p. 156 | Review and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 10. (8/25/1868)

REPORT FROM BRO. STERLING.

By J. G. Sterling

Three months have passed since, for the first time, I had the privilege of meeting with the brethren and sisters assembled in yearly Conference at Battle Creek. I have an earnest desire to improve the privileges granted me by the Conference, as a laborer in the vineyard of the Lord, among the people called S. D. Adventists. I am sorry to be obliged to say, however, that up to the present time, I have done almost nothing, having preached but five or six times during the past time mentioned. At present I see no prospect of being able to enter the field as a continual laborer, but am earnestly desirous for the time to come when I shall be free to give my time all up to this great work. I feel deeply impressed with the solemn conviction that the only safe position for those whom God has called into his vineyard as ministers of the word of eternal life, is, so far as in them lies, to keep disentangled from the affairs of this world, that they may war a good warfare.

For the past few weeks I have labored so hard through the week that I have felt unable to get away on the Sabbath where I could have the opportunity of preaching, and alas, I feel the consequences, a want of spiritual strength, a dreadful apathy coming upon me gradually, and almost imperceptibly at times, but oh! how apparent when I meet with God's people.

But enough of this. I have resolved in the strength of God to go forward. I know that it is possible to do our whole duty, even when we cannot give our entire attention to the preaching of the word.

My prayer is that I may be wholly given up to the Lord, and by example as well as precept, be able to proclaim my faith in the third angel's message.

Give me your prayers, brethren and sisters.

J. G. STERLING.

Allegan Co., Mich.

News and Miscellany.

Can ye not discern the Signs of the Times? Matt. xvi, 8.

—At a temperance meeting in London, it was stated that the consumption of intoxicating liquors in England costs $400,000,000 yearly, of which some two-thirds are spent by the working classes alone. Nine-tenths of crimes committed are traceable to strong drink.

Spain.—PARIS, August 13. Intelligence is received that bands of armed insurgents have made their appearance in Arragon, at the town of Caspea. A detachment of Spanish troops has been sent in pursuit of the rebels.

The Cretan Insurrection.—PARIS, August 13. The Courier du Levant publishes the following news from Candia: “A battle took place between the Cretans and Turkish troops on the 27th of July, in which the Turks were badly beaten.”

France.— La Liberté asserts that a new difficulty has arisen between the French Government and the Bey of Tunis.

Singular Tidal Phenomenon.—SAN FRANCISCO, August 19. On August 15 a singular tidal phenomenon occurred at San Pedro, Southern California. A series of waves commenced flowing upon the coast, causing the tide to rise three or four feet above the ordinary height of the water, followed by a falling of the tide the same distance below low water mark. The rise and fall occurred regularly every half hour for several hours, creating considerable alarm among inhabitants thereabouts. The incident is attributed to some marine disturbance causing the bottom of the sea to rise and fall, thus impelling the waves toward the coast.

The Brandy Excise in Europe.— From the day of the abolishment of serfdom, they did not till their fields at all, or they did it so carelessly and insufficiently that a tolerable crop would have been a real miracle. “Their time was devoted to a pleasanter business than plowing and harrowing; brandy had been their idol ever so long, but now they did not stir from his altars. To

this filthy god they sacrificed all they had; the barkeepers were only bankers of the peasantry, they receive good money and give in exchange bad brandy; but now-a-days money is a greater rarity with peasants than even temperance; the barkeepers, therefore, have recently become pawn-brokers, and whole villages have sent their last piece of furniture, their last shirt in the tavern.” That looks like a most ridiculous exaggeration, and yet it is nothing but the plainest truth. We will give a few figures, taken from official sources, to illustrate this appalling picture, because figures, at all events, do not lie nor exaggerate, and because they speak for themselves, and we need not comment upon them with a single word. In the “great Russian” Provinces, the excise yielded in 1749 a clear income of 1,786,855 roubles; in 1849, 38,582,944 roubles, and in 1859, 74,171,015 roubles; that is to say, in ten years it has been almost doubled. In Prussia, the clear profit of the excise amounts to 6 per cent. of the total revenue of the State; in France, to 9 per cent.; in Austria to 10 per cent.; in England and in Sweden-Norway to 24 per cent., and in Russia 38 per cent. That was the proportion in 1849; now, most likely, it is different; for if in 1859 the clear income yielded by the excise amounted to 74,171,015 roubles, it was 115,600,000 roubles in 1866; and for 1868 it is estimated to be 119,590,870 roubles; so it has more than tripled within the last 20 years.—St. Petersburg Correspondence, New York Tribune.

