DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—We have long felt that perhaps it was our duty to communicate through the Review a few words by the way of encouragement, remembering that we have oft times ourselves been cheered and much encouraged by your letters to strive by the grace of God to overcome. We feel to participate with you in all your joys and sorrows. The enemy of all righteousness is busily engaged here, as elsewhere, manifesting by his assiduity that his time is short. Let us, brethren and sisters, rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer persecution for Christ's sake: knowing that if we suffer with him and endure firmly to the end we shall reign with him in that glorious kingdom prepared for the children of God.
Brethren and sisters, are any of you getting weary on your journey to the celestial city? are any sighing for the fruits in the land of bondage? look not back, we are well able to go up and possess that heavenly country. There is a rich reward for those who endure unto the end. Hear the Saviour's cheering words: Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
When we contemplate the glorious prospect and the many precious promises that the christian has presented to him in God's word, we are surprised that so many are content with the corroding joys of this life; but we are more surprised that any who have had a foretaste of those true joys, could ever exchange them for the husks and vanities of earth. The truth is a jewel that few possess; but how bright it shines when freed from the rubbish and dross of this polluted world: and how pure should those be who profess to own this jewel.
We are looking forward with joyful anticipations to the time when we shall be delivered from this sin-polluted world. The truth is still precious to us. As we meet from Sabbath to Sabbath our faith grows stronger in the Lord, and the Scriptures of divine truth, which are "given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." We feel thankful to God that we have been led by his Spirit to see present truth. We thank him that he has given us willing hearts to come out and separate ourselves from the world, and try to keep his holy commandments. We thank him that he has given us a place with his dear children who are trying to overcome everything that is wrong in the sight of a holy God, and it is our prayer that we may have more strength to overcome every besetting sin, and live with an eye single to the glory of God.
Dearly beloved, we can sympathize with you in your trials and temptations, and we entreat you to be faithful a little while longer; for deliverance is at hand. May we all prove faithful unto the end, and at last receive the promise, even eternal life, is the prayer of your unworthy brother and sister.
PHREMAN ROBINSON.
POLLY ROBINSON.
A Growing Band in the Truth
By C. Pangburn
From Bro. Pangburn.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I would say to you and to the brethren scattered abroad that I am yet striving by the grace of God, to keep all his commandments and the faith of Jesus. It has been three years this present month, since I embraced the glorious doctrine of the third angel's message. I can truly say that the Review has always been a welcome messenger to me. By circulating the Review and a few pamphlets that I brought with me from N. Y. State, one year ago, it has been the means of calling some out of Babylon, who are now striving to purify themselves by obeying the truth, that it may be said of them, Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. They are rejoicing in the truth and are praying to the Lord to send some laborer this way to labor awhile with us. I think much good might be done.
Our little band numbers eleven who never have heard a discourse on the subject. We meet together every Sabbath, and the Lord is with us in very deed.240We often meet with vile opposers and they tell us that the law is done away in Christ; but let us hear Paul on that point: "Do we then make void the law through faith; God forbid; yea we establish the law." Rom. iii, 31. And again, we are told that all his commandments are sure, they stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. Ps. cxi, 7, 8. But he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law even his prayer shall be abomination. Prov. xxviii, 9.
But amidst all the opposition I feel steadfast and immoveable. I feel that I am founded upon the rock. I feel like doubling my diligence. Brethren let us wake up to this great and glorious cause. What we find for our hands to do let us do it with our might, that we have something to give to the cause, and to those dear brethren that go out to preach the word. I am poor in this world's goods, but I trust rich in faith. I would say to the traveling brethren, if convenient, to call on us. We live thirty miles from Chicago, on the Rock Island rail-road.
C. PANGBURN.
Mokena, Ill., May 14th, 1855.
OBITUARY.
