The readers of the Review will remember the note respecting the Christian Standard, published in the issue of May 16 in which is given a quotation from the Independent respecting the Standard’s misrepresentation of the Methodist. A recent number of the Herald of Life thus takes this “holiness” paper to task for a baseless slander lately published in its columns:—
In an article on “Millerism in 1843,” in the Christian Standard and Home Journal of the 11th inst., Rev. A. Atwood repeats that old “ascension-robe” slander which has been peddled about by certain papers and ministers until some honest people regard it as truth. He says:—
“A dozen or so of deluded, thoughtless persons, called by some lunatics, procured long muslin robes, white of course, and went down to an island in the river near Highspire (near Harrisburg, Pa.), and watched all night for the coming of Christ in the clouds. No doubt they desired to go up, muslin robes and all. But all their prayers did not bring the desired result. In the morning they came back, draggled, hungry, and sad, stealing their way into town one by one, lest they should attract attention and be laughed at.”
Now, if these persons did actually put on “long muslin robes, white of course,” the opinion of “some” that they were “lunatics” was correct, and hence “Millerism” is about as responsible for their vagaries as Methodism is for those of some Methodists, of which history furnishes considerable evidence. But the story does not hang together. The “witness agrees not.” If these persons stole back into town one by one “lest they should be laughed at,” they were not lunatics, and if not, then the muslin robes were never procured. We accept the latter view,—that they were not lunatics, and hence this “ascension-robe” story belongs, with all others of its class, in the category of slanders.
We do not say that Mr. Atwood knows it to be false; but we are equally satisfied that he does not know it to be true. We have never yet found a person who saw one of these many “ascension robes” of which we have heard. Started by some one who had no regard for truth, and who hated these people, the story obtained currency, and is incorporated in an article as a fact.
But Mr. A. has shown a spirit entirely inconsistent with his profession. His words, “No doubt they desired to go up, muslin robes and all,” and the picture he draws of the supposed return of these “draggled, hungry, and sad” people to the city, are pitiable if he believed they were lunatics, and worse if he believed they were not.
The Standard is a paper professedly devoted to “holiness,” and as such we have highly esteemed it, and have found many excellent things in it; but if it continues to publish such articles as Mr. Atwood’s, we may be driven to the opinion entertained of it by the Methodist and Independent.
A MOUNTAIN SPLIT APART.
ASHVILLE, N. C., May 20.—A great excitement prevails throughout the western portion of this State, particularly along the ridge of Bald Mountain. About two years ago, it will be remembered, great excitement was created on account of the wonderful and inexplicable noises heard in the bowels of Bald Mountain. Scientists from all sections of the country visited the neighborhood where these strange sounds were heard, but never gave any intelligible reasons for the strange phenomena. On Saturday these rumbling sounds in the bowels of the mountain were again heard, and the people living along the mountain side and in the villages became excited, hundreds of them seeking places of safety. These sounds resembling thunder apparently proceeded from the inmost depths of the mountain. On yesterday the mountain range began to yield, and to-day it was literally split in twain, leaving a chasm three hundred feet in length and twenty feet in width, the depth of which seems a bottomless abyss. No smoke or lava has yet been thrown from the crater. Bald Mountain bids fare to become the American Vesuvius.—Selected.
Famines Sweeping Turkey, India, China, and Brazil
NEVER in modern times has there been such a period of famine as in the last five years. First in Anatolia (Turkey), then in India, and now in China and Brazil. Tens of thousands have died from sheer starvation. Last month the deaths from this cause in Brazil were reported to be as many as one hundred in a day. Government and individuals have done what they can, but are powerless to deal adequately with the calamity.
BIBLE INSTRUCTION.
By A. C. Spicer
In the providence of God it need not be that the children of S. D. Adventists shall extensively forsake the truth and abandon the Sabbath as they grow up and go out into the world, as the children of other Sabbath-keepers have so extensively done. Yet judging from human nature and from tendencies already apparent, history will surely repeat itself among us unless we make more special efforts for the proper instruction of our children, and are untiringly vigilant and prayerfully active thereat.
