Earlier text: SAVING FAITHSACRIFICING PRINCIPLE.
By Geo. C. Tenney
There are, we may safely say, hundreds who refuse the light of the Sabbath from fear of being called unstable. “I am not to be carried about by every wind of doctrine,” they say, though they may be thoroughly convinced of the requirements of the Bible in regard to this point. How often we hear it said, “Oh, yes! it looks plain; but I have always kept Sunday, and I cannot think of changing.” Who is it that really changes his principles? Let us see. Two persons experience a change of heart, and set out to serve God with singleness of purpose, fully determined henceforth to live lives of obedience to his will and word, and to perform every duty which presents itself. This is the position which every one takes who is truly converted. One after another, duties are performed and crosses borne; and the Lord blesses these persons in so doing. Finally the fourth commandment and its requirements are brought to their consciences. Both confess that the teachings of the Bible are plain and harmonious, and there is no chance to evade them. Now we ask, Which of the two has sacrificed the principles upon which they set out to serve the Lord, and which has adhered to them,—he who humbly seeks the will of God and follows the advancing light of truth, or he who will not be led by the plain teachings of God's word, lest he should be called weak-minded? There can be but one answer. GEO. C. TENNEY. THE PRINCE OF LOVELINESS.
[The following lines are too sweet, too lovely to be lost, or hid from the saints. C. M.] Majestic sweetness sits enthroned
Upon the Saviour’s brow;
His head with radiant glories crowned,
His lips with grace o’erflow. No mortal can with him compare
Among the sons of men;
Fairer is he than all the fair
Who fill the heavenly train. He saw me plunged in deep distress,
And flew to my relief;
For me he bore the shameful cross,
And carried all my grief. To Him I owe my life and breath,
And all the joys I have;
He makes me triumph over death,
And saves me from the grave. Since from his bounty I receive
Such proofs of love divine,
Had I a thousand hearts to give,
Lord, they should all be thine. OUR HEARTS.
By Eliza H. Morton
The heart is the vital part of the human organism; in the Bible sense it is the fountain of all purity and sin; and out of it are the “issues of life.” The attributes of the heart are many, and capable of infinite improvement. The character of the man is formed by his heart culture in youth. The heart of the child is best reached through the affections. Those parents make a terrible mistake, who think it a weakness to manifest by outward acts the love they feel for their children. They may love them enough to make any sacrifice for them, and yet never seek to win their hearts by any of those little endearing acts and loving words which children so delight in. Some parents think if they fondle, kiss, or caress, their children, it will spoil them, make them effeminate, and unfit them for the duties of life; so they move about like icebergs, and effectually chill, wither, blast, and freeze, the tender hearts of the little ones. Children have their little trials and troubles, and if encouraged, will readily pour out their griefs into the parental ear. If discouraged, they will keep their feelings to themselves, become secretive by nature, and cold and distant in their manners. When they become older, they are apt to seek elsewhere what they failed to find at home, and sometimes make friends of those unworthy of their love or confidence. When parents lose their children by death, then, in an agony of grief, they smooth back the curly hair with tearful tenderness, fold the tiny hands with lingering caress, press warm, loving kisses upon the white, frozen lips, and give to the dumb, unconscious clay those tokens of affection they refused the living, loving child. Parents, do not keep your kisses for that dead, cold brow. Those glassy eyes cannot soften with the light of love. Those little ears are forever closed to your endearing words. Those little white arms can no more twine around your neck in fond embrace. That dreamless rest needs no tenderness. Give, oh! give your living children the sympathy they yearn for, and express your love by many an endearing word, act, and look. By so doing, you will strengthen the cords of affection, and so effectually bind their hearts to yours that time, place, or circumstance can never estrange them from you. God is love; hence love is divine. Jesus had his beloved disciple; therefore it is not wrong for us to have particular friends. Indeed, an unselfish love for a worthy earthly friend will crowd out of our natures a great deal of evil, make us more gentle, more sympathetic, more refined, and more like Him whose heart overflows with love for the whole human race. Therefore, my brethren and sisters, let us cultivate our heart’s best affections, and imitate the example of Him who is “altogether lovely and the chiefest among ten thousand;” for the heart of flesh is tenderer than the heart of stone, and “he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.” SENDING PRAYERS IN A CART.
