p. 160 | Review and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 14. (3/12/1867)

Notes on Genesis.

CHAPTER I, verse 2. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

“The silence of the Mosaic record on the particular history of our geological construction, allows free latitude to every speculation, and repels no philosophical investigator. It merely presents a few points and outlines, which nothing has yet occurred to disprove, although much has been observed, which it requires great talents, enlarged reasoning, and further knowledge to reconcile to them with precision, and to explain what may seem inconsistent. This, however, additional researches may be expected to effect; for it is probable that that theory will be found the truest, the most scientific, and the most satisfactory, which is the most co-incident with the Hebrew document.”—Turner.

How little the Mosaic account has to fear at present from the infant science of geology, may be learned from the words of an eminent geographer. ‘The pretended science of speculative geology, promises no certain results, since it oversteps the evidence of facts. The portion of the globe known to us, does not constitute, at the very utmost, the thousandth part of the entire mass. Our excavations do little more than scratch the surface of the earth; our geologists have surveyed with attention scarcely the half of Europe, or the tenth part of America and Asia; the observations which have been made are extremely few; and yet unbounded scope has been given to speculation. In the vast and unexplored recesses of the globe, it is possible that there may lie, concealed, agents so active and so powerful, that to them the various revolutions which the earth has undergone, may have been the work only of so many moments. As long as the interior of the globe remains unknown to us, the conclusion we may draw from facts observed on the surface, can be no more than probable in reference to these facts; but whenever we attempt to combine the conclusions, in order to form a general system, their uncertainty will clearly appear; for, opposite to a finite sum of probabilities, however strong we may suppose them, there shall arise an infinite sum of unknown terms, of which one alone may perhaps be sufficient to counterbalance all our probabilities.—Malte-Brun.

‘We certainly are not yet, possibly we may never be, competent to ascertain the exact mode and order of the divine operations in creating and preparing this world for the use of man. A power must have been exerted very different, at least in the mode and degree of its operation, from that by which the ordinary course of nature is now conducted. This I am sure of, that the progress of natural history, and the discovery of any laws of nature to which it may lead, will never be found ultimately subversive of the truth of Revelation. But prejudice, presumption, and rashness may give plausibility and currency to conclusions apparently inconsistent with the truth of scripture, and shake the faith of those in whom such dispositions prevail: against such causes of error I would earnestly warn my readers. Papal authority declared the theory of the earth’s motion was subversive of true religion—a monument of the rashness of supposing Scripture at war with a philosophic theory. The decrees of the popes did not stop the motion of the earth, nor has this overturned the Christian faith, though it may have shaken papal infallibility: ‘Time destroys mere opinions, while it confirms the verdicts of nature [and Revelation].’—Greaves.

Verse 12. And the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after his kind.

“Yielding seed.] ‘The astonishing power with which God has endowed the vegetable creation, to multiply its different species, may be instanced in the seed of the elm; which produces 1,580,000,000 of seeds: each having power to produce the same number! The seeds of the third generation from one elm would be many myriads of times more than sufficient to stock the whole superficies of all the planets in the solar system.’—Dr. A. Clarke.

Verse 20. And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life.

“Abundantly.] ‘There is a meaning here seldom noticed. Innumerable millions of animalcules are found in water. Eminent naturalists have discovered not less than 30,000 in a single drop! No creatures are so prolific as fishes. A tench lays 1,000 eggs, a carp 20,000, and Lewenhoek counted in a middling-sized cod, 9,384,000.’—Dr. A. Clarke.

Verse 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image after our likeness.

“In our image.] ‘This similitude is to be sought for in the whole being of man; in his moral, intellectual, and corporeal constitution.’”—Gleig.

Verse 27. So God created man in his own image; in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

‘One of the most scientific and ingenious geologists of ancient or modern times, Cuvier, asserts that the human race cannot be more ancient than it is represented to be in the writings of Moses.”—Gleig.

