THIS term is a hobby with many at the present time. It is the pass-word to the very inner temple of self-styled orthodoxy. Men will talk of "a sweet union of loving hearts," when there is not a principle of true union with them. We think this is well calculated to fulfill prophecy, by securing union of action on certain popular points where there is no union in principle. Mr. Hammond, in his "union revival meetings," takes pains to let it be understood that he can work with "all who believe in Jesus;" with Catholics as well as Protestants. This was repeatedly said in Stockton. Now consistent Protestants cannot unite with Catholics. If they can, why are they Protestants? And was not the work of Luther worse than useless? And this is what you will find wherever this cry of "union" is raised: the spirit of true reform is lacking; there is a sacrifice of truth for an empty name.
A recent letter from Italy contains the following remarks on Catholicism:—
"The thought is constantly recurring that ages of degradation under Papal and priestly rule have destroyed the capacity of men and women for apprehending the first elements of Christian teaching as set forth in the New Testament. Mr. Spurgeon has freely said that he has lost all faith in the possibility of a Romish priest in Italy being truly converted to Christ, without an actual miracle; and that, because the system under which the priests have been trained has burned out of their nature every moral element upon which truth can operate. This, on his part, is no mere hyperbole, or 'flourish of rhetoric,' but a deep conviction. In this connection we cannot forget the old proverb, 'Like priest, like people.' The priestly system of espionage is, even now, as far-reaching and effective as ever; and yet, it has been aptly said that 'we could easily raise up Baptist churches all over Italy, and draw hundreds to them, to be baptized, at a dollar a head.' Missionaries from heathen lands, passing through Italy to America, and stopping here and there for the sake of chances to see things for themselves, have frankly said that they would prefer heathendom, any part of it, as a field of work; although, indeed, so broad a statement might be qualified as it was here, a few days since, by Mr. Ashmore, of China, who said that wherever a community of Chinese had yielded to the sway of the Romish priesthood, they exhibited a field of labor as hopeless as any in Italy."
China is well known to be a hard field for missionary labor, but to make the Chinese as hard to convert as the Catholic Italians, they must be brought under Catholic influence! This is the judgment of a missionary who had beheld both fields.
Catholicism never changes its policy. It may change its action for the sake of policy, but it is the same now that it was in the days of Luther. When Protestants bow down to the name of "union" so as to unite with Catholics, or try to, it is because they have lost every true element of the Reformation.
But they cannot unite with Catholics for the reason that Catholics will not unite with them. And this shows that the Catholics are more consistent than they. Catholics know very well that there is an "irrepressible conflict" between the two; and an impassible gulf, which must remain as long as Catholics are Catholics and Protestants are Protestants. When names are preferred to things; when shadows are counted more real than substances; and when principles are sunk out of sight for mere feeling and momentary triumphs, then there is union, but it is on the same basis of that which was effected between Pilate and Herod.
Jesus came "to bear witness of the truth," and to unite hearts in the truth, but to separate between mere professors and them who love and obey the truth. If we have the truth it is our duty to maintain it. This cry of "charity" and of "loss of influence," is a mere delusion, raised to frighten timid ones whose hearts are not established in the faith. Charity "rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth." We have no right to any influence which we cannot use to the glory of God and to the advancement of his cause. Let us "hold fast the form of sound words," for the truth is not ours to compromise or to trifle with. It is a matter of life and death; a matter to be tested by the Judgment of God. In all ages they who have adhered to the truth without swerving have lost their influence with the worldly and time-serving, but they have glorified God and received his approval. Let us take them for our example, rather than yield to a popular clamor for compromises which cannot profit.
J. H. W.
Shall We Have the Bible?