An Anchor to Windward.

SOONER than we expected, the '68 timeists are beginning to prepare the minds of their readers for the passing of this year. Thus, Wm. Sheldon in the Voice of the West of Aug. 18, 1868, says, that there is a strong probability that the time will expire this fall. But if the fall passes, then the spring presents very plausible claims. But if the fall and spring both pass, then possibly we may have to wait till 1873 (?). Such a certain and harmonious position to those with whom definite time is a necessity, must certainly be very consoling.

APPLICATION FOR HELP.

Bro. C. A. writes from Pleasantville, N. Y., “My wife requests me to apply for means to procure a sewing machine, that she may have a way to support her little family. I have been unable to work since last November, when I received a shock of paralysis which has left me a cripple. The support of the family has since fallen upon my wife, and she now has but about one day’s work in a week, and we are obliged to live on that, with four little children to look after. She can have plenty of work with a machine, if we could procure one. We have been helped to a good little house by the church here, and other friends, for which we feel truly thankful. Bro. P. C. Rodman is acquainted with us and our situation. We have both been members of the S. D. A. church since last fall, and it is our greatest pleasure to try to keep God’s commandments. We are sometimes without a cent, or anything with which to help ourselves, yet I do not feel to distrust the Lord who has been so merciful to us.”

On receiving the above we immediately sent it to Bro. White, President of the Benevolent Association, remarking that the assistance rendered by the Benevolent Association to sister ——, of Pleasantville, to procure a sewing machine, had, it seemed, called out another application from the same place, and asking what should be done with it. This he returned with the following note:

“We cannot help strangers by sending them means, without they are recommended to us by reliable ministers or elders of churches. The proper way for the needy is to apply to ministers or elders, and then let them lay the case before us.

CARE FOR THE POOR.

By James White

The following letter may be read with profit by those who have health and abundance. I will send the book. The REVIEW and Reformer should be sent to all such free.

JAMES WHITE.

DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: I enclose thirteen cents, for which please send me Life Incidents. I am a cripple. I received my injury in the army. My disease is of the spine, which causes paralysis of the lower extremities, consequently I am not able to sit up or walk any. I get a pension from the Government, but with very close living it will not support myself and family.

I have tried to live up to the requirements of the third message for three years past. I love God’s holy Sabbath, and have wished that I could be with my brothers and sisters of like precious faith. I am trying to live out the health reform. I don’t use tea, coffee, nor tobacco. I take the REVIEW, but I am afraid that I shall be compelled to do without it. I shall be sorry to part with it, but I am in such straitened circumstances that I cannot pay for it. I would like the Health Reformer very much, but I felt that I could not, with propriety, and justice to my family, take it, and the REVIEW. I fear, live as careful as we may, that we shall suffer for the comforts of life. But my trust is in God. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and I hope that I shall be permitted to live with him in the earth made new.

Dear Bro. White, pardon me for thus trespassing upon your time. I felt that I would like the book. I can’t do anything but read and write. Can you send me one of the testimonies. Pray for me, one of the afflicted, lone ones.

Yours in hope. Geauga Co., Ohio. HENRY C. JEWELL.

“NOT AS IT SHOULD BE.”

By N. Fuller

This is the heading of an article from Bro. White’s letter. He proposes a fund should be raised, and that the Testimonies should be sent to the readers of the REVIEW, who could be benefited by such reading.

This, I believe, is just as it should be. These Testimonies should go into the hands of men who are not interested enough to send for them. I will volunteer to act as agent to collect funds for this purpose. Now, brother, do you want to bless ten families with that which the Lord would have them read? Hand me, or some other agent, that spare dollar. Or, you who can, send on $5, and thereby bless fifty homes, and gladden the hearts of many more than perhaps you can in any other way.