‘With regard to the boasted antiquity of the Chinese, Gibbon remarks, ‘The historical period of China does not ascend above the Greek Olympiads.’ [B. C. 776.]

‘Dr. Hales finds that the historical period of the Hindoos goes no farther back than the deluge, or their Cali yug.—Jenks.

Verse 29. And God said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for meat.

“Animal food seems not to have been generally allowed, till after the flood, or to have been desired or thought of before the fall. But it is not certain, either that no part of the sacrifices offered after that event were eaten, or that a rebellious race did not take the liberty of using animal food, before it was granted them.”—Scott.

The Commentary.

Tell me the meaning of Scriptures. One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams.—M'Cheyne.

A Criticism.

By G. W. A.

IN the fifteenth chapter of the gospel by John, in the twentieth verse, the Lord threw out a few cautions to his disciples, advising them beforehand what they might expect for believing on his name. He said to them, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they HAVE KEPT my saying, they will keep yours also.”

Some time since, I read a statement from a Baptist clergyman of celebrity, the Rev. Dr. Hague, who said that the Greek word rendered “HAVE KEPT,” in the above text, in this instance, as well as in many others, had the meaning of “HAVE WATCHED.” This to me was new light in reference to the Saviour’s instructions, and upon examination I was led to regard the Doctor’s view as the correct one.

The word rendered “have watched,” in John xv, 20, is ἐτήρησαν, [eteresan] and its first and literal meaning according to “Bagster’s Analytical Greek Lexicon,” is “to keep watch upon, guard, to watch over, to mark attentively,” &c. This would give altogether a different shade to the meaning of the Saviour’s words, and from this definition it would seem to be the right one. This view also seems to give a better harmony in the context. The 21st verse says: “BUT ALL these things WILL THEY DO UNTO YOU for my names sake, BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOT Him that sent me.”

Taken in the above light, our Lord’s words would read as follows: “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they HAVE WATCHED my saying, they WILL WATCH yours also.” Interpreted and translated in this manner, the text would inculcate on the follower of Christ, prudence, especially in the presence of his enemies, who may be “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” See Matt. x, 16.

Fully believing that the above thoughts are in harmony with reason and the Scriptures, they are submitted to the reader. G. W. A.

Battle Creek, Mich.

Painting of the Eyes.

A KNOWLEDGE of the fact that women anciently painted their eyes, serves to throw light on many texts of scripture, as is shown by the following from Watson's Biblical and Theological Dictionary. It seems that allusion is made to the practice in Isa. iii, 22; hence we may yet see it revived as a part of the pride, extravagance, and luxury of our own day.

“Females used to paint their eyes. The substance used for this purpose is called in Chaldee cohol; by the LXX, stibi. Thus we read of Jezebel, 2 Kings ix, 30, that, understanding that Jehu was to enter Samaria, she decked herself for his reception, and (as in the original Hebrew) “put her eyes in paint.” This was in conformity to a custom which prevailed in the earliest ages. As large black eyes were thought the finest, the women, to increase their lustre, and to make them appear larger, tinged the corner of their eyelids with the impalpable powder of antimony or of black lead. This was supposed also to give to the eyes a brilliancy and humidity, which rendered them either sparkling or languishing, as suited the various passions. The method of performing this among the women in the eastern countries at the present day, as described by Russel, is by a cylindrical piece of silver or ivory, about two inches long, made very smooth, and about the size of a common probe; this is wet with water, and then dipped into a powder finely levigated, made from what appears to be a rich lead ore, and applied to the eye; the lids are closed upon it while it is drawn through between them. This blacks the inside, and leaves a narrow black rim all round the edge. That this was the method practised by the Hebrew women, we infer from Isaiah iii, 22, where the prophet, in his enumeration of the articles which composed the toilets of the delicate and luxurious daughters of Zion, mentions “the wimples and the crisping pins,” or bodkins for painting the eyes. The satirist Juvenal describes the same practice:—

“These with a tiring pin their eyebrows dye ’Till the full arch gives lustre to the eye.”

