DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: You notice in this paper the appointment for the camp-meetings in our State. Two have been appointed, so that all may be accommodated, and have the privilege of attending one or the other, or both. Shall we be disappointed of seeing a general rally of our friends to these meetings? We have reached a most important time in the history of this message. We witness on all sides the message rising in power, and the cause of God advancing. Brethren and sisters, shall we be active and in earnest, keeping pace with the work of the Lord? If we are, we shall in a little while share in its final and glorious victory.
Make up your minds at once to attend one or both of these meetings, if you have not already done so, and make your arrangements accordingly. You cannot afford to stay away. You may look at your business, your farms, and a multitude of other matters; but consider first your own salvation and that of others. When was it that Israel prospered most? Was it not when they were faithful in serving God, walking in all his ordinances, and presenting themselves at Jerusalem at the appointed times? Then the Lord prospered them in all things and favored his people. But when they could not afford, as they thought, to bring their tithes and offerings, and could not spare so much time to go up to Jerusalem, the curse of the Lord rested upon them, and they were greatly afflicted, until they returned to the Lord with humility and confession. Has God changed? Is he not the same now? These things were written for our admonition. 1 Cor. 10: 11.
Those living in the southern part of the State should make their arrangements at once, and so also should those living in the northern and western parts of the State, most of whom have never had the privilege of attending such a gathering. You need the blessing and experience of such a meeting; let no trifling matter hinder you. You cannot afford to stay away. To our friends in Illinois who can attend the southern meeting, we would say, Come, one and all, and let us once more join in a general meeting to worship the Lord and seek his blessing. Let all come, not with idle curiosity, but, friends, first seek the Lord in your closet; get an experience in the things of God; and come up to the feast of the Lord with the spirit of the truth, and with a burden of the work of God upon your hearts. Bring unconverted friends and neighbors, that they too may experience the blessing of God. We know not how many more of these privileges we shall enjoy. Bro. and sister White expect to attend these meetings, which will be very important, and, we trust, great good will result.
Let all who can, bring tents and empty ticks, and those who cannot furnish tents, come, and provision will be made for all.
O. A. OLSEN.
The Coming Camp-Meetings.
By George I. Butler
As these most important meetings are so soon to commence, I cannot refrain from saying a few words through the REVIEW in regard to them, desiring, if possible, to add my mite of influence to that of others in inducing our brethren to attend them and endeavor to make them seasons of great blessing and importance. I say this all the more freely as I do not expect to attend them as I have for the last three years.
As will be seen in another article, I design to labor in a new field in tent labor. This will doubtless be best for the cause and for me, for several reasons. Experience has clearly demonstrated that a change of gifts is desirable and important from time to time for the good of the people who hear preaching. Ministers are mere human instrumentalities, through whom the word of God is discoursed. Their ministrations are very liable to be more or less affected by their own peculiar organization. It is a great thing to be a whole man, with breadth of mental caliber sufficient to avoid running into peculiar personal ruts. But few attain to this. Far more give a personal impress to those who continually dwell under their influence until their characters become warped according to the peculiar idiosyncrasies of the preacher. To change, giving the people the benefit of different gifts from time to time, is therefore desirable. On the other hand, it is good for the preacher himself to change and be brought into new relations. His labor is liable to become molded by the peculiar circumstances which continually affect him, till he becomes more one-sided than before.
The labor in camp-meetings and large gatherings of our own people calls for certain peculiar characteristics. I have been earnestly engaged in these labors for three seasons past, while brethren of greater experience and ability were called to something else, or laid up partially from over-labor. I rejoice with my brethren that those will take hold this summer who have had long experience in the work, and whom our brethren have greatly missed in the past, while I feel thankful for a change myself to another field. But I cannot forbear to express my deep interest that the camp-meetings this season shall be well attended, and be seasons of great interest. If I thought that I had any personal friends whom my influence would bring to them, who would not otherwise attend, I would earnestly advise them to be on the ground in season, and to work for God.