A poor man, who had a very large family, gave them a comfortable support while he was in health. He broke his leg and was laid up for some weeks. As he would be for some time destitute of the means of grace, it was proposed to hold a prayer-meeting at his house. The meeting was led by deacon Brown. A loud knock at the door interrupted the service. A youngster stood at the door with an ox-goad in his hand, and asked to see deacon Brown. “Father could not attend this meeting,” he said, “but he sent his prayers, and they are out in the cart.” They were brought in in the shape of potatoes, beef, flour, and corn. The meeting broke up without the benediction; nor did the poor fellow suffer during his whole confinement. The substantial prayers of the donors became a means of grace.—Sel. MOVED BY FAITH.
By J. M. Gallemore
Noah was moved by faith when he warned the world of the coming flood. He showed his faith by preparing an ark. But how little had he to base faith upon compared with what Adventists have, in giving the proclamation of the near advent of the Saviour, and kindred truths. How few sympathized with Noah and believed his report, compared with the number who receive the Advent message. Noah's preaching seemed to effect no one outside of his own household. Adventists are moving the world, as it were; and though obedient converts are few, yet there is a sure and gradual increase in numbers, while thousands are made to tremble for fear, whose faith is not sufficiently strong to move them to obedience. May the Lord pity such. True, the Lord spoke to Noah, and Noah had implicit confidence in the word spoken. But is not the same God speaking now, through the apostles, prophets, and even the Son of God himself? The way-marks to the kingdom are passed, one by one, until the next thing in view must be the kingdom itself. Many of the signs given by our Saviour as tokens of his coming, have become matters of history, and others are fulfilling before our eyes, but little remaining to be fulfilled before the Lord shall appear; and yet the multitude see nothing to base faith upon touching this mighty event. Even the chief shepherds of the flocks see no evil nigh, and the blind continue to lead the blind. Not so with the children of the light. They have moved out by faith. Faith is sufficiently strong to lead them to action. They are walking in the light of the prophetic word, which is indeed a light to their pathway, and which will grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day. They have traveled by this light until the haven of rest is almost visible; faith is almost lost in sight. What more need the weary pilgrim to the heavenly land ask? Is he not passing the last mile-stone? and does not the glory of the eternal city already appear to his vision? Do we need more to base faith upon? No, the evidence is sufficient! Those who walk in the light are moving with confidence, becoming bolder and stronger in the truth. They know in whom they trust; and their love, zeal, and labors must and will increase until He for whom they look shall come to save them. Brother, sister, have you but little faith? Pray that it may be increased. God will surely grant your petition. Will you turn back? give up the faith? No, never. Press forward, onward! Fight the good fight of faith; let faith move you to action, to holiness of heart, and the victory will soon be yours. The Best School for the Heart
The best school for the heart is to be found in the circumstances that surround us. CHRISTIAN UNION.
