TO THE IOWA AND NEB. T. & M. DIRECTORS AND WORKERS.
By George I. Butler
The general quarterly meeting is now past, and also the camp-meeting, at which were several of our western directors, and at which, T. and M. matters were made prominent. I am beginning to get acquainted with the condition of the T. and M. Society in this Conference. It is plain to be seen, that its present condition is not as flattering as we could desire.
The Society is in debt to the Office several hundred dollars, and has not the funds to pay it. The fall and winter campaign is before us, in which the Society will need more tracts and reading matter to distribute, which must be purchased, and which will still further increase our debt. There is but little being done in circulating reading matter, comparatively, that should be done. The times are very hard; and, worst of all, the liberalities of some seem to be drying up within the last year or two.
Notwithstanding these unpleasant features, we hope to see a spirit of zeal kindled up in our Society, which will carry us above all these discouragements. We have too much confidence in our people to believe they will consent to see the noble Tract and Missionary work dragged down, or its usefulness crippled, by any of these difficulties. But if we do rise above them, we shall have to arouse to more energetic action, pay off our debts, and take hold of the work with a different spirit. We find on an examination of the secretary’s books that several of the districts are greatly in debt to the Society, while others are out of debt and have credits. This has arisen from several causes. Some districts have paid in money, and scattered less reading matter; while others have taken great interest in scattering the publications, but have collected little money to pay their cost. Some of these districts (our western ones especially) have an excellent field in which to distribute tracts. The people are poor, and have little to read, and eagerly receive publications placed within their reach. This enables the T. and M. workers to circulate them largely with little effort. Our people there have more of a mind to work than in the richer parts of the Conference. But the collection of means to pay is a matter of great difficulty. Most of the settlers were poor when they moved there, have had hard work to get started, and have been eaten up by grasshoppers. Prices of grain have been very low, and crops poor, and distance to market great. Hence, some of these western districts are badly in debt to the Society.
Again, in some of our eastern districts, when strong calls were made through the paper, years ago for subscribers to the Voice of Truth, they tried to carry into effect these calls; and they got a good many subscribers; and this has left them in debt quite largely, as each district is charged with the publications it receives and the subscribers it obtains, and credited with the money it raises. It is also undeniable, that some of our districts feel more anxious to have their pecuniary standing creditable than others, and some directors make more effort to raise the means to pay their indebtedness than others. While some are more anxious to circulate reading matter largely, and think less about their financial standing, others are determined to have their financial standing good, and they make that a special point. Hence from these and other causes there comes to be quite an embarrassing state of things in the internal working of the Society, some of the districts being quite largely in debt, and others having means standing to their credit.
The following is the indebtedness and credit of each district, Sept. 1:—
Districts which have credits: Dist. No. 1, $3.50; No. 5, $57.79; No. 7, $58.84; No. 9, $7.91; No. 10, $4.32.
I should remark that Districts No. 12 and 14 are new ones recently formed, and hence do not stand charged with many books, while Nos. 8, 11, and 13 are western districts organized years ago. Hence, for the causes I have assigned above, they are quite largely in debt.
At the recent general quarterly meeting at Victor, Iowa, there was considerable discussion concerning these matters by the board of directors. It was evident, that the western districts could not pay all their indebtedness without great difficulty. It was also evident, that there would be a hardship in forcing those eastern districts, which had entered with spirit into the work of making out their quota of subscribers in past time, and worked hard to accomplish that object, while others did comparatively little, now to pay the whole bill. This would be putting a premium upon doing nothing. It was finally concluded to pass the following resolution, and do our best to carry it into effect:—
Resolved, That this board of directors hereby appeal to the T. and M. workers throughout the Society to generously contribute to the liquidation of this debt, and each director is hereby requested to present this matter in his district, and labor to bring about this important result.
I regard the substance of this resolution as being an important matter, for the prosperity of this Society. While it would be unjust to take the credits of those districts from them, which have paid their own debts, yet it will greatly hinder the work in the western part of the Conference where the members are poor, if our wealthier brethren east refuse to assist them in the liquidation of this debt, and oblige them to pay for all the reading they distribute. There are many openings there for the introduction of our reading matter, which do not exist in the eastern part of the State. If we love the cause as we should we shall all be anxious to step into these openings, and help others to do so.