By R. F. Cottrell
I would inform the brethren of the death of our beloved brother John C. Below of this place. He died of palsy, on the 9th inst., in the seventieth year of his age, leaving a widow and an only child, a daughter, to mourn his loss, but not as those who have no hope. Sister Below has an only surviving son by a former husband.
Bro. Below was a Prussian by birth, and brought up in the Lutheran church. The former part of his life was spent upon the seas. Leaving that occupation, he bought a farm, married a Sabbath-keeper, and for a few years, two Sabbaths were observed in the family. A little more than three years ago he embraced the Sabbath under the preaching of the third angel's message, and soon after was baptized and united with the little church in this place. Though not, in word and in tongue, of so strong faith and ardent zeal as some, yet he was constant in his attendance at our meetings, faithful in the discharge of his duties there, and free in the use of means to publish abroad the truth. While he went in and out among us, for some time, his failing powers, of body and of mind, admonished him that his stay with us was short, and he frequently expressed this presentiment together with his earnest desire that he might be ready. We trust that God heard his prayers, and that he sleeps in Jesus.
“Asleep in Jesus! Blessed sleep, From which none ever wake to weep.”
R. F. COTTRELL.
Deaths of Philander and Lucy Corsett
DIED at the residence of his son-in-law, J. H. Cottrell, near Mill Grove, Erie Co., N. Y., on the 1st inst., of the palsy, Philander Corsett, in the 84th year of his age. Also, on the 4th inst., of inflammation on the lungs, Mrs. Lucy Corsett, wife of Philander Corsett, in the 69th year of her age.
FRANCIS GOULD
By Francis Gould
From Bro. Gould.
DEAR BRO. WHITE :—I am still trying to overcome, and my prayer is that I may be sanctified through the truth.
I accidentally took up a religious periodical the other day, (The Morning Star,) in which a writer in giving an account of a revival, says that some 25 or 30 persons have been converted and many added to the church in that place, (Mich.,) and the good work has been going on until within a few days past, since a Millerite has been holding forth that there is no such thing as eternal punishment, and that the doctrines preached here before are false; and then he winds up by saying that it was too much like the doctrine preached to Adam and Eve in the garden.
The question now arises, What was the first false teaching that Adam and Eve heard after God had placed them in the garden and commanded them what trees to eat and what not to eat? We are taught that the Devil is a liar; and the Son of God was manifest to destroy the works of the Devil. The first lie he ever told mankind was in preaching the doctrine that "thou shalt not surely die:" a falsehood which has caused all the sin and sorrow, pain and death that has ever been felt by mortals here. Blindness in part has happened to Israel, says Paul; and if the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the ditch. I would exclaim like Peter, that we have not followed cunningly devised fables, but have a more sure word of prophecy, and we do well to take heed thereunto as unto a light that shines in a dark place.
Yours in love of the truth.
FRANCIS GOULD
Randolph, Vt., May 5th, 1855.
SUSAN A. MILLS
By Susan A. Mills
From Sister Mills.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I feel it my duty to add my testimony to the truth. It is now nearly a year since I commenced keeping the holy Sabbath. My brother, with whom I live, first spoke about our keeping the first day of the week instead of the true Sabbath. I had always been brought up to keep the first day, and thought it right: having never searched for myself; but, praise to my Redeemer, he has opened my eyes to see the truth. I am very weak and surrounded by many temptations. There is but one other family here that keeps the Sabbath; we therefore have to set a double guard against the hour of temptation.
I have been receiving the Review for a few weeks past, and have derived much light and strength therefrom. I like to hear from the brethren and sisters scattered abroad. It keeps our hope and courage good to walk the narrow path to life everlasting. I am quite interested in the third angel's message which I believe is the last we shall ever hear. May the Lord help and keep us in this time.
Yours in patient waiting for our Lord's sure return.
SUSAN A. MILLS
Penfield, 1855.
