[Mr. F. E. Abbott, editor of the Index, Toledo, O., attended the above convention, and presented a protest against their proceedings and their object. The remarks of Mr. Abbott concerning the convention, from which extracts are here given, and the protest, given in full, will be interesting to all our readers.—Eds. Review.]
The “National Convention to Secure the Religious Amendment of the United States Constitution” was held in Thoms’ Hall, Cincinnati, on Wednesday, Jan. 31, and Thursday, Feb. 1. The hall accommodates about seven hundred or eight hundred, and was well filled at every session of the convention. About two hundred and fifty delegates, from ten different States, reported themselves. The audiences were in full sympathy with the object of the convention, if frequent and loud applause is a trustworthy sign of sympathy; although it was evident that a minority of those present were attracted only by curiosity. The spirit of the convention was that of deep earnestness, and impressed the attentive observer as indicative of strong convictions very sincerely held. It was a note-worthy circumstance that, comparatively speaking, very few women were present.
From the introductory speech and Report of the General Secretary, it appeared that the National Association (by which the convention was called) has at least thirty auxiliary associations, each with a membership ranging from twenty to three hundred. Within the past year nearly two hundred public meetings have been held, attended mostly by “large and enthusiastic audiences.” It was proposed to push the work of the Association with redoubled energy by distributing tracts, sending out lecturers, holding meetings for public discussion, multiplying subordinate associations, and circulating petitions to Congress. The great aim of the Association is to prevent the abrogation of Sunday laws, the expulsion of the Bible from the schools, and so forth, by so amending the United States Constitution as “to place all Christian laws, institutions, and usages in our government on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the nation.”
From the Report of the Executive Committee it appeared that ten thousand copies of the proceedings of the Philadelphia convention have been gratuitously distributed; that a General Secretary (Rev. D. McAllister) has been appointed, with a salary of $2,500; and that a long and elaborate paper by Prof. Taylor Lewis of Union College, in advocacy of the ideas and objects of the Association, will soon be published; that the number of the Executive Committee is recommended to be increased to twenty-five, besides including all presidents of auxiliary associations; that $2,177 have been raised the past year by the Association, and that a balance of over $90 remains in the treasury. Nearly $1800 were raised at this convention.
The Business Committee recommended that the delegates to this convention hold meetings in their respective localities to ratify the resolutions adopted at Cincinnati; that twenty thousand copies of the proceedings of this convention be published in tract form; and that the friends of the Association be urged to form auxiliary associations. All these recommendations were adopted.
The resolutions passed were as follows:—
“Resolved, That the State as a power claiming and exercising supreme jurisdiction over millions of human beings, as the solemn arbiter of life and death, and as an educating power, has necessarily a moral character and accountability of its own.
“Resolved, That it is the right and duty of the United States, as a nation settled by Christians, a nation with Christian laws and usages, and with Christianity as its greatest social force, to acknowledge itself in its written Constitution, to be a Christian nation.
“Resolved, That as the disregard of sound theory always leads to mischievous practical results, so in this case the failure of our nation to acknowledge, in its organic laws, its relation to God and his moral laws, as a Christian nation, has fostered the theory that government has nothing to do with religion but to let it alone, and that consequently State laws in favor of the Sabbath, Christian marriage, and the use of the Bible in the schools, are unconstitutional.
“Resolved, That we recognize the necessity of complete harmony between our written constitution and the actual facts of our national life; and we maintain that the true way to effect this undoubted harmony is not to expel the Bible and all idea of God and religion from our schools, abrogate laws enforcing Christian morality, and abolish all devout observances in connection with government, but to insert an explicit acknowledgment of God and the Bible in our fundamental law.
“Resolved, That the proposed religious amendment, so far from tending to a union of Church and State, is directly opposed to such union, inasmuch as it recognizes the nation’s own relations to God, and insists that the nation should acknowledge these relations for itself, and not through the medium of any church establishment.”