The proper course, I think, is for those directors whose districts are in debt to make special efforts to raise means in their own districts to pay all they can on their indebtedness. And in those districts which are not in debt, we hope the directors will appeal to our brethren to generously contribute also to this good end.
There ought to be at least eight hundred dollars raised by our Society in this Conference this fall and winter for the liquidation of our debts and to set our Society on a proper basis. We cannot do the work we should with any less. It will take some effort on the part of all our brethren, our directors especially, to do this.
We do not wish to get up any spasmodic excitement, or do some wonderful thing in a few weeks or months with which to quiet our consciences for a long period after; but we do want to see a goodly number of workers trained to labor for God, who shall be ready for every good work, to give a lift in every good cause.
You have placed me at the head of this noble Society, for the present year, in this Conference. Now, brethren and sisters, let us take hold the present season with a mind to work. You don’t want our noble Society to be in debt. You don’t want its strength crippled, its noble mission brought to an ignominious defeat. Let us arouse, then, to the work. Many of us are almost asleep. Let us now labor for some good object. And what more noble object can be aimed at than the salvation of our fellow-men by the distribution of reading matter, and by missionary work?
Why is it that lectures all through the eastern and wealthier parts of our Conference seem to accomplish so little? Is it not that God is not blessing our people, because their hearts are waxing gross, and they are not cultivating a spirit of sacrifice, but really making the world first and the cause second? Why is it that some of our churches are almost dying out? I truly believe this is the very reason. Many of you have dropped off in your liberalities, of late. “Let us not be weary in well doing. We shall reap in due season, if we faint not.” Let us all take hold anew, in the good work of God.
ANS. We do not understand that God tempted Pharaoh, but think with Dr. A. Clarke that, “God suffered his natural obstinacy to prevail, that he might have further opportunities of showing forth his eternal power and Godhead.”
ANSWERED BY CARD: Wm. H. Mills, Mrs. J. N. Phelps, J. W. Walker, and John Roberts.
C. W.'s.
CAL. T. AND M. MEETING.
WE extract the following from the report of the Cal. T. and M. meeting held at the Fairfax Camp-ground, Sept. 21, 1876, as given in the SIGNS:—
The secretary’s report shows, the number of families visited, 818; ships visited, 62; letters written, 555.
Rec’d for memberships, $71.00
“ by donations, 129.95
“ from book sales, 65.78
Total, $266.73
No. of new subscribers for the REVIEW, REFORMER, and other periodicals, 254; for the SIGNS, 386. No. of periodicals distributed including Health Almanacs, 1,793; no. of SIGNS, 6,173.
Pages of tracts and pamphlets loaned, 53,455; value of same, $61.57. Pages of135tracts and pamphlets given away, 248,459; value, $286.03.
No. of public libraries furnished, 5.
The treasurer’s report shows
Cash on hand Sept. 21, 1875, $190.50
Rec’d during year, 526.48
Total, $716.98
Paid for books, freight, &c., $549.67
Cash on hand Sept. 8, 1876, 167.31
Total, $716.98
At the request of the members of district No. 7, a number of our bound books and pamphlets was selected and paid for by donations made on the camp-ground for this purpose, and placed in the State’s Prison Library at San Quentin.
The report is signed
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres.
A. M. LOUGHBOROUGH, Sec.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.
By G. W. Colcord
TUESDAY and Wednesday, Oct. 3 and 4, I came by excursion car and private conveyance, two hundred miles, at a cost to the Illinois Conference of only forty-five cents. Let the motto of all the lovers of present truth in our financially weak Conference be: With honesty, let us earn all we can; with great carefulness, save from waste all we can; and with devotion to God's cause, give all we can. Dear Lord, bless Illinois.
