THE GENERAL CONFERENCE.
By T.
The meetings of the General Conference have continued to grow in importance and interest. On the 7th inst. the meeting in Massachusetts adjourned to Battle Creek, Mich., in order to transact some legal business in connection with our leading institutions there that could not be done outside the State in which they are incorporated. The time at South Lancaster was largely spent in considering the principles that underlie all Christian work, believing that if the real Christ of the Bible is allowed to govern and guide us wholly, so many resolutions and plans defining every minutia and detail of the work are unnecessary. And not only are they unnecessary, but a positive hindrance to the cause; for where plans are defined so particularly and in full detail, no room is left for the worker in the field to use his discretion. He is not thrown into the place where he feels called upon to rest upon God for His active and ever-present wisdom, but the worker falls back upon the details of some old plan that may not be at all suitable. There is no more encouraging feature in connection with our work than the spirit of freedom and the manifestations of the purest brotherly love that have completely taken possession of our General Conference. We know that Satan will make his most masterly efforts to turn aside this order of things, but he will be defeated. God is at the helm, and the brethren have wholly committed themselves to Him for His guidance. It seems evident that human planning in our work from now on will be the full acceptance of the divine order of things, for God and His sure Word are given their rightful place in the work. This condition has been brought about by the brethren in conference uniting to study God's Word for the principles that should govern in all plans of Christian work. And the grand and uplifting and soul-satisfying truth that has been brought out as the result of this study reminds one of apostolic times. Surely the Lord is hastening to prepare those who will follow Him to proclaim in all the world His coming and kingdom with power. And we have the promise that when this work is done "then shall the end come." And bear in mind that it is the end of sin, but the beginning of the eternal reign of righteousness. Christian people everywhere should unite to study God's Word. It is full of light and life and power for all who believe. The barriers that have stood between men in the form of creeds should be torn down, and we should together come to the open Book of books, and allow God to teach us His wonderful truth. Many Christian ministers go to the congregations that will pay them the largest salary, and, seemingly, without any regard to the question as to where they can do the most good. But it seems that this spirit is not confined to the Christians. Rabbi Hirsch, who officiates at the Jewish Sinai Church in Chicago, is asked to go to New York, and one inducement that is offered is a salary of $14,000 a year. When any form of religion reaches the place where a few men connected with it have princely salaries that afford them every luxury, you may depend upon it that its vital power for good is gone, and that it is on the rapid decline. And any parade of imposing ceremonies or boast of great numbers does not change this fact.