Earlier text: Some Common Objections to the SabbathWords from Alexander Campbell.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Mr. Campbell gives no quarter to the modern doctrine that it makes no difference what a man believes if he is only sincere. No doubt the devil is well pleased when he hears this doctrine advocated. According to this, his lies are as good as God's truths. Says Campbell: “But the power and efficacy of faith depend not so much upon the act or manner of believing, nor upon the certainty of the evidence, nor even upon our assurance of its truth, as upon the nature and value of the thing that is believed. THE POWER OF FAITH IS IN THE TRUTH BELIEVED. The power of faith is in the power of truth. It is not eating that sustains or destroys human life. It is what is eaten. Some eat and live—others eat and die. Some believe and are saved—others believe and are damned. Both characters truly and sincerely believed. But the former believe the truth and are saved; the latter believe a lie and are damned. So true it is, that it is not the manner of believing that saves or destroys, nor the sincerity of believing; but the meaning or nature of that which is believed. ‘God,’ says Paul, sends to some ‘a strong delusion;’ or allows them to receive a strong delusion, so ‘that they may believe a lie’ and be condemned; while to others he sends the truth with power, that they may believe and be saved. Some believe fatally, yet sincerely—indeed all, who believe an error or a falsehood. Some, indeed, prefer to believe a pleasing or agreeable falsehood rather than an unsavory or disagreeable truth. Hence some really love darkness, while others love the light and the truth.”—Christian Baptism, B. 1, Ch. 4, p. 71. PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS AND BAPTISTS.
Mr. C. furnishes an interesting sketch of the persecutions which these people have once suffered in this country. It illustrates the fact that the spirit of the dragon is in Protestantism when it has the power, and that in this country too, as well as elsewhere. “Anno Domini 1659, 1662, 1663, several acts of the Assembly of this State (Virginia) made it penal in parents to refuse to have their children baptized; and prohibited the Quakers from assembling; and made it penal for any master of a ship to bring a Quaker into the State.” “James Ireland, a Baptist, was imprisoned in Culpepper jail, and treated very ill in other respects, for his tenets. A Mr. Thomas also, an active and useful minister, was much persecuted. The object of the above laws and persecutions was to protect the Episcopal church.” “In the good State of Massachusetts (which I select not as the only State in which persecution raged, but as eminent for the exercise of this zeal), the Baptists suffered much for many years. In this State, in the year 1644, we are informed by Mr. Hubbard that a poor man, by the name of Painter, suddenly became a Baptist, and having a child born, would not suffer his wife to carry it to be baptized. He was complained of to the court, and was enjoined by it to suffer his child to be baptized. He had the impudence to tell them that infant baptism was an Antichristian ordinance; for which, he was tied up and whipped!” Again: “All letters and remonstrances proved ineffectual with the New England divines. They held fast their integrity, and in 1651 the Baptists were unmercifully whipped, and, not long after, the Quakers were murderously hung.” —Christian Baptism, B. 6, Ch. 8, pp. 410–413. In his debate with the Roman Catholic bishop, Purcell, Mr. C. says: “I was sorry to hear the gentleman defending ‘white lies,’ and ‘little sins.’ When I think of the nature of sin, and the holy and immutable laws of God, against whom it is committed, I see no difference between one sin and another. There may be great and little sins, as to their temporal relations and consequences; but when He, against whom every sin is committed, and that divine and holy law, which is violated in the least offense, is considered, we must say with the apostle James, ‘He that offendeth in one point is guilty of all.’ It may be the veriest peccadillo on earth; but in Heaven’s account one sin would ruin a world, as it has done, for he that keeps the whole law and yet offends in the least point, is guilty of all. He that said not a jot or tittle of his law should fall to the ground, he that magnified his law and made it honorable, will suffer no person to add to, to subtract from, to change or to violate a single point with impunity.” p. 204. “The single fact that the four archbishops of Ireland and the Roman Catholic college of Maynooth should have impiously dared to strike one commandment from the ten, which God wrote on two tables with his own finger, and should have changed and divided the tenth into two, speaks volumes in proof of my allegation against the Romanist rule of faith.” “It is a poor apology for this expurgation of the decalogue, that it is not so done in the Douay Bible; for when these catechisms were introduced, and even yet in most Catholic countries, not one man in a thousand ever read that Bible; the catechism intended for universal consumption, contained