Earlier text: ITEMS OF INTERESTIt is a mistake to suppose that the papacy is confined to the Vatican at Rome, or to the Roman Catholic Church. It is a mistake to suppose that the papacy is confined to any organization, or to any territory. It is a mistake to suppose that it is confined to that which is papal in name. The papacy is represented in everything, of whatever name, that exalts itself against God. And as all sin is rebellion against God, it is plain that the spirit of sin and the spirit of the papacy are one and the same. The papacy is co-extensive with the system of opposition to God, and is not confined to any church, but is represented in every church where man is exalted in the place of God. And sad to say, there is no church on the earth where this self-exaltation is not to be found. Rebellion against God began in heaven, under a leader, who was Lucifer, the “covering cherub.” This rebellion was transferred to the earth, but remained under its original leader, by whom it has been and is to-day carried forward. He is the invisible leader, and behind him is a world-wide “confederacy” of evil. This confederacy of evil is visibly led, in the final crisis and conflict, by the papacy—the “Beast” in the Old World and the “Image to the Beast” in the New. And as there is one great leader of this confederacy, so also there is one spirit pervading it throughout, and this spirit is the spirit of its leader. And therefore it is written of that power—the papacy—that “all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Rev. 13:8. Whether we shall worship the “Beast” or not, is a question to be determined not by the church book, of whatever church, in which our names are inscribed here on the earth, but by their inscription in or absence from the life book in the courts of heaven. There are true worshipers of God in the Roman Catholic Church; and there are followers of the papacy in the true Church of Christ. We need particularly to understand and be on our guard against the exceeding subtlety of the papal spirit; and that not so much outside of ourselves as within our own hearts. It is written of the papal power that “through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand.” Dan. 8:25. Deceptive craftiness has ever been a leading characteristic of the policy of Rome. Pretending to be disinterested and benevolent, Rome has always in her dealings with the nations aimed steadily at her own advancement. What seemed to be the touch of velvet, was later revealed to be the grasp of a hand of iron. The papacy has made all nations drunken with “the wine of the wrath of her fornication,” and like drunken men, they have been led by her whither she desired. This deceptive spirit deceived him with whom it originated; hence it is no wonder that it has been able to deceive others. Lucifer, the exalted angel who stood by the throne of God, and who was “full of wisdom,” did not understand the nature of the spirit which led him to exalt himself against God. He did not clearly perceive whither this spirit was taking him. It is not surprising therefore that under his influence and aided by his arts, it has prevailed over a multitude less wise than he, and is to-day leading fallen, finite men in its devious path. This spirit of the papacy shows itself in a struggle for the supremacy. This is the characteristic way in which it is manifested. Wherever there is strife in the church, wherever there is a contest among brethren, there is the spirit of the papacy. Some one is being moved by the spirit of self-exaltation. It was thus that this spirit showed itself among the apostles. And it is no slight evidence of its deceptive character that as they came up to the crisis in the earthly ministry of their divine Master, after they had so long been associated with Him and listened to His instruction, they were engrossed with schemes for their own selfish advancement. “There was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.” Luke 22:24. James and John, having enlisted their mother in their selfish cause, came to Jesus and desired that He would promise them the two places of greatest honor in His kingdom. And the remaining disciples, when they heard of it, “began to be much displeased with James and John.” That was the spirit of the papacy, and that this is so was later conclusively shown by the fact that this same contest for supremacy broke out again not many years later in the Christian Church, and continued with growing fierceness until out of it came the fully developed papacy itself, through a decree issued by the Roman emperor making the bishop of Rome head over all the churches. Jesus called the disciples unto Him and said to them: “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” Matt. 20:25–27. This was to say that the spirit which was moving them each to seek the position of supremacy and rulership over others was the spirit of the world, which was manifested among the Gentiles; but the spirit of Christianity was an opposite spirit; and wherever this spirit was shown, there would be seen a desire not to bring others into the service of self, but to bring self into the service of others. The world is full of the contest for supremacy. The spirit of self-exaltation and lordship over others is the characteristic spirit of the world; but that spirit has no place in the Church of Christ. It has no proper place among Seventh-day Adventists. May the time soon come when it will have not only no place of right, but no place in fact, among those who profess to be doing the closing work of God in the earth. The Highest and Greatest Work at This Time
“The Lord designs that the presentation of this message shall be the highest, greatest work carried on in the world at this time.”—Id. Revealing Christ as Sin-Pardoning Saviour
By Ellen G. White
