“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.” Isa. 40: 1, 2. In this case, as in all other inflictions of calamity, the cause may be traced back to the practice and guilt of sin. This is so, because before “comfort” can be declared, “iniquity” must be pardoned. The comfortable words, “Thy warfare is accomplished,” suggest the severe conflict through which the people of God are called to pass. But the time comes at length when they are all accomplished.
Whatever secondary or subsidiary scenes of oppression and rescue this language may refer to, such as the deliverance from Egypt, the restoration from the captivity of Babylon, etc., it certainly reaches over to the end of the last conflict the believer has with the world, the flesh, and the devil, the final blotting out of sin, and the opening of that auspicious hour when he can look back upon the whole host of59his enemies, all vanquished by the blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony, and he can change the helmet, shield, and breastplate of the Church militant, for the white robes and waving palm plumes of the Church triumphant. So this promise stands a rallying-point of courage and good cheer, all the way along his pilgrimage to the holy city, till the victory is won. Yea, we may even now, to some extent, anticipate the hour of triumph; for our great Captain has ascended a conqueror from the ramparts of death; and this is the word He hands back to us: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
The last clause of verse 2 can hardly be taken as a literal declaration, indicating that the Lord has suffered His Church to remain in the furnace of affliction till double the amount of trial necessary for her chastisement and purification had been endured; but rather that this experience had been endured in ample measure to accomplish all its designs, and had been successfully borne, so that nothing more in that line need be expected. Verses 3 and 4 are applied, in the New Testament, to the proclamation of the gospel, and bring to view the influence and agencies made use of by the Church to facilitate the advancement of the work of the Lord in the earth, and by the Lord to prepare the way for the advancements and triumphs of His cause over the obstacles thrown up by men to hinder or overthrow its progress. Verse 5 carries us forward again to the ultimate results of the gospel and its work, when all flesh shall see the glory of the Lord.
“The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” Verses 6-8.
These are commonplace truths—that all flesh is grass, and that the grass withereth, and the flower fadeth. Nobody thinks of denying them; and we may wonder why there is such a solemn summons to the proclamation of something that is so well understood, and so readily and universally admitted. But it often happens that what we best know and most readily admit is most apt to be forgotten. If the shortness and uncertainty of life could be, and should be, really and universally felt in our world, a revolution would sweep over society. Vast multitudes would be driven to give attention to their eternal religious interests. But we apprehend that the chief point in the verses is the striking contrast between the frailty, feebleness, and brevity of all human instrumentalities, and the word of God, which abides forever. “Heaven and earth shall pass away,” said Christ; “but my words shall not pass away.”
The whole object of this grand gospel discourse by the prophet, is to comfort and encourage the child of God, by setting forth in vivid terms the power, grandeur, glory, and wisdom of Christ, who sets forth these all-infolding promises in his behalf.
“O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God.” Verses 9, 10.
Here the Church is called upon to bear to other people the good tidings she had received. The time has come for the Church to heed this injunction. It is a present duty, in the present stage of the message. Mark the intensity of the language: “Get thee up into the high mountain!” “Lift up thy voice with strength!” “Be not afraid!” Other scriptures enjoin upon the Church this very thing, at this same time. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come,” says the same prophet. Isa. 60: 1. Again he says: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Chap. 58: 1. Joel takes up the refrain: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain.” Joel 2: 1. Passing from the exclamatory to the historical form, setting forth the same movement, we read, in Rev. 14: 9. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,” etc. The Lord will come to the help of His people at this time, and work for them with a strong hand, as says verse 10.
“He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Verse 11.
No figure could more beautifully describe the character of the Redeemer than that of a shepherd leading his flock, with the tender care and solicitude adapted to their condition. This is the first application of this figure to the Messiah, so often used in the New Testament. It shows that the Lord feels a particular interest in the young, leading them, and even carrying them in His bosom, to help them along safely and tenderly in the way. Our Lord appropriates the title to himself, saying, not merely, I am a shepherd, or even the shepherd; but, I am the good Shepherd.
Having given us a picture of His gentle and beneficent nature, He now enforces it with a declaration of His power: “Who hath measured the water in the hollow of His hand? and meted out heaven with the span? and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure? and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or, being His counselor, hath taught Him?” Verses 12, 13.