This custom is referred to by Jeremiah, iv, 30:—

“Though thou clothest thyself in scarlet, [gold, Though thou adornest thyself with ornaments of Though thou distendest thine eyes with paint, In vain shalt thou set forth thy beauty; Thy paramours have rejected thee.”

And Ezekiel, describing the irregularities of the Jewish nation, under the idea of a debauched woman, says, “Thou didst dress thine eyes with cohol;” which the Septuagint render, “Thou didst dress thine eyes with stibium.” Ezek. xxiii, 40.

THE LORD IS LEADING US.

By S. ROGERS

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: While my mind has been led out to think on the goodness of God, I have felt that I could truly praise him for his goodness and tender mercy toward his people, in the way that he has led them. Step by step, how tenderly, how carefully, and with what wisdom, has he brought them along. Well may we account “that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation.”

First, the hour of his judgment was brought to view; then the fall of Babylon, or the church, and our danger if we remained with them after our eyes were opened to its corrupt state. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus were next presented to our minds. These were to be the rule by which his people must live. We were next shown that the use of tea, coffee, and tobacco, was a filthy and hurtful practice. These must all be put away from us if we would be the Lord’s peculiar people. At this advance step many did not endure the test. Then came Systematic Benevolence, and how many have started back at this!

Still the work moves on, coming a little closer at each advance step. While we have been passing through these peculiar places, many of us have been led to exclaim, Oh! when shall our trials be over, and our sorrows have an end? When shall we be safe in the kingdom of our Lord? Then we have, as it were, heard a still, small voice, saying to us, “You have not yet drank of the cup; you are not yet purified; you must cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Then we have been led to exclaim, O Lord, how shall this be done? Through the goodness and mercy of the Lord this cry is being answered. Some doubting ones may ask, “How can this be done?” We would direct your attention to the subject of Health Reform now being agitated by our people. This is the great, crowning work to be done for the Lord’s people, and I believe about the last preparatory work for us to do. When we have done this work fully and thoroughly, we shall be ready to receive the refreshing from the Lord, which will be the loud cry of this message.

How many of us have longed for the time to come when the loud cry would go forth and prepare us to meet our coming Saviour. But when this subject is presented to us, that we must be thoroughly fitted up before we can receive one drop of the latter rain, oh! how slow we move out in this great and good work. Why is this so? Ah! it is because self, and our darling idol, appetite, must be brought into subjection to the will of God. It must be overcome. This can be done, for we read, that we “can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil. iv, 13. Again, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee.” 2 Cor. xii, 9.

How greatly we are favored by having a Health Institute in our midst, and by knowing how to live healthfully. Do we appreciate this help as we should? This Institute is ordained of God, for the advancement of this great cleansing work. Shall the work go on? or must it be hindered for want of means to carry it forward? I believe that every one that has visited this place since the work began, has been fully satisfied that it is a part of the Lord’s work, and that he has in his good providence fitted up Bro. Lay to stand at the head of it. Shall he have our sympathies, and our encouragement? I believe he will. There is a great responsibility resting upon him, and he feels its weight; and one great burden on his mind is, to know what to do with the sick that are constantly coming to this place for help. Now, shall they have a building sufficient to accommodate all that come, or at least from one to two hundred? Such a building is now needed very much. Unless this can be had, this work will be hindered in its progress. I ask again, Shall they have it? If this is a part of the third angel’s message, it must, and will, go on. I believe the work will move forward. The Lord is not straitened for means to carry on his work. He may let it rest, to prove his people; but the work will soon go forward if the Lord has to raise up another people to accomplish it. I hope, and believe, that this will not be necessary when the brethren understand their duty in this matter.

Some may say, “It is a matter of speculation.” If so, who is the gainer? Surely not the Physicians. They are hired and paid by the year. If there is any gain to any one except the sick, it is to those who invest their money here. This, we think, will be a source of gain, both spiritually and temporally.

