Bro. WHITE: The church here at Little Prairie are striving to come up to the help of the Lord. Bro. Matteson while preaching in the Norwegian settlement west of this place, spent the Sabbaths with us, and labored faithfully to raise us from the low state that we were in. Some of the stumbling-blocks over which we were falling are being taken away.
We enjoyed much of the blessing of God on those days set apart for humiliation and prayer. We felt truly that it was time to humble ourselves, confess and forsake our sins, and get right in the sight of God. I can see great beauty, and wisdom in reforming our habit of living. To say nothing of the benefit derived from it in this life, how could we consistently expect to be ready for the times of refreshing, for Jacob's trouble, and for translation, while thus abusing ourselves?
It appears that good men of past days have thought on this subject also. The following I extract from James B. Finley's Memorials of Prison life.
"For the two following days, Wednesday and Thursday, I was quite sick with a bilious attack. I was my own physician, and nursed myself. This I did, not because we had not a good physician in the prison, but because for years I have been fearful of taking medicine; and when I prescribe for myself I know what I am doing, and whether I need much or little physic. I am an old man, and I have long since learned, by observation in civilized as contrasted with savage life, that the health and lives of thousands are annually sacrificed to the stupid practice of depending on medicine too much. Did we take care of ourselves, we should need medicine but seldom; and when we did, simple remedies would answer. We do not learn that the antediluvians, who lived in such ages, had any doctors at all; and the old patriarchs after the flood preserved their health and protracted their lives by temperance, good air, abundant exercise, and a calm trust in God. The most modern diseases come from the bad habits of what we call civilized society. Let us become really civilized, and live according to good sense and observation, and ninety-nine out of every hundred of our physicians might be dismissed, to engage in some other employment.
"We learn from the facts here daily presented, the great law that dispositions are made very much by their habits. Let a person eat much meat, feed abundantly, drink spirituous liquors, spend much time in idle and wicked conversation, and take no thought of governing or even checking his natural appetites and he is almost sure to become a fearless, violent, and ambitious villain. But take him, now, from the excessive indulgence of his animal propensities, oblige him to spend his time in silence, keep him from the use of spirits, let his diet be nourishing but not exciting, consisting chiefly of vegetables, then raise his mind to intellectual, moral, and religious topics even though it be only occasionally, and the whole man begins to wear a new aspect, to feel a new current of emotion, to enjoy a serene and higher kind of being. Imprisonment, therefore, on any plan, is often a blessing to these desperate characters, some of whom go out reformed in soul, mind, and body.
"We see, too, that the world at large has a great interest in the habits of the people. Savages who live mostly on flesh, are the most ferocious of mankind; while those nations and tribes who live on vegetables, chiefly, are generally the most peaceable, docile, and intellectual. The free use of alcohol has done much, not only in killing off thousands on thousands of promising individuals, and in destroying the quiet and happiness of families, but what is vastly worse, it has exerted an incalculable influence in barbarizing the human species. It has counteracted to an alarming degree, the humanizing influence of learning and religion.
"The same is true of many of the common practices of civilized society; and never, no, never, shall we see the triumph of peace, of right, of Christianity, until the daily habits of mankind shall undergo a thorough revolution. Could we all be put on prison fare, for the space of two or three generations, the world would ultimately be the better for it. Indeed should society change place with the prisoners, so far as habits are concerned, taking to itself the regularity, and temperance, and sobriety of a good prison, and condemning the culprits of the country to quarter themselves in great houses, live on a sumptuous and exciting diet, hold intercourse with all manner of social evil, and suffer the consequences of this course of living, it would show itself quite as sensible as it now is."
Wm. Carthy.
Little Prairie, Wis.
DANIEL D. HAINES
By Daniel D. Haines
From Bro. Haines.
BRO. WHITE : The little church here is striving to walk in the strait and narrow way, and follow in the light of God's present truth. We have our trials and temptations to meet with, but through, the favor and blessing of God we are determined to meet them with courage and patience, knowing that all things work together for good to them that love God. The present truth gives us great light in regard to ourselves, our duty to God and our neighbor; we have lower views of ourselves, and higher views of God and his government, and the atonement through Jesus Christ, and the sacredness of the law of God. The true Christian delights in the law of God after the inward man, and Christ to him is the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, and he lives by faith on the Son of God.
