. I have often been cheered by the testimonies of lonely ones; therefore, I add a few words, thinking this may be a solace to some weary traveler to hear that one heart has been made to rejoice in this far-off land. While I write, my mind goes back to my native State, Maine, where I first found the Saviour precious to my soul.
Notwithstanding all my heart-wanderings, a cloud has gone before me, and hope has guided my erring mind where those who are faithful will rest from their labors. I hope to be an overcomer when Christ comes to call the ransomed home. There are many things that look dark and gloomy; yet I pray to be enlightened in the things that pertain to our future welfare. There is peace in believing that the world knows not of. May God in his mercy keep all those lonely ones from falling, is the desire of
Your unworthy sister, C. TOWNSEND.
Umatilla Co., Oregon.
MARY J. BRAMAN
By Mary J. Braman
From Sr. Braman.
It is nearly eight months since myself and companion embraced the third angel's message. I am truly thankful that the Lord ever inclined our hearts to accept his last message of mercy to dying man. I am trying by the grace of God, to obey his commandments and be an overcomer, that I may at last have a right to enter into that rest that remains to the people of God. How I wish the Lord would send a messenger here to present the truth to this people. I think there are many here that would accept of the truth. Pray for me.
MARY J. BRAMAN
Monroe Co., N. Y.
Faribault Co., Minn
By William Coon; Olive Coon
From Bro. and Sr. Coon.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: The present truth seems more precious to us than ever before. We realize more than ever the need of divine assistance to enable us to overcome our sins, and prepare for eternity. We had hoped to be able to attend the Minnesota Camp-meeting, but were disappointed. Though we were deprived of this privilege, we will still try to press forward in the narrow way, honor God in our daily life, and lose no opportunity to meet for worship in the assemblies of the saints. Our prayer is, that God may help us to see our sins and forsake them, that we may stand clear of guilt in his sight.
WILLIAM COON,
OLIVE COON.
Faribault Co., Minn
Prayers in the Redeemer's Care
—When you send up your prayers, be sure to direct them to the care of the Redeemer, and then they will never miscarry.
Obituary Notices.
By R. F. Cottrell
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.
DIED, in Ridgeway, Orleans Co., N. Y., Jan. 18, 1870, at the residence of her son-in-law, Horace Mead, our beloved sister in Christ, Laura Gaskill, widow of Geo. B. Gaskill, and the mother of a numerous family, most of whom are members of the Olcott church. Her death was sudden, as she was in apparent health but a week before; disease unknown, several physicians of different schools being unable to determine. The funeral was held in the Christian chapel at Orangeport, Jan. 20. Text, Rev. 14:13. We then laid her to rest by the side of her husband who died in the Advent faith before the light of the third message came, in the full assurance that the voice of the Son of God will soon burst those graves and bring forth the peaceful sleepers to a glorious immortality. She leaves a numerous family of children and grandchildren, most of whom are striving to serve God by keeping his commandments. May God bless the entire family, and help them all to heed the counsel of their dear departed mother; for in so doing they will obey God and get a preparation to meet their parents in immortality at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. F. COTTRELL.
MISCELLANEOUS
By General Conference Committee
To the Danish Brethren.—A few words of explanation are due you relative to the mission of Bro. Matteson to Missouri and Kansas. Some of you, as we have learned, have felt grieved that, when there was but one man to give himself wholly to labor, who can speak Danish, we should take that man from you and send him on a mission to those who use the English language. It is necessary therefore to state the fact that though Bro. Matteson had our free consent to go on his present mission, he did it solely on his own impression of duty, and not at all by our conviction, or request. It would have been our minds that he should labor with the Danes had he not expressed so strong a conviction of duty to change his field of labor as he has.
GEN. CONF. COM.
Bro. Sterling's Wife Recovering
☞ BRO. STERLING reports that severe sickness of his wife has confined him at home for some time. By the blessing of God, she is now recovering.
Special Request for Prayer.
By WORCESTER FARRAR; SARAH FARRAR; JAMES E. FARRAR; MARY E. FARRAR; RUFUS BAKER; ROXANNA C. BAKER
We, the undersigned, relatives of Almon D. Farrar, now an inmate of the Insane Asylum at Madison, Wis., hereby earnestly request the prayers of all God's people in his behalf, that his reason may be restored, and he once more occupy his place in his family and in the church.
