FROM “The Harmonies of Nature,” an interesting volume just published by the Appletons, we extract the following paragraphs on the intelligence of animals:
As the mammalia are man's nearest relations, in a physical point of view, they are also endowed with an intelligence superior to that of the other animals, and not seldom prompting them to actions which seem rather to belong to the sphere of reason than to that of brute instinct. The chimpanzee, for instance, will lock and unlock a drawer, will thread any needle, and cannot be taken in by the same thing twice.
A dog in a monastery, perceiving that the monks received their meals by rapping at a buttery door, contrived to do so likewise, and when the allowance was pushed through and the door shut, ran off with it. This was repeated till the theft was detected.
Another dog, belonging to Mr. Taylor, a clergyman who lived at Colton, near Wolsely Bridge, was accused of killing many sheep. Complaints were made to his master, who asserted that the thing was impossible, because he was muzzled every night. The neighbors persisting in the charge, the dog one night was watched, and he was seen to draw his neck out of the muzzle, then to go into a field and eat as much of a sheep as satisfied his appetite. He next went into the river to wash his mouth, and returned afterward to his kennel, put his head into the muzzle again, and lay very quietly down to sleep.
Mr. Morland, a surgeon in Paris, had taken into his house the dog of a friend which had broken its leg, and good-naturedly cured it. Sometime after, the dog scratched at the door of Mr. Morland's study, and, on being admitted, introduced another dog, to whom some accident had happened, and who could hardly crawl along after his guide. The first dog plainly showed by his caresses what he wanted, and the surgeon admiring his sagacity, took charge of his protege and cured him likewise.
As the elephant surpasses all that breathes on dry land in bulk and muscular power, his mental faculties also assign to him one of the first places in the animal creation. When tamed he becomes the most gentle and obedient of all domestic quadrupeds, and in most cases is exceedingly fond of his keeper, and soon learns to distinguish the various tones of the human voice, as expressive of anger, approbation, or command. His strength is rendered doubly serviceable to man by the intelligence he evinces in its use. He will load a boat with amazing dexterity, carefully keeping all the articles dry, and disposing them where they ought to be placed. In propelling wheel-carriages heavily laden, up a declivity, he pushes them forward with his forehead, and supports them with his knees.
In Ceylon, where the elephants are frequently employed in dragging and piling felled timber, they manifest an intelligence and dexterity which is surprising to a stranger, because the sameness of the operation enables them to go on for hours, disposing of log after log, almost without a hint or direction from their overseers. Sir E. Tennent mentions two elephants thus employed in the yards attached to the commissariat stores at Colombo, who accomplished their work with equal precision and with greater rapidity than if it had been accomplished by dock laborers. When the pile attained a certain height, and they were no longer able, by their conjoint efforts, to raise one of the heavy logs of ebony to the summit, they had been taught to lean two pieces against the heap, up the inclined plane of which they gently rolled the remaining logs, and placed them trimly on the top.
The Scriptures.