This sudden transition, couched in such sublime figures, is heart-stirring and impressive. How tender, how wise, and how powerful is this Shepherd, who has promised to take us into His arms, that His care and protection may ever be round about us! The message opens with a charge to “comfort,” and ends with the declaration and promise of strength sufficient to supply all our need. Nothing can exceed the grandeur of the thoughts of holding the waters in the hollow of His hand, comprehending the dust in a measure, and weighing the mountains and the hills in scales and balances. The questions carry with them their own answer. Who can do all these things? The answer tacitly implied is, None but God, the great Shepherd of Israel. It comes with resistless force. What conceptions are presented of the vastness of His power, and the ease with which he governs and controls the material universe! Astronomers have computed that there are no less than seventy-five millions of suns in this universe; for all the fixed stars are well known to be suns, each one supposed to have in its train a system of planets, like those in our own solar system. But Sirius, the nearest fixed star, is twenty-two thousand millions of miles away from our sun. Now if all the fixed stars are as distant from one another as Sirius is from our sun, what mind can form any conception of the extent of the field occupied by these works of the Creator? And if the solar system is to be taken as the average in size, of the seventy-five millions of systems, who would not be lost in any attempt to comprehend the vastness of this work? But such is the mighty power of God that He is represented as meting out the heavens with a span.
But more than this, let us take a glimpse of a little of the Creator's work from another side. Professor Faraday is said to have demonstrated that it takes as much electricity to decompose a drop of water, as would be sufficient to charge a thunder cloud. In every drop of water, then, there is a constant striving of the elements to escape. The power they exert can be measured only by the power of concentrated thunderbolts. And yet this force is kept in check, and so evenly balanced by an equal force, that not the slightest disturbance can occur. Well may man be overwhelmed by the mystery of nature. But here, as elsewhere, it ever points upward to the infinite, and thus silently teaches that the mighty influence that binds the atoms of the raindrop together is merely the manifestation of the Creator's power, who holds the water “in the hollow of His hand.”
Inasmuch as a consideration of the whole chapter (Isaiah 40) would extend this paper to a greater length than would be suitable, remarks on the concluding portion are deferred to next week. V. S.
J. N. Loughborough, in “Rise and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists.”
By John Norton Loughborough
UNDER the stirring proclamation of the Advent doctrine, many disposed of their worldly possessions, using their substance in sustaining the public speakers in their labor, or scattering the printed papers and tracts, or supplying the wants of the needy, thus giving to the world the best evidences of their sincerity and earnestness; while those who clung to their earthly possessions, and who made no special sacrifice for the work, were marked by the worldling as not really believing what they professed.
Upon this point I will cite a case that occurred in my own place of residence. It was that of a church-member who had much to say in meeting about the Lord’s coming in the fall of 1844. He was a man of considerable property, and among other things, he had a lot of hogs at just the right age for keeping over for the spring market. An uncle of mine, who made no religious pretensions, and whose business was the buying and selling of stock, went to this professed Adventist to buy his hogs, but learned from him that he did not wish to sell them, as he was going to keep them over till next spring for “store hogs.” Uncle came to my grandfather, who was an Advent believer, and said, “That man does not believe what he professes.” “Why?” asked grandfather. “Because,” said uncle, “he says the Lord is coming, and the world is coming to an end this fall, but he wants to keep his hogs till next spring. He need not talk to me; he doesn’t believe a word of it.”
There were, however, men who held onto their means, struggling all the while under the conviction that they should use it to advance the work, until it was too late to invest it. Such came to those engaged in printing the message, urging them with tears to accept their money, but the reply was, “You are too late! we have paid for all the printing matter12we can possibly circulate before the end. We have hired several power presses to run night and day; we do not want any more money.” An eye-witness testified to me that he saw men lay thousands of dollars on the desk before the publisher of the Voice of Truth, and in anguish of spirit beg him to take it and use it. The reply was, “You are too late! We don’t want your money now! We can’t use it.” Then they asked, “Can not it be given to the poor?” The answer was the same, “We have made provision for the immediate wants of all such that we can reach.” In distress of mind, the men took away their money, declaring that the frown of God was upon them for their lack of faith and for the covetousness which led them to withhold means from the cause of God when it was needed and would have been gladly used.