Not long since, I was talking with a wealthy brother, who said he thought it the duty of Sabbath-keepers to gain all they could honestly, to help carry forward the loud cry of this message. Let us illustrate a little. Which costs the greater: to make the necessary preparations for a long journey? or to meet the traveling expenses of that journey? In my own case, it has cost the most to get ready for the journey. Thus, I think it will be in this case. Those who are not willing to assist in making the needed preparations, I fear will not have the pleasure of helping defray the traveling expenses when this people are moving forward. There are many who have done nobly in this good work already, and there is now a chance for others to do likewise.

When this enterprise is brought where it should and must eventually be, it will be so convenient and well-arranged that both patients and helpers can carry out the true principles of Hygiene. This I hope soon to see. Then we shall not see the helpers laid aside so often, to recruit. May the Lord move upon the hearts of his people in this matter, is my prayer.

S. ROGERS. Battle Creek, Feb. 25.

PREACHING.

By JOS. CLARKE.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. 1 Cor. i, 18.

Not that the Apostle would term preaching foolishness; but that it was so termed by the Greeks, who prided themselves upon their wisdom and learning.

The world having forgotten God, and become estranged and alienated from him, it was pleasing to our heavenly Father, to use this means to wake the mind and heart of man, to thoughts of God and Heaven; no other means would alone suffice, but this as a main instrumentality in his hands of saving some, has been wisely ordained.

The mind of man has become uncultivated and unrefined; often coarse, and grovelling, and low; and evil passions have taken possession of his soul. Common means fail to attract his attention from earth to Heaven; but the eloquent Paul rises before the multitude; his manner, his style, his subject, all are attractive; and as the Spirit of God fills his soul, and he discourses upon heavenly things, his countenance glows with heavenly love, and hearts and minds are held for a little season in close attention to subjects to which all common means had failed to attract the worldly mind.

With what pleasure does the good man feed upon the preached word; and the evil man often comes, and comes again, to hear the gifted Paul, as one would listen to the sweetest music; and what a sweet and refining influence does the preached word leave upon the mind!

You have made early arrangements to be in season, to hear the man of God, who is punctual to the hour; for says he, Perhaps God may forsake the assembly which comes too late to meet with God. You resign yourself to the Spirit of the Lord, speaking through his chosen servant; and then how very precious the word of life, though you may have heard it all before; it is still new and dearer than ever.

Scholasticus has said, that to get the full benefit of a sermon, he must not take notes, for this so employs his mind, his heart is not yet reached; and I believe him. The mind and heart should both be affected, and taking notes so engrosses the intellect, that the affections are unmoved by the preached word.

Laymen may occasionally hold a Quarterly Meeting, and good may be done; but such meetings are not fully answerable to the demands of the times. We need a preached word at all our general meetings, and as often as possible at other times. We need them, and the church calls for them; and prays for them. Such men we have, but how few compared with the demand.

Shall we not cry to the Lord of the harvest, to raise up men full of the Holy Ghost, and of wisdom! chosen men! every common mind may occupy some place in the church; but it requires men of peculiar talent to preach the gospel of the New Testament; men who are unqualified only bring the doctrine into disrepute, and lay members cannot fill the place of the preacher.

Shall not all the gifts be developed more fully, and may it not be soon?

But do we realize the responsibility we are under, to pray for, and support our ministers? Against them Satan directs his most destructive war. Against them he brings all his weapons of desolation.

How many gifted men have fallen from the high position, to rise no more! The position a talented preacher holds, is a dangerous one to the vain mind. Talent elicits admiration and this feeds pride. May God deliver them. Surely he will keep the humble and contrite.

JOS. CLARKE.

THE DILIGENT PREACHER.