As most of our readers probably know through the daily papers, we asked and obtained the privilege of making a remonstrance against the object for which the convention was held.
Our first impression was that the written remonstrance would never be heard from, after once being handed to the Business Committee. But we had been so favorably impressed by the spirit and manner of almost all of the leading men of the convention (there were one or two exceptions), that we were unwilling to form this opinion hastily, and therefore sought an interview with one of the Business Committee, Rev. Mr. Milligan, between two of the sessions. He very courteously explained that the Committee had intended to read the remonstrance, with a reply; but that if we preferred to speak, the privilege would be cheerfully granted. It was finally arranged that the written remonstrance should be handed in, and that an opportunity should also be accorded for a brief oral address.
We desire here to express our warm appreciation of the frankness, courtesy, and kindliness, with which we were treated by the officers and members of the convention; and to say emphatically that we found them to be so thoroughly sincere and earnest in their purpose that they did not fear the effect of a decided but temperate protest. This fact speaks volumes in their praise, as men of character and convictions. We saw no indication of the artful management which characterizes most conventions. The leading men—Rev. D. McAllister, Rev. A. M. Milligan, Prof. Sloane, Prof. Stoddard, Prof. Wright, Rev. T. P. Stephenson—impressed us as able, clear-headed, and thoroughly honest men; and we could not but conceive a great respect for their motives and their intentions. It is such qualities as these in the leaders of the movement that give it its most formidable character. They have definite and consistent ideas; they perceive the logical connection of these ideas, and advocate them in a very cogent and powerful manner; and they propose to push them with determination and zeal. Concede their premises, and it is impossible to deny their conclusions; and since these premises are axiomatic truths with the great majority of Protestant Christians, the effect of the vigorous campaign on which they are entering cannot be small or despicable. The very respect with which we were compelled to regard them, only increases our sense of the evils which lie germinant in their doctrines; and we came home with the conviction that religious liberty in America must do battle for its very existence hereafter. The movement in which these men are engaged has too many elements of strength to be contemned by any far-seeing liberal. Blindness or sluggishness to-day means slavery to-morrow. Radicalism must pass now from thought to action, or it will deserve the oppression that lies in wait to overwhelm it.
Without further comments at present, we append the remonstrance. It was not read, as reported but the substance of it was given extemporaneously in different language. The opening sentence was written with the expectation of not being allowed to speak—an expectation afterwards agreeably disappointed by the courtesy and liberality of the officers of the convention:—
“In accordance with the convention’s vote, I submit the following written remonstrance to the Business Committee, although I requested the privilege of making an oral one:—
“Without casting any reflections upon the motives which have led to this attempt to Christianize the United States Constitution, I wish to enter a most earnest protest against the attempt itself. I will not inflict a long document on your attention, but confine myself to a single point of vast practical importance.
“If the proposed changes are ever made in the Constitution, their necessary result will be to prevent all persons except Christian believers from holding any office, civil or military, under the American government. No honest disbeliever in the newly incorporated doctrines will be able to take the oath of allegiance required from all United States officials and soldiers. Only Christian believers and dishonest disbelievers will be able to take it; consequently the entire power of the government, both political and military, will be constitutionally concentrated in the hands of those who believe, or profess to believe, the doctrines thus incorporated.
“The very large portion of the American people who do not believe in these doctrines will thus be rendered incapable of holding office, deprived of all representation in Congress and the other branches of the national government, and robbed of rights which have been hitherto recognized as theirs from the very adoption of the Constitution. They will be degraded to a subject class, ruled by an aristocracy of Christian believers.
“This state of things once established, the ‘appropriate legislation’ by which the new policy must be sustained will necessarily involve the proscription and suppression of free thought, free speech, and a free press. Whether intended now or not, oppressive persecution must be the consequence of the adoption of the proposed amendment. All your disclaimers of the intent or wish to persecute are utterly idle. The matter will not be in your hands. Persecution will grow like a cancer in the body politic just as soon as the coveted inequality of religious rights once poisons its blood.
