Spiritualism: Extracts on Past Spiritualist Practices and Teachings
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
Spiritualism.—No. 8.
We wish the reader to understand and to bear in mind that the following extracts prove, not merely what spiritualists now believe and practice, but what they have believed and practiced in the past. These testimonies were collected by us about ten years ago. It is eight years since the National Convention of Spiritualism in Chicago, which met on purpose to adopt a platform and to perfect a general organization, declared that no one should be excluded on account of his life or conduct, and that they would not consider charges against their members. Neither this platform, nor the general sentiment of speakers and writers, as shown in the following quotations, was repudiated by the Banner of Light, nor by the Religio-Philosophical Journal. Their present affectation of sensitiveness over the practices of Moses Hull and Mrs. Woodhull are of little value while they stand committed in favor of such teachings.
John M. Spear is a noted medium through whom popular spirit works have been indicted; but, like a practical spiritualist that he is, he became the father of an illegitimate child. Some, even among spiritualists, were so infected with what A. J. Davis calls “a sort of atheism” as to blame him for this act! But he was safe among his friends—he found plenty of defenders. A Mr. Stearling wrote two articles, which were published in the Spiritual Telegraph, in vindication of Mr. Spear, and Miss H., his affinity. The following is an extract from this defense:—
“Suppose, then, Miss H. has become a mother. Does that fact warrant you in calling Mr. Spear a libertine or a debauchee? May he not, after all, have acted in this affair in perfect consistency with all his past life, a pure, good man? Again, does this fact of Miss H.’s maternity necessarily imply wrong or corruption in the movement? She desired to be the mother of a child; but she was not willing to become a legal wife, in which relation she might be compelled not only to give birth to unwelcome children, but also to yield her body to the gratification of unhallowed passion. Now, sir, will you, believing this, condemn such conduct? I cannot—will not! I deem it a matter with her own soul, and the one she loved, and her God, with whom she is at peace. The smiles of Heaven have been upon her: her religious nature has been greatly blessed; her spiritual vision has been unfolded, and her prospects of health and happiness, and especially of usefulness to her race, greatly augmented, and she feels to bless God that strength and courage have been given her to walk thus calmly, deliberately, and peacefully, in a path ignored by a corrupt and unappreciative world.”
Such a defense of crime—such a mingling together of mock reverence for God with a total disregard of his authority, and insult to the purity of his government, cannot be found outside of spiritualism.
But Miss H. has also spoken—she asserts her rights as follows:—
“I will exercise that dearest of all rights, the holiest and most sacred of all of Heaven’s gifts—the right of maternity—in the way which to me seemeth right; and no man, nor set of men, no church, no State, shall withhold me from the realization of that purest of all inspirations inherent in every true woman, the right to re-beget myself when, and by whom, and under such circumstances as to me seem fit and best.”
One would think by the above that woman’s most sacred rights were being invaded by both church and State; but it is enough to astonish Heaven and earth that a woman should rise up in this enlightened age and covet the honor of martyrdom for the cause of prostitution!
Warren Chase is one of the most popular of all the authors and lecturers of spiritualism, and he has done more to undermine the foundations of morality than any other one. Of his own marriage he says:—
“The priest said God put two beings together so that no man should dare to put them asunder. If God did do it, then the priest did not; and if God did not, then the priest surely did not; and hence his act was useless either way, except as a license to society to call them man and wife.”—P. 67.
But if the marriage rite is useless, it is evident that men and women may, as he quotes approvingly, trust their attractions without any restraint to protect society. And to carry out the idea of the uselessness of the marriage rite, he publicly and privately advises to disregard its obligations where it has already been solemnized.
Mr. Chase is not an ignorant man, but a very reckless one. He well knows that to abolish legal marriage, in the present and prospective state of society, would be to bring upon our sinful race the greatest possible calamity; that without the restraints of law, over the vicious, society, as such in any civilized sense, could not exist. What, then, are his motives for persistently opposing the legal relation of marriage? What substitute will he offer? The law of attraction, or the “religion of desire,” as Dr. Child has it?
