Earlier text: TRY THE SPIRITSA Remarkable Dream.
By Ellen G. White
Several speakers had addressed large and attentive congregations at the camp-meeting at Rome, N. Y., on first-day, September 12, 1875. The following night I dreamed that a young man of noble appearance came into the room where I was, immediately after I had been speaking. This same person has appeared before me in important dreams to instruct me from time to time during the past twenty-six years. Said he, You have called the attention of the people to important subjects, which, to a large number, are strange and new. To some they are intensely interesting. The laborers in word and doctrine have done what they could in presenting the truth, which has raised inquiry in minds and awakened an interest. But unless there is a more thorough effort made to fasten these impressions upon minds, your efforts now made will prove nearly fruitless. Satan has many attractions ready to divert the mind; and the cares of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches all combine to choke the seed of truth sown in the heart, and in most cases it bears no fruit. In every effort, such as you are now making, much more good would result from your labors if you had appropriate reading matter ready for circulation. Tracts upon the important points of truth for the present time should be handed out freely to all who will accept them, without money and without price, which might eventually result in a hundred fold returns to the treasury. You are to sow beside all waters. The press is a powerful means to move the minds and hearts of the people. And the men of this world seize the press, and make the most of every opportunity to get poisonous literature before the people. If men, under the influence of the spirit of the world, and of Satan, are earnest to circulate books, tracts, and papers of a corrupting nature, you should be more earnest to get reading matter of an elevating and saving character before the people. There should be more earnest efforts made to enlighten the people upon the great subject of health reform. Tracts of four, eight, twelve, sixteen, and more pages, containing pointed, well-written articles on this great question, should be scattered like the leaves of autumn. Small tracts on the different points of Bible truth applicable to the present time should be printed in different languages and scattered where there is any probability that they would be read. God has placed at the command of his people advantages in the press, which, combined with other agencies, will be successful in extending the knowledge of the truth. Tracts, papers, and books, as the case demands, should be circulated in all the cities and villages in the land. Here is missionary work for all. There should be men trained for this branch of the work who will be missionaries, and will circulate publications. They should be men of good address, who will not repulse others or be repulsed. This is a work to which men would be warranted to give their whole time and energies as the occasion demands. Those who distribute tracts gratuitously should take other publications to sell to all who will purchase them. Persevering efforts will result in great good. Very many souls have been converted to the truth by reading papers and tracts alone, who would not have been reached without them. God has committed to his people great light. This is not for them to selfishly enjoy alone, but to let its rays shine forth to others who are in the darkness of error. You are not as a people doing one-twentieth part of what might be done in spreading the knowledge of the truth. Very much more can be accomplished by the living preacher with the circulation of papers and tracts than by the preaching of the word alone without the publications. The press is a powerful instrumentality which God has ordained to be combined with the energies of the living preacher to bring the truth before all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples. Many minds can be reached in no other way. Here is true missionary work in which labor and means can be invested with the best results. There has been too great fear of running risks, and moving out by faith, and sowing beside all waters. Opportunities have been presented which have not been grasped and made the most of. There has been too great fear of venturing. True faith is not presumption, but it ventures much. Precious light and powerful truth need to be brought out in publications without delay. There is much lost in waiting to originate matter while there is already in print that which is valuable and appropriate for this time. These delays risk too much. Opportunities are lost which might be improved. Said he, Your husband and yourself can do much in the preparation of publications. You have a better knowledge of the wants of the people than many others. God has brought you in close connection with himself, and has given you an experience in this work which he has not given many others. He has connected you with this powerful agency—the publishing department. Others cannot take your place in this, and do the work God has appointed you to do. Satan has been making special efforts to discourage your husband by controlling the minds of some who ought to be helpers. They have cherished temptations. They have been murmurers, and have been jealous without cause. God will not leave nor forsake his servant while he clings by faith to his wisdom and strength. He has upheld him through the ministration of angels that excel in strength. His strength has not come from natural causes, but from God. He will be beset with the enemy on the right hand and on the left. Satan will lead the minds of some to be distrustful of his motives, and to murmur against his plans, while he is following the leadings of the Spirit of God. In God he must trust, for he is the source of his strength. The enemy, through agents, will harass and vex his patience, for the infirmities of human nature are upon him, and he is not infallible. But if he clings in humble confidence to God, and walks softly before him, God will be to him a present help in every emergency. Your husband must not be discouraged in his efforts to encourage men to become workers, and responsible for important work. Every man whom God will accept, Satan will attack. If they