“Now I urge you to consider well the temerity of your proposed usurpation of political power. I warn you against the peril, instigating the Christian part of our population to attempt this usurpation. I caution you against the folly of supposing that the majority of the people will finally consent to this subversion of their common liberties. I beg you to count the cost of this agitation before you carry it further. It is a wild and insane delusion to expect that the great body of freedom-lovers will ever submit voluntarily, or can be made to submit by force, to any such outrageous oppression, whether in the name of God or man. I make no threat whatever, but I state a truth fixed as the hills, when I say that before you can carry this measure and trample on the freedom of the people, you will have to wade through seas of blood. Every man who favors it votes to precipitate the most frightful war of modern times; and it is simply preposterous for any of your number to speak of the liberals as ‘threatening war.’ You threaten war when you avow a purpose to destroy the equality of religious rights now guaranteed by the Constitution to all American citizens. On the assailant in this struggle be all the responsibility of its results.
“In the name of freedom, and humanity, and peace, I appeal to you to recognize the real tendencies of your enterprise, and to abandon it as not only hopeless, but also most dangerous to the tranquility of the land. If you are thoughtlessly favoring a scheme whose success would be the establishment of a Christian oligarchy on the ruins of this free republic, you will turn away from it with horror when reflection has shown you its sure issue. But if you deliberately aim to compass this usurpation of power and this disfranchisement of all but Christian believers, notwithstanding the inevitable calamities involved, you will, if as honest and earnest as I believe you to be, point out to the people the abyss that yawns before their feet. Of this be sure—there are millions of men in America who will never submit to be ruled by an oligarchy, whether Christian or anti-Christian. If I wished to destroy Christianity in this country by unscrupulous means, I should encourage your attempt in every way; for the reaction you will create will open the eyes of millions to the fact that Christianity and freedom are incompatible. But because you are not only Christians, but also fellow-citizens, fellow-men, and brothers, I appeal to you most earnestly to BE CONTENT WITH THE EQUAL RIGHTS YOU NOW ENJOY BEFORE THE LAW, without seeking to destroy the rights of those who are not Christians in belief. I appeal to you to make no further efforts to fan into a flame the dangerous fires of religious bigotry; for the conflagration, once kindled, you will be powerless to control. Rise above the temptation to seek the triumph of your creed by political strife, and trust your cause, as I trust mine, to the power of truth over the human soul.”
Meetings in San Francisco and a Crisis Correspondent's Criticism
By John Norton Loughborough
In my last I spoke of our interesting meetings held in San Francisco, from Jan. 4-7, 1872. Our hearts were truly encouraged for what we saw and felt of the work of the Lord there. But I will insert right here what is said of our work by a correspondent of the World’s Crisis, who signs himself, “C.” I will say before copying it, that we do not “see things” as “C” does, and he does not see them as he saw them when he wrote a former article, or else his memory is treacherous and he has forgotten what he said at that time. But I will let you read what he says before commenting upon it. In the Crisis of Dec. 6, 1871, this “C” heads a portion of his article, “Comparative Failure and Decline of the Seventh-day Movement in San Francisco.” Here is his statement of the case.
“The Seventh-day Adventists do not appear to be making any headway in this city, and the mistaken men who attempted to break into the fold, established here through Elder Grant’s pioneering, will probably soon retire from the place in as good order, and with as much grace, as they can maintain under the circumstances. Pity that they could not be so enlightened that they could see that we have passed from under the law into the full rule of the gospel of Christ. They have done some harm in this city by giving a sharply sectarian appearance to “Adventism,” as viewed by the world outside; but Eld. Grant could straighten out all the regretted misapprehensions by a few sermons, to such audiences as he alone could at once assemble in San Francisco. And then by the meetings and enunciations at Sacramento, it would be rendered impossible for any man or set of men hereafter, in any other portion of the State, to make the people believe that “Adventism” and Seventh-day-ism were inseparably connected.”