By R. F. Cottrell
For more than twenty years it has been evident to me that this is to be the great question of our day. At a time when increasing light is beaming forth from the Scriptures, according to the prediction of prophecy, (Dan. 12 : 4, 10,) infidelity, under new and insidious forms, rears its unsightly and unblushing face, and with “progress” for its motto, it intends to do nothing short of sinking the Bible to oblivion and banishing its faith from among mankind. And it is not only the outside non-professing world that is being, and will be, affected by this movement, but the professed friends of the Bible are giving up the faith, and many of them are doing their best to help forward the increasing infidelity of the times, some in an open, and others in a covert way. These profess great reverence for God, while, from what they are pleased to call science, they teach principles clearly atheistic. Modern Spiritualism, which commenced its public work in 1848, struck the key note of “progression,” and the latent and covered infidelity of men of all grades and in all stations has been, and is being, rapidly developed. What causes have prepared the way and led to this unparalleled raid against the Bible and the Christian faith? How does it happen that such gross infidelity is so suddenly developed even in professed believers in the Bible? The deep depravity of the human heart, the “carnal mind” which is enmity against God, is not subject to his law, cannot, and will not be, naturally chosen to disbelieve and disobey God. Men are infidels because they choose to be. Pride, the evil root from which sprung the first sin, (1 Tim. 3 : 6 ; Isa. 14 : 12-14 ; Ezek. 28 : 12-17,) holds the heart from yielding to God. And the progress of our day in arts and sciences, the inventions and achievements of men, tend to foster pride, and make man deify himself and wish to dethrone the Almighty.
But it is “withal a very polished age,” and infidelity, unwilling to fight under its own proper banner, wearing its own uniform—unwilling openly to proclaim its own atheism, makes profession of “devout belief in God,” and “steals the livery of the court of Heaven to serve the devil in.” It will even profess faith in the Bible, provided it be allowed to interpret it to its liking. And here is the grand point where professed Christians have set an example for unbelievers of every grade to nullify the teachings and claims of the Scriptures. The Bible has been interpreted to suit every creed, and to uphold every departure from its plainest teachings and requirements. The learned Origen early set the example of interpreting the plain statements of the Scriptures allegorically; and infidels will now refer to him when they wish to set aside what the Scriptures declare. The plea is that the Scriptures do not mean what they say, but something else; anything which the interpreter judges most desirable—that which will establish his own faith and practice. Take an example or two in which Christians have laid a foundation for infidels to build upon. To avoid the rocks of materialism, they have described God as being “without body, parts, or passions, not having a particular dwelling-place but being as truly in any one place as in any other,” setting aside those scriptures which speak of his dwelling place, his holy habitation in the heavens, whence he looks down to earth upon the children of men. Here infidelity chimes in: God is everywhere and everything; as much in a rock or tree as anywhere else. He pervades all nature, is the God of nature; and the artful leave us to infer, while the less cautious bring out their own conclusion, as one did in my presence recently, that there is no God but nature. What will our Christian friends say to this? They have laid the foundation in going beyond what the Bible has said. Is it any wonder that others build thereon?
Again, take the plain and very explicit duty of keeping the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Christians will read this precept which clearly enjoins the keeping of a specified day, the seventh of the seven, because that was the day on which God rested, and which he blessed and sanctified, that is, separated it from the other days of the week, appointing it to be a sacred memorial of himself and his creative work, and after reading the commandment as it is, will begin to tell you that it does not mean what it says, in words something like the following: “It is very clear that the design of this commandment is to require that one-seventh portion of our time, namely, one day in seven, should be kept holy to the Lord, as a Sabbath-day or day of rest.” The text does not say this at all, but this is what they think it must mean. It would be no more absurd to interpret the first commandment—“Thou shalt have no other gods before me”—to mean that we must make choice of a god whom we will worship and have no other. This commandment is not so explicit as the fourth. The “me” of the first commandment is dependent for its identity on the facts which are stated in connection with the fourth. Take these explanatory facts from the Sabbath commandment, and you may not only choose your own day for a Sabbath, but you may also choose the god you will worship. This shows what interpretation can do. Those who would have no Sabbath and no god drink with avidity such interpretations. Many of them have sense and reason enough to know that if the Sabbath precept does not specify a particular day which all are required to keep, then there is no sacred day, and we may choose one day in seven or in ten, or no day at all. The tendency and logical sequence of such interpretation is no-Sabbath-ism, and those who would have their lager beer and amusements on Sunday are able to see it. For to teach that the commandment, as originally given, requires no particular day, but only one day in seven, and on the top of this that the day of the Sabbath has been changed (from one indefinite and unspecified day to another), and that the commandment now requires all to honor a particular day, Sunday, is much more than preposterously absurd; how much more, language is incapable of expressing.