“Every effort possible must be made to reveal Christ as the sin-pardoning Saviour, Christ as the sin-bearer, Christ as the bright and morning star; and the Lord will give us favor before the world until our work is done.”—T. C., Vol. VI. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them;” and He intended that they should ever and forever reflect the image and glory of Him who created them. And if our eyes could have looked upon that divinely formed pair, as they stood in the garden of Eden before they sinned, crowned with glory and honor, we should have been irresistibly reminded of Another than themselves. There was that about them which would have suggested some one other than themselves, yet inseparably connected with themselves. In fact, as themselves, we should not have seen them at all; because they fully reflected the image and glory of God. And so long as they had hearkened to the words of God, and had walked in the counsel of God, they would have ever reflected in every characteristic, and to all beholders, the image and glory of their divine Head and Creator. But they sinned. The glory departed. The image of God was gone. They no longer reflected the image and glory of God, but the image and shame of another. God had given them His word clearly spoken. The word of God is the expression of the thought of the mind of God. If they had remained faithful to that word, if they had fully put their trust upon that word, if they had depended upon it for their sole counsel, and to guide them in the way they should go, then this word—the thought and mind—of God would have lived in them, and would have been manifested in them. But when the enemy came speaking his words, laying before them the thoughts and suggestions of his evil mind; and when they accepted his word instead of the word of God, and the thoughts and suggestions of his mind in place of those of the mind of the Lord,—then the evil mind of the enemy, instead of the mind of God, was in them, and lived in them. This mind is enmity against God, and is not, and cannot be, subject to the law of God. And now, being filled with the evil mind of the enemy, with its desires and ambitions, they reflected the image and shame of him who had led them into sin, instead of reflecting the image and glory of Him who had created them in righteousness and true holiness. So that it is literally true that just as certainly as before man sinned he reflected the image and glory of his Maker unto righteousness, so certainly after he sinned he reflected the image and shame of his seducer unto sin. The truth of this is seen in every line of man’s conduct after he had sinned. The glory had no sooner departed because of their sin than they were ashamed before Him in whose presence they had formerly only delighted. Now, when they heard the voice of God, instead of being thrilled with delight and holy confidence, they were afraid, and sought to hide from Him, and even supposed they could hide, and had hidden, themselves from Him. This is the mind that was in Lucifer in heaven. Not understanding the Lord’s purpose, he thought he could hide from the Lord his own purposes. When the Lord asked the man, “Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat?” he answered: “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Instead of answering openly and honestly and frankly the truth, “I have,” he did not answer directly at all; but indirectly, evasively, and by involving both the Lord and the woman in the guilt before himself; and thus sought to shelter himself behind them, and to clear himself by involving them. This is the very disposition that Lucifer had developed in heaven. And now it is clearly reflected in the man. Next the Lord asked the woman, “What is this that thou hast done?” Instead of answering plainly and frankly, “I have disobeyed thy word; I have eaten of the forbidden tree,” she also involves another before herself, and shields herself behind him. She answered, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” No such disposition as that was ever put into mankind by the Lord. Yet everybody knows that this very disposition is in all mankind, even at this present day. Everybody knows that it is not in human nature openly, frankly, and at once to confess a fault. But that the first and spontaneous impulse in every human soul is to dodge and shelter himself behind anything or anybody in the world, and seek to clear himself by involving another. And if through all he cannot fully escape, yet when he does come into it, it is with the least possible degree of blame upon himself. It is the spirit that holds tenaciously that ourself is the last one that can possibly be wrong or do wrong; and even when we have done wrong, argues, “We would never have done it had it not been for somebody or something else,” and are therefore not really to blame, and so are right, anyhow. Or it will excuse self from wrong, because somebody else does or has done the same thing or worse. It is the very essence of the claim of infallibility. Such disposition was not put into mankind by the Lord. Yet it is there. It is the disposition, it is the very mind, of Lucifer, who originally led in the way of sin. And as the man and woman whom God made upon the earth followed this wicked one in the way of sin; as they accepted his word and his suggestions, and adopted his thoughts and his way of thinking; so they yielded themselves to him and to his mastery, and thus were made to reflect his evil image, which is self and self alone,—self above all and through all and in all. This was all of self, and none of God. In a certain sense—a bad sense—that which Satan told the woman—they should “be as God”—was fulfilled. As the disposition that had been confirmed in him was that in his own estimation he was equal with God; and as that mind had been received by them, and