Bro. White, we see in recent articles in REVIEW, has laid out a vigorous programme for these meetings. For one, I do earnestly desire that this may be carried out to the letter, and that these meetings may surpass any ever held before in interest. I have always felt there was a want not fully met in them. Although we have had excellent camp-meetings, in which our brethren and sisters have reaped a great benefit, yet there is, I am sure, a higher point to be attained in them—a greater work to be accomplished through them, and I much wish it may be approached the present season.
Our camp-meetings are a most important instrumentality of grace, where souls should be converted to God, backsliders reclaimed, the people generally receive a clearer insight into the depths of the truth, and a general awakening and arousing should be attained. This may be accomplished if ministers and people act up to their whole duty. We hope our friends will put away their unbelief, their coldness and apathy, and make all reasonable efforts to attend the coming camp-meetings. Doubtless there are some in peculiar circumstances who may be justified in remaining at home; but this cannot be generally the case with our people. These are the great occasions of each year with us. This is where the Lord has often met with us, and many of our friends have had relatives and acquaintances converted here. Make the best of these opportunities, friends, while you have them.
Our people generally, years before this, have greatly desired the presence of Bro. and sister White and were disappointed when they could not have this privilege. Now that you can have their presence improve the opportunity. Encourage them by your zeal and earnestness in the truth, put away from yourselves your unbelief, your coldness and distrust of the cause, and take a new, fresh hold upon the pillars of our glorious faith. At these meetings you will hear things and see things that will encourage you, we may reasonably hope. May God greatly bless the coming camp-meetings and all who labor in them. GEO. I. BUTLER.
Error Is Always in Haste
Error is always in haste.
Spirit of Persecution.
By James White
A CORRESPONDENT takes exception to the article of Bro. Lamson entitled, “I’m a Stiff Methodist,” in the REVIEW of Feb. 18, 1875. He thinks the spirit manifested by the individuals referred to is so seldom found among professed Christians that it is unjust to present them as evidence of its existence to any large extent. Had the objector been on the ground he would know that these were only examples, and hardly the worst manifestations, of intolerant bigotry shown by church members; and they were publicly and privately backed up by more than one preacher. In truth, the instances of courtesy, not to speak of Christian kindness, were the exceptions in the neighborhood, instead of the rule.
Many misjudge our statements as well as our motives when we record the unchristian course pursued by opposers of the commandments of God, because they have never come in conflict with the spirit of intolerance which is almost everywhere existing, though not always apparent. So the many prophets of Israel might have rebuked Elijah for so strongly condemning the course of Ahab and Jezebel. But had they placed themselves openly against popular wrongs as Elijah did, they would soon have learned to appreciate his work, and would have justified his words. We had no idea of the prevalence of religious bigotry until we endeavored to separate ourselves from popular errors. We recommend our friend more carefully to read Rev. 13: 11–18. J. H. W.
The Sunny Side.
WHY is it that the great majority of religious teachers have fallen, at the present time, into the habit of presenting only the sunny side of religion? Have they lost sight of the fact that there is a cross connected with the religion of the Bible? Do they not remember there is suffering, self-denial, and sacrifice, to be experienced as tokens of separation from, and death to, the world? Have they forgotten the words of the Master, “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Has the following language of the great Teacher faded from the memory of his professed disciples: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me”? Matt. 16: 24.
Were we left alone to the teachers of a popular religion, to learn our duty as Christians, to learn the distinguishing evidences we must bear that divine grace has wrought such a change in our hearts and lives, that with the apostle we can say, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 6:14), one might suppose “the offense of the cross” had ceased, and that now we can “sail to Heaven on flowery beds of ease.”
