p. 117 | Review and Herald, Vol. 39, No. 15. (3/26/1872)

Self-Denial and the Abuses of Appetite

By Jos. Clarke

Self-Denial.

“The abuses of the stomach, and gratification of appetite, are the fruitful source of most church trials.”—Testimony No. 13, p. 66.

The above I copy because it is an important point to be considered, in church difficulties; and if properly considered in time, would no doubt prevent church trials.

The author further states the case thus: “Those who eat and work intemperately and irrationally, talk and act irrationally. An intemperate man cannot be a patient man. It is not necessary to drink alcoholic liquors in order to be intemperate, &c.” p. 66.

Please turn to this page and read what is further said in reference to this subject. It should be written upon the heart, and it should be carefully practiced. It is worthy of our most earnest attention.

Is it possible that sensible men and women are gluttons? Are we some of us so foolish as to let appetite lead us into Satan’s snares, lead us away from God, the giver of every gift?

Certainly, the above quoted remarks are timely; but shall we heed them in time? They are earnest; shall we be earnest in heeding them?

Not all offend in this silly, foolish vice; but it is to be feared that many do. Let us all awake to lessons of self-denial. It will pay to deny self, and be temperate, whether you are saved or not. Temperance is a virtue which pays its way right along. So does every virtue.

BREVITIES.

It is well to value our gifts; if we do this, we shall follow them with our tears and prayers. Religion is opposed to recklessness and waste. It never gives prayerless alms.

He who withholds justice and alms because he is poor, must not complain if poverty should increase his burdens.

Parents, who neglect to control their families, will probably themselves, sooner or later, be controlled by their children.

Sinful pleasures, at first, are viewed as chains of gold; but afterwards, they become cables of iron.

Mankind are forgetful: they have forgotten their Creator, and they have forgotten his law: and, wonderful to tell, they have so far forgotten history that most of our race ignore or deny the only authentic record of Jehovah’s work. They deny the record of the deluge, and ridicule those who do believe.

In fact, romance is generally preferred to history by the reading public: history is regarded as dry and insipid; and the hero of the latest novel is far more prominent than any of those ancient worthies who sealed their testimony with their own blood. Such being the case, it is not strange that facts are forgotten.

No amount of zeal, or good works, can make up for lack of pure and holy Christian love.

JOS. CLARKE.

Astonishing Stolidity.

By R. F. Cottrell

It must be a matter of astonishment to any one of medium moral susceptibility, to hear the claim that it makes no difference whether we obey God, or choose a way of our own instead of what he has expressly appointed. Still, wherever we go we hear men say that they cannot see why any day religiously observed will not perfectly answer the demands of the fourth commandment. My answer to this is, that if God has only required one day in seven, doubtless they are right, any one day being as good in all respects as any other. But if God has himself appointed the day, no substitution of our own can answer the demand.

It is hard for me to see how so large a license can be perfectly acceptable in regard to the divine law—a license that could not be tolerated for a moment in respect to human laws and requirements. Should a person be cited to appear before a court upon a certain day, no one would think that the particular day was of no consequence, or that any other day would answer the requisition just as well. A person claiming this would be thought insane or decidedly lawless. Yet the first official of a Canadian township recently told me that he could not see for the life of him why any one day kept as a Sabbath would not equally answer the requirement of the Sabbath law. To inform him that God had appointed the day, sanctified it, set it apart as a sacred memorial of his rest on that day from the work of creation, seemed not to break the crust or make any impression.

In speaking of memorial days I claim that an event is memorialized by the observance of the very day on which the event happened. If we are to commemorate the resurrection of Christ by the observance of a day, it should be the day on which the resurrection took place. If we would commemorate the Sabbath day, i. e., the rest day of God, we should observe the very day on which he rested. No other day of the seven can be his rest day, for he rested on no other than the seventh. To my Canadian friend who thought differently, I propose that he should celebrate the Queen’s birthday on the fourth of July, instead of the twenty-fourth of May. Her Majesty would not think herself very highly honored by the change. Neither is God honored by attempting to change the day of his Sabbath. R. F. COTTRELL.