that disposition was now reflected in them; so in their own estimation they would now count themselves as God in that they could do no wrong, and would involve the Lord in wrong rather than admit that they had done wrong. Thus the same evil mind that in Lucifer would exalt self to equality with God, was now in the man and the woman, and caused them to exalt self to the same point. This is not only the philosophy of the case, but it is the fact; for after this talk of the Lord with them, “The Lord God said, Behold, the man has become as one of us, to know good and evil.” Not indeed become as one of them in truth and righteousness: but in this evil way, in their own mind, and in their own estimation, self was exalted to equality with God. This is further shown by another scripture: “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself to walk with God?” That is to say, in his own mind and estimation man considers himself above God, and capable of walking there alone. But God wants man to walk with Him. Yet in order to do this, man must humble himself—he must step down from where he is. The scripture thus shows in itself that in man’s own estimation as he naturally is, he is above God, and would walk alone rather than with God. And the Lord simply invites him: “Humble yourself, be content to step down and take a lower place,—even the place where I am,—and come, walk with me.” Again, this is shown in the text which is the study of all this chapter: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who . . . thought it not a prize to be seized and held fast, to be equal with God, but humbled himself.” This in itself shows that in mankind as they are, there is a mind that is not the mind of God, but another mind. And the Lord invites all to let this mind of His return to them, and abide in them, that they may walk with Him. And as Christ humbled himself, therefore “God also hath highly exalted Him.” And forever and to all people it is written, “Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Therefore, “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself to walk with God?” “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,” who humbled himself.—“Ecclesiastical Empire, by Alonzo T. Jones. [Designed for the consideration of such questions as will be of interest and profit to the general reader. All correspondents should give their names and correct post-office address, that queries not replied to here may be answered by mail.] 837.—The Magicians’ Rods.
Can you take time to answer the following questions? In “Spiritual Gifts,” Vol. IV, edition of 1864, in Testimony No. 7, page 82, it says that the magicians’ rods did become serpents; but in “Patriarchs and Prophets,” page 264, it says the magicians’ rods did not become serpents. How is this discrepancy explained? Also in “Spiritual Gifts,” Vol. III, page 75, it says: “Since the flood, there has been amalgamation of man and beast, as may be seen in the almost endless varieties of species of animals and in certain races of men.” But in Acts 17:26 we read that God “hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth,” etc. Can amalgamated blood be saved? I would like a little light on this subject. Answer.—1. The record of the work of the magicians says that when they cast down their rods, they became serpents. If we were to take the literal and rigid meaning of the language employed, we should have to say that the rods of the magicians really became serpents (Exodus 7); but that they did not become serpents is shown by the fact that Aaron’s rod swallowed them up. If they were really serpents, they were subjects of divine power, and would have been able to swallow up Aaron’s rod as well as his rod was able to swallow up their rods. So it seems it was only a matter of appearance, in accordance with which language is often used. So when Testimony No. 7, page 82, says that their rods did become serpents, it uses the language of appearance, just as the Scriptures often do. But when “Patriarchs and Prophets” says that their rods did not become serpents, it discards the language of appearances, and confines itself to the absolute facts in the case. 2. As to statements in “Spiritual Gifts,” page 75, it is not difficult to believe that there have been attempts at amalgamation between man and beast. The difficulty is to believe that the results of such attempts could be perpetuated; and we do not understand the statement to affirm that it could be carried to such an extent as to violate or invalidate physiological law. Thus, if amalgamation could be carried to such an extent as that a human being should beget a beast, such beasts could not perpetuate their species; but might it not be that sufficient results of bestiality would appear as to leave a trace of amalgamation, without destroying the power of generation? The horse and jackass can produce the mule; but mules cannot perpetuate their own species. But the amalgamation of which “Spiritual Gifts” speaks is seen in what is called certain “races of men.” This shows that deterioration was not recognized to such a degree as to eliminate the human, and transform any such offspring into beasts. That objection therefore may not be raised against any class of human beings. Exalting Self Versus Serving Others
He who seeks to exalt himself, regardless of every one else, will have only himself for aid, with all others to oppose him; but he who seeks to serve all others, regardless of self, will lose only the services of self, and have all others to promote his exaltation. Improving Our Precious Time of Probation
“Our time is precious. We have but few, very few days of probation in which to make ready for the future immortal life. We have no time to spend in haphazard movements. We should fear to skim the surface of the word of God.” — Id. LABORS IN EUROPE.