In the early part of the season, some of our brethren in the north of New Hampshire had been so impressed with the belief that the Lord would come before another winter, that they did not cultivate their fields. About the middle of July, which was the evening of the midnight of the Jewish day-year (evening-morning, reckoning from the new moon of April, the commencement of this Jewish year), others, who had sown and planted their fields, were so impressed with a sense of the Lord’s immediate appearing, that they could not, consistently with their faith, harvest their crops. Some, on going into their fields to cut their grass, found themselves entirely unable to proceed, and, conforming to their sense of duty, left their crops standing in the field, to show their faith by their works, and thus to condemn the world. This rapidly extended through the north of New England.
The character and principles of those who left their crops standing unharvested, and their shops desolated, to scatter the printed page, or to talk and pray with the people from house to house, were beyond criticism. The people questioned not that such men and women believed every word they said, and withal, such a power attended them that the honest-hearted could not gainsay nor resist their words. Thousands were by this means led to believe the truth, and sought and found God’s mercy.
WILL YOUR CHURCH ACT?
As a people we are being tested to see if we love God more than the world. We have been told that He is testing us over “Christ’s Object Lessons.” These words are full of meaning: “Have faith in God. He gave me the idea of giving ‘Christ’s Object Lessons’ for the relief of the schools. He is testing His people and institutions in this thing, to see if they will work together and be of one mind in self-denial and self-sacrifice. Carry forward this work without flinching, in the name of the Lord. Let God’s plan be vindicated.”
He has told every member of the Church that he would receive a blessing if he would take this book and present it to the people. It is present truth. The Lord has also said that some should receive special preparation, in order that they may carry the truth to the people. “If our church-members were awake, they would multiply their resources; they would send men and women to our schools, not to go through a long course of study, but to learn quickly, and to go out into the field.”
The Battle Creek College, realizing that the time to act is just now, will begin a course of study, January 29, extending to April 23, for those who wish to receive a preparation that will enable them to help their home churches, and to carry the book intelligently to a large class of people who are waiting to receive it. Is your church preparing to send some one to receive this special training? If not, why not? Write at once, for special announcement, to the president of Battle Creek College.
NEWS AND NOTES
—Germany has sent 900 more men to China as re-enforcements.
—Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, has again been elected United States Senator.
—England is hastening heavy re-enforcements to General Kitchener in South Africa.
—The University of Wisconsin, at Madison, is closed “on account of a smallpox scare.”
—An oil well was recently struck near Sabine Pass, Tex., giving 15,000 barrels a day.
—Many trains are snow-bound in Russia, and 4,000 men are clearing the tracks near Odessa.
—Odessa, Russia, has just had a blizzard, which lasted 100 hours, in which 120 persons perished.
—Townsend Saxton, inventor of one of the first American bicycles, died at Babylon, L. I., the 16th inst., aged seventy.
—The city of Liège, Belgium, has taken charge of its street-car lines, “to test the advisability of municipal ownership of public utilities.”
—The price of cats has risen in Germany, because of “an order for 10,000 fur-lined coats for troops in China, and an equal number of fur-lined gloves and gaiters.”
—By means of the X-rays, Bishop Potter, of New York, recently discovered that he had been going about for the last twenty-five years with two broken bones near his right ankle.
—The United States Senate recently declared itself in favor of abolishing the army canteen, “the amendment for continuing it being tabled by a vote of thirty-four to fifteen.”
—James A. Mount died suddenly of heart-disease, at Indianapolis, January 16, just two days after he had finished his term as governor of Indiana. He was stricken while reading a newspaper.
—The Marconi system of wireless telegraphy recently “stood a successful test during a severe storm in the English Channel,” and the Belgian government has recommended its adoption.
—W. A. Clark, of Montana, was elected United States Senator, January 16, at Helena, receiving fifty-seven votes out of ninety-three cast on the first ballot. This time, Congress will be obliged to admit him.
—Mrs. Carrie Nation, the saloon-wrecker of Wichita, Kan., was released from jail the 17th inst., on $200 bonds, and all of the saloons in the town have “hired men to stand at their doors,” to guard against her attacks.