A NATION must be truly blessed, if it were governed by no other laws than those of this blessed Book; it is so complete a system that nothing can be added to it, or taken from it; it contains everything needful to be known or done; it gives instruction and counsel to a senate; authority and direction for a magistrate; it cautions a witness; requires an impartial verdict of a jury, and furnishes a judge with his sentence; it sets the husband as lord of the household, and the wife as mistress of the family, tells HIM how to rule, and HER how to manage; it details honor to parents, and enjoins obedience to children. It prescribes and limits the sway of the sovereign, the rule of the ruler, and authority of the master; commands the subject to honor, and the servants to obey; and promises the blessings and protection of its Author, to all that walk by its rules; it promises food and raiment, and limits the use of both. It points out a faithful and an eternal Guardian to the departing husband and father; tells him with whom to leave his fatherless children, and in whom his widow is to trust. Jer. 49 : 11. It teaches a man how to make his will; it defends the rights of all; and reveals vengeance to every defrauder, overreacher, and oppressor. It is the first book; the best book; and the oldest book in the world; it contains the choicest matter; gives the best instruction; and affords the greatest pleasure and satisfaction that ever was revealed. It contains the best of laws and profoundest mysteries that ever were penned. It brings the best tidings, and affords the best comfort, to the inquiring and disconsolate. It is a brief recital of all that is past, and a certain prediction of all that is to come. It settles all matters in debate, resolves all doubts, and eases the mind and conscience of all their scruples. It reveals the only living and true God, and shows the way to him; sets aside all other gods, and describes the vanity of them. In short, it is a book of laws, to show right and wrong; a book of wisdom, that condemns all folly, and makes the foolish wise; a book of truth, that detects all lies, and confutes all errors; and a book of life, that shows the way from everlasting death. It is the most compendious book in all the world, the most authentic, and the most entertaining history that ever was published. It contains the most ancient antiquities, strange events, wonderful occurrences, heroic deeds, unparalleled wars. It describes the celestial, terrestrial, and eternal worlds; and the origin of the angelic myriads, human tribes, and devilish legions. It will instruct the most accomplished mechanic, and the profoundest artist. It will teach the best rhetorician, and exercise every power of the most skilful arithmetician; Rev. 13 : 18; puzzle the wisest anatomist, and exercise the nicest critic. It corrects the vain philosopher, and confutes the wisest astronomer. It exposes the subtle sophist, and makes diviners mad. It is a complete code of laws, a perfect body of divinity, an unequaled narrative; a book of lives, a book of travels, and a book of voyages. It is the best covenant that ever was agreed on, the best deed that ever was produced; the best will that ever was made, and the best testament that ever was signed. To understand it, is to be wise indeed; to be ignorant of it, is to be destitute of wisdom. It is the magistrate’s best guide, the servant’s best directory, and the young man’s best companion. It is the school boy’s spelling-book, and the learned man’s master-piece. It contains a choice grammar for a novice, and a profound mystery for a sage. It is the ignorant man’s dictionary, and the wise man’s directory. It encourages the wise, and promises an eternal reward to the excellent. And that which crowns all is, that the Author is without partiality, and without hypocrisy, “IN WHOM IS NO VARIABLENESS NEITHER SHADOW OF TURNING.”—Life of Elias Smith.
A Foolish Practice.
ONE of the unwisest things that persons do, in the sphere of ordinary social life, is, when having friends to breakfast or dinner, to urge them to eat. I scarcely ever sit down to a friend's table but that I am pestered with solicitations on the part of my host or hostess to take something more to eat; just as though I had no mind of my own, and, if not guided and directed by them, would fail to supply myself with the food needful for me. Now, hygienists ought to have sense enough to be above this kind of folly. In the first place, we ought all to live so simply that our appetites should be sauce to our food. Then, however simple and plain the food presented, we should eat with relish, and cease to eat when we had taken enough. Those who cook for friends should have politeness enough to see that they are cared for sufficiently, and when declining to take more, not to urge them to do so. Gluttony, good friends, is a sin. What poor, silly notions we have in respect to social vices. The woman who not for her right hand would ask me to drink a glass of wine, the man who would as soon think of robbing me of my purse as to ask me to drink alcoholic liquors in a saloon or at his private table, has no clearer insight into the true philosophy of appetitial enjoyment than to press me to gorge my stomach with food and thus make myself dietetically a glutton. Let all who have forsworn the old way of making drunkards, also forswear the way whereby gluttons are made. Let us live soberly and righteously in the world, having ways, plans, and habits of our own, which are commendable because they direct persons to higher and nobler feelings and efforts than those which lie alone within the gratification of the appetites and the passions. There is no need of having a table nakedly spread because nobody eats to be a glutton thereat. There is no need of having social relations uncompanionable and cheerless because we are determined to glorify God in our bodies, as well as in our spirits. True hilarity and joyousness are the proper attendants of sobriety and moderation. Please to bear this in mind, and so let us eat and drink as not to bring condemnation on ourselves.—Woman and her Work.
Our Pattern.