By Ole Andres Olsen
Immediately at the close of the last General Conference I returned to Europe, expecting to attend the general meetings in the different Conferences, and then, according to arrangements, go to South Africa. Leaving Mrs. Olsen in England, I started for Denmark the first of June, and from there went to Norway. In company with Brother Conradi, I attended the Conferences in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, and Great Britain. They were all excellent meetings, the best, taken altogether, that I have known. The spirit that prevailed at the General Conference in Battle Creek was manifest in all these gatherings. Unity and harmony characterized the Conference deliberations. The suggestions and plans of work introduced at the General Conference were heartily approved, and seemed to bring light to many minds. The organization of the European General Conference, which took place in connection with the camp-meeting and Conference at Friedensau, Germany, was an advance move of much significance. It can but be a source of rejoicing that we have reached a stage in the development of the work when such a measure is called for. May it be the signal for much more rapid growth in the future. The time has certainly come when the message should go with rapidity and power in this important field. At the time of the European General Conference at Friedensau, I was informed of a further action of the Mission Board in my case; namely, that in view of the fact that I could not take Mrs. Olsen to Africa at this time on account of her feeble health, I should be released from the recommendation to go to that country, and should continue with the work in Europe. At first it was difficult for me to reconcile my mind to this change of plans; for I felt a deep interest in, and burden for, the work in Africa. But it has always been my habit to show respect for the instruction of our responsible boards and committees, knowing that they have the best interests of the work at heart. Being, moreover, aware of the unsettled state of things in Africa, the thought came to me that perhaps the time had not yet come for me to go to that country; and if the Lord wished me to tarry awhile in Europe, or had other plans for me, I could leave it wholly in His hands, since my only desire was to do His will. While attending the annual meeting in Great Britain, I received a cordial and urgent invitation to connect with the work in the British Conference, and as this seemed to be in the way of the Lord’s leading, I accepted the call, and am laboring here as the providence of God may indicate. Our general meeting was quite well attended, and greatly blessed to the good of those present and to the Conference generally. Since its close I have spent some time in London, looking after the Conference work, and have also visited some of our churches and scattered brethren in other places. Just now we are beginning to circulate the first edition of “Christ’s Object Lessons” in the interests of the educational work. We desire to sell the first five thousand before the holidays. There is great need of a training school for workers, and many are anxious to avail themselves of such an opportunity. We have therefore decided to begin something in this line early in January. We have also started a monthly health journal, to be known as Good Health. The first number is just out, and is meeting with a hearty reception. We feel much encouraged by the interest taken by our own people and others in this enterprise, and earnestly desire that it may prove a real blessing to the work. During the latter part of the summer tent-meetings were carried on at Forest Gate and Wanstead, in the suburbs of London, and also at Liverpool and Birkenhead. All have been productive of good. An excellent interest has been manifested at Forest Gate and Liverpool. At the former place twenty-five or more have taken their stand for the truth, and there has been a like number at Liverpool. The interest continues good in both places. Last Friday evening I had the privilege of witnessing the baptism of twenty dear souls at Liverpool, the rite being administered by Brother Armstrong. Still, others are preparing to go forward in about three weeks. At Birmingham we have just finished the building of a very neat chapel, which is to be dedicated the twenty-seventh of the present month. We are thankful for every advance step in the work; but while we rejoice in this, we are nevertheless sad over the fact that what is being done is so little in comparison with what needs to be done. Urgent calls for help are coming from places where our ministers have never been, as well as from others where something has been done in the past. Truly the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. May the time soon come when many more of the open doors may be entered with the message for this time. Just now I am making a tour in the northwestern part of the Conference, visiting Liverpool, Birkenhead, Manchester, and Leeds; shall also go on to Belfast, Ireland. Arrangements are being made for Brother Harry Armstrong, who is now at Liverpool, to go to Scotland to open up the work there. We are glad that this is possible. UNION COLLEGE.