Of this statement as a whole I would say, first, “The wish is perhaps the father to the thought,” in many of his statements. As to making “headway,” I have seen cases in the past where men “appeared” to be making great “headway,” but a few months greatly shrunk the proportions of their work.
In starting a permanent work, it is important to establish its first beginnings right. In forming the nucleus of a prosperous church the first great point should be to be right. So if S. D. Adventists have not employed all the reporters during the past three months to puff them, they have been seeking to dig deep, to have a thorough “heart work” and a thorough scriptural organization and discipline established. While this work has been going on, one after another has taken his stand with us. Although some who came out have moved to other places, not one who was thoroughly established on the truth has given it up.
The next expression that demands notice is this: “The mistaken men who attempted to break into the fold established here through Eld. Grant’s pioneering.” “Fold established”! Where was that fold? When Eld. Grant had succeeded in creating a great interest in the doctrines he presented, and several scores had taken their stand in favor of them, he proposed that they unite with Eld. Bailey’s church, which was a Southern Methodist church. Several articles of the discipline were read, and in some way it was made to appear that Eld. Bailey’s church was either an Adventist church, or would be. And as Eld. Bailey was “the best man he ever knew,” of course it would be safe to leave the flock in his charge. All did not see the matter in that light, and so all were not free to join a Methodist church. As the result of the Minna-St.-church movement, at least one half of Eld. Grant’s converts were left outside. These soon after met and effected a separate organization. So the “fold” Eld. Grant left was a divided fold, and the only distinct fold established was established by the sheep after the shepherd had left the country.
At the time we erected our tent in San Francisco it was apparent to all that Eld. Bailey’s church was no Adventist church, and the members were scattering in every direction. Eld. Bailey himself resigned and joined the Northern Methodist church. The statistics of churches in San Francisco gives Minna St. Church eighty members, attendance forty. Where are they? “C” said after attending one of our meetings at the hall on Minna St., that he observed only two or three of those who attended at the Minna St. church. Then surely we had not broken into his fold, even if such a fold had any existence.
As to pioneering, this “C” writes as though Eld. Grant was the first man to do anything in this country, and, one would judge, the only man. It was about the idea the elder himself advanced, that is, that “nothing had ever been done in the Advent cause here in California,” until he came, thus entirely ignoring the work we had been engaged in here for the last three years. And now he seems to claim the whole State by conquest or discovery; for after he preaches in San Francisco and Sacramento it will not be possible to convince any one that “Adventism and Seventh-day-ism are inseparably connected.”
Well, Eld. Grant has been in San Francisco the past three weeks. I do not see as he has any larger audiences than some other speakers, or that all the city has fallen down to worship.
As for the cause of Seventh-day Adventism, it has more interested hearers in San Francisco than when Eld. Grant came. The tract society has taken an active part in circulating tracts and advertising the meetings; and their effort is bearing good fruit.
Since my last report, I have spent one Sabbath and first-day at Healdsburg, one in Santa Rosa, and some days in San Francisco. In Healdsburg and Santa Rosa the old jewelry was passed in for the general tract fund of this State, and after melting and assaying, amounted to $56.50.
We are of good courage. Our people are waking up some to this important time. May we all earnestly seek God, and being clothed with his strength, upheld by his free Spirit, our labors in his cause will not be in vain.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Santa Rosa, Feb. 2, 1872.
The Effort in Wright, Mich.
By W. H. Littlejohn
My last report closed with my labors in Monterey. On the following Monday, I went to Wright, Ottawa Co., Mich., where I remained until Feb. 12.
This church is among the largest in the field. It is located in the midst of a thriving community of farmers, and so far as pecuniary matters are concerned, is entirely above want. The old meeting-house, being found too small for present purposes, has given way to a more commodious structure, which is finished in good style, and, standing as it does upon a rise of ground, presents an appearance of neatness and taste which is every way commendable. If we mistake not, it is entirely free from encumbrance of any form, though but recently completed.