By H. S. Zoller
THERE is perhaps no better means for arresting a fault in ourselves than to see the same as it looks to us, in others. While we ought not to make our object in doing things the admiration or applause of the world, we should know to what degree of respect and confidence our real character entitles us. We should have before our minds constantly a perfect ideal of Christian development, which it should be our never-failing aim to imitate.
This model we have in our Saviour, who was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. True godliness demands a resurrected life from everything carnal even in this world. To live above the sensual and enjoy the spiritual and intellectual is the highest privilege of mortals. In such a life is demonstrated to each experienced Christian the mystery of godliness.
The unconverted cannot understand the glory of religion. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is what will introduce us into the work of that company upon whom God looks and is well pleased.
Fellow-mortals, our dear Redeemer bids us all come to him to obtain this prize. Let us go. We can secure it without wealth, without friends, without influence. He that humbleth himself shall be exalted. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Hasten, and come along; pretty soon it will be too late.
H. S. ZOLLER.
Dell Prairie, Wis.
Reflections on Christian Character
By JOS. CLARKE
Items.
To PREACH or write well, is a good acquirement; but to live aright, is far better.
A good life makes a good sermon or exhortation, forcible and weighty; a bad life makes all these null and void.
Faith and confidence in God is better than all the treasures earth can afford.
A contented mind continues so by contracting its desires for superfluous wealth; a discontented mind becomes more and more so, by coveting what it does not need.
It is not by dreading coming evil that we shall escape misfortune; but by preparing for it.
He who does not know the sweetness of the gospel, cannot affect its sternness; he who does not love God and his neighbor, cannot hate sin, though he may have a spite toward some sins.
Godliness in the heart, produces a strong character; godliness worn as a cloak produces a weak one.
“Christianity,” says the worldling, “is too insignificant for my attention;” the truth is, it is too high for him.
The good man, sees God in everything around him; the wicked man sees God nowhere.
Love works out deep and difficult problems in life; hatred tangles up all it touches.
Love gives strength, beauty, and courage; hate gives weakness, deformity, and gloom.
A good conscience waits God’s time: a bad one cannot abide any one’s time.
Wisdom quietly prepares, then waits the coming storm; foolishness does not believe that a storm is coming.
JOS. CLARKE.
Cast a Line for Yourself.
A BOY stood watching some anglers on a bridge. He was poor and dejected. At last, approaching a basket well-filled with wholesome-looking fish, he thought, “If now I had these, I should be happy. I could sell them at a fair price and buy me food and lodgings.”
“I will give you just as many and just as good fish,” said the owner, who chanced to overhear his words, “if you will do me a trifling favor.”
“And what is that?” asked the other, eagerly.
“Only to watch this line till I come back. I wish to go on a short errand.”
The proposal was gladly accepted. The old fisherman was gone so long that the boy began to be impatient. Meanwhile, however, the hungry fish snapped greedily at the baited hook, and the boy lost his depression in the excitement of pulling them in, and when the owner of the line returned he had caught a large number. Counting out from them as many as were in the basket and presenting them to the boy, the old fisherman said, “I fulfill my promise with the fish you have caught to teach you, whenever you see others earning what you need, to waste no time in fruitless wishes, but to ‘Cast a line for yourself.’”—Sel.
Christian Eloquence.
Among the rarest treats we have enjoyed for a long time has been the perusal of the London Missionary Magazine and Chronicle for June. It contains the proceedings of the Anniversary of the London Missionary Society. The annual report and the addresses are of unusual interest. We give a paragraph from the eloquent address of Rev. Thomas Jones:—
“And let me say there have been days when the church was a power in the earth. We read of the heroic ages; they are praised by the old poets as the beautiful and distant ages when fact and myth embrace, where history and tradition meet—when tradition melts into history, and history, like another color in the rainbow, melts back into tradition. In that beautiful period they have placed the heroic ages when giants and Titans lived on the earth, and not small beings such as we are.