Dr. Gridley published a work under the title of “Astounding Facts from the Spirit World.” Of what is, and what is to be, he said:—
“Friend Bryant, and other spirit friends from the fifth degree, deny the statements of such as have dressed up this subject in glowing colors. They state that no good and advancing spirits below the fifth degree have aught to do with the sexual relation in any sense whatever, any more than the virtuous part of the community do on earth before marriage. They state that after the Judgment the positive spirit can readily fill the negative by contact, and as the male is generally and naturally positive to the female, so a spiritually enlightened wisdom often inclines them to assume the position of connubial commerce, not to produce a new existence, as on earth, but to supply the negative spirit with their own positive elements, or in other words, to multiply their own spiritual life in others. . . . The spiritual world is the counterpart of the earth-world in this as in other matters, and as the generative organs are the proper vehicles for the impartation and propagation of natural life, so the same organs in the higher life and of course on a higher plane are vehicles through which spiritual life is often, though by no means always, disposed to flow. They affirm that any positive spirit has free access to any negative spirit where there is affinity—that though the male may have a female companion who is constitutionally adapted to be to him a better help-meet on the whole than any other, and so generally accompanies him, yet the latter has no jealousy and knows no exclusiveness, that she is glad to have the life of God increased in any way, and anywhere—that the same liberty will ere long be given to men on earth, ‘who are found worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead,’ which can be done without putting off the body.”—Astounding Facts from the Spirit World, pp. 171–2.
Evil-minded spirits in all the degrees are represented as given to licentiousness.
But the point to which we call especial attention is the license for promiscuous intercourse which is soon to be given to men on earth. Note that the license will extend to all above the fourth degree—that the true reformers are all in that degree, except a few who have passed through it—and that it usually takes about eleven years to pass through it. What a flood of iniquity these demons are pouring upon the world!
The time indicated in this book for such privileges to be given to that class of reformers, has already arrived. Therefore the course of Moses Hull and his wife, Mrs. Woodhull, and the National Convention of Spiritualists, is only what we have been expecting. The spirits have been training up their deluded followers to this position for twenty years past.
Cora Hatch was, for years, the most popular of trance-speaking mediums. Her husband, Dr. Hatch, traveled extensively with her, and thereby became well acquainted with mediums, and with spiritualism, as it is practiced as well as taught by the body of its adherents. The following is his testimony of the immorality of its doctrines and the lives of its advocates:—
“All spiritualists claim that the mental control of mediums is spiritual psychology, and that for the time being, the mind is held in perfect vassalage to the controlling spirit. Also, that the spirit world is made up of just such persons as are daily passing from this world to that, and that both the good and evil alike have power to return and obsess mortals who are mediumistic. Therefore, taking the concession of the spiritualist and combining it with the well-known laws of psychological control, we are inevitably forced to the following conclusion, viz., that there is no reliance to be placed upon the veracity or moral integrity of any mental medium on earth. Their oath would be wholly unreliable, for the moment they are called upon to bear witness they may become infested or obsessed by an outside influence which desires to give different testimony, and thereby made to utter such statements as they know to be wholly false, when in their normal condition; and at the same time they may be, apparently, perfectly themselves in reference to all other things. Here we have a basis, according to the spiritualist’s own theory, which is incontrovertible, and which establishes upon immutable laws the perfect unreliability of mediums.
“The most damning iniquities are everywhereperpetrated in spiritualist circles, a very small percentage of which ever comes to public attention. I care not whether it be spiritual or mundane, the facts exist, and should demand the attention and condemnation of an intelligent community.
“It is worse than useless to talk to the spiritualists against this condition of things; for those who occupy the highest position among them are aiding and abetting in all classes of iniquities which prevail among them. The abrogation of marriage, bigamy, accompanied by robbery, theft, rapes, are all chargeable upon spiritualism. I most solemnly affirm that I do not believe that there has during the past five hundred years, arisen any people who are guilty of so great a variety of crimes and indecencies as the spiritualists of America.
“For a long time I was swallowed up in its whirlpool of excitement, and comparatively paid but little attention to its evils, believing that much good might result from the openings of the avenues of spiritual intercourse. But during the past eight months I have devoted my attention to critical investigation of its moral, social, and religious bearing, and I stand appalled before the revelations of its awful and damning realities.”
Mrs. Hatch, under the influence of spiritualism, left her husband for certain affinities, since which time she has passed under the names of Scott, Tappan, McKinley, &c., &c. As Cora Scott she lectured in Clinton Hall, New York, as usual under spirit influence. At the close of her lecture a discussion arose, and while an elderly man was speaking a young man interrupted him. The latter part of the scene we give as found in a Boston paper. The young man said:—
“‘I have come here to shame that old man. He is my father. He left his wife and children, and is now living with Cora Hatch, in East Broadway.’
“A voice.—‘Well, go home, and do not come here to settle your private troubles.’
“Young Man.—‘You may think I am doing wrong; but if you knew all the facts of the case you would think I am doing right.’