all his knowledge of God’s law. What myriads, then, through this fraud, must have lived and died in the belief that the second commandment was no part of God’s law!” “It is clearly proved that the pastors of the church have struck out one of God’s ten WORDS; which, not only in the Old Testament, but in all revelation, are the most emphatically regarded as the synopsis of all religion and morality. They have also made a ninth commandment out of the tenth, and their ninth, in that independent position, becomes identical with the seventh commandment, and makes God use tautology in the only instrument in the universe that he wrote with his own hand! But why this annulling of the second commandment? Because it is a positive prohibition of the practice of bowing down to images, and doing them homage; a custom dearer to the Romish church than both the second and seventh commandments!” Debate with Purcell, pp. 214, 215. Would that Mr. Campbell’s followers would treat the law of God the same as he did. Instead of this, they have gone farther than he accused the Romish church of doing; for they now abolish all “God’s ten words” and speak of them in the most contemptible manner. They need to go back and sit at the feet of their father again and learn wisdom and reverence from him. On the subject of majorities, Mr. C. has the following good words:— “Next comes the doctrines of majorities; and these are everything with a Romanist. They are the root, and reason, and illustration, and proof of infallibility. The man who seeks the truth by the tests of sincerity, majority, and antiquity, will never find it on the earth. This is amply true of the present and all past ages. There are sincere Turks, Jews, Pagans, Infidels. There are very ancient errors, heresies, and sects. And, as for majorities from Enoch till now, they have generally, if not always, been wrong in religion. Where was the majority when Noah was building his ark? when Abraham forsook Ur of the Chaldees? when Lot abandoned Sodom? when Moses forsook Egypt? when Elijah witnessed against Ahab? when Daniel and his companions were captives in Babylon? when Malachi wrote? when the Baptist preached? when Christ was crucified? when the apostles, and many of the first Christians, were persecuted?” Debate with Purcell, p. 294. Strange it is that many of his followers will now take up and use against the Sabbath the very arguments which Mr. Campbell utterly demolished years ago! The reason is obvious: When men are defending the truth, they can reason soundly and repudiate false arguments; but when trying to prop up an error, they will use the very arguments they before condemned. How Can it Be?
By H. A. St. John
The Scriptures present some examples, of prophecies of opposite statements, which must be fulfilled at the same time, in the same place, and among the same people. Do you ask how this can be? Attend while we explain. We will give two remarkable and unmistakable examples, both of which relate to the last days. The first one is rarely if ever misunderstood, while the second is very generally wrongly applied, or misconstrued. The first, Rev. 3: 17, reads as follows: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” From this statement we learn that the Laodicean state of the church will say that one condition, or state of things, will exist, while the contrary will be true. Or, in other words, these two prophetic declarations of opposite import will be fulfilled at the same time among the same people. Their saying fulfills the first part of the prophecy, while their doing fulfills the latter, so both statements, opposite though they be, are fulfilled at one and the same time. This conclusion will not be denied perhaps by any one. Now let it serve to illustrate the second example. “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow into it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Micah 4: 1–3. “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” Joel 3: 9, 10. These emphatic predictions, in almost every particular, are directly opposite in meaning, and yet it is undeniably true that they have their application at the same time—in the last days. Nor is it difficult to understand how they are contemporaneously fulfilled, for the first is what the people will be saying, while the second is what they will be doing. To say one thing, and do another, is no uncommon thing among the children of men, and this inharmony is the subject of this prophecy. We are living in a time when these prophecies are both receiving their fulfillment. The popular pulpits, and religious periodicals throughout the length and breadth of Christendom, are constantly ringing out the fulfillment of Micah 4: 1–3; while hundreds of manufacturers of implements of war, are no less plainly and loudly sounding the fulfillment of Joel 3: 9, 10. In almost any popular church in our land, and upon almost any Sunday, you might, with propriety and truthfulness, at the conclusion of ministerial services, arise, and read Micah 4: 1–3, and say, in the language of Jesus, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” “Whoso readeth let him understand.” Christian Experience.