In speaking of the sermons preached in New York City last Christmas by different ministers, a writer says, “It is instructive to see how modern clerical teaching dwells upon the bright side of our religion, and almost altogether evades allusion to its threats and terrors. Mr. Beecher is famous for this kind of preaching. We think of Mr. Beecher always in connection with birds and flowers and music, as if he should speak from a bower rather than a pulpit. . . . We would point out the notable fact that the regular, old-fashioned preaching of the doctrine of punishment for sin has almost entirely disappeared from the metropolitan pulpit. Our clergymen make religion so agreeable that it is really a sacrifice to remain a sinner, and we are compelled to consider those persons very foolish who avoid the churches when they might so easily obtain the assurance of heavenly joys without giving up a single respectable worldly pleasure.” A. S. HUTCHINS.
Germany.
By M. B. Miller
“THE emperor of Germany has signed the bill withdrawing government grants from the Roman Catholic Church; or, in other words, disendowing that church and compelling it hereafter to support itself by voluntary contributions, instead of receiving aid from the public treasury.”
The above we copy from the Grand Rapids Democrat, of April 28, 1875. May it not be a fulfillment of Rev. 17 : 16 ? Let us watch carefully the closing scenes of earth’s history, that the day of the Lord may not come upon us unawares. M. B. MILLER.
Great Fires.
Following hard upon the news of the fire that nearly destroyed the city of Oshkosh, Wis., comes a report that the village of Meadville, Pa., has suffered a worse calamity. The place was hemmed in by the flames and the inhabitants escaped only by fighting their way through them. Two hundred houses burned, twelve hundred people rendered homeless. The amount of property destroyed in houses, coal, cars, &c., is put at over, 2,000,000. Insurance light.
Later accounts state that another village has been destroyed, the damage has reached the sum of 3,000,000, and the fires are still raging over the mountains in that section.
Grasshopper Plague in Missouri and Nebraska
An exemplification of the speedy ruin Mr. Wells told us last week would result from the cessation of production may be seen in Missouri and Nebraska to-day. The grasshoppers have caused a suspension of agricultural labor, the fields are deserted, cattle are without food, the land is unsalable, and the whole country is rapidly lapsing into a condition of utter prostration. Not farmers alone suffer, but the merchants and even the wholesale houses at St. Louis, whose trade has been with the devastated country, are actually on the verge of bankruptcy. The terrible condition of affairs can hardly be imagined, and no means have been found yet of averting the plague. The grasshoppers may be killed, but from the ashes of each one appear to rise ten more. Only discouragement attends any attempt to destroy them. What the end will be no one can foresee.
Advices from Winnipeg, Manitoba, say that the grasshopper is hatching out by myriads.
Livestock Disease Ravages Turkey
TURKEY is at this time a deeply afflicted country. Besides the ravages of famine, a deadly disease is raging among the flocks and herds throughout the empire, from Bagdad to the Adriatic. In the province of Smyrna a kind of small-pox has broken out among the sheep, while there is a pulmonary disease among the cattle that is rapidly thinning the herds. On the plains of Troy, the skeletons of thousands and thousands of sheep cover the ground. Shepherds, stripped of their entire herds in many cases, have gone insane over the calamity. In the country about Adrianople fully thirty per cent of the horned cattle and horses have already died of disease. The entire pastoral regions of the empire seem smitten with the disorder which is said to greatly resemble the murrain spoken of in the Bible. —Christian at Work.
Iowa.
By R. M. Kilgore
At Hook’s Point and Soldier Valley I found the brethren in trial and discouragement, and some of the fold straying. After much private, and faithful public labor, attended by the blessing of God, the wrongs were made right by confession on the part of the erring and forgiveness on the part of the offended. I trust the tears that flowed so profusely, and the vows and promises that were made at these places, will not be forgotten; and that the sweet, melting Spirit of God which so manifested itself, in our midst, on these occasions, may not be grieved away by a like cause in the future.
In those cases, the result of a want of forbearance and Christ-like love toward the erring was seen, and of an unwise, unscriptural manner of laboring with them. By rashly dealing with the wrong-doer he may be cut off without making the proper effort to undo the wrong; and we should save the sinner if possible. At one of these places it was said by one, “It will take about five minutes to settle the difficulty,” which occupied more then five hours before it was fully accomplished. The Spirit of God did the work man could not do.
