A BITTER opposer not long ago made what he thought was a heavy charge on our left flank, supposing we were wholly unprepared for it. But we have a mighty pivot gun with us, and when it is turned against such foes they do not long stand the fire. This pivot gun is the Bible. The opposer made a charge with the artillery of Lucifer under King Saul. He rushed with fury at our position on immortality while we were on another subject. But his guns not having been used for years (as he had not preached for so long) were too rusty to work well, and his ammunition burst his own guns, killed his men, and wounded himself.
To show that the ancient Hebrews believed in the conscious existence of spirits after death, he took the following position, it being the only one he took which is not commonly used:—
King Saul requested the woman of Endor to call up the spirit of Samuel. I do not say that Samuel actually came; but this I do declare: that the record here (1 Sam. 28) shows positively that Saul, and consequently all the Hebrews, believed that disembodied spirits existed, and could come back and converse with us. Would he call for Samuel if he did not believe Samuel was alive somewhere? He would not; therefore he believed that Samuel’s spirit was conscious although his body was dead.
To people who have always believed in the immortality of the soul this may seem like a strong position. But they can no more sustain it, when the Bible is brought against them, than the soldier can stand against the discharge of the cannon. Now let a few texts from the word of God open fire upon this position. 1. The Lord had forsaken Saul, and would not answer any of his requests. 1 Sam. 18:12; 28:6. 2. Saul had given up the faith that he professed when he was in good standing among his Hebrew brethren. Before this he “had put away those that had familiar spirits,” etc., but now he said to his servants, “Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.” 1 Sam. 28:3–7. 3. These spirits, to which Saul in his fallen state resorted, were not accepted by the people of God as spirits of the dead, and they did not believe in them; for they did not allow them in their midst. Deut. 18:10, 11. They were evidently the spirits of devils to which the Gentiles did sacrifice. The Gentiles thought they were the spirits of the dead, but God’s people said they were devils. See Num. 25:1–3; Ps. 106:28–37; 1 Cor. 10:20.
Saul inquired of these spirits because the Lord would not answer him. This in itself is sufficient to show that God’s people did not believe in these spirits. When men forsake God, and God forsakes them, they are then certainly led by Satan. This was the case with King Saul. His only hope of getting information, as he wished, was in these spirits, for God would not answer him. He had before denounced them as wicked spirits, as God commanded him; but now he left the commandment of the Lord, he left the truth,—went contrary to the belief of the ancient Hebrews, and inquired of these spirits. And for this sin, with others, he died. 1 Chron. 10:13, 14.
“But does not the record say that Saul called for Samuel, and that Samuel came? Would the record say so if that spirit was a devil, and not Samuel?” Saul called for Samuel the same as I would ask a spiritualist to call up George Washington to-day, if I should resort to a medium; and in giving an account of it any one would say that George Washington came; for that is what the medium would call the spirit, if any came. It would not be because I or the historian believed it was George Washington, but only because spiritualists regarded it as such. Speaking in their language it would be George Washington. That is the way the Bible calls that spirit Samuel. This must be true, because the Bible says positively that the dead know not anything; that their love, envy, hatred, and memory are perished; and that in the place where the dead go there is no work, device, wisdom, nor knowledge. Eccl. 9:5–10; Ps. 6:4, 5; 146:4.
It is plain that Samuel could not come from a place like this except by a resurrection from the dead; and certainly God, who had commanded that a person with a familiar spirit should not live among his people, and who forsook Saul because of his sins, and would not answer him at all, would not bring up good old Samuel by that witch to converse with wicked King Saul.
G. V. KILGORE.
NEVER
Never exaggerate.
Never betray a confidence.
Never leave home with unkind words.
Never laugh at the misfortunes of others.
Never give a present hoping for one in return.
Never speak much of your own performances.
Never fail to be punctual at the time appointed.
Never make yourself the hero of your own story.
Never fail to give a polite answer to a civil question.
