EASTERN TOUR by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 22, 1868

EASTERN TOUR.

By James White

Our meeting at South Lancaster, Mass., closed well. There was a good interest from first to last. Several backsliders came forward with good confessions, and quite a flock of the youth made a good start to serve the Lord.

The entire congregation voted in favor of a camp-meeting next summer, which may be held near Manchester, N. H., either before, or immediately after haying.

There was manifested at this meeting a good interest in the circulation of books. Many were taken for free distribution, and about $300 were pledged to circulate books.

After meeting we returned to Boston, and spent one night with Bro. Leighton, and one with Sr. Temple. The Lord is doing a great work for this woman, who is consecrating herself anew to God. Her position and business, and the present condition of her family is such that brethren and sisters should wait to be invited before visiting her.

We spent some time in Boston looking for, and purchasing good books. These are needed. Our young people need good books. They are using their money for things of no real value which should be laid out in good books. We shall keep a choice supply of religious books of the highest order for sale at the Office. Our people had much better pay their money for good books than to worse than waste it at the daguerrean saloon for pictures of their own faces.

It is true that there is a power in pictures. But these insipid pictures of one's self lead to an idolatrous worship of self. These lead from God, from Christ, and Heaven. But there are pictures which make us better by beholding. They lead to God, to Christ, and Heaven. In Boston we found most impressive pictures and mottoes, and purchased some for ourselves and our brethren who may wish them, and suggest that they take the place of pictures of warriors and the insipid shadows of mortal faces.

We have a motto in large ornamental letters. In the center is a beautiful figure of the tables of stone, on which is written the ten commandments, resting in a beautiful cloud. Here is a dignified, instructive, and beautiful motto and picture which will not fail to impress the beholder with the holiness of God's law and its divine author, and make him better. There is a power in pictures, and if we must have them, let us have good ones.

Another and a most impressive picture and motto, is a figure of the cross with a hand holding it, with these words: “Simply to thy cross I cling.” We also have several mottoes and pictures of Christ in the hour of his agony. There is a power in pictures, and if we must have them let us have those which will impress us with holy things, make us better, and lead us toward, not from, Heaven.

Sabbath and first-day, Dec. 12, 13, we spent with the brethren in Rhode Island, assembled at Curtis Corners, near Kingston. Bro. Canright and Haskell came from Massachusetts to meet with us. We have had good liberty in speaking to this people; but they have appeared nearly asleep to the great practical truths for this time. We have spoken plainly and in earnest, and leave the result with God. But little may be hoped for Rhode Island without a thorough consecration of the professed friends of the cause in that State. The meeting has had a good influence on the people. May it result in much good. We now return to Boston, thence to Rochester on our way to the meeting near Wellsville. JAMES WHITE.