Men and Things by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 6, 1872

Men and Things.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

The Monroe Record (Iowa) of June 1, has the following:—

ANOTHER DESTORYER.

Myriads of worms are at work in our public square, and clearing out the grass as they go, sparing nothing but a few spears of blue grass and certain weeds. The worms are one and one half inches long, nearly a quarter of an inch in diameter, of a dark golden hue, and have a tough skin. They are extremely active in their movements. Many suppose these to be the veritable “army worm.” The same worms have entirely destroyed a large meadow, near Otley, belonging to Mr. Columbus Long.

The Knoxville Democrat says: Near this city, on the premises occupied by John Cromwell, a twenty acre piece of fine timothy waved in the breeze, but now, alas, nary zephyr stirs its undulating bosom. One day a scorched spot was noticed in one corner, and five days thereafter there was not timothy enough on the whole twenty to feed a sucking calf. Other meadows have suffered the same way. June 1.

Mr. Cromwell informs us that the worms travel in a row, and do not disturb clover, but their appetite for timothy grass is very hearty indeed.

New diseases, among men and beasts, new insects on the vines, new bugs on the trees, and new worms on the grass and grain, are constantly multiplying of late. Thus old earth groans more heavily under the curse as the end draws near. Our only hope is in the speedy coming of the Deliverer. All signs now indicate that this event is near at hand. The Christian Statesman, May 15, 1872, has on this point, the following:—

PROPHETIC SIGNS.

The very general expectation among Christian people of an impending revolution in the moral condition of the world, is nourished, not only by the intimations of prophecy, but by passing events. Passing by those natural phenomena, like earthquakes, famines, and pestilences, which are foretold as signs of “the end,” there are deeper movements in human society that point unmistakably, as it seems to us, to marvelous changes in the near future.

RELIGION IN PARIS.

The Evangelical Christendom of April 20, thus describes the state of religion in Paris:

“The annual meetings of religious societies are taking place in Paris. To all who remember them five and twenty years ago, when they were looked forward to as festivals, with their glow of bright hope and tangible results, we need scarcely say, the contrast is great. Long, but gradual sleep, the ‘enchanted ground’ drowsiness of the churches, caused decline long before last year’s hurricane, which would have uprooted most, but for the timely generosity of foreign brethren. We never felt, until this year, from what a depth of declension the Lord’s hand needs to raise our Protestant Christianity.”

Thus, from all parts of the world comes up the same cry of spiritual darkness and death.

THE RIGHT SPIRIT.

A letter in the Christian Union describes the heroic conduct of certain converts in Bithynia, Asia Minor. I give it hoping, that their example may shame some in our land, who are violating the laws of God and their consciences, to avoid much less opposition and persecution than these noble souls endured.

“Among the mountains of Asia Minor, in the old Roman province of Bithynia, there is a small city called Adabazar. Like most of the cities and towns of that region, its population is partly Armenian and partly Turkish. The Armenians are mostly farmers, stout, fierce men, hardened by the mountain air, and rendered sullen by the oppression of the government. When colporteurs first commenced to carry the Bible through this region, a few copies were bought by men in this city, who formed a small class of Bible readers, as they were called. For a long time they read in secret; but the priests learned what was going on, and then commenced a course of terrible persecution. At first it was not by open acts of violence, but by petty annoyances, that they tried to make these men recant. They were hooted at in the streets, their own families and friends derided them. But it was of no avail. The evening hours spent over the New Testament had been fruitful in strength and patience. Then harsher measures were tried. Anathemas were spoken from the churches, and they were declared excommunicated. Cut off thus from all intercourse with friends, finding it impossible to gain employment, they were deprived almost of the very food that was to keep them alive. No Armenian would sell to them, and the Turks cared little for the “Christian dogs.” Still they would not yield. Then softer measures were tried. They were offered wealth, position, exemption from duties, every worldly advantage; but they were not to be tempted.”

Was this conduct noble in them? Did they do right in obeying God against all this opposition? We all say that they did, and praise them for it. Then go thou and do likewise.

D. M. Canright.