“AND NOW I would ask a strange question—Who is the most diligent bishop and prelate in all England, that passes all the rest in doing his office! I can tell, for I know him who it is. I know him well. But now I think I see you listening and hearkening that I should name him. There is one that passeth all the other, and is the most diligent prelate and preacher in all England. And will you know who it is? I will tell you. It is the Devil. He is the most diligent preacher of all others. He is never from his cure. We shall never find him unoccupied. He is ever in his parish; he keepeth residence at all times. We shall never find him out of his way. Call for him when you will he is ever at home; the diligentest preacher in all the realm. He is ever at his plough. No lording or loitering can hinder him; he is ever plying his business. Ye shall never find him idle, I warrant you. All his office is to hinder religion, to maintain superstition, to set up idolatry, to teach all kinds of Popery. He is ready as can be wished for to set forth his plough to devise as many ways as can be to deface and obscure God’s glory.”—Latimer.

COMMIT THY WAY TO THE LORD.

By SUSAN ELMER

MANY are the precious promises to those who put their trust in the Lord. We are to trust in him at all times. It makes no difference though our trials are peculiar. That is the very time to rely with confidence on One whose power is infinite, whose love is unchanging, remembering that as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth those that fear him.

Again we read, Blessed is every one who trusteth in him. This is our privilege. At the same time we must maintain good works; for if we regard iniquity, the Lord will not hear us. If we have done wrong, we must be humble enough to confess the wrong; for he that confesseth and forsaketh, shall find mercy.

Again, Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. We are not even to offer our gift, while a brother or sister has aught against us. Oh! how many trials might be saved if these words of our Saviour were always heeded. We want to feel an assurance that all is right between us and the Lord when we bow before him.

What an exalted privilege to hold communion with the King of kings; to know our Father smiles upon us; that angels are watching over us. Dark clouds may gather; the billows of life may roll; foes may deride, or friends forsake; still we can trust in Him who has said, My grace is sufficient for thee. And though the angry surges should at times break over us, with our Pilot at the helm, we are safe; and he will, if we confide in him, bring us to our desired haven.

SUSAN ELMER.

Ashfield, Mass.

THE LAST MOVEMENT.

By John Norton Loughborough

THE last four weeks I have been laboring in Battle Creek. I am thankful to report that our labor here is not without fruits, and there seems to be an increasing desire on the part of this church to come up to a realizing sense of our duty in letting our light so shine that our influence will ever tell in favor of the solemn truths that are here published from week to week. We feel that our responsibilities are increasing, and we want our devotion to God’s cause, and our zeal in his service, to increase proportionately with the increase of our cares and labors in this work. The placing of the Health Institute in this city has not only placed us where many of our own brethren and sisters come to associate with us, but many who know nothing of our views are brought into our midst. Our desire, and aim, is to live up to our privilege and duty.

We see the most visible signs of the Lord’s prospering hand with this Health Institute. It is, however,

to be more of an enterprise than was at first supposed. What we thought at the time of its opening would be ample accommodations for one year, have already proved insufficient to meet the demand of cases wishing treatment. To carry on the enterprise properly, there should be immediately erected a building with sufficient capacity to accommodate two hundred patients. The whole expense of this building all fitted up for use will probably cost between fifty and seventy-five thousand dollars. This will not be all needed at first, as rooms are fitted up no faster than needed for use. Some forty thousand dollars, however, should be raised in the course of the next six months. It can be easily done, if all will prayerfully and carefully consider their duty. There are those among us who have means invested in lands, more than is actually necessary for their farming purposes. They, without any detriment even to their farming interest, can dispose of a part of this land, and still have a home, and all they need, to gain their livelihood, and at the same time make an investment of means to help in this branch of the Lord’s work. Others have farms which are larger than they need, which are causing them to overlabor. They can dispose of them, and secure smaller places, thus lessening their cares and at the same time have wherewith to do in this work. Others have means at interest, which, in a short time, could be called in and placed in the Health Institute, where it will soon avail them even more than where it now is, with less perplexity and care. Others have property of various kinds, which could be disposed of and invested in this enterprise, and yet they not be the sufferers in the least. Some, who have not large sums to invest, can put in their one share, or two, or four shares. Young men in good health can make a judicious improvement of their time, and save of their earnings to obtain one or more shares.