By R. F. Cottrell
WHEN a person is truly converted to God, a great change takes place in the affections and desires of the heart. Sinful pleasures, which before looked so charming and desirable, now have lost their charms. Sin looks hateful, and the path of virtue and holiness looks lovely; and the young Christian thinks that he cannot be tempted to sin again. But trials come; and he finds, perhaps to his surprise, that temptations will come, and that the Christian course has its conflicts all the way until it is finished. Then the Christain can say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” It would be pleasant indeed, if the new hope of the ardent believer could be realized; if sin could be so thoroughly eradicated from the heart that temptation could no more assail; the poisonous plant torn out to its lowest roots, so that there would be no possibility of its sprouting again; the viper crushed to death, so that there could be no fear of a revival. It would be very pleasant to have the contest ended, to rest from the labor, to lay off the armor and be at peace. But God has, in his wisdom and goodness, ordered it otherwise. We must be willing to struggle on; to run with patience the race that is set before us. But we have this blessed assurance, that it is possible for us to so run that we may obtain. When the mediator of the new covenant shall have finished his mediation, by blotting out the sins of all his redeemed, the law of God will be perfectly written in their hearts, the conflict with temptation will be ended, and it will be as natural and easy to do right as it is now to do wrong. The warfare will be over, the time of resting will have come. Till then,
“Ne’er think the victory won,
Nor lay thy armor down;
Thy arduous task will not be done”
till thy probation is ended and thou art adjudged worthy of the crown of life. “Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, or a day. It is a continual growth in grace. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. Satan lives, and is active, and every day we need to earnestly cry to God for help and strength to resist him. As long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetments to overcome, and there is no stopping place. There is no point to which we can come and say we have fully attained.” Testimonies, Vol. 1, pp. 337, 338. But though trials and conflicts will continue to come, the Christian may be victorious every time. He need not live in the seventh of Romans, doing continually what he disapproves. He may get into the eighth, where he can say, “There is therefore now no condemnation,” and, “Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This perfect victory over sin should, and must, be the aim of every Christian. To aim at less is to be a willing servant of sin. Then wage a war of extermination against the many-headed monster, and by the promised help of God you may be a victor to the end. Then shall come the time of resting. A Selfish Week and a Religious Sabbath
A WEEK filled with selfishness, and the Sabbath stuffed full of religious exercises, will make a good Pharisee, but a poor Christian. There are many persons who think the Sabbath is a sponge with which to wipe out the sins of the week. A Word Concerning the Present Political Campaign.
The following article so well expresses our feelings upon this subject, that we reproduce it from the Sabbath Recorder of Aug. 15, 1872:— One of the prices paid for freedom in this country is the shock of these quadrennial election campaigns, when the whole country, from center to circumference, is set into a whirl of excitement. When good men and bad men, great men and small men, partake of the common glow, when often truth and conscience are smothered, and passion and party rule the hour. We are now entering upon one of the most violent and reckless of these periods. From every quarter, the religious press of the country is uttering earnest words of caution and persuasion against the spirit of party and personal bitterness, already so widespread and deep. In many instances, even among men from whom we felt we had a right to expect better things, passion seems to bear rule. We deplore this, and pray that these poisoned waters of strife may cease to flow! But we took our pen to say a word to Christian men. . . . Remember that you are citizens of another country, to the institutions of which you owe allegiance also, and under whose guiding Spirit you are to perform your political duties here. You are in danger of losing interest in the cause of Christ, under the pressure of the present political excitement, and of suffering loss in your Christian character. You are also in danger of withdrawing your influence and active service from the cause of Christ, giving your first attention to the interests of your political preferences. You are also in danger of losing your influence as a Christian, over those whom you should save, as the instruments of God's mercy. In a time like this, you have need to watch and pray much, and set a strong and faithful guard over your lips, lest they speak at least unsavory words. Let us remember our religious obligations, as well as those we owe the State, and be careful to seek first the kingdom of Heaven. Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists.