By L. A. Hoopes
The opening at Union College, September 18, was encouraging indeed. There is a good representation of intelligent young men and women, representing all the Conferences of the school district, in the English, German, and Scandinavian departments. There is to this date an enrollment of two hundred and forty-three in the college, one hundred and seventy-six of whom are above eighteen years of age. Most of these are taking regular courses of study, and preparing to labor in the Third Angel's Message. Twenty-eight are enrolled to take the Normal course, to prepare for the church-school work. Thirty have started in the Commercial course, forty in the Scientific course, eight in the Ministerial course, and ten have signified their desire to take either the Nurses' or the Medical course. There is also connected with the school a Church-school department, with an enrollment of forty-three, thus bringing the entire enrollment up to two hundred and eighty-six. This, to us, seems encouraging at this stage of the school work. When we consider the extent of the drought all through this Western country, we are agreeably surprised to see so many in attendance. Among these are many who were here last year. At a recent meeting of the Union College Board plans were laid for various industrial features to be connected with the college courses. This will give employment to a much larger number of students, while at the same time such instruction will be given as is called for in the Testimonies. There will also be connected with the college, during the winter weeks, a Special Training Course for Workers. In addition to the regular teaching force of the college, there will be special help from the Conferences in the school district and from the Union Conference to give instruction along the special lines of missionary work. This latter course is to begin the 8th of January, and to continue until the 4th of March, 1902. The religious tone of the institution is good. Besides the regular chapel services and the morning and evening worship, which are respectfully attended, there are division prayer services conducted by the students two days in each week. These are in six divisions, the Scandinavians and Germans in rooms by themselves. The English students divide into four companies. There is a small per cent of students who do not take part in these services, but spend this prayer period in study in the large chapel. Every Friday evening there are general services for the students conducted in three divisions. The work is going steadily forward, and already fruits are being seen of the steady growth and influence of the Spirit of God in the hearts of students who had no particular drawing in this direction when they came. There is a young people's association connected with the school, which bids fair to prove of permanent benefit to all who take part in the exercises. Connected with the school is a missionary society. In this special attention is given to the foreign work. Preference is given to the circulation of the papers and literature in other languages aside from the English. By invitation of the board, Elder F. H. Westphal recently connected with the school for the remaining portion of this term, and already we can see a revival in the German department. We feel thankful for the students who have already come to us, and pray that the way may open for many more whose hearts are burdened for the souls of their fellow men. There is a free spirit on the part of each teacher. All take hold of the work with a willingness to do anything assigned them, and they do it with a view of making the school all that God would have it. In all these blessings we recognize the hand of God. We are all glad that there is a faithful Watcher in our midst. We pray that all our conduct may be such as will meet the approval of God. After my effort at Namur last summer, I spent about two weeks in Montreal, visiting and encouraging French and English believers, who were calling loudly for an effort in this city, both in French and in English. With no small difficulty did I pacify them with the promise that their desires should be met as soon as proper help could be secured and other favorable conditions supplied. The believers in Montreal are faithful in paying their tithes, and one of them has pledged one hundred dollars toward meeting the expenses of a hall. I then passed a short season at Ann Arbor, Mich., with Mrs. Bourdeau, who, during my absence of over three months, had been seriously ill of nervous prostration attended with great suffering. This illness had been brought on largely by an unusually taxing experience in connection with our tent effort of nearly four months last year. This effort required watchings, wakefulness, and no small anxiety caused by heavy rains and fearful