“Several voices.—‘Go on. Let us hear the story. Take the stand,’ &c.
“Young Man.—‘I have done everything to get that man to do right by his family, but I have not been able to do so. I am his son, and am here to shame him in public. His name is William McKinley, and he keeps a store at the corner of Chatham and Pearl streets. He has beaten my mother and treated her most shamefully, and he has abandoned her to live with Cora Hatch.’”
Dr. Randolph, after traveling eight years as a medium and speaker and making over 3000 speeches in its defense, gives the following view of its moral standing:—
“For seven years I held daily intercourse with what purported to be my mother’s spirit. I am now fully persuaded that it was nothing but an evil spirit, an infernal demon, who in that guise gained my soul’s confidence, and led me to the very brink of ruin. We read in Scripture of demoniac possession as well as of normal spiritual action. Both facts exist provable to-day; I am positive the former does. A. J. Davis and his clique of Harmonialists say there are no evil spirits. I emphatically deny the statement. Five of my friends destroyed themselves, and I attempted it, by direct spiritual influences. Every crime in the calendar has been committed by mortal movers of viewless beings. Adultery, fornication, suicides, desertions, unjust divorces, prostitution, abortion, insanity, are not evils, I suppose. I charge all these to this scientific spiritualism. It has also broken up families, squandered fortunes, tempted and destroyed the weak. It has banished peace from happy families, separated husbands and wives, and shattered the intellect of thousands.”
Mr. J. F. Whitney was editor of the N. Y. Pathfinder, and an advocate of spiritualism. After several years of familiarity with it he gives the following testimony against it:—
“Now, after a long and constant watchfulness, seeing for months and for years its progress and its practical workings upon its devotees, its believers, and its mediums, we are compelled to speak our honest conviction, which is, that the manifestations coming through the acknowledged mediums, who are designated as rapping, tipping, writing, and entranced mediums, have a baneful influence upon believers, and create discord and confusion; that the generality of these teachings inculcate false ideas, approve of selfish, individual acts, and indorse theories and principles which, when carried out, debase and make men little better than the brute. These are among the fruits of modern spiritualism, and we do not hesitate to say that we believe if these manifestations are continued to be received, and to be as little understood as they are, and have been since they made their appearance at Rochester, and mortals are to be deceived by their false, fascinating, and snake-like charming powers which go with them, the day will come when the world will require the appearance of another Saviour to redeem the world from its departing from Christ’s warnings. . . .
“Seeing, as we have, the gradual progress it makes with its believers, particularly its mediums, from lives of morality to those of sensuality, and immorality, gradually and cautiously undermining the foundation of good principles, we look back with amazement to the radical change which a few months will bring about in individuals, for its tendency is to approve and indorse each individual act and character, however good or bad these acts may be. . . .
“We desire to send forth our warning voice, and if our humble position, as the head of a public journal, our known advocacy of spiritualism, our experience, and the conspicuous part we have played among its believers, the honesty and the fearlessness with which we have defended the subject, will weigh anything in our favor, we desire that our opinions may be received, and those who are moving passively down the rushing rapids to destruction, should pause, ere it be too late, and save themselves from the blasting influence which those manifestations are causing.” J. H. Waggoner.
The Reign of Crime.
It is often charged that Adventists look too much at the dark side of things in setting out the increase of crime in the land. The Chicago Evening Journal is a paper widely known in the North-west for its cautious editorials. It is then worth something to know that in the issue of that paper, of Aug. 26, 1874, an editorial appeared of which the words at the head of this article, are the heading, and the following is an extract:—
If Mr. Beecher used to be rather soft on the doctrine of “total depravity,” we suspect he may have got more light on this point by this time. But Brooklyn does not by any means monopolize the illustrative evidence of it. Crimes of all sorts and sizes seem just now to be “breaking out,” like the measles, all over the body social. The newspapers, if they give the news at all, have to be darkened with the wretched records of misdoings. We confess the dailies at the present time are not so cheerful reading as might be. Suicides, murder, and the whole catalogue of offenses against God and man are startlingly prevalent. Is it symptomatic of some great social disease, the seeds of which have been long growing, but long hidden? Is there some malign moral miasma in the air?—some taint in the blood?—some great, though subtle, popular error that has been silently conceiving sin, and at last bringing forth iniquity? Or is it only a kind of spiritual contagion, or epidemic, like the epizootic, for instance, among animals, that has somehow got started, and is sweeping across the continent?