By James White
There is no sentiment in all the New Testament more strongly expressed than that of Christian union. While Christ was with his disciples, their leader and teacher, he kept them in unity and love. And when about to leave them without a visible leader, to go up to his Father, we should expect his great yearning heart of love would go out in petition for them in words expressive of true Christian union. “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” John 17:11. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” Verses 15-17. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Verses 20, 21. Accepting the testimony of the apostles as expressing the mind of Christ as breathed forth in earnest petition for the unity of his church, we have in Paul’s epistles to the churches at Rome and at Corinth a more complete idea of the subject: “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 15:5, 6. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Cor. 1:10. Paul exhorts to unity in the high “name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” which extends farther than kindly feeling with those who hold opposing views. It reaches almost infinitely beyond the insipid idea of modern times, of the highest type of Christian unity as expressed in the words, “We will differ in love,” and embraces a oneness such as exists between the Father and the Son, expressed by the apostle as being “perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.” This is the unity taught by the first apostles of Christ. For this they labored, and to this they exhort Christians of each successive generation since they wrote. But, oh, unhappy church of Christ! that she passed under the shades and into the mists of the great apostasy, down into the wilderness of papal corruptions of the world, where she gathered to herself traditions and superstitions, which even the power of the great Reformation did not tear completely off. What a pity that the reformers left off reforming! The Lutherans stopped with Luther; the Calvinists, with Calvin; the Methodists, with Wesley; and so on, bringing to the present century, as represented in nearly all our cities and towns, the various denominations, presenting a grand babel of confusion of creeds, church covenants, articles of faith, and different forms of church organization and government, for which there is not a single apology in all the New Testament. But, thank God, above all this Babylonish chatter the Pauline note of more than eighteen centuries ago rings forth in all its entreating earnestness, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Cor. 1:10. Nothing short of the mind of Christ, as seen in his prayer for his church, and as expressed in the earnest pleadings of Paul, is the full measure of Christian unity. Christ prays for this. The New Testament pleads for this in plainest terms, and the callings and gifts placed in the Christian church were designed to secure this state of complete unity. “And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. 4:11-13. Just how this complete state of unity is to be perfected, when it will be reached, and who are to be embraced in it, is not the design of this article to set forth. But the writer may be allowed to state that one of the happiest hopes that has cheered him on in battling for Bible truth for more than a quarter of a century, has been this, that pure truth that can be read out of the Bible will call forth a people who shall be keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ, looking for the coming of the Son of man. Then will the two ends of the Christian age be brought round to meet, when our adorable Redeemer shall come the second time and find his waiting people standing in unity and in power, such as was the crown of glory that adorned the church at his ascension. We hold it to be a wrong to differ with others where there are no good reasons to differ. Once an earnest sister asked the writer’s opinion as to the importance of all the church coming to the unity of the faith. Being apprised of the fact that this good woman was dealing in small matters which could be no test of Christian character, we answered, that on all important questions, such as keeping the commandments of God, we thought it very necessary that the church should stand in unity; but in such matters as whether our brethren should plant white beans or striped beans in their gardens we did not regard unity important. Paul, standing at a period when outward circumcision had ceased, meets the mistaken zeal of those who would still urge it upon the church, with these words, “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God is something.” Whiting’s translation of 1 Cor. 7:19. “If thou wilt enter into life,” says the Son of God, “keep the commandments.” In the divine law, and in the gospel of the divine Son, are the tests of Christian character. And it is with an ill grace that those who have been splitting up into petty sects during the nineteenth century over forms of church government, matters of expediency, free and restricted salvation, trinity and unity, whether we may sing any good hymn in church, or only the Psalms of David, and other matters which constitute no test of fitness for Heaven, now pounce upon us, and display any amount of religious horror, simply because we regard strict conformity to the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus the only true test of Christian character. THE TWO BODIES.
By James White
THE RELATION WHICH THE S. D. BAPTISTS AND THE S. D. ADVENTISTS SUSTAIN TO EACH OTHER.
