Anniversary Week in Battle Creek.
THE week devoted to such of the yearly meetings of S. D. Adventists as are usually held in Battle Creek, has just passed. This year have been held, the eighth annual session of the General Conference, the tenth of the Michigan Conference, the tenth of the Publishing Association, the fourth of the Health Reform Institute, and the second of the Missionary Society. The business sessions of all these bodies were most pleasant and harmonious. The doings will be found in other portions of this paper. One marked feature on this occasion was the interest which was manifested in the business sessions, and the blessing of the Lord which seemed to attend all the deliberations. The business proceedings were interspersed with cheering remarks; and pointed and soul-stirring appeals were frequently made. It has never been our privilege to attend meetings of this nature where the interest took so high a range, and was so uniformly maintained, as has been the case in these meetings from the very outset to the close. A good spirit and a good influence pervaded them all. The Lord is leading his servants to take more elevated views of the importance and holiness of this work, and what it is destined, according to the light of his word, to accomplish in the earth. We are henceforth to work from a higher stand-point. It appears that God is remarkably opening the way for the spread of the light. Incident after incident was mentioned by different ones during the meetings, all going to show that God is preparing the way before his people, even faster than they are prepared to respond to the openings of his providence. The visit of the S. D. Baptist delegate, Prof. J. Allen, of Alfred Center, N. Y., was a very pleasant feature of the meeting. We hail with joy this tangible evidence of friendly interchange of feeling between these two denominations, not only because they occupy common ground on the fourth commandment, which is a cardinal point with them both, but also because, in the grand contest which is approaching, in reference to this primeval and heavenly institution, all its friends will need to stand together with joined hands and sympathizing hearts. A more intimate acquaintance with each other will, we believe, correct misapprehensions, show less of difference than has been supposed, and reveal a common ground on which they can accomplish a great and good co-operative work. A brief report of the preliminary meetings that were held the week preceding the Conference, appeared in last week's REVIEW. This renders it unnecessary that we dwell at length on the spiritual aspects of subsequent meetings. The good work of the Lord in former meetings gave tone to these. An increasing confidence in the work could be heard from the lips of many, and read in the countenances of still more. All seemed to feel it good to be there. But a true photograph gives not only the lights but also the shades. We have not seen all that accomplished that we wished. There was not that general surrender and breaking down before God, that we had hoped to witness. Ministers and people felt the lack that had long existed with them. But a good blow has been struck, and a good impression been made. And if the instructions and earnest exhortations given shall be carried home by all who attended the meetings, diffused throughout the body, and put in practice, this Conference will mark a new era in the progress of this work.