disconnect from Heaven, and imperil the cause, their failures will not be set to his account or to yours; but to the perversity of the nature of the murmuring ones, which they would not understand and overcome. These men whom God has tried to use to do his work, and who have failed, and brought great burdens upon those who were unselfish and true, have hindered and discouraged more than all the good they have done. And yet this should not hinder the purpose of God in having this growing work, with its burden of cares, divided into different branches, and laid upon men who should do their part, and lift the burdens when they ought to be lifted. These men must be willing to be instructed, and then God can fit them and sanctify them, and impart to them sanctified judgment, that what they undertake they can carry forward in his name. Your husband must be humble and trustful, and walk carefully and tremblingly before God, for the ground whereon he treadeth is holy. God has strengthened him for great emergencies. He has given him strength, and light, and power like a running stream. This is not of himself, but of God. He has an inexhaustible fountain to draw from. He must not forget that he is mortal, and subject to temptations, and weariness. His mind should have periods of rest, which will result in great good to himself as well as to the cause of God which he represents. He can with a mind invigorated do a greater amount, with greater perfection, than he can accomplish by steady labor and constant effort with a wearied mind. Eld. Andrews is God's chosen servant to do a special work; but he made a mistake in keeping the Sabbath History from the people in order to present a perfect work, and in allowing his mind to be diverted from the work God would have him do. He should have given this important work much sooner, and then improved it as he could do so. The enemy has been permitted to gain a march upon us in consequence of long delays on our part. He will throw hinderances in our path, and if we will be hindered he will exult. Long delays must not be permitted. Satan must be met in his bold advances, and be repulsed. Eld. Haskell has done a good work in the tract and missionary department. He needs to ever connect closely with Heaven, that he may be led and taught of God. He has made some mistakes, but not intentionally. His zeal and concentrated efforts in one direction led him to lose sight of other important considerations. He has pressed the subject of giving means in some cases too far. Some of the poor have done more than they should, while those who have been entrusted as God's stewards with a large amount of means, have done but little. God's servants must discriminate, and work cautiously, judiciously, and ever give right counsel to the liberal, conscientious souls who are poor. God will have his servants connect so closely with him that they may have the mind of Christ. Oakland, Cal., October 20, 1875. Let us Follow Our Pattern.
By M. Wood
The commandments of the Lord are sure; “they stand fast forever and ever.” They are founded upon love, based upon Heaven-born principles—principles which every humble follower of Jesus will have implanted in the depths of his heart, to actuate him to love and to good works. And as the opportunity is offered, he will do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. He will manifest a desire to bear the burdens of others and so fulfill the law of Christ. This kind of religion was characteristic of the primitive believers. It calls for a spirit of self-denial, which, if present in the heart, will manifest itself in the life; and its possessor will become a living witness for the truth of Christ. The words of inspiration are, “Be ye all of one mind having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.” 1 Pet. 3: 8-10. These qualities will characterize the hundred and forty-four thousand that sing the new song before the throne, and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These words describe the character of those who will be redeemed from among men. Who can help admiring persons possessing the requisite qualifications to an heirship in Heaven? How ennobling the holy love, union, and harmony existing in the family of God. There are no discordant notes among his commandment-keeping people; they are a unit. Thank the Lord for such purifying and sanctifying truths as his people hold, and for the straight testimony to them. And since we have a testimony, let us, dear reader, compare ourselves with it, and inquire if the principles therein inculcated are exhibited in our lives. We want to know that we are the Lord’s, and that the Lord is ours. This assurance we may have. But we must follow the example of Jesus, who always did those things that pleased his Father. John 8:29. There was no doubting, no hesitating, on his part. His aim was high. And his determination was to overcome the devil, with all his temptations and well-matured plans. And the promise which he makes to the overcomer is, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” The life of the Son of God was a life of self-denial and sacrifice. He sought not his own ease and comfort, but took upon himself the form of a servant, and went about doing good to the sick, and poor, and blind, and lame. Although his own received him not, he won the confidence of unbelievers by his acts of love and tenderness. In this our divine Lord would have us imitate him. A mere theory of the religion of the Bible and of present truth, void of the meek and tender spirit, will accomplish but little or nothing in the Master’s vineyard. We want hearts all aglow with love to God and to our neighbor. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Jas. 1: 27. What we do must be done quickly; our race is nearly run. Soon every man shall be rewarded according as his works shall be. What need there is of humility and self-abasement before the Lord, that he may work through us for the good of others. Oh! that all the rubbish might be removed from before the door of our hearts, that the Spirit of God might have free access to them. “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” 1 John 3: 20, 21. Laziness Begins in Cobwebs, Ends in Chains
Laziness begins in cobwebs and ends in iron chains. In the courts of the Master's temple
Shall listless footsteps fall?