Sending Publications to Foreign Stations
By Joseph Bates
From Bro. Bates.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I have thought that some of our publications might possibly prove a blessing if sent to some of the foreign missionary stations, especially to the Sandwich islands, where so many thousands of our seamen are, in certain seasons of the year harboring and recruiting for the whaling seasons. I learn that there are sometimes from three to four hundred of our seaman in their hospitals at a time, sick and disabled. From this district there are between three and four hundred ships carrying over 10,000 men in the whale fishery. More than one half of these are at those islands three or four times during their voyage.
Many of these ships are now fitting from this and other ports of the Union, aud books could be sent by them now almost every week. Perhaps some of our Brn. may feel a willingness to aid you in doing something in this way. In the first angel's message much was said and done about sending Advent publications to foreign stations. Possibly some good may be done by sending forth some under the third angel's message. Once in a while an honest soul may be found wandering over the ocean, as well as over the land. I have been thinking about sending a few of our books and papers to some of these islands on the ocean.
I am glad Bro. Hewitt was well cared for among his friends; they will not lose their reward: he was a worthy brother. We are all well as usual here: the church free and united.
Yours in love. JOSEPH BATES.
Fairhaven, Mass., May 13th, 1855.
Encouragement in the Truth
By E. Chapman
From Sister Chapman.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—It rejoices our hearts to hear from the brethren and sisters who are keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Dear brethren and sisters, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might: we shall soon reap if we faint not. A few more days and he that shall come will come and will not tarry. The signs our Saviour gave of his second coming are fulfilled and he is even at the door. O let us rejoice knowing that our redemption draweth nigh. Let us be faithful a little longer. Our Lord said, In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. If the Lord is for us who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, will he not with him freely give us all things? We have nothing to fear: if we are faithful unto the end we shall receive a crown of life that fadeth not away.
We have not heard a lecture since Bro. Waggoner was here a year ago last December. We should be glad if some of our traveling brethren would come this way. Our trust is in the Lord and he will never leave nor forsake those who put their trust in him. O let us rely on his promises, being assured that none of them can fail.
Your sister in the Lord. E. CHAPMAN.
A Tent for Wisconsin
By William Merry
From Bro. Merry.
DEAR BRO. WHITE :—I agree with Brn. Stephenson and Hall in getting a tent for Wisconsin. We are destitute of a meeting-house to hear the pure word of God unadulterated. I hope that the tent will be the means of calling God's people out of Babylon to worship God and to keep his commandments. I send enclosed $— for the Wisconsin tent. I hope that all the brethren here will cast in their mite into the treasury of the Lord, and maintain the pure word of the Lord by sustaining the preaching brethren and the Review which is the only comfort we have to put us in mind of the signs of the times, and by which we hear from all the true churches of which we hope that we are members. May our names be written in the Lamb's book of life is the prayer of your unworthy brother in the Lord.
WM. MERRY.
Metomen, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., May 12th, 1855.
"Inventors of Evil Things."
[The following is taken from the N. Y. Journal of Commerce.]
Implements of Destruction. Every few days some new invention is announced, the chief merit of which is its extraordinary ability to destroy human life. Men are earnestly endeavoring to discover the best possible means for slaughtering each other.
At Baltimore, an improvement in artillery is exhibited, called "Shaw & Ames' Patent Revolving Battery." It consists of a brass cylinder, revolving horizontally, and containing any number of chambers, with a stationary barrel. It is loaded, primed, fired and swabbed, all with one simple movement of a break, which was repeated eighty times in one minute. The whole operation can be performed by one man.
At Boston, the 6th inst., an experienced trial was made with a breech-loading carbine patented by Col. J. D. Green, which was discharged fifteen times at a target 175 yards distant, but one ball missing the mark. At 200 yards, 26 shots hit, out of thirty. The carbine weighs only seven pounds, and can easily be discharged ten times per minute.
In this city a new "revolving rifle" has been exhibited, which is claimed to possess many advantages over Colt's invention. It contains eight barrels, in separate pieces, to be detached from the gun before loading. Two or more sets of barrels may be used in connection with the firing apparatus, and can easily be carried in the pocket. By using three sets, twenty-four balls can be fired in a minute.
