Review and Herald, Vol. 39, No. 13.
THE WALDENSES, ALBIGENSES, OR VAUDOISPage 1
Earlier text: WHAT THEN?Men and Things.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
How sad to look back upon life and see where we have made great mistakes, now past remedy, and then think how different might have been our lot if we had only used wisdom, and taken the right course at the proper time. What soul does not at times feel thus? The following lines seem to express this thought very touchingly: “It might have been!
Alas the thought,
It thrills through all the lives of men,
And from the dreary paths of life
Comes up the cry,
It might have been!” “It might have been!
No more in life
The precious boon comes back again,
But weary, hopeless retrospect
And bitter tears.
It might have been!” “It might have been!
My heart will break,
The thought wells up again—and then
In vain are all my sighs and tears;
My hopes are lost—
It might have been!” “It might have been!
The prayer goes up,
O Father, guide in wisdom then!
Help me to trust upon thy word,
And calmly say,
It might have been!” Keenly as we may feel these things here, how much more terrible will that soul feel who is finally lost, after having had every opportunity to gain Heaven and eternal life. To look upon the holy city, to see all its glory, to behold others in possession of the prize, to know that it is lost forever, and to realize that it was once freely offered to us—oh! with what anguish that soul will go down wailing, “It might have been!” Reader, however much occasion we may have to know the meaning of these words now, may we not have to say them then. “Behold, now is the day of salvation.” If we judge from the actions of many churches around us, it would be a question which was their grand object, money or souls. Indeed in many cases there is no room to doubt, as every effort is made and their highest energies bent to get money. Everything is shaped to this end. Here is a little item from the report of a church. It is only a sample. “The ladies worked with a will. We had a concert that winter, a flower festival in the spring, a fair in midsummer, and a series of tableaux in the fall. They netted altogether $431.75, according to the report.” How much “fun and feasting,” how much begging and teasing, how many grab games and wire pullings, are covered in that little report. What was all this for? To catch that $431 from a set of worldly, fun-loving young men whose only object was to have “a good time,” caring little who got the pay for it, the church, or the saloon, God, or the devil. Is God pleased with such offerings as these? Not unless he has changed much since Bible times. Said the Lord: “You shall not offer bread to your God, from the hand of a stranger, nor any other thing that he would give; because they are all corrupted and defiled; you shall not receive them.” Lev. 22:25, Douay Translation.
From this it is evident that God is not well pleased with offerings obtained in this manner. Moreover, covetousness is at the bottom of the whole of it. If church members would pay up liberally as they ought, would be contented with plain churches, and the minister would live on apostolical salaries, there would be no need of all this money catching to sustain the cause of religion. “Covetousness” with the preacher and members, “pride” with the congregation, and the love of pleasure” with the contributors, are the necessities which have invented this money-making system. Church Ventilation.