Never question a servant or child about family matters.
Never refer to a gift you have made or a favor you have rendered.
Never associate with bad company. Have good company or none.
Never look over the shoulder of another who is reading or writing.
Never appear to notice a scar, deformity, or defect of any one present.
Never arrest the attention of an acquaintance by a touch. Speak to him.
Never punish your child for a fault to which you are addicted yourself.
Never call a new acquaintance by the christian name, unless requested to do so.
Never lend an article you have borrowed, unless you have permission to do so.
Never forget that if you are faithful in a few things, you may be ruler over many.
Never exhibit too great familiarity with a new acquaintance; you may give offense.
Never fail to offer the best and easiest seat in the room to an invalid, an elderly person, or a lady.
Never send your guest, who is accustomed to a warm room, off to a cold, damp spare bed, to sleep.
Never enter a room filled with people without a slight bow to the general company when first entering.
Never accept of favors or hospitalities without rendering an exchange of civilities when opportunity offers.
Never fail to answer an invitation, either personally or by letter, within a week after the invitation is received.
Never borrow money and neglect to pay. If you do, you will soon be known as a person of no business integrity.
Never write to another asking for information, or a favor of any kind, without inclosing a postage stamp for the reply.
Never fail to say kind and encouraging words to those whom you meet in distress. Your kindness may lift them out of their despair.
Never refuse to receive an apology. You may not receive friendship, but courtesy will require, when an apology is offered, that you accept it.
Never examine the cards in the card-basket. While they may be exposed in the drawing-room, you are not expected to turn them over unless invited to do so.
“WHOM, THEN, CAN WE TRUST?”
If thy heart hath sorrow tasted,
And thine early hopes have flown;
If thy life with grief is wasted,
And thou hast no gladness known;
If the friend whom thou hast cherished
Coldly turns from thee away;
If his promised love hath perished,
As the brightest flowers decay;
If thy bright, thy golden treasure,
Distant flies on hidden wings;
If no hope of future pleasure
Round thy darkened pathway springs;
If the clouds are gathering o’er thee,
And the night all starless seems;
If thou hast no light before thee,
Save these sad, unloving dreams,—
Turn thy thoughts to One above thee!
Trust in Him whose power can save!
Jesus Christ, I know, will love thee,
He will quell this darksome wave.
Think not now of earthly sorrow,—
Weep no more when loves decay;—
Know there is a brighter morrow,
Where no love will fade away.
Oh, then, trust! No more be fearing!
Trust in Him whose name is love;
Then the future will be cheering,
For there’s joy for thee above.
—Selected.
DIED OF NEGLECT.
By S. S. Mooney
I once read a notice of the death of a prayer-meeting, in substance as follows:—
Died, in Laodicea, the prayer-meeting, aged one year. The health of this meeting was poor during most of the year, and its life was at times despaired of; but anxious friends kept it alive, and occasionally it would so revive as to give them hope of its recovery. Discouragement, however, at last prevailed, and the prayer-meeting is dead. It died from neglect. Not a Christian was present when it died. Over forty are living within a mile of it, and not one was there. Had two or three only been there, its life might have been saved; for where two or three are agreed as touching anything they shall ask, it shall be done. Two-thirds of the forty might have been there, had they been so disposed; but they were not, and the prayer-meeting died.
It is to be feared that the health of many a prayer-meeting is injured from neglect on the part of those who should attend. Are we not apt to excuse ourselves from going to prayer-meeting, with the plea that we are too tired, or that the weather is stormy, or too hot or too cold; when if we could get a dollar by going the same distance, and remaining the same length of time, we would make quite an effort to go. We should remember the injunction of the apostle: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
But, says one, the prayer-meetings are so dull that I cannot become interested in them. Well, do we do anything to make them interesting? or do we sit indifferently while others carry the burden of the meeting? When Christians meet together in a social capacity, they should observe system and order in the exercises. When properly conducted, the prayer-meeting will surely prove a source of great blessing. There Christians should meet, not to criticise each other, to preach sermons, make cold, formal prayers, or deliver long, dry exhortations; but to seek God, to draw nearer the throne, where they can commune with him who is above the mercy-seat, to speak comforting words to each other, and to pray with and for one another. Thus may the prayer-meeting become one of the dearest places on earth.