The meetings in this place were of a very interesting character. We found the brethren very much upon the background spiritually, but from the outset many of them seemed to have so just an appreciation of their real condition that they were glad of proffered help, and availed themselves of the opportunity which God gave them of returning unto him once more in order to the enjoyment of the fullness of his presence.
On Sabbath, Feb. 3, the congregation was large, being somewhat increased by brethren from Blendon, Casnovia, Allendale, etc. After the discourse, fully one hundred persons responded to the invitation to those who felt that they needed the prayers of God’s people to manifest it by coming forward for that purpose. The week following, this invitation was repeated from evening to evening, during which time somewhere from twenty to twenty-five individuals made a profession of faith, and resolved to keep all the commandments of God. During the whole time the attendance from without was good, and the interest to hear, quite extensive. On Sabbath and Sunday, Feb. 10 and 11, the church enjoyed the labors of Bro. and Sister White. The turnout was large, and the meetings were characterized by solemnity.
As the result of their efforts, several cases were reached which otherwise it would have been difficult if not impossible to benefit. We earnestly hope that permanent good will result from the labor there, and we feel an anxious desire for all of those especially, who, during our stay in that place, entered upon the Christian life.
I think I never closed a series of meetings in which my conviction of the ability of the Spirit of God to conquer hearts otherwise invulnerable was strengthened to the degree which it was in this. One incident in particular tended to this end. Early one morning during the meetings, I was taking my usual walk, when I met a gentleman with whom I was acquainted. He stopped me in the road, said that he had attended one of the first of our meetings, and that since then he had been compelled to be away from home on business. He spoke feelingly of one of his sons who had grown up to manhood, and who had unfortunately imbibed infidel notions; and remarked that he would be very thankful to me if I would deliver a discourse on the authenticity of the Bible for his benefit. I responded that this subject was so vast that it would be impossible, in a single sermon, to do anything more than commence the investigation of it, and furthermore that I was decidedly of the opinion that in the majority of cases a single effort of this kind would do very little toward relieving the mind of an unbeliever. As a plan which would be more likely to be crowned with success, I advised him that it would be better, if possible, to induce the young man to attend from night to night, in the hope that while listening to the discussion of miscellaneous topics, the Spirit of the Lord might gradually undermine his infidelity, and perhaps lead him to make a full surrender.
Upon this, we parted. You will readily appreciate my great satisfaction upon subsequently hearing this same young man confess Christ in the congregation, and also learning from the lips of the father that his son had been in attendance upon the meetings during the absence of the former, and that to his great surprise and delight he had ascertained for the first time upon his return home immediately after leaving me, that the child of many prayers and much anxiety had given his heart to God.
On the morning of Feb. 12, we separated from Bro. and Sister White at Coopersville, they returning to their home at Battle Creek, we to ours at Allegan.
W. H. LITTLEJOHN.
Iowa: Church Organized at Osceola, Meetings at Brighton and Richland
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Iowa.
TUESDAY, Feb. 6, returned to Osceola, and had an evening meeting, at which we finished organizing a church. Twenty-six members came in. Others will join soon. We had a very harmonious meeting, with which we were well satisfied. Thus far this church has gone straight forward in the right direction. All seem to heartily indorse the whole truth, and love it. There is a good, healthy interest outside, and everything is in as good and healthy a condition as we could desire.
Feb. 7 and 8, was at Brighton. Here Eld. Goodenough was endeavoring to sow seeds of discord among the brethren, and succeeded quite well with several disaffected ones. I endeavored to expose the nature and design of his work. Spoke two evenings to a full house.