Two Extremes.

By Daniel T. Bourdeau

ONE extreme is to believe that God will do all the work of sanctification for us without our co-operation; another extreme is to take the work of overcoming in our own hands, without giving God a chance to work for us. The first extreme leads some to spiritual idleness, and those who hold to it cannot expect to progress in holiness. The latter extreme leads others to overact and worry and chafe in taking upon themselves burdens that God and others should bear, and tends to discouragement. Both of these extremes deprive many of the help that they must receive from God to overcome. God cannot help a lazy person; for whatever he does for us is to help us work out our salvation and perfect holiness. Neither can he do much for those who depend mainly upon their own efforts. Such are inclined to walk by sight, and not by faith, and lean upon a broken staff which cannot hold them up.

Oh! let us while doing all we can to perform the work God has assigned us, give our fellow-creatures a chance to get an experience for themselves in doing what God has for them to do, and give God and his Holy Spirit an opportunity to do for us what we cannot possibly accomplish in our own strength. If our burdens are too heavy for us, and we feel we are being crushed under their weight, let us cast them on the Lord, and he will sustain us. To do this, we need to learn of Christ, who was meek and lowly in heart; and the promise is that we shall find rest to our souls.

Oh! why drag and grope our way in weakness, folly, and darkness, while God has an exhaustless supply of strength, wisdom, and light, for us. Why not rather give God an opportunity to manifest through us the unbounded riches of his grace to our best good and to his glory? D. T. BOURDEAU.

THE BIBLE FULL OF PROMISES.

Promises of life eternal, Of a crown that never fades, Of a kingdom full of glory, Which no sorrow e’er invades; Of a city all transparent, Glittering with gems and gold, Where, on every side for entrance, Massive gates of pearl unfold.

Promises of meeting prophets, Martyrs, and that host of old, Who endured earth’s sore afflictions, And whose names were all enrolled In the book of life—to meet them Clothed in robes of purest white, And with them in that new anthem Of deliverance unite. —Sel.

Carelessness of Health.

Carelessness of health is a common and crying sin. It is not merely a misfortune—it is more than an evil—it is a great and terrible crime. Sickness imposes burdens upon the race greater than we can estimate. Not only do loss of time, labor, and money, with poverty, want, orphanage, and distress, result from sickness; but despondency, murmuring, repining, and complaining, with bitter and selfish thoughts, perpetually spring up from physical disease.

Health and happiness are nearly related to each other. When one is lost, the other frequently departs. Hence health, as well as happiness, is a Christian duty, and this is none the less important because it is so little understood. Ignorance of this duty leaves men to pursue, without restraint or hesitation, such courses of imprudence, indulgence, and excess, as, with all the certainty of mathematical sequence, lead to infirmity, imbecility, bodily disease, and premature dissolution.

Sickness is the result of sin. It may be personal or ancestral sin; it may be sin in ourselves or sin in others around us; it may be something which we can or cannot avoid or remedy; but the root of all sickness is sin in some form. When there was no sin, there was no sickness; and in the new world, when sin is ended, pain and sorrow will flee away. All unrighteousness is sin. Sin is lawlessness; it is the spirit of insubordination to wholesome rule, which defies authority, and indulges in forbidden things. And from inordinate appetites, unbridled lusts, excessive labors, imprudent exposures, and various infractions of physical and mental laws, through passions, stimulation, or uncontrolled desire, the human constitution is unbalanced and undermined, and the result is disease; the end, death!

Such self-imposed infirmities are disgraceful to men, and dishonorable to God. It is a disgrace to a man to unfit himself for the highest possibilities of his nature, by gluttony, by intemperance, by sensuality, or by any excess. It is a dishonor to God to abuse and dishonor the workmanship of his hands, and render it unfit for use.