Oct. 5-12, I held meetings and visited with friends near Webber Grove, Jefferson County. Although we were not cheered by any additions to this church at this meeting, yet we were enabled to say, with a zealous M. E. preacher of the past, “Thank the Lord! we disfellowshiped two unworthy members,” and the church is relieved.
Oct. 13-15, I attended the quarterly meeting of the Keenville church. On Sabbath day, had an encouraging ordinance meeting. Brethren and sisters from Webber Grove met with us. On first-day a business meeting was held. One was immersed, two were received into the church, and Bro. A. K. Atteberry was chosen and ordained elder. This church numbers but twelve members; but, as several of them handle some ready means, if they will all do their whole duty, as to finances, the Illinois Conference will be aided. Keenville church, will you faithfully tithe unto God of all your income? Churches in the State, in general, will you? The Judgment will reveal! G. W. COLCORD. Oct. 16.
FISH CREEK, WIS.
By H. W. Decker
Oct. 17, I commenced meetings with this church, and continued over Sabbath and Sunday. It was organized last spring with a membership of forty-five. Since that time they have had but one visit from any of our ministers. They have kept up their Sabbath-school and meetings regularly every Sabbath and prayer-meetings once during the week. With the exception of a little alienation of feeling on account of politics, a good state of harmony exists among them. A few had returned to the use of tobacco, but I think they will renew the battle and try again to overcome this evil. The Lord blessed us in our meetings, and many good resolutions to do better in the future were made. Two had given up the Sabbath.
Ten were baptized, and five were added to the church. A. T. & M. Society of twenty was organized, including Door County. Bro. Ezra Graham was appointed director. Thirty dollars were pledged for tent and camp-meeting fund.
STURGEON BAY.
I held several meetings with this church. They have passed through some trials, but all are holding on. The Lord greatly blessed us in our meetings. Harmony was restored, and all felt a determination to forget the past and press on in this good work. Bro. D. H. Rice was elected and ordained elder. The tract work was explained to them, and all decided to become connected with it.
H. W. DECKER.
Duck Creek, Oct. 25, 1876.
THE KANSAS DISCUSSION.
By Smith Sharp; Chas. F. Stevens
When the truth was first preached at Rock Creek, two years ago last summer, and the people began to embrace it, our Disciple friends became uneasy, and challenged us for a discussion. We invited them to preach in our tent, and we would review. They accepted our invitation. We, with all our people, were satisfied with the result; but not so with our Disciple friends. From that time they began pressing a discussion. At our camp-meeting last May they renewed their challenge. Bro. White promised that if both parties demanded a discussion, and the Disciples would furnish a representative man, the S. D. Adventists would do the same. One Eld. Shick, who was represented as the “peer of the west,” was chosen as their man. From what we knew and heard of him we feared he would make the debate unpleasant by slurring and ridiculing when he could find a chance. But as he was urged as their best and strongest man, we accepted him after binding him by rules to stick to the Bible and to the question. So after an agreement was signed to debate the Sabbath, Sunday, Immortality, Death of the Wicked and Kingdom questions, for three days each, Bro. Canright came, and the debate began in our tent Oct. 10. From the first, Eld. Shick complained of the rules, which he said he was compelled to adopt or have no discussion. He particularly complained of the rule requiring three days on each question and the one confining him to the Bible.
He contended that notwithstanding the agreement required three days’ debate on the Sunday question, as he was on the affirmative he had a right to close when he should choose to do so; and he gave notice that he would do so at the close of the second day, at farthest. The debate on the Sabbath question occupied three full days. Eld. Shick took the same position usually taken by the Disciples, claiming no Sabbath for man to keep until Sinai, and the abolition of the law at the cross. So far from answering Bro. Canright’s arguments, he did not attempt to answer his main points. No attempt was made to overthrow his position on the covenants, the two laws, and many other points.
Very early in the discussion of the first proposition, Eld. S. broke over the rule and commenced reading from H. C. Carver’s book, also calling Bro. White “old daddy White,” and was called to order by the moderators. After he had affirmed for one session that Sunday was set apart by divine example to be sacredly observed by Christians, we saw that we would have to make some concessions and shorten the time on this question, or have a fuss with him. He and all who heard him evidently felt that he was utterly failing to make any showing in favor of Sunday; so to save this and shorten the time (which otherwise would have been fifteen days), we dropped one question, and shortened the time on the others, the whole discussion thus lasting but seven days.