He has been in the asylum over a year without receiving benefit, and we feel as though our only hope of his recovery was in the Great Physician.
We beg all who have access to the throne of grace, to intercede in his behalf, for the sake of his poor wife and child, his suffering parents, and friends, and also for his own sake, that he may be capable of serving and glorifying God, as we firmly believe he endeavored to do when he was in his right mind.
May God help us in humility and deep contrition of soul, in view of our great unworthiness, and our many errors and shortcomings, to ask according to his will, that he may hear us.
WORCESTER FARRAR,
SARAH FARRAR,
JAMES E. FARRAR,
MARY E. FARRAR,
RUFUS BAKER,
ROXANNA C. BAKER.
Parents.
Prayer for a Wounded Veteran
By James White
NOTE.—It may be well to add to the above request, that the person named lost his health in the army, and now has three bullets in his person received in the war against the rebellion. Soon after leaving the army he embraced the truth, but the injuries received finally resulted in derangement. A letter just received from his sister reports some improvement in his case, and their hope is, that God will hear prayer in his behalf. Brethren and sisters, make the case of this brother, of his stricken parents, of the lonely, suffering wife and child, your own, and extend to them your sympathy and your prayers. J. H. W.
A Request.
By Joseph G. Wood
PERHAPS many of our friends who read the REVIEW would like to know our address, which is Nashville, Barton Co., Mo. We live on the stage road from Ft. Scott to Carthage, thirty-five miles from Ft. Scott, and eighteen from Carthage. If any of our S. D. A. preachers or brethren should come this way, or visit South-western Missouri, we hope they will call on us. This is a fine prairie country. Plenty of unimproved land can be bought here from $5 to $8 per. acre. Fruit does well here and is of excellent quality. We are still striving for the kingdom.
Yours in hope,
JOSEPH G. WOOD.
Nashville, Mo., Jan. 16, 1870.
Seeking Information About Nellie Boynton
Notice.
MRS. NELLIE BOYNTON is represented as an invalid, and away from relatives; as having embraced the Advent faith, and was last heard from at Chesaning, Mich. Information concerning her will be gratefully received by her aunt, Marian R. Sherman, Bay City, Wis.
Some one pays $2.00 on Mrs Eckert's REVIEW. No P. O. address given.
Charles Drew sends $2.50 on REVIEW and Instructor. No P. O. address given.
R. D. Benham sends $1.00, to have the REVIEW sent to Mrs Emeline Hitchcock; but no P. O. address is given.
RECEIPTS.
For Review and Herald.
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 Posters. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
$1.00 each. Perry Frank 37-1, C Lewis 37-1, H Bronson 37-1, J B Van Deusen 35-14, Thomas Fletcher 37-1, Ellen Alvord 37-1, Anson Neff 37-1, Mrs Mary Lothaw 37-1, Mrs Elizabeth Squires 37-1, L Potter 37-1, Mrs L Lathrop 37-1, Mrs E Cyphers 37-1, M B Cyphers 37-1, Sally M Southwick 37-1, Hannah Stickles 37-1, Mary Rockwell 37-1, Mary B Sizer 37-1, James Mussets 37-1, S Brink 37-1, M A Walker 36-15, L B Kneeland 36-1, Eld T Fisher 37-1, Wm Thompson 37-1, E Johnson 37-1, Eld A W Coon 37-1, Mrs M Church 37-1, E Sanford 36-6, Lozana Warren 37-1, Joseph Ball 36-10, W E Landon 37-1, Mrs S H Bonfoey 36-5, A McKennis 36-1, J Chaffee 36-8, G G Dunham 35-16, Wm Barden 32-1, H C Wilkinson 37-1, Louis Overmier 37-1, Mrs J H Hight 37-1, J B Witherell 37-1, John E Morris 37-1, Mrs C A Crater 37-1, A J Knight 37-1, John Hoag 37-1, Jas Porter 37-1, Wm White 37-1, W Parsons 37-1, Jas White 36-1, C E Hosley 36-7, M Killey 36-1, D C Blake 37-1, R W Whipple 36-1, E Woodhouse 36-1, T N Pike 36-1, E A Stafford 36-21, H Fitch 36-21, R D Herrington 36-21, Wm E Bottoms 36-21, J Robinson 36-21, H C McDearmon 36-1, H G Buck 36-1, Geo Hendry 36-9, Wm Grim 37-1, F Adams 37-1, Dr Wm Snook 37-1, Mrs C A Cline 37-1, Mrs R A Harris 37-1, Benj Burrill 37-1, F A Buzzell 35-14, C W Wilder 37-1, A Murry 37-1, G A Turner 37-1, Wm Wilson 37-1, Mrs T Daugherty 37-1.