We might add other instances of Christian interpretation that foster infidelity, but these are enough to show that the professed friends of the Bible, with their interpretations, have opened the way for the enemies of God and revelation to force upon us the great question of the day, namely, Shall we have the Bible? Nothing answers the purpose of infidelity better than the large license of interpretation which the friends of the Bible have put in their hands. Now the only hope for those who would retain the Bible is in returning to what it says, instead of telling what it must mean. It would be well for interpreters to take the advice of Wm. Tyndale, who was the first to translate the New Testament from the original Greek into the English, in 1526. Under the heading “To the Reder,” he says, “Marke the playne and manyfest places of the Scriptures and in doubtful places, se thou adde no interpretacion contrary to them: but (as Paul sayth) let all be conformable and agreyng to the fayth.” These interpretations have worked, and are working, mischief. Better lay them aside and let the Bible speak for itself. A poet has sung, “God is his own interpreter.” So let it be.—R. F. COTTRELL, in Sabbath Recorder.
Oakland
By John Norton Loughborough
Oakland.
It is agreed, so far as I can learn, on the part of all who attended, that the quarterly meeting just held in Oakland, is the best we have had in this State under the new constitution. The attendance from other districts was not as large as we had hoped. As will be seen in the report on another page, but three of our nine directors were present. Those of our brethren who did attend the meeting took hold “with a will” to do the business necessary to be done. The Lord blessed in a great measure, thus lifting us above any apparent cause of discouragement.
As there was not a full board of directors present, our business was all done in open session of the meeting. We observed one marked feature of these business meetings, that they were well attended, and that deep interest was manifested in them, by both brethren and sisters. This is as it should be, for they are all T. and M. members. We trust the spirit will prevail more and more among this people, that the business connected with the cause and work of advancing the truth in all its departments, is just as essential in its place as preaching the truth, or our social meetings.
During the meeting there were five discourses given by myself. We never enjoyed greater liberty than we do at the present, and we could say of a truth in our effort to instruct and encourage others, “The Lord is my helper.”
The quarterly meeting occasion was also one of interest and gain to the Oakland church, in that there was an addition of eight members to the church; two by letter, and six by vote of the church. One of these six was the wife of our Bro. Shaw. They have lately moved to this place from Missouri, and she has taken her stand with us during these meetings.
The district quarterly meeting for this district (No. 7), was held in connection with the State quarterly meeting, and was a decided success, as will be seen elsewhere in report of the same. A call was made for $100.00 to replenish the T. and M. funds of this district. Pledges were then made without much effort to the amount of $133.50, over half of which is paid already, the rest to be paid by the time of the camp-meeting.
The outlook of the cause becomes more and more encouraging upon this coast every week. Our trust is in God. He lives and reigns. He will give success to his truth in due time. By him shall the cause arise from its small beginning to greatness, strength, and power. Be of good courage, brethren and fellow-laborers, in the great missionary work. Victory will be ours.
I cannot close this report without saying that I am pleased with the progress that is being made in the mode of doing T. and M. work. Nearly all our districts enter upon the new quarter with their book accounts with the SIGNS and Review Offices all square. A good work is also being done in this State on the SIGNS list. Let not your efforts be slackened in obtaining subscribers to the paper, brethren.