I realize to some extent that the perils of the last days are coming upon us, and how necessary it is that the Lord's children be united together and not murmur at any trial, but let us rather rejoice that our redemption draweth nigh. I am truly thankful for such a paper as the Review. I love its teachings. May God bless the truth it advocates till every honest soul shall be gathered into the fold of Christ.
Truly yours,
DANIEL D. HAINES
Haverhill, Mass.
Report from Bro. Sanborn.
By Isaac Sanborn
BRO. WHITE: I have closed for the present, my labors in Gridley, Ills. I have been here two months, and preached forty-six times. Some of the time was taken up by other ministers especially by one Elder T. Brooks, Disciple, who preached six sermons, three against the Sabbath, two against the mortality of man and one against the gifts of the Spirit, all of which I reviewed before large audiences. The Elder's opposition and my reviews have waked up a great interest in the minds of the people to know the truth. I sold about $45.00 worth of publications. Nineteen subscribed for the Review, and three for the Instructor. Eighteen have publicly confessed the truth, and are now united with Bro. and sister Slown in keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and many others we believe will soon fall into the ranks. May the Lord help them is my prayer.
I have now commenced a course of lectures in Pontiac, Livingston Co., Ills. The Presbyterian meeting-house has been kindly opened for me to lecture in. I have given three lectures to interested congregations. I expect to remain here three weeks, the Lord willing. Pray the Lord of the harvest to make the truth powerful unto the salvation of the people.
ISAAC SANBORN.
Letters.
By Editor
"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
This department of the paper is designed for the brethren and sisters to freely and fully communicate with each other respecting their hopes and determinations, conflicts and victories, attainments and desires, in the heavenly journey. Seek first a living experience and then record it, carefully and prayerfully, for the comfort and encouragement of the other members of the household of faith.
The World Living in the Christian
THE Christian is not ruined by living in the world, which he must needs do while he remains in it, but the world living in him.
Good Meetings at Elgin
By Sister L. Follett
Sister L. Follett writes from Elgin, Ills. : We have been having some good meetings here, and some more have taken their stand on the side of truth. May the Lord help me to overcome, and meet all the redeemed in the kingdom.
Extracts from Letters.
Sister H. E. Thompson writes from Chesaning, Mich.: The church met March first, according to appointment, and was greatly blessed. It will be a bright spot in my experience. The interest of that meeting will not soon be forgotten. I believe we are in the sealing time, and I must make thorough work to cleanse myself from all filthiness of the flesh, to be ready when Christ shall come to make up his jewels.
Sister A. A. Voorhees writes from Wellsville, N. Y.: One year ago the present month, I became a member of the S. D. A. church of Allegany, N. Y., and have often felt a desire to express my thankfulness to God for the third angel's message, and all the blessed truths accompanying it. I have been a professor of religion from my youth. When I saw myself a sinner and sought mercy from God, I promised in all the fervency of my soul to follow where the Spirit and the word of God should direct; therefore when the doctrine of present truth was made plain to me, I could not reject it. I thought I had always been a careful Bible reader; but how different the word of God looks to me now. It seems to me like a new book, and I am led to wonder why there are so few that are willing to come out and take a stand with the people of God. True, this is a cross-bearing way. The world does not love it. Yet I do not feel discouraged, and, by the help of the Lord, I mean to be an overcomer and stand with the remnant on mount Zion.
Obituary Notices.
DIED, in the town of Pine River, Gratiot Co., Mich., March 14, 1865, of dropsy which terminated in quick consumption, after an illness of about two months, Sr. Ellen Holliday, aged 35 years.
She leaves a husband and five small children to mourn her loss. She will be missed by her friends and neighbors; for she was beloved by all who knew her.
For more than ten years she has been a keeper of the Lord's Sabbath, and a firm advocate of present truth.
FELL asleep in the village of Oronoco, Minn., Sabbath morning, March 18, 1865, Marshall Price, eldest son of Bro. John, and Sister Jane Bostwick, aged 3 years, 8 months and 18 days. His death was caused by falling backwards into a pail of boiling water. This is a deep affliction to Bro. and Sr. Bostwick; but they have the Christian's hope and the prayers and sympathy of God's children to support them. He was a lovely child just learning to keep the commandments and honor God; but he has passed away to sleep till the Lifegiver comes, "then wake to full immortal bloom." At the funeral a sympathizing congregation was addressed by the writer from 1 Thess. iv, 13, 14.