On the broad platform of the divine law, and redemption from its transgression through the death and mediation of the divine Son, both the Seventh-day Baptists and the Seventh-day Adventists stand in general agreement. Here are the great tests of the Christian life, and a fitness for Heaven; and besides these there are no others. The principal difference between the two bodies is the immortality question. The S. D. Adventists hold the divinity of Christ so nearly with the trinitarian, that we apprehend no trial here. And as the practical application of the subject of the Gifts of the Spirit to our people and to our work is better understood by our S. D. Baptist brethren, they manifest less concern for us on this account. But the views which both bodies entertain respecting free investigation and the right to personal opinion forbid any restriction whatever to be laid upon each other in the proper advocacy of the sentiments in which both cannot at present agree. We recommend, however, that there be no controversy between the two bodies. The differences between us are of such a nature, and we have in common so broad a field of labor with those who differ with us respecting the fundamentals, upon which hangs the destiny of a world lying in wickedness, that Seventh-day Adventists and Seventh-day Baptists cannot afford a controversy on doctrines which neither regard as tests of Christian character. Both bodies have a specific work to do. God bless them both in all their efforts for its accomplishment. The field is a wide one. And we further recommend that Seventh-day Adventists in their aggressive work avoid laboring to build up Seventh-day Adventist churches where Seventh-day Baptist churches are already established. If ministers or members from the Seventh-day Baptists regard it their duty to come with us, under the impression that they can serve the cause of God better, we shall give them a place with us. But we see no reasons why there should be any effort put forth on the part of our people to weaken the hands of our Seventh-day Baptist brethren in order to add to our numbers from those who were before us in revering the ancient Sabbath of the Lord. If it please our Seventh-day Baptist brethren, let the interchange of courtesies in the appointment of delegates be continued, and be conducted in a manner to secure mutual benefit. The visits of the worthy delegates from the Seventh-day Baptists, Pres. Allen, Elders Wardner, Burdick, Rogers, Hull, and Prof. Whitford, have done our people good. And if the delegates from our people to that body, Elders Andrews, Smith, Cartwright, and others, have failed to do that people good, it has been from want of ability and a knowledge how to work out that good which was in their hearts to do. What God in his wise providence has marked out for these two bodies in their future labors and destiny, the future alone can unfold. But whatever that may be, it seems a certainty to us to-day, while looking with faith and hope toward that untried future, and cherishing a filial love for those whose history of loyalty to High Heaven stretches across long centuries, that no good can result to either from controversy and proselyting, and no harm can come to either from those courtesies and labors of love calculated to build each other up on our common faith. We do not say that we have seen the proper relation between the two bodies as clearly and joyfully as we do to-day; neither do we wish to be held responsible for what some of our people have done, or may do, not in harmony with the foregoing. But that our settled convictions on the subject for more than five years may be understood, we quote from our report of the Clear Lake (Wis.) camp-meeting, which appeared in REVIEW AND HERALD for July 4, 1871:— “At the close of the Sabbath morning service, we were cordially greeted by many who reported themselves Seventh-day Baptists, who gave our hand the very next thing to it, if not the real Advent shake. Among these was Prof. Cornwall, of the Albion, Wis., S. D. Baptist Academy, who invited us to speak to the citizens of his place. Nothing could have given us greater pleasure than to have responded to this, and similar courtesies by speaking freely to this people upon the great fundamentals of our common faith—the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ; but hoarseness, fatigue, and the labors of the Minnesota Camp-meeting the next week, compelled us to pass on without even calling on any of our S. D. Baptist friends.” “Here we may, by divine grace, enjoy a strong union; and while Seventh-day Adventists may prize very highly, and tenaciously hold, their views upon the immortality question, and may cherish as important to the glory of God and their own prosperity, their definite views of the manifestation of spiritual gifts, they will agree that it will be much better to seek for that union that may be enjoyed upon the broad fundamentals of our faith, than to sacrifice that union in urging upon the Seventh-day Baptists sentiments peculiar to Adventists.” We are happy to say here that a full statement of our views and feelings, outlined in this article, was given by the writer before the recent General Conference of the S. D. Baptists, which apparently met with a full approval from that body. It is with great pleasure that we look back to the happy hours spent with that good people, and only regret that we could remain no longer with them. J. W. THE SIGNS OFFICE.