It is proper that we should state that we would undoubtedly have had a more full board of directors had it not been that our meeting was in the hurry of harvest. Some wrote stating the facts in the case before hand, still saying that they would come if we said they “must.” God bless you, brethren and sisters, and fellow-workers. Toil on in your respective duties, and meet us at the camp-meeting, for our next quarterly meeting will be held at that time in connection with our regular yearly session of the T. and M. society. May God grant that the camp-meeting may be indeed the best we have ever yet seen upon this coast. Pray earnestly that it may be so, and begin now to prepare with hearts and hands for it.
J. N. L.
"Greatly Beloved."
By Roswell Fenner Cottrell
WHAT a testimony to be borne, fresh from Heaven by an angel of God, to a mortal man! What man so highly favored of God! Who would not covet such a testimony?
What was the prophet Daniel doing, when this dispatch was sent to him from glory?
He was not boasting of his own righteousness, telling how good he had been, how long he had lived free from sin. He was not glorying in the light and wisdom he had, and of being able to "dissolve doubts and make interpretations." He had had visions of God, but he did not boast. In his modesty he could say, "This secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living." He was careful to give all the glory to the God of Heaven.
But what was he doing, when this special dispatch came to him from Heaven? He was seeking the Lord by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth, and ashes. He was confessing his sin and the sin of his people. In his earnest and importunate supplication he was crying out: "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hearken and do: defer not for thine own sake, O my God! for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."
If we would enjoy the favor of God, if we would be greatly beloved in Heaven, let us follow the example of the beloved prophet.
R. F. COTTRELL.
Missionary Department.
By John Norton Loughborough
“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccl. 11 : 6.
System.
ANY great work, if it proves a success, must be conducted systematically as well as energetically. In the missionary work, as in any other, if it prove a success there must be conformity to order, and an endeavor on the part of all to learn the mode of doing T. and M. business. It is said that “a body without a head is a monster.” The same would be true of a State T. and M. Society, of a district, or of a church. In order that this difficulty may be avoided, each State society has its president and secretary who, together, are supposed to understand and keep a record of all that is done in the State in missionary operations.
Their information and items of business are received from the director and district secretary, who occupy the same relation to each district that the president and State secretary do to the State. The director and district secretary receive their items of business from the librarian and business agent in each church, while the librarian and business agent occupy the same relation to the individual members of a church that the president and State secretary do to the whole State, or that the director and district secretary do to the district. The directors also constitute a sort of president’s cabinet who may be called together at any time to consult upon and decide relative to important items of business, especially those that might involve any new departure from the ordinary and usual workings of the society. On the system of T. and M. work I quote the following interesting remarks from the pen of Bro. Haskell :——
“It is absolutely necessary that the tract societies, if they would prosper, should strictly adhere to the present system adopted by Seventh-Day Adventists. Not because there may be no opportunities in the future to improve it; but considering the nature of our work, and what is to be accomplished by it, it is according to the best light we have at present. Each member of the various tract societies should keep a small pass-book, in which a record can be kept of the number of pages of tracts and pamphlets which are distributed, also the number of periodicals distributed, and the number of the names of subscribers obtained for each of our periodicals.
“Near the end of the quarter, a blank report will be placed in the hands of each member of the tract society by the librarian. Then the members will be prepared to copy from their pass-books, and fill out the blank report, and return the same to the librarian. The librarian will forward all the blank reports to the district secretary. The district secretary will then make a condensed report after the manner described in a sheet, ‘How to Conduct Quarterly Meetings,’ which report is to be read at the district quarterly meeting. Each director and district secretary should have one of these sheets. And if there are any directors or secretaries which have none, let them apply to their State secretary.
“Each individual member should take an interest to induce all members of the different churches of Seventh-Day Adventists to join the tract society. Also scattered individuals that do not have the privilege of meetings on the Sabbath, who are conscientiously keeping the commandments of God and faith of Jesus, should be invited to join it. Correspondence should be opened with them. Art. 4, of the ‘Constitution of the Tract and Missionary Societies,’ reads as follows: ‘Any person may become a member of this society who is in good standing in one of our churches, or who may be recommended by a church of Seventh-Day Adventists, by the payment of one dollar.’