Every one shall be rewarded according to their works. Soon the time of working will be past, and the reward will be given.

N. FULLER.

Wellsville, N. Y., Aug. 6, 1868.

MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD.

On and after July 1, 1868, Passenger Trains will run on this road as follows:

GOING WEST.

LEAVE.	MAIL.	DAY EXP.	EVE. EXP.	NIGHT EX.
Detroit,.....	6:45 A.M.	9:30 A.M.	5:25 P.M.	9:10 P.M.
Battle Creek,	12:45 P.M.	2:15 P.M.	11:30 P.M.	2:00 A.M.
Chicago, Arrive,	7:40 P.M.	8:00 P.M.	6:30 A.M.	8:50 A.M.

GOING EAST.

	MAIL.	DAY EXP.	EVE. EXP.	NIGHT EX.
Chicago,.....	5:00 A.M.	8:00 A.M.	5:15 P.M.	9:30 P.M.
Battle Creek,	12:03 P.M.	1:48 P.M.	11:30 P.M.	3:37 A.M.
Detroit, Arrive,	5:55 P.M.	6:30 P.M.	3:40 A.M.	8:25 A.M.

These trains all run by Chicago time, which is fifteen minutes slower than Detroit time.

A Precious Season of Prayer

By Editor

We enjoyed a very precious season the 22d inst., while attending, in the Editor’s room in the Office, the usual Sunday-morning season of prayer with which we open the labors of the week. We were happy to unite with Bro. White, who was present. He was led out in fervent prayer for the blessing of Heaven upon this place and work, and the Spirit of the Lord rested graciously upon us. And as he prayed that when the multitudes of those who have been instructed by the REVIEW, and the different books and papers here issued, should be redeemed, this whole corps of printers, editors, and workers in every department, might meet them there, tears choked his utterance, and for a season we all wept together in silence, save the audible sobs, and the hearty responses from most present. We felt that light shone upon us, and that the Lord had manifested himself as ready to return to us, and be abundantly gracious. To his name be all the praise.

The Reign of Terror in the South.

The evident certainty of the organization of a colored militia has caused a perfect howl of rage on the part of the Democracy, who see in it the death-knell to their hopes of carrying out the tactics so successfully inaugurated in Mississippi, of bringing their much vaunted Ku-Klux into the arena for the purpose of intimidating the blacks, over-awing officials at the ballot-box, and thus achieving a glorious Democratic victory. That such an intention has been calculated upon there is little doubt, and that such organizations of the Democracy are creating a reign of terror in many of the counties of West Tennessee is but too true.

Colored men coming to town fifty miles on foot, leaving their little crops and possessions, and fleeing in dread of their lives, report parties of masked horsemen visiting the negro cabins in search of arms, and, in many cases, forcing the blacks to pledge themselves to vote for Seymour and Blair, or flee in terror from their homes, leaving their growing crops and their little-all behind. Nor is this by far the worst. At Huntingdon, in Carroll county, a short time since, a negro woman was taken out and so unmercifully whipped by the Ku-Klux, that for days her back bore bloody testimony to their fiendish cruelty. In the same neighborhood, at about the same time, a white man was also taken out and severely beaten at their hands. On a Sunday in the same county, a dozen or so colored men, going home from church, were stopped by a gang of such hopeful Democracy, and all whipped; the blasphemous wretches telling the negroes they were spirits of Shiloh battle-field, but five hours from h—ll.

To such an extent have these outrages been carried in that county that the better class of citizens formed themselves into an armed organization, some three hundred strong, and, under control of the sheriff, patrolled the county for a week, a collision being nightly expected. Last week, at Porter's Station, in Henry county, a colored school, taught for the past six months by William Seawood, a colored minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, was broken up and the schoolhouse burned to the ground. In our own county, also, but fourteen miles from Memphis, a short time since, at a meeting of colored Methodists, the minister found on his arrival the whole congregation frightened away by threats of violence.