“Brethren, this is tradition and myth and poetry; but there have been real heroic ages in the church of God, when Moses communed with God on the trembling brow of Sinai; when David composed the spiritual hymns which thrill our hearts in the nineteenth century; when Isaiah with rapt seraphic fire spake to the sinful nations; when the Baptist thundered rebukes on the banks of Jordan; when the great Paul emptied the temples of Greece; when St. John saw visions in Patmos; when reformers struggled; when martyrs died—then there was power in the churches. Men were filled with the Holy Ghost. Ministers in England, we want power. Missionaries abroad, ye want power. Teachers in our colleges, ye want power, not only to send forth scholars, but inspired young men. Deacons of our churches, it is no time to sleep. Churches of the land, you ought not to be the dull, apathetic, material things many of you are. We cannot afford to be weak.
“There is power everywhere—power in the spring bursting through the great rock; power in the grass cutting its way through the soil; power in the lightning-flash. And shall the church be weak? I see the syren Pleasure like another ignis fatuus crossing from marsh to marsh in the devil's land, where so many of our youths are lost. Power enough hath the syren. Yes, brethren, power is everywhere; and shall we be weak and feeble? Our fathers sleep—let not the thunder disturb their slumbers; let not the lightning-flash wither the flowers on their graves. Brave men were they. I like to shake hands with them across the ages. They did their work nobly; they crossed the stage, and were hurried beyond the scene into the darkness of death. They are gone, and we are here; and shall we be weak? I don't mean that we can become as Moses and Jeremiah and Paul; but I do mean to say that as the ancient Titans went up to heaven and stole fire from the sun, you may go aside with God, touch the divine mind, and come forth divine men, to mold the hearts of this nation, or to spread the gospel of Christ in foreign lands. You have heard me kindly. I have spoken out brotherly on this subject. May God bless you all! May the power of the Lord God of Israel clothe his priests with salvation! May it be known in a dry, hard, harsh, skeptical age, that God is in Israel, and that religion is a power!”—Sel.
Advice for a Long Life
PARR, who died at the advanced age of one hundred and fifty-two, gave this advice to his friends: “Keep your head cool by temperance, your feet warm by exercise; rise early, and go early to bed; and if you are inclined to grow fat, keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.” Are not these excellent life-pills?
THE MASTER'S CALL.
Up and be doing! the time is brief,
And life is frail as the autumn leaf.
To God and thy better self be true,
Do with thy might what thou findest to do.
The harvest is white; and the field is wide;
And thou at thine ease mayst not abide.
The reapers are few and far between;
And death is abroad; with his sickle keen.
’O, think of the Master, worn and faint,
Whose meek lips uttered no complaint;
Who toiled for thee ’mid the noontide heat,
And sought no rest for his weary feet;
Of a Father's wrath who drank the wine,
And bore his cross to lighten thine.
Go forth and labor! a crown awaits
The faithful remnant at Heaven's gates.
For a death of shame the Saviour died,
To open those golden portals wide;
Work with thy might ere the day of grace
Is spent, and the night steals on apace.
The Master has given his pledge divine;
Who winneth souls like the stars shall shine.
—Sel.
Work for Christ.
By T. L. Cuyler
WORK for Christ! This is the best cure for a spiritual invalid in the church. Work develops a man's spiritual proportions. Work makes a Christian sinewy to carry burdens, broad-shouldered to bear responsibilities, strong-voiced to sing God's praise, quick-footed to be good, and healthful in the pulse-beat of his piety. I seldom have known of a good worker giving his pastor the heartache or making trouble in the church. I never knew a warm-hearted worker to freeze up a prayer-meeting. I am never afraid to offer such a man a subscription paper. It is the lazy professors, the people who ride on the cushioned seats of the church-car, and mistake that orthodox luxury for a personal advance in grace—these are the people who are the trouble and torment of themselves and of their minister. It is easier to be the pastor of a thousand workers than of ten drones. The sight of a dying church, or even a dull one, wears harder on a pastor that the most arduous toil for a living and growing church. It is not what we do, but what we fail to do, that wears us out.—T. L. Cuyler.