"Earthquakes in Divers Places."
Another Earthquake at Broussa. Broussa, April 11. Yesterday evening shortly before 8 o'clock, two or three violent shocks of an earthquake were felt here, and caused universal terror among the inhabitants. Every one called to mind the fearful scenes which had occurred hardly a month since, and was struck with the apprehension of the coming calamity, unhappily only too fully realized. In five minutes from that time every public monument and building in Broussa was a heap of ruins.
Complete details of the catastrophe are still wanting; but it may be said, in brief, that the city is destroyed—fire having devoured what relics the earthquake had left. Among other noble monuments that have perished is the magnificent mosque of Oulou-Djami, the pride of the city. Two minarets of this edifice were overthrown in the former earthquake, and cupola cracked. It is now wrecked from top to bottom, leaving nothing but a pile of crumbled stones, amidst which the celebrated turbes of the first Sultan are buried.
All the other mosques have experienced a like fate. No stone-built house in Broussa has resisted the terrible shocks. Enormous masses of earth and rock were detached from the flanks of the mountain, above the upper streets of the place, and rolled down upon the Jew's quarter, whose destruction they completed.
As to the wooden houses, which escaped with less damage from the earthquake, they have been destroyed almost totally by a conflagration. The flames broke forth at many points simultaneously, about nine o'clock, and are still raging. The scene is awful. The Bazar, and the whole quarter of the city around it, presents nothing but heaps of smouldering ashes. The European quarter has suffered least. The houses of the Franks are built in the plain, and have, in many instances, withstood the shock. But what misery is around us on every side! If the Government does not afford assistance promptly and energetically, hundreds of families who are left destitute of food, shelter or clothing, must perish miserably.
Noon. The conflagration still rages; the night has been fearful. Shocks of earthquake have not ceased to be felt, and are still recurring. More than 150 have been counted, of greater or less violence. The population seem paralysed with terror, and are plunged into a state of indescribable stupor. The number of victims it is impossible to reckon. Who, indeed, can give an account of them?
News has arrived that the village of Tikindji, situated about a league from Broussa, has been totally destroyed. Several hamlets and farm-houses in the vicinity are also reported to have been wrecked by the convulsion.
Two shocks of an earthquake were felt at Cairo, at the mouth of the Ohio, on the night of the 30th ult. A vibratory motion was sensibly felt, and a rumbling sound heard.
FOREIGN NEWS.
By Editor
On Saturday (Apr. 28) one Pianori, a Roman residing at Paris, by trade a shoemaker, deliberately fired a pistol upon the French Emperor and missed him. The Emperor has at last finally given up his visit to the Crimea—the campaign being irretrievably lost. Sevastopol has held out against the bombardment with scarcely any injury, and the prospects of the allied army grow desperate. You may in future head your articles on any arrival of European news with The Anglo-French army not yet taken, instead of Sevastopol not yet taken. According we hear again of a reassembling of the Vienna Conferences, of Prussian mediation, and of a peace dishonorable to England and France. Napoleon's lease of power cannot be of long duration. He is a European Santa Anna, and his prestige is fading.
Broussa, the early capital and the burial-place of the Ottoman Sultans, severely visited by an earthquake in the beginning of the year, has been entirely destroyed by the recent recurrence of the calamity. A few shocks sufficed to overthrow the magnificent mosques which were the pride of the Turks; and the fact that the mausoleums of the triumphant Sultans, or Othman, Osman, Bayazeed and Achmet, are now in ruins by the hands of Allah, (God,) has impressed the Turks with sinister apprehensions about their FUTURE. They take the earthquake of Broussa, for a bad omen, foretelling their downfall and the end of their rule.
The Russians suffer much from diseases; in the hospital on the northern side, there were 1720 sick in February, of whom only 247 are put down as wounded.
