A BROTHER writes from Elk Point, Dakota:— “Except the help of God, myself and companion are alone in this work in our neighborhood; but I am sure that God is on our side, and I thank him for his grace.
“It is of late that our souls’ welfare interested us, but I thank the Lord that his truth has been revealed unto us, and accepted. Henceforth our trust is in our Lord and Saviour.”
Obituary Notices.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.”
DIED, of heart disease, in Keene, N. Y., March 1, 1875, Bro. Samuel Washbond, in the 74th year of his age. He embraced the truth as soon as he heard it, and was an observer of the Sabbath for several years. His closing experience, although he was a great sufferer, was quite satisfactory, and his friends sorrow not as those who have no hope. S. B. WHITNEY.
DIED, of inflammation of the bowels, near Vermontville, N. Y., March 31, 1875, Sr. Thomas, wife of Bro. John Thomas, in the 62d year of her age. She, with her entire family, was among the first to embrace the truth in that vicinity, and remained firm in her adherence to it to the last. During her last sickness, which was brief, she expressed strong faith in God, and her friends feel that her flesh rests in hope. S. B. WHITNEY.
DIED, near Decatur, Burt Co., Neb., April 26, 1875, S. H. Sands, aged 77 years and 2 months. Also, at the same place, March 26, 1875, Melinda A., wife of S. H. Sands, aged 66 years and 10 months. Sister Sands has been an observer of the Lord’s Sabbath for about ten years. When the first S. D. Adventist church in Nebraska was organized by Bro. Butler, she was received into the church on condition of being baptized, but declining health prevented her ever going forward in this ordinance. Funeral discourse by the writer, May 30, from the words, “If a man die, shall he live again?” CHAS. L. BOYD.
DIED, of bilious fever, in South Windsor, Ohio, May 18, 1875, Mary C. North, wife of Samuel North, aged 72 years. This aged couple have read the Voice with much interest ever since it was first published. M. E. UNDERWOOD.
DIED, in Kingston, Meeker Co., Minn., May 30, 1875, Emma L., only daughter of Bro. Isaac W. and Sr. Amy Cook, aged 7 years and 1 month. The afflicted parents are comforted by the hope that she “shall come again from the land of the enemy,” when “the Redeemer shall come to Zion.” Words of comfort by the writer, from 1 Thess. 4:13–18. D. P. CURTIS.
The American Cardinal’s Oath.
By Editor
We inquired a day or two ago into the nature of the mysterious oath which Cardinal McClosky must have taken, but of which no report appeared in New York papers. We are able to answer the question, quoting the text from the copy furnished to Lord Palmerston, in 1850, by the British minister at Turin. It is as follows:—
“I, _____, Cardinal of the holy Roman Church, do promise and swear that, from this time to my life’s end, I will be faithful and obedient unto St. Peter, the holy apostolic Roman Church, and our most holy lord, the pope and his successors, canonically and lawfully elected; that I will give no advice, consent, or assistance, against the pontifical majesty and person; that I will never knowingly or advisedly, to their injury or disgrace, make public the counsels intrusted to me by themselves, or by messengers or letters (from them); also that I will give them any assistance in retaining, defending and recovering the Roman papacy and the regalia of Peter, with all my might and endeavor, so far as the rights and privileges of my order will allow it, and will defend against all their honor and state; that I will direct and defend, with due form and honor the legates and nuncios of the apostolic see, in the territories, churches, and monasteries, and other benefices committed to my keeping; that I will cordially co-operate with them, and treat them with honor in their coming, abiding and returning, and that I will resist unto blood all persons whatsoever who shall attempt anything against them; that I will, by every way and by every means, strive to preserve, augment, and advance the rights, honors, privileges, the authority of the holy Roman bishop, our lord the pope, and his before-mentioned successors; and that at whatever time anything shall be decided to their prejudice, which it is out of my power to prevent, as soon as I shall know that any steps or measures have been taken in the matter, I will make it known to the same our lord, or his before-mentioned successors, or to some other person by whose means it may be brought to their knowledge; that I will keep and carry out, and cause others to keep and carry out, the rules of the holy father, the decrees, ordinances, dispensations, reservations, provisions, apostolic mandates and constitutions of the Holy Pontiff Sixtus of happy memories, to visiting the thresholds of the apostles at certain prescribed times, according to the tenor of that which I have just read through; that I will seek out and oppose, prosecute and fight against (Latin—omni conatu, persecuturum et impugnaturum) heretics, schismatics against the same our lord the pope and his before-mentioned successors, with every possible effort.”