Such are the tendencies of the times, the charms, the apparent advantages offered, and the varied inducements to adopt the customs of the age, that it is not sufficient to hold them in the path of strict obedience and rectitude to simply know the general doctrines of our faith, and to have been brought up by Sabbath-keeping parents. No! no! If we would have our children withstand the evil influences of this evil age and stand firmly adhering to the truth amid all the corruptions of our times, we must see to it that they are thoroughly instructed in the Bible and especially in the “present truth,” and thoroughly indoctrinated in all, general and particular, that pertains to the message committed to us,—to the solemn and important mission to which we are called.
We need to see to it, under God, that they are “born again” to grace divine, that they are as thoroughly converted from the love of the world and from error to these truths as any of us have been. We need to see to it that they not only clearly understand these truths, but that they as clearly and forcibly apprehend their application at this “time of the end,” and the infinite importance that they live in them, walk by them, and do them,—that their personal salvation depends upon such compliance by them.
We have not, as parents, discharged our whole duty to our children when we have simply announced to them that we have accepted the truth, and that we wish them to do so; that we believe this and that, and so and so, but that we do not wish to constrain them, that they must think and act for themselves. We need to realize that God will hold us responsible for the needed instruction of our children in all the truths essential to guide them to purity and innocence of life, to true faith, obedience, and holiness, thus fitting them for “eternal life;” that God will hold us responsible for the character and salvation, under his providences of grace, of these precious intelligences whom we have, by our voluntary act, brought into existence and imposed on the world.
In company with Bro. Gillett, formerly from Monroe, Wis., we left Oakland, Cal., May 31, and arrived at Battle Creek, June 5. Mrs. White will attend the Oregon camp-meeting, and will probably join us at the General Conference the 1st of September. We think the climate of California is not good for either of us. We think it not good for any who are disposed to consumption or heart disease. We have never urged our people to remove to that distant State, only men of means who could be of service to the cause in Oakland. The poorer brethren are much better off in the Eastern States than they can be in California.
The Pacific Press is in a most prosperous condition. It has succeeded beyond our most sanguine expectations. The circulation of the SIGNS is nearly double the circulation of the REVIEW. On returning home to Battle Creek we find that the three Office buildings are crowded with Printing, Binding, and Electrotyping machinery and a hundred active workers. For the three months of March, April, and May it has been necessary to run five of our presses day and night.
The experience of the last three years, which had clearly demonstrated that it was impossible with our then limited facilities to furnish the Tract Societies with Annuals, Premiums, and tracts promptly and on time for each winter campaign, forced us to purchase a complete bindery, two cylinder presses, and to establish complete Electrotyping and Stereotyping foundries at an expense of about $10,000. These were bought none too soon as they have been worked to their utmost capacity since the day they were set up. The Michigan publishing house is a strong institution. The increase of capital has been rapid; but when we take into account the fact that it has expended over $10,000 during the last year for machines necessary to publish tracts and premiums which are furnished at a trifle above cost, and the fact that our tract societies owe the Office for over thirteen thousand dollars’ worth of books, and that this, with what the College still owes, has forced us to hire and pay interest on a large amount, leads us to take this earliest opportunity to correct the impression that may have arisen from our statements relative to the strength of the REVIEW Office, that it no longer needs the especial support of our brethren.
We regret to find the tract societies so heavily in debt. Each tract society should immediately raise funds to pay for all the books it has on hand, and not leave the offices to carry the tract societies. We beat the world in furnishing our publications cheaply. Tracts especially are furnished at marvelously low prices to encourage the tract work, and we appeal to the officers of all the tract societies to reciprocate this liberality by the soon payment of about $13,000 which they owe these offices. This will stop the interest which they are to-day paying.
From J. H. Kellogg, M. D., and W. C. White, we learn the facts as to the condition of the Sanitarium. We are surprised at the prosperity of the institution. The building is completed and completely furnished. It has capacity sufficient to treat three hundred patients. There are one hundred and twenty here to-day. The reputation of this institution is such abroad, and especially in this city and State, and the people have such confidence in the integrity of S. D. Adventists, that three hundred can be gathered here as well as one hundred. Those who have reflected upon the general management of the Sanitarium have done the managers great injustice.