tempests, the circumstances being such that we were not only under the necessity of lodging in the tent in which we held our meetings, but also of having the principal charge of the tent night and day. Another thing that contributed to the breaking down of my wife's health was unavoidable exposure to the severity of a cold winter, following this taxing effort. During my recent brief stay with Mrs. Bourdeau she revived, and encouraging facts brought out through a thorough medical examination led us to hope that with the blessing of God, by taking rest, and by avoiding placing herself under a heavy pressure, which in earlier life it had been a pleasure for her to bear, she may live on, and be useful in such lines of work as a merciful Providence may assign her. In passing through this experience, we have more than ever supplicated the God of might and infinite resources to raise up and qualify an army of young men and women to do pioneer work for the French. Let all the numerous friends of my companion, who, though a woman of Anglo-Saxon blood, has devoted the best of her life to the furtherance of the last gospel work among the French, pray that this glorious object may be secured, and that God may speedily restore Mrs. Bourdeau. She has faithfully stood by me over forty years in helping carry on the glorious work of the Third Angel's Message. I have been visiting the scattered French believers in this province, and am about to go to points where our French literature has penetrated, and where I am personally unknown. I have had precious seasons with French believers at Waterloo and at Ely, who have had but little French ministerial help. Brother Esaie Malboeuf, who resides at Waterloo, and is putting his business matters in shape to labor for the French, took me to Ely with his team. Here I had a good time in removing prejudice, and in instructing inexperienced French believers in the fundamental principles of the message. When practicable, I now and then make a halt among English companies of Sabbath-keepers, not only to instruct and encourage them, but also for the promotion of my own physical and spiritual prosperity. I recently spent a few days in visiting most of the members of the Stukely church, which was raised up by my brother, Elder A. C. Bourdeau, and Elder R. S. Owen, about a quarter of a century ago. Sabbath, the 19th inst., it was my privilege to hear Elder W. J. Blake deliver his farewell sermon to this church before leaving for Mississippi. It was a most affecting season. Following this sermon a social meeting was held, in which nearly all present took part, expressing the desire that God would accompany Elder Blake and his companion723as they go to strengthen the hands of Elder and Mrs. Rodney Owen in Mississippi. Last Sabbath, on my way to distant points, I had a most encouraging season with Brother John Claxton and his family in the township of Westbury. It had been about forty years since I was at Brother Claxton's. He and Brother Joseph Hoole were the first to receive the Sabbath in Canada. They have now kept God's holy day for fifty years, and have stood by Canada, while many have unwisely left it to go to the States. Their great desire is to see the cause prosper in their own country, and to read in the REVIEW more reports of victory from laborers in the province of Quebec, that they may know that the cause in that province is not in a state of stagnation. ATLANTIC.—Some time ago my Sabbath-school class and I went on what we called a ‘religious picnic.’ One of the members of the class took us to a neighboring town, where we spent the day in rather a unique way. We took our dinner in real picnic style. We also took about five hundred papers,—REVIEW, Signs, Sentinel, etc. These we distributed over the town, leaving some at every house until our supply was exhausted. We said nothing to any one, because we thought best to let the papers do the talking. We accomplished a good share of our work before noon, and thus had ample time in the afternoon to finish it, and then to enjoy ourselves at the lake. We were pretty tired when we reached our homes, but we had taken pleasure in the day’s outing, and surely that town has heard at least one blast of the trumpet. We have other neighbors that we hope to visit in the same way as soon as possible. IDA M. FOCH. BLACK ROCK.—According to a challenge given by Mr. Lawson, a representative of the Christian church, Mr. Field, of the Seventh-day Adventist church, met him at Black Rock, Ark., September 18-26, to debate the following propositions:— 1. That the seventh-day Sabbath is binding upon Christians in all ages. Mr. Field, affirmative; Mr. Lawson, negative. 