THE out-look is cheering all along the coast from the especial missionary headquarters of Elder Van Horn at Walla Walla, W. T., to San Diego Co., Cal., to which field Bro. John Judson, of Bloomfield, Sonoma Co., has moved, and where he is letting the light shine.
Elder Canright is at Stockton with the tent. Elder Loughborough is active in the churches at present, and God is blessing Elder Waggoner greatly and he finds a hearty welcome by the friends in California, and an encouraging field of labor.
The subject under most earnest consideration at the present time by the church in San Francisco is a house of worship central and commodious. It will at once be seen that this is an enterprise of considerable magnitude when we say that a tolerably acceptable site, at least one mile from the Postoffice, fifty-five or sixty feet front, costs the handsome sum of $13,000. But the house of the Lord must be built in this great city, which is one of the most attractive points in the world's great thoroughfare of travel. More than 100,000 emigrants will land in San Francisco in 1875, besides the constant moving in and out of the city, of tourists and business people from all parts of the world.
The church at San Francisco is not able to do what must be done to build a suitable house of worship in the great metropolis of the Pacific Coast. The evening of the 29th ult. we were in counsel with the church upon the subject of a house of worship, and offered $1,000 as an individual donation, and promised our influence with others for further help. There is more work to be done in San Francisco than that little church can do at present. It is a vast missionary field to be taken under the direct care of General Conference, when all its members, without a single exception, shall pledge in good faith to do what they reasonably can to advance the cause and to have confidence in those who have the oversight of the work. To accomplish that which should be done it will be necessary for every member to consecrate their efforts, and apply their means that they can spare for this one object. There are many charitable institutions and objects worthy in themselves, but far inferior to the one mentioned. When the church at San Francisco will come into this position, and do what they can, the balance will come from other sources.
We deeply sympathize with the church at San Francisco. At the very time when Eld. Grant was holding a very strong dividing influence over many, the condition of things was made far more critical by the imprudences and rashness of one who represented our cause in that city. This was the state of things when we first visited California, and which made our work very hard. But God has helped us, and we have seen the cause rising in union, numbers, and strength. Our policy to let Eld. Grant alone, as far as possible, has been the true one. The Elder has run a most singular course until he has run himself completely out. He could do nothing in his few, weak, divided churches, and after attending the great revival meetings in San Francisco, he made a most perfect failure at Healdsburg and Petaluma, attempting to ape Hammond, after he had disgusted the people by preaching by special appointment against Mrs. W. At Healdsburg he asked fifty cents admittance to hear him abuse a humble Christian woman. A number left in disgust before they got their money's worth. Oh! Oh! Elder Grant! Oh!
But we have neither time, space, nor disposition here and now to give even a sketch of the singular course of this man in his reports of success, most of which have been as false as false can be, of his pious railings and his determined, bitter spirit against Seventh-day Adventists, under his peculiar sanctimonious garb of holiness. We find in Himes' Journal for March, 1875, a statement originating in the city of San Francisco, given by seven persons whose integrity we have no right to call in question, which sets the position and condition of Seventh-day Adventists in contrast with Eld. Grant and his few friends, in a correct light excepting what is said of our retaliation. The statement is here given for the truth it tells, without the least disposition to take any part whatever with either party in the disgraceful scandal being published by Eld. Grant and the editor of the Journal from which we copy the following.
J. W.
"Progress of S. D. Adventists.
"Eld. Grant has had his way and sway. He 'fought it out on that line' with an obstinacy untempered by common-sense. His senseless assaults upon the seventh-day people, who were not intruding upon ground occupied by us, provoked them to retaliation, and they have pitched their tent in Vallejo, Santa Clara and San Jose, and drawn away members from and weakened all of these churches. The field was large enough, and Eld. Fassett's policy was to let them alone while they did not molest our churches. The result has shown the folly of Eld. Grant's course in this, as in almost every item of his policy on the Pacific Coast. In Napa City, Eld. Grant's boasted discussion has ended in helping the Sabbatarians. Their society is stronger than ever, while of Eld. Grant's influence there is scarcely a trace.