The Greatness of a Pure Soul
He who possesses the divine powers of the soul is a great being, be his place what it may. You may clothe him in rags, may immure him in a dungeon, may chain him to slavish tasks, but still he is great. You may shut him out of your houses, but God opens to him heavenly mansions. He makes no show, indeed, in the streets of a splendid city; but a clear thought, a pure affection, have a dignity of quite another kind, and far higher than accumulations of brick and granite and plaster, however cunningly put together.
A True Picture.
By Editor
We have received a very important communication from Eld. Geo. I. Butler of Iowa, in which he states many very important things. And although he designed it simply for our eye and benefit, we take the liberty to lay the true picture he has drawn in a portion of his communication before the readers of the Review. He says—
“Perhaps while I have my hand in, I will speak freely of the tendency of our people—I mean the whole body. It has seemed to me for years past, that we, as a body, have been making great progress toward the same worldly standard that is manifest in other denominations. We are becoming a very respectable people. We are making a great effort to be so, and make others think we are so, more and more; and, if we keep on, the prospect is very promising that we shall soon have a good name in the earth, and be as much thought of as others. This seems all right; but to me there is one discouraging feature. It seems to me that, as we move in this direction, in about the same ratio, the Spirit and power of God is gone.
“I do n’t know as the two things are connected; but, with my observation, this seems to me to be about the actual condition of matters. I turn my thoughts to the past. Every denomination has gone over this ground: at first zealous, the Spirit of God with them, self-sacrificing, wealth of small consequence, plain in dress, simple in tastes, and devoted. Gradually there was a change. No one could discern any particular point where it took place; but after a series of years, one looking back could discern a great difference. So it seems to me events are shaping their course among us.
“We are becoming more and more wealthy every year; and it seems to me, wealth gives a standing to a certain extent. Our wealthy men quite generally cast an influence because they are wealthy. The love of the world is fearfully on the increase among us. We look into our assemblies—the collar pins glitter, the long ribbons flutter, the dainty hats, adorned with artificials, gratify our taste for the beautiful, and bead collars, and dresses of the richest pattern, ornamented with tasty velvet, satisfy our love for the elegant. Where is the plainness of dress that was seen ten years ago? Here and there a sister with a conscience, or prejudice perhaps, stems the tide, and goes on the even tenor of her way, regardless of the mighty pressure tending world-ward.
“For my part, I confess I am nearly silent on the dress question. I tried it awhile till I became satisfied it was doing no good, and only bringing myself into trouble; and since that, I have only spoken upon general principles. The fact is, there are none of our country churches where these things are seen to the extent they are in Battle Creek itself, whether they are right or wrong. And when any of our young sisters, who love dress, are questioned, they always point immediately to those who have come from there. And I can but admit they do not exceed their standard. Now I do not think I carry this matter of dress to an extreme. It comes more to me as a straw showing the direction of the current than as a great sin.
“But I must say this, I never saw great piety, and humility, and other Christian graces, growing on a tree bearing such leaves. And I never expect to. I am well aware there is not much use in picking off the leaves without killing the tree that bears them. Every denomination in the days of their piety were a plain people. It always will be so; for the Bible gives special directions about the matter.
“We see a great deal of ‘style,’ and put-on veneering, called by many, I suppose, good manners, but according to my notion, about as far from the genuine article as light is from darkness. All these things seem creeping in, and in about the same ratio, that religion which affects the heart, and melts it down into tenderness and contrition, goes out. Devotion is decreasing. Praying is becoming less and less. Perhaps a mechanical going through the forms of speaking and praying is common enough. But prayer, with the spirit and power in it, is growing rare. Praying for the sick, with any expectation of effecting anything more than comfort and edification, is obsolete.
“I know our churches and conferences are growing, and the outside machinery seems to be working well; but that alone will never satisfy me. The Methodists and others would beat us out and out in that part.