In such counties, a militia force seems called for by dictates of common humanity, as well as to prevent such squads of zealous Democrats from taking forcible possession of the polls.

As to the expediency of introducing such an apparent element of discord here in Memphis, however, there is much diversity of opinion among Republicans themselves. The more zealous Radicals favor a militia, while those more timidly disposed, those who believe in conciliation, are jointly with the Democracy signing a remonstrance against it, while Democratic ward organizations of three thousand members, under control of General Pike, who advises them “to arm and organize,” seem portentous of trouble; and several thousand blacks, watching such organizations with a jealous eye, looks like need of preparation for an outbreak that may perchance occur at any hour. It is still doubtful, whether or not, the introduction of a colored militia would gain the end sought to be attained. Whether, in fact, it would not prove a brand of fire that should produce an explosion. If regular troops can be had here in Memphis, they would doubtless be far preferable to militia, as all parties would then feel assured of the enforcement of law and order, and no outbreak could occur. If they cannot be had, then, of course, it becomes the Governor to provide us a militia.

Southern Hopes and Feelings.

ENCOURAGED by official traitors, and Northern sympathizers, Southern rebels are manifesting the same feelings, and uttering even more boldly and defiantly than ever, the sentiments of hatred and hostility to the government and its supporters, as before the war. Are these things the prelude to another terrible strife? The following extracts will show the feelings they entertain and the hopes they cherish:

“The Charleston Mercury of July 30, whose editor was at the Democratic Convention, declares that the South will never submit to any State Government, except that existing during the rebellion, and asks: ‘With a deliverance in prospect within three months (by the election of Seymour), will they bow down to negro domination?’”

“The Mobile Register says that the Northern Democracy and the Southern rebels have become so identified in interest and principle, that a rebel soldier need have no more hesitancy in expressing his sentiments to a Democratic meeting at the North than to his own comrades. It adds:

‘And now, so far from advising these gentlemen, including Admiral Semmes, not to appear in public as the advocates of Seymour and Blair, if we had our way, we would put them in the field of campaign in the North, and let them speak, and canvass, and utter the boldest truths that they feel from every stump in the North and West. The period for sparring has gone past. We must throw gloves off now, and with bare knuckles—aye, with mailed hands—we must ‘up and at’ the enemies of our liberty.’

“General Forrest, who was a delegate in the convention, and who declares that for his personal efforts there he obtained a pardon from Andrew Johnson, in his last speech at Memphis notifies his old companions to hold themselves in readiness for a renewal of the rebel war, this time led and backed by the Democratic party, and in which ‘there shall be no quarter given.’ He publicly advocates the election of Seymour as an indispensable requisite to the success of the Southern arms in the fight which must take place for the constitutional rights of the South.

“The Memphis Appeal thus tells the truth as to Southern feeling and Southern determination:

‘Young men, it is for you to bring back these golden days. The South is our land; the North is a foreign and hostile realm. Stand at the altar of your country. Swear eternal hatred of its oppressors. Swear that the day shall come, if these oppressors shall continue, when the Susquehanna and the Ohio shall be like rivers of fire, as they are now rivers of blood, between your native land and that of the Northern Huns, which no man shall attempt to cross, and live. * We do not love, and will not pretend to love, that Union, though we have agreed to obey the laws of the conqueror.’

“Many of the Democratic leaders in Tennessee, are threatening that in case the State authorizes a militia force, disfranchised Democracy won’t stand it, and that there will be another civil war, in which event they declare they will first of all kill all white Radicals. This is the burden of General Forrest’s speeches everywhere. He says he don’t want it, but he thinks it is coming, and if it comes they must kill all white Radicals. It is not at all likely that General Forrest thinks there will be war, but these menaces, while affecting a desire for peace, tend to further the Democratic idea of driving out the white Radicals so that the negro may be kept down.’

“At the Point of the Bayonet.”

