There is no sorrow that is peculiar to any human being. In the myriad experiences of the human family the same scenes of trial, temptation, and affliction, are reenacted from year to year. The unnumbered human hearts, framed and formed in all their deepest sympathies by one creative hand, have in them lines and characteristics of likeness, and the joys and sorrows of any heart may find their counterpart in hundreds of thousands of others. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” Reproach, betrayal, bereavement, affliction, desolation, the breaking of tender ties, and the sundering of loving hearts,—all these are but the common sorrows of a world that is filled with pain, and sighing, and tears.
However much we may deem our own condition exceptional and peculiar, or however strange our afflictions may seem to be, when compared with what has occurred in our own narrow circle of observation, yet those same experiences taken up into the broader circle that opens before the Divine mind, may be doubtless paralleled in every point by the experiences of others around us.
But if there were a sorrow or a trial which mortals had never known, yet there is this consolation,—our Master, our leader, our helper, was “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” and was “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” He has passed through this weary pathway, and his footprints, marked with blood, are everywhere before us. We may come to him with tender and confiding love, and tell to him the story of our grief without reserve. He knoweth the way we take; he watches us through every fiery trial; he sits as a refiner of silver, carefully watching that which is so precious to him, until he shall see his own image reflected in the molten mass. May God grant us grace to bear our peculiar trials, and to overcome in the conflicts that are appointed us, that at last, having suffered with Christ, we may reign with him in peace and joy and blessedness forevermore.—Sel.
Obituary Notices.
By John Atkinson
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.”
FELL asleep in Jesus, Sept. 22, 1876, our beloved brother, Asa Hazeltine, at his residence on Sand Prairie, Richland Co., Wis., aged seventy-one years. He was one of the old veterans of the first message. I was with him the day he died. I never witnessed so triumphant a death before. He said he had no doubts. He shouted, “Glory to God,” many times, and said Jesus would soon come. He leaves a wife and daughter and two grandchildren to mourn their loss. Funeral discourse by the writer.
JOHN ATKINSON.
Tract and Missionary Society Quarterly Meeting Appointments
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
District quarterly meetings in Ohio as follows: Dist. No. 1, Bowersville, Greene Co., Oct. 14, 15. Dist. No. 2, Claylick, Licking Co., Oct. 21, 22. Dist. No. 3, N. Bloomfield, Trumbull Co., Nov. 11, 12. Dist. No. 4, Clyde, Huron Co., Nov. 18, 19. Dist. No. 5, Bowling Green, Wood Co., Nov. 4, 5. Dist. No. 6, Hamler, Henry Co., Oct. 28, 29. We purpose to attend all the above meetings, if health and circumstances will admit. Important meetings, brethren; turn out, one and all. We may not be able to visit your section again during the winter. Let all the members report to their directors in season. H. A. St. John.
The Ohio State quarterly meeting of T. & M. Society will be held at Clyde, Sandusky Co., Nov. 18–20. Arrangements will be made for the winter campaign. We have some hope that Bro. Haskell will meet with us. Come, brethren, to seek the Lord, and to learn better how to work in the Master's vineyard. H. A. St. John.
Quarterly meeting at Kickapoo Center, Oct. 14, 15. Meeting to commence on the Sabbath at 10 A. M. All are invited. Bro. Atkinson is expected. O. G. Henry, Clerk.
The next general quarterly meeting of the Vt. T. & M. Society will be held at Wolcott, in connection with the district quarterly meeting, Nov. 4, 5, 1876. A. S. Hutchins, Pres.
Tract and Missionary quarterly meetings of the Vt. T. & M. Society will be held as follows: Dist. No. 4, Bristol, Oct. 14, 15. Dist. No. 1, Bordoville, Oct. 21, 22. Dist. No. 2, Irasburgh, at the house of Bro. H. W. Barrows, Oct. 28, 29. Dist. No. 3, Wolcott, Nov. 4, 5. We hope for a report to the secretary, accompanied by a donation, from each member in the several districts. Preaching on Sabbath and first-day at 11 o'clock A. M. A. S. Hutchins, Pres.