“In reference to the Advent doctrine: The coming of Christ is not believed to be as near as it was fifteen years ago, and there is not as much said about it. And so I might go on ad infinitum. But may be you think I have already said far too much, and that I am looking on the dark side. Well, I wish it were so. I confess frankly that the separation from my family and all the burdens, labors, and crosses, I have to bear, do not trouble me one half as much as these things. The Bible looks as plain as Heaven; but when I look around us awhile, my soul sinks. Blame me as you may, I believe these things are so.”
Whether our people at Battle Creek, as a body, are sinners above others on the dress question is a matter of doubt with us. Our congregation is large. But a small portion are members of the church. Fashionable people will come to meeting dressed fashionably. We have preached pointedly to them, and we do not see that we can do more for them. But so far as the members of the church are concerned, we do not believe that they take the lead in dress. No man has a better chance to know of this matter than we have. We wish our people at Battle Creek were simpler, and more uniform in dress, and that there was more humble, heartfelt piety among us, and less of the spirit of the world. But we will here suggest that our brethren and sisters from abroad sometimes make a mistake in supposing that the more dressy portion of our congregation are members of the church. Our congregation numbers three hundred, while the church membership is less than one hundred and fifty.
But what Eld. Butler says of the tendency of our people is true everywhere, Battle Creek not excepted. And now for the remedy. When the physician has examined the case, and has stated the disease, his work is not more than half done. He has really accomplished nothing until he has given the remedy. It is comparatively an easy task to set forth our deplorable condition, but to state definitely what shall be done to improve the state of things is neither easy nor pleasant.
Twenty years since, when members were very few, we bore a plain, free testimony, and the power of God was with us. And for bearing this testimony a spirit of hatred was kindled that has followed us. We could have stood up under this, had it not been for the influence of those who have nearly all the time for twenty years occupied a middle ground, giving a hundred times more strength to those in rebellion than our bitterest opponents.
It was this middle-ground influence that laid the foundation of our difficulties at Battle Creek, the results of which have had so saddening an influence on the cause everywhere. It has been the influence of the middle position that has taken the edge from the several testimonies that have gone out to our people relative to dress, covetousness, and conformity to the world. And we here confess that we are weary of contending with the spirit of this middle position, and are now, physically and mentally worn with it, more than all else. As we lay the armor off to rest awhile, we are glad that Eld. Butler feels the burden. The Review is open to him. Our past sufferings have been such, and our present relations are such, that we dare not speak and act freely. We cheerfully give others the field.
But we do not feel free to close these remarks without confessing that in consequence of the pressure against us, sustained by the spirit of the middle position, we have gradually yielded, and have tempered our testimony to be in harmony with the body, and for this we have been losing strength, faith, and courage. We want to rest and ponder these things in the fear of God.
News and Miscellany.
“Can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
Terrible Hurricane at St. Thomas.
St. Thomas, W. I., Aug. 22, via Halifax, N. S., Aug. 31.—Another hurricane has swept over this unfortunate island, overturning every house and laying the place in ruins. Yesterday, at about 1 o'clock A. M., a gale broke from the east, shortly afterward shifting to the north-east, from which point it blew more fiercely until noon, when the wind veered round St. Thomas to the north and fell upon the island in a terrific hurricane. It then shifted to the north-west and blew with great violence until 5 o'clock P. M., when there came a lull, which lasted until 6 P. M. At this hour the hurricane again swept over the island from the south, but its duration was not so long as on the previous visit, nor was its violence so great. Its term of greatest fury lasted only two hours. Closely following in the wake of the hurricane came an awful gale from the south and south-east, which raged for several hours. During the hurricane in the afternoon several shocks of earthquake rendered more dreadful the situation of the people, who were hearing overhead the crash of roofs torn by the hurricane and obliged to feel, at the same time, under foot, the foundations of their shelters shaken by an earthquake. Hundreds of dwellings have been swept away, and not a house has been left standing undamaged on this distressed island. Some 6,000 people had been left homeless and destitute, and nearly 150 persons were killed and mangled, or disabled by houses blown down, or bricks and tiles flying thickly all around during the hurricane. Already some 30 corpses have been dragged from under the ruins, which, in the shape of trees and fences shattered, and houses and heaps of bricks and tiles strewn throughout the streets, offer a sight of perfect desolation. The island of St. Kitts is said to be in ruins, as it was caught by the first hurricane which has just passed over here.