EVERY day makes it plainer that the policy which the Democratic party has chosen to submit to the public judgment in this campaign, is not one of administration merely, but of absolute and forcible revolution. It proposes to reverse all the national legislation of the three last years, to subvert the reconstruction which the country has approved, to disperse organized State governments by the bayonet; by the same means to reinstate those who for the highest crime against the Commonwealth have been temporarily disfranchised; to deprive hundreds of thousands of new citizens of the ballot, and thrust them back into a semi-enslaved condition—a project which cannot be accomplished but by the most sanguinary measures. Proclaiming a wholly arbitrary test of citizenship in color—a test involving caste and inconceivable injustice, which embraces the entire disaffected class, and excludes a large body of the loyal people—it announces that if its claim is disregarded it will appeal to “physical force” and place its candidate in the White House at the point of the bayonet.—Harper’s Weekly.

Intoxicating Drugs.

THE whole world is intoxicated. “Every nation,” says a French medical writer, “uses some peculiar intoxicating drug.” There are some eleven of these, the principal of which are hasheesh, opium, and tobacco. The first is used by over three hundred millions of people, and we will suppose it to cost five hundred millions of dollars per annum. The second is used by four hundred millions, and five hundred millions of pounds are consumed annually; which, at but six dollars a pound, or half the retail price in the United States, would amount to three thousand millions of dollars. It is estimated that this drug alone, which Christian England forced on to the Chinese, at the cannon’s mouth, destroys four hundred thousand of that besotted people every year. The third named drug, tobacco, is used by four hundred millions of people, and costs, annually, four hundred millions of dollars; while all other drugs cost millions more. Here we learn, that nearly four thousand millions of dollars are spent by the inhabitants of our world for three poisonous, narcotic drugs. The world is mad.

This immense sum squandered on human lust, though not half equal to the combined war debts of England and our own country, would well support two millions of clergymen, at two thousand dollars per annum; it would build eight hundred thousand school-houses, costing five thousand dollars apiece; it would erect four hundred churches, at ten thousand dollars apiece; it would support one missionary to every two hundred and fifty of the world’s heathen, at a cost of four thousand dollars each; it would furnish three Bibles to each inhabitant of the entire world, at a cost of one dollar each Bible.

And if these figures are frightful, what shall we say when the money that the governments of England, Prussia, and the United States owe for carnage, rapine, slaughter, and destruction of the race in war, exceeds twice this estimate, and might do twice as much good? It is the nineteenth century, but alas! too sadly true are the mournful words of Louis Kossuth, “There is not a Christian nation on earth.” Satan is the “God of this age;” (2 Cor. iv. 4,) and, claiming undisputed right to “all the kingdoms of the world,” (Luke iv. 4,) he relaxes not his terrible grasp. The figures and facts herein presented, exhibit the utter abandonment of the world of mankind to evil habit, vice, and ruin. “The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.” Job ix. 24.

Ten years ago, Dr. Beard estimated that the Protestant Christians of this country raised twenty-five millions of dollars annually for the sustenance and promotion of Christianity at home and abroad. If we make this forty millions, at the present time, the god Tabacum costs an equal sum, and the demon Rum nearly sixty times the money bestowed in the interests of Christianity. A very small proportion of this forty millions goes abroad; for this sum, divided among our forty thousand clergymen, would give them but one thousand dollars apiece.—Few Saved.

The Ocean River.

HOT-WATER springs are common, but there is but one hot-water river, and that runs through the ocean. If it did not run regularly, or if its waters were to get cold, the green island of Erin would change its nature even more than its name, and become a Greenland in title and a barren one in fact. In truth, any change in the course or character of this warm water stream would have so terrible a thermal influence as to utterly defy prediction or remedy result. It is, therefore, with no little apprehension that thinking men regard the announcement of the fact that the current of the Gulf Stream has nearly doubled its velocity. The occurrence of this phenomenon so soon after the earthquake in the Gulf Island, cannot but give rise to a surmise of some connection between the manifestations. The immediate result of increased force in the current has been to augment the dangers of navigation near the Florida Keys, even steam vessels finding it difficult to weather points easily passed previous to the increased velocity of the stream. This consequence is of itself important, but less alarming than the apprehension of further changes which may have a great bearing on the interests of all civilized humanity.