Providence permitting, I will hold meetings as follows: Underhill, at the house of Bro. D. Fuller, Oct. 18, 1876, at 2 P. M. Berkshire, at the school-house near Bro. H. N. Austin's, Oct. 23, at 6½ P. M. East Richford, Oct. 25, at 2 P. M. Hope to meet with as many of the brethren and sisters, with their children and friends, as can attend. A. S. Hutchins.
Quarterly meeting for the churches of Marshall, Newton, and Burlington, will be held at Newton, Mich., Oct. 21, 22. We hope there will be a general attendance. Some ministers will be present. Hickman Miller.
If nothing in the providence of God prevents, I will meet with the friends in South Boston, Oct. 14, 15. Meetings to commence on Sunday at 2 and 7 P. M. At New Ipswich, N. H., Oct. 21, 22. Will our Amherst friends meet with us at New Ipswich? At Washington, N. H., Oct. 28, 29.
At our Boston meeting we hope to see all of our friends in Boston and vicinity, especially those who have recently become interested in the subject of the Sabbath, and those who were baptized at the camp-meeting, living in the vicinity of Boston. S. N. Haskell.
Quarterly meeting of the church at Victory, Wis., the first Sabbath and Sunday in November. We should be glad to have Bro. John Atkinson or Eld. I. Sanborn meet with us. Other churches are invited. T. D. Wallar, Clerk.
Quarterly meeting of the church at Eaton Rapids, Mich., Oct. 28, 29. We hope there will be a good representation from other churches. We invite Bro. E. R. Jones to meet with us. If he cannot, can Bro. M. B. Miller be present at this meeting?
The sixth annual session of the New England Tract and Missionary Society will be held at South Lancaster, Nov. 4, 5. Circumstances make this as important a meeting as ever has been held of its kind in New England. We shall expect to see all the officers of the Conference and of the Tract Society present, with a general attendance of others. Meetings commence Friday evening. S. N. Haskell, Pres.
Quarterly meetings in Illinois will be held as follows: Keen-ville, Oct. 14, 15; Ward School-house, “ 18–22; Greenup, “ 25, 26; Martinsville, “ 28, 29; Campbell (where Bro. Doyal may appoint), Nov. 1, 2; Bro. Bitner's neighborhood, “ 3; Oakland, “ 4, 5; Lovington, “ 11, 12. G. W. Colcord.
Monthly meeting of the churches of Oswego Co., N. Y., at West Monroe, Sabbath, October 14, 1876. Daniel Bowe.
Providence permitting, the Minn. T. & M. Society will hold a general quarterly meeting at Medford, Sabbath and Sunday, Oct. 14, 15, 1876. Meeting to commence with the Sabbath. We hope to see a general rally at this meeting. The directors especially need to be at this meeting, to lay plans to work successfully through the winter months. Let each director in our Conference hold his district quarterly meeting Oct. 7, 8, and be fully prepared to report all the work in his district. Harrison Grant, Pres.
Quarterly meeting of the church at Serena, Ill., will be held at the Serena meeting-house, Oct. 14 and 15. The friends at Wedron and elsewhere who can attend, are cordially invited. A minister is expected to meet with us. Alfred Nettleingham.
Nevada, Story Co., Iowa, Oct. 14, 15. Organization of a church will be effected if possible. Baptism administered. R. M. Kilgore.
Quarterly meeting of the Ithaca and Alma churches will be held at Ithaca, Mich., Oct. 21, 22, 1876. Hope sister churches will attend. R. F. Phippeny, Clerk.
West Liberty (Mich.) school-house, Oct. 14, at 11 A. M., and evening. Also Sunday, 10½ A. M., 2½ P. M., and evening. Would like to see friends from Spring Arbor, Jackson, and Napoleon. J. B. Frisbie.