The attendance was very small except on Sunday, when the tent was full. The end of the wicked was in debate. Eld. S. tried to bring in the conscious state of the dead, and so brought up the rich man and Lazarus. He complained so bitterly of being shut out of history that Eld. C. told him to bring it on. So he spent much time reading the spurious article in Josephus on Hades. Bro. C. admitted it all, and asked what that had to do with the end of the wicked. As it had no bearing upon the point, it only made him appear ridiculous. Then he spent a long time in reviewing the ministration of angels, and ended with an exhortation.
As he had boasted so much about what he would do if he could only go to history, Bro. C. challenged him to discuss either the Immortality or Sunday question from history. When put to the test, as we expected, he backed down, and, to evade the point, vented his pent up hatred against Bro. and Sr. White, and the rest of us generally. In his closing speech Sunday afternoon, he went clear out of the way, to slur “Old Ellen White and her visions,” and was again stopped by the moderators. The following day he acknowledged that he should have said Mrs. White.
The debate closed with apparently good feeling. After the close, Eld. S. virtually acknowledged that he was dissatisfied, by announcing that he would preach the following night at the school-house near by, and inviting all to come and hear the visions of Mrs. E. G. White reviewed, and her teachings compared with the Bible.
SMITH SHARP,
CHAS. F. STEVENS.
JESUS IS COMING.
By H. M. Rogers
He's coming, he's coming, O turn not away,
For the signs of his coming I see.
O spurn not the message I bring you to-day,
While in mercy he's waiting for thee.
For soon he is coming, no longer delay,
Or the door of his mercy will close
And leave you unsaved on that terrible day
When he cometh to conquer his foes.
Then, sinner, take warning, no longer refuse;
For now he will freely forgive.
No longer the love of thy Saviour abuse,
But turn unto Jesus and live.
For lo! he is coming, how cheering the thought
To those who are waiting for him!
They have kept his commands, the good fight they
have fought;
And a crown of bright glory they'll win.
H. M. ROGERS.
ROME, N. Y.
By A. H. Hall
I came to Rome September 14, by request of Bro. Canright, to help keep up the interest here during his absence.
The building committee had bought a lot, and the next day they broke ground for the foundation of the church building. To-day, Oct. 20, they have it shingled, nearly lathed, the clapboards going on, and the floor partly laid. In spite of the unfavorable weather we have had, the prospect is good for a house here in which to worship God, where the poor can come and feel at home. Some eight or nine brethren from different parts of the State have come to assist in the good work and give part of their labor toward the enterprise.
The committee are doing all they can in every way to use the money and labor that have been subscribed as judiciously as possible in buying the material and building the house, and to push it forward to an early completion, as it is very much needed.
We hope that all who can, will pay their pledges for the meeting-house as soon as possible, even if they have to make some sacrifice to do it, that the house may be paid for when done, which we hope will be in a few weeks.
I thought some might wish to hear from the work here, how it is prospering since the camp-meeting. I have been laboring from house to house in the city and out since I came. The interest seems to be deepening. Some have embraced religion, and some have decided to keep the Sabbath since camp-meeting. We have in the Bible-class and Sabbath-school from forty to sixty teachers and scholars, and the interest deepens with the interest in the work. We have public services and social meeting Sabbath afternoon, and preaching Sunday afternoon and evening also. Two prayer-meetings a week are sustained in different parts of the city, with an attendance of over twenty, and an increasing interest. The Lord meets with us, and we have had some of the best meetings I have attended for a long time.
The people are waiting patiently for Bro. Canright to come back and give another course of lectures. A. H. HALL.
RICHMOND, WIS.
By John G. Matteson
The friends in this vicinity being desirous to hear preaching, I commenced meetings last week among the Norwegians. Some like to hear and pay good attention; others are very careful to stay away. There are many Americans in this neighborhood. They don’t like to have me preach in an unknown tongue all the time, so I have commenced meetings in English also. Last night I spoke to a crowded house, for the first time, with good acceptance.