The glory of a workman is in the perfection of his work. A watch continually out of order, and requiring perpetual repairs, disgraces the man who made it and palmed it upon the world. A machine which does its work improperly, and requires constant tinkering, is a disgrace to the inventor who drafted it, and the mechanic who constructed it.

A healthy, vigorous, upright, noble man, “so fearfully and wonderfully made,” and fulfilling all his various functions and duties with celerity and ease, is an honor to that Creator whose wondrous power has formed so goodly a frame. But a sickly, wretched, disordered, distorted, murmuring, repining invalid, is a reproach to Him in whose image man was created.

Much of the disease and pain which afflict mankind is the result of the sheerest carelessness. It is easily avoidable, and hence it is wrong. An ambitious boy tries to do the work of a man, and is praised for it by greedy and heartless employers, who, for a few hours’ labor, allow him to make himself a wretched, life-long invalid. A young girl exposes herself to wet and cold, and prides herself on her bravery and courage; but long years of pain and feebleness, and the sorrows of a ruined and shipwrecked life, teach her how foolishly she has cast away the glory of her strength. A sudden strain, a needless exertion, a hard day’s work done through seeming necessity or faithlessness or parsimony, often lays the foundation for years of distress, which only terminate in the quiet of the grave.

An aged person, with life enough to last a score of years with careful usage, in some hasty effort, or special labor, breaks down in a day, and goes with all his ripe experience, wise counsel, and life-long care, to his death-bed and his grave, in an effort to accomplish some trifling matter, or save a few shillings of expense.

Such carelessness of health is a crime. To be dependent on others when we should be strong and support the weak; to be sick and burdensome when we should be full of health and helpfulness; to spend our days in sadness and repinings, when our lives should be full of strength, and joy, and courage; to come to the grave in our brown hair, plucked from life like fruit unripe, instead of like a shock of corn fully ripe, crowned with years and full of blessings; and to do this by our own sins, and fault, and carelessness, surely this is a grievous crime. And yet thousands are thus guilty every day, and many of them are persons whose years should have taught them wisdom.

Let Christians consider that life and strength are a God-given, holy trust. Let them beware how they trifle with such priceless treasures. Let them cherish life and improve it as a heavenly favor, that it may be well with them, and that their days may be long upon the earth.—The Christian.

Religion Abandoned Among Worldly Company

The Christian who has put aside religion because he is in worldly company, is like a man who has put off his shoes because he is walking among thorns.

Faithful Where You Are

A MAN proves himself fit to go higher who shows that he is faithful where he is.

Iowa Church Meetings at Lisbon and Mt. Pleasant

By George I. Butler

Iowa.

My first meeting after my last report was at Lisbon. The going was such that we had a comparatively small attendance. Our meetings were interesting, and the Lord gave freedom in speaking. The main object of my appointing meeting there at this time was to settle, if possible, a trial of long standing before I left this field of labor. It had been working for a long time against the union and peace of the church, so there was but little real love in the church. It should have been attended to long before. I have found that such things, left a long time untouched, work most effectually against the good of the church, and, where suitable help can be obtained, I think it far better that they be attended to seasonably. The longer they stand, the more difficult they become. In this case, it was found that little things, which were unworthy of more than a passing thought, had been sufficient to cause alienation of feeling enough to seriously threaten the very existence of the church. It is a shame that such things must be said.

By the death of his father, Bro. Mitchell is once more left free to go out to labor in the cause. We hope he will soon give himself to the work. This is one of the oldest churches in the State. Its membership has become very small, and, if a few more move away, there will no longer be a church left.