“All business should be sent directly to the secretary of the State tract society, whose business it is to forward the same to the Office. The librarians can also do this in sending names of subscribers for our periodicals; but pay the money to the director. Each director should visit each church in his district once a quarter, to see that each part of his district is coming up and taking hold of the work. This is especially necessary in those districts where they are not fully in working order.
“It is expected that each librarian will take an interest in every member of the church to which he may belong, and see that they join the tract society, and then have tracts to distribute, unless there be reason for withholding them; in that case, he should consult with the director. He should also see that they have a blank report at the proper time, and assist them, if necessary, in filling it out. If tracts or pamphlets are wanted, he should call on the director, and the director will order through the president.
“Each director should have a supply on hand, so that as he visits the different churches, he can supply the librarians. But a bill of what each church receives should be given to the district secretary, that a debt and credit account may be kept by the district secretary with each church in the district. The State secretary in each Conference will keep on hand a supply of blank reports, ‘How to Conduct Quarterly Meetings,’ and the ‘Constitution of the Tract Societies,’ to supply directors and secretaries; and also blank reports in Danish in those Conferences where there are Danish brethren. And when they get out, they can obtain them on application at the Office of publication.”
J. N. L.
Be of Good Cheer.
By John Norton Loughborough
WHY? "Because ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." From week to week we receive tokens that the SIGNS is doing a good work and we hope this will serve as an incentive to all to determine, whether by our means or otherwise, to make it a success.
The following from a subscriber in Indianapolis, Ind., speaks for itself. She says, "For about one year I have received and read with great interest this paper, and enclose money [$4.45] to pay for it another year. I consider it the best of all the papers I have an opportunity to read ; and the light I have received upon the Sabbath question through your publications I esteem above all price. If you choose to send me some tracts on the Sabbath question I think that I could distribute them to advantage to those about me already interested. I pray you may have success in your labor just so far as its object is to save the souls of men. I wish to be among those blessed ones whom the Lord shall find watching."
Last week Mr. Levi Butcher, an enterprising appearing man from Mound City, Kansas, called in our Office. He is seeking a home in Cal. He said that he with several others at that place had consented to receive the SIGNS. He paid the postage on it, and had since become so deeply interested in it that he wanted it to continue, and as soon as he had decided on his location should pay up for the paper. He gave us to understand that the paper was read with great interest by those who were taking it at Mound City.
J. N. L.
State Quarterly Meeting.
THE third State Quarterly Meeting of the Cal. T. and M. Society was held with the Oakland church, Sunday, July 4, 1875.
Meeting opened with prayer by Bro. Harmon. Remarks were made by Bro. Loughborough on the figures of the society in its past labors, and the flattering prospects of success in the future, if we only work.
In the absence of the State Secretary, Bro. J. E. White was elected Secretary pro tem.
Report of last meeting read and accepted.
The society, by vote, accepted the resignation of Bro. H. C. Yerby as director of district No. 5 (in consequence of his removal from the district), and ratified the nomination made by that district of G. C. Martin of Woodland to fill this vacancy.
Bro. Loughborough read an interesting letter from Bro. Spears, who, with his wife, are lonely Sabbath-keepers in Humboldt county. This letter was written to Bro. Harmon, director of district No. 2. Its reading illustrated an important branch of the missionary work, and showed how much good might be done by correspondence.
The report of the workings of the society for the past quarter was read as follows :—
No. of families visited, 186. No. of letters written, 194. Received for memberships, $9. By donations, $18.75. From book sales, $18.05. For widows and orphans, $4.50. For Kansas sufferers $20.60. Total received, $95.65.