—January 15 Matthew S. Quay was elected United States Senator, at Harrisburg, Pa., receiving from the Legislature a majority of twelve votes, two from the Senate and ten from the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania.
—Professor Ross was recently dismissed from the Leland Stanford University (Cal.) because he said things that did not please Mrs. Stanford. Now Professor Howard, head of the department of history, and one of the oldest members of the faculty, has resigned, because of the dismissal of Professor Ross.
—An electric railroad is soon to be laid between Ann Arbor, Mich., and Battle Creek. When that is done, it will be possible to travel from Detroit to Kalamazoo in electric cars. Ten cars have already been ordered for the new line. They will cost $10,000 each, and are built for a maximum speed of fifty-five miles an hour.
—Dr. Michael I. Pupin, professor of electrical engineering at Columbia University, has invented an apparatus “whereby telephone communication will be established between Europe and America.” The Bell Telephone Company has paid him $500,000 for the invention, in addition to which he will also receive $15,000 a year as royalty during the life of the patents. Dr. Pupin is only thirty-five years old, and is a friend and pupil of Nikola Tesla. His invention appears a very simple thing, consisting of “putting a coil of wire around the line at short intervals.” The object of these coils is to “preserve the energy which was before wasted by being converted into heat and otherwise dissipated.” The first experiment will be made between Florida and Cuba.61
—The strength of an ordinary railway engine is said to equal that of 900 horses.
—The leading shoe factories of the country have combined, with a capitalization of $3,500,000.
—A trust of thirty-one plow-manufacturing firms was recently formed at Chicago, with a capitalization of $65,000,000.
—An exchange informs us that “during the fourteen years which President McKinley served in Congress he purchased and smoked 37,000 cigars.”
—The sister of Susan B. Anthony, Rochester, N. Y., has refused to pay her taxes, except under protest, “until she is allowed the right of suffrage.”
—It is said that “the king of Saxony is one of the most approachable of European sovereigns,” and that “an audience may be had with him at almost any time.”
—Those who ought to know, state that “in a hurricane blowing at eighty miles an hour, the pressure on each square foot of surface is thirty-one and one-half pounds.”
—Andrew Carnegie has offered Seattle, Wash., $200,000 for a new library, provided that city will guarantee $50,000 yearly “for maintenance and improvement.”
—The Cramps, of Philadelphia, will erect “an immense plant at Collingwood, Ontario, to rival the Carnegie,” which will turn out pig iron, ship and bridge structural iron.”
—According to the Hebrew Standard, of New York, “the aggregate number of Jews who have served at the front in South Africa, in the different sections of the British forces, is estimated at upward of 700.”
—Hiram Stephens Maxim, born an American citizen, in a Maine village, has been made a knight by Queen Victoria. He is the inventor of the rapid-fire automatic guns which bear his name. A few years ago he became a naturalized British subject.
—It is reported from Russia that thirty-two persons were recently arrested, on the charge of high treason. Some of these were Germans and Austrians, and, “with the view to avoiding international complications, all the prisoners were sent immediately to Siberia.”
—A Jewish exchange says that “almost everywhere where a large number of Jews reside in this country, the Portuguese and Germans lead in point of social and financial standing, but numerically, religiously, and perhaps also intellectually, the Russians are at the head.”
—Dispatches state that “the steamer ‘Vera,’ which carried all the purchasing of the shah of Persia while on his European trip, foundered in the Caspian Sea. The automobiles of Serpollet, which were to be the first in the Orient, are therefore resting on the bottom of the sea.”
—Speaking of the return of Archbishop Ireland from Rome, to argue in this country for the sovereignty of the pope, the Christian Herald (Baptist), of Detroit, well says that “the reasons he brings forward for the temporal dominion of the pope over Rome, apply as well to all Italy as to Rome, and to all the world as well as to Italy. And when you look into the matter, you will find that the pope claims rule over the planet.”