The following week, held meetings at Mt. Pleasant. The attendance of the church was good, but there were few from abroad. Our meetings were profitable. Monday and Tuesday were devoted to re-organizing the church. This step was necessary, because it was impossible to tell who were members by the former church record, and because of the peculiar condition of things existing in the church. Bro. Canright happened in with us for a day, and his testimony was a help to us. We tried to set the objects to be accomplished by organization before the brethren and sisters clearly, and the necessary steps to it also, that real union might be the result. On Tuesday, the organization was carried forward. Our numbers in figures, on paper, will be much less than before, but our real strength we think will be greater. We shall number twenty-five or thirty when all have joined who live in this vicinity, some of whom could not be present. Bro. Jacob Hare was unanimously elected elder, and Bro. Fowler, clerk and treasurer. If there are others who live at a distance, who have formerly been members of the previous organization, and who desire to be members of this, they will make it known by writing to the elder of the church. We can now report a united church in Mt. Pleasant.

Our meetings at Brighton commenced March 29. The community at B. have been considerably excited of late, caused by the labors of Mr. Goodenough, the surviving laborer of the company who went out with Elds. Snook and Brinkerhoff years ago. This company were rather unfortunate in their original leaders. They had three ordained ministers in this State at first. As these all became Universalists, and none were ordained by them to take their places, they have no ordained laborers, so far as I know, left here to carry on their work. But Mr. G. came over from Wisconsin just in time to save their cause from the disgrace of being left with no laborer in the field; and though not ordained to the work, yet he has been making efforts here and there to keep their spirits from entirely dying out. They have others licensed, but, so far as I know, they have improved their time by staying at home. They maintain an organization at Marion, and keep up meetings. I know of no other place, but one, where they keep up Sabbath meetings in this State. There were several others, as Laporte City and Fairfield; but these are dried up.

I learned of Mr. Goodenough’s arrival in Brighton soon after it took place, and, had I thought it advisable, could have been there very soon. But as that church had received much labor for the last three years, I thought it would be better to wait awhile and see if they had any real faith in the doctrines in which they had been instructed; and as there was an element hanging on the outskirts of the church with some sympathizers within who had much fault to find with all that was done by the church, I expected Mr. G. would pick these up, and thus cause a separation between us, which I thought would be a benefit to the church. It worked just as I expected, and I am well pleased with the result. And although I expected some honest souls would be befogged for a time, yet I felt satisfied that all such would ultimately see things in their true light, and probably be benefited by the operation. In this I have not been mistaken.

Mr. G. came there, and, as usual, went to our Sabbath meetings and expressed his great regard for the commandments, &c. After awhile, of course, Mr. Carver’s book was introduced, the main animus of which is to make it appear that Bro. and sister White are liars and deceivers. This is one of the manifestations of that peculiar love they have for us as a people, to show that those who have labored and suffered most to build up this cause are utterly unworthy of confidence. Then he went on to show that our applications of the three messages and the sanctuary question were all wrong. So the special work in which we have been engaged for the last twenty-five years is all a delusion, and we are deceiving the people; and of course these very men who are engaged in this work of trying to make it appear that we are teaching error, got their knowledge of the Advent doctrine from this, which they now tell us is deception, as most of them were once S. D. Adventists. And yet many of these very ones are willing to remain with us in church fellowship, if we will permit them. They are willing to fellowship us, who, they say, are led by deceivers, and teaching a deception.

As near as I could learn from the friends of Mr. G., he teaches that the first message of Rev. 14 commenced at the first advent. So the hour of God’s Judgment commenced then. His second, commenced in 1798, and the genuine third message is now being preached by Mr. Goodenough! How long this will remain their position, or how many of that party hold this view, I know not. It is not safe to count very much on this point, judging by the past. It may seem a little strange, to those who understand their position, that the two-horned beast came upon the stage of action many centuries ago, but that the third message, which is a warning against the work of the two-horned beast, should have been delayed so many centuries, till Mr. G. came upon the stage of action.

I understand that Mr. G. organized a church of nine in Brighton. I think a few others may join, but not many. His outside interest is nearly dead. Their efforts there have made many see the importance of our work as never before, and many believe the testimonies stronger than ever. In short, I am very glad that Mr. G. made his visit to Brighton. It accomplished good in some directions which had puzzled me very much to bring about. They can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

I feel very well satisfied with our meetings at B., and trust those who still cling to the old landmarks will remain firm and be faithful to God, that we may be permitted to meet in the kingdom of God.