When Gen. Osten-Sacken—who among the Russian soldiers has the reputation of being a sorcerer—ordered the garrison to take the oath of allegiance to Czar Alexander II, the officers sent a deputation to him requesting permission to take one more oath, viz.: Rather to die under the ruins of Sevastopol than to surrender. The Russian soldiers and especially the officers, are full of patriotism, and inspired by religious fanaticism, ready for any sacrifice.
The English keep their bull-dog fighting spirit, but the officers are tired of the tedious service and would sell out if they could. They have no confidence in Lord Raglan, and no hope of taking the fortress. It is altogether impossible ever to guess how the Allies can get out of the scrape in which they got by the "celebrated" flank march to Balaklava, which ruined the prestige of England, and may destroy not only two armies, but even the throne of the Napoleon dynasty.
Still the English Government does not seem to be aware of the impending crisis, while the public at large feel uneasy and lose confidence not only in the present Administration, but altogether in the aristocratic system of Government. Tomorrow (May 5) a batch of influential men of the middle classes, merchants and bankers, meet at the London Tavern to consider the state of the country. This is the first scene of an approaching revolution.
APPOINTMENTS.
Providence permitting there will be a conference in Catlin Center, N. Y., June 9th and 10th. D. Upson.
Tent Meetings.
By John Norton Loughborough
Providence permitting, a Tent-meeting will be held in Mill Grove, Sabbath and First-day, June 2d and 3d.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
☞ As the brethren at Mill Grove are mostly poor as to this world's goods, those brethren who come from other places would do well to bring some provisions with them, and aid a little if possible in bearing the expenses of the meeting.
J. N. L.
There will be a Tent-meeting in Oswego, June 16th and 17th. Lorain, June 23d and 24th.
☞ Brethren who attend the meeting in Oswego will bring provisions with them. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Business.
By Editor
I. D. CRAMER.—The receipt in No. 25 is yours—a slight typographical error.
H. H. TRASK.—We do not know the Address which you inquire.
S. W. FLANDERS.—We have a G. Burton, Pittsfield, Me., on our books, to whom we have for some time regularly sent both REVIEW and INSTRUCTOR. We now change the name to S. G. Burton. Is this right?
WM. MERRY.—We have not received your letter containing $2
J. CRAMER.—There was but $1 in your letter.
H. GARDNER.—We have received but one letter lately from C. W. Sperry, and that contained no money and nothing of the business of which you speak. That is why it has not been attended to.
E. S. SHEFFIELD.—Your letter contained $5, but you did not tell us how to credit only $4.
BOOKS SENT.—E. Potter, J. Bates, (by express,) H. H. Trask, C. Pangburn, Eliza Chaffee, J. W. Stewart, (by express,) R. Loveland.
☞ The P. O. Address of G. W. Holt is Milan, Ohio.
☞ The P. O. Address of J. N. Andrews is Paris, Me.
Letters.
By John Nevins Andrews
J. N. Andrews.
Receipts.
By Editor
M. R. Miles, G. Hoxsey, A. Voorus, M. D. Winchel, Wm. C. Peck, C. Pangburn, (for E. P. W.,) Geo. N. Marshall, J. Authouse, S. G. Burton, A. G. Carter, J. P. Lewis, S. Albro, J. Cramer, C. Lawton, J. W. Stewart, F. Pierce, R. Littlejohn, each $1. C. Bigelow, R. Miles, L. Freeto, each $2.
S. Rodgers Jr., $1,75. R. Loveland, $1.30. E. S. Sheffield, D. H. Hilton, each $0,50—$68,58 behind on REVIEW.
FOA TENT IN N. Y.—E. Potter, M. Demerest, J. Demerest, each $1. I. D. Cramer, $2. A Friend, $3.
FOT TENT IN WIS.—R. Littlejohn, $1. Wm. Merry, J. W. Stewart, each $5.