By James White
The report of the California Camp-meeting and annual Conference, given in this week's REVIEW, decides in our mind the destiny of the Signs Office. We had done all we could to build up that office by our labor, means, and influence upon those who had confidence in our judgment and integrity. But a spirit of fault-finding, the most unreasonable and cruel we ever witnessed, sprung up in selfish hearts, and diffused itself more or less among nearly all. The influence of this work of Satan frustrated our plans, and made it necessary that we should leave California and labor where the people would receive our testimony, and could be benefited by our counsel, until our people in that State should come where we could help them. It is proper here to state, that there are noble souls and true, in California, who have taken no part in saddening the hearts and weakening the hands of those who labored hard and sacrificed much to build up the cause. But for want of experience most of these precious souls were warped more or less at the very time we needed their full sympathy and help. But thank God for evidences of returning sanity throughout the entire camp, and for the lesson (though bitterly learned), which will be of great value to the young cause on the Pacific Coast. Although one year has been more than lost in the building up of the Signs Office, yet with this instructive lesson, the friends are now rallying to redeem the past; and we again confide in them to fully co-operate with us in making the Signs Office a complete success. The good report of this week, over the signature of one in whom all our eastern people have confidence, one who in his youth has nobly stood for the right under great discouragements and perplexities, will brush from the saddened hearts of our willing eastern people all doubts and discouragements as to the success of the Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association, and the Signs of the Times. We here repeat, what we have frequently stated, that the REVIEW is our church paper. As such, all our people on the Pacific, who are able to take both papers, should subscribe for the REVIEW. The SIGNS will be the leading paper for the Coast, and yet will be our pioneer sheet wherever the English language is read. Will all our Tract and Missionary workers rally at once for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES? Mrs. W. and the writer determine that no ordinary circumstance shall deter them from carrying out the work they commenced a year since, and from which they were driven only by the work of Satan through those who gave themselves up to murmuring. God has a work for us to do with our pens. And we ask the T. and M. Societies to give a circulation of 10,000 copies this side the Rocky Mountains. Mrs. W. will give her life sketches in the new volume of the SIGNS, which will commence the first of December; and we purpose to give in that volume the great facts relative to Christ in the Old Testament, the Sabbath in the New, the connection between the law and the gospel, baptism, and redemption. The SIGNS is offered to our people east of the Rocky Mountains, who take the REVIEW also, at $2.00 a year. When paid for by friends of the cause, to send to their unbelieving friends, and by T. and M. Societies, the price will be, postage paid, $1.50 a year. There is no time to lose. The T. and M. Societies should put themselves in working order at once. THE CALIFORNIA CAMP-MEETING.
By William C. White
The camp-meeting and annual Conference of our people in the State of California was held at Fairfax, Marina Co., Sept. 20–28. The following report is hastily given for the REVIEW, in advance of the regular report for the SIGNS, accompanied with this statement: “The following is a plain simple statement of the facts relative to our good camp-meeting for 1876.” Our camp-meeting is now in the past. It was one of the most solemn, and finally, one of the most triumphant, meetings that we ever attended. Prior to the meeting the prospect seemed discouraging on account of the scarcity of workers. Eld. Waggoner was in Oregon, and Eld. Loughborough was the only experienced minister in the State. Eld. Healey, who was afterward strengthened to participate in the labors of the meeting, was reported to be so slowly recovering from fever that it would be dangerous for him to attend. There seemed to be no other source from which to expect material aid, and the feeling prevailed in the church that without the special blessing of God, Eld. Loughborough would sink under his load of care and discouragement, and the meeting would prove, at least, a partial failure. Earnest prayers were offered for several weeks before the meeting, asking the favor of God upon our efforts, and when the people came together it was with a sense that something must be done, and with a thorough determination to work for its accomplishment. The committee with a large force of hands had cleared the ground in the Valley, and pitched the tents, so that on Wednesday, when most of us arrived, we found about fifty tents up, besides the large congregation tent, which was 60 by 100 feet. The work progressed rapidly until Thursday