GEO. I. BUTLER.

Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, March 11, 1872.

Michigan Labors in Tuscola and Shiawassee Counties

By P. Strong

Michigan.

SINCE my last report, I have labored some in Tuscola Co. Nine have embraced the Sabbath; but the mass have more interest, for the present, in lumbering, than in the truths that are to prepare them for the future world.

I commenced meetings at Six Mile Creek, Shiawassee Co., Jan. 28, and held twenty-nine meetings. Closed Feb. 25. Eight have embraced the truth so far as presented. Others are interested, and are reading our works; at a proper time, doubtless, these will unite with the Chesaning church. Bro. Milk was with me a few days in this place, until the sickness of his parents called him East. Our congregation averaged about forty-five. Soon after our meetings commenced, an opposition meeting was started in an adjoining district. We also had the influence of two quarterly meetings, two donations, two weekly lodges, neck-ties, masquerade, and the excitement of a man being shot, to contend against. Thus, the minds of the people being kept continually in excitement, it was hard to get them to see the force of the truth. The days of peril are days of fun to them.

One old professor being asked if he was going to the meeting that evening, said that he had run and played so hard the night before at a social, that he was so lame and tired he could not come; thus making the words of Paul true in his case; “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.”

Sabbath, March 2, I was at Orleans. Two new ones have taken hold of the truth here.

Sabbath, March 9, I spent again with our new friends in Shiawassee. Found them all steadfast. The minister of the place had been circulating a tract written by G. W. Bailey, against the Sabbath; but thus far it has had a tendency to confirm those that have started, and to stir up an interest in others. They cannot believe yet that the ten commandments are abolished.

While reading that tract, my mind was called out on the many arguments that have been given in the past by others, why the Sabbath is not binding now, and the argument held, by the writer’s brother came up: the world being round, and continually moving, therefore we can’t all keep the same day. But according to that tract, in the world to come we shall not be troubled in that way, as the world then will evidently be flat. On page 18, in arguing to destroy the identity of day, he says, “But we are told there are months there, hence weeks and days; for John says, when speaking of the tree of life, that it yielded her fruit every month.” It says it yielded (not shall yield) her fruit every month, i. e., back in Eden; and that the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations, not shall be. There will be none sick in the world to come; but it was intended for medicine back there. It only identifies the tree. He is willing to throw away the fruit and healing leaves, to get rid of the day. But on last page, we are invited to keep the commandments of God, that we may have a “right to the tree of life.” What a privilege! a barren tree (according to his interpretation) without leaves, or fruit.

But let us test his text as applied back there. And that the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations, “back in Eden.” But back in Eden there were no nations to be healed. None there but Adam and Eve, and they needed no healing till after sin entered, and as soon as sin entered, they were driven from Eden. Therefore, none ever have been healed in the past.

Conclusion: if true, the tree of life was created in vain. But no, that cannot be. John says, Rev. 2:7, “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God;” and this promise being to the overcomer, and for the future, we will press on and try to keep his commandments, feeling that if we can get there, that there will be an abundance of fruit on that tree, and it will yield its fruit each month.

P. Strong.

Chesaning, Sag. Co., Mich.

DAVID DOWNER

By David Downer

Wisconsin.

SINCE my last report in February, I have labored as follows:

Preached one discourse at Bro. Thurston’s school-house. There has been a protracted effort made there by the United Brethren. They, of course, opposed the law of God, but without success, as two more have commenced keeping the Sabbath since, and others are reading, and becoming convinced. Sunday, March 3, went to hear a rebutting sermon by Mr. Bartlett, who has, for eighteen years, until recently, been a Sabbath-keeper. He now claims to have had new light. He rejected the visions some time ago, and I fear his history will prove (like that of many others who have rejected them) that he has been fighting against God. We were not a little pained to see him opposing God’s Sabbath among the same people where he had been advocating it for years. After a labored effort of two hours, he said we ought to keep one day, and, that he rather keep the seventh day, and intended to keep it. We are sorry for him, and shall look forward to the time when he shall confess his mistake.