S. S. MOONEY.
THE MORMON PERIL.
In one of his preludes last winter, Joseph Cook spoke as follows of the danger of the admission of Utah as a State:—
“Place before Mormonism the broad shield of State rights, and very possibly the defense will be vulnerable only by the bayonet. Utah once admitted to the Union will govern herself, and her peculiar institutions will be out of the reach of Congress. Polygamy imitates slavery in seeking to intrench itself behind the fateful bulwark of State rights. Of course the clamor is becoming very loud for the admission of Utah, since she now has 130,000 people, and Nevada was admitted with 40,000. That historic political party which denounced slavery and polygamy as twin relics of barbarism, and cut the former of these cancers off the breast of America by the long, deep plunges of the sword through five years of civil war, is no longer in power in Congress. In the exigencies of political strife a time may easily arrive when the prize of two senators and several representatives will induce the dominant party at Washington to admit Utah with polygamy. The agent of that territory is authorized to give the vote of Utah to the party which admits her with her peculiar institutions. Mormonism possessed of State rights and defying American law is the blackest threat in the low, lurid vapor which lies behind Pike’s Peak in the sunset. Beyond the Mormon cloud the Chinese question spreads itself across the deepest Western sky, as a dull, thunderous, copper haze. So distant, however, are the lightnings that peer fitfully at the East from over the stern shoulders of the Sierras and the Rocky Mountains, that we hear little of the local thunders, and dream that both the black and the copper cloud will dissolve soon, and without storms. In precisely this indifference of ours to these distant threats lie their chief dangers.”
SOUND ARGUMENT. (?)
By A. Smith
“Wof you know ’bout de Sabbuf?” said an aged colored man to whose notice I brought the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. “Christians kep’ de firs’ day ob de week hundreds ob years; ’sides, wen I was a slave I planted some caun on Sunday in de middle ob massar’s farm, den some hogs done gone destroyed it all; so eber sense I tink de Sunday is de Sabbuf.”
Perhaps the publishers of Edwards’ “Sabbath Manual” would like this item for that work. A. SMITH.
Off Basket.
“A little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts and almonds.” Gen. 43:11.
—A LITTLE leak will sink a big ship.
—LET a man overcome anger by love, evil by good, the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth.
—THAT only can with propriety be styled refinement which, by strengthening the intellect, purifies the manners.
—EVENTS are not determined by the wheel of fortune, which is blind, but by the wheels of Providence, which are full of eyes.
—TEMPERANCE and labor are the two best physicians of man; labor sharpens the appetite, and temperance prevents his excess.
—A HOLY life has a voice. It speaks when the tongue is silent, and is either a constant attraction or a continual reproof.
—MEASURE Christianity by the teachings of the Saviour, and not by the shortsighted, selfish practices of a few of his unworthy followers.
—LET us carefully observe those good qualities wherein our enemies excel us, and endeavor to excel them by avoiding what is faulty and imitating what is excellent in them.
—LEISURE is time for doing something useful. This leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; so that, as Poor Richard says, a life of leisure and a life of laziness are two different things.
—THE famous old Dr. John Brown, who was of old the minister at Haddington, England, was in the habit of talking to his divinity students in a way which might wisely be followed by some of the professors of the present time. He would say to them, “Young gentlemen, ye need three things to make ye good ministers; ye need learning, and grace, and common sense. As for the learning, I'll try to set ye in the way of it; as for grace, ye must always pray for it; but if ye have na brought the common sense with ye, ye may go aboot your business.”
WHICH LEADS?