Such questions are full of significance, even if not easily answered. The philosophy of epidemical influences in society is better understood than it was a generation ago; but we suspect the subject is far from being cleared up yet. We need more light both as to the incipient causes, and the concomitant conditions which allow such alarming potency to causes that seemed to be latent, until, all at once, they break forth, as if thousands had suddenly taken to the habit of carrying loose powder and matches in the same pocket. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he;” is it, then, that somehow communities get to thinking of the same ill things, and the bad thought becomes a tempting suggestion, and forthwith begins to work in the heart like a spark in an old-fashioned tinder-box? If so, one scarcely dares to think of the frightful consequences that may come of this Brooklyn scandal-sowing throughout the land.
Trusting Jesus and Living for Christ
How few are simply trusting in Jesus, making him all in all, feeling themselves complete in him! Even in churches, how few are there who can say, “To me to live is Christ.”
The Difficulty of Repenting Repeated Sin
It is a great deal easier to commit the second sin than it was to commit the first; and a great deal harder to repent of the second than it was to repent of the first.
Obituary Notices.
By Uriah Smith
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.”
Died, in Detroit, Mich., Sept. 9, 1874, of typhoid fever accompanied with palsy, Patience Daniels, wife of D. L. Daniels, formerly of Potter Co., Pa., aged 61 years and 8 months. She was the mother of seven children, of whom all are living, and six were present at the funeral. Great is the sorrow of Bro. Daniels and his afflicted family at this the first entrance of death into their circle. But she has left behind what will be to them a constant comfort and inspiration; namely, a godly example, and the record of a well-finished life. This family have long known the truth. The Lord help them to fulfill that promise which was the comfort of their mother’s dying hour, that they would all obey the truth, and try to meet her in the first resurrection. Funeral services conducted by the writer at the Washington Avenue Christian Church, Sept. 11. U. S.
General Meeting for Southern Ill.
At the earnest request of the friends of the cause in Southern Illinois, there will be a general meeting held under the tent in Greenup, Cumberland Co., Oct. 1-5, 1874. This meeting is appointed for the benefit of the scattered friends of the truth in the southern part of the State. We hope to see a general rally from this part of the field. Come, dear brethren and sisters, let us now commence the work of humbling ourselves, and drawing near to God, that we may obtain his blessing. All should come as far as possible prepared to care for themselves. As the meeting in Indiana will be held a week before, could we not have some ministerial help sent us? The presence of Bro. and sister White would be hailed with joy, or any other help the General Conference may send. R. F. Andrews.
Grove Meeting in Iowa.
No providence preventing, there will be a grove meeting, commencing Oct. 8th and continuing to the 12th, at Cook's Landing, Monona Co., Iowa, in the vicinity of the Onowa church, three miles from Blanchard Station on the Sioux City R. R. There will be teams at the station to convey passengers to the ground. Brethren from Decatur will provide a boat for crossing the river from the Nebraska side.
Brethren, let us come up to this meeting expecting the blessing of God. All that can will come with provisions and bedding to take care of themselves. All are invited. We will pitch the tent on the ground for persons to lodge in. Brethren Boyd and Hart are invited to be with us. J. Bartlett, F. McWilliams.
Quarterly Meetings in Minnesota.
Blue Earth City, Oct. 10, 11.
Tenhassen, “ 14.
Cherokee, Iowa, “ 17, 18.
Sibley, “ 24, 25.
Mankato, Minn., Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
H. Grant.
Quarterly meeting of Allegany church will be held on Niles Hill, Oct. 3, 4. Members invited to attend or report. D. C. Phillips, Clerk.
The next quarterly meeting of the church at Hundred Mile Grove, Wisconsin, will be held at their meeting-house, Oct. 3 and 4, in connection with the general quarterly meeting of the T. & M. Society of Wisconsin. N. M. Jordon.
The general quarterly meeting of the Wis. T. & M. Society at Hundred Mile Grove, the time appointed, Oct. 3 and 4, not Lodi, as before stated through mistake. O. A. Olsen, Pres.
River Falls, Wis., Oct. 3, 4. Harrison Grant.
The next quarterly meeting of the Wis. T. and M. Society will be held at Lodi, Columbia Co., Oct. 3, 4. We hope that all the Directors will be prompt and active in reference to the quarterly meetings in their several districts. These meetings should be held two or three weeks previous to the general meeting, so that the reports of these meetings can be sent to the State Secretary, Mattie A. Babcock, Monroe, Wis. This is necessary so that we can have a proper report at the general meeting. Let us be at work, dear brethren, and let us strive to make this meeting one of blessing and profit. Would like much to see Bro. Haskell at this meeting. O. A. Olsen, Pres.