At the call of the Committee, this Conference met on the camp-ground, Battle Creek, Mich., Sept. 5, 1872, at 9 o'clock A. M. Meeting called to order by the President, and opened with prayer by Eld. Geo. I. Butler. The number of delegates presenting credentials to the Conference was forty-four, representing thirty-eight churches. Several churches were not represented. On motion, all brethren in good standing were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference. Moved, That the following churches be admitted under the watchcare of the Conference: Fair-grove, Oceana, Olivet, Vernon, Greenwood, Smith's Creek. Carried. Minutes of last meeting read and accepted. The Treasurer's report of S. B. funds of the Conference was read and accepted, as follows:— Of the Mich. State Conference of S. D. Adventists from Feb. 7, 1871, to Sept. 5, 1872. Amount on hand at last report, $3894.61
Received to date, 4329.69 Total, $8224.40
Paid out during the time, 1223.81 Balance in Treasury at date, $7000.59
ADDIE MERRIAM, Treasurer. The following letter to the Conference from Bro. White was read by the President:— To the Michigan Conference: DEAR BRETHREN, I am happy that you have the labors and counsel of Bro. Butler. It is his place to witness all your doings and give you counsel in all matters of importance. May God bless your assembly, and direct to this important hour. I am grieved that I cannot be with you. But long-endured toil and sadness have brought me where I cannot help you. I have labored to do you good, and only good. Pardon my many errors, and pray God to raise me up again, if he has anything for me to do in his cause. I have hoped since I have been in the West that I might be able to take some care of things at Battle Creek, and have allowed business letters to pass to and fro. But as these have grown perplexing, my mind has become troubled about matters there, and I am obliged to refuse all such correspondence. For a time, brethren, let me rest. I will not be chargeable to your Conference, or any Association, or Institution, while thus resting. God is with his truth in Michigan, as well as all parts of the field where earnest, good and able men preach it. And while I cannot labor with you, I will rejoice with you in the prosperity of the cause. God gives us intelligent and kind friends here who treat us with great tenderness and hospitality. The attachment of these worldly relatives of Mrs. W. grows stronger each week we remain, and their acts of regard for me in my worn condition, and their earnest efforts to do for us, astonish us. It may be that God has sent us to these Rocky Mountains for succor as he sent Elijah to the heathen widow. I resolve to lay down my pen at present, and give myself to prayer, rest, and recreation, in the pure, mountain air. Affectionately,
JAMES WHITE. This letter was referred to the Committee on Resolutions. On motion, The Chair appointed the following committees:
Auditing Committee: D. R. Palmer, F. Howe, S. H. King, James Harvey, S. A. McPherson, Cyrenius Smith. Committee on Resolutions: I. D. Van Horn, E. B. Lane, D. H. Lamson. Committee on Nominations: J. H. Waggoner, Wm. Carpenter, P. Strong. Adjourned to call of Chair. Opened with prayer by Bro. Waggoner. The Committee on Nominations reported the following persons for Officers for the ensuing year: President, E. H. Root; Secretary, I. D. Van Horn; Treasurer, Addie Merriam; Conference Committee, E. H. Root, D. H. Lamson, S. H. King. These were elected by a unanimous vote. On motion, it was voted, That credentials be renewed to the following ministers: James White, E. G. White, J. H. Waggoner, J. Byington, M. E. Cornell, E. B. Lane, D. H. Lamson, R. J. Lawrence, I. D. Van Horn, J. N. Loughborough, P. Strong, C. Stoddard. On motion, The matter of granting licenses was left with the Conference Committee. Adjourned to call of Chair. Opened with prayer by Bro. Littlejohn. The Auditing Committee reported that their settlement with ministers had taken the sum of about five thousand dollars, leaving two thousand dollars still in the treasury. Committee on Resolutions reported, offering the following, which were adopted:— Resolved, 1. That we, the Michigan Conference assembled, do hereby express our grateful acceptance of the letter of our much-esteemed brother, Eld. James White, and, while we greatly regret that he could not be with us in our meeting, we do heartily reciprocate the Christian feeling and love therein manifested. 