We do not ask our people to take shares in the stock of the institution, but we appeal to them to give us their confidence, their influence, and their prayers. Dear brethren, there are many of you who should be reducing your property, and freeing yourselves from unnecessary burdens and cares; but we do not at this time ask you to reduce the principal. We appeal! to you to help the work in Battle Creek at this time, by loaning to the REVIEW Office and the Sanitarium the sum of $30,000, without interest, and receive their notes to be paid at times to suit yourselves. This you can do without reducing your property one dollar.
Here we call your attention to one remarkable fact, that while our brethren and sisters who have had means to put out to interest have lost not less than $100,000 during the last five years in bad notes and in rotten savings’ banks, you who have deposited your money at Battle Creek during the last twenty-nine years have not lost one dollar of it. The notes of either of these institutions are better to-day than those of any bank in the United States. These institutions are founded upon the moral integrity of twenty thousand Christian men and women, whose religious basis is founded on the rock—God’s great moral code, the ten commandments. We ask you in the name of the Author of the last great message of mercy, and in view of the coming Judgment, to come to our help just now.
Last evening we received a letter from a brother in Minnesota, who is in feeble health, inclosing a draft for $300.00, which he wishes deposited at the REVIEW Office, without interest, in such a manner that should he be taken away it shall remain a donation to this Office. There are scores of others among our people who should do likewise.
We are completely disgusted with wills to religious societies, when we consider the manner in which they are usually managed. The brother or sister makes his or her will, their property to be used in the cause after the testator’s decease. They then sit down and fold their arms in the delusive belief that they have helped the cause, while in ninety cases in one hundred these very persons will most certainly outlive the wants of the cause. We do not object to people’s making wills, but in all such cases let them be their own administrator while they live, and faithfully use the means God has given them while they can attend to it themselves. Up to this date, not more than ten per cent of that which has been willed to the cause has been received. About one-half has been spent in law, and the remainder, except a tithe, has been swept from our hands because of the illegality of the wills.
And again, the wills made to the Publishing Association or the Sanitarium would stand a comparatively poor chance in the courts. These are supposed to be self-sustaining, but wills made to our College would be looked upon with favor. Colleges are never self-sustaining. All such institutions of learning are expected to receive donations and large legacies. But again let me now say to those who have means they wish to put in the cause of God, to attend to this important work promptly, that while they live they may have the satisfaction of seeing the good accomplished by a faithful discharge of their duty. J. W.
OUR TRUST.
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” In this time of danger, people are casting about to ascertain their ground of safety, and to determine upon what means they can rely for protection. Some trust in the stability of American institutions. This would be well on certain conditions. These institutions depend upon the intelligence and moral integrity of the citizens. But people seem to forget that a vast horde of the uneducated and vicious of foreign countries have become citizens of this government, who do not understand nor regard the genius of republican institutions, and who care nothing for free government only so far as it favors their own license and self-gratification. When this element preponderates, any one who can calculate cause and effect, can see what the fate of this government must be.
Others look to a strong military arm, and in view of probable demands to be made upon the government for the suppression of labor strikes and Communistic disturbances, call for a strong military man at the head of the government. This has caused some prominent journals to suggest, and warmly urge, the nomination of General Grant as the next Republican candidate for president.
We think we have better grounds for trust than any of these. Our dependence for the future is upon what the prophets have spoken; for behind the prophecy there is an arm stronger than American institutions, or the American government with Grant at its head: it is the arm of the Lord, pledged to the fulfillment of his word. And he has said that the winds should be restrained till the servants of God should be sealed. God has a work to be done, and no elements of strife, until that work is accomplished, will be permitted to so far break forth as to utterly hinder and overthrow it. But the troubles may increase to such an extent as to cause us much more labor and greater sacrifices to accomplish the work we have to do; and we should be preparing for it.
Further than this, we need not be solicitous; for with this work closes the world's probation, when all cases will be forever decided. And when that sentence shall go forth, Rev. 22:12, “He that is unjust let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still,” just before the coming of Christ, verse 12, the world will be ripe for the wine-press, from which there will then be nothing to save it.