The following account of the Krupp Gun Works we find in the Boston Herald of July 6. Can there be found an establishment devoted to the arts of peace, laid out on so gigantic a scale as this? It is a significant comment on the political state of the world, that such establishments are called into being by the demands of war.
KRUPP'S GUN WORKS.
The Krupp Gun Works of Germany are of immense dimensions. One of the establishments employs 8500 workmen, and contains 298 boilers and engines, which, combined, have 11,000 horse power, and operate 77 trip-hammers, varying in weight from 200 to 100,000 pounds each. Since 1877, 15,000 cannon have been turned out; 300 are made on an average every month. Daily 18,000 tons of coal and coke are consumed, and 21,000 gas jets are in use. A railroad track, with 24 locomotives and 700 trucks, is in operation within the works, and between them and the nearest railway station. The establishment has 24 telegraph stations, and eight fire engines for protection against conflagration. In the mines connected with these works there are 5300 workmen. Iron ore the company gets from its own lands in the north of Spain to the extent of 200,000 tons annually, which five steamers that it owns convey to the factories. The company has built 3278 tenements for its employees, in which 16,200 persons live. The grain used in the bakeries which supply these people with bread is bought by agents of the company in large quantities, chiefly in Odessa, the Russian grain port. Four common schools and an industrial school for girls and women provide the elementary instruction needed by this city of factory hands.
NEHEMIAH'S REGARD FOR SUNDAY.
In the “Picture Lesson Paper” of Feb. 9, 1879, issued by the great Methodist publishers, Nelson & Phillips, N. Y., and Hitchcock and Walden, Cincinnati, we find the following instance of unaccountable thoughtlessness or unpardonable dishonesty.
One page of said paper is called the “Berean Leaflet.” It is devoted to studies in the “Old Testament.” Its title is, “The Keeping of the Sabbath; or, The Holy Day.” Its “golden text” is, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Ex. 20:8.” It has a picture of Nehemiah standing up and protesting against the course of those who are bearing wheat, grapes, and oil into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
After presenting these texts and facts, which belong to the true Sabbath and to that alone, the paper launches out in behalf of the pagan and papal Sunday in the following style:—
“1. Which day of the week is called God’s day?—Sunday.
“2. What is it for?—For rest and worship.
“3. Rest from what?—From labor.
“4. Whom are we to worship?—God.
“5. What is the fourth commandment?—‘Remember the Sabbath-day,’ etc.
“6. What is said about work?—Thou shalt do no work.
“7. Who came to Jerusalem?—Nehemiah.
“8. What did he find?—People working on Sunday.
“9. What law were they breaking?—God’s law.
“10. What did Nehemiah tell them?—That they were doing wrong.
“11. What did he do?—Stopped it.
“12. What is wrong doing?—Sin.
“13. To what does it lead?—Suffering.
“14. What is the only safe way?—To keep God’s word.”
In the foregoing quotation we have put two of the answers in italics. In the original all the answers are in bold-face type, which makes them more prominent still.
Now if the writer of the questions and answers given above had any knowledge whatever of his subject, he knew that Sunday is never called “God’s day” in all the Bible. He knew that the Sabbath day of the fourth commandment is not Sunday, and that the fourth commandment has nothing to do with Sunday as a day of rest, and cannot be made to sustain it, till it is changed so as to read “first day” instead of “seventh day.” And he knew that Nehemiah cared nothing about people working on Sunday. He worked himself that day. It was the sin of working on the Sabbath, against which he protested.
This is just parallel to a statement by Dr. Justin Edwards. In his Sabbath Manual, p. 216, respecting Pompey, he says:—
“Pompey, the Roman general, . . . when besieging Jerusalem, would not attack them on the Sabbath; but spent the day in constructing his works, and preparing to attack them on Monday.” Thus he would have us think that Sunday was the Sabbath in the time of Pompey, 63 years before Christ.