Preached two sermons four miles from Plainfield, where there are five Sabbath-keepers. Had good attendance, and attention. Several there believe the truth, but are halting. March 8, had an appointment at Grand Rapids. Could not fill it, there having been a heavy storm, drifting the roads full of snow. The Rapids is an important place. I shall commence meetings there the coming week. The people have offered to pay expenses, and furnish hall and lights.

We have many warm friends here. Many believe the truth, and are ready to support it. There have been some hundreds of dollars offered towards building a church. I have been thinking of raising what we can, and trying to build a meeting-house. May the Lord direct.

There are calls for labor in every direction. I never felt more the great importance of a close walk with my Master. Let me say to all my brethren and sisters, Let us try to prepare for the last great struggle.

DAVID DOWNER

Plainfield, Wis., March 11, 1872.

RICH AND POOR.

I saw a poor man enter where The worshipers of God were seen. His garments cheap and worn threadbare, Yet all was tidy, neat, and clean— I saw him take a lonely seat, And worship at the Saviour’s feet.

I saw, hard by, a family, Dressed out in satin, silk, and gold; Their look was haughty, proud, and high, Their gait was very stern and bold— They scarcely deigned to look that way, So poor was he, so rich were they.

I looked again by faith ahead, And saw “the great white throne” on high; I saw the living and the dead, All hastening to their destiny: The rich and poor were in that host, And some were saved and some were lost.

I saw the man who, years ago, Was dressed in tinsel, silk, and gold: But, oh, how changed! how full of woe! What anguish did his looks unfold! His lofty airs were fled and gone, He stood a wretch, unsaved, undone.

I saw the poor man clad in white Stand with the glorious seraphim; Angels that glow in realms of light Were not ashamed to be with him— Oh! who would not prefer to be A sinner saved, though poor as he?

—Sel.

J. B. GOODRICH

By J. B. Goodrich

Maine.

From Jan. 16 to 23, I was holding meetings and visiting in the vicinity of Patten. Some that embraced the truth during our tent meetings last summer are firm; others are not so decided and faithful as they should be. It will not do for people to commence to keep the Sabbath, and stop there. Nothing short of a thorough change of heart, and a reformation that will change all our wrong habits of life, is going to answer. We are getting near the closing up scenes of probation, and what a sad thing it would be at last to find we had made a mistake.

Jan. 27, 28, held meetings at Dyer Brook, and obtained eight subscribers for the Youth’s Instructor, one for the Health Reformer, and six for the REVIEW. Money is scarce, or I could have obtained more. A number in this place are convinced that we have the truth, who have not, as yet, taken their stand with us. May the Lord help them to take up the cross and obey the truth.

Feb. 3, I commenced meetings on Shin Pond road, about three miles from Patten village. I remained in this place, holding meetings and visiting from house to house, until the 14th. Some new ones commenced to keep the Sabbath, and others are interested. Seven subscribed for the Youth’s Instructor. The 15th, held a meeting in Sherman, and the 16th, returned home, after being absent almost five months.

J. B. GOODRICH

Hartland, Me., March, 1872.

Clinton Co., Mich.

By E. Brackett, Jr.

My last report was from Green Co., Ind., where I held a very interesting series of meetings. Since leaving there, some more have united with them in keeping the Sabbath.

I came to this place after spending two weeks at Potterville with Bro. Lane, where he has been having very interesting meetings. I have continued here four weeks. My meetings were not very largely attended, but there seemed to be a considerable interest on the part of those that came. Some have expressed a determination to obey the Lord by keeping his commandments. I still look for others. May the blessing of the Lord attend the few here, and impress the minds of the undecided.

E. BRACKETT, JR.

Sandyville, Iowa.