—Fred Alexander, a negro accused of two crimes, was dragged from the county jail at Leavenworth, Kan., the 15th inst., lashed to an iron stake, soaked with oil, and burned alive, the father of one of the victims lighting the fire. He protested his innocence to the last breath. The dispatches state that a wild scramble was made for bits of charred flesh and other “souvenirs.” Although Governor Stanley at first decided to offer a reward for the conviction of any of the persons assisting in the burning at the stake, “deliberation on the subject induced him to change his mind.” He said: “It would be of absolutely no use to issue the offer. If the guilty persons were arrested, they would necessarily have to undergo the first trial in Leavenworth County; and on account of the present condition of public sentiment, it would be absolutely useless to attempt to prosecute anybody there for the crime.” And again: “The Chronicle, partially owned and controlled by Mayor S. F. Neely, prints a long editorial defending the mob, and setting up that the killing of Alexander was justifiable. . . . The coroner was unable to secure any witnesses the 16th, to testify about the killing of Alexander, although 5,000 persons saw it.”
—What is to be the largest pipe concern in the world will soon be erected on Lake Erie, at Conneaut Harbor, Ohio, by the Carnegie Company. The cost will be $12,000,000.
—Costa Rica has abandoned the use of silver as a money standard; for, “beginning on July 15, the government undertook to maintain the gold standard on a valuation of about 46½ cents in United States gold for each silver colon. Silver is no longer a legal tender for more than ten dollars in one payment.”
—It is interesting to note that “the czarina has the greatest difficulty in speaking her husband’s language, and the words come out slowly and laboriously, despite the many lessons given her by the czar.” It appears also that “privately the czar and czarina speak frequently in English, but their conversation is generally carried on in French.”
—It is announced that “a scientific expedition is to start from St. Petersburg, to examine the immense number of manuscripts discovered at Mukden [Manchuria] by Russian troops. In the collection are a large number of Greek and Roman documents, which are supposed to have been taken by the Mongolians on the retreat from the Occident. It is believed that the manuscripts are of great value.”
—It is about decided that Mr. Kruger will come to the United States next month, accompanied by W. T. Stead, who will “make a campaign in behalf of stopping the war” in South Africa. Mr. Stead says: “The time has come for President Kruger boldly to declare his intention to visit President McKinley, in order to plead with him the cause of the independence of the South African republics. Kruger is looked at askance in Germany and Austria, because he is president of a republic, but he thinks this will not be regarded as a disqualification for his reception by the President of the greatest republic in the world.”
—It is stated upon good authority that “the punitive expeditions of the Powers prove to have been simply looting parties. Lieutenant-Colonel Wint, of the Sixth United States cavalry, met the Germans at Tanghim, where the latter had taxed the villagers 4,000 taels ($2,760) and 100 pony loads of furs as punishment for the alleged murder of imaginary Christians. He had express orders from General Chaffee to co-operate with the Germans, but withdrew. General Chaffee has agreed to have no more military operations to exhibit the prowess of his men to the Chinese, and the representatives of the emperor have asked the commanders of the troops of other nations to take similar action.”
Contributions Received
THE following contributions were received from Dec. 13, 1900, to Jan. 7, 1901:—
A friend ........................................$ 4 10
A friend .......................................... 7 50
W. O. James .....................................25 00
H. Johnson ......................................25 00
E. R. Wilson ....................................50 00
Mrs. Wm. Sevy ................................... 5 00
H. E. Miller ....................................10 00
Mrs. Nettie Graves .............................. 5 00
Mr. and Mrs. Mac E. Avery ........................ 1 00
Mrs. L. M. Keller ................................ 2 00
Mrs. Marietta Drake .............................. 6 25
James Schee ....................................100 00
Peter Johnson ...................................10 00
Anna Sweet ........................................ 1 00
A friend ..........................................75
S. Sellers ........................................10 00
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Clark ........................10 00
Hans N. Hansen ..................................100 00
Susan Nixon ....................................... 3 00
Mrs. Lucy Jones ..................................25 00
Mrs. H. L. Lay .................................... 2 00
Mary Nissen ......................................10 00
Mary A. Stewart ................................... 5 00
Mrs. Laura Porter .................................20 00
Miss A. Hellen Wilcox .............................75
Matilda Hurlock ................................... 2 00
Viola F. Wobensmith ............................... 2 75 N. P. Nelson ....................................100 00
W. C. Check ........................................ 1 00
J. Rogers ..........................................10 00
E. Rogers ..........................................10 00
H. J. Schnore ...................................... 5 50
L. M. Lewis .........................................50
Mrs. J. J. Beaty ................................... 1 50