I design to commence meetings in Antrim, Shiawassee Co., Oct. 10, and continue them over the next Sabbath; at Leroy, Ingham Co., Oct. 24 and 25. J. O. Corliss.
No preventing providence, I will meet with the T. & M. Society of Dist. No. 6, at Avilla, Mo., Sept. 26, 27, as Bro. Wick may arrange; Oct. 2, 3, at Elk Falls, Howard Co., Kan., as Bro. Symons shall direct. Let there be a general attendance of all who can attend at these meetings. J. H. Rogers.
Quarterly meeting for the T. & M. Society of Dist. No. 3, McLeod Co., Minn., will be held at Hutchinson, Sept. 26 and 27. A general attendance of the members of the whole district is earnestly solicited. J. L. House, Director.
Quarterly meeting of the churches of Genoa, Alaiedon, Bunkerhill, Locke, and Antrim, at Genoa, Sept. 26 and 27. There will be in connection a meeting of the T. & M. Society of Dist. No. 11. All the members of said churches are cordially requested to attend. Come prepared to report. Let us seek the Lord, that his blessing may attend our meeting. Will Bro. Root try to be present? Alex. Carpenter, Director.
The general quarterly meeting of the T. & M. Society of Minnesota will be held at Mankato, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 1874. I hope to see our Conference Committee and all the directors and many of the friends of the cause at this meeting. We want to lay plans and open the way at this meeting for the tract and missionary work to go forward the coming winter. The winter months are the best time to work in the cause in Minnesota. The new meeting-house at Mankato will be dedicated at that time. Let all the directors appoint and hold their district quarterly meetings two weeks previous to our general quarterly meetings, and be ready to report all that has been done in each district. Elds. Lee, Curtis, and Ellis, are especially requested to be at this meeting. I would say to the brethren and sisters to come prepared to take care of yourselves as much as possible, as but few of our people live near the place of meeting. Harrison Grant, Pres.
A Straw.
By C. S.
THE Christian at Work, of Sept. 10., 1874, says:— “And now comes news of another cloud arising between Egypt and Turkey, the difficulty growing out of a desire on the part of the former to acquire the islands of Crete, Rhodes, and Cyprus. Egypt wants to become a maritime power, and the islands afford harbors and much timber for suitable ship-building. Turkey, on the other hand, opposes the division of Egypt, because she is anxious to retain her naval supremacy, and also because she has no wish for her already dangerous neighbor to acquire territory at her expense.”
We remember that the trouble which caused the downfall of the Ottoman Empire in 1840, was introduced by a difficulty between that power and Egypt; and it is not impossible that her final overthrow may result from a similar disturbance, of which we may even now be witnessing the commencement. C. S.
California Camp-Meeting
By John Norton Loughborough
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand
** Services in Chicago, every Sabbath (seventh day), at 260 West Erie St. All Sabbath-keepers spending a Sabbath in Chicago are invited to attend.
California Camp-Meeting.
THE California camp-meeting will be held near Yountville station, Napa Co., Cal., on the same ground as last year, commencing Oct. 1, and continuing to the morning of Oct. 12. In connection with this camp-meeting, the yearly business sessions of the Cal. State Conference, and the Cal. State Missionary Society will be held.
We hope to see all our brethren and sisters in the State assembled at this camp-meeting. Come in the name of the Lord, bringing with you all you can induce to come, and all such as you have hope may be benefited by such a meeting.
You will find a fuller statement concerning this camp-meeting in Signs of the Times, Nos. 6 and 7.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH,
Pres. Cal. State. Conf.
Lapeer Camp-Meeting.
The prospects now are for a large gathering at the Lapeer Camp-meeting. Bro. Potter writes the 15th:—
“We had a bee yesterday. The ground is nearly clear. We are getting things well under way. Lumber, hay, straw, wood, &c., are all engaged, and I think we shall be fully ready on time.”
“It must be that most of our people expect to use their tents; as I have heard from only about one dozen small tents; and these have all been spoken for by churches in this part.”
Half Fare.
By Wm. Potter
Arrangements have been made with the Detroit and Bay City, and the Chicago and Lake Huron Railroads to take passengers at half fare. People coming to the Lapeer Camp-meeting over these roads should call for Camp-meeting tickets. These tickets will be good for return when signed by Camp-meeting Committee.
Wm. POTTER, for Committee.
Lapeer, Sept. 15, 1874.
Departures of Elder Butler and Elder White
Departures.