New subscribers obtained for Review, 3. Instructor, 44. Reformer, 29. Harold, 2. Tidende, 16. SIGNS, 118.
Distributed, Reviews, 120. Instructors, 35. Reformers, 88. Harold, 12. Tidende, 44. SIGNS, 395. Tracts and pamphlets loaned, 8446 pages, value, $5.06. Tracts and pamphlets given away, 85,392 pages, value, $64.41. Books furnished to libraries, 9 ; 3122 pages, value, $6.11.
This report is only from five of the nine districts. Others have not sent in their reports, although their duty is to send them to the State secretary immediately after their district quarterly meetings.
LUCIE BUSH, State Sec.
Bro. Loughborough also made remarks on our present mode of doing credit business with the SIGNS Office, and illustrated how the same can be improved, after which the following preamble and resolution were unanimously adopted.
Whereas, Some confusion has arisen as the result of each district doing its credit business on the SIGNS direct with the SIGNS Office, instead of through the State secretary, therefore,
Resolved, That hereafter we instruct our T. and M. business agents in each church to do all their credit business on all the periodicals, the SIGNS especially, through their district secretaries, with the State secretary, who will see that the same is forwarded to the respective Offices of publication.
Remarks were then made by the President on the financial standing of the society, and the standing of the several districts with the State society, as follows :—
"At the time of commencing operations under the new constitution we had kept good our State fund of $679.62, raised Sept. 1873, and we had on hand about that amount in tracts and cash. This fund was raised as follows : District No. 1, paid $153.50. No. 2, $173.12. No. 3, $115. No. 4, nothing. No. 5, $79. No. 6, $16. No. 7, $15. No. 8, nothing. No. 9, $128.
The accounts of the different districts under the new constitution stand as follows :—
No. 1, had a credit of $173.12. Has since paid in nothing. They have drawn T. and M. documents to the amount of $53.30, leaving a balance to their credit of $95.20.
No. 2, had a credit of $173.12. Has since paid in $18.60, making their whole credit $191.72. They have drawn T. and M. documents to the amount of $77.70. Balance to their credit of $113.96.
279No. 3, had a credit of $115.00. Has since paid in $15.00. Whole credit $130.00. Has drawn T. and M. documents to the amount of $87.28, leaving a balance to their credit of $42.72.
No. 4, had no credit. Has since paid in $4.50. Has drawn T. and M. documents to the amount of $18.21, leaving them indebted to the State fund $13.71.
No. 5, had a credit of $79.00. Has since paid in $21.40, making their whole credit $100.40. Have drawn T. and M. documents to the amount of $46.88. Balance to their credit $53.52.
No. 6, had a credit of $16.00. Has since paid in $4.10, making their whole credit $20.10. Have drawn T. and M. documents to the amount of $20.88, leaving a balance due State fund of $1.78.
No. 7, had a credit of $15.00. Has since paid in $23.35, making their whole credit $38.35. Have drawn T. and M. documents to the amount of $65.02, leaving a balance due State fund of $26.67.
No. 8, had no credit. Has since paid in $1.14. They have drawn T. and M. documents to the amount of $57.07, leaving a balance due the State fund of $55.93.
No. 9, had a credit of $128.00. Has since paid in $70.10, making their whole credit $198.10. Have drawn T. and M. documents to the amount of $99.38, leaving a balance to their credit of $98.72.
It was further stated by the president that the State fund, aside from tracts and documents on hand, was reduced to $112.67 cash, and some action should be taken by this meeting providing for the replenishing of our funds. Thereupon the following preamble and resolution were presented and unanimously adopted :—
Whereas, Our T. and M. funds are nearly exhausted, therefore,
Resolved, That our several districts be requested to make earnest efforts to replenish the funds. First, by those districts who are in debt to the State fund paying their indebtedness. Secondly, in addition to this each district is requested to raise a sum equivalent to $1.00 per member for all members in their districts.