JOHN G. MATTESON.
Oct. 16, 1876.
MEETINGS IN MISSOURI.
By Wm. Evans
LINCOLN.
I came to the Lincoln church, near Holden, in company with Eld. Chaffee, to attend the T. and M. quarterly meeting of Dist. No. 3, Oct. 7 and 8. We found the church in a discouraged condition, so much so that at our first meeting, at eleven o’clock Sabbath, there were only six persons present, while there are more than thirty names on the church book. There has been no S. B. paid for the last six months, and the opinion was freely expressed, that they would not again be represented in State Conference.
The district director is attending the Centennial, and they have no secretary, so that very little could be done in the T. and M. work. We have held seven meetings, and visited many at their homes. The preaching has been well received, not only by the brethren, but by the few who came in from outside. A good number of the brethren feel that this state of things should not and must not continue, and express the opinion that it will not. They are anxious to have more meetings when we come back from visiting the churches south, which wish I think we shall be able to gratify. They pledged fifty-five dollars to buy a new tent.
We start this morning to fill appointments south.
NEVADA.
In company with Eld. Chaffee, I reached Bro. Hunter’s Oct. 13th, before the Sabbath. The brethren came in from Union Point, Clintonville, Rockville, and Drywood churches, to the number of about thirty.
We have held eight meetings, three at Bro. Hunter’s house, three in Odd Fellows’ hall, and two in the court-house. The meetings have been characterized throughout by a very good spirit, the conference meetings, in which nearly all took part, being especially interesting. The active members in this church are very much reduced in numbers by removal and by sickness. The outside attendance has been small.
There is one matter to which I think I should call the attention of brethren attending such meetings; that is, of bringing corn for their horses, and provisions for themselves. It is but little trouble, and a great relief to the brethren where the meetings are held. Wm. Evans.
Nevada, Mo., Oct. 16, 1876.
Wisconsin Tent No. 2 Meetings in Farmers Valley
By I. Sanborn
WISCONSIN TENT, NO. 2.
We closed our meetings in Farmers Valley, Sept. 24. We were there three weeks. One week our meetings were broken up by heavy rains, but we had good meetings the rest of the time. Ten decided to keep the Sabbath, and six were baptized. A great many others are under conviction, and we hope they will soon yield obedience to God.
This was our fifth tent-meeting this season. These meetings have covered a period of four months, nearly double the length of time we have ever run a tent in this Conference before. The Lord willing, we mean to start early next season.
Our address, until further notice, will be Leon, Monroe Co., Wis. I. SANBORN.
QUARTERLY MEETING AT DALLAS, TEXAS.
By A. B. Rust
I WOULD like to say a few words in regard to our meeting that has just closed. The appointment of our meeting failed to get into the REVIEW in season for our brethren to get it before the meeting, and we did not expect many to be present; but we were surprised to see our brethren come flocking to the meeting. Some came twenty miles on foot. We had a blessed season together, and the Lord met with us by his Holy Spirit. We were made glad to meet with Bro. Macomber, from R. I., at this meeting, and to hear his cheering testimony. It does one good to meet with the pioneers in the cause, who are sound in the faith. God bless them. We were much cheered by the timely aid of Bro. and Sr. Bartholf, of Wis., at our meeting. On the whole, we think we had a most excellent meeting, and one that will long be remembered. The brethren seem willing to do all they can to help the cause in this new field.
We are sorry that help could not be sent us this fall, but we feel to leave it all in the hands of those that know best what can be done for the cause here. We cannot accomplish as much here in the T. and M. work as at the North. Many of the people cannot read, and the majority of them depend more on teachers than on reading.
Two French families, from Ill., came to our meeting on the Sabbath, and we soon found that they were Sabbath-keepers. They gave in their testimonies in their own language, and we all felt to thank God for a truth that would unite the hearts of God's people, no matter of what nation or tongue—all think alike, all speak the same thing.