Feb. 10 and 11, attended monthly meeting at Richland. Had quite a number of our brethren out from other places, though not as many as we had hoped to see. We were privileged to occupy the Disciple meeting-house. The outside attendance was much larger than we expected. Their house, seating some 300, was well filled all the time. Indeed, there seems to be a better interest to hear than there was when we were there with the tent. The brethren have decided to build a meeting-house there, which they will do as soon as warm weather comes. The interest of the cause demands this, and we are glad they feel the interest and decision about it that they do. A short course of lectures should be given there at the dedication. Our social meetings were good. We organized a tract society for the six churches represented in that district. This will be further completed at our next meeting, when we shall have books, etc., so as to commence work. It seemed too bad to leave them with so good an interest to hear, but we could not avoid it.
Feb. 12, came to Sigourney. This was the first place I labored on coming to the State. It has been two years since I was here last. It seemed good, therefore, to meet with all these dear friends once more; and especially to find them all holding on to the truth and growing strong in the work. Our prayer and social meetings were free and good. Several arose for prayers, and some took a decided stand to keep the Sabbath. There is here, and ever has been since the tent meeting, a very large number of friends of the cause who have never as yet come out to obey the truth. We found these friendly as ever.
I spoke seven times in the court-house, which will seat between three and four hundred. From the first night to the last, the hall was filled to overflowing. I was surprised to find so great an interest. Indeed we never had a better interest and attendance in our first course of lectures. Our audience was composed of the best informed and thinking men of the city. Court being in session, we also had the privilege during week-day evenings of speaking to men from all parts of the county. Thus the truth had a wide hearing. By special request of several prominent citizens, I gave three discourses at the close of my meetings on the Evidences of Christianity. We hope this will have a good influence for the truth. This is much needed now, as skepticism and infidelity are rapidly spreading among the people. The popular ministers do not even attempt to meet this generally. It seemed unfortunate to leave when there was such an interest. Could I have staid ten days longer, we could reasonably have expected much fruit of it; but I could not do it. My time for staying in this State is drawing to a close, and there are other churches that must be visited.
Here also the brethren propose to build a meeting-house this year. I hope it may be in the providence of God for some of us to give a course of lectures at the dedication. There is certainly a manifest change coming over the people. Years ago, after a course of lectures was finished in a place, we could seldom get out more than a small attendance from the outside; but it is not so now, at least in this section. In places where the truth has been preached for years, we can get as large an attendance as we could on the start. This is encouraging. In several places I have tried the following plan of advertising a meeting, which has worked first-rate. Make no appointment till the day of commencing meeting. In the morning, have little bills struck off with one or two subjects prominently advertised on them. Have enough of these to drop one in every house and post one in every store. It costs but very little, and by this means, if there is any interest, you can commence your first evening with a full audience, and not have to lose several meetings before you can get the people out generally.
Monday, Bro. Nicola came along on his way to Sandyville and brought me to Oskaloosa, where I took the cars for home, after an absence of seven weeks. I was glad to know that Bro. Nicola has decided to give himself fully to the work of nourishing and encouraging the churches. This will be very much needed in this State the coming year. My health and courage were never better. D. M. CANRIGHT.
Monroe, Iowa.
Mendon, Ohio.
By I. D. Van Horn
My two weeks’ meeting in this place had a reviving effect on the cause of present truth in the hearts of the little company of nine members who live here. Bro. Wm. Cottrell had visited the place some two weeks before me, and had administered the ordinance of baptism to two, who with one other united with the church. There are as many more who are keeping the Sabbath that do not belong to the church, some things being in the way of uniting for the present. It is hoped they will all come out free soon.
There was a good turnout to my meetings although the weather part of the time was extremely cold. I think here is a good field for labor, as good as may be found anywhere in Ohio. The brethren and friends of the truth have some thoughts of building a meeting house, as there was some feeling in the district about our occupying the school-house. May the Lord help them in their undertaking if they go on with it.95
We enjoyed a happy season in celebrating the ordinances with this little company. Bro. Daniel of Defiance and part of his family came down and spent a few days with us, and added to the interest of our meeting. This church reorganized their Systematic Benevolence so that the present amount is $85.28 per year. May the Lord speed on the work among them, and may they all be good representatives of the present truth, so that all the jewels about them may be gathered and fitted for the kingdom of God.