Elder Butler left Battle Creek the 17th, to spend about a week at his Iowa home, and then to journey direct to the California Camp-meeting. Elder White with sister W., left the same day to attend the Ohio, Indiana, and North-east Michigan Camp-meetings. They had been laboring together intensely hard for a few days, in the interests of our institutions located in this city, and will doubtless experience great relief in meeting the friends in camp.
Our Embarkation.
By John Nevins Andrews
Within a few hours, if Providence permit, myself and children and Bro. Vuilleumier will embark from this port on the Cunard steamship, Atlas, for Liverpool. It has not been without difficulty that I have been able to close up my matters in this country so that I could without embarrassment give myself to the work of God in Europe. I am grateful to God that I have succeeded in this undertaking. And now, as we set forth, we commit ourselves to the merciful protection of God, and we especially ask the prayers of the people of God that his blessing may attend us in this sacred work. I hope to meet Eld. W. M. Jones in London, and perhaps to meet a few other Sabbath-keepers in some other parts of England. We shall then make our way directly to Switzerland. My address till further notice will be Neuchatel, Switzerland.
J. N. ANDREWS.
Boston, Sept. 14.
Lapeer Camp-Meeting.
By Wm. Potter
PASSENGERS will be carried to and from the camp-ground in Lapeer for 12½ cts each, baggage 10 cts. Those coming on the Detroit and Bay City R. R. to the camp-meeting call for camp-meeting tickets at half fare, and return.
Wm. POTTER.
G. W. COLCORD
By G. W. Colcord
Notice.
OUR friends will please send no tent money to Arthur, Ill., but remit to me at Greenup, Cumberland Co., Ill., either in registered letter or draft. Or, better still, come to our general meeting, Oct. 1-5. See Bro. Andrews’ appointment. Come, all who can, and bring your friends. We desire to see a general gathering of the friends of the cause in Southern Ill. Services commence Wednesday evening, Sept. 30, and close Monday morning, Oct. 5. Come prepared to attend every meeting. Remit early—not later than Oct. 1.
G. W. COLCORD
D. M. CANRIGHT
By Dudley Marvin Canright
My P. O. address is now Santa Clara, Cal.
D. M. CANRIGHT
The School.
By James White
There are daily arrivals at Battle Creek of students to attend the fall term of our school. The whole term is seventeen weeks, thirteen of which remain. It is expected that all those who design to attend any portion of the fall term will come immediately.
The new building is progressing finely. The brick work is above the windows of the third story. The roof will soon go on. And the building will be ready for the next term of the school, to commence January 4, 1874—
Provided that means can be promptly furnished. The Publishing Association has furnished $10,000 for the building, and can spare no more. The Directors of the Health Institute offer $2,000, which will soon be used up, as receipts for the school now fall far behind expenditures.
The work must not and will not stop here. We appeal, first, to those who have pledged for the school to not only pay pledges which are due, but to advance on pledges that are due next January, as far as possible; and, second, to those who are able to do so, to loan without interest to the school in sums not less than $100 each.
Now is the time for prompt action on the part of the friends of our school. Our friends who have cash at their command which they can lend to the school for a few months are urgently invited to pass it in to help just now, and receive it back when all have paid their pledges. The work of building is progressing in the most satisfactory manner. Help, friends, and help now.
JAMES WHITE, Chairman of School Board.
To Correspondents.
By Uriah Smith
“John 8:22: ‘Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? Because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.’ Where did the Jews think that Jesus would go if he killed himself?” M. L. S.
Simply into some state or condition in which he would be beyond their reach, or where they could not find him. They thought that nothing short of death would put him where they could not find him. So they asked, Will he kill himself?
“Is the famine spoken of in Amos 8:11, 12, past or future?” L. W. C.
The famine spoken of is a famine of hearing the word of the Lord; and we think it will be fulfilled in the future, when the work of the gospel ministry is done.
“Will Sabbath-keepers of other countries be affected by the decree of the image which is formed in this country?” A. M. L.
Not directly. The papacy has leavened with its corrupt doctrines all Christendom, which adapts the warning of the third angel to all civilized lands. But the work of the image is local, and affects those of other places simply as fulfillments of prophecy in other lands affect us, confirming our faith, and establishing our confidence in the truth. The message of Rev. 14:8, was called out by the rejection of the doctrine of the second coming of Christ by backslidden and backsliding Protestants, and doubtless that of Rev. 18:2, and onward will be called out by some of their work in connection with the formation of the image.