And banners that no breeze has touched
Hang drooping from the wall?
Shall we sit idly waiting
Some summons from afar,
While here in the lanes and by-ways
The faint and suffering are?
From the arid hills, from the valleys swept
By the dark simoon of sin,
With the words of love our hearts have kept
We gather the children in—
From the haunts where sorrow and crime have rule,
We gather them in to the Sabbath-school. Oh, the weary, weary children,
Who, knowing no fond home ties,
Grow up in their haunts of misery,
Cunning and sadly wise;
Oh, the outcast, sorrowing children,
Whom no kind hand hath led;
Whose bleeding feet at the flinty path,
Pain-racked and suffering, tread!
From the drunkard's home, from the miser's grasp,
With their pallid cheeks, and thin—
From the outlaw's lair, with their stolid eyes,
We gather them fondly in;
And patiently teach the Saviour's rule
Of love to all, in the mission-school. We yield the gospel's sweet repose
To hearts where hope is dead,
And bid them join their song with those
Of children gently led,
Who know the blissful story,
How Jesus died to save,
And the joys of saints and glory—
The rest beyond the grave.
From the storm and strife of a crime-stained life,
From the dens where their feet have been,
From the pains they bear in want's grim jail,
We gather the children in;
And patiently teach love's golden rule,
To rich and poor in the Sabbath-school. From the frivolous homes of fashion,
From the haunts where lust of gain,
That one absorbing passion,
Leads forth corruption's train;
From envy, hate, and malice,
And all unkindly thought—
We would shield the heir of the palace,
And the child of the humblest cot—
From the binding ties of the worldly wise,
Their aching hearts to win,
To the home of peace where bickerings cease,
We gather them fondly in;
And hope and love hold joyous rule,
O'er rich and poor in the Sabbath-school. Come over and help us, ye who sit
At ease at the temple's gate;
The fields are white to the harvest, yet
What sheaves for the sickle wait!
The time will come when ye'll look with pain
O'er the Master's fallow ground,
And weep in vain for the wasted grain
That should be in your garners found.
How blest a toil from the world's turmoil,
To gather this infant choir;
On the heart's cold shrine with touch divine,
To kindle the sacred fire;
And earnestly teach the Saviour's rule
Of love to all, in the Sabbath-school! Novel Reading.
By J. Lamont
THIS vice is growing rapidly, and has become so popular that it is scarcely condemned at the present time. The nominal churches are its fortress. Their ministers and members are the readers and writers of much of this great mass of fiction. I was forcibly reminded of these facts by finding a circular announcing “the very best novel of the season,” in a Testament recently purchased at one of the best book-stores in Kansas city. Just think of it! An announcement of novel-reading in God’s Holy Bible which plainly declares that not only the maker of lies, but also those who love them will be left outside the city of God. Rev. 22:15. The world is being drowned by the floods of this light literature, as it is politely called. On looking over Whitemore’s book circular, giving the names of the monthly issues of over fifty large publishing houses, I find that nearly half the books coming from the press in the United States are novels. Stop and think a moment. All the works written in the interests of science, literature, art, law, medicine, divinity, the hosts of miscellaneous, and school books, together only equal the mass of falsehood now forced upon the world. But this is not all. The circulating libraries of the villages and cities are composed largely of these works, emanating from the “father of lies,” and ten volumes of the vile stuff are read to every one that professes to deal in facts. What evil does it do? The same that spirituous liquor does. It makes men, yes, women and children, too, drunk—intellectually drunk. They lose all relish for solid reading, and can no more do without this mental stimulus than the drunkard without his cup. What hope have such of eternal life? They have scarcely time to think about it. With this, as with alcohol, total abstinence is the only remedy. J. LAMONT. AN EXPERIMENT WORTH TRYING.
A good story is told of a Glasgow merchant, who on his death-bed sent for a Free Church clergyman. Having some fears regarding his future prospects, he asked the reverend gentleman, “Do you think if I were to leave £10,000 to the Free Kirk that my soul would be saved?” “Well,” answered the cautious minister, “I could not just promise you that, but I think it is an experiment worth trying!” CLOSE OF VOLUME ONE.