"Practically, this field is abandoned to the Sabbatarians. A San Francisco paper says of them:—
"Six years ago last July, two Seventh-day Adventist ministers landed in San Francisco with their tent, and immediately commenced operations at Petaluma, Sonoma County. These ministers, and one or two others who have joined them, have labored almost unceasingly, and they can now say their work is a success. They closed, the 12th instant, a twelve days' camp-meeting at Yountville, Napa Valley. At this meeting they had a beautiful tabernacle tent 60x125 feet, besides eighty-five campers' tents. Some 600 camped upon the grounds, and the last Sunday of the meeting they had an audience of over 2000 persons. Forty-one persons were baptized, and besides these several others came out and united with the society during the meeting. The Seventh-day Adventists now have fourteen churches in the State, numbering nearly six hundred members. Their State Conference, which was held in connection with their camp-meeting, raised $19,400, to be used in establishing a publishing house on this coast. They also raised over $1,600 in the interest of their tents in California.'
"They are publishing a weekly paper at Oakland in this State, which is gaining a good circulation. Thus they prosper while our cause lies in ruins. We have four weakly churches, distracted and divided by the obstinate persistence with which the preposterous doctrine of 'perfectionism' has been forced upon them. Eld. Grant is now upon his fifth visit here. He is not effecting results of any consequence. The seventh-day people refuse to meet him in debate, not because they fear him (which is absurd in view of their past experience with his debates), but because, as they show, he has deceived them, and they can place no reliance upon his word. They claim to be ready to meet honorable and honest men."
Tithes and Offerings. (Concluded.)
By Ellen G. White
God called for men in the Mosaic dispensation to give the tenth of all their increase. He committed to their trust the things of this life, talents to be improved and returned to him again. He has required a tenth, and this he claims as the very least that man should return to him. He says, I give you nine-tenths, while I require one-tenth ; that is mine. When men withhold the one-tenth they rob God. Sin offerings, and thanks offerings, were also required in addition to the tenth of the increase.
All that is withheld of the tenth which God claims of the increase is recorded in the books of Heaven as robbery against God. Such defraud their Creator, and when this sin of neglect shall be brought before them, it is not enough to change their course and begin to work from that time upon the right principle. This will not correct the figures in the heavenly record for embezzling the property committed to them in trust to be returned to the lender. Repentance for unfaithful dealing with God, and for base ingratitude, is required.
“ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
A promise is here given, if all the tithes shall be brought into the store-house a blessing from God will be poured upon the obedient.
“ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed; for ye shall be a delightsome land; saith the Lord of hosts.” If all who profess the truth will come up to the claims of God, in giving the tenth which God says is his, the treasury will be abundantly supplied with means to carry forward the great work of the salvation of man.
God gives man nine-tenths, while he has claimed one-tenth for sacred purposes, as he has given man six days for his own work, and has reserved and set apart the seventh day to himself. For, like the Sabbath, a tenth of the increase is sacred. God has reserved it for himself. He will carry forward his work upon the earth with the increase of means he has entrusted to man.
God required of his ancient people three yearly gatherings. “ Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles, ; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.”
No less than one-third of their income was devoted for sacred and religious purposes.
Whenever God's people, in any period of the world, have cheerfully and willingly carried out his plan in systematic benevolence, and in gifts and offerings, there has been a standing promise that prosperity should attend all their labors just in proportion as they obeyed his requirements. When they acknowledged the claims of God, and complied with their requirements, honoring him with their substance, their barns were filled with plenty. But when they robbed God in tithes and in offerings, they were made to realize that they were not only robbing him, but themselves ; for God limited his blessings to them, just in proportion as they limited their offerings to him.
Some will pronounce this as one of the rigorous laws binding upon the Hebrews. But this was not a burden to the willing heart that loved God. It was only when their selfish natures, strengthened by withholding, that men have lost sight of eternal considerations, and valued their earthly treasures above that of souls. There are even more urgent necessities upon the Israel of God in these last days than were upon ancient Israel. There is a great and important work to be accomplished in a very short time, and God never designed that the law of the tithing system should be of no account among his people, but instead of this, the spirit of sacrifice should widen and deepen for the closing work.