The remainder of the oath provides in detail not to sell or give away, or otherwise alienate any church property without due authority; to maintain the “constitution of the blessed Pius” of 1507; and the declarations of his successors, particularly those of Innocent IX., 1591, and those of Clement VIII., 1592. It also engages to maintain the papal claims to various Italian cities, and closes with the words: “I will not seek absolution from any of the foregoing articles, but reject it if it should be offered me (or in no way accept it if offered) so help me God and these most holy Gospels.”
How any American citizen can reconcile honest allegiance to our national and State Constitutions and laws with this complete and abject devotion to a foreign potentate, we cannot see. It is no mere theoretical obedience that is promised. On the contrary, should a band of devout Catholic filibusters, or a Spanish army resolve to drive the government of Italy—a power with which our nation is at peace—from Rome, the cardinal would be pledged to give the assailants all the aid in his power. Should any legate or nuncio get into any trouble with any government the cardinal must defend them “unto blood.” He must play the spy for the holy see; must obey the mandates of the persecuting pontiffs of the sixteenth century, and must use “every possible effort,” even to persecuting and fighting against the heretics and schismatics who oppose the pope reigning when the oath was taken, and his successors. Now, as the encyclical of Pius IX., of 1864, often quoted in our columns, clearly denounces as wicked, freedom of religion and other fundamental doctrines of our national Constitution, it follows that an American cardinal must actually pledge himself to overturn the government by which he is protected. If Cardinal McClosky took any other oath than the one from which we have quoted, it would be satisfactory to see it in print.—Signs of the Times.
Some Things Learned from God’s Family Record.—No. 4.
By M. M. Osgood
WHILE John was an exile on the isle of Patmos, he was permitted to see future things as they would appear when the time came for their fulfillment. He was transported to the Mount of Olives, probably in the same manner that Paul was caught up to the third Heaven (see 2 Cor. 12:2). From this place he looked toward heaven and saw the city of God coming down toward the mount. Rev. 21:9, 10, 11: “And there came unto me one of the seven angels, . . . saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God; and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” As he saw the city coming from heaven, so we think it must be, while in Heaven, the present home of God and Jesus and the angels.
Verse 3: “And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them.” By comparing the above with Zech. 14:4–11, we think that the mount to which John was carried was the mount of Olives—that memorable mount from which the disciples saw the Saviour ascend, while the angels assured them that this same Jesus should so come in like manner as they then saw him go into Heaven. See Acts 1:11.
John describes the city of foundations that Abraham looked for, thus: “And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels. . . . And the wall of the city had twelve foundations. . . . And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth; and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.” Rev. 21:12–16.
We learn from Kitto, that the ancient method of measuring cities was to get the whole distance around them. God’s city, thus measured, was twelve thousand furlongs; which equals fifteen hundred miles. This, divided by four, gives, as the length of one side, three hundred and seventy-five miles. As the length and breadth are equal, it must contain within its limits one hundred and forty thousand, six hundred and twenty-five square miles. Large as this is, it is none too large for the comfortable reception of both branches of God’s family; viz., the angels, and redeemed men.
M. M. OSGOOD.
“Keep Yourselves in the Love of God.”
