NEW YEAR'S IN BATTLE CREEK.
In accordance with the appointment of the General Conference Committee, the first day of January, 1879, was observed by the church in Battle Creek as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer. A special prayer-meeting was appointed at 9 A. M., which was very fully attended, and was a good season. At 10:30 the house was almost as well filled as at our regular Sabbath service. Bro. Haskell spoke on the nature and objects of fasting, and the circumstances under which it had been practiced by men of God in ancient times, according to the examples given us in the word of God. He was followed by Bro. Andrews in remarks also specially adapted to the occasion. The business meeting at 1:30 P. M. was also quite fully attended. The subjects of the houses of worship at Battle Creek and Oakland, and systematic benevolence, or the tithing system, for the year 1879, were introduced. The sum of $453.30 was pledged for the Oakland house; $255.30 for the Tabernacle at Battle Creek; and one hundred and forty-one of those present pledged a tithe of their income for the year 1879. Besides the tithe, the sum of $67.35 was pledged by those who have no income. On the evening of Thanksgiving day the church raised in thank-offerings about $267.00. Thus, on these three occasions, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, this church has raised in payments and pledges, exclusive of the $200 put upon the Christmas tree by Bro. and Sr. White, $1,505.62. Of this, nearly $1,000 has been paid in. In subscribing on New Year's nearly twice as much for the house in Oakland, Cal., as for the Tabernacle here, the church has shown in a marked manner how it can waive home considerations and home interests in behalf of a church in a far-distant State. But the cause is one and the same everywhere; and we feel an interest in the work on the Pacific coast the same as at our own doors, the same in Europe as in America. Many good testimonies were borne, and excellent determinations formed in reference to seeking the Lord more earnestly, and following him more closely for the year to come than in the past. In the evening a large and interesting meeting was held in the interests of Bible temperance and to take steps toward the formation of a national health and temperance association. In the way the day was spent, we feel that the year was well begun. May its promises of good be abundantly realized.