I. D. VAN HORN.
Gratiot Co., Mich., Feb. 10, 1872.
THE ANGEL OF PATIENCE.
By Sel.
Beside the toilsome way
Lonely and dark, by fruits and flowers unblest,
Which my worn feet tread sadly, day by day,
Longing in vain for rest,
An angel softly walks,
With pale sweet face, and eyes cast meekly down,
The while, from withered leaves and flowerless stalks,
She weaves my fitting crown.
A sweet and patient grace,
A look of firm endurance, true and tried,
Of suffering meekly borne rests on her face—
So pure, so glorified.
And when my fainting heart
Desponds and murmurs at its adverse fate,
Then quietly the angel’s bright lips part,
Whispering softly, “Wait!”
“Patience!” she sweetly saith—
“The Father’s mercies never come too late;
Gird thee with patient strength and trusting faith,
And firm endurance—wait!”
Angel, behold I wait!
Wearing the thorny crown through all life’s hours,
Wait till thy hand shall ope the eternal gate,
And change the thorns to flowers.
—Sel.
Locust Grove, Ky.
By D. T. Bourdeau
THE work in this section is advancing slowly, but we trust surely and permanently. There are no townships in this State. The land is divided up into counties, and farmers generally have large farms. As a result, there is not that public spirit and enterprise centered at numerous small points that there would otherwise be; roads are generally very much neglected; and it is more difficult to keep up an interest in the country, especially when the weather is bad; yet we usually have a fair attendance.
We have nearly canvassed the Sabbath question, and reports of our meetings are being circulated far and near. Occasionally new ones come in from a distance to hear the new doctrine. Last night we had two Baptist preachers to hear us, with several of their members, and at their request we broke from our natural course and explained the principal symbols of the chart.
We cannot take the people by storm in an entirely new field like this. Prejudice must be removed, and the people must be patiently instructed. We desire to move in the opening providence of God, to be wholly consecrated to him, to exercise more living faith in him, and give him a chance to work, and not take the work into our own hands. We also desire to have the cause of God at heart, and not make our work simply a mechanical thing. We must get into the hearts of the people and move their affections toward God and the truth. We must have the power of the truth as well as the form. We must walk more closely with God, and be more in earnest, and give God the praise, and then he will work mightily in behalf of his truth.
We held our first Sabbath meeting last Sabbath. A few came out. Others, perhaps, like Nicodemus, feared to come out in broad daylight on the Sabbath; but may they, like him, increase in strength and boldness. Of Nicodemus, we read: “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they [Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea] the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” John 19: 30, 31. What a contrast! At first going to Jesus by night for fear of the Jews, and finally waxing sufficiently bold to take a leading part in caring for the dead body of his despised Master. God help us to be patient toward our fellow-men as God has been toward us. D. T. BOURDEAU.
Locust Grove, Ky., Feb. 19, 1872.
Obituary Notices.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.
Died, in Ransom Center, Hillsdale Co., Mich., Feb. 21, 1872, of quick consumption, Phebe A., wife of Charles H. Wolcott, aged twenty-four years. Her last injunction to those who survived her was, that they should prepare to meet her in the morning of the resurrection. The funeral was well attended by sympathizing friends and neighbors. Discourse by the writer. W. H. Littlejohn.
Fell asleep in Jesus, evening after the Sabbath, the 16th, at the residence of her parents (Bro. and sister Newcomb, of Tama City, Iowa), my dear companion, Luella A. Boyd, aged twenty-two years, and five days.
Her life was an exemplary one, and in her last, severe sickness she always expressed her willingness that the will of the Lord should be done, were it to spare the life so precious to us who remain, or to take her away. Words of consolation were spoken by Eld. M. Babcock, S. D. Baptist, at the M. E. church, to an attentive congregation of about four hundred. Text, Rev. 14:13: “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.” Chas. L. Boyd.