COMMUNISM
In the United Presbyterian church of Omaha, an address was delivered May 12, 1878, by Rev. D. R. Miller, from the concluding portion of which, as given in The Christian Statesman of May 30, we give the following extracts:—
“Our country is to-day sleeping on the crest of a volcano. Beneath it there is a tumult gathering. The fires and gases are combining and growing stronger and stronger; and not many months to come this peaceful, unheroic slumber will be broken by a shock, and a burst of subterranean fire that will cause the land to shudder and grow pale. The ship of state is drifting toward a maelstrom, with the captain and crew asleep. We believe there is danger ahead. Here we are in the second year after our centennial glory with the country seething like a caldron. At Washington the political parties are falling to pieces by their own inherent corruption. The Presidential chair has a torpedo under it. Representatives of the nation come into the halls of Congress drunk. Drunk! Great heavens! has it come to this, that drunkards shall sit on the throne of Christian America? Representatives! Yes, so they are; to our disgrace be it said, in more ways than one. Infidelity and Sabbath desecration are growing. Spirituality is so gaunt and attenuated in many of our cities that it cannot even reflect the truth. The land is over-run by thieves and vagrants, labor and capital are at swords’ points, and beneath all this cracked crust of Republicanism, there are smouldering the volcanic fires of Communism. No danger? Have the signs of the times no voice of warning?”
THE STRENGTH AND CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNISTS.
“We have been unable to gain any reliable statistics of their number in the United States. We have seen but one general aggregate, from their own papers, which places their number between two and three hundred thousand. This is what they claim. It may or may not be correct. We think it is an exaggeration. One fact, however, is patent to every reader of the daily press,—that they have organizations, larger or smaller, in all of our principal cities. Since the riots of last July they have been growing rapidly. Such scenes of lawlessness and pillage as were then enacted in Pittsburg have given them fresh courage; and the same spirit that then found expression is waiting for another and more serious outbreak. We do not say that the Communists instigated the riot at Pittsburg, or that they, as an organization, had anything special to do in instigating it, but we say the same spirit of lawlessness and outrage that sacked the gun-stores, burnt the railroad property, and girdled the heroic Philadelphia boys with fire and violence in the round-house, is waiting to renew its reign of anarchy.”
“In New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Toledo, Chicago, St. Louis, Omaha, San Francisco, and in many other of our large cities, and cities not so large, they have organizations. They are oath-bound societies. They couldn’t serve the devil successfully unless they were. The mysteries and secrets of the order are not made known until the candidate for admission has encased himself in the most solemn iron-clad oath. These organizations are composed almost entirely of foreigners,—Germans, Bohemians, Irish, Scandinavians, &c. Men who, raised under different laws and institutions beyond the sea, have come to this country bringing with them their crude ideas of our laws and freedom, and who, in the very first flush of our political and religious liberties, somehow get the insane idea that liberty means license, and freedom the right to do as you please without regard to the rights of others. These are the men who threaten us with anarchy and revolution. This is the volcanic fire that is rioting beneath the crust of our civil government.”
“WHAT ARE THEY DOING?”
“They are organizing, arming, and drilling. In some of our cities this is no longer a secret. In Chicago they have a growing Order three thousand strong. Meetings are held in different parts of the city, generally on the Sabbath, at which rattle-brained, incendiary, and treasonable harangues are made, appealing to the worst passions of the rabble. A few Sabbaths ago they were out drilling without any effort at concealment. They are armed with breach-loading rifles, and revolvers, and are drilling, they say, with a view to self-protection in case their plans are interfered with. In Cincinnati the Communists have three thousand men enrolled. Large numbers of them are organized into military companies, which meet and drill in secret. The Knights of Labor, an organization whose object is similar to that of the Communists, are also drilling and arming in preparation for an impending crisis. In St. Louis large street meetings are held and inflammatory speeches made, stirring up riot and sowing the seeds of discord and outrage. They laugh at the power of the police to coerce them. In New York the same thing is seen, and revolutionary measures are openly avowed. The Kearney men of California, and the Mollie Maguires of Pennsylvania, are justified in a resolution adopted by the meeting. One speaker said189that if ‘their rights could not be obtained by the ballot-box, then he favored getting them by the cartridge-box. He would make it a State’s prison offense for a man to hold more real estate than was necessary to support him.’ They are led by a Paris Communist, Citizen Meggs, who was a few days ago arrested and bound over in $500 to keep the peace.”