E. G. W.
Disgrace of Christianity.
By James White
THE Saviour said to his disciples "ye are the light of the world." The true light of morality, of purity of life, ought ever to be found with the Christian churches. If, indeed, they are "the salt of the earth," much depends on the influence they exert upon society at large.
And this position the Protestant churches profess to hold. To deny that they are the true, devoted followers of the blessed Saviour, or even to intimate to that effect, is to bring down upon our heads the severe charge of a lack of charity. Alas for charity! how greatly the times are changed. Once it was said of charity, it "rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth." Now to expose iniquity and to stand in defense of the truth is a sure evidence of a lack of charity, in the eyes of professed Christians, who affect to accept Paul's writings as a standard in Christian ethics.
The tendency and influence of church festivals and church fairs has often been commented on, and their evil influence has even been acknowledged by many ministers, but everything has failed to stay the evil or to effect a reform. The churches refuse to be reformed; they deny that they are "fallen," and insist that they present to the world the true model of Christian character. But "the world," of which they should be the light, are not so blind as these "blind guides." Gov. Washburn, of Wisconsin, called the attention of the Legislature to the necessity of a law to suppress lottery gambling in the churches. This should have produced a general humiliation before God on the part of the churches, and a strong effort to purge themselves from the disgraceful stain. But instead of this, Gov. Washburn lost his election, and the gambling continues!
These things have now become matters of common reference, as the churches have so far degenerated that they hear the reproachful, but truthful, words without a blush. The Sacramento Daily Record of Nov. 14, 1874, contained a lengthy account of the Chinese in that city. Speaking of their propensity to gambling, it said:—
"Gambling is also carried on in the butchers' shops in a novel manner, though based on the same principle as the 'guess cake' speculation, familiar to the attendants at church fairs."
And this "guess cake speculation" is only one of the many "games of chance" adopted by the churches to get dishonest gain. And by these means the children of pious parents form a taste for gaming which, when once formed, becomes as enslaving as the appetite for liquor, and is as fatal.
We have no expectation that the large churches will ever reform. If Mr. Hammond and his co-laborers would go to work to purge the churches from the evil habit and example of gambling, instead of directing their efforts to bring four-year-old children under such church influences, they would inaugurate a "revival" worthy of the name. But such a revival interest would be unpopular, and therefore, could never enlist the sympathy and co-operation of the great "divines."
We thank God there are honest ones in all these churches, who need only to see the tendency of these things to condemn them. And we pray that they may not be perverted by contact with the evil, but keep their consciences pure until the cry shall be given—"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
J. H. W.
Childlike, Not Childish
It is one thing to be childlike, and another to be childish.
European Mission.
By John Nevins Andrews
WHAT SHALL BE DONE FOR EUROPE?
I FEEL the most intense interest to see the work of God advance in Europe. Here are millions of people who are breaking the commandments of God, and yet are ignorant of the fact. They are trampling in the dust God's holy Sabbath, and are not conscious of their guilt. For this guilt, however, there is a great weight of responsibility upon those whom God has enlightened with the knowledge of his truth. Moreover, the great day of God is near and hasteth greatly.
Few of the vast multitudes of people in Europe have any knowledge of the near advent of Christ. If the day of God comes upon them without their being warned, what account shall we render to God for our neglect to warn them? Shall we plead that our worldly business was so profitable we could not think of neglecting it to carry them the truth, nor even to use our means to send the truth by others who were willing to carry it? Many will have no better plea than this, and so for shame will stand speechless before their Judge.