noon, when there were sixty-six family tents up, only two or three of which were taken down before the final breaking up of the camp. The meetings were all interesting and well attended. The social meetings were marked with117 great earnestness and freedom, entirely devoid of all excitement. The feeling prevailed that this was to be a season of heart-searching and humble prayer to God that his Spirit would return and bless his people here, and that he would give them wisdom and grace to advance. Owing to the nature of the work to which all present felt that the meeting should chiefly be devoted, as well as the lack of ministerial aid, little effort was made to call in the crowd; and, as a consequence, the outside attendance was somewhat less than that of last year. But the attendance of our own people was regular, there being between three and four hundred steady campers. On Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 20th, the meeting opened with a discourse by Eld. Loughborough, setting forth the object and design of the meeting, and giving the church some wholesome advice as to how they could best reap lasting benefit from it. In the evening Bro. J. L. Wood spoke from the second chapter of Daniel. Thursday morning at six, many assembled in the large tent and spent half an hour in prayer. The morning meetings throughout the week were devoted to singing and prayer. Thursday forenoon Eld. Loughborough spoke upon the church at Thessalonica, showing that, as the zeal and faithfulness of that church were used by the apostle to provoke others to faith and good works, so the increased activity of our brethren in certain parts of the field should inspire us with new zeal and earnestness in the cause of truth. In the afternoon Bro. Wood again spoke from the prophecy of Daniel, carrying out the line of his first discourse. Thursday evening Eld. Loughborough read a Conference Address, in which he gave an outline history of the rise and progress of the cause on this coast, with a summary of the ministerial labor expended, and of all means applied to the financial support of this mission, whether raised here or received from the East. The Address clearly set forth the mistakes made by the California brethren in the past, particularly at their last camp-meeting, and exhorted them to faithfulness, confidence and united, earnest action in carrying on the work given us in these last days, and to stay up the hands of those whose energies are entirely devoted to this work. Friday morning the social meeting was of special interest. Several testimonies were borne by those who had but just come into the truth. One brother stated that while he was visiting his aunt, he accidentally picked up a copy of the SIGNS. He read it, and, without saying a word, took his Bible, intending to prove by the Scriptures themselves that the doctrines taught in that paper were false. But after searching for some time in the vain hope of finding some text to controvert the doctrines he had read, he was obliged to abandon the task, and he with his wife became convinced of their truth, and embraced the Seventh-day Adventist faith. They had then been keeping the Sabbath about one month. Another brother immediately rose and said that he too first became interested in the truth by reading. While watching at the bedside of his sick brother, he saw a copy of the SIGNS, and, as he expressed it, “picked it up carelessly, but laid it down carefully;” for while reading it he became convinced that the seventh day was the Lord’s Sabbath. Since that time he had been trying to keep it sacred. The preaching during this day was of a practical nature. In the afternoon Eld. W. H. Healey occupied the stand, speaking about an hour with great freedom. Though weak from his recent illness when he came on the ground, and trembling with physical weakness when he entered the desk, he seemed to gain strength by the effort, and although after this he preached nearly every day during the camp-meeting, he continued rapidly to recover. The meetings were also of a practical nature and exceedingly interesting. At the close of the morning discourse the Conference Address was again read by Dr. M. G. Kellogg, as quite a number of those present had not heard its first reading. On closing, Bro. Kellogg made some remarks indorsing the Address and stating that if a spirit of forbearance instead of rashness had been entertained at the last camp-meeting, great evils would have been avoided. At the close of the afternoon discourse, those who were determined to renew their consecration to God, and to live devoted, self-sacrificing lives, manifested their desire by coming to the front seats, and in many cases by giving their earnest testimonies. Afterwards, those just beginning a Christian life separated themselves from the rest, and sincere prayer was offered in their behalf. Deep feeling pervaded the whole congregation. On Sunday forenoon Eld. Loughborough presented the position of the United States in the light of Prophecy. In the afternoon he introduced the subject of the Third Message, showing the relation which the Sabbath bears to it. From one thousand to fifteen hundred persons were