For the benefit of our young churches and inexperienced brethren, the following action of our Conference is given, which, if strictly adhered to, will save much trouble:—
“Resolved, That in the matter of expulsion of members from churches, we endorse and adopt the resolutions of the General Conference passed upon this subject as follows:—
“Resolved, That in our judgment the expulsion of members from church fellowship should never be effected by less than a two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the church in question; and such action should not take place without previous faithful labor with the erring member, and also due notice of the trial. The only circumstances under which these regulations should be departed from at all are in the case of outrageous crime in which the guilt is manifest; in which case, at the discretion of the church this previous labor may be dispensed with.”
“Resolved, That in case of church trials involving the expulsion of members, we deem it advisable that our brethren, if possible, secure the aid of some experienced preacher; if this is not consistent that they make application to their own State Conference Committee for the aid of some experienced and judicious lay-brethren to aid by their counsel and advice, excepting such cases only as are excepted in the preceding resolution.”—Minutes of the Iowa Conference of S. D. Adventists, held at Pilot Grove, Iowa, June 8, 1866.
In Calhoun Co., I found a company keeping the Sabbath who had never heard the voice of an authorized minister. This work had been accomplished through the faithful labors and influence of Bro. N. R. Rigby. I remained a week and preached twelve discourses, at the close of which a great interest was manifested to hear more, and by a unanimous vote I was invited to return at the earliest opportunity, which, the Lord willing, I shall do.
High waters prevented my visiting the Belvidier and Onawa churches.
R. M. KILGORE.
Allentown, Mo.
By George Ide Butler
Having reached this place and resumed active labor in the good cause, perhaps the readers of the REVIEW may be interested to hear from me. During the last two or three months I have not been actively engaged in ministerial labor, but have been mainly at home. I gave a course of lectures at New London, Iowa, ten miles from Mt. Pleasant, of about four weeks' duration. A few embraced the truth, and two or three have joined the Mt. Pleasant church as the result. The weather was very cold at the time; and popular lectures on other subjects coming in, and within the community not having much care for serious things, made the interest small. After this, I remained at home, working with my hands considerably, which I have found a great physical benefit to me after three years of quite active mental labor. I preached to the church on the Sabbath during this time. This, with the exception of a few meetings with the Knoxville church, when there on personal business, is all the labor I have bestowed in the cause during the time above mentioned. Our cold, disagreeable spring has not been very favorable for labor. This, with some temporary discouragements, has made me feel justified, for the time being, in working with my hands at home preparatory to active labor in the tent season.
I have recently come to this place, intending to labor with Bro. Nelson W. Allen the coming season in an entirely new field in Eastern and Central Missouri. Bro. A., with his brother Frank, embraced the truth in California last fall. I became acquainted with him at the camp-meeting there. Up to last June, he was professor of mathematics in the branch of the State University located at Rolla, Mo. His health breaking down, he went to California to regain it. Happening to be where Bro. Cornell was laboring, both he and his brother became interested in the truth and embraced it. They were at the Biblical Institute, and from there returned to their home in Allenton, Mo., where the entire family received the truth. Their father is master of the State Grange of Missouri, and a man of influence, who is well known in all parts of the State. Although he has not heard a great deal of the truth yet, his sympathies are with it, and he accepts the Sabbath of the Lord. After his return home, Bro. Nelson Allen lectured some here and at another place. Twelve or fifteen, I believe, are keeping the Sabbath as the result.
These things led me to think of laboring in this section. All through the Eastern and Central parts of this State is new ground where the present truth has never been heard. Bro. Allen feels a deep interest to have it proclaimed here, and wishes to engage actively in bringing it before his many acquaintances and friends. We seriously think of soon setting up a tent in Rolla, where he used to act as professor in the college. We hope that those who listened to the teachings of science may be interested in that which is of such deep importance, the great truths of the third angel's message. We hope for God's blessing in bringing the truth before the people. I am holding some meetings here at Allenton to deepen the work already begun while waiting for the tent.