The River That Never Runs Dry

THE brook Cherith dried up when most wanted. So with all earthly comforts—we lose them when we most need them; but there is a river which never runs dry (Psalm xlvi, 4); a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John iv, 14).

LOST.

By Jesse D. Hull

There has never been a time when there was so much danger of getting lost in the wilderness of error and spiritual darkness, as at the present. There are so many kinds of erroneous doctrines now taught in our land, that whenever we stumble at the plain truths of God's word, and leave that, we become lost in the wilderness of these confused doctrines, with but little hope of ever finding our way out at all.

Warning after warning has been given us of false prophets who are wolves in sheep's clothing.

Satan well understands our disposition, and he is cunning enough to lay his plans in a way that will be the most likely to meet with success. He will counterfeit the truth in many particulars to induce believers to nibble at his bait. After they have embraced such views they generally find out they have embraced something they cannot harmonize with the word of God; so they throw away their Bibles, become infidels, and fall into the dark wilderness of Spiritualism.

Satan as an angel of light is trying with all power to steal the hearts of the people of God, and bewilder their minds to cherish and pet those errors, and defend them as important doctrines of the Bible, that they may become involved in difficulties until there is no help for them, and they are completely overthrown and eternally lost.

About two years ago, it was my privilege to visit a relative in Iowa. About that time the defection in that State was at its hight. This relative who was an own brother, was not only a member, but also an elder of the little band of S. D. Adventists where he lived. His earnest zeal for the cause and church had been the means of his making a solemn vow, and inducing the church to make it with him, that they would not listen to the advocates of this defection. But alas! this vow by him was broken, and when an advocate of the defection came to his place, he was persuaded by his companion to go with her to hear him. Two discourses proved sufficient to overthrow him. He had broken his vow, and taken the first steps of his apostasy. But alas! the fatal die was cast; and he has advanced step by step, until to-day he is a ranting Spiritualist.

May a useful lesson be learned from this, never to tempt the Lord by making vows to be broken, and venturing upon the enemy's ground to investigate his doctrine, and be lost in the wilderness of error, and finally be the special subjects of God's unmingled wrath? He who had faithfully warned the church against the influence of this defection, deliberately walked into it himself, and finally became lost in the gloom of Spiritualism.

Now dear readers, I entreat of you as Bro. Bourdeau did me at the time of this apostasy, Hold on to the truth. The day of triumph for God's people is drawing on. Remember, if you ridicule this truth that is of so much vital importance to you, you will bring the curse of God upon you. Remember, if you leave the camps of Israel, and wander away from the pillar of light which guides the people of God, you are liable to fall in the wilderness and be lost.

God is testing his people to see if they will love and obey his truth; and we should exert all our energies to live it out; for Satan is going to try with all power and signs and lying wonders to deceive if it were possible the very elect. Then I repeat again, Hold fast the truth. Be an overcomer, and gain an overcomer's reward.

JESSE D. HULL.

THE LAST IDOL.

By Mary M. Cook

In one of the ancient wars, the conquering army had orders to demolish every idol throughout the land. They marched on in triumph, casting down the idols of every character. As they advanced, the rightful sway of the conqueror was everywhere acknowledged. Yet, in their march, they came to one dearest of all, which the people begged in beseeching tones to have preserved; but the order was to destroy every vestige of idolatry. And with sturdy blow and resolute will, the conquerors laid low this cherished idol, when out rolled great treasures—gold, diamonds and costly pearls.

Jesus, the conquering King, has issued orders to demolish every idol in the human heart; to cast down everything that exalts itself. He has come to you and to me, and says, Give me thy heart. He asks the whole heart. Perhaps he reigns over a limited territory. To conquer us this much, he has been forced by his providence to lay low these idols we would not yield, or through slow and painful discipline we have ourselves cast them at his feet; yet to this hour he has not full possession; and the order to-day is, Cast out every idol. There may be but one remaining, and that the costliest offering we can bring to the dear Redeemer; but his voice rings out clear and loud above all our pleadings, and demands the gift. Shall we yield willingly? or compel him to deal sturdy, terrible blows before our idol falls? Oh! if we will consent to its downfall, as it falls, from beneath will roll out treasures, great treasures, treasures of grace, of influence and usefulness. Oh! how precious, how sweet the communion then with the God of all power. How rich the costly things of grace, the blessed fruits of the Spirit, the fellowship of saints, the promise of holy angels to guard us, victory over death if faithful, the robe, the palm, and the crown. All these are hidden beneath that last idol, and through its fall will all be revealed.