Is it possible that men can be educated into such ignorance of God’s word? And what do theologians think to accomplish by such reckless statements? Do they not know that even the dullest scholars will in time discover the fraud, and then a reaction is sure to follow?
We see plainly enough that the assertions which these men make are just the evidence that Sunday needs. That is, if Sunday is to be sustained as the Sabbath, it must be called somewhere in the Bible, God’s day; there must be some law for it; and it must appear that some honor has been paid to it by those who have been commissioned of God to write his word. But none of these proofs exist in reference to Sunday; and to pretend that they do, is both a futile attempt, and a confession of weakness.
THE GREEK CHURCH.
This is the State church of Russia. Its distinctive history begins with the great schism between the East and West in the 9th century. It was called the Greek church, in distinction from the Roman Catholic church of the West, because the Eastern Roman empire was then called the Greek empire. It differs very little from the Roman Catholic church, the chief difference being that its head is the czar of Russia, instead of the pope of Rome. Like the Catholic church it is in a fearfully fallen condition. The word of God is neglected and disused. The priests are profligates, drunkards, and gamblers; and the people are taxed to support them. The strongest fetters are thrown around religious inquiry, by making membership in the Greek Church compulsory upon all those who are born in it. The result naturally enough is the baldest and most intolerant form of atheism in religious matters, and Nihilism in political. This, it is said, explains the spread of this nihilistic movement so largely among the educated classes and even the nobility. “It is not the uprising of a mob howling for bread, but a revolt of the human mind against superstition and oppression.”
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.
The following paragraphs we take from the Record and Evangelist (Disciple paper) Oskaloosa, Iowa, July 17, 1879. It must be supposed that they were written to set forth the condition of that church:—
—A word picture! Meeting-house on the open prairie—not a shade tree within a mile—house dilapidated—windows broken—door unhinged—seats but slabs from the saw-mill—no Sunday-school—no prayer-meeting—members worth $400,000—write “Ichabod” on the broken door, and leave it to its fate!
—A preacher, hitherto widely and favorably known, a man of eloquence and power in the pulpit, and of a pure and harmless life among his fellowmen, now lives in a cabin in the wilds of Arkansas,—driven there, as he thinks, by the wickedness of the last congregation he preached for! It is a fearful thing to crush out the spirit of a sensitive Christian. That congregation will have to face that heart-broken preacher in the day of Judgment.
—One thing is certain:—there must be a general awakening among the disciples of Jesus, or much will be lost! This awakening must come soon, or it will be too late! Our sins and indifferences swell to Heaven, and God will not much longer forbear!
—Oh! for a Nathan, or a Bourdeloue, to cry out day and night against the sins of the people of God! Robbing God by day and serving Satan day and night. Will the Lord have mercy on this wicked generation!
—Christ cleansed the temple in his day, and his church needs cleansing now. The covetous, prayerless, worldly, licentious professors must be cast overboard, to save the ship from sinking! God save the church!
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS LOST!
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Yes, so a brother said to me the other day. He had one hundred dollars to spare, which he could loan somewhere for a year. He knew that they needed it at the Review Office, that the Sanitarium needed it, and that the College wanted to hire money; but one of his neighbors wanted it, and he would pay a little higher interest; so he let him have it, although we had advised him to send it to one of our institutions. When the year was up the man failed, and the lender lost principal and interest. With a long sigh he said to me, “Bro. Canright, I have been very unfortunate; I have lost one hundred dollars.” Of course I pitied him; and not so very much, either.
This is only one case. Here is another brother with a long face, who tells me he has lost three hundred dollars. He had a nice place to make a little speculation, and get ten per cent interest; good promises, of course. The time is up, and now he would like to take one hundred dollars for his three hundred, and throw in the interest too. Poor fellow! But why did he not take our advice, and loan this money to one of our institutions?
And here is another man that I know of. He put several hundred dollars into the bank. He did not get so very high interest; but then it was handy, and he did not know about these institutions at Battle Creek, how safe they were. Now the bank has failed and his money is gone. All right, we said, let it go.