May the Lord bless the cause in this new field. Pray for us, brethren, and for the cause here. May God keep the little flock here, that no scattering influence may come among them. A. B. Rust.
Oct. 16, 1876.
Obituary Notices.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.”
Died, in Scott, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1876, of a complication of diseases, Emily W., wife of Thomas W. Potter, in the sixty-first year of her age. In early life, she became the subject of divine grace, and united with the first Seventh-day Baptist church of Verona. About twenty years ago, she adopted the views of the Seventh-day Adventists, in which faith she died. Her life has always been that of an exemplary Christian. Her sickness, though long and painful, was endured without a murmur; and when it became certain that she could not recover, a firm faith in Christ as her Saviour was her sure support. She was a faithful wife and devoted mother, and leaves a husband and three children to mourn their loss. D. K. Davis.
My wife, Emily Brock, fell asleep in Jesus Sept. 26, 1876, aged twenty-eight years. Her disease was quick consumption. She bore her affliction with patience. She leaves me with two little children to mourn the loss of a kind companion and an affectionate mother. But I sorrow not as others who have no hope. She was brought up a Methodist, but embraced the truth two years ago, near Canola, Kansas, under the labors of Brn. Cook and Lamont. Richard Brock.
Bertha, only child of Allen and Philinda Moon, departed this life Oct. 6, 1876, aged eleven months and seven days. Her disease was cholera infantum. We have laid her in the silent tomb to wait for the blessed morning of the resurrection. At the funeral, words of consolation were spoken by F. W. Morse. P. Moon.
Died, in Richmond, Ind., Oct. 3, 1876, of congestive malarial fever, Ezra F., son of Benj. F. and Sophronia Wilkinson, aged thirty-one years and eleven months. We mourn not as those without hope, believing that our dear son will have part in the first resurrection. B. F. Wilkinson.
Mary A. Tracy Morey was born in Colchester, Ct., Sept. 16, 1818, and fell asleep in Clarksville, Butler Co., Iowa, Sept. 22, 1876, aged fifty-eight years and six days. She was a friend to the friendless, a model mother, and a devoted Christian. Mary V. Cottrell.
Sabbath Recorder please copy.
Fell asleep in Jesus, Oct. 14, 1876, our beloved brother, William Fleener, at his residence near Oakland, Illinois, aged sixteen years and five months. This dear brother embraced the present truth in the summer of 1875. Since that time he has lived a life truly devoted to the cause. Those that witnessed his death say they never saw so complete a triumph. He shouted “Glory to God” many times, until his voice was hushed in death. He leaves many friends to mourn their loss. The mother, who will soon follow her son to his peaceful abode, embraced the truth at the same time, under the labors of Bro. C. H. Bliss. Burial services conducted by Bro. H. P. Ritchey. M. L. Ellis.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD FIRST.
By George Müller
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:33. After our Lord, in the previous verses, had been pointing his disciples “to the fowls of the air,” and “the lilies of the field,” in order that they should be without carefulness about the necessaries of life, he adds: “Therefore take no thought [literally, be not anxious], saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek): for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Observe here particularly that we, the children of God, should be different from the nations of the earth, from those who have no Father in Heaven, and who therefore make it their great business, their first anxious concern, what they shall eat, and what they shall drink, and wherewithal they shall be clothed.
We, the children of God, should, as in every other respect, so in this particular also, be different from the world, and prove to the world that we believe we have a Father in Heaven who knoweth that we have need of all these things.
The fact, that our Almighty Father, who is full of infinite love to us his children, and who has proved to us his love in the gift of his only begotten Son, and his almighty power in raising him from the dead, knows that we have need of these things, should remove all anxiety from our minds. There is, however, one thing that we have to attend to, and which we ought to attend to with reference to our temporal necessities; it is mentioned in our verse: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” The great business which the disciple of the Lord Jesus has to be concerned about (for this word was spoken to disciples, to professed believers), is, to seek the kingdom of God, i. e., to seek, as I view it, after the external and internal prosperity of the church of Christ. If, according to the opportunity which the Lord gives us, we seek to win souls for the Lord Jesus, that appears to me to be seeking the external prosperity of the kingdom of God; and if we, as members of the body of Christ, seek to benefit our fellow-members in the body, helping them on in grace and truth, or caring for them in any way to their edification, that would be seeking the internal prosperity of the kingdom of God.