By James White
WITH the number for Oct. 21, closes the first volume of the SIGNS. The first number was issued June 4, 1874. The volume of forty-eight numbers covers seventeen months, in consequence of the paper having been issued only once in two weeks for a considerable part of the time. In many respects the SIGNS OF THE TIMES has been an excellent paper; but under the circumstances, having been called from the Office to attend Eastern Camp-meetings, and subjected to the embarrassments, cares, and perplexities of establishing the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association when at the Office, we have not been able to make the paper all that we intended, and what it must be in the future. It has accomplished great good, the full sum of which cannot be known until the day of final decisions and rewards. It was before the change in postal arrangements that the proposition was made to give fifty-two numbers of the SIGNS for the small sum of $2.00 a year. And when the change was made requiring the pre-payment of postage on periodicals, it was thought the better course to reduce the number of copies in the volume, than to charge an extra sum for postage. In fact, we are rather pleased with this item of postal law which offers a good excuse for cutting the volume short, to give editors and printers a chance to breathe once a quarter, to go to camp-meeting, and otherwise enjoy something of the outside world as well as other good people. PRESENT CONDITION OF THINGS.
The report of the Pacific Mission given on another page, shows the financial condition of the Pacific S. D. A. P. Association, and of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. It states the sacrifices made by those connected with this work, and shows that they deserve the sympathy, and must have the support of the friends of our general cause in order for the work to go forward. It is conceded that the action of our people in this State has been liberal in purchasing the site and putting up a fine building at the cost of $14,000, and that the action of our eastern people has been very charitable in raising $10,000 to furnish presses and material for a complete Office. One thing more, with the blessing of God, and only one is now needed, that all the friends of the cause East, West, North, and South, unite in giving the SIGNS OF THE TIMES their cheerful and hearty support until the cause on this coast shall grow, and patrons shall be gathered to make the paper self-sustaining on this coast. This accomplished, it will then be time to plant a third office of publication on the Atlantic. TERMS OF THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
The regular price for the SIGNS one year, embracing a volume of forty-eight numbers, postage paid, will be $3.00. Those who wish to send it to their friends can have it, postage-paid, at half price. Tract and Missionary Societies can also be furnished with our paper for half the regular price. We are in want of cash. Those who are able and liberal are invited to donate to make up arrears. We send out large quantities of the last issue of the SIGNS, and of the previous one, to officers of the T. and M. Societies, and to others, to inform them of the debt on the SIGNS, and of our future plans. We ask for immediate action on the part of all our friends, and the co-operation of the T. and M. Societies.141 On the very start we designed that this paper should be a pioneer sheet, adapted to new fields, to go in our country, and in others, wherever the English language is read. The REVIEW AND HERALD is our church paper. And while we recommend its circulation as such on the Pacific Coast, we do urge that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, being more adapted to the household, and containing general religious and secular news as well as the doctrines of our people, should share the patronage of our eastern people, and of all our Tract and Missionary Societies. Great care will be taken to make our paper such as can be recommended everywhere as a family religious and news periodical. In the next volume we shall commence sketches of life incidents since our connection with the cause, and other matter of deep interest to our people and the reading public. Those who wish to commence with the volume for themselves, and for their friends, should lose no time in responding to our call for a large list of subscribers. The very time to help is when help is most needed. We wait in hope for thousands of prompt responses. J. W. The Cause of God.