$2.00 each. Stephen E Foster 37-1, John Beesler 37-1, P L Cornell 37-1, E Van Deusen 36-1, A B Brant 37-1, H Abbott 37-1, M E Stockwell 35-1, M C Hornaday 36-9, H Grenadier 34-9, B Meyer 37-1, J Huffaker 37-1, G Castle 37-1, Mrs A W Nourse 37-1, Joel Nourse 37-1, Mrs H Hall 36-9, J H Olmstead 38-1, E James 34-24, L McNitt 37-1, S C Wetherell 37-1, Geo Stevens 37-1, T S Harris 37-1, M A Collins 37-21, J H Brown 37-1, L H King 36-9, R Niles 37-6, W H Graham 36-9, Isaac Prentice 35-1, F C French 37-1, W W Pepper 37-1, C W Stanley 36-12, L M Fish 37-1, Mary C Saunders 36-9, Geo Carter 37-1, C Linthicum 35-15, W N Brown 36-13, H Barr 36-1, S T McAllister 37-4, Chas Lea 35-14, E C Gardiner 36-20.
Miscellaneous. J Butler 50c 35-13, S S Pickering $3.00 37-1, I Deming 38c 35-10, L Lowrey 2.50 37-13, T J Andrews 3.00 36-8, B Mayr 25c 35-15, B L Ainsworth 50c 36-6, O W Austin 5.00 40-1, M Marquart 2.75 36-6, Mrs N Miller 50c 36-6, Mrs J L Southard 50c 36-6, R Stansbury 3.00 36-9, Eld A Ladd 50c 36-1, R Randall 4.00 37-1, J B Edwards 3.50 36-23, T M Preble 3.00 36-1, M Johnson 2.50 35-20.
Received on Book and Tract Fund.
Wm G Buckland $5.40, Elizabeth Van Deusen 1.25, T N Steward 5.00, F C Ross 10.00, Cloe Jones 16c, Robert Tift 58c, F H Chapman 18.00, A Belding 5.00, Lillie D Avery 50c, Jas Lovel 2.00, Alex Carpenter 2.00, Mary Bowers 1.00.
General Conference Missionary Fund.
Church at Greenville, Mich., $50.00.
Michigan Conference Fund.
Church at Greenville $75.00, Edenville 25.00, Johnstown 1.50, Wright 60.00.
Michigan Tent and Ceresco Camp-meeting Expenses.
Chauncey Owen $3.00, A Seymour 5.00.
Cash Received on Account.
J N Loughborough $49.00, T M Steward 19.00, G I Butler 1.75, P Strong 5.00.
Benevolent Fund.
Joseph Shield $5.00.
Foreign Missionary Fund.
John Logan $5.00, G B Jerome 5.00, T M Steward 5.00, J E Hool 6.00, B F Merritt 5.00, Wm Cottrell 10.00, S H King 8.00, B F Bradbury 5.00, M Bowers 1.00, J M Avery 5.00.
Books Sent by Mail.