But in connection with this we have also “to seek his righteousness,” which means (as it was spoken to disciples, to those who have a Father in Heaven, and not to those who were without such a Father), to seek to be more and more like God, to seek to be inwardly conformed to the mind of God. If these two things are attended to (and they imply also that we are not to be slothful in business), then may we claim that precious promise, “And all these things [that is, food, raiment, or any thing else that is needful for this present life] shall be added unto you.” It is not for attending to these two things that we obtain the blessing, but in attending to them.
I now ask you, my dear reader, a few questions in all love, because I seek your welfare; and I do not wish to put these questions to you without putting them first to my own heart. Do you make it your primary business, your first great concern, to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness? Are the thoughts of God, the honor of his name, the welfare of his church, the conversion of sinners, and the profit of your own soul, your chief aim? Or does your business, your family, or your temporal concerns, in some shape or other, primarily occupy your attention? If the latter be the case, then, though you may have all the necessaries of life, could you be surprised if you had them not? Remember that the world passeth away, but the things of God endure forever.
I never knew a child of God, who acted according to the above passage, in whose experience the Lord did not fulfil his word of promise, “All these things shall be added unto you.”—Müller's Life of Trust.
WONDERFUL FOR OUR TIMES.
By S. Osborn
MR. JOHN ALLEN was born Oct. 9, 1771, on the Atlantic Ocean, and lived in Newburn, N. C., until March 3, 1875, at which time he started to walk to Huntington, a town on the Ohio River, four hundred miles distant. This journey he performed in four months, averaging about four miles per day. At that time he was in the one hundred and fifth year of his age. In conversation with him on board the steamer Hudson, Feb. 16, 1876, when he was on his way to the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, I solicited the following facts respecting his life and habits:—
His principal articles of diet have been rice and sweet potatoes, with occasionally a little bread and milk, and sometimes a little pork. He has used but little coffee and no tea, and has generally eaten but two meals a day. He never drank a dram of liquor in his life, never took a dose of medicine, and he was never much sick. He can remember things that transpired ninety to one hundred years ago better than those transpiring around him; and he converses on general topics with considerable intelligence. His hearing is as good as that of most young people. The most of his life he has worked hard in the pinery, making tar and turpentine, his wages varying from 12½ to 25 cents per day.
He has an uncle living near Newburn whose habits of life have been about like his own, and who is one hundred and twenty-four years old. He also spoke of others residing at the same place, aged respectively one hundred and six and one hundred and ten years. Mr. Allen expects to live fifteen or twenty years longer, and loves life as well as he ever did. Surely his habits of life, and those of others in that poor region, have had an influence in promoting this wonderful longevity. S. OSBORN.
THE DESTRUCTION OF SATAN.
By N. W. Vincent
Of all God’s adversaries, we think Satan will suffer the most excruciating and prolonged tortures. If the Bible teaches that his end is destruction, how false to teach that all that are overthrown at last in his rebellion, must live as long as God exists, simply to sin, and to suffer ever-increasing tortures!
It is true we read in Rev. 20:10, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” The verb rendered “shall be tormented,” is plural in the Greek, showing that whatever is affirmed of Satan is equally affirmed of the beast and the false prophet.
That the expression, “forever and ever,” εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, reaches only to the beginning of the ages of universal holiness and peace, and is limited to the time in which the wicked are actually dying the second death, we believe is clearly shown in the preceding verse, which says, “And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” That this destruction is the end of Satan, as well as of all that obey not the gospel, is uniformly taught throughout the Scriptures.
1. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head. Gen. 3:15.
2. Christ took on him flesh and blood, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Heb. 2:14.
3. Satan is a murderer; and “no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” John 8:44; 1 John 3:15.
3. He has sinned; and “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Eze. 18:4.
5. As he is guilty of sin he falls under the universal, irrevocable penalty; and “the wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23.