I hope it will be pardoned if I speak very freely. I do it not with a disposition to dictate, but from a heart of intense desire to witness the advancement of this most sacred work. We must give warning to our fellow-men of the swiftly hastening Judgment, and we must lead them to keep the commandments of God. This is our work, and the time in which to do it is brief. Then comes the reckoning, and our business is to meet that with joy and not with sorrow. Our work is to be accomplished partly by the living preacher, but principally by publications. Yet what an immense undertaking is this! It is not simply that there are millions of people to be reached, nor even that these millions do not speak the English language. They speak a great number of different languages, and each nation must have the truth in its own tongue. But with God's blessing, all this is possible. He will not do our work for us, but if we will do our part he will add his blessing, and that will count.
One thing inspires hope: God has gone out before us. The case of the Sabbath-keepers in the vicinity of Elberfeld, Prussia, shows how God is at work. Here are Adventist Sabbath-keepers who have been raised up not only without help from abroad, but even without a preacher among themselves. I have information which I deem authentic of other bodies or companies of Sabbath-keeping Christians in several countries in Europe. It is my conviction that we shall find Sabbath-keepers scattered all over Europe. This indicates that God has set his hand to the work.
Another thing which seems to be very providential is, that all these nations of Europe have many of their people in the United States, and that most of these different nationalities are represented in the body of Adventist Sabbath-keepers. These Sabbath-keepers cannot but feel for their own countrymen. They will write them the truth as best they can. Alas! that our excellent publications in the English language cannot be made available by them for the instruction of their friends at home.
Without doubt some of these persons will see it their duty to return to their own countrymen. But let none do this who have not first advised with those who fill responsible positions in the work in America. If there are those from the different nations of Europe, now in the United States, who have mastered the English language, and have received a good knowledge of the truth of God, and have a real heart-work, and can express what they have in their hearts, perhaps God will use some of these persons as missionaries to their own countrymen. But I beg of such to take advice from our wisest counselors as to their own fitness for such responsibilities.
If we have young men of approved piety, and of good understanding in the Scriptures, and of capacity to teach, who understand no language but the English, I believe that this class may furnish valuable laborers in the various nationalities of Europe. I think that if such young men were willing to give themselves to the work, and if they could set out with the approval of those competent to advise, they would speedily become able to speak the language of the country to which they should go. I think the persons best adapted to teach the speaking of a foreign language are those who understand that language well and do not understand the language of the person they are teaching. The learner cannot use his own language, and cannot fail to learn the pronunciation and use of the language which he hears correctly and distinctly spoken.
But let none come to Europe for the romance and sight-seeing of the journey. This kind of poetry will speedily turn to sober prose. The comforts and conveniences of common life in Europe do not compare with those of America, at least not to a person of American ideas. We want those men who are willing to labor, even though they do not find their own taste and preferences met in their surroundings, and who will never think of quitting the field till the time comes for the laborers to cease their toil, and to bring in their sheaves of well-ripened grain.
The chief instrumentality in setting the truth before the people of Europe must no doubt be the press, as we have proved it in America. And here, even with God's special blessing, and with the marked interposition of his providence, there must be an immense amount of severe toil and painful labor. What is put in print must not only be the truth of God, but it must be according to the grammar and the peculiar idiom of the language used. And here are the many languages which in some form must have the truth in print. How this can be accomplished remains to be seen. But success is certain if we only labor in God. The weapons used by Joshua in the siege of Jericho, and by Gideon in warring upon Midian, show how God can use feeble instrumentalities to accomplish mighty results.
But while there are great difficulties in the advancement of the work in continental Europe, we must not overlook the fact that the inhabitants of the British Islands speak the same language with ourselves. Here are many millions of people whom we can reach by our publications just as they issue from our Office in America. And our preachers can enter upon the work in Great Britain and Ireland without the painful labor and the delay necessary in acquiring the use of a foreign language. I think the time has come when I should express the intense desire of my heart concerning the proclamation of the truth in these countries.