By James White
The spirit of this world and the powers of darkness come over our people to that degree that many of them lose the true sense and real spirit of the great work God calls upon us to do, and the sacrifices he demands at our hands. God has given great light from his word; and through the power of his Spirit he has made the duty of his people, to let the light shine out to the world, very plain. And yet most of our people seem asleep, both to the value and importance of the present truth, and to the sacrifices and duties of this time. And it is to be feared that none of us fully take in the importance of vigilant and liberal action at this favorable period in our work. A few years since, our country was involved in a terrible civil war which diverted the attention of the people from our message, and absorbed our resources so that for four anxious years the cause stood still. Now peace is restored, American slavery abolished, and candid people of our great nation, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the extreme North to the extreme South, are waiting to read and to hear the message which God has for them at this time. And he now calls upon all to act a part in the effort to send it forth upon the wings of the wind, not only in our own country, but to all others. All cannot be preachers, writers, editors and printers. And there are many who have much to learn before they can be good tract distributors, and good colporteurs for our books and periodicals. But all can do something. Nearly all can give of their means, more or less. And those who cannot cast into the treasury as much as “two mites” can pray for God to bless and prosper the work. It is important that all should find their proper place. A young mother of eighteen years writes that she feels that God calls her to preach the message; but she has neither education nor means. Nonsense! No doubt this sister could do good in her family, and to her neighbors, if she could see and feel the importance of a good, loving, faithful, discreet mother’s work. Her sphere of action at present, at least, is her family, and her immediate neighborhood. There she can shed a little precious light. Others are so situated that they can shed more light, and extend it to a wider circle. And there are those whose light, like that of the greater heavenly bodies, is to extend to the ends of the earth. The wise man in his wisdom affirms, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.” Eccl. 11:7. The material universe welcomes the light of the sun, and feels its dependence on his life-imparting power. And the moon, not ashamed of her dependence on a superior, cheerfully sheds her softer rays, though not original with her humble, modest self. Go out in the clear night in the absence of both sun and moon, and observe all the little stars striving to excel each other in sending down light to our dark world. The light which each contributes is indeed small, but they all seem in happy rivalry to outshine each other. Now, what if our silver moon, through pride, or from jealousy because of her dependence, should refuse to bless any more the world with her mild light? And what if the stars, one by one, simply because their light is so small, should think it not worth their while to shine any longer? Or, what if the little rills should, one by one, begin to feel that what they do to make up the large rivers is of little or no consequence, and finally all these rivulets should cease to come down the mountains, and pass along through the valleys? God has put all the stars in the heavens to give light, and all of them in their several positions to do his will. And it takes all the water of a thousand innocent, ceaseless streams to make up majestic rivers as they sweep forward to the seas. All should seek earnestly to find their places and work in the great cause, and with feelings of dependence on Christ, and, to a certain extent, on each other, should labor accordingly. The great apostle has illustrated the harmonious action of all the members of the church of Christ by the human body. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.” “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” The cause needs more able men to preach the word, and others to edit papers and to write books. More sanctified talent is needed in the several departments of the publishing work. Just such a man is wanted at the publishing house at Battle Creek as W. C. Gage would be, if he was converted to God, and fully consecrated to the work. His genius, under good counsel, would enable him to fill a place there that but few men can fill. Satan is determined to cheat the cause out of number one talent. He is pleased that he succeeds so well in subjecting the cause of God to take up with second or third rate preachers and printers. Bro. Smith cannot do everything. He should be holding Biblical Institutes a portion of each year in different sections of our country. He must go the rounds of the camp-meetings. And there are other books for him to write. Editors and first-class printers, an electrotyper and bookbinder also, are wanted at Battle Creek, who will take hold of the work with ability and with the spirit of consecration. And a thousand sound and devoted men and women are wanted to give their time, more or less, as their circumstances will allow, to missionary work. There are hundreds of men among us who would enter the ministry, if they could at once be full grown ministers, and receive a support. But because they cannot do this they feel that they cannot spend their time in missionary work which brings no pay. But right here is a sacrifice which the cause of God calls on them to make. The Lord is testing them on this point. There are hundreds of men of property and ability in our ranks who are losing their spiritual life in consequence of drawing back from this work. Many of them could visit the smaller churches and benefit them more than our young preachers can. With their riper judgment, their labors in our smaller churches, and with little unorganized bodies of Sabbath-keepers, in bringing them up to the plan of Systematic Benevolence, and setting things in order generally, would tell more on the general growth of the cause than the labors of our young men who bring out these small companies, and leave them to languish for the want of this very help. These men of years and experience, who have made life a success, and have a liberal competency, are taking a fearful responsibility on them to remain at their homes with their farms, or with other worldly interests, while the cause lingers and suffers for want of their labor. This work should be done under the superintendence of the Conference Committees of the several States, who