The question is, Will we all take hold of this matter? Will you all try to realize that this is the Lord’s work, that he is calling upon us to consider our duty? Will you all act, and act at once in the matter? Shall we make it our interest to see that this matter moves? There is no difficulty if all will act, and move in the opening providence of God. Some have said, “What! call for fifty thousand dollars? Where is there any such sum of money?” We reply, that, taking the s. d. of the different States as a basis of calculation, the actual property of Seventh-day Adventists is worth over two millions of dollars. You may say, that much of this is invested in homes and is no more than each one needs. True, much of this is in homes, but after you have said that, there is an ample surplus, which is not actually needed for homes or to secure a comfortable living, of more than five hundred thousand dollars. What is the sum called for at the Institute, compared with this?

The economy of our people, either before, or after, embracing the truth, in trying to secure means, honestly, has secured them this. They have thought, while toiling and laboring, that they would lay by something, that when the message began to move, they might have to invest in this work. Now is the time to make an investment of some of this surplus means. The demand, in the past, to carry forward the different enterprises, has been nobly met. We trust all will now give this call due consideration, and act promptly and energetically. If you have taken two or three shares, consider the matter. Have I done my whole duty? Can I not do more in this work? This work that we have such evident testimony is the Lord’s? This work which we believe is the last advance move before the loud cry? This work of fitting up the people of God for the refreshing? Shall we act our part in this work? Shall we all lift at the wheel? or shall we leave this thing to drag along in poverty? God is, in this very thing, knocking at the door of our hearts. Shall love of the world hinder us in the work? Shall we cling to that which is the Lord’s, and he demands of us; use it for our own selfish interests, when it is his and we are only stewards over it, till at last he shall say to us, “Go to now, ye rich men?” &c. May the Lord forbid it.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

A GROSS MISREPRESENTATION.

By Editor

“Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongue they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.” Rom. iii, 13.

We are reminded of these words of the apostle by the following from the Hope of Israel, a paper, the principal “hope” of which seems to be that it will be able by and by to make some scandal stick on the cause of present truth, or the character of Bro. and sister White.

“WHAT IS THE MATTER?”

“‘We felt it to be our duty to visit Iowa before returning to Michigan. We had no knowledge of the rebellion of Elders Snook and Brinkerhoff, but we felt that there was a work for us to do in that State. On our way to Pilot Grove, Iowa, we first heard of the rebellion, which was only a few hours before we met its leaders face to face in the meeting-house.’—E. G. WHITE, in Review, Vol. xxvii, No. 12.

“This writer says, that they only knew ‘a few hours before they met the leaders face to face,’ about the rebellion. This may be so, but we have a few serious things to offer.

“1. S. D. A. ministers sent to Iowa, have been peddling the idea that Mrs. White saw this ‘rebellion’ two or three years ago; and one of these ministers claims to have a relic, in the shape of an envelope in his carpet-sack which originally contained the knowledge in regard to the rebellion that was then future; but the document had fled. (The envelope ought to be photographed and sent around.) Now if this knowledge was obtained years ago, how could the above statement be true, about seeing it years ago? Both cannot be true.

“2. We now present a letter written to us by Eld. James White, which places the statement made by his wife in rather a peculiar position.

“‘MONROE, June 13.

“‘BRO. BRINKERHOFF: We are pained at the evidences in our hands of Bro. Snook’s rebellion. See appointment in this week’s Review for Pilot Grove. I hope there will be a full delegation from all the church. Be sure and be present. “In haste. “JAMES WHITE.

“‘This was directed to us at Lisbon Iowa, and dated June 18. Mrs. White met the leaders on the 30th of June, at Pilot Grove. Subtract June 13 from June 30 and we find a remainder of SEVENTEEN DAYS. This multiplied by 24, the number of hours in a day, gives us FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHT hours. What meaneth all this? Now which is true, Eld. White or his companion?’