Camp-Meeting Committee.
BY MISTAKE, the name of E. H. Root has been given as a member of the Michigan Camp-meeting Committee, instead of S. A. McPherson, who was chosen at the last camp-meeting to take Bro. Root's place. At a meeting of brethren of the Battle Creek church first-day morning, Brn. Whitney and Cornell were appointed to assist the Committee.
Statement of Physicians.
By J. H. Ginley; Wm. Russell; M. A. Chamberlain; P. M. Jamson
WE, the undersigned physicians of the HEALTH INSTITUTE, Battle Creek, Mich., feel it a duty to express our hearty approval of Bro. White’s course in resigning his official duties, and placing himself under the care of the Institute until his health is improved. From a careful examination of his case, we know his condition fully justifies such a course of action.
J. H. Ginley, M. D.,
Wm. Russell, M. D.,
M. A. Chamberlain, M. D.
P. M. Jamson, M. D.
Quarterly Reports
By G. W. Colcord
WILL be due from all the churches within the bounds of the Illinois Conference, on the first day of next October. As it requires only a very few minutes for each clerk to fill out a blank, I hope all will be prompt.
If any lack blanks, let me know, and I will send them to you immediately. Remit your funds to the conference treasurer, Ivory Colcord, Coleta, Whiteside Co., Ill., and report the same to me. My post-office address is Woodburn, Macoupin Co., Ill.
G. W. COLCORD.
E. B. Lane’s New Address
The post-office address of Eld. E. B. Lane will be New London, Howard Co., Ind., until the first of October.
Disasters Still.
WHATEVER may be the reason, disasters seem never to come singly of late, and there are philosophers who charge their occurrence to special cosmical conditions of the elements. Be this as it may, we have this week another list of railroad accidents, wrecks, and murders. The most noteworthy of these is that which occurred on the Eastern Railway, within ten miles of Boston. An express train dashed at full speed into the rear car of an accommodation train, killing twenty-four persons and wounding twice as many more. At present the blame seems to rest upon the engineer and conductor of the express train. The former was notified to run cautiously, as the track was not clear, and the latter failed to whistle “down brakes” as soon as he ought to have done. New York is trying to make an example of those who are responsible for the Westfield disaster, which shall be a warning to railroad and steamboat men; and Boston now has a chance to do a like good work in New England, as the conductor and engineer of the express both escaped uninjured. On the Erie railroad we have a similar accident, the number of killed and wounded being fortunately considerably smaller. A cyclone swept along the South Atlantic coast, doing much damage. The steamship Lodona is a total wreck on the Florida coast, the captain and twenty men having lost their lives; the steamer City of Houston only escaped a similar fate through the efforts of some United States naval officers who were on their way to Key West with a strong detachment of sailors. The captain of the Houston, be it known, became drunk at an early stage of the troubles. Four other wrecks of sailing vessels are thus far reported along the Florida coast, and the list will doubtless be increased before the week closes. Besides these, we have Indian raids at the West, destructive fires in various quarters, the yellow fever at Charleston, S. C., the Asiatic cholera at Liverpool, England, and lastly, just as we go to press, a steamboat explosion in Mobile Bay, whereby some seventy persons were killed.
THE steamer Ocean Wave, while on an excursion, with 200 passengers on board, exploded her boiler at Point Clear, near Mobile, on Sunday afternoon. From sixty to seventy persons were either killed or wounded. The cause of the disaster has not been ascertained. Out of seven persons comprising the one Creole family, six were killed. The captain, engineer, and pilot, were killed. Only three of the officers escaped.
THE recent storm on the South Atlantic coast was the severest that has occurred there since 1854. In Jacksonville, Florida, also, much damage was done, and the rice crop all along the Atlantic coast is much injured.