“In Omaha there are between three hundred and four hundred Communists. They have their hall where they meet and drill. They will drill openly before the summer is over. My informant, one of your police magistrates, said that he stood by the door at the foot of the stairs, and heard the parade tramp, the rattle of arms, and imprecations that were not very flattering to the capitalists of your city. In procuring their arms, they make an assessment on their members, order their guns from some house in the East, and have them forwarded here by freight. They order one case of guns at a time. Their leaders are engaged in the Union Pacific shops. Similar organizations are held at different points out along the Union Pacific Railroad. No immediate danger is anticipated from this Order unless they act in conjunction with other Orders East.”
“In San Francisco they are the most noisy and demonstrative. The wildest license is given to speech, and threats are openly made. Dennis Kearney is president, or was until a few days ago. Daily and weekly meetings are held in the open air, at which thousands of the worst men of the city are harangued. ‘Clubs are formed in every ward of the city, and the whole are in splendid working order, united and prompt, and sure of doing what Kearney repeatedly advises,—secure all the offices, municipal, county, and state.’ And then, with officials in sympathy with their movement, they will drive the Chinese from the State, and get what they call their rights. They are armed and prepared, and if constitutional means fail, then they say they will try revolution. They are working vigorously to overthrow the law of the State. Their great watchword is: ‘The Chinese must go.’”
“Can we stand up in the bold presence of these startling facts and say there is no danger? What is the meaning of all this organizing, and arming, and drilling from the Atlantic to the Pacific? There is no foreign army approaching. There is no war in our own land. The president has not called for militia. What does it mean? It means revolution, and that at no distant day. It means the upheaval of our liberties and homes; the war of classes; the poor against the rich; the laborer against the capitalist,—anarchy, red-handed, ghastly anarchy. It means riot, and murder, and pillage, and sacked cities, and a dismembered government. That is what it means; and that is where it will lead unless suppressed. You remember the celebrated Gunpowder Plot in the days of Queen Elizabeth, when an attempt was made by the Catholics to blow up the House of Parliament. They had secreted large quantities of powder in a chamber beneath where the Parliament was to assemble. The plot was discovered on the very eve of its execution. Guy Fawkes, the leader, was arrested, torch in hand, ready to apply it to the train. There is a gunpowder plot now at work that threatens to blow up our whole order of government. The powder-train is laid, and the demon-handed Guy Fawkes, in the shape of Communism, is standing unarrested, torch in hand, ready to fire the magazine.”
THE PACIFIC PRESS.
By James White
When we first contemplated establishing a printing press in California we had no idea that in so short a time a publishing house could be erected and completely furnished with printing presses, types, book bindery, and stereotyping apparatus, and all paid for in so short a time, but we are happy to report that this is the case. Every available foot of room in our large printing house is occupied from garret to cellar, besides finishing the lower part of the tank-house and barn for the manufacture of stereotype plates.
The outside book and job department has so increased as to demand a smaller and more rapid cylinder press, for which there is no room in the present buildings; therefore we decided and recommended just before leaving Oakland, that an addition to the present buildings, extending to 12th St., two stories, 60x40 feet, be immediately erected. We have deposited at the Pacific Press the amount necessary to complete the building. This we recently received from the sale of property, and we loan it without interest, and may God bless and prosper this good work. J. W.
CONFERENCE STATISTICS.
By Editor
The time is approaching when the General Conference will want reports from all the State Conferences, giving full statistics of their numerical strength and financial standing. We notice in the reports thus far given, the same lamentable feature of incompleteness that has characterized the reports of previous years. It appears from the report of the Wisconsin Conference in this number, that of the forty-seven churches belonging to the Conference, twelve gave no report at all, and nineteen gave no church report. Again we ask, Cannot this evil be corrected? Twenty-eight church clerks did their duty, but the nineteen unfaithful ones, not only were negligent of their own duty, but they nullified all the work of the twenty-eight who did report; for so far as our getting an accurate report of the membership of the Conference is concerned, they might as well not have reported at all, because somebody else didn’t do his duty. We would that all could see and feel the evil of such unfaithfulness in the work of the Lord. Is it a fact that so large a proportion of our churches have no one in their membership who has the ability or disposition to do this work with promptness and accuracy?