By W. H. Littlejohn
Too much importance can hardly be attached to the idea of making the conditions in the house of worship as favorable as possible. The object of congregating the people is that of producing in their minds impressions which shall at once be correct and lasting. In order that this may be done to the best advantage, it will always be required that both the preacher and the people be in the very best frame of mind possible; on the one hand to impart, on the other to appreciate, clear conceptions of the truth. No man has ever yet been found with gifts of a nature such that he could present the truth with as much force and power while his surroundings were such as were calculated to depress and enervate, as he could when they were of a character to strengthen and stimulate. Again, congregations are invariably affected easily, or with great difficulty, as their minds are, for the time being, active or sluggish. It not unfrequently occurs, that in the very midst of a moving appeal which is in itself calculated to stir the multitude, and would, under ordinary circumstances, succeed in doing so, you will find them apparently unmoved by what is said. Perhaps a portion of them are soundly sleeping in their pews, while others, stupefied and oppressed by the impure and heated atmosphere, are turning upon their seats and rubbing their eyelids in the vain effort to arouse themselves sufficiently to appreciate the full force of that of which, in their insensible condition, they are able to obtain but a very poor conception. The result is, that the minister labors with all the power and energy of his being to bring them into the point of sympathy with himself, but when the service closes, finds that his efforts have been vain, that his time has been wasted, and his strength needlessly exhausted. As a consequence, he returns to his home, debating in his own mind, it may be, whether he has not mistaken his calling, while the people return to theirs, in nowise bettered by the experience of the occasion. Perhaps some of them who are not in the habit of attending church service oftener than once in months, have been deprived of all its benefits, not by any lack on the part of the preacher, nor because he has not uttered cogent truths and burning thoughts, which under more favorable circumstances might have resulted in the awakening of sinners, but because his efforts have been defeated by the want of a little attention to outward circumstances on the part of the individual whose duty it was to regulate the temperature, and to secure the proper ventilation, of the room. This being the case, it will be readily perceived that attention to minor matters, of the nature above alluded to, is nearly as important to the success of the preached word as it is that the gospel itself should be proclaimed. So true is this, that one who has observed the terrible effects of a want of judgment in the regulation of these things, will come to appreciate, when entering upon a series of meetings in a given community, a discreet sexton as an almost indispensable auxiliary in the work of bringing the public mind under the influence of the truth. Nor is this all; remembering that the construction of the house itself may be such as to render all his efforts to make it comfortable, unavailing, upon first crossing the threshold, his eye passes through the room, taking in at a glance the locality of the stoves, and the chances for supplying fresh air. If his experience be like our own, the first particular will be regarded as of great importance. Several times it has been our misfortune to find stoves on either side, or in front, of the pulpit in which we were compelled to stand. As a necessary consequence, while the people were suffering for the want of the very heat which we would have been glad to dispense with, our strength was exhausted, and our voice rendered hoarse and almost inaudible by the necessity of laboring, while reeking with perspiration in the immediate presence of fires which were destroying the vitality of the pure air which the overworked lungs needed so much. It is, therefore, in the interest of the people themselves, as well as in that of the preachers, that we make the following suggestions:— 1. Let the sexton in every church be selected with reference to his possession of the qualities of neatness, taste, activity, and judgment, in the management of such matters as relate to the house of God, and which would naturally come under his control. 2. Let those who are building houses of worship see to it that the stoves be removed just as far from the desk as possible; and if in any already erected, this plan has not been carried out, let them be removed with reference to it as far as can be done. 3. Let it be remembered that what is wanted is pure air which is sufficiently heated to render the condition of the congregation comfortable, and that this state of things cannot be brought about so long as they suffer from either excessive heat or cold. 4. In order to secure this end, let the windows be dropped from the top somewhat on the opposite side of the house from the prevailing wind, and let the temperature of the room be regulated by a thermometer. 5. Let the person having charge of the house, when the fires are first built, place the thermometer at the opposite end of the building from the stoves until the mercury shall reach the point of, say, sixty degrees above zero. Then let him remove it to a locality nearer the stoves, and after the lapse of a few moments he can determine by it the exact amount of heat necessary in the vicinity of the stoves in order to make it comfortable at the farther end of the church. Then let him regulate the fires so as to keep the mercury as nearly as possible at the same point, the windows remaining lowered as before. 6. Let him repeat the experiment of moving the thermometer as above, whenever the change in the temperature out of doors is so great as to render the same amount of heat either excessive or insufficient, in order to the preserving the temperature at about sixty degrees in the parts of the room removed from the stoves. 7. Let him see to it that all his efforts shall be conducted as noiselessly as possible, in order that his movements may neither disturb, nor attract the attention of others. ALL THIS FOR ME.