Paul, in 1 Cor. 15:29, asks what they shall do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not: “Why are they then baptized for the dead?” His argument is to show the great fact of the resurrection of the dead; and he asks why we do certain things if we do not believe it. Why do we expose ourselves to death every hour, and endure all the sacrifices we have to make, and why are we baptized in the faith and hope and representation, of the resurrection of the dead, if that event is never to occur? Dr. Clarke, in his note on this text, takes the view that this is what the apostle meant by being baptized for the dead. For an exposition of 1 Pet. 3:19, 20, see Man’s Nature and Destiny, pp. 87-95, and for an explanation of verse 21, see article on Baptism in REVIEW of Sept. 1, 1874.
“Does Eze. 47:9, 10 refer to the new-earth state?” W. B. H.
We think the prophecy of Ezekiel, from the 40th chapter to the end, was a conditional prophecy, chap. 43:11, and never fulfilled to the Israelites, because they did not comply with the conditions upon which it was suspended. Jer. 6:15. U. S.
A BLUE cross on the margin of your paper signifies that your subscription will expire in two weeks, and that an earnest invitation is extended to you to renew at once.
RECEIPTS
For Review and Herald.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD TO which the money received pays—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Pastors. If money for the paper is not due in time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
$2.00 EACH. Mary Robinson 46-13, Mrs. E J Marden 46-15, Amelia Tubbs 46-13, Martin Rathbun 46-12, F A Drake 46-12, J L Howe 46-8, Dr J O Reynolds 46-14, Mrs N J Leroy 46-13, M Dow 46-11, Seth Page 46-12, Betsey Read 46-12, John Rowe 46-14, John Cook 46-12, Wm E McCutchan 46-11, Mrs A A Hervey 46-12, Mary Chase 47-14, F C Taylor 47-1, H M Kilgore 46-2, H E Tuck 46-15, R S Brown 46-12, Richard Asbury 47-1, P D Lawrence 47-9, Louisa Filer 46-1, P C Beset 46-7, Mrs J Canright 46-12, Mrs A Pond 46-13, D B Good 46-13, Andrew Weaver 46-13, Alfred Mason 47-20, Miss Bell Kincheloe 46-12, The Democrat 46-15, W W Smith 46-15, A B Griggs 46-15, D A Goff 45-14, Wm Stuff 45-14, H A Fortune 46-9, R H Lampard 45-12, Abram Coon 46-12, R Morgan 45-14, W M Winters 45-13, C B Carpenter 45-14, Geo Billington 45-14, James Coffey 45-12, D F Randolph 45-14, Mrs Wm W Chase 45-12, Calvin Burrays 46-12, Arnold Southwick 46-12, Thomas Frederick 46-12, Lucy Bradford 46-12, D J Adams 46-12, A W Bunnell 46-12, Arthur W Bartlett 45-12, Sarah Shasbrook 45-12, Thomas Pichard 45-12, Wm Semple 45-15, Chas Cooper 45-10, Gilbert Clement 46-12, Abigail Gibbs 46-12, A J Gardner 45-12, L Wilcox 46-12, W M Brown 46-12, Wealthy McNitt 45-14, Mrs Hobart 45-14, Mary E Raymond 45-13, Doran Warren 45-14, R Fitz 46-15, Wm Fowler 46-14, H C Yerby 46-14, G C Martin 46-14, G W Andrews 46-14, Mrs Lucy Bush 46-14, S L Ogburn 46-12, Mrs L M Hall 46-12, Susan A Vedder 46-14, J A Hardy 46-8, M M Blaisdell 46-17, Alonzo Greenman 46-12, Wm Molton 46-12, John Cartes 46-12, John Carter 45-12, James Buchanan 46-8.
$1.00 EACH. M E Hunt 46-12, M E Murphy 45-9, Ebin Tilton 46-12, Esther McChasick 46-12, J M Some 46-12, E A Barton 45-14, M B Lathrop 46-12, James T Boone 46-12, R B Ross 45-12, Wm M Eddy 45-12.
Miscellaneous.
A Cimpino 75c 46-10, C M Shepard 50c 45-1, S Smith $1.50 46-1, O S Ferren 50c 45-1, J A Billinger 50c 45-1, Jacob Kramer 25c 44-25, Harvey H Barton 25c 44-25, John Caldwell 25c 44-25, Lloyd Caldwell 25c 44-25, Ebenezer Corsant 50c 45-12, John M Adams 5.00 43-1, D M Canright 5.00 49-1, John Whitlock 50c 46-7, B H Spaulding 5c 45-12.
Books Sent by Mail.