H. F. LASHIER.
DIED, March 1, 1865, of diptheria, Grant, youngest son of G. S., and M. West, aged one year and two months.
J. MORE.
Meeting Postponed.
By John Byington
IN consequence of poor health the Monthly Meeting at Parkville, Mich., is postponed till April 15. I will then try and be there.
JOHN BYINGTON.
PROVIDENCE permitting I will hold meetings as follows:
At Oakland, Wis., Sabbath and first-day, April 15, 16.
“ Markesan, Monday evening, 17.
Will Bro. Hamilton meet me at Brandon, Monday morning.
At Mackford, Sabbath and first-day, April 22, 23.
“ Marquette, Monday evening, 24.
“ Bro. Taber’s, as he shall direct, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, May 2, 3.
At Poy Sippi, Thursday evening, 4.
“ Bloomfield, Friday evening; Sabbath and first-day, May 6 and 7, as the brethren shall think best.
Sabbaths and first-days mentioned are Quarterly meetings.
Will brethren and sisters who belong to the several churches try to be ’present; and if they cannot come please send letters, that we may know how you prosper in the Lord.
JOHN MATTESON.
Note from Bro. Ingraham.
By William S. Ingraham
BRO. WHITE: I have returned home from Iowa, in which I spent four weeks laboring in connection with Bro. Snook. This visit was one of profit to me and I trust it was to others. We held a few meetings three miles from Mt. Pleasant, where we were much refreshed. The rest of our time we spent in Mt. Pleasant. This meeting was a good one, considering the circumstances which surrounded us. It was rainy and very muddy. Six decided to obey the truth. At the close of our meeting we took a vote to see how many believed the Bible, when a large company arose. We then called upon all that believed that the Scriptures taught that the first-day should be kept as a Sabbath, but not one arose to cast their influence on the side of popery. I expect much good will grow out of our labors in this place. My acquaintance with Bro. Snook was endearing and pleasant to me.
WM. S. INGRAHAM.
Note from Bro. Frisbie.
By J. B. Frisbie
BRO. WHITE: I still continue the meetings in Morion. I am having good meetings and expect to continue through this week, at the school-house half of the time, and the rest of the time at private houses.
Others have taken hold of the Sabbath since I last wrote, and the prospects are favorable for more soon. The people generally acknowledge the truth of our position. It is now good going. The ground has nearly settled, and the war meetings are nearly over, and the interest is on the increase.
J. B. FRISBIE.
Special Notice.
By John Norton Loughborough
My appointment for Victor is taken up. I will attend the Monthly Meeting for Western N. Y., April 29.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
To Correspondents
By Editor
To CORRESPONDENTS.—Please notice the following rules. If you will notice them, you will save our Secretary much perplexity and time.
1. State all your business items distinctly, and put them all on a sheet by themselves, or on the last leaf of your letter, so that it may be torn off when the letter is opened.
2. Always, in writing to this Office, give your Post Office, State, and County. If your Post Office be one name and your town another, give both, stating which is which.
3. If you wish your paper changed to another Post Office, first state the name of the person, the Post Office, County, and State where it is sent, then the person, Post Office, County, and State where you wish it sent.
A Hindoo Paper on the Bible.
THE Bengali papers seem to be becoming most liberal in their views. The Sajjona Rajana, advocating the introduction of the Bible into government schools, describes it, in remarkable language as coming from a heathen, as "the best and the most excellent of all English books, and there is not its like in the English language. As every joint of the sugar cane from the root to the top is full of sweetness, so every page of the Bible is fraught with the most precious instructions. A portion of that book would yield to you more of sound morality than a thousand other treatises on the same subject. In short, if any person studies the English language with a view to gain wisdom, there is not another book which is more worthy of being read than the Bible."
Appointments.
THE Annual Conference in Ohio will be held at Lovetts Grove, on the 22d and 23d of April next, to be continued as long as may be deemed best.
Each church in Ohio is especially requested to send one authorized delegate to this Conference; and all who feel interested in the advancement of the cause in Ohio, are cordially invited to attend.