By M. E. Williams
For me, the Saviour came to earth,
For me, accepted lowly birth;
Trials and crosses meekly bore,
Nor yielded once, though tempted sore. For me, in Herod's hall was mocked,
For me, by wicked men was scoffed;
For me, the cruel lash he bore,
For me, the thorny crown he wore. For me, the bitter cup he drained,
Till naught of all its dregs remained;
For me, he groaned, and bled, and died,
For me, the Lord was crucified. For me, for me, oh! can it be,
That precious blood was shed for me;
For me, so poor, so vile, so mean,
Unworthy, sinful, all unclean? Bow low, my soul, with grief and shame
That deeds of thine should cause such pain,
And now may all my life be spent
In showing him how I repent. Healed with thy stripes, O Lord, I'd be,
Cleansed and made pure, dear blood, in thee;
Then may I dwell in Heaven above,
And ever sing redeeming love. M. E. WILLIAMS.
Millgrove, N. Y. California.
By John Norton Loughborough
My last report was made Feb. 2, since which we have had some very interesting meetings. Our meetings, since the heavy rains commenced, have been confined to places where companies had already been raised up, as it is so stormy and muddy it would prove a failure to undertake entering new fields. This has been the hardest winter ever experienced in California, by the oldest settlers. They say they never knew so wet a winter. There has more rain fallen the past winter than in all the three previous winters that I have been here, combined. Our heavy rains here, have been snow upon the mountains, so that we have had no overland mail for four weeks, in consequence of the snow blockade. After being blockaded a few days, it opened just long enough for us to get the REVIEW, numbers 3 and 4, containing report of the General Conference and the appointment of the fast, then the road was closed and we have had no REVIEW since. We shall be glad indeed to see it again, and presume we shall soon, as news this morning is, that eight passenger trains will arrive in San Francisco to-morrow night. My labors, since my last report, have been in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, San Francisco, and Healdsburg. At Santa Rosa, the church are overcoming former trials, growing in spirituality, and awakening to more and more of a sense of these times. In Petaluma, the meetings were encouraging to the church. I was glad to learn that one more had united with the church, a few days before my visit there. At Healdsburg, yesterday, another one was baptized and united to the church. In San Francisco, the work still advances steadily, and those who have taken their stand are growing stronger, and learning to be earnest workers in this cause. I was with them during fast days, Feb. 10 and 11. It was a solemn, precious, heart-searching season. One brother remarked that he had been trying to serve the Lord for the last sixteen years, but he must confess that this was a new atmosphere to him. One new one came out while I was there. During the fast, Bro. Cornell was at Santa Rosa, Bro. Ferguson at Petaluma, Bro. Kellogg at Healdsburg, Bro. Wood at Green Valley, and Bro. Morton at Bloomfield. The fast was observed with services each day, abstinence from business and food as directed, humiliation, confession, and earnest prayer to God to raise up laborers. It was a precious season at every point on this coast. God has signally blessed us, and we confidently expect to see the answer to our petitions. What shall we expect? What did we ask? We plead with the Lord to raise up laborers. We shall then expect to learn, that from the ranks of those who have had experience in the truth, men are moved to proclaim the truth of God, and, as one of our leaders remarked, in response to a letter I wrote him before the fast, “If we consecrate ourselves to the Lord in accordance with his word, by self-examination and prayer, and a determination to do all the good we can, the result will be that we shall all find ourselves laborers in the great harvest of the Lord. We can all become helpers in the work. If the most of us have not the gift of tongues, we have the gift of action, if we are inclined to use it. I think the way has opened through the missionary plan, whereby the work, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and with consecrated action, will be effectual in bringing many into the fold.” May God grant that with all there may be a disposition to do what we can and a solemn inquiry “Lord what wilt thou have me to do?” I will note an item or two of affairs in the city. Our first-day friends have boasted much of “wiping out” the work commenced by the Sabbath truth there. Some said, “When Eld. F. comes, the Seventh-day hall will be closed up in about three weeks.” In this, they were disappointed. Immediately after his arrival, during the first three weeks, we organized the church, commencing with nearly thirty members, and organized Systematic Benevolence amounting to over $1000.00 per year, in coin. Several, in the mean