Mrs Warner Messenger 25c, Miss Clarinda Root 10c, E D Jones 50c, James W Leman 10c, Chas L Hoxie 35c, Rogers 35c, Geo Billington 35c, S W Bradley 50c, R F Andrews $1.20, H W Evans 75c, Miss E M Mc Kinney 1.00, Lars Johannesen 1.00, Theodore F Kendall 25c, Geo B Kingsley 25c, H L Gardner 25c, Sophie M Crosby 1.00, Mrs L Richer 50c, John M Adams 7.50, G W Rogers 15c, F A Rounds 40c, Rodney Stringer 6.60, N A Lord 17c, A C Henderson 3.00, T D Cutler 35c, Wm Servatus 1.00, Mrs Nette 3.39, B W Reed 50c, E D Hoagland 1.00, F K Washburn 1.75, C B Fitzgerald 1.00, Mrs Jane Babbit 25c, A A Ware & Co 15c, M McKeown 1.00, John Moore 10c, J A O'Bryan 2.00, W W Mitchell 25c, S S Stuart 49c.
Cash Received on Account.
S H Lane $2.00, Chas F Stevens 3.60, R M Kilgore 30.00, H and Ken T & M Society 80.00, Indiana T & M Society 50.00.
Book Fund.
M Hodges $1.00, L Green 6.00, J Hodges 1.00, S M Stockwell 5.00, M E Goodwin 1.00, Rosa Jero 4.00, H C Bigham 5.00, L M Jones 5.00, A friend 5.00, L P Wheeler 1.00, M Dickinson 2.00, A friend 2.00, Mary Parsons 1.00, I N Russell 5.00, Mrs D and L F Russell 5.00, J Hering 10.00, L Drew 10.00, C Bowen 1.00, E Buckland 2.00, M M & A E Buckland 3.50, W H B Cottrell 2.00, A J Petrie 5.00, Geo Brown 25c, Mrs Williams 5.00, M E Mowry 5.00, Permelia Alvord 25.00, Mrs J H Archer (thank-offering) 1.00 gold, B M Smith 2.00, J M Green 10.00, Sally Dunton 2.00, L G Huntley 5.00, H E Haskell 3.00, Mary Haskell 3.00, B Haines 3.50, Georgie H Murphy 50c, Laura Bee 10c, Lucius Bee 10c, Mrs C B Preston 15.00, Ellen Armstrong 5.00, Maria West 2.00, Hannah Green 10.00, Betsey Osgood 10.00, B M Osgood 5.00, E P Osgood 5.00, L Potter 5.00, Esther Cagwin 5.00, E F Tabor 2.00, Sybil Pettis 1.00, E Warren 5.00.
General Conference Tract and Missionary Society.
Mr Jones $5.00.
Danish Monthly.
Edward Olson $5.00, Annie Olson 2.00, S J Olson 2.00, Albert Olson 50c, A Rasmussen & wife 10.00.
Hygienic Book Fund.
A D Hutchins $2.00.
Shares in the S. D. A. P. Association.
Elsie Brigham $10.00, D A Owen 10.00, Mary Glascock 10.00, Rachel H Evans 5.00, Reuben Griggs 10.00, Margaret Phills 10.00, Minerva Miller 10.00, Jerusha Wisel 10.00, C C Collins 10.00, A D Hutchins 10.00, Levi Wilcox 10.00.
Shares in Health Institute.
Levi N Miller $25.00.
S. D. A. Educational Society.
$100.00. Jesse Barrows.
50.00 EACH. S R Barrows, R H Peck & wife, H N Austin.
$30.00. Eugene P Kellogg.
$25.00 EACH. A Atwood, Wm Morton, John A Davis.
$20.00 EACH. M E Kellogg, J B Goodrich, Chas G Satterlee & wife.
$10.00 EACH. Elsie Brigham, J G Sterling, Wm Wales, G W Page, D T Evans, Mrs D T Evans, Joseph E Hool, Reuben J Bailey, Albert Stone, G W Washburn, C R Davis, A J Goodrich, Chas Stratton, J M Balou, J Q Foy, Wm S Lane, W W Lane, R F Cottrell, Geo W Samson.
$5.00 EACH. N S Brigham, Semour Ramsey, Samuel Dana, John Cardell, Sarah A Cardell, E A Barton, Belle R Austin, Elias Cobb, M M Webber, M L Satterlee.
$2.00. Chas A Bailey.
$1.00 EACH. John Brigham, Ella Brigham, Mary Foster, Mary S Chase.