It is hoped that the most judicious men will be sent as delegates, who will be expected to report as to the condition of the s. B. fund &c.
The demands of the cause in Ohio, seem to call for a united effort of the church at the present time; and for various reasons, the committee have decided to appoint the conference somewhat earlier than usual, and we hope that all will respond to this call.
Can the General Conference committee send a minister to attend this conference? It is our earnest request that one be sent if conveinent.
A cordial invitation is extended to Bro. and Sister White to meet with us at this Conference.
Teams will be at Tontogany on the Dayton and Mich. Railroad, on Friday (the 21st of April) to meet the trains.
O. MEARS,
I. N. VANGORDER,
J. CLARKE.
Ohio Conf. Com.
Quarterly Meeting at Clyde
By Wm. S. Ingraham
Providence permitting, I will meet in Quarterly Meeting, with the church at Clyde, Ills., April 15, 16.
Wm. S. Ingraham.
Business Department.
Business Notes.
RECEIPTS.
For Review and Herald.
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Subscriptions at the Rate of $3,00 per year.
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For Shares in the Publishing Association.
H. C. Winslow $10,00.
General Conference Missionary Fund.
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Books sent by Express.
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Donations to Purchase a Stock of Paper.
A friend of truth $5,00.
Cash Received on Account.
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Truth Advancing Amid War
By Editor
Notwithstanding the pressure of the war upon the people, and the general stagnation of almost every enterprise in anticipation of the draft, the truth seems to be taking more effect than could be expected. Over fifty new converts to the truth were reported in last week's Review, and over thirty more this week. This is encouraging. Is not God preparing the minds of the honest for the reception of the truth, when the winds are held, and they are released from the absorbing topic of war?
Suppression of Stratton's Sabbath Testimony
By Editor
In another column will be found a sketch of the experience of Bro. Stratton. We saw it a few weeks since in the World's Crisis, and wondered that there was no allusion to his embracing the Sabbath. His letter explains: that portion relating to the Sabbath was suppressed! And yet the Crisis of March 21, 1865, has an article from Eld. Preble with the honest sounding heading, "Let 'Both Sides' be Circulated." Is this the way they do it?
Clarification on the Sabbath Controversy
By Editor
THE note from Brn. Van Horn and Canright relative to "Both sides on the Sabbath," published in Review No. 15, present volume, is copied in the World's Crisis, of March 21, at the request of Eld. Preble. In that note occurs this expression: "The enemy of God's law missed the mark when he started that work." In introducing it for the Crisis, Eld. P. remarks, "Let it then be circulated by the thousands, and when the reader shall see the other side, he can better judge whether I am an 'enemy of God's law.'" Now our brethren by the expression, "the enemy of God's law," did not mean Eld. P. but only the great Author of that opposition to the law of God which he advocates. We are sorry the Eld. has got so mixed in his relations as to mistake a remark as aimed at himself, which was meant only for the Devil.
Positive Institutions
By Editor
THE article in this number from Bro. Waggoner, entitled Positive Institutions, sets this subject forth in its true light. Our preachers will know how to make good use of the extracts given. It is issued in a 16 p. pamphlet at $2,00 per hundred. Let it be circulated and stop the "positive" cavils of our opponents on the Sabbath question.
The Annual Meetings
THE ANNUAL MEETINGS. The General Conference, Michigan State Conference, and Publishing Association, will probably hold their yearly sessions for 1865, in Battle Creek, Mich., May 17-21.
Luther on Fearless Faith
By R. F. C.
Luther gives a good comment or paraphrase on the parallel texts, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul," and "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do." Matt. x, 28; Luke xii, 4. Though he does not cite the texts, his allusion to them is clear. He wrote a book against monastic vows which he dedicated to his father. In this dedication he says, "What matters it to me if the pope should condemn me and put me to death! He cannot call me from the grave and kill me a second time."—Hist. Reformation, Vol. 3, p. 41. R. F. C.
ISAAC SANBORN
By Isaac Sanborn
The Lord willing I will preach at the Gregory school-house in Gridley, McLean Co., Ills., April 22 and 23.
I will also meet the Johnstown church in Quarterly Meeting, Rock Co., Wis., April 29 and 30. Hope to see a general rally. Come praying, determined to get nearer to God.