2. That we hope he may soon be restored to health, and fill the place to which the Lord has so evidently called him in the work of the third angel's message; and our prayers unite, that this end may be attained. 3. That this Conference will esteem it a pleasure to defray all the expenses of himself and family in his efforts to regain health in the pure, mountain air of the West. 4. That we can never forget the years of toil, the sacrifice of means, the sighs and tears, the weariness of body unselfishly suffered by himself and wife in this glorious cause. We earnestly pray that we may be forgiven our lack of sympathy in their afflictions, and energy in taking a full share of the burdens which they have so long and cheerfully borne; and we unreservedly pledge our future sympathy and support, with the help of God, in bearing the burdens we have so long neglected. Resolved, That we acknowledge the gift of prophecy through Sr. White as the direct testimony of God to us. We deeply lament our evident neglect of this means of grace, and determine in future to pay earnest heed to the instruction and admonitions therein contained, hoping God will pardon our past indifference, and help to carry out this resolution. Resolved, That, as a tribute of respect, we recognize in the decease of our beloved Bro. Joseph Bates the loss of a great and good man; eminent for piety and Christian virtue; a pioneer in the third angel's message, always at his post of duty. We miss him in our assemblies, at our Conference, in our churches, at our fireside homes; and while we deeply mourn our loss, we will remember his counsels, imitate his virtues, and endeavor to meet him in the kingdom of God. The Conference was petitioned to change the name of the church of North Plains to Matherton. Granted by a unanimous vote. Moved and voted, That the following brethren receive license for the coming year:
W. H. Littlejohn, E. H. Root, S. H. Lane, U. Smith, H. M. Kenyon, Chas. Jones, H. S. Gurney, D. W. Milk, E. R. Jones, Madison Miller, J. O. Corliss, A. Weeks, A. N. Fisher, W. B. Castle, W. H. Haskin, Chas. A. Russell, Ezra Brackett Jr., Wm. Potter, Alvin Marsh, J. P. Hoffman. The committee recommended that Brn. S. H. Lane and H. M. Kenyon receive ordination. Brethren from Indiana who have heretofore received licenses were referred to the Indiana Conference, when it shall be organized. The question of re-ordination of ministers was briefly discussed, and was referred to the General Conference. By vote, This Conference appropriated to the General Conference fund $1500.00. Bro. Waggoner offered the following preamble and resolution, which were unanimously adopted:— Whereas, The brethren of Indiana have expressed a desire to form a separate Conference at the time of their coming camp-meeting, therefore, Resolved, That Bro. Littlejohn and Lane be requested to act in behalf of the Michigan Conference in regard to any action that may be taken in this matter at that time. Bro. Butler made some remarks in regard to inviting brethren to move to Battle Creek, to help sustain the cause at that place. Moved, That the Chair appoint a committee to take into consideration the matter introduced by Bro. Butler, and bring it before the meeting in form of a resolution. The following persons were named to act as such committee: Geo. I. Butler, W. H. Littlejohn, Ira Abbey. Adjourned to call of Chair. The last-named committee requested that the question of moving to Battle Creek be left with the Mich. Conf. Committee and Gen. Conf. Committee. Granted. On motion, The Chair appointed the following brethren as a Camp-meeting Committee: S. A. McPherson, D. R. Palmer, Wm. Potter. Moved, That the vote to have the Conference year begin with the time of holding the Conference be rescinded. Carried. Moved, That we recommend each church to begin their Systematic Benevolence year with the first of January. Carried. Adjourned to the call of the President.