present, and all listened attentively to the preaching. The meeting at 5 P. M. was devoted to the children, who were all gathered in two tents. The meeting was opened and conducted by a few elder persons who encouraged the little ones to speak. There seemed to be a general desire among the children to elevate their young lives to the path of duty, and during the remainder of the camp-meeting their conduct proved the sincerity of their words. Twice during the camp-meeting a half hour was spent in singing Sabbath-school songs with the children, who took a lively interest in the exercise. Of the Conference were short and very interesting. Twelve churches were represented by delegates, and two by letter. Twenty-one delegates were present. The officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows: J. N. Loughborough, President; Wm. Saunders, Secretary; Geo. G. Manuel, Treasurer. John Morrison and W. C. White were appointed to act with the President as Conference Committee. The following resolutions were adopted by a rising vote, the whole Conference requesting the privilege of thus expressing themselves:— Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father, in answer to the earnest petitions of his people, to bless us with clearer views of duty, and, Whereas, Eld. Loughborough was appointed to prepare an Address to the Conference, in which address he has clearly set forth wherein we have failed in the past; and, in a brief history of the cause on this coast, has shown us those who have labored unselfishly, and in whom we should have confidence, therefore be it Resolved, That we heartily indorse said Conference Address, believing that the facts stated therein are in strict accordance with the truth, and we recommend that it be published in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, in connection with the report of the proceedings of the Conference. Resolved, That in view of the facts stated in the Conference Address, whereby we perceive that Eld. White has, by his means and influence, helped the work on this coast as no other man could, and has always labored unselfishly for the best interests of the cause, we do heartily deplore the spirit of murmuring that has rendered his labors extremely arduous among us, especially during his last visit, and we do cordially extend to both Bro. and Sr. White our fullest sympathy and confidence, to which they are justly entitled; and we invite them to spend as much of their time with us as is consistent with the general interests of the cause. Resolved, That our thanks are due to the General Conference for their watch-care and tender regard in sending some of their most efficient laborers to us, and we desire to show our appreciation of their kindness by hearty co-operation with them, and giving them that ready support to which their arduous and unselfish labors entitle them at our hands. Resolved, That we hereby express our thanks to the Camp-meeting Committee for their efforts in fitting up the grounds and otherwise aiding to make the meeting a success. Several urgent calls were made for labor in important and encouraging fields. Credentials were renewed to Elds. J. N. Loughborough, W. H. Healey and M. G. Kellogg, and Brn. J. L. Wood, R. A. Morton, John Judson, Andrew Brorsen, J. E. White, Isaac Morrison and B. A. Stephens received licenses. The payment of Systematic Benevolence during the past year has been unusually prompt and full. Over $2500 had been raised, which, after paying all dues, left a little more than $300 in the treasury. The Auditing Committee recommended that the San Francisco church should pay the Conference at their earliest convenience the $1000 loaned them one year ago. It was proposed to make an appropriation to the General Conference; but as the sentiment ruled that they should be just before they were generous, the Conference voted $1100 to Eld. White for actual time spent laboring in this State. At a session of the Conference on Wednesday, the publishing work was considered. A statement was made showing that while the Office building and lot had been paid for so nobly, and the necessary machinery and material so liberally donated, there was yet a debt upon the stock of paper and books, and the Publishing Association was sadly cramped for means to increase its stock by publishing large editions of books, the sale of which would result in considerable profit. The Auditing Committee recommended that the Conference take measures to raise $5000 in stock of the Association, and thereupon a subscription was started, which in about an hour resulted in raising the specified sum. Since then an additional $100 has been pledged, making a total of $5,100 new stock in the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association. $1200 was then raised toward clearing the SIGNS from debt, and a considerable portion of this sum was paid on the ground. The Missionary Meetings indicated an awakening interest in the work. Several discourses were addressed to the missionary workers, and if the way in which they loaded up with books and tracts is any indication of what they will do, the next three months will show a better report than the whole past year.