Again, the reports given by the treasurers frequently present a bad look. To illustrate, in the treasurer’s report of the Wisconsin Conference last year, there was a balance on hand reported, after paying all orders to date of report, of $357.05. In the present report no such balance appears as brought over from last year’s report. What has become of the money? If it is in the amount reported as “received during the year,” it is incorrect; for it was received the year before, and was on hand when the last treasurer made his report, and should not be receipted twice. If it was paid out by the former treasurer it should have been reported as paid out, and not as cash on hand. If paid out by the treasurer last reporting, it should appear as so much on hand at beginning of the year, or as received from the preceding treasurer, and then be included in the amount paid out. We trust that the instruction in business matters lately given in different places, will tend to remedy these irregularities.
ORDRUP, DENMARK.
By John G. Matteson
Last week we held two meetings at Ordrup. The first evening, the minister of the parish visited our meeting, and last evening there was another minister present, who was very friendly and sociable, and with whom I had a very interesting conversation after the meeting. There are some who listen to the word of God with interest; but it is not so easy to gather many people to a meeting here as in Jylland.
We also held one meeting in Valsömagle, which was well attended; and two in Benlöese, where only a few were present. I have in these places met many friends and relatives of our brethren and sisters in America.
We have received the news of the death of our oldest daughter. It was a great sorrow to us; and it came so unexpectedly. It is most painful to my wife, and it seems hard for her to be so far away from the dear ones. But we find strength in that blessed hope which God has given us. It is a consolation for us to know that our much-beloved child found peace in God through faith in our Redeemer, and that she tried to follow in the foot-steps of the Saviour.
Our sincere prayer is, that God may bless this affliction to the good of our souls, and make it a means through which our weak hearts may be drawn nearer to him and by which we may be led to have greater zeal and perseverance in his cause.
We hereby send our most sincere thanks to the dear brethren and sisters in Battle Creek, who have so kindly taken care of our child and tried to lessen her sufferings. We likewise express our gratitude to those who so faithfully prayed for her temporal and spiritual welfare, while her father and mother were in a distant country, entirely ignorant of what was transpiring. We are also thankful for the encouraging words which several of our brethren have sent us. May the Lord reward you all for it, dear brethren; and may he strengthen us to accomplish the work which he has given us.
JOHN G. MATTESON.
May, 20, 1878.
NEW YORK CAMP-MEETING.
By S. N. Haskell
This meeting commenced Wednesday, May 29. There was a good representation of our brethren and sisters present, and each train brought accessions to the number until Friday night. During the meeting there were also fair congregations of citizens from the surrounding country, especially evenings. The grounds were nicely decorated with mottoes of various kinds. Extending over the drive-way were these words: “Seventh-day Adventist Camp-meeting.” As this was ninety feet in length, the motto could be seen for more than a mile. The squirrels were constantly seen in the woods, and frequently in the tent, as though they would take part in the worship of God. We were reminded of Rev. 5:13.
There was not as large a representation of our brethren and sisters present as there was last year, yet those who did come came to seek God, and God came very near to his people. The season of prayer at the commencement of the Sabbath in the large pavilion was one long to be remembered. Hearts were melted before the Lord. The meetings on the Sabbath were of unusual interest. An opportunity was given for any who were anxious to make a start to serve God to come forward. As some moved for the first time, the Spirit of God in a remarkable manner seemed to rest upon the encampment, and a large proportion of the entire congregation took their places as penitent seekers after God. The broken sobs showed that hearts felt and felt deeply. Truly God walked in our midst. Said a correspondent of the Commercial: “At the close of the afternoon service, deep feeling pervaded the camp. There were no noisy demonstrations, or appeals to the emotions. The appeals that were made seemed to be to the reason and judgment as well as to the heart. The meeting in the pavilion adjourned only to meet a few minutes later in companies in the small tents, whence the voice of prayer, or broken confessions, or songs of triumphant faith were heard on every side.” This continued for about one hour and a half.
On Sunday it was estimated that there were about five thousand present. Two trains came to the ground crowded with passengers, and there was one continuous stream of teams from nine A. M. until two P. M., and many came during the remainder of the afternoon, some from a distance of twenty-five miles. The best of attention was given to four discourses in the day-time. A conviction rested upon the people that these things were so.