As for myself, the truthfulness of our position never looked clearer to me than now. I never felt more determined to labor earnestly in this cause than now. I have looked over the groundwork and felt the pillars of our faith, and they never seemed more solid than now. There is no other way but to go forward in courage and in faith. No doubt there are discouragements to surmount, difficulties to be met, and battles to be fought. Was there ever a good cause in which there were not plenty of these? The hosts of evil are mighty, and our trembling souls may shake at times when we view them; but the mighty God of Jacob alone is a majority; leaning on his arm we can prevail.
I feel that in myself I am weak as a trembling reed. At times I can say with Job, “I abhor myself in dust and ashes.” Nevertheless, there are more that are for us than those that are against us, and we may gain a glorious victory through Christ Jesus our Lord. This, through God's grace, I mean to struggle for. I want my brethren who may possibly have wondered at my silence, to understand, one and all, that my soul is firm in the truth of God. For it I must labor; for it I think I am willing to suffer till God shall release us at the close of the war.
GEO. L. BUTLER.
General Quarterly Meeting of the Mich. T. & M. Society.
By E. H. Root; Mary Gaskill
According to appointment, the third meeting for the year was held at Potterville, May 8, 9, 1875. Bro. and sister White, who had just returned from California in health and good spirits, were with us. Bro. E. H. Root, D. W. Lamson and E. H. Jones, with a very good representation of directors and members of the Society from different parts of the State were also present.
FIRST SESSION.
The first session, Sunday, 9 o'clock A. M., opened with prayer by the President. Report of last meeting was read and accepted. The secretary's report was as follows:— No. of families visited, 736; No. of letters written, 143; No. of periodicals distributed, 859; No. of subscribers obtained for the REVIEW, 19; for the Instructor, 44; for the Reformer, 336; for the Voice, 1089; whole number of subscribers obtained for these periodicals, 1488; pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed by the different districts, 180,715; value $174.40.
The following is the financial report:—
Amount on hand at the commencement of quarter, $186.18
Receipts during quarter, $549.29
Total, $735.47
Expenditures, $1296.88
Leaving a deficit of $561.41
Following the reading of this report interesting remarks were made by Bro. Root pertaining to the work of our people at the present time, after which the question was asked whether ministers belonging to Tract Societies should report families visited and tracts distributed. The answer was that Tract Societies were more especially calculated to bring the lay members into a position for work, yet, that we might make a closer estimate of what our people were doing, we should be glad to accept of reports from our brethren in the ministry. The question of members from one district applying for tracts for distribution from another district under circumstances which make it difficult for them to gain access to their own library was also brought before the Society, but was not decided.
Following these questions, Bro. White made important remarks as to the propriety of accepting names for our periodicals without some evidence that they would be read with care and interest besides the customary “yes” on being asked, which is often said through courtesy, without giving the subject further thought. He said that what was once an experiment is now a demonstration, and that success is certain with proper effort in reaching the minds and hearts of the people. Something invested would act as a stimulus for reading, would be the means of getting them interested, and also help to sustain the paper. With an appeal to the Society to act upon this plan, the meeting adjourned until afternoon.
SECOND SESSION,
Opened with prayer by Bro. White. The subject of raising money to pay subscriptions for the Voice of Truth and Reformer sent to persons by the Society, was considered; and a committee composed of directors and officers present was appointed to apportion the fund to be raised according to resolution passed at our last meeting. This concluded our pleasant and profitable meeting.
Bro. and sister White gave each two solemn and instructive discourses which, if heeded, will prepare us for greater usefulness, and teach us how to better work in the cause we love.
E. H. ROOT, Pres.
MARY GASKILL, Sec.
Report of the Maternal Association of Battle Creek, Michigan.