By H. Nicola

By special request, I met with the church at Sandyville, and commenced meetings Wednesday evening, Feb. 21, and continued over the following first-day, holding, in all, nine meetings. Those who attended were much benefited. The meetings were solemn and heart-searching. It seems to me that, with many of our people who have been in the truth a long while, and have had much light, the spirit of present truth and real vital religion is at a very low ebb. What will arouse this class? The most heart-searching preaching seems to affect them but little. Will they not have to make individual efforts to seek God for themselves, and not wait for some compelling power to move them to action? If churches that have sunk down into a low state will, at a season of the year when they can, set apart a week or two and meet together, and pray for and exhort each other, and seek God individually for themselves, they will secure a benefit that they would not get by depending on a minister’s stirring them up to action.

I was happy to meet here Bro. Harvey Morrison, who has retired from the field for a time on account of poor health. His health is much improved, and I pray that he may be strengthened so as to soon go forth into the great harvest field again. The help he rendered in this meeting was much appreciated.

I went from here to Brighton, where Bro. Butler was to hold his last meeting in the State, for a time. This was a very important meeting, and God gave his servant great freedom in exposing the deceptive nature of the work that had been troubling them for a few weeks in the past, and also in bringing out those truths applicable to the occasion. H. Nicola.

Kent Co., Mich.

By Albert Weeks

Bro. Corliss and myself have just given a course of lectures at Courtland, Kent Co., with some reasons for encouragement. Some have said they were going to keep the Sabbath. May they see the danger of delay, and make haste, as did the psalmist, to keep the commandments of God.

The friends here, after seeing that we were trying to do good, kindly invited us to their homes.

Bro. I. Olmstead was with us some of the time.

By invitation, I commence a course of lectures at Kenockee, St. Clair Co., March 17.

Albert Weeks.

Letter from E. O. Underhill, Clinton County, Michigan

E. O. Underhill writes from Clinton Co., Mich.: The way grows better and brighter all along. Praise God for the wonderful way in which he has led me. I am thankful for the truth, for its soul-saving principles, and its doctrines of non-conformity to this world of sin. May God help us all, as a people, to keep bright fires on our hearts’ altars, that they may be beacon lights to guide others to the truth.

Elder F. E. Morey Reports Lectures in St. Clair County

Bro. F. E. Morey writes that he has given twelve lectures in St. Clair Co., Mo., with a full house, and a good degree of interest.

Too High and Too Low: Thoughts on Needing Christ

He that thinks he hath no need of Christ, hath too high thoughts of himself; he that thinks Christ cannot help him, hath too low thoughts of Christ.

Obituary Notices.

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

Died, in South Kingstown, R. I., Feb. 20, 1872, Bro. Robert K. Tefft, aged 47 years and 9 months. Bro. Tefft embraced the third angel’s message about seven years ago, soon after hearing a course of lectures from Bro. M. E. Cornell, at Rocky Brook, R. I. From that time, he was a firm believer in all the commandments and the faith of Jesus. He leaves a wife and six children to mourn his loss, but not without hope. We, as a church at Curtis Corners, R. I., of which Bro. Tefft was a worthy, active member, deeply feel, and mourn, his loss.

The meeting-house on the occasion of the funeral was crowded with attentive listeners, to whom Bro. Clark L. Sweet, and Bro. Joseph A. Sullivan, spoke words of instruction and encouragement.

Jabez C. Tucker.

Died, in the town of Sweden, near Brockport, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1872, of consumption, Helen A., wife of Treat Hovey, aged 28 years, 6 months.

Although the circumstances of her life prevailed against her desire to obey God, and publicly confess Christ by conforming to his requirements while in health, yet she was enabled, during her sickness, to rely upon him as her refuge. After commending to his care her little ones, and exhorting her husband to make Jesus his friend, she willingly yielded up her life, entertaining a hope that the Lord would remember her when he gathers his people from the land of the enemy.