“‘Dear reader, do not wonder that we cannot be duped by these things any longer.’”

This is simply an attempt to show that sister White has been guilty of uttering a willful and deliberate falsehood. And what possible object can there be in making it public? None, except to brand her as a liar before the people. How amiable a disposition must be which would prompt such a course, is very apparent. But we are engaged in too great a work to stop to run down every lie that may be started about us; and we should probably have let this pass for those to feed upon who like such things, had not the Voice of the West, J. V. Himes’ paper, shown its appreciation of this kind of matter, by spreading all of the above, except paragraph marked 1, as a precious morsel before its readers. It is usually considered a foolish fish that will bite at a bare hook; and we are somewhat astonished that a paper, pretending to respectability, should lend its aid in circulating so grave a charge, which bears upon its very face its own refutation. Just give the matter a serious thought. What does sister White say in her report? “We had no knowledge of the rebellion of Elds. Snook and Brinkhoff.” What does Bro. W. say? He speaks of Snook only, and addresses his letter, “Bro. Brinkerhoff,” urging him to be sure to be present at the meeting. Then he didn’t believe he was engaged in the work of defection, did he? Of course not. What Bro. White had reference to in his letter they could easily have ascertained, had they been so disposed. As they did not see fit to use this precaution against making a false statement, nor try to ascertain the facts in the case before publicly branding sister White as a liar, it is proper that said facts should be here presented.

Bro. Loughborough, in his certificate below, has given a full statement of the matter. From the letter of B. F. Snook to Eld. Ingraham, it appeared that he, restive under restraint, like a wayward and willful child, and chafing against the just bounds of authority and law, was preparing to strike against order in the church, as manifested in the organization of Conferences, &c. Bro. W. had no knowledge that any one was joining him in this; and this is all that he had reference to. But this, all must see, is a very different thing from learning just before they reached Pilot Grove, that Messrs. S. and B. were joined hand in hand in a work of open opposition, and had spent no small length of time, still taking pay from the Iowa Conference at $12 per week, in preparing documents, and studying up testimony against the course of Bro. and sister W., and against the visions, ready to make open warfare upon them when they came. This is the work to which sister W. referred in her report, and of which they had no knowledge till a few hours before meeting the leaders in it, who had long been preparing themselves for their sudden and underhanded work. Thus the statements of Bro. and sister W. are perfectly harmonized. Bro. Loughborough, who was with them, is well prepared to testify in the matter, which he does as follows:

CERTIFICATE.

I hereby certify that I was in Monroe, Wis., when Bro. and sister White arrived there, in the spring of 1865. Immediately after their arrival the matter was talked over concerning the propriety of having the Western Conferences in the spring, and of having what would be held that spring immediately, as Bro. White and myself were already in the West. The appointment was written for the Conferences in Iowa and sent off on Friday afternoon, the day Bro. White arrived in Monroe. We found Bro. Ingraham in trial, but knew not the cause of his trial until the appointment for the Iowa Conference had been mailed to Battle Creek. He told us he had received a letter from Eld. Snook, which was a great source of trial to him. The source of this trial was a statement made by Eld. Snook in his letter, which he afterwards admitted in my presence was a falsehood, and further said that he must have been under the influence of the power of Satan to make such a gross and untrue statement. In this letter the question was also asked, “Bro. Ingraham, what think you of a strike out on the old plan of the independence of the churches?” And this strike against organization was what Bro. White referred to as evidence of Snook’s defection, in his letter to Brinkerhoff.

The “extreme urgencies of the case,” mentioned in the appointment for the Iowa Conference, as it appeared in the Review, was owing to the shortness of the time before the Conference would meet. It was decided by the Gen. Conf. Committee, that it would be best to have the Western Conferences in the spring. It had been thought that one or more of the Gen. Conf. Committee should attend all the Conferences. As Bro. White and myself were already in the West, it was deemed advisable to attend to it immediately. The “matters in Iowa” that were referred to in the appointment, had no reference to the opposing work of Elds. Snook and Brinkerhoff; for we had not yet learned that they had commenced such a work.