2. That the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, is the Lord’s day, and should be observed by all Christians. Mr. Lawson, affirmative; Mr. Field, negative. Both were to prove their proposition from the Scripture. The decision was left to each one individually. Almost everybody who expressed an opinion spoke in Mr. Field’s favor. To sum it all up, the truth had a grand victory. As the Lord has told us, “The enemy will seek to cover up and pervert the truth, so that minds shall be confused and bewildered,” but being present and listening, it seemed that the truth was presented so clear and strong that every honest heart could see “what is truth.” I know that the brethren at Black Rock were strengthened, and we all pray that the end may be to God’s glory by being the means of leading some precious souls into the truth. The battle is the Lord’s. URBANUS BENDER. PRESCOTT.—The following is gleaned from the Arkansas Reporter of the 16th ult.: “I closed my work at Cline after organizing a church there of twelve members, and came south August 19, to Newhope, where Elder Field and Brother Hardesty had started our southern local camp-meeting, and had the privilege of being there from Tuesday evening until Sunday evening, when the meeting closed with the church greatly revived and strengthened, and with several accessions. All seemed to be rejoicing in the love of God. I came from there to Prescott, and pitched my tent where I held a meeting six years ago, and organized a church of nine members the next day after I began my meeting. Seven of these members live here, and two, Brethren Lee and Baker, live west of here some distance. Two more have been added to the church since the organization, and several others are interested. A Campbellite minister announced that he would review what I had been preaching. I met with him, and he divided time with me for three hours. The victory was gained for the truth, with the people; but the minister now challenges for a four days’724discussion. Have received back tithe and donations since I have been here (which has been a month) to amount to more than all my time and expenses. I now leave here to look after an interest that Brother Parker has seven miles south of Hot Springs. I am of good courage in the Lord, and know the Lord is blessing the work in Arkansas. Pray for the work in the South. E. B. HOPKINS. Clarinda Quarterly Meeting Strengthens Members
By M. A. Beach
CLARINDA.— The Lord came near at our quarterly meeting held October 6, which was conducted by Elder E. G. Olsen. We were strengthened, encouraged, and blessed. I believe that all resolved to engage more earnestly in the Lord’s work. Rain prevented some of the members from coming, but seven persons were present who are not members. MRS. M. A. BEACH. Cedar Rapids Church Quarterly Meeting and Blessings
By G. W. Anglebarger
CEDAR RAPIDS.—The Lord is blessing in His work here. In canvassing I find a great many who are deeply interested. The quarterly meeting was held last Sabbath. It was a good day for the church, the privilege of celebrating the ordinances not having been enjoyed here for many quarters. Two were received into church fellowship. Sunday night a business meeting was held, and church officers were elected. Everything is being done to push the work successfully, and we hope to hold a series of meetings soon for the benefit of the interested ones. G. W. ANGLEBARGER. JUDSON CROUSE
By Judson Crouse
PARKERSBURG.— Elder N. C. Bergersen’s visit was a source of encouragement to the church at this place. The meeting Friday evening was of special benefit to all. Some practical thoughts were presented. On Sabbath we were bidden, “Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest.” On the evening after the Sabbath a business meeting was held, and church and Sabbath-school officers were elected. At two o’clock, Sunday afternoon, the ordinances were celebrated, and Brethren J. W. Crouse and L. A. Hansen were ordained as elder and deacon respectively, which was followed by a good social meeting. Two Danish meetings were held at the church in the country, and one in the city. A number of Danish-speaking people not of our faith were present, and some expressed themselves as desirous of having more meetings held in their language. In all the meetings Brother Bergersen presented the importance of the truth for this time, and the necessity of living careful, prayerful, and consistent Christian lives. We all feel in our hearts a determination to leave the things of this world and turn our feet Zionward. Des Moines Sanitarium Work and Workers
Dr. Emma A. Perrine contributes to the Workers’ Bulletin the following items in regard to the Des Moines Sanitarium work and workers:— Improvements about the sanitarium and grounds are still continuing. A number of new patients were added to the list during the past week. Brother and Sister J. T. Spriggs, of Hartley, came last week to join the nurses’ class.