A B Tucker 80c, J Clarke 35c, H J A Vosburgh 35c, Elizabeth Van Deusen 25c, M H Russell 25c, H G Washburn $2.00, P C Truman 5.00, Mrs L Brockway 3.25, J B Webster 16c, D Marsh 30c, S Pratt 60c, A Smith 25c, M Amalow 80c, S G Davis 85c, O F Brockway 50c, L Ingalls 40c, Eld Marsalles 40c, P Conklin 25c, B M Osgood 20c, N Vassile 1.00, N Hodges 50c, A J Stover 25c, J E Simmons 25c, T Iden 25c, Wm Wallace 25c, J E Wilson 20c, Mrs L A Grover 25c, E Zythoskee 50c, Wm Hills 50c, D Newcomb 50c, J E Howes 10c, Mrs B Landon 30c, R F Barton 60c, A Wike 45c, Clark Sweet 98c, J C Tucker 2.00, T G Wood 1.50, W A Doyal 1.00, D C Blanchard 2.25, Mrs G Osterhous 25c, W C Porter 20c, I N Pike 1.15, R L Simpson 48c, J Bright 1.00, A M Preston 50c, J Hunter 3.25, J Wilmot 25c, A Hopkins 25c, W Coon 25c, E Seely 25c, J White 50c, T Clarke 20c, Wm Merry 35c, A T Gifford 1.25, W H Graham 62c, T Brown 1.21, E J Fitch 20c, S A Esnoy 20c, E Middleworth 20c, H W Cole 20c, S M Hawley 20c, Linus Reed 20c, T Parkin 50c, M Marquast 25c, A Caldwell 25c, Mrs F F Allen 25c, S J Hersum 15c, P C Rodman 15c, J Donshey 27c, S Brink 22c, N H Gottfredson 35c, A W Nourse 25c, S E Winslow 35c, O W Austin 50c, Mrs N Walsworth 1.00, C W Stanley 6.40, H G Buxton 3.00, Wm Boynton 2.00, B T Bradbury 50c, S H Hewes 50c, D M Canright 5.65, Mrs A A Evans 20c, J H Harrison 60c, I Deming 1.12, B L Whitney 1.70, Geo Smith 2.75, A McAllester 4.50, J E Green 50c, A Spencer 2.75, M J Clark 25c, M P Stiles 25c, I N Russell 25c, W S Lane 25c, C B Preston 2.25, E P Cram 50c, C W Burbee 25c, T T Harris 50c, J I Edgar 4.76, W L Little 2.00, J B Vaughan 8.56, A Clapp 3.25, F Richardson 25c, J H Rogers 25c, B McReynolds 30c, P Strong 3.50.
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
THE next Monthly Meeting at Johnstown Center, Wis., will be held Feb. 5 and 6, 1870. Eld. R. F. Andrews is expected. A. B. WILLIAMS.
PROVIDENCE permitting, I will meet with the brethren as follows: East Richford, Sabbath, Feb. 5; Sutton, Vt., 12; Charleston, 19; Johnstown, 26; Stowe, March 5. ALBERT STONE.
PROVIDENCE permitting, I will meet with the churches in Iowa as follows: Mt. Pleasant, Sabbath, Jan. 29; Brighton, meetings commencing Tuesday evening, Feb. 1, continuing over Sabbath and Sunday. Let this meeting be the Monthly Meeting of the Pilot Grove and Washington churches. We hope the brethren of Talleyrand and Richland will also be present. Iowa City, Wednesday evening, Feb. 9; Lisbon, 12, 13; Laporte City, 19, 20; Fayette, Wednesday evening, 23; Waukon, 26, 27. GEO. I. BUTLER.
THE next monthly meeting of the Lisbon, Anamosa, and Marion churches will be held at Marion, Sabbath and first day, Feb. 12 and 13. D. T. SHERMAN.
THE Tenhassen church hold a general meeting at the new school-house in Tenhassen, Minn., on the first Sabbath of each month. The Joe Daviess church and the scattered brethren are invited to attend. F. W. MORSE.
PROVIDENCE permitting, I will attend the monthly meeting at Otsego, Sabbath, Feb. 5. W. C. GAGE.
WITH Bro. Littlejohn I expect to spend Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 12 and 13, in Jay, Saginaw Co., Mich. The meeting-house in Wadsworth will be dedicated first-day, Feb. 20. Meeting of two or three days. Will some one from Tuscola Co. meet me at E. Saginaw on arrival of first train from Jay on Thursday, Feb. 17? Also, Sabbath, Feb. 26, at Jay, Saginaw Co. J. H. WAGGONER.
The Health Institute.
By J. H. W.
It seems necessary to make an explanation of previous announcements in regard to treating the poor at reduced rates. Some have got the idea that it was the design to treat at half price all who did not feel able to pay more than that amount, and have so represented it to others. A very little reflection would convince any one that this could not be so; as there are very few who have been sick any length of time but feel that they are of that class, whatever their real circumstances may be, and the Institute would never more than half pay its expenses, if their expectations were realized. If individuals are really poor, entirely destitute of the means to help themselves, and their friends are willing to assist in caring for them, and will pay half the regular price, they will be treated.