May the good Lord give strength and grace that you and I, dear reader, may be able to throw down the last idol, overcome every besetting sin, and with the sanctified enter the pearly gates, there to walk the golden streets with the glorious, happy throng forever and ever.

MARY M. COOK.

Kansas.

BEHOLD HE COMETH.

By Blackwood

“The day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble.

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise. *

“And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet, in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts. *

“Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Malachi iv.

A sound on the rampart, a sound at the gate, I hear the roused lioness howl to her mate; In the thicket at midnight they roar for the prey, That shall glut their red jaws at the rising of day; For wrath is descending on Zion's proud tower. It shall come like a cloud, It shall wrap like a shroud, Till, like Sodom, she sleeps in a sulphurous shower.

For behold the day cometh when all shall be flame; When Zion, the sackcloth shall cover thy name! When thy bark o'er the billows of death shall be driven, When thy tree, by the lightnings, from earth shall be riven; When the oven unkindled by mortals shall burn; And like chaff thou shalt glow In that furnace of woe. And dust as thou wert, thou to dust shalt return.

'Tis the darkness of darkness, the midnight of soul; No moon on the depths of that midnight shall roll! No starlight shall pierce through that life-chilling haze; No torch from the roof of the temple shall blaze. But when Israel is buried in final despair, From a height o'er all height, God of God, Light of Light, Her Sun shall arise—her great Sovereign be there.

Then the sparkles of flame from his chariot wheels hurled, Shall smite the crowned brow of the god of this world. Then, captive of ages! the trumpet shall thrill From the lips of the seraph on Zion's sweet hill. For vested in glory thy monarch shall come, And from dungeon and cave Shall ascend the pale slave; Lost Judah shall rise like the soul from the tomb!

Who rushes from Heaven? the angel of wrath; The whirlwind his wing, and the lightning his path: His hand is uplifted, he carries a sword; Lo! he heralds the march of his glorious Lord. Sun, sink in eclipse! earth, earth, shalt thou stand, When the cherubim wings Bear the King of thy kings? Woe, woe to the ocean, woe, woe to the land!

'Tis the day long foretold, 'tis the Judgment begun; Gird thy sword, thou Most Mighty! thy triumph is won. The idol shall burn in its own gory shrine; Then, daughter of anguish, thy day-spring shall shine; Proud Zion, thy veil with the olive shall bloom, And the musk-rose distil Its sweet dews on thy hill; For earth is restored, the great kingdom is come! —Blackwood.

HOW TO HAVE FAITH AND HOW TO HAVE DOUBTS.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

If you want faith, talk faith, act faith, and cherish it in your heart and thoughts. Do this, and you will have faith. If you want doubts, unbelief, and darkness, just talk it out a little while; pick up things that look dark to you and present them to some one for an answer. When they try to explain it, do you raise objections to their answers, and argue the point, whether their answer is really clear to you or not. Talk out doubts and objections just to see others try to answer them, then show your superior wisdom and sagacity by raising objections to what they say. Do this, and you will soon really have the doubts which before you only pretended to have. I have seen this till I know that it is so.

I know of some persons who are always boasting of their openness, frankness, &c. Say they, “I am no hypocrite anyway, I always speak right out just as I think.” My friend, you are deceived by the Devil: You are a hypocrite and a deceiver. You profess to be a friend to God, to the cause, and to the brethren, while the fact is you are a terrible enemy to each—a masked battery in the service of Satan.