J. W. Westphal ....................................25 00
W. P. McCrillis .................................... 1 33
Mrs. Hannah A. Kelsey .............................. 5 00
W. S. Boone ........................................ 5 00
C. F. Nesmith .....................................25 00
Dr. and Mrs. E. E. Coulson .......................200 00
A. A. Coney ........................................ 2 00
Elder O. Hanson .................................... 1 00
Eliz. Farewell ...................................... 2 00
Mary J. Johnson .................................... 2 00
Sarah E. Jacobs .................................... 1 00
C. E. House ........................................ 1 00
Polly House ........................................ 1 00
Mae House .......................................... 1 00
Miranda House ......................................25
Allen House ........................................25
C. E. House ........................................50
Mae House ..........................................50
E. K. Cassell ......................................50 00
Samuel Wilson ...................................... 5 00
Mrs. S. Batterson ..................................50
B. Johnson .......................................... 4 50
Mrs. J. S. Olive ...................................10 00
Emma Flower ......................................... 3 00
Annie Brown ......................................... 1 00
Elizabeth Brown ..................................... 1 00
N. P. Manny ......................................... 2 00
A friend ...........................................25 00
John and Minnie Hinderberger ....................... 4 00
M. E. Moulter ......................................25 00
Henry W. Wilcox ....................................50
A friend ............................................ 5 30
F. De Fluiter ....................................... 7 00
Mrs. Mary A. Terrell ...............................10 00
Selina Beck ........................................ 4 00
Enoch C. Swartz .................................... 1 00
A friend ............................................ 2 00
Jacob Ghering ...................................... 2 00
J. T. Wakeham ...................................... 2 00
D. Ann Albin ....................................... 5 00
S. I. Tegart ....................................... 1 00
H. W. Pierce ......................................25 00
L. B. Porter ......................................10 00
Bertha Firminger ................................... 5 00
E. J. Campbell ..................................... 2 50
Josephine House ...................................50 00
Mrs. Josie E. Burch ...............................19 00
L. and M. E. Brush ................................ 5 00
C. Mac Howell ...................................... 1 00
Mrs. E. E. Barden ................................10 00
Dr. Wm. Merchant ..................................10 00
M. J. Macmillan .................................... 5 00
David M. Moore ..................................... 1 00
Miss E. Slocum ..................................... 1 00
A friend ............................................ 5 00
Jno. A. Macmillan .................................. 1 00
Mrs. Malone .........................................60
E. M. Carpenter ..................................... 5 00
Mrs. L. D. Gray ....................................65 00
James Forgey ........................................ 3 25
Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Castle .......................... 2 00
M. V. Erkenbeck ....................................25 00
Wm. J. Keele ........................................ 5 00
L. W. Boyliss .....................................100 00
Mrs. Blackman ....................................... 5 00
A friend ............................................50
O. G. Blaisdell ..................................... 2 00
Bel R. Flesher ...................................... 1 00
E. Hayes ........................................... 5 02
A friend ............................................ 1 00
Almira J. Burgert ..................................10 00
P. T. Magan (collections) .......................125 00
Sister in Camden, N. J. ...........................10 00
Sarah J. Charles ................................... 1 00
D. A. Chapman ......................................75
Kate G. Boone ......................................25 00
D. M. Fish .......................................... 2 00
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Newby ..........................25 00
E. C. Boylan .......................................55
Fifty Thousand Dollars for School Relief
By Editor
We earnestly request all our kind friends to remember that FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS is needed to pay for the material in “Christ’s Object Lessons.” We ask for large contributions from the rich and small gifts from the poor. Money for this purpose should be sent to the treasurer of the General Conference Association, care of Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.; and be sure to state that it is for THE RELIEF OF THE SCHOOLS.
OUR MESSAGE IN TURKEY
By Z. G. Baharian
I FEEL urged to write something about our message in Turkey, where the principles of true Christianity and those of heathenism are at war, specially during the last three years. The readers of the REVIEW remember how our experience ended in triumph year before last. May 1, 1899, brought us the glad tidings that I was granted by the minister of the interior freedom to preach the gospel. Our meeting-house was reopened after being left shut about six months. You remember that this freedom was granted in answer to my cutting protest against the second prohibiting commandment of the government, by which I was imprisoned in Constantinople jail.