By C. Lawton
If this exhortation of Jude were essential in the days of the apostles, how much more in these last days—the time of the Judgment. Do we find it difficult to keep our hearts in the love of God? to gain a perfect victory over our fallen natures? The world with all its distracting cares besets our way, and there are trials well calculated to test our patience. Satan, whose malice toward God and his people never raged more fiercely than at the present time, is using every stratagem his ingenuity can invent to ensnare and deceive. Then how dangerous to live without the favor of God!
Our safety is only in coming up to the Bible standard. It is by God’s holy law that we are to form characters for the Judgment; if Satan can get us to form a low estimate of purity, he knows it will be a great detriment in the work of overcoming. We must see and feel the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and realize how deeply fallen we are by nature. We must have a clear and vivid sense of the holiness of God’s character and of those who will finally overcome and sit down with Christ on his throne. Nothing short of entire consecration will fit us for the Judgment. The Judgment! the word, even, should bring conviction to our hearts. Never to me did this word seem so deeply solemn, or full of meaning as at the present time.
A brother speaks of calling up the sins of his youth in the silent watches of the night, of seeking pardon with earnest prayer and deep humiliation, and of obtaining victory. Is not this a very appropriate work to engage in? Is it not hazardous to defer it? Probation is fast closing; the day of God’s wrath hastens greatly. Then let us make thorough work, and live in the enjoyment of the favor of God. Can we not say with Paul, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“The day approaches, O my soul,
The great decisive day,
Which from the verge of mortal life
Shall bear thee far away.
“Yet does one short, preparing hour,
One precious hour remain;
Rouse, then, my soul, with all thy power,
Nor let it pass in vain.”
C. LAWTON.
Adams’ Center, Jeff. Co., N. Y.
Wisconsin Camp-Meeting
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Services in Chicago, every Sabbath (seventh day), at 269 West Erie St. All Sabbath-keepers spending a Sabbath in Chicago are invited to attend.
Wisconsin Camp-Meeting.
There will be held two camp-meetings in the State this season; one at Monroe, Green Co., June 17-22; the other at Sparta, Monroe Co., July 1-6. Bro. and sister White are expected to attend these meetings. Ample preparations will be made at each of these meetings. Provisions, hay, and grain, will be furnished on the ground at reasonable rates. O. A. Olsen, for Committee.
Minnesota Camp-Meeting.
The general camp-meeting of the Seventh-day Adventists of Minnesota will be held at Eagle Lake Station, Blue Earth Co., Minn., commencing Thursday, June 24, 1875. Eagle Lake is on the Winona & St. Peter R. R., about 34 miles west of Owatonna, 6 miles east of Mankato, and 10 miles south of St. Peter. The camp ground is about 40 rods from the depot. Ample provisions will be made for the accommodation of all who come. Hay and grain will be furnished on the ground, at reasonable rates. Bro. and Sr. White are requested, and confidently expected, to be present at this meeting.
Harrison Grant, I. Z. Lamb, Calvin Kelsey, Minn. Conf. Com.
Missouri & Kansas Camp-Meeting.
The camp-meeting in the Mo. and Kan. Conference will be held in the vicinity of Pleasanton and Mound City, Linn Co., Kansas, July 21-28. We expect Bro. and sister White to attend. The Conference will be held during this meeting. Let all make arrangements at once to attend. Come at the commencement to remain until the close. J. H. Rogers, for Com.
Wisconsin Conference.
The next annual meeting of the Wisconsin Conference will be held in connection with the camp-meeting at Monroe, June 17-22. Let every church be represented if possible by delegate, otherwise send a letter. Let the elders and clerks see that proper reports are made out for the Conference. Look over your S. B. pledges. Let each church pay up their pledges for the past year. You can send it in money orders to Wm. Kerr, Monroe, Wis., or by the delegate to the Conference. Also bear in mind to arrange your S. B. pledges for the coming year.
O. A. Olsen, Geo. C. Tenny, O. H. Pratt, Wisconsin Conf. Com.
Minnesota Conference.