Everywhere I travel I find just such cases as this. Not only a half-dozen or a score, but plenty of them. I know of more than fifteen hundred dollars lost in Ohio during the last year in this way.
Now we ask the brethren this question: Who has ever lost a dollar loaned to one of our institutions at Battle Creek? Who has ever failed to receive his money when he wanted it? Not a man. For nearly a quarter of a century brethren and sisters have been loaning their money here on interest or without interest, and not an individual of them has ever lost a dollar. Their money has always been ready when they wanted it.
Come, brethren and sisters, act reasonably in this matter. When you have a few spare dollars remember that here is the place to put them. If you can loan the money without interest, you should do so, or at a low rate, at least; for it is in the cause of God, in which you should have as deep an interest as others. No person is making a dollar on the income of these53institutions. It belongs to you as much as to us. It will be an accommodation to the cause if you can loan your money here, provided you do not ask a high rate of interest; or better still, if you can loan it without any.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
FIRST MICHIGAN CAMP-MEETING.
The first camp-meeting in Michigan for the season of 1879, was held according to appointment at Eaton Rapids, July 31 to Aug. 4. It was our privilege to be present till Monday morning, Aug. 4, up to which point we bring this report. The meeting closed on the morning of Aug. 5.
The location was a pleasant one in the outskirts of the village of Eaton Rapids. Thirty-three tents were pitched, and about three hundred Sabbath-keepers were present. This was a larger attendance than was expected, which was encouraging. Ten ministers were on the ground. Most of the preaching was done by Elders Canright, Littlejohn, and the writer. The interests of the Sabbath-school, College, T. and M. work, and the temperance movement were well looked after by W. C. White, S. Brownsberger, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, and G. H. Bell.
An encouraging interest was manifested in all these departments. The Sabbath-school, on Sabbath morning, conducted by W. C. White, was a very interesting occasion. Two hundred and fifty enrolled themselves in the various classes.
On the part of nearly all there was manifested a disposition to enter heartily into the temperance movement. Many pledges, all teetotal, were obtained, though we cannot give the exact number, as we left before the canvass was completed.
On Sabbath afternoon, one hundred came forward for prayers. Seventy-four of these bore testimonies which showed that their feelings were deeply enlisted in the work. On Sunday there were about two thousand people present. In the afternoon, fifty-five of those who came forward the previous day were baptized by Elds. Jones and Miller, in the Grand River, which was but a short distance from the camp-ground. By actual count, there were one hundred teams, and over fifteen hundred persons by the water side.
Considering that this was but one of the three camp-meetings to be held in Michigan this season, it was both in numbers and the interest manifested by the people, a very gratifying success. Further particulars concerning some of the important branches of the work considered, may be given by others hereafter.
QUITE A CHANGE.
PRESIDENT Grevy, of France, recently presented the scarlet berettas to two newly created cardinals. Accompanying the presentation, he made the following significant address:—
“Messieurs Le Cardinaux: I am indebted to the functions conferred upon me by my country for the honor of handing to you the insignia of the high dignity which your talents and your virtues have merited, and with which the Supreme Pontiff has crowned your long episcopacy. I am happy to have been able, on behalf of the civil power, to have had a share in your elevation. You invoke the constitutional authority of the President of the Republic in favor of the rights of the church. Be fully reassured in that respect; those rights are in no danger—they are under the protection of the laws, and the Government, if IT DOES NOT PLACE THE RIGHTS OF THE CHURCH ABOVE THE RIGHTS OF THE STATE, feels deep solicitude for the protection of both.”
On this The Christian at Work remarks:—
“The President immediately afterward entertained the Cardinals and their suite at breakfast. Quite a change all this from the time when popes released whole peoples from their allegiance to their Sovereigns, and a Supreme Pontiff declared it to be his duty and prerogative “to pull down the pride of kings.” After all, the world does move!”