time, took their stand upon the truth. And from that time there has been a steady progress in the work, both in a growth in grace, and numbers. Then they said, “When Eld. G. comes, he will set matters to rights.” But his meetings have not, as yet, jarred one of those who had taken a stand on the truth. During the first week of their meeting, however, one brother, formerly of their number, commenced to keep the Sabbath. The Elder went from house to house among our people, telling them that sister White was influenced by a demon, and that the whole work of Sabbath-keeping was a trick of the devil, gotten up to scatter and divide the flock. Our brethren and sisters had read too much of sister White’s writings to conclude that these are “the words of one that hath a devil.” They also referred him to the consecration, devotion, and spirit of sacrifice connected with this work. “Oh, yes!” he said, “these are good people, and wherever they go, their doctrine takes the very best; they are a self-sacrificing people, I admit.” Our people were not quite ready to admit that the good and excellent fruits of God’s Spirit would flourish on a tree of Satan’s planting, or that Satan’s work should take “the most devoted” and “the best.” So, judging the tree by its fruits, their decision was that the work was of God. So his visits made our people the stronger on the truth, and more confident than ever that “this work is of God.” But the next effort was to get up a discussion between Eld. Cornell and Eld. Grant, some of their number declaring that Bro. C. “didn’t dare to meet Eld. Grant.” So an arrangement was made for a discussion to commence the evening of Feb. 26, on the Sabbath question. Our prayer is that the Lord may signally help in the vindication of the truth. The sequel is yet to be known. We wish to calmly trust in God at all times, ever feeling our dependence upon him. I see in the report of the standing of the different Conferences, as appears in the proceedings of the General Conference, that our figures in California stand the same as two years ago; namely, one hundred and thirty Sabbath keepers with $800.00 S. B. The cause of this, I perceive, was on account of our report for the Conference, being detained by storm last year. The secretary fell back on the previous year’s report, and the same happening this year, it only reports matters as they stood two years ago. Our present number is 208; S. B. pledges for the year are over $2100.00, in coin. Our people stand united, and desirous to know their place and act their part in the great work of the third message. Just before closing this report, I received REVIEWS, No. 5 and 6. It seems indeed, after a month’s delay, like meeting an old and dear friend again. Pray for us. Santa Rosa, Feb. 18, 1872. Richland Co., Ohio.
By H. A. St. John
From Nov. 18 to Dec. 30, held thirty-three meetings in Bro. Geo. Bisel's neighborhood, Richland Co. For most of our meetings here, we occupied an old, Protestant Methodist house, their society there having gone down. The interest here was not good at any time during the meeting. Attendance small. A good part of the time there were three protracted meetings within about two miles, in different directions. Much prejudice existed, some living near the church would not come to hear. Our principal object in holding this meeting was to encourage the few believers living in the vicinity, and perhaps, to gain a few others, that they might have meetings among themselves. In all this, we were not disappointed. Our labor was not in vain in the Lord. Three earnest souls embraced the truth, and are keeping God's holy Sabbath, while others, for whom we hope, are halting. They will meet regularly for prayer and Bible-class. Some one, authorized to administer baptism and set things in order, should visit this part of the State, and that, too, it appears to us, as soon as practicable. May God bless these dear souls, establish and confirm them in all the present truth. May they ever love the holy law of God, and so speak and so do, as they that shall be judged thereby. Left Ohio, Jan. 4, and arrived in Hillsdale, Mich., the next day, where we remained two days with the brethren in quarterly meeting assembled. Spoke three times. Hope the solemn pledge made by nearly the entire congregation at the closing meeting, to seek for a deeper experience in the things of God the present year, may be faithfully adhered to by all. Sunday evening, Jan. 7, reached home, after an absence of more than nine months, feeling to thank God for the experience gained in this time, and for a safe return home. As I take a retrospect of the past nine months, I see many things to regret; but my confidence in the present truth was never stronger, and I am satisfied that God will give power to the third message in about the same ratio that we consecrate ourselves to him. May God speed the time when his people shall be clothed from head to foot with the armor of light. H. A. St. John. New England.