U. SMITH, President.
J. R. TREMBLEY, Sec'y. Eleventh Annual Report of the N. Y. and Pa. State Conference.
By P. Z. Kinne; S. B. Whitney
CONFERENCE convened, according to notice, on the camp-ground, Kirkville, N. Y., Aug. 6, 1872. On a call for credentials, twenty-three delegates responded, representing twenty churches. By vote of Conference, delegates were received from four other churches without credentials. Three new churches, viz.: Chester, Warren Co., Vermontville, Franklin Co., and Vermillion, Oswego Co., were received into the Conference with their delegates. Two churches were represented by letter. The usual invitation was given to brethren present, in good standing, to share in the deliberations of the meeting; also to Brn. Butler, Haskell, and Littlejohn. The report of the last meeting was read and accepted, with a slight correction relating to the number and names of the new churches received into the Conference. Reports from churches were then received; after which it was Voted, That the President appoint the usual committees, who presented the following names, viz.: Auditors, A. H. Hall, S. N. Walsh, Daniel Bowe, W. M. Eggleston, Wm. Coats, and D. B. Welch; on Nominations, S. N. Haskell, Harmon Lindsay, and H. Hilliard; on Resolutions, Geo. I. Butler, W. H. Littlejohn, and S. B. Whitney. Call being made for reports from ministers and licentiates, the following persons briefly responded, viz.: Bro. Wheeler, Taylor, Whitney, Cottrell, Reynolds, Saunders, Sr. Lindsay, Brn. Stebbins, Edson, Arnold, and Bro. Wheeler in behalf of Bro. Wilcox. The Nominating Committee reported the following names for officers, viz.: President, P. Z. Kinne, Kirkville, Onondaga Co.; Secretary, S. B. Whitney, Keene, Essex Co.; Treasurer, E. S. Lane, Locke, Cayuga Co.; Executive Committee, E. B. Gaskill, Olcott, Niagara Co., and B. L. Whitney, Kirkville, Onondaga Co. The report was accepted, and each person duly elected by a separate vote. The renewing of credentials and granting of licenses being introduced, Bro. Butler was called upon to make some remarks upon the subject, as the result of which, it was Voted, 1. That the Conference Committee examine the cases of those wishing credentials or licenses, and present such to the Conference, as they deem worthy to receive them. 2. That the suggestions made upon the subject be accepted as the sense of the Conference to be given in a resolution for future reference. Bro. Butler introduced the matter of sending men to Battle Creek properly qualified to care for the vital interests of the cause there, according to the light that has been given, and after being duly considered, it was Voted, To invite Bro. Harmon Lindsay to represent our Conference, in this capacity, at that place. The reports of the Auditing Committee and Treasurer were made and accepted. Voted, To appropriate what funds we have on loan, in the Publishing Association, to the General Conference. The credentials of the following brethren were renewed upon the recommendation of the committee, viz.: J. N. Andrews, R. F. Cottrell, C. O. Taylor, S. B. Whitney, F. Wheeler, C. B. Reynolds, Hiram Edson, and David Arnold. Credentials were also granted to E. B. Saunders. Voted, That the granting of licenses be left with the Conference Committee. The following resolutions were then adopted: Whereas, It is manifest that the interests of the cause demand that each Conference should be represented at the head of the work, by one or more of its most reliable men, therefore, Resolved, That, in our judgment, it is expedient that Harmon Lindsay should remove to Battle Creek, so soon as he can consistently, to co-operate with Ira. Abbey, now there, as representatives from the State of N. Y., in laboring for the prosperity of the institutions located in that place. Whereas, It is our conviction that there are many excellent fields of labor in this Conference, which have never been entered, and in which churches might be raised up, provided the light of present truth could be properly presented, therefore, Resolved, That we earnestly exhort our brethren in the ministry, for the year to come, to leave the churches, as far as possible, in the hands of the lay members, while they devote themselves to the work of searching out these fields, and raising up new bodies of believers. 2. That it is the judgment of this Conference that those receiving licenses should perform what labor they do, in new fields, and that the Conference will not consider itself under obligation to pay for any labor that does not benefit the cause of present truth. Whereas, We have at present no minister who can labor efficiently among the churches in our Conference, and the condition of the cause in the State seeming to demand the attention and labors of a man qualified for this work, therefore, Resolved, That we invite Bro. S. N. Haskell to labor in our State, so far as is consistent in the providence of God. 2. That we highly appreciate his labors and influence in connection with our Tract and Missionary Society in assisting us to get its affairs into working order. 3. That we express our gratitude to God, and Bro. Butler, Littlejohn and Haskell, for their faithful labors in this meeting. By vote of the Conference, the President appointed the following persons as Camp-meeting Committee, viz.: B. L. Whitney, C. W. Lindsay, S. I. Abbey, Daniel Bowe, Wm. H. Brown, R. W. Palmiter, and C. H. White. Votes of thanks were passed, tendered to the R. W. & O. and S. N. R. R.'s for granting free returns to103those coming to the meeting over these roads, and to the owner of the grounds for his gentlemanly deportment and liberality in connection with the meeting. It was also voted to publish these proceedings in the REVIEW. Adjourned sine die. A HYMN OF TRUST;
By M. E. PIPER
I’ll take it all to Jesus—all my care,
All dread of future ill—all anxious fear—
He knows me best, and what I need to bear. I’m weary of this earthly strife and din,
Of battling with temptation and with sin,
Yet I must fight if a crown would win. A bright, unfading crown of glory waits
All those who pass within the pearly gates,
And this with joy my soul anticipates. But while on earth I stay, to me is given
Some stars to gain to deck my crown in Heaven.