should encourage the proper persons to engage in it. We repeat the first statement in this article, that the spirit of the world, and the powers of darkness, come over our people to that degree that many of them lose the true sense and the real spirit of the great work God calls upon us to do, and the sacrifices he demands at our hands. A few years ago, a brother at the Vermont camp-meeting inquired of us, “What branch of the work most needs means?” We then replied, “No branch of the work is in want of means.” He had brought $300 from New Hampshire to put into our hands to appropriate to advance the cause where we thought most needed. He put the money in his pocket, and took it home. But a great change has taken place in the condition of the cause during the past five years. God’s providence has gone before us, and has opened fields of usefulness in a wonderful manner which demand of us as a people sacrifices, labors, means, and vigilance, as at no previous time. Eld. Bourdeau and family must go to Europe. Who will provide the means? Eld. Andrews will want cash to establish the press in Switzerland, and sustain it there for awhile until the work in Europe shall be self-sustaining. Who among our people will not be happy to help? And 10,000 copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES should be sent out into the great missionary field before New Years. And who is there among our people that has not from one to ten or more friends to whom they wish to send the SIGNS for one year, post-paid, for the small sum of $1.50 each? We call on 10,000 Sabbath-keepers to go to canvassing for the SIGNS on their own account. We do not ask you to simply sit down and think up a half-dozen of your friends, and send us their names and addresses, and the sum of $9, in greenbacks, then have nothing more to do in the matter. No; we ask you to visit them or write to them, and get their consent to receive and read our Pacific paper. And then we ask you to visit them, or write to them, and labor to increase their interest in the doctrines it teaches. If you have a title the hang-on of a trained book or picture canvasser, a patent-right vender; or a lightning rod agent, you can in three-fourths of the cases collect the small sum of $1.50 for the SIGNS one year. And here is work for the Tract and Missionary Societies in the several States. We recommend individual effort first, the cost of the paper to be paid by the individuals who order it for their friends. Mrs. W. and the writer have sent our periodicals to our relatives and friends for years, and have paid for them from our own purses when at the same time we were donating hundreds of dollars to the T. & M. Society. But after this individual canvassing and liberality, then let the T. and M. Societies take hold of the work in a proper manner. We object to the whole plan of filling a certain quota of subscribers in a given time. In the first place, the quota of no State will be full as long as there is time and opportunity for one more to have the paper who will read it with profit. And in the second place, we regard it as an indirect course to pervert the real object of the T. & M. work. If the mission of this Society is to adopt and carry out a system to expend money and find a deal of hard work for printers for small pay, to accomplish comparatively little good, then the quota plan in a given time is a good one. But we supposed that it meant missionary labor in visiting, conversation, prayer, and writing godly letters to all those who received the papers. But to sit down and make out a list of names and addresses in order to fill a certain quota in a given time, and forward them to the Office, and drop the matter there, is not doing missionary work. Ministers are generally the most doubtful cases. And yet for the trial volume of the REVIEW for 1872-3, long strings of names of Elders and Reverends, and Doctors of Divinity, came in, even the name of the pastor of the Plymouth church, Brooklyn, N. Y. We object to troubling that class of men with so much waste papers. They have neither time nor disposition to read our papers. It is missionary work that the present state of the cause demands. We do not say that too much money has been expended; but we do say that there has been too little real missionary work done. With the same amount of means as has been expended, with a corresponding amount of well-directed labor, ten times as much good could have been accomplished. But our people generally have not their heart in the work. Would God they would come very near to him, and taste his love, and feel his power, and cultivate a love for true missionary labor. Would they be strong? They should labor for the weak. Would they be filled with light? Then they should love to impart light to others. Missionary work will amount to but little among our people, until they come where they will take great delight in it, and feel the blessing of God attending them in their efforts to bless others. And it is high time that the murmurers and complainers get out of the way of those who labor to promote the cause, and cheerfully spend their time, energies, and means, for its advancement. But these things have ever existed, and ever will exist, until Satan, the first jealous and envious spirit, shall be chained. The sum of the matter is this: These persons hold themselves ready to be tempted of the devil. They give a willing ear to his suggestions, and are taken captive by Satan at his will. Judging from the past, not one in ten of these will ever free themselves from the power of Satan. When in the Rocky Mountains we consecrated all to the Lord. In a most solemn covenant there Mrs. W. and writer consecrated ourselves, our children, and our property, to the cause of God. With his Spirit upon us, in prayer we there told the Lord that we had no other use for ourselves, our children, and our property, only in his cause. And there God did accept of us, of them, and of it. The Lord has given us unexpected health and freedom. He has brought all our dear children into connection with the publication of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and has given a heart and ability to accomplish what we never hoped from them. And he is opening the way for us to use our means to his glory. How blessed and glorious to be all the Lord’s. We are very happy to be free from the general care of the SIGNS Office, so as to devote our time to writing. Mrs. W. will join us in filling a large portion of each number of the SIGNS. We both feel assured that we have a special mission to the world through the medium of the press. We ask for 20,000 subscribers for the SIGNS, and, by the grace of God, we will let the light which he has given to us shine forth to the world.