When in England I made very diligent inquiry after those observing the Sabbath, and those friendly to it. In particular I looked after those whose names I had obtained from friends in America, or from the Review. Here I met painful disappointment. The readers of the Review will remember the letter from an English Methodist minister, which was published last summer. I had high hopes of this man. Indeed, I thought if I found him in the same frame of mind as when he wrote that letter, I would perhaps spend two or three weeks in labor in his place. I therefore wrote him a letter the night we landed in Liverpool, and offered to call on him, or, if he chose to do so, invited him to call on me in London. As he did not answer this letter, after some days I wrote him again from London, and this letter also he neglected to answer. I have since learned from Bro. Stillman, of Brookfield, N. Y., that he received my letters, but had concluded that the Sabbath truth would cost him too much, and so had accepted flattering offers from the Methodists, who evidently had begun to fear that they should lose him. My searches after those interested in the Sabbath, through the instrumentality of our publications and of our people in America, came to nothing. I think there are such individuals in England, but I did not find them in the cases I sought out.
I felt a very deep interest in the few Seventh-day Baptists of Great Britain. Two of these ancient churches are not yet extinct. The church at Mill Yard, London, and the Natton church at Gloucestershire, have each a remnant holding fast the commandments. At Mill Yard, Bro. Jones is earnestly at work as a preacher, but the circumstances of the case confine his personal labors to that place. He has, however, by advertising, found a few persons, either keeping the Sabbath or ready to receive it from the publications he has sent them. A little Sabbath meeting of these persons was organized in Glasgow at the time of our visit there. And in several places in Great Britain and Ireland, there are scattered Sabbath-keepers. I think there are in all about thirty Sabbath-keeping Christians in these countries.
What shall be done for Great Britain? Probably our American Seventh-day Baptist brethren will send one of their most efficient ministers to Glasgow. If so, may God grant him great success in turning men to the commandments of God. How far will this go toward meeting the urgent necessity of the case? A Sabbath-keeping minister in London, and another in Glasgow, with their personal labor confined principally to those two cities, when there should be a hundred faithful men to labor in the different cities and towns of the kingdom. Here is a great harvest field, and hardly any to labor in it.
The Sabbath truth was planted in America by an Englishman. In common with the S. D. Baptists, we, as a people, owe a debt of gratitude to the Sabbath cause in England, to the men that were whipped, imprisoned, and put to death, for the truth's sake. It is time for us to pay some of this indebtedness. The responsibility in this case is not confined to the Seventh-day Baptists. May they discharge their indebtedness, so that it shall not stand against them in the Judgment, and may we do the same thing also. There is room for more commandment-keeping ministers in Great Britain and Ireland than both bodies can find men to send as missionaries. Nor is there occasion for contention or jealousy between us. God forbid that we should not rejoice in their success in leading men to obey God. Herein our work and theirs is identical.
But we have also another work to do, which, as yet, they do not share with us. We understand from the prophetic word that the coming of our Lord is at the door. We must give to our fellow-men the solemn warning of a swiftly hastening Judgment. God has connected this warning with the preaching of his commandments in Rev. 14, and especially in the third angel's message. This most solemn message he has committed to us as a people. We cannot look to others to fulfill this responsibility for us. The people of England must hear upon this great subject.
It seems to me that the time has come for us to enter upon this work. We have a vast store of most precious publications that need no work of translating, as here upon the continent, to fit them for use. We have efficient men to take this work in hand, and to make it a great success. Bro. White has spoken of Bro. Loughborough for the English mission. This would be an excellent choice, I am sure. Would that we could send more than one of our experienced ministers to this great field. Perhaps some younger men could be joined with them in the work. I leave all this to the wisdom of our General Conference Committee. But I am sure that we ought not to delay this work longer. Our Lord is coming. How long we shall have a time of quiet for our work we know not. Let us arise and take hold of the work. No greater privilege was ever given to the sons of men than that of sharing the burdens of the work of God. I hope the time is at hand when we shall see a great work in the British Islands and on the Continent.
If we are faithful to the work committed to our trust we shall see the salvation of God. May he bless the cause of truth in the old world. May he put the spirit of labor and sacrifice into all our hearts. And whatever have been our failures in the past, may it appear in the Judgment that from this time forward, till our work is finished, we have done what we could.