Oh! may I then for these have nobly striven. And so, dear Jesus, now to thee I come,
For grace to cheer, for strength to labor on
And keep in view my crown, my rest, my home.
M. E. PIPER. The Sentiment of the Day Is the Accumulation of Wealth
THE sentiment of the day is the accumulation of wealth.—Ex. from a Beecher Sermon. The Maine Camp-Meeting.
By George I. Butler
This meeting commenced Wednesday afternoon with a small attendance, and it remained small till Sabbath. The appointment was just a week too soon to accommodate the farmers. Last year, the crops were almost an entire failure, and the people of course felt poor. This year, crops were good, but the season very late and wet, and they had not secured their crops, and the good weather of the week in which the meeting was held was used to accomplish this, and under the circumstances they could not be blamed very much for so doing. Yet it interfered with the interests of the meeting considerably. But in spite of this hindrance we had a profitable meeting, and many expressed themselves as much benefited. Altogether, the attendance of brethren and sisters was between two and three hundred on the Sabbath. Our meeting was situated very favorably in a beautiful beech grove in plain sight of the Kennebec river. I have seen no better place for a camp-meeting thus far this year. On Sunday, there was a large crowd present, numbering several thousand persons. We had no disturbance, and everything passed off pleasantly. The meetings were very solemn occasions. The social meetings were characterized by freedom, and a spirit of confession. There seemed to me to be a larger proportion of individuals of experience than is generally seen at camp-meetings among our laymen, those who had something to say that was worth hearing, that which contained thought and good, sound sense, worthy of consideration. Individual testimonies, expressive of a determination to do the will of God, and of a desire to be saved in the kingdom, are always good when they come from the heart. But those which express thoughts and instruction in Christian experience adapted to encourage and strengthen those who listen, in addition to the other, are better. We were much interested in these meetings. Our closing social meeting Monday morning, just before we parted, although there were but few left to attend it, was a very sweet and precious season. Our brethren who go off the ground before the final closing meeting meet with a spiritual loss. Such solemn and important seasons as our annual camp-meetings should be closed decently and in order, and the closing meeting might be very impressive and salutary would all stay together and enjoy it. It is important that the mind should be properly affected to the very last, for our last impressions are most apt, to tarry with us longest. As it was, those who did remain will long remember the last meeting as a precious one. Sabbath afternoon, those who desired the prayers of God's people were called forward. I should judge at least one hundred and twenty-five came forward. Many of these made confessions and seemed deeply affected. We trust the camp-meeting will have a lasting influence upon the cause in Maine. In the past, we judge trials have existed, some of which have left a blighting influence. But omens of good exist, and give reason of hope that God will bless his people. The labors of Brn. Goodrich and Blaisdell have been greatly blessed the past year. As many as seventy-five have come out and taken hold of the Lord's Sabbath in Aroostook County during the past year, and forty of these, during the very last meeting at Bridgewater. In no other State has there been seen greater grounds of encouragement. Many of these are good, reliable men, of the best character in the places where they reside. The friends of the cause in Maine should thank God and take courage. The Lord has shown a willingness to bless earnest faithful labor in Maine as elsewhere, so he will anywhere. The brethren feel greatly in need of faithful labor in the churches, of which they have had but little in the past year or two. We formed some very interesting acquaintances there, which we hope will be continued in the kingdom. GEO. I. BUTLER. South Lancaster, Aug. 30, 1872.