There were in all eighteen regular discourses given. Elds. S. B. and B. L. Whitney and Brn. Reynolds and Ballou assisted in the preaching. A tract and missionary meeting was held Monday, with excellent results. Nearly $200 were pledged in less than one hour to liquidate their tract society debt. The brethren in New York are in earnest about this matter. They have set their hearts to pay their present indebtedness to the Office, which is between two and three thousand dollars, by the time of their October meeting, and to secure funds for their fall campaign. This is what should be done in every Conference. While the Office has thousands of dollars (about twelve thousand at the present time) lying in the tract societies, the cause of God is crippled. The brethren in New York say the Office may depend on them to cancel their indebtedness. They send out ten tents this summer, five more than in any previous year; and if they retain the spirit they manifested in the missionary cause, we shall expect to see the Empire State double its membership in a short time.
Eleven were baptized, nearly all having taken a decided stand at this meeting. The parting meeting was held Tuesday morning. The general expression was, “I am glad I came, we have had a good meeting.” May God bless this State, is our prayer. S. N. HASKELL.
WISCONSIN CAMP-MEETING.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
We arrived on the ground Tuesday, May 28, and found things well under way. The location is very fine, being on the shore of a beautiful lake. The city of Madison, numbering about twelve thousand inhabitants, the capital of the State, is said to be one of the most lovely cities of the West. It is about a mile and a half across the lake, and two miles by the road, to the city. A fine steamboat plied between the two places, and brought the most of those who attended from the city.
Wednesday it rained all day while the brethren were coming into camp. This made it very unpleasant. However, Thursday and Friday it was clear, and all went on well. Forty tents were pitched, and about five hundred persons encamped on the ground. Sabbath forenoon it rained hard; and commencing again at about six o’clock it poured down all night long with almost continuous thunder and lightning. But Sunday it cleared up, and the weather remained good to the close.
The bad weather greatly hindered our work, and kept us behind all through. Not much progress was made till Sabbath evening, when there was a good spirit in the meeting. Sabbath morning we had an excellent social meeting. After the sermon about sixty came forward for prayers, and there was quite deep feeling. In the afternoon twenty-six were baptized, mostly young people. Monday about twenty more came forward to seek the Lord. This was decidedly the best meeting we had. From two to half a dozen were on their feet at a time, trying to get a chance to speak. All said they had been greatly blessed during the meetings.
Considering the weather, we had a large attendance from the outside during all the meetings. Indeed, I never attended a camp-meeting which was really so popular with all the people as this one. The two dailies published lengthy reports each day, speaking of us in the highest terms. Besides this, at their own expense they telegraphed good reports each day to seven papers in Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul. The ministers of the city announced our meetings, urged their people to attend, prayed for us, and invited us to speak in the largest churches in the city.
Our brother, Dr. Stillman, who lives here, did much in many ways to help the meeting, particularly in getting a good class of citizens to attend. Prof. Whitford, Seventh-day Baptist, the last delegate to our General Conference, is now State superintendent of public instruction in Wisconsin, and hence is at the capital. He assisted us not a little. With him and his family, the governor, the governor’s private secretary, and the State treasurer, attended our meeting on Sunday; also the mayor, one of the judges of the supreme court, and other dignitaries were present. We set before them our reasons for keeping the Sabbath. They listened attentively, and after the meeting confessed to us that the argument seemed very conclusive. Thousands of small tracts were distributed among the people. There were about three thousand present Sunday. We also had a large attendance on Monday. The very best impression has been made. The way is now open for a course of lectures here in the city hall, and such lectures are earnestly solicited by the people.
Eld. A. A. Phelps, first-day Adventist, editor of the Bible Banner, was with us one night, and spoke in the tent. Also two Baptist ministers attended several meetings, and were very friendly. Several persons who attended have embraced the truth, and have gone home to keep the Sabbath.
The brethren pledged on the T. and M. work $500, and on the European mission enough to make $1000 in the State. Eight brethren received license for the first time, making twenty-one who now have credentials and licenses in the Conference. Seven tents will be run this season, two of them by the Scandinavians. There were about seventy-five of these brethren on the camp-ground, and meetings were held in that language every day. We have about three hundred Scandinavians in the State. A special effort will now be made in that mission.
For the last three years not very large results of labor have been seen in this Conference. Only three new churches were admitted at this meeting, whereas there should have been a dozen. Wisconsin is an excellent field, and there is no good reason why the laborers should not have success if they walk with God and work hard. All feel determined to accomplish more this season. D. M. CANRIGHT.