We are happy to say that the prospects of the Institute are encouraging. To succeed in its design it must have the blessing of the Lord upon it, and this it will certainly have when all connected with it possess the required spirit of consecration, and freedom from selfishness in their labors. We trust this is realized now to a greater extent than in the past, and we hope and pray that all connected with it in any way may feel an individual responsibility to make the Institute a place where the peace of God may rule in every heart, and his smile rest upon all. Brethren and sisters, pray for its success. We believe there is a work yet to be accomplished there, and may the Lord direct his servants to do his own will.
J. H. W.
An Explanation.
By J. H. WAGGONER
I AM informed by a member of the “National Conference, of Rochester, that the word “Christian” was omitted by mistake from the resolution concerning “Advent ministers.” This, of course, makes a vast difference. “Advent-Christian,” is the denominational name adopted by that people; used in this sense others cannot reasonably object. We are no enemies to order, and we recognize the right of all religious bodies to protect themselves by any fair and lawful means.
J. H. WAGGONER.
The Advent Review.
By Editor
OUR friends have manifested much interest in extending the circulation of the REVIEW. This is worthy of commendation. But this good work should still continue. If the doctrines advocated by the REVIEW are truthful, their importance cannot be overestimated. We believe these doctrines to be the truth of God especially applicable to the present time. We therefore labor with untiring effort to bring them to the knowledge of our fellow-men. We ask the co-operation of all who sympathize with us in this work. Is it not true that the three proclamations of Rev. 14 pertain to the present time? Is not the Saviour just closing up his work in the sanctuary, as typified in Lev. 16? Is it not also true that the books are to be examined, and the sins of the righteous blotted out before the deliverance of the saints? Is not the present time specially marked in prophecy for the vindication of God's holy rest-day so long trampled in the dust by the great apostasy? Do not the seven last plagues lie in the future, and must not six of those precede the advent of our Lord? Is not the third angel's message designed to give warning of the coming plagues? And is not the gift of prophecy closely connected with the final message of warning to mankind?
In maintaining the affirmative of these questions the REVIEW has no co-operation from other religious journals. If, therefore, it occupies right ground in these things, it deserves the sympathy and assistance of all who have these truths at heart. We mean to give our reasons for the doctrines we cherish, with all possible distinctness, but with becoming courtesy toward those who differ with us.
We have the promise of many valuable articles for the present volume. Bro. White's series will be continued till the principal grounds of our faith and hope have been canvassed. Bro. Waggoner purposes to give several articles on the saints' inheritance, and on the subject of spiritual gifts. He designs also to write a number of short articles on the Law of God, and will give some attention to Wellcome's work, the “Plan of Redemption.” We hope for articles of great value from several sources. We trust the comments on the prophecy of Daniel will soon be resumed.
We mean that the REVIEW shall more fully chronicle the signs of the times in its record of passing events. Our hope is to make it a means of instruction and warning to all classes of our fellow-men. We hope also that the REVIEW may be found a source of instruction and encouragement to those who are seeking a closer walk with God. Shall we have the hearty co-operation of our brethren and friends in this work?
The offer made at the commencement of Bro. White's articles, to send the REVIEW for one year at half price, whenever any wish to furnish it to their friends, still stands good. We can still furnish a few of the first numbers of his articles, which were promised gratuitously. Your dollar for the REVIEW to your friends will therefore be counted from the commencement of the volume, and while we have extra copies of those articles in the previous volume, they will still be sent. Still continue to send us the names of candid, God-fearing men and women, on the above conditions.
Dedication.
By James White
The church at Alaiedon have built a house of worship, of good size, and well arranged. By request, Bro. Littlejohn and myself went to dedicate it, and held two days meetings with them, Sabbath and first-day, the 15th and 16th inst. We found Bro. Bates there, he having held three meetings with them during the week. There was a good attendance, especially on Sunday morning, when the house was crowded with listeners. There are but few there who are able to do much toward such a building, but they acted the noble part. May the Lord accept their worship in their house; and may it be a means of spreading a knowledge of Bible truth in that section.
We judge there is good opportunity to preach present truth in adjoining neighborhoods. Where are the laborers? Who are praying earnestly to the Lord of the harvest that laborers may be raised up and sent out? May the Lord increase our faith and zeal.
J. H. W.