Quarterly meeting of the churches at Hillsdale, Ransom, and Jefferson, and of Dist. No. 1, Mich. T. & M. Society, at Ransom, Oct. 21, 22. Will the brethren at Adrian meet with us? Let us all remember that religion means business, and come prepared to work. Send your reports in season to A. G. Wilber, Ransom, Hillsdale Co., Mich. S. D. Salisbury, Director.
Quarterly meeting will be held at Bro. D. W. Barr's, in Hardin Co., Ky., Oct. 14, 15, and in connection therewith the T. & M. Society will meet. We hope the brethren and sisters will make a general rally. Dear brethren and sisters, this meeting is for you, and you really need its benefits. Let no ordinary thing keep you away. Come with your hearts filled with the love of God and a will to work. The ordinances will be celebrated at this meeting. Let the S. D. treasurers come prepared to settle up with the State treasurer, for the last quarter. S. Osborn.
General Tract Society.
By James White
THIS organization was designed to take the general supervision of the Societies in the several States, and to extend its influence beyond the boundaries of the State Societies. But its influence has been nearly lost for want of the proper persons at head-quarters to promptly act as officers of the general Society. Eld. S. N. Haskell and sister Maria Huntley could fill this vacancy were they in Battle Creek, and could increase their sphere of usefulness tenfold.
J. W.
Will They Do It?
By James White
Eld. Haskell urges that the work of circulating the SIGNS OF THE TIMES should be done through the T. & M. Societies, instead of calling for subscribers and donations direct to the SIGNS Office. He is right as to the system; but will they do it? Will the T. and M. Societies in all the States come right up to the work at once? The long evenings for reading and visiting are upon us, and there is no time to be lost, as in the case of last year. In fact, the great State of Michigan, and several others, did not get ready all winter, and did next to nothing.
No reading matter will do as much good for the money as the weekly visits of the SIGNS at $1.50 per year, post-paid. It was supposed that the Minnesota brethren overacted in the circulation of the VOICE OF TRUTH, which made a debt of $2,300, followed immediately by the grasshopper scourge. That was one of the best mistakes Minnesota ever made, as the wide circulation of the VOICE resulted in preparing the minds of scores to receive the message. And the Review Office is helping Minnesota out of the debt, in giving her Society as much and as fast as payments are made on the debt, so that Minnesota will be ready to take hold of the SIGNS to the extent of her means. There are several ways by which to circulate the SIGNS:—
1. Those who are able to take both papers should subscribe for the SIGNS at $2.00 a year, and after they have read it, send it over the neighborhood for others to read.
2. The friends of the cause can send the SIGNS to their friends at $1.50 a year.
3. The Tract Societies can carry out their system of circulating periodicals and furnish the SIGNS to thousands.
4. Individuals can take several copies, from two to ten, and, as they enter upon missionary labor, furnish them to individuals who wish to read, and forward their names to the SIGNS Office as fast as they can obtain them.
5. Hundreds of young and active T. and M. workers should be canvassing for the SIGNS at the low price of $1.50 a year, post-paid, to those not in the faith. It may be an advantage in many cases to club the Engraving, Way of Life, at $2.00 for it and the SIGNS one year. We offer no commission to T. and M. workers. Missionaries under salaries seldom do much for God.
6. And lastly, but by no means the least, let the right persons be at head-quarters, who shall act as officers of the General Tract and Missionary Society, who shall, by active correspondence, send the SIGNS beyond the limits of the several Societies, into every State, territory, province, and kingdom, where the English language is spoken.
We fully indorse the system of the T. and M. Society, and very well know that the best way to circulate the SIGNS is through its several branches. But, will they do it promptly, thoroughly, and liberally? J. W.
The Way of Life.
THE second edition of the Engraving, entitled the Way of Life from Paradise lost to Paradise restored is ready. This instructive Picture has been greatly improved in plan, as well as in artistic beauty. It is really a splendid illustration of the great facts of redemption through Jesus Christ. Price, post-paid, $1.00.
