BE in season. We have no idea of coming up to these important gatherings without well-defined plans of operation. These meetings cost our people time and money, and those who labor in the work much wearing toil. Our camp-meetings must be made interesting and very profitable occasions. Our ministers and our people should be greatly benefited by them, and strong efforts should be put forth to make them occasions of the conversion of sinners, reclaiming backsliders, and building up the church.
Our camp-meetings have taken too much the form of a great machine, to be turned by a few experienced hands, while the majority look on. Our younger men must be pushed out to improve their gifts on such occasions. They must come to the camp-meetings with the spirit of labor for the good of the meetings and the salvation of souls. Our camp-meetings sometimes sink in interest near their close in consequence of the extreme weariness of the few who have done most all the labor. A decided change must take place on these points.
There are no good reasons why our younger ministers should leave their fields of labor, perhaps pull down one or two tents where they are giving courses of lectures in different places in the Conference, sometimes to the great detriment of the cause in those localities, to attend our camp-meetings, unless they come to them to labor in the family tents, in the social meetings, and to speak from the stand more or less. Men who have sufficient ability, and who have the confidence of our people to be intrusted with tent labor, should not leave their fields of labor to attend the camp-meetings only on the ground that they come to work anywhere and everywhere that work is to be done.
We hope to be able to attend all the camp-meetings the coming season with Mrs. W. We shall come to our brethren, not to do the work, but to help them do it in the name and strength of the Lord. We have neither strength nor disposition to labor as we have done. It is important to be in season. We have many suggestions to make, and we think it important at this early date to call the attention of the preachers of the several Conferences to the fact that if duty calls them from important labor to the camp-meeting, it calls them to labor at these meetings and not depend on those from abroad to do all the work.
J. W.
Information Wanted.
By Uriah Smith
A Mr. L. Bach or S. Bach, we cannot determine which, writes to have M. Barnett’s paper stopped, as he has left town, saying very curtly that he has written once before, and hopes we will send no more. We would gladly comply, but here are the difficulties under which we labor:—
1. There are issued at this Office, THE REVIEW AND HERALD, The Voice of Truth, The Health Reformer, The Youth’s Instructor, The Advent Tidende, and The Swedish Advent Herald; and we do not know which one of these papers he wants stopped.
2. He gives the post office in an unknown tongue. All we can make of it is Fitchly; which to us does not read very intelligibly.
3. He gives no State.
Now what are we to do? It would be cheaper to send the man the paper for a year, free, than to look over all our lists to find the name. Unless some of our friends can help us in the matter, we suppose we will have to wait till Mr. B. writes again; and by that time we trust he will be so incensed against our carelessness and neglect of duty, that he will tell which paper he refers to, write the P. O. in legible characters, and give the State. U. S.
Trouble Brewing.
WAR SIGNS IN ENGLAND, MEETING OF MONARCHS AT VENICE, SYMPTOMS OF SEDITION IN INDIA.
LONDON, April 3.—A rumor is circulating here, although not yet officially announced, that the government contemplates establishing a conscription at no distant date. This is said to be necessary in consequence of the threatening aspect of affairs in Europe increasing the difficulty of obtaining recruits.
VIENNA, April 3.—The emperor left for Dalmatia yesterday. The conference agreed upon with the king of Italy takes place on Sunday at Venice.
LONDON, April 3.—A Calcutta special says that indications of a seditious, rebellious spirit are rife among the natives in the Maharatta districts, and cause some uneasiness. Since the trial of Guicowar at Baroda these symptoms have been on the increase.
Universalism in a Nutshell.
“I am a Universalist,” said C. G., boastingly, “and you orthodox are not fair in saying that our system is inconsistent with reason.” “I will prove the irrationality of your system,” said his friend. “You believe that Christ died to save all men?” “Yes, I do.” “And you don’t believe there is a hell?” “No, I don’t.” “You don’t believe there is any punishment hereafter?” “No, I do not; men are punished for their sins in this life.” “Well, now, let us put your rational system together. It amounts to just this—that Christ the Saviour died to save all men from nothing at all. Not from hell, because, according to you, there is none. Not from punishment in a future state of being; for he receives his whole punishment in this life. Yours is the absurd spectacle of ropes and life-preservers, thrown at an immense expense, to a man who is on dry land, and in no danger of being drowned.”
A Few Leaves Turned Down.
By Rev. G. R. W. Scott
Let me turn down, with their knowledge however, a few leaves of, and mark a few passages in, God's word, for those readers who need comfort and support.
For the weak Christian let me turn down the leaf and mark the 12th of Matthew, 20th verse: “A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench.”
For the heavy-burdened, Matt. 11 : 28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
For the thirsty and hungry, John 7 : 37 ; 6 : 35. Here is a passage for the afflicted one, Isa. 54 : 7: “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.”
Here is good news for the backslider, Hosea 14 : 4: “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away.”
I have marked a few passages for the faithless, Acts 14 : 31 ; 1 John 1 : 7 ; Rom. 8 : 1.
Here is comfort for those who mourn over the poor results of their work. This is what Christ said, John 17 : 12 : “Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost.”—REV. G. R. W. SCOTT, in the Christian Banner.
Three Hints Worth Taking.
1. Never attempt to do anything that is not right. Just as surely as you do, you will get into trouble. Sin always brings sorrow sooner or later. If you even suspect that anything is wicked, do it not until you are sure that your suspicions are groundless.
2. When you do attempt anything that is right, go through with it. Be not easily discouraged. Yield not to sloth and sleep and fickleness. ‘To resist all these will not be easy, but you will feel that you have done right when you get through.
3. Do not waste your money. Perhaps you have very little. Then take the more care of it. Besides helping to spread the gospel, buy some good books and read them well. A good book is one of the best things in the world. If you cannot buy as many as you need, borrow from others and return them safe and sound. Never let a book lie where it may be injured.
A Request.
By Wm. Cottrell
PERSONS in Ohio knowing of good openings for lectures on present truth, will please write to the undersigned immediately, at Bowersville, Green Co., Ohio. Wm. Cottrell.
One Hundred Dollars Each.
We here give the names of those east of the plains who have paid one hundred dollars each, to purchase a power press, engine, and printing material for the Pacific Coast. Others will be added as fast as paid.