6. He is proud, and has done wickedly; therefore he shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn him up, that it shall leave him neither root nor branch. Mal. 4:1.
7. He is the chief transgressor; and “the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the end of the wicked shall be cut off.” Ps. 37:38.
8. He is the first and chief enemy of God; and “the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” Ps. 37:20.
9. As he comes down to the inhabiters of the earth he has great wrath, “because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12:12.
10. Under the symbol of the king of Tyrus, we think that prophecy shows that Satan will be brought to ashes upon the earth. Eze. 28:11–18; Mal. 4:3.
11. Satan, with all evil-doers, will be cast into the lake of fire (which is the second death), that is to be prepared for the devil and his angels; and he will be burnt up, cut off, ground to powder, and destroyed forever; he will utterly perish in his own corruption, will be rooted out of the land of the living, and “will be as though he had not been.” Ps. 52:5; 2 Pet. 2:12; Rev. 20:15; Obad. 16.
Then death, the last enemy, will be destroyed. Satan will have been bruised under the saints’ feet, and his works burnt up. Then the restitution of all things will be complete, all things will become new; and in the possessions bought with the blood of the Lamb and gloriously redeemed, the righteous will dwell forever. In the new earth and heavens what need of a hell? “For righteousness only shall ever there dwell.”
N. W. VINCENT.
A LETTER.
By John Byington
MYSELF and wife being on a visit to our son William and family in Newark, New Jersey, we found ourselves beyond the reach of any meeting of our brethren, Oct. 14. We unexpectedly met here two of our young friends from Mich.,—Theron Stafford and his wife Eva, who were married at our late camp-meeting in Lansing. As they go from their dear parents, may they choose to walk in the ways of the Lord. On first-day, the 15th, I heard two sermons from Eld. J. V. Himes, the first I ever heard him preach. His leading points in his first discourse were drawn from the second woe trumpet, Rev. 9:13, and were applied to the rise of the Ottoman Empire.
His second discourse was from the pouring out of the sixth vial, Rev. 16:12, which he applied to the decline and falling condition of the same power at the present time. He made the five first vials in the past. The first he applied to France, the next four to the Catholic church. Query, When has the Lord yet given the Catholic church blood to drink? Well I never hear preaching but that I can gather some good from it. The coming of Christ is preached and therein I do rejoice and will rejoice.
J. BYINGTON.
Newark, Oct. 16, 1876.
Vermont District No. 3 Quarterly Meeting Announcement
By F. T. Wales
VERMONT, DIST. NO. 3.
Dear Brethren: You no doubt have noticed the appointment of our next general quarterly T. and M. meeting, for Nov. 4 and 5, given in the Review, by Bro. A. S. Hutchins. I hope extra efforts will be made by all our members and brethren and sisters of Dist. No. 3 to be at that meeting. We expect it will be the best and most important gathering ever held at Wolcott.
The cause of present truth is onward; and we in Dist. No. 3 have reason to take fresh courage. As we look back upon the past year, we can see that the blessing of God has attended our labors in some degree. There have been some precious souls added to the people of God, such, we trust, as will go through with them to Mt. Zion. I would extend an invitation to all the lonely brethren and sisters to come up to our general gathering, as we expect some brethren to attend that meeting who have recently embraced the truth. We hope to see the brethren from Stowe. Come, brethren, come up to the feast; it will do you good. We need your help; and you need not fear meeting any discouragements.
I rejoice that I can say that the members of Dist. No. 3 are of good courage, and are moving out in the work of missionary labor; and I believe they feel some responsibility resting upon them. It will be expected that every one possessing any interest in the great work of saving our fellow-men will have performed a good work in the mission field, and will not fail to have it promptly reported, so that the director can have these reports condensed and ready to be read at the meeting. I have confidence in you all, brethren, that you will even do more than I have suggested. Time is short; and what is done, must be done quickly. The Lord is coming. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. O let us be watching, that when our blessed Lord cometh he may say, “Well done.” F. T. Wales.