The Minnesota State Conference will hold its annual session during the camp-meeting at Eagle Lake, June 24-29, 1875. It is expected that all the churches in our Conference will be represented by delegation. If any cannot send delegates, let them not fail to send a letter. The scattered brethren and sisters are earnestly requested to come to the camp-meeting or report themselves by letter. Address all letters designed for this meeting to H. Grant, Eagle Lake, Blue Earth Co., Minn. Harrison Grant, Pres. Minn. State Conf.
The place of meeting for those who observe the seventh day, in Grand Rapids, Mich., is at the residence of H. C. Winslow, 407 Fountain Street. An interested community are cordially invited.
No preventing providence, I will meet with the church at State Center, Iowa, Sabbath and Sunday, June 26, 27, 1875. There will be an opportunity for baptism at this meeting. J. T. Mitchell.
No preventing providence, I will meet with the church at Afton, Iowa, June 19, 20, 1875; Prescott, June 26, 27; Osceola, July 3, 4; Peru, July 10, 11; Winterset, Monday evening, 12; Sandyville, July 17, 18; Knoxville, Monday evening, 19; Brighton, July 24, 25. There will be opportunity for baptism at each of these places. H. Nicola.
Providence permitting, there will be a meeting of S. D. Adventists at the school-house near York's Corners in Willing, Allegany Co., N. Y., June 19, 20, 1875. The friends of the cause are earnestly invited to attend, especially those who can come prepared to benefit others. John & S. A. H. Lindsay.
Monthly meeting for Dist. No. 10, N. Y. & Pa. T. & M. Society, with the church at Ulysses, Pa., June 26, 27, 1875. We hope to see a general attendance. Wm. Coats, Director.
The next quarterly meeting for the church of Bowersville, Ohio, will be held at Bowersville, Sabbath and Sunday, June 26, 27, 1875. We hope to see all in attendance, prepared to do their duty. Wm. Cottrell.
Quarterly meeting for Dist. No. 8, Ind. T. & M. Society, in Bro. Seward's grove, near Alto, Howard Co., Ind., June 19, 20, 1875. We hope to see a goodly attendance. A general invitation is extended. Can Bro. S. H. Lane attend? J. M. Rees.
Quarterly meeting of Ohio T. & M. Society, Dist. No. 3, at North Bloomfield, O., June 19, 20, 1875. Scattered members will please forward their reports to M. E. Underwood (Dist. Sec.), Mesopotamia, Trumbull Co., O., in time for the meeting. Let all attend. R. A. Underwood, Director.
Monthly meeting at East Otto, N. Y., June 19, 20, 1875. Will Bro. Fitch meet the trains at Cattaraugus? S. Thurston, Director.
Alamiedon, Mich., June 19. Will some one meet me at Mason in the afternoon of the 18th? John Byington.
The general quarterly meeting for the T. & M. Society of Vt. will be held at Bristol in connection with the quarterly meeting for Dist. No. 4, June 19, 20, 1875. We hope to see a general attendance. No providence preventing, we expect Bro. Hutchins will attend these meetings. L. Bean, Pres.
The next annual meeting for the Tract and Missionary Society of Wisconsin will be held in connection with the camp-meeting at Monroe, Wis., June 17-22. The district quarterly meetings should be held in time, that the reports may be sent to the secretary, Mattie Babcock, Monroe, Wis. O. A. Olsen, Pres.
The next annual meeting of the Minnesota T. & M. Society will be held in connection with the camp-meeting at Eagle Lake, Minn., June 24-29. The directors will please appoint their district meetings so that the reports may be in the hands of the secretary in time. His address is A. H. Vankirk, Concord, Minn. H. Grant, Pres.
Quarterly meeting at Medford, Minn., June 19, 20, 1875. Harrison Grant.
The church at Afton, Iowa, will hold its next quarterly meeting, commencing on the evening of June 18, and holding over Sabbath and first-day. We expect efficient labor, such as the State Conference Committee may provide. We extend a cordial invitation to the neighboring churches and scattered brethren. J. L. Syp.