This is indeed “quite a change,” and “the world does move.” For the prophecy declared that there should be “quite a change” in the condition of that anti-christian papal power when they should take away its dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end; and the “world moves” undeviatingly and irresistibly toward the complete fulfillment of all the declarations of prophecy.
America Abroad.
It appears from the following item clipped from the New York Sun, that fifteen inventions originating in America, and these to be counted among the great inventions of the age, have been adopted all over the world. We doubt if the world is so largely indebted to any other nation for helps in the line of its modern civilization and progress. These triumphs of American genius reveal the secret of the rapid advancement of this nation, which caused John to say as he viewed it, that it was “coming up.”—
“An English journal frankly gives credit to American genius for at least fifteen inventions and discoveries, which, it says, have been adopted all over the world. These triumphs of American genius are thus enumerated: First, the cotton gin; second, the planing machine; third, the grass mower and grain reaper; fourth, the rotary printing press; fifth, navigation by steam; sixth, hot air or caloric engine; seventh, the sewing machine; eighth, the india rubber industry; ninth, the machine manufacture of horseshoes; tenth, the sand blast for carving; eleventh, the gauge lathe; twelfth, the grain elevator; thirteenth, artificial ice manufacture on a large scale; fourteenth, the electro-magnet and its practical application; fifteenth, the composing machine for printers.
“It is not often that American achievements in this direction receive due credit from such a source.”
NOTE FROM ELDER ANDREWS.
By John Nevins Andrews
My strength is slowly returning. I can sit up half an hour each forenoon and afternoon, but am not yet able to resume my journey to Bale.
I have greatly regretted the necessity of keeping my bed, when the work before me is so very urgent. I have had much time for self-examination and prayer; I have also reflected much upon our experience in Europe, and upon the work that must be done to give the people warning of the Judgment, and the necessary preparation for that event. If it should please God to restore my strength, I hope to use it wisely to his glory.
When I left Battle Creek, I was mistaken with respect to my state of health. Had I known my real situation, I should not have thought it prudent to set out for Europe. But my duties in America seemed to be accomplished, and I had an intense desire to return to my former field of labor. It seemed to me that my health was considerably improved, so I ventured to start. But the duties I attempted to perform on my way to New York City, completely exhausted my strength; and then, when it was too late to change the arrangements, I found that my strength was not adequate for the journey before me.
I see God’s great mercy in sparing me till I reached this place, and I hope when I leave here, to be better fitted for his work than I have ever been before. J. N. ANDREWS.
Southampton, July 17, 1879.
THE COMMANDMENTS.
By Eliza H. Morton
The following extract from Dr. Horatius Bonar’s work, entitled “The Land of Promise,” is fraught with deep meaning; it contains a thread of truth, and teaches a lesson often overlooked by careless readers. In describing an interview with a Samaritan priest, he speaks of an ancient scroll, which he was permitted to examine, and says: “I asked him to unroll it at the place which contains the commandments. I looked for the tenth, and in its place I read, ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God on mount Gerizim.’ Ingenious devices of men, bent on bringing the word of God into conformity with their own systems and laws! The Latin needs to erase a commandment from the divine statute book; but in order to achieve this without being caught in the act of felony, he splits the tenth into two, while he blots out the second that the number may still stand ten in his breviary. The Samaritan needs to add a commandment; and that he may do so without making eleven, he joins the first and second! He forms a Bible to suit himself, leaving out or inserting as much as may be convenient,—true representative of the ‘foolish people that dwell in Shechem’ whom the son of Sirach refused to count a nation.”
The writer might have added that the same power that divided the tenth commandment, changed the fourth; and men still have “ingenious devices” and still strive to “bring the word of God into conformity with their own systems and laws.” The prophet Isaiah speaks of the Gentiles who revere God’s ancient Sabbath, and promises them a “name better than of sons and daughters,” even an “everlasting name that shall not be cut off.” We conclude from this that those who refuse to “walk in the old paths” will not be counted as a nation when the Lord God gathereth his people.