The Family Health Almanac.
By Editor
The Almanac for 1877 will be furnished to the Tract and Missionary Societies on such terms that it will cost them the same as last year. The president of each State Society should at once take measures to ascertain the number of copies which will be wanted by his Society this season, and then send in an order as soon as possible, so that we may be able to get them ready in time. We ought to have orders at least three weeks before the Almanacs are wanted. Be in season.
Telegraphy Transmits Voice and Music Over Wire
By Uriah Smith
The science of telegraphy is now so far perfected that the sound of the human voice has been distinctly conveyed over a thousand miles of wire, and parties that distance apart have easily conversed with each other. Musical sounds are transmitted in the same way; and tunes performed in Boston have “chimed” themselves off from the ends of the wires in New York. U. S.
A Capital Example.
By Uriah Smith
The following item is going the rounds of the papers. We call it capital; and if the example here set should be followed by all who ought to follow it, the cause of God would find it “capital” too.
“A big-hearted Christian of Boston, when the collection for Foreign Missions was taken in his church, the other day, gave his usual amount of one thousand dollars, and then added a second because the times are so hard and the good cause ought not to suffer.” U. S.
Publication Delayed by Financial Hardship
In the Advent Christian Times of Sept. 20, 1876, we find the following item:— “Our issue was omitted last week. Hard times and no TIMES go together, sometimes.”
Is Saul also Among the Prophets?
By Uriah Smith
Bishop Coxe, of Western New York, in a letter to The Orbit of Buffalo, has taken to task in a commendable manner, Prof. Huxley, the so-called scientist, for going out of his way to offer a groundless and wanton insult to Christianity and the Bible. We notice it, however, for another reason; and that is the bearing which his closing remark has upon another subject. He says:—
“I expect to give account at the Judgment seat of Christ, and I mean by his help, to be faithful to his cause, and to his crown, and so to do my duty in an ungodly world, that is soon to be burned up.”
What does the bishop mean by this last sentence? Is he looking for this world soon to be destroyed in the fires of the last day? Varying the question of old a little, we inquire, Is Bishop Coxe also among the Adventists? U. S.
Request for State Tract Society Officer Names
Will the secretary of each State Tract and Missionary Society have the kindness to forward to this Office, at once, the name and address of both the president and the secretary of his Society?
LISTEN, BRETHREN.
By H. A. St. John
THE first edition of the Health Almanac for 1877 is already issued. A second edition will be issued soon. We are hearing of some things that show unmistakably that former editions of this Almanac have done good. As these things come to light, they are a source of encouragement. To-day a communication came to hand at the Office, from a man in Warren Co., O., who by some means got hold of a copy of our Health Almanac, and he now writes for more light and help.
Dear brethren in Ohio, we want to see five thousand Health Almanacs judiciously distributed in our good State by the first day of February, 1877. Do I not hear the response from all quarters, “It shall be done”? We can do it if unitedly and zealously we take hold of the work. I believe we will.
As we meet with you in your district quarterly meetings we want scores of young men and women, yes, and children, too, to report to me that they will canvass for the REFORMER and other periodicals, and distribute the Health Almanac.
These Almanacs will be shipped as freight to Clyde, O., to be there at the time of the State quarterly meeting, Nov. 18, 19, and from thence, by directors and members, be carried to all parts of the State. From that point and time, work in this direction should begin in real earnest.
We expect the following persons will take a real interest in the distribution of the Almanacs in their cities: I. W. Carr and I. Edgerton, Cleveland; J. T. Mitchell, Zanesville; J. G. Benton, Dayton; W. B. Davis, Norwalk; sister Elsie Gates, Springfield; while our brethren generally will look after the country and the cities within their reach. And the children, God bless them! let them go anywhere.
Brethren, we notify you thus early, that you may get ready in season.