The next subject considered was the financial standing of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. A report was made by Bro. Loughborough, President of the Pacific Publishing Association, showing that on the publication of the eleven numbers issued since the SIGNS was passed over to the Association, the receipts fall short of expenses to the amount of $933.44.
This report was followed by the introduction of the following resolution, by a committee to whom the matter of extending the circulation of the SIGNS was referred at the last quarterly meeting :—
Whereas, There has been a deficiency in meeting the expenses of the eleven numbers of the SIGNS already published by our young Association, and
Whereas, Lists of subscribers are being sent out to the different States, which will enable the missionary workers in those States to see the standing of our subscribers in those States, therefore,
Resolved, That we request the T. and M. Societies in those respective States to use these lists in collecting from subscribers what they can in the shape of subscriptions or donations from readers of the SIGNS, and that they also ascertain for us, as far as consistent, what papers should be continued and what should be stopped, reporting the same to the SIGNS Office, Oakland, Cal. Unanimously adopted.
The following was also presented : "Your committee would recommend still further that all our districts in this State keep constantly on hand a good supply of back numbers of the SIGNS for free distribution the same as our tracts, and that our State society request the tract societies in the several States to purchase from the Pacific Publishing Association back numbers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to be used by them in connexion with their tract distribution. We would suggest further that the presidents of these different State missionary societies can obtain as many copies of these papers as they wish at the rate of $4.00 per hundred in coin, sent to their address, post-paid, provided first that the person to whom the papers are mailed is an actual subscriber to the SIGNS." Aftersome remarks it was unanimously adopted as the sentiment of the quarterly meeting.
The next topic introduced was upon the manner of disbursing T. and M. funds. It was stated that while all funds obtained by memberships, donations, and book sales go into the general fund, it is placed to the credit of the respective districts and they are privileged to draw therefrom T. and M. documents. Special objects for appropriation are expected to be submitted to the board of directors at any time. When it is desirous on the part of any district to furnish copies of the paper free to certain parties, the same to be paid from State funds, they should make their requests known to the board of directors through the State Secretary.
At this point requests were considered to furnish Reviews, SIGNS, and Reformers to certain parties in districts 1 and 2, whereupon it was unanimously voted to grant their requests, and to pay for said paper from the State funds, an order being given on the treasury accordingly.
At this point Bro. Stockton made a suggestion that as brethren pass around to call upon those who are receiving our periodicals, it might be, in some instances, they would find parties who have their back numbers of the paper, who are not interested, and who have no desire to retain their papers, and that such papers could be gathered up and used for free distribution in bringing the truth before others.
A request was presented from certain brethren in Sacramento who wished tracts and SIGNS for free distribution in that city. After due consideration a motion was carried requesting Bro. Loughborough to respond to these parties, giving them such counsel as he may see fit, and taking such action in the case as he may deem most proper for the interest of the cause of truth.
Meeting adjourned to the call of the president.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres. J. E. WHITE, Sec. pro tem.
Why Stand Ye Idle?
By Lilla D. Avery
THERE is work to be done in the vineyard,
There are sheaves to be garnered in,
There are souls to be saved, and the Master saith,
"Go gather my lambs from the paths of death,
From the broad highway of sin!"
Go, gather them in from the hedges,
Go, gather them young and old,
Go, tell how the Shepherd, in wondrous love,
Is waiting to welcome, in mansions above,
The poor wayward lambs of the fold.
Then work for the glorious Master,
Oh! why wilt thou longer delay
When he promises strength if we ask aright,
When his yoke is so easy, his burden so light,
And he pledges the best of pay?
The reward shall be life eternal
With pleasures and joys untold,
Bright mansions in glory shall ever be thine,
And for every soul thou hast saved shall shine
A star in thy crown of gold.
Then work! there is rest hereafter—
How sweet will the resting be,
When forever free from the blight of sin,
Through the pearly gates we are ushered in,
To eat of life's healing tree.