Died, in Concord, Dodge Co., Minn., Jan. 30, 1872, of paralysis, Bro. Wm. Cossentine, aged sixty-four years, and seven days. Bro. Cossentine was born in Cornwall, England, in 1808; embraced religion at the age of sixteen; came to America in his twenty-second year and identified himself with the M. E. Church, where, for over twenty years, he led a class. About two years ago he and his companion embraced the Sabbath, and to the day of his death rejoiced in the hope of the soon coming of the Saviour. He leaves a wife and seven children to mourn their loss. Words of comfort by the pastor of the M. E. church. L. H. Ells.
Clark Co., Ill.
By G. W. Colcord
Bro. Bliss has reported to Dec. 2. Sunday, Dec. 10, Eld. Howland, of the M. P. church, publicly opposed us in Clark Center. Bro. B. reviewed him in the evening. Next evening, the elder, in endeavoring to withstand us, accused some of his sisters in the church of the intellectual and moral deficiency mentioned in 2 Tim. 3:6. Evidently, he “overshot the mark.” The sequel has verified the truthfulness of Ps. 76:10, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain,” and 2 Cor. 13:8, “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.”
Bro. B. replied to his harangue before the congregation was dismissed. Some of the accused ones have declared they would never again sit under the sound of Eld. H.’s voice.
Sunday, Dec. 17, listened to an effort put forth against the Sabbath in Blue Grass church, six miles north of Clark Center, by one Eld. Gregg, of the Disciple denomination. Replied at evening in Brosman School-house.
The 18th, took notes of two sermons, preached by the same man, the last of which contained so many warm expressions and epithets that many in the congregation really seemed to turn eyes of pity upon me! The 20th, the Lord gave me freedom in reviewing his unrighteous effort.
Feb. 5-9, engaged in discussing the questions of Man’s Condition in Death, Destiny of the Wicked, Binding Force of the Fourth Command, The First-day Sabbath (so called), and the Kingdom of Dan. 2:44—is it now established?
Bro. Bliss took issue with Eld. Houston, of the Disciple church, on the first two, and last, questions, and I tried to defend the truth on the third and fourth. Eld. H. brought forth no new argument, unless it be his idea of an intermediate law which was in force only from the cross to Cornelius’ conversion; since which time we are to keep the law of Christ! Debate was held in Mill Creek chapel, six miles south of Marshall. We pray the Lord to help honest souls to see and obey present truth.
Since our last report, we have spoken about eighty times; in all, we have attended one hundred meetings.
The debate closed our third series of meetings in this county. Organized a Sabbath-school and Bible-class in Clark Center, of more than twenty grown persons and a promising class of children. Since coming to this part of the State we have obtained eight subscribers for the REVIEW, nine for the Reformer, and four for the Instructor. While some waver, others are becoming firm. G. W. COLCORD. Marshall, Feb. 29, 1872.
C. W. OLDS
By C. W. Olds
Wisconsin.
Dec. 14, I started for Grant Co., Wis., to hold meetings. I commenced two miles east of Hazle Green, in the neighborhood of Bro. Foy, in a school-house. Prejudice kept many from hearing. I held seventeen meetings here. Several said they were convinced. Two expressed a willingness to obey.
Jan. 15, 1872, Bro. M. E. Crandall came to join me in the meetings. The people came from another neighborhood, and requested us to come there and hold meetings. Jan. 16, commenced meetings in this place, and continued until Feb. 20, holding, in all, some thirty meetings. The people here generally believe we have the truth. We found some warm friends. Three have commenced to keep the Sabbath.
Feb. 20, Bro. Crandall and I went to Hazel Green, and fitted up a deserted meeting-house which had been offered us. Have now had two meetings. The first evening one hundred and twenty were present; last evening, one hundred and fifty. Bro. Crandall has been called home, but I expect to stay as long as the interest seems to demand. My hope is in the Lord, that he will bring us off victorious at last.