Satan prizes your services higher than he does those of a score of openly professed infidels. You make your profession of frankness, &c., a cover from which to cast hailstones, firebrands, and death, among the unsuspecting flock of Christ. Hear one of this class talk: “Now, brethren, I love this cause, you know I do. It is dearer to me than my life. I would sacrifice everything for it. I would rather die than injure it. God knows my heart. I want to go this way, but I must see my way clear, I must know the why of these things. I can’t go a step till I do. If I am wrong I want to know it. I will thank any one to tell me of my wrongs. And if my brethren are wrong, I want them to know it. Now, I shall speak plain, and just as I feel.” Then he will pour forth a torrent of darkness, fault-finding, evil surmisings, and spiritual death upon the unsuspecting lambs of Christ. See the fruits. They are terrible. Such an one no hypocrite? God pity him. He knows not what manner of spirit he is of. Any one can talk doubts and raise objections and make trouble. The child of God alone will talk faith, cheer the halting, encourage the fainting, and give light and joy. God gives us just what we live for.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Obituary Notices.

By J. H. Lambert; J. Philo; R. M. Philo; D. Hildreth

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.

DIED at Holmes Hole, Mass., Aug. 3, of paralysis, Almira, wife of Alfred Chase, aged 65 years, 3 months, and 7 days, after a short illness of two and a half days. Funeral service by Eld. S. A. Thomas, prayer and reading of appropriate scripture, 1 Cor. xv, and remarks on the resurrection of our Saviour.

As she had lived, so she died—calm, peaceful, and happy in a Saviour’s love. We shall meet her in endless day, on the shining shore. J. H. Lambert.

DIED, August 3d, in Stanton, by the fall of a tree, Lemarshia, wife of Isaac Honsicker, aged 38 years. Remarks by the writer to a large and attentive congregation, from 1 Cor. xv, 22.

J. Philo.

DIED, in Stanton, July 11th, Lilla Beatrice, only child of John R., and Maria Englebeck, aged 8 months and 5 days.

May this affliction be sanctified to the good of the parents, and when the Lifegiver comes, and their darling Lilla comes forth clothed with immortality, may they be found with the purified company to meet their little one to part no more. R. M. Philo.

DIED, at Iowa City, Iowa, August 3, 1866, of cholera infantum, Alice Abella, daughter of Daniel and Loretta Hildreth, aged 1 year, 2 months, and 13 days. A short discourse was delivered by Bro. J. T. Mitchell, from Job xiv, 10, 14.

D. Hildreth.

Youthful Health Reformers.

By S. N. HASKELL

I HAVE been stopping, of late, with two families in the southern part of Massachusetts, who are trying to live out the health reform the best they can with the understanding they have.

Each family has a number of children; the oldest in one family being fifteen, and in the other fourteen years of age.

One thing remarkable is, that these children have adopted the health reform from choice,—from principle. They eat but two meals a day with their parents, because they believe it to be right.

When attending school the children of one of these families at first thought that they could not adopt the two-meal system because their dinner came in the wrong time. But finally they chose to do so, and acted accordingly.

The neighbors manifested much apparent sympathy for them, and so tried to coax them to eat between meals. But it proved of no avail. They also tried to get them to eat meat, but their attempts were fruitless.

The father of this family had sometimes butchered for his neighbors, as well as formerly for himself, and he had taken pains to show his children (his oldest son in particular) the diseased condition of meat of nearly all beef creatures killed.

In skinning, grub worms were often cut in two, a portion of the worm being left in the creature to be cooked and eaten by the consumer. This the oldest son had seen. At one time (when younger than he now is) after being repeatedly, and almost constantly, urged to eat a “nice piece of fresh meat;” after he had exhausted his little fund, or nearly so, of arguments in favor of his position, he related what he had seen, and asked the question, “So you think that grub worms and sores are healthy to be eaten?” This was a finishing argument. And do not the young readers of this article think that a possibility of their eating something of this kind is a sufficient reason for their not using meat?

Now I have one question I should like to ask the youthful readers of the REVIEW, and I have no objection to the older ones considering the question also addressed to them. Will you not possess that decision of character which these children do, who will eat only two meals a day, and cannot be prevailed upon to eat between meals? Their example, in this respect, is truly worthy of imitation. S. N. HASKELL.

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