When the freedom was granted, I was already released from the jail, consenting to the proposition of the minister of the police that I should not go out of Constantinople without his consent. So a bail bond was written and signed by three persons. But the commandment of the minister of the interior granting me freedom, made void the bail bond. Then I intended to start on a journey into Asia Minor. But my guarantees, who signed the bail bond, were afraid lest any harm should happen them. So I was obliged to ask the consent of the minister of the police. He could not refuse it, but being in enmity with our message, could try to abolish my freedom. This was the worst step that could be taken by us. He referred the question back to the minister of the interior, with big accusations, as if I was agitating trouble in establishing a new religion. The minister of the interior referred the question back to the director of the religions. This man, being friendly with us, answered in a plausible way, saying that several months ago he had made his mind known about this religion, but the question of traveling was not a matter belonging to his department. Then the minister of the interior referred the question to the prime minister. As soon as I learned about it, we gave a petition to him concerning our civil matters; such as marriages, passports, etc. The prime minister counseled with the minister of the exterior, and accordingly sent his answer to the minister of the interior. To this point I could follow the proceedings, but just at this point it was kept secret till Oct. 29, 1900, when Brother Conradi and myself called on the minister of the interior to learn further about it. He let us know that the parliament has decided not to acknowledge any new religion. So the Sabbatarian religion must be stopped. When we called on the director of the religions, the same answer was received. So our freedom to preach and to hold meetings was once more taken from us.
Brother Conradi finished his work, and departed in peace. Two days passed, when I was called by the police court, and was told by the president that our meeting-house would be closed, and that we must stop preaching, because the government does not acknowledge our religion. I told him that we can not leave our faith, but they too are free to do whatever they would. Hardly I could speak, and I was driven out. Now our meeting-house is closed, and we hold our meetings in private houses, which are also forbidden by the same law. We are sure that we shall soon be found out.
We hear that this prohibiting commandment is being sent to all provinces. In Adapazar and vicinity, in the province of Nicomedia, our brethren have met severe opposition. They have strictly been forbidden coming together, even two persons, and a Protestant tax-collector has been appointed as a guardian over them, that whenever they come together he should inform the police.
As you see, this is a time of trial for us. It is just the same time as of three faithful young men of the book of Daniel. Oh, we need the power of God abundantly! The Turkish government pretends to be the judge of religions. It is only by its acknowledgment that a religion can have existence. Now the Lord has brought us just to this time, that we may bear witness to the power of God, even to this nation, at the risk of our lives. Pray for us. Controversy is the same all over the world.
Z. G. BAHARIAN.
CALIFORNIA
By John Norton Loughborough
Since coming to California, I have met with our people on Valencia Street, San Francisco, two Sabbaths, and one Sabbath with the church on Laguna Street. At both these places I was glad to meet those who have become interested in, or have accepted, the truth since I was there about two years ago. In 1875 Sister White said that “San Francisco will ever be a missionary field.” And so it proves to be.
From December 15-27, in company with Brother J. W. Bagby, the time was spent with the churches in Lemoore, Grangeville, and Hanford, Kings’ Co. On the 15th and 16th there was a joint meeting of all three of the companies, at Grangeville. Brother McClure was with us those two days. There was an earnest consecration to God, in preparation for the Week of Prayer. After thirty-five had come forward, there was another move of consecration, in which nearly all in the house surrendered themselves to the Lord’s service. This consecration was held, and added to, as the meetings continued. Each church met daily in their home churches. We met with them from place to place on different days. A discourse was given on such occasions, followed immediately by the reading for the day, and a social meeting. It was indeed a profitable14week for that group of churches. Several among the young made a start for the first time in the Lord’s service.
Sabbath and First-day, December 29, 30, we were with the large church of believers in Fresno, with whom I had not met for ten years. Several of the older ones had moved away or died. Many then young have grown up. Some of these are taking hold to bear responsibilities; but, alas! with too many there are outward signs of worldly conformity. May the Lord work there in power, that Satan shall not capture the young with his worldly baits.