A BLUE CROSS on the margin of your paper signifies that your subscription will expire in two weeks, and that an earnest invitation is extended to you to renew at once.
RECEIPTS
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Books Sent by Mail.
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M P Martin, 1134 Folsom St., San Francisco, Cal., $175.00.
Book Fund.
Mrs S M Smith $1.25, Elvira Warren $5.00, Mary Grant 10.00.
Mich. T. & M. Society.
Dist No 2, per E P Giles $5.00, Dist No 3, per H Miller 40c, Dist No 2 50c, Dist No 3 4.00.
General Conference Fund.
N Y Conf per S N Haskell $100.00 Mary A Hall 5.00.
Pacific Pub. Association.
J Crandall $11.50.
Michigan Conference Fund.
Lapeer church $75.00, church at Orleans (S B) 50.00.
Cash Received on Account.
Chas L Boyd $20.00, James Sawyer 3.00.
Mo. & Kan. Sufferers.
Wm Ellsworth $5.00.
S. D. A. Educational Society
A M Green $100.00, Mrs A M Green 25.00, Joseph Porter 10.00, Agnes Lucas 5.00, E T Barbara 5.00, E M Towne 5.00, Cornelia Bartlett 5.00, Wm V Field 50.00, Lucy Dean 5.00, Scott Kilgore 10.00, Thomas Frey 10.00, C I Ross 10.00, Geo Brooks & wife 10.00, Daniel Glunt 25.00, J H Garrett 10.00, Minos Miller 50.00.
To the Friends in the Minnesota Conference.
By I. Z. Lamb
As the time for our yearly camp-meeting draws near, I wish to say a few words concerning it. I find in different places there are those who think they cannot attend the camp-meeting because they feel unable to provide themselves with tents. Now let all such take courage and come to the meeting. Our Committee will see that they are cared for.
Our forty-foot tents will be on the ground. Bring a line about twenty-five feet long, and extend it from the center pole of one of the forty-foot tents to the wall, and bring something that will do for curtains, common bed sheets will do, and this forming a partition each family or church can have a separate department.
Dear friends, let us avail ourselves of the privileges that are now within our reach. Come to the camp-meeting. Let us try to realize the shortness of time and the sacredness of the work we are engaged in as we never have. Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt us in due time.
I. Z. LAMB, Member of Committee.
Pleasant Grove, Minn., June 9, 1875.
Western Camp-Meetings.
WISCONSIN.—Monroe, Green Co., June 17—22. MINN.—Eagle Lake, Blue Earth Co., " 24—29. WISCONSIN.—Sparta, Monroe Co., July 1—6. MO. AND KAN.—Mound City, July, 21—28.
Presbyterian Urges Philadelphia Mayor to Stop Sunday Zoo Opening
The Presbyterian calls upon the mayor of Philadelphia to prevent the constant break of the Sabbath (Sunday) law by the Zoological Society in keeping open their menagerie at Fairmount Park on that day.
Earthquake Destroys Hundreds of Houses in Asia Minor
The Levant Herald reports a series of terrible earthquake shocks occurring at the beginning of May in the Province of Boroussa, in Asia Minor. Six hundred houses were destroyed. Accounts already received show that 160 lives were lost, and 187 persons were injured. The total number of those killed is still unknown.
Grasshopper Plague Strikes Kansas City
A KANSAS CITY dispatch says: “The grasshoppers came into town and covered sidewalks, fences, yards, etc., and the citizens instead of going to church have been destroying them all day by bushels. In many places, so many have been killed that an almost unendurable stench has been created, and sanitary measures have been taken to prevent disease. One man dug a trench 800 feet long, into which he drives them and kills millions. Independence, six miles from here, is worse off than we are.”
The American Cardinal.