The above letter to Bro. Ingraham did not give us any idea that any open defection had commenced in Iowa, or even intimate that Eld. B. had such feelings as those held by Eld. Snook.

The next Sabbath we spent in Princeville, Ill. There a letter was received which Bro. Field, of Anamosa, had written to Bro. Cornell in Battle Creek, which was forwarded to us. This letter stated that Eld. Snook was reporting serious things against the church in Battle Creek. But we did not learn that he was preaching from place to place, denouncing our characters, and raising publicly objections against the visions, till we arrived at the house of Bro. Killgore, in Washington, Iowa, the Wednesday evening before the Conference, and what Bro. Killgore told us was only indefinite hearsay. Thursday morning we met Bro. Henry Nicola, of Pilot Grove, who had come from the Grove to carry us over with his team. He gave us a little more testimony, it being what he had heard concerning the matter, while we were on the way. About noon of that day we saw Bro. Geo. I. Butler at the house of Bro. Nicola. He had passed through Marion, on his way to the Conference, and learned the facts concerning their course, and what they were doing. He gave us testimony as to the real depth of their opposition, stated that they were preaching against us, and had documents prepared with which they were intending to make an attack on Bro. and sister White at the Pilot Grove meeting. Here for the first time we received definite information concerning the true state of things in Iowa; and at 5 o’clock of the same day our meetings commenced!

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Battle Creek, Mich., March, 1867.

In regard to this work in Iowa being seen in vision two years before it occurred, we trust the report may be correct; though we have no positive information on the point. If it was so seen, it furnishes another evidence of the authenticity of the visions, while it can furnish no aid to the objector; for it might be shown that a work of opposition would break out in Iowa, and yet it not be shown when, nor by whom, and hence no particular persons be designated beforehand as objects of suspicion; and still there would be an object in having it foreshown, as thus when it did come, nobody would be really taken by surprise nor thrown into confusion, because it was foretold. The Voice apparently had the sagacity to see that nothing was made by this point against the visions, and hence “suppressed” it.

We take no credit to ourselves for trying to do that which is right; but it strikes us that the course of the Voice in this matter, is hardly the honorable course we have tried to pursue toward it. A scandalous report appears against sister White, which, without inquiring as to its correctness, and without provocation, it seizes with an unbecoming avidity, and gives a place in its columns. On the other hand a correspondent, not four months ago, sent a report to this Office, which if true, showed a palpable inconsistency in the course of Eld. Himes, and we immediately wrote to the office of the Voice to ascertain its correctness before publishing; and when informed that it was not correct, at once set our readers right in the matter. We are perfectly satisfied with the course we then took; perhaps the Voice is equally satisfied with its course in the present instance. We claim to be no man’s master and no man’s judge. We shall only endeavor to see that our own conscience is void of offence toward God and man.

To all our brethren and sisters, we would say, The fires of opposition are kindling up against us. The tongue of calumny and slander will grow more bitter and biting. The course of unreasonable and wicked men will grow more trying. Let us bear all with patience, return good for evil, and when we are reviled, revile not again. Beware of imbibing the spirit of the enemy in the least degree. It is not the Spirit of Christ. They have no weapons with which to work against us but sophistry and misrepresentation. Such weapons cannot have a lasting effect. The calm and steady light of truth they cannot endure. God will take care of his cause and his people if they take a straightforward, meek and humble course. Shimei may be permitted for a while to curse and throw dirt, but the counsel of Ahithophel will be turned to foolishness. Lies are swift of foot but short of life. So let us take courage, keeping hand and heart unwaveringly fixed on the great work of preparing for the coming of the Lord Jesus, neither saying nor doing anything but that which we shall be willing to meet in the great day.

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