Lord bless the Ohio T. & M. Society.
H. A. St. John.
Secular Items.
ANY Sabbath-keeper wishing the services of a young man in any business, is requested to address Robert Wright, Jeddo, St. Clair Co., Mich.
A SABBATH-KEEPER is desirous of getting a situation to work on a farm with a Sabbath-keeper. Address, Thomas Brown, Ravenna, Muskegon Co., Mich.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD TO which the money received pays—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Posters. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged immediate notice of the omission should be given.
$2.00 EACH. Thos Hibben 50-14, Wm White 50-13, L G Meeker 49-12, Jacob Wilbur 50-13, David Filloon 50-9, T D Brackett 49-21, J P Christen 50-14, Jane Thayer 50-14, Carrie Beaumont 50-14, Mrs A H Cole 50-13, T D Clark 51-1, G W Field 50-4, N M Jordon 50-14, A J Rogers 50-9, Sarah Nettleingham 50-12, D W Randall 50-10, P Markillie 51-1, A C Hardy 50-13, Eli Osborn 50-7, James J McKerman 50-9, H W Dodge 50-19, Eliza Palmer 50-14, A W Cummings 50-14, Dr J O Reynolds 50-15, C Wright 50-14.
$1.00 EACH. George Cramer 49-14, Mrs D F Chase 49-14, Elijah Williams 49-3, C A Chapman 49-15, D A Goff 49-14, J H Ginley 49-15, T B Lewis 49-14, Mrs E V May 49-14, J Philo 49-12, Thomas Brown 49-14, O Mears 50-1, S Fitzgerald 49-13, Charity McConnell 49-22, S L Wise 49-10.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Reuben Aleshire 50c 49-5, Eliza E Root 50c 50-9, Margaret E Carter $1.50 49-17, J A Hatch 50c 49-1, John E Stainer 75c 49-14, Joseph Durkee 50c 49-5, Richard Brock 50c 49-2, P I Atwood 50c 49-1, J B Chenowith 50c 49-1, Ebenezer D Calkin 1.50 50-14, James B Peters 50c 49-1, Sarah Caughrou 50c 49-2, Charles Brown 25c 49-1, Wm Ailes 25c 49-1.
Books Sent by Mail.
E J Poppewell $1.00, John McBoyle 30c, C E Gregg 1c, Emma L Merry 25c, R M Hampard 2.50, Geo W Peacock 25c, J B Peters 50c, J M Rannells 50c, Geo E Holman 50c, John H Witmer 25c, R E Geraves 25c, Geo O States 30c, H E Watkins 50c, Jacob Neill 1.25, J G Starbuck 20c, Mrs J Gillett 30c, Prof C O Moore 1.00, Mrs C Briggs 75c, L J Calkin 10c, Mrs M A Nelson 30c, Mary C Mace 75c, N W Holmes 25c, Wm Annis 5c, Peter Welsh 1.25, Henry F Erikson 2.05, S Vincent 25c, Sarah A Cardell 10c, S C Rogers 42c, Mrs S D Howard 10c, J Lamont 50c, Albert C Hardy 25c, Mrs Sarah Snyder 50c, James O Culver 1.75, C E Baratt 1.00, Moses White 25c.
Books Sent by Express.
A W H Millard $10.00, O Mears 6.00, E R Jones 20.25, Geo Foreman 14.32, G W Colcord 59.07.
Cash Rec'd on Account.
C W Bisbee $1.00, Cal T & M Society 16.99.
General Conference Fund.
C Green $6.00, Albert Wike (s b) 3.00, W B Irwin 23.00, Church at Bethlehem, Md., 3.00.
Mich. Conf. Fund.
Kendall church per P Markillie $4.07.
Mich. T. & M. Society.
Geo E Risley, Dist 3, $3.00.
S. D. A. E. Society.
Betsey Landon $50.00, E A Ferrin 1.00, Mrs Hezzy Root 20.00.