By James White
THE Christian Union, noticing the comments of the papers on the creation of a Cardinal for the United States, says:—
“Dr. McCloskey is no more dangerous as Cardinal than he was as archbishop, nor as archbishop than he was as bishop, nor as bishop than he was as simply a priest. These offices in this great and venerable sect were not invented for the sake of plaguing Americans and Protestants. They have been for ages a part of the machinery of church organization. The Roman Catholic Church is to receive Christian courtesy and toleration, not because it has not yet developed all its polity among us, but on the broad ground of the liberty of men to worship God after their own reason and conscience. This church is no more aggressive with an American Cardinal at its head than it was before. It is a matter with which Christians of other sects have nothing to do. It is the domestic business of this great mother sect with which sister sects have no right to meddle.”
This is far from a just and true view of the subject. If the influence of the dogmas of the Catholic Church is evil, and if they are anti-republican in their nature, and if, as Mr. Gladstone has recently shown, they are revolutionary, the power of the church for evil is increased among us by strengthening its influence over the minds of its devotees. No one can deny that the Catholic Church in America is strengthened by this act. The very life of the church is in its pomp and pageantry, and as these come more directly to the observation of the mass of believers their enthusiasm is increased. The editor of the Union is not ignorant of the fact that to captivate the senses is the object of the vain show of that church, and that a Cardinal, decked in scarlet, clothed with the power of a prince by the direct action of the head of the church, is an object of greater reverence than a bishop, and his word carries greater authority accordingly. It was a grand stroke of policy on the part of the pope to create an American Cardinal, and from the description of his installation we should judge that the event has nearly turned the heads of many American journalists and statesmen. Much more has it affected the minds of the Catholics of this country.
The figure used by the Union is suggestive, but for accuracy it may be improved in application. It speaks of the “mother sect” and the “sister sects.” If the sisters were introduced it were well enough to call them so, but when “the great mother sect” is first introduced, the harmony of association would be better preserved by speaking of the others as the daughter sects. And this would be more in conformity to the view given in the book of Revelation.
J. H. W.
Still They Come.
By John Norton Loughborough
I wish to mention an item or two for the encouragement of our missionary workers. After the Signs of the Times was started here in Oakland, Bro. Thomas Jessen, a Dane, embraced the truth, and sent some tracts and the Signs, commencing with No. 9, to his brother, Hans Jessen, Hayden Hill, Cal. He read, became interested and convinced of the truth. Some four weeks since, he came down from the mountains to San Francisco. To-day (May 29) he was baptized and united with the Oakland church.
The second case I will mention is that of a Swedish sister, Hilde Helgeson, who was living in Kansas City. She was an acquaintance of Bro. and sister Neilson who came from Chicago to San Francisco near the first of last February. Sister Neilson, after receiving the truth, commenced to write and send tracts and papers to sister Helgeson in Kansas. The Lord opened her eyes to see the truth. Some three weeks since, she came to San Francisco. To-day she was at our meeting in Oakland, rejoicing in the truth and keeping the Lord’s Sabbath. So the good seed takes root. Let all the laborers in the vineyard take courage; for humble, faithful labor, followed by our earnest prayers, will bear sure fruit.—J. N. L., in Signs of the Times.
WHAT MIGHT BE DONE WITH THE MONEY WASTED IN WAR.
By Stebbins
Give me the money that has been spent in war and, I will purchase every foot of land upon the globe; I will clothe every man, woman, and child, in an attire that kings might be proud of; I will build a school-house upon every hillside and in every valley over the whole habitable earth, and will supply that school-house with a competent teacher; I will build an academy in every town and endow it, a college in every State and fill it with able professors; I will crown every hill with a church consecrated to the promulgation of the gospel of peace; I will support in its pulpit an able teacher of righteousness, so that on every Sabbath morning the chime on one hill shall answer to the chime on another round the earth’s broad circumference, and the voice of prayer and the song of praise shall ascend like a universal holocaust to Heaven.—Stebbins.