ELIZA H. MORTON.
Allen’s Corner, Me.
SUGGESTIONS TO THE MINISTERS OF THE MINNESOTA CONFERENCE.
By Harrison Grant; Wm. H. Hall; Calvin Kelsey
When Eld. Haskell visited our State last winter, plans were laid to bring up the several branches of the work into proper condition. The Conference was divided into districts, and over each of these a minister was placed to whom was given the oversight of the work.
At our late camp-meeting the matter was reconsidered; and as changes were made, we wish to lay more fully before you the work you are expected to do. As the churches will be anxious to know to which district they belong and to whom they may apply for help, we will state the arrangements that were made.
Eld. N. Battin has charge of the first district, composed of the following churches: Dodge Center, New Haven, Greenwood Prairie, Pleasant Grove, Grand Meadow, and Otranto.
Eld. W. B. Hill is in charge of the second district, comprising Mansfield, Wells, Blue Earth City, Mankato, Tenhassen, Milford, and the company at Graham Lake.
Eld. L. H. Ells is in charge of the third district, comprising Medford, Kenyon, Dundas, and Cleveland.
Eld. H. W. Babcock has charge of the fourth district, comprising Hutchinson, Round Grove, New Auburn, Home, and Lower Sioux Agency.
The fifth district, being large, Elders D. P. Curtis and A. Mead were assigned to that field. We recommend that Eld. Curtis take charge of Dassel, Maple Plain, Monticello, and Oak Springs; Eld. Mead, Irving, Kingston, Fair Haven, and Sauk Rapids.
Eld. Geo. M. Dimmick has charge of the sixth district, comprising Grove Lake, West Union, Round Prairie, Sauk Center, Lake Ellen, Joy, and Wrightstown.
Eld. S. Fulton has charge of the seventh district, composed of the eight churches in Wisconsin belonging to the Minnesota Conference, and Lake City in Minnesota.
We expect Eld. O. A. Olsen of Wisconsin to labor with us after October 1. He will take charge of the Scandinavian work while he remains in this Conference.
The testimonies show us that the tithing system is a sacred duty, of binding obligation. We urge the ministers to make a special effort in the interests of this important part of the work, not only that the cause may not suffer from want of means, but that the brethren by not appropriating to their own use that which is the Lord’s, may secure the blessings promised in Mal. 3:10, 11. It is evident that the circulation of our reading matter is one of the greatest means we have of spreading the truth. Only about one-third of our church-members are actively engaged in this work. As this is a field in which all can labor, we wish you to see that all become members of the T. and M. society, and pay the added one-third, so that this branch of the work may not be hindered, and that the brethren may cherish that true spirit of sacrifice that will call down the blessing of Heaven.
We are sorry to see a lack of spirituality with many of our brethren, especially on the part of our young people. Special efforts should be put forth in their behalf. In no other way can they be reached so easily as in our Sabbath-schools. See that schools are organized in every church, and that maps and other things that are necessary to make the schools interesting are secured. If more time were devoted to Sabbath-school exercises, and less to preaching, better results might follow.
In laboring with the churches, each family should be visited, and inquiry should be made as to the spiritual condition of old and young. In giving the general oversight of the churches to these ministers we do not wish the local elders to feel that their responsibilities are lessened. Their position as leader of all meetings is the same as before, only as the minister in charge may make appointments to do a special work, and in no case is it expected that ministers will usurp the place of the leader, or assume any of the duties belonging to him.
We hold these ministers responsible for the success of the work in their districts, and shall expect them to report to the president of the Conference at least once each month.
Seek a close connection with Heaven; go to work in earnest, and God will abundantly bless your efforts.
HARRISON GRANT, } Conf.
WM. H. HALL,
CALVIN KELSEY, } Com.
Kingston, July 24, 1879.