Very appropriate remarks were made at her funeral by Mr. Mills, Baptist, upon the faithful use of gifts, after which some touching lines were read, composed by our sister just before her death.

Died, in Republic, Ohio, Nov. 4, 1871, Mirty G., infant son of J. W. and H. Wolfe, aged 5 months and 23 days.

We have laid our darling little Mirty in the grave to rest till the Life-giver shall call him from his lowly bed.

“As the sweet flower that scents the morn, But withers in the rising day, Thus lovely was this infant’s dawn, Thus swiftly fled its life away.”

Funeral services by A. A. Hutchins from Mark 10: 13-16.

J. W. & H. Wolfe.

Missionary and Tract Society of the Vt. State Conference.

By Lewis Bean; C. W. Stone

In accordance with the call in the REVIEW, a general meeting was held at Bordoville, Vt., Feb. 18, 1872, at 9½ A. M., for the purpose of forming a Missionary and Tract Society for the S. D. Adventist Conference of Vermont and Canada East. Meeting called to order by the President of the Conference. C. W. Stone was chosen Secretary, pro tem.

Some time was occupied by Bro. Bourdeau in stating the object of the meeting. The Constitution recommended, with remarks and directions, in REVIEW, No. 6, present volume, were read by the Secretary, after which, further remarks were made by Bro. Bourdeau on the object and workings of these societies. Then, on motion, it was unanimously

Voted, To form a Missionary and Tract Society for the Vermont Conference, and to adopt the Constitution recommended, which was taken up, article by article.

At this point, all present who could be recommended by a church of Seventh-day Adventists were invited to pay one dollar to become members of this society. Nearly one hundred persons promptly presented themselves, most of them of Franklin County. On motion, these persons appointed Brn. A. Stone, H. N. Austin, and E. Kellogg, a committee to nominate the officers of this society. It was suggested that the Conference be divided into five districts, and that the Executive Committee consist of five.

Letters from the churches at Jamaica, Stowe, and Irasburgh, which churches were not represented by delegates, were read.

AFTERNOON SESSION. The Nominating Committee presented their report, whereupon the following officers were elected: President, A. C. Bourdeau; Vice-president, L. Bean; Secretary, C. W. Stone; Treasurer, M. N. Cross; Executive Committee, Lewis Bean, S. H. Peck, T. Purdon, and E. Kellogg.

The subject of districting the State was taken up; it was decided by vote to leave it to be done by the Executive Committee.

By the decision of the committee, the Conference was divided into the following districts:—

Enosburgh, Berkshire, Richford, and environs.
Irasburgh and Sutton, Vt., Compton, P. Q., and environs.
Wolcott, Johnson, Stowe, and vicinity.
West Bolton, New Haven, Roxbury, and vicinity.
Andover, Jamaica, and environs.

Interesting and stirring remarks were made by several in regard to forwarding this work throughout the Conference, what is required of members, &c.; whereupon the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:—

Resolved, That, as measures will be taken to organize in the several districts, we earnestly request the members of churches to become members of this society, and, that it be the duty of the elder or leader of each church to encourage the members thus to do.

Resolved, That the Executive Committee be recommended to appoint agents, men or women of candor and Christian courtesy, who shall especially interest themselves in collecting arrearages on periodicals in different parts of the Conference.

Whereas, We recognize that the special blessing of God has attended the effort made by our people in the publication of books, pamphlets, tracts, and periodicals, on a very large scale; and

Whereas, We have long felt the need of a more thoroughly organized effort for a wide circulation of our publications: therefore,

Resolved, That we gratefully receive the creation of Tract Societies for the purpose, as set forth and recommended in REVIEW of Jan. 16, 1872, as the very means, under the blessing of God, to accomplish this work.

Resolved, That we, as a society, acknowledging the obligations that we are under to God, do pledge ourselves to faithfulness in spreading the knowledge of the present truth, and in carrying out the principles of the religion of the Bible.

Adjourned, sine die.

LEWIS BEAN, Chairman.

C. W. STONE, Secretary.

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