THE Lord says, "Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." If we would accomplish the good it is possible for us to accomplish, we must learn how to do, in this accepted time, the duties of this time. Some fail as missionary workers, not because of a lack of ability to do, of opportunities to do, or of means with which to do, but they fail to see the now. They let pass golden opportunities of scattering precious seeds of truth, waiting for "a more convenient season."
Opportunities to benefit one or two, or at most a few, are let pass because the work looks too small. No case where there is an opportunity to do good can be called small, for we know not what may result from a little seed falling into "good ground." In the parable of the Saviour it is represented as bringing forth "some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold." Jesus sat and talked with the woman of Samaria at the well. It looked like a small beginning, but the seed took root, the woman began to spread the tidings, saying, "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?" Soon there was no lack of ears to hear, and hearts to receive the precious truths he bore.
I know of a case which occurred once where I was laboring. A daughter of one of our brethren had an Advent Review placed over her dinner in her basket as she went to school. The eye of the teacher caught a few words of the paper during school hours. At noon she borrowed it and read it entire, sent by the girl for more, read, became interested and convicted of sin. A few days after I went into the neighborhood and held a few meetings; when opportunity was given, that teacher and sixteen of her scholars, varying in age from 12 to 18, came forward for prayers. Several of them were hopefully converted to God and were baptized before I left the place. Among them was the teacher whose interest was first aroused by reading part of an article in the Review.
We should have a supply of tracts and papers with us wherever we go; not to throw away, but to distribute to all candid persons who show a disposition to read. A great effort should be made to distribute the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Although it has been published nearly one year, there are but few as yet of the thousands upon this coast that know of the existence of such a paper. We must make greater efforts to bring it to the attention of the people. Let all brethren and sisters take a few copies wherever they go, and pass them out to any who will read. We have thousands of copies of good back numbers at the SIGNS Office. These we will send to our churches or scattered brethren on this coast at the expense of our State T. and M. Society. Let each church report at once to their district secretary how many SIGNS they want, and let the secretaries write to the SIGNS Office, Oakland, Cal. Do n't delay in these things. The times demand activity. We have voted to distribute the SIGNS as we do tracts. Let your orders come in. I hope to meet orders' from every district when I return to Oakland in a couple of weeks from this.
There is still another point on which present duty demands work. Nearly all our churches have non-resident members. A regular correspondence should be kept up with them. This will not only encourage the absent members, but their letters in return should be read at the district quarterly meetings. These letters add much to the interest of the quarterly meetings. Let this matter be taken hold of at once, where it has not already been done. Where the vigilant society is organized they have this matter in their hands. Where there are no officers already appointed to manage the correspondence let the librarian in each church obtain at once a list of all absent members or Sabbath-keepers, and designate one or more in the church to correspond with them immediately. All absent members should be heard from once in six weeks at least. Make a minute of interesting meetings and other items that interest you and encourage them therewith. Remember that letter-writing to interested ones and to lonely Sabbath-keepers is a part of the T. and M. work. Let us do faithfully what we find to do.
We commend the following items on diligence and benevolence to every worker. J. N. L.
Not Lost.
THE look of sympathy; the gentle word
Spoken so low that only angel heard;
The secret art of pure self-sacrifice,
Unseen by men, but marked by angel eyes:
These are not lost.
The sacred music of a tender strain,
Wrung from a poet's heart by grief and pain,
And chanted timidly, with doubt and fear,
To busy crowds who scarcely paused to hear:
These are not lost.
The silent tears that fall at dead of night
Over soiled robes that once were pure and white;
The prayers that rise like incense from the soul,
Longing for Christ to make it clean and whole:
These are not lost.
The happy dreams that gladden all our youth,
When dreams had less of self and more of truth;
The childhood's faith, so tranquil and so sweet,
Which sat like Mary at the Master's feet:
These are not lost.
The kindly plans devised for others' good,
So seldom guessed, too little understood;
The quiet, steadfast love that strove to win
Some wanderer from the devious ways of sin:
These are not lost.