By Mrs. S. Sisley
In presenting this fourth annual report of our unostentatious society, we feel a degree of thankfulness and gratitude to our Heavenly Father that we are still associated together, that death has not been permitted to enter our little circle during the past year, but that instead thirteen dear sisters have been added to our number, some of whom prove willing and efficient helpers.
We would also gratefully acknowledge the kindness of the Lord in condescending to meet with us at our weekly gatherings, to which we have often come with a great pressure upon our minds, such fears, anxious solicitude, and ardent longings for the well-being and salvation of our children, and of the other dear ones whom the providence of God has brought among us, as only mothers can feel. And while pouring out our hearts together in prayer the sweet peace and confiding trust that has taken possession of them is too blessed to be described. And ere many weeks had passed away some of us have been permitted to bring in our tribute of praise and thanksgiving for special answers received to our unworthy prayers. This has greatly cheered and encouraged us all, while it has made us feel sad that so few comparatively were with us to share in the blessing.
How great and important are our duties, fearfully augmented by the shortness of time and the allurements and dangers to which we are thereby exposed. How important that our minds should be properly informed, that we should be wise in all things pertaining to this life and the life to come, and embrace every opportunity of adding to our stock of knowledge and of seeking divine aid and guidance, without which all our efforts will prove in vain. Only think, if all the dear mothers residing in this place had been constant and faithful in their attendance whenever possible, instead of many not coming at all and some only a few times since the last annual meeting, what joy and gladness might now fill their hearts and their homes, diffusing courage and energy all through our ranks.
There is no uncertainty in this matter if we only feel our need and utter helplessness and are determined to persevere; for we do not come to poor weak man, but to the mighty, true, unchangeable God, who has said, “Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it;” and, “All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Encouraged by these gracious words, shall we not with humble boldness press our petitions to His throne, and see if he will not verify his promise and pour us out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it? May he graciously enlarge175our hearts, and prepare us to perform well life's duties, and fill that place in his cause and work which his providence has assigned us.
We should feel grateful at any time to receive encouragement, counsel, advice, or suggestions, given in a Christian spirit from any that may feel disposed to favor us. And as there are still some mothers, and others having the care of the youth, residing among us that have not united with us, we would cordially invite them to do so.
And to those at a distance, whose names are enrolled on our book, we would say, We should be pleased to occasionally hear of your welfare. We assure you that you are affectionately remembered in our prayers and tenderly sympathized with in those seasons of sickness, sorrow, and bereavement, through which we know some of you have been called to pass.
Shall we not all awake to our solemn duties? The characters of our dear children will soon be formed for good or evil, happiness or woe. Our blessed Saviour will soon come, and then there will be no retracing our steps. Therefore, “whatsoever our hands find to do,” let us “do it with our might;” for “time is short,” and eternity is near.
There are ninety names of mothers belonging to the Association, representing three hundred and nine children.
MRS. S. SISLEY, Pres.
I Am the Way.
By J. C. Clements
Thou weary child, oppressed by doubt,
Thy bark in darkness driven about,
I pity thee.
I am the Way, the Life, the Light,
My presence can dispel thy night,
O turn to me.
Have sin’s foul fetters bound thee long?
And do these fetters grow more strong
From day to day?
From the dark bondage of thy guilt
Thou may’st have freedom if thou wilt;
I am the Way.
Though dark as night thy guilt hath been,
Though far thy feet in paths of sin
Have gone astray,
By blood thou may’st be purified,
For this was I once crucified;
I am the Way.
Dost think to wait till thou hast grown
Purer by effort of thine own?
Oh, vain delay!
Thou wilt be vile till cleansed by me,
My blood alone avails for thee;
I am the Way.
If dearest friends thy course oppose,
Or thou endurest the scoffs of foes,
For all these pray,
That they, instructed by the word,
May look to me their risen Lord;
For I’m the Way.
J. C. CLEMENTS.
Allegan, Mich.