Michigan Camp-Meeting.
By J. F. Carman; S. A. McPherson; I. A. Olmstead; E. W. Whitney; M. J. Cornell
The Michigan State annual camp-meeting will be held at Charlotte on the ground occupied last year, Sept. 13-19.
It is decided that all tents should be erected on or before Wednesday the 13th, so that the religious services can commence in the evening of that day, and that no tent should be taken down until Tuesday, the 19th.
The ground will be in excellent order. Ample provisions will be made on the ground at reasonable rates for those who cannot bring provisions, and hay and grain for horses.
There will be two large tents on the ground in which to lodge strangers and scattered brethren. They should bring bedding, as straw only will be furnished to such.
J. F. CARMAN,
S. A. MCPHERSON,
I. A. OLMSTEAD,
E. W. WHITNEY,
M. J. CORNELL.
Camp-Meeting Committee.
The Indiana Camp-Meeting.
By Charles Seaward; Wm. Covert; Wm. Carpenter
PROVIDENCE permitting, the Indiana Camp-meeting will be held three miles west of Fairfield, in Greason's grove, Sept. 21–26. Fairfield is situated on the Peru and Indianapolis Railroad, forty-nine miles north of Indianapolis, and five miles south of Kokomo, in Howard Co. Teams will be in readiness at Fairfield in the afternoon of the 20th and 21st, to convey those coming by railway to the meeting, free of charge. An effort will be made to have passengers returned free. It is earnestly requested that all the brethren and sisters, as far as possible, attend this meeting, and be on the grounds in time to make themselves comfortable for the occasion before the time set for the meeting. The large Michigan tent will be on the ground; other tent room must be made of lumber. There will be a provision and feed store conducted by brethren. Bro. and sister White and Bro. Littlejohn are engaged to attend. Let all make an extra effort to come and enjoy a rare feast of good things.
PROVIDENCE permitting, the Ohio Camp-meeting will be held near the city of Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio, Sept. 28–Oct. 3, in a beautiful grove containing about forty acres, located one-half mile north of the city, and a half mile north of the Atlantic & Great Western depot. We earnestly invite the labor of Bro. and sister White and such other help as may accompany them. We will endeavor to do all we can to relieve them from burdens, that they may faithfully discharge every duty they owe to God and their fellow-man.
We earnestly invite all the churches and scattered brethren to attend this meeting. Come prepared to work for the Lord, for such opportunities come but once a year. Let no worldly interest rob you of the blessing you may receive at this meeting. Invite your friends to come with you. We are anxious that this State should be well represented, and that all will do everything they can to make the meeting a success.
There will be a provision stand and a supply of pure soft water kept upon the ground, and other accommodations will be made as far as necessary. All small companies or individuals wishing tents can, if they desire to do so, send their orders immediately with draft or postoffice order to Wm. Chinnock, North Bloomfield, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and the tents will be furnished on the camp ground ready to occupy. They can be purchased of G. F. Foster, Chicago, Ill., at the following rates: 12x16, 6 ft. ten oz. duck, $36.00. 12x18, $39.20. These tents will accommodate from ten to twelve persons, are more desirable than longer ones, and were recommended by Bro. White at our last camp-meeting. The Ohio tent will be pitched upon the ground.
Wm. Chinnock,
J. Q. A. Haughey,
Geo. Bisel,
Ohio Conference Committee.
Ohio State Conference.
By Wm. Chinnock; J. Q. A. Haughley; Geo. Bisel
The Ohio State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will hold its next annual session in connection with the Ohio Camp-meeting, Sept. 28–Oct. 3. It is requested that each church be represented by delegate or by letter, with a report of their losses and additions during the year, and the annual amount of their S. B. fund. Let all who have reports, have them in readiness at this meeting. It is desired that all companies not organized should be represented at this Conference.
Wm. Chinnock, Ohio
J. Q. A. Haughley, Conference
Geo. Bisel, Committee.