Not lost, O Lord! for, in thy city bright,
Our eyes shall see the past by clearer light,
And things long hidden from our gaze below
Thou wilt reveal, and we shall surely know
They were not lost.
Profitable Giving.
THE London Bible Society's Record tells of a collector who called upon a man for his contribution to the Bible cause. He was not a wealthy man, and did his own work on the farm. He looked over his books, and said his contribution would be fifteen pounds.
"Why this remarkable benevolence?" said the collector. He replied, "Six years ago I felt I was not giving enough to the Lord, so I resolved to give in proportion to his blessing, and hit upon this plan: I will give two pence for every bushel of wheat I raise, one penny for every bushel of oats, barley, etc., ten per cent for the wool, butter, etc., that I sell. The first year I gave four pounds; the second, seven; the third, eight; the fourth, nine; the fifth twelve; and this year my Bible contribution is fifteen pounds. For twenty years previous, my doctor's bill had not been less than four pounds a year, but for the last six years they have not exceeded ten shillings a year. I tell you, 'there is that scattereth and yet increaseth,' and truly 'the liberal soul shall be made fat.'"—Sel.
A Heart-Rending Reproof.
A SHORT time since, a lady who had been remarkable for her thoughtlessness requested a professedly pious lady to accompany her that day to visit another lady, also professedly pious.
The afternoon passed away, and the subject of religion was not mentioned, probably for fear of offending the gay friend who proposed the visit. As the two neighbors walked toward home, the first-mentioned remarked that she had lost the afternoon, for nothing would have induced her to leave home but the expectation of hearing something about religion; but she added, “I came to the conclusion that there is nothing in religion, or that my neighbors do not possess it, for if they did they would speak to me about my soul.” She said she had been greatly alarmed about herself for several days; but had concluded that afternoon, that if religion was not worth talking about, it was not worth thinking of.
“Never,” said that pious neighbor, “shall I forget that look of despair and reproach. I felt that I had murdered a soul by neglect.”
Denmark, Europe.
By John Matteson
By a letter from Bro. M. A. Sommer, Denmark, I learned that himself and his friends are much interested in the truth, and have commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Bro. Sommer has read the Advent Tidende the last two years, as he has exchanged papers with us. He says that he has read it with much pleasure, and circulated it as much as possible among his friends.
M. A. Sommer has in principle mostly been agreed with the “Friends.” They have silent meetings and feel edified by them. He has for the last twenty years labored very actively and unselfishly for the gospel, as far as he has understood it, and is well known all over the kingdom. He has fearlessly attacked the wickedness and wrongs of the government and clergy in public speeches as well as print, for which he has often suffered imprisonment. Several of his friends in this country have embraced the truth.
He publishes a small monthly paper. It has a circulation of four thousand copies; two hundred copies come to America. He says he hopes his paper has helped to prepare the way for the Advent Tidende. This it has done. He asks permission to publish from the Tidende the past three years as much as he can find room for in his paper. This request we are happy to grant, especially if he will give us due credit.
Bro. Sommer has written largely on the second coming of Christ all last year. Himself and friends seem to be believers in the soon coming of our Lord. In the last paper we have received from him he has an article on the Sabbath and acknowledges the divine authority of the fourth commandment. He exhorts the people to throw away the doctrines and commandments of men, and to return to the true worship of God, obeying his commandments.
In his letter he asks to be further informed on all points of our faith, which have not been yet set forth in print and adds: “It would be very desirable if you could send us some preachers who could proclaim the Advent doctrine and scatter your publications; for here are many believing souls who are ready to receive the message and obey the word of God.”
He states further: “The Baptists in Denmark are greatly stirred concerning the Sabbath. Most of the members are in favor of keeping Sabbath on the seventh day, but the teachers hold back, and will not yield to the claims of the truth, for that would separate them from their Baptist brethren in other countries.”
The truth seems to be at work also in Denmark. For this I feel very thankful to the Lord. JOHN MATTESON.