Missouri.
By C. H. Chaffee
The interest is good in Daviess Co., and openings are plenty. I am now helping Bro. Long close up a series of meetings in Union Star, Dekalb Co. Ten or twelve are keeping the Sabbath, and we hope for a few more. Expect to return to Daviess Co., in company with Bro. Long, and commence preaching in the North Missouri tent. We have been invited to the county seat. They offer to board us, and promise us a good hearing. Opposition is strong in North Missouri at present. Pray for us. My P. O. address till further notice will be, Winstonville, Daviess Co., Mo.
C. H. Chaffee.
Eastern Michigan.
By E. B. Lane; J. O. Collins
CLOSED our labors at Pine Run for the present, May 16, 1875. Held meetings over six weeks, and gave sixty-two discourses. The interest was good to the last. Twenty signed the covenant, and quite a number of others will probably do so at the first opportunity. We can but express our thanks for the kindness shown us while at this place by its inhabitants, and especially the members of the Disciple church in granting us the free use of their house of worship. We design to visit them as often as possible, and ever pray God to bless, strengthen, and keep them in the unity of the faith.
E. B. LANE,
J. O. COLLINS.
Faith in the Third Angel’s Message
By H. F. Phelps
BRO. H. F. PHELPS writes from Pine Island, Minn.: My faith in the work of the third angel's message, the last message of mercy to this poor, dying world, is unabated. How many evidences are now to be seen on all sides that this is not the work of man, but the work of God. To doubt now is inexcusable. Cruel unbelief is the only thing that can make us doubt. May God save us from the tempter's power, and from unbelief. I long for a greater consecration to the cause of God. I long to be again in the work. Brethren, pray for me.
Michigan.
Bro. R. J. Lawrence reports his labors in Northern Mich., since November last. He reports eighty-six meetings held, two churches organized, and the brethren in various places strengthened and encouraged.
Clinging to Christ.
By Angelia J. Edmunds
I lately saw a beautiful, thrifty English ivy, which had been placed by a loving hand beneath a life-like picture of a dearly cherished friend, that it might, with its clinging tendrils, twine round and round that form. This, I thought, is emblematic of the pure affections of a human heart, which is ever reaching out and in tender ties twining itself around the loved ones in our household.
The sight suggested that soon that picture may be removed, and that lovely vine with its shining leaves lie withered and broken.
Our dear friends, who have been the objects of our affection year after year, upon whom we have leaned for support, forming from time to time new ties that, like the loving tendrils of the vine, more closely unite our hearts to theirs, may be, by the ruthless hand of death, torn from us, and laid in the silent tomb, leaving us alone. May we ever remember not to place our affections and lean too much upon our earthly friends for support.
There is a ladder to sustain us—true holiness, reaching from earth to Heaven. Each member of the home circle united to Christ may reach out the tendrils of a pure affection and twine them around this ladder to all eternity. How beautiful to commence this work in early youth, that innocence and purity may not be marred by wrong habits.
If the Father permits one of these living branches to be covered by the earth for a little while, it will spring forth, like the lovely ivy, with fresh beauty and vigor in the resurrection morn. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”
Afflicted ones, united to the Living Vine, clinging to the ladder of holiness. In this Vine you need not lie withered and broken, but you may lift up your heads and rejoice; for Jesus will soon descend with the trump of God, and the sleeping saints shall awake, and we shall be changed, and caught up with them in the air, and ever be with the Lord.
Jesus will soon be seen upon the white cloud, with a crown upon his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. If in that day it shall be found that we have been pruned off from the Living Vine because we do not bear good fruit, but belong to the “vine of the earth,” having our affections twined around earthly objects forgetful of Heaven, we shall be cast “into the great wine-press of the wrath of God.” “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” Unconverted friend, come to the living waters. Unite yourself to the Living Vine, that when Christ who is our life shall appear, ye also may appear with him in glory.