The harvest of earth is ripening,
And we long for the gathering day,
And when with the angels so pure and bright,
The King shall descend from the realms of light,
With joy may we hear him say,
"Thou hast faithfully worked in my vineyard,
Now the home of the just is thine,
Receive for thy labors a rich reward,
For they that turn souls to the pitying Lord,
As bright as the stars shall shine."
LILLA D. AVERY.
A New Departure.
By John Norton Loughborough
WE have experienced some confusion in our T. and M. credit accounts with the SIGNS Office, and decide, as you will see by business report of our State quarterly meeting, in this No. of SIGNS, that hereafter “all credit business with the SIGNS Office must be sent to our State Secretary” the same as has formerly been done with business on our periodicals at Battle Creek.
In this case the business agent receives names for the periodicals, with the money, from individuals. He shall pay over the money immediately to the director, and forward the items of business to the district secretary, requesting that it be charged to that church and forwarded by the district secretary to the State Secretary. As the district secretary forwards the items of business to the State Secretary he should state each item distinctly and state also what church each name is from.
When the money is paid by the librarian to the director, he should give him a distinct statement of each item, whose papers it pays for, &c. This should be forwarded by the director to the treasurer when the money is paid to him, so that he can transfer the items in making his credits on his books. If this course is pursued we shall avoid some of the perplexities that have already arisen in some districts being behind on their periodical credit account and not being able to trace the matter.
J. N. L.
News from the East.
Bro. J. MATTESON states that since his last report he has visited a settlement of 200 Norwegian Quakers, and spent some time with them distributing tracts and visiting families. He also stopped one week among the Danes in Marshalltown, where some interest had been awakened, and where he obtained nine subscribers for the Tidende, and sold several dollars' worth of tracts. He then returned to Grundy Co., where he baptized three, and organized a church of twenty-two members. Bro. A. Peterson was ordained elder, and Frederick Olsen was elected church clerk.
Of labor in Eastern Michigan Bro. R. J. Lawrence says:—
"From May 19 to 25, I was with the church in Saranac. Held six meetings, and baptized four. Bro. Sisley was here and spoke twice.
"From May 27 to June 7, I was at Edenville. Held fifteen meetings, and baptized four. Ten covenanted to sustain meetings until some minister can meet with them again."
From Bro. J. B. Frisbie's report of labor in Michigan we take the following:—
"About five weeks ago, I commenced lecturing five or six miles from Big Rapids, in a neighborhood of farmers, in a pleasant, new school-house. After being there until the fourth Sabbath, eighteen, as near as I can learn, commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Two were already observers of the Sabbath.
"Quite a number of others acknowledged the claims of the seventh day, but want a little more time to reflect upon it. I think they will soon decide in favor of the truth.
Bro. Lawrence has written for me to join him with the tent this week. I have written for him to do the best he can for a few days alone. I think I had better follow up the interest at Big Rapids some longer. I intend to be with them to-morrow in their second Sabbath meeting. I have not seen such an interest manifested in any place for many years. It is, in some respects, such a place as Wright, Ottawa Co. was when Bro. Edgar and myself were there eighteen years ago, when over one hundred were baptized, the most of whom are holding on to-day. May God bless them."
From the report of the Vigilant Missionary Society of South Lancaster, Mass., we take the following interesting paragraph:—
"After a letter was read from Bro. Haskell suggesting certain plans of operation, which were thankfully received and unanimously adopted, the secretary read interesting letters from China, Russia, and England—one of special interest from a brother in London, England, who is devoted to the distribution of publications in that city. At a meeting, where there were 5,000 people, many of them representative men, which met at Exeter Hall to see what steps could be taken to better establish first-day observance, over 5,000 pages of our publications were distributed to the multitude there assembled."
Thus we see that although they were assembled for the purpose of more firmly establishing error, it afforded an excellent opportunity to scatter seeds of truth, some of which, we trust, will spring up and bear fruit unto eternal life.