“Behold a lovely vine,
Here in this desert ground ;
The blossoms shoot, and promise fruit,
And tender grapes are found,
“ Its circling branches rise,
And shade the neighboring lands,
With lovely charms she spreads her arms,
With clusters in her hands.
“The Saviour is the vine,
The branches are his church—
Let each abide in Christ the Lord,
And bear the precious fruit.
“The city of our God,
Is built on Zion’s hill—
The dazzling light it shines so bright,
It doth the valleys fill.
“Ye trees, in order stand—
And stars with sparkling light,
Ye Christians, hear, both far and near,
’Tis joy to see the sight.”
ANGELIA J. EDMUNDS.
Bedford, Mich.
Tobacco.
What man, woman, or child with the least spark of grace or common good sense does not know that the habit of smoking or chewing the vile weed is beneath the very animals—the four-footed beasts, creeping things?
Spend God's money to gratify a vicious, unnatural, perverted, sensual appetite, ruinous to health of soul and body, and call it harmless! Presumption! Heaven-daring!
Tobacco makes a sot of a man, a beast—worse, tenfold. Rum and tobacco—what twin devils, what mighty agents of Satan! What multitudes fall victims to these Molochs! And yet, here is one professing godliness with a pipe or cigar in his mouth, walking or riding through the streets!
Friend, take your name from the church-book, exhort no more sinners to repentance, to flee from the wrath to come—mock God no more by your cold, formal, hypocritical prayers and false testimonies!
What! profess to be a disciple of the meek, pure, and holy Jesus, attempt to teach the rising age the way of virtue, temperance, truth, and soberness, meanwhile a slave to one of the most hateful and abominable lusts that ever degraded a mortal? Shocking! Horrible! O for a thunder-clap of God's vindictive justice from Sinai's burnings, blazing top, to ring in your besotted ear, peal on peal, to wake you from spiritual death!
Talk about great and good men bowing slaves to this appetite! False! Who believes it? Look for a moment at the expense of this sensual and worse than useless gratification.
It costs England and America a sum sufficient to support fifty thousand ministers with a salary of $1,000; or more than one hundred thousand missionaries. The students in one college pay more than $6,000 for cigars yearly. It tends to idleness, poverty, strong drink, and the whole family of vices. It tends to debility, dyspepsia, palsy, cancers, insanity, delirium-tremens, and sudden deaths. It weaves a winding-sheet around twenty thousand of our land every year.
In New York city more than twice the amount is puffed away in cigars that is expended for bread!
Some eighty diseases are traced by Doctor Shaw to the use of this vile narcotic. It injures health of body, mind, and soul. The habit is indecent—the example is pernicious on the rising youth. The expenditure is wicked. It leads to strong drink. Said a poor Indian: “I want three things: all the rum in the world, all the tobacco, then more rum. I smoke because it makes me love to drink.” The use of this poisonous drug blunts the moral sensibilities, grieves the Holy Spirit, hinders prayer. “I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”
The excuses for using the dirty tyrant are numerous and frequent. One uses it for his teeth; another, for his general health; a third, for his corpulency; a fourth, for his leanness; a fifth, for a watery stomach; a sixth, to help digestion; another, because some ignorant, sottish, wine-bibbing, tobacco-chewing or smoking doctor recommends it—thus and that, till the catalogue of excuses and subterfuges is filled out.
It is a matter of devout and hearty thanksgiving to God, that the most respectable, learned, and eminently successful, of the medical faculty, with united voice, veto the “accursed thing,” and warn their patients to lay it aside forever.
As Paul said to Timothy, so say we to you, reader, “Keep thyself pure.” Be clean in your person, and be clean in your heart. But, depend upon it, you can be neither if you use tobacco.
“Where lurk ye, foul blots on our race?
Still dwell ye with civilized men?
Why crawl ye not into some desolate place,
The lair of a wolf, or a den
In the clefts of the rocks, in the desert, away
From the gaze of mankind and the light of the day.” —Baptist Union.