By P. C. Rodman
Nov. 8, 1871, went to Brimfield, Mass., and gave some lectures. But few came in to hear while we were there. But three are keeping the Sabbath as the result of the meetings, who, in addition to a few that were trying to obey God there before, have regular meetings, which are growing more and more interesting. Dec. 13th, went home, and with my family attended the meetings held in Westerly, the 16th and 17th, by Bro. and Sister White. Their testimony was with freedom, and we see no reason why it should not better prepare the way for labor by them or others in that town in the future. Hope the few in Westerly will come forward and take their stand unitedly, not letting the adverse winds they meet discourage or turn them from the track. Courage in the Lord! should be our motto. Since then, have been in Rhode Island and Connecticut, meeting with the churches and rearranging Systematic Benevolence. The brethren are ready to make their pledges; nearly all have done nobly in pledging for 1872. There is a rise of interest with most of the churches. We baptized three at Green Hill, and our meetings were well attended. Jan. 20, 21, attended quarterly meeting in Rhode Island. Bro. Haskell was there with his usual interest, and the brethren and sisters are getting more of the missionary spirit, so that the most of them have a mind to work, and, if they persevere, they will see glorious fruit ere long. Feb. 3, 4, at quarterly meeting in Lancaster, Mass.; this was a very important, and, we think, a very profitable, meeting. Some important steps were taken, an account of which will appear in due time. It is more and more apparent that the providence of God is leading on in this work of truth and reform. Shall we keep pace103with the work and be victors at last? We may if we will, for the Lord will give grace and glory. Then labor on, dear brethren, watching, praying, weeping, and hoping, to the end. We continued in Lancaster over the days of fasting and prayer. These were days of solemn interest; one was baptized on first-day, and in the evening, we closed this fast in celebrating the ordinances. We believe the Lord was with us in very deed, and that he will bless, and will send forth laborers into his harvest. P. C. Rodman. Ludlow, Mass., Feb. 15, 1872. Ridgway, N. Y.
By R. F. Cottrell
My last report was from Milford, Ont. No apparent fruit of my labor there; yet seed has been sown which may spring up hereafter. The weather was exceedingly stormy, and the congregations small. Almost all that did attend were eager to read our tracts, and many were distributed. Since returning to Ridgway, have had five meetings at our house. With some of our neighbors there is an increasing interest. Some are seeking the Lord who have never before made a profession. One at our Sabbath meeting yesterday, Feb. 2, made a good and earnest start. We hope to see some fully established in the present truth. To-morrow I go to Lancaster, and thence, I expect, into a new field. R. J. LAWRENCE
By R. J. Lawrence
My last report was from this place the 15th inst. I found the friends that took hold of the truth one year ago holding on, though somewhat discouraged. The evening after I left, one year ago the first day of the present month, Eld. Raymond, Baptist, commenced a protracted meeting in the same house, and continued three weeks, taking up some of the subjects upon which I had spoken; and with his deacon and another leading member, visited from house to house to persuade those that had embraced the truth to give it up, as I had gone; telling them that if he had not come, this Advent doctrine would have remained here twenty years, and that he was going to get every Jew there was here. The result was, he got one that professed the truth to join his church by first getting his wife, who was opposed to the truth, to join. And, through her influence, he joined. There were some ten who joined him in all. But the scales of soon began to turn. Eld. R. traded with a Methodist minister, shifting on to him some patent right that proved worthless, for a fine horse. Then he left for a time. The people say that he cheated the minister out of his horse. On his return, he wanted to preach to his people, but they would not hear him. He stopped with one of his members over night, and some one carried away one of his buggy wheels so that he had to ride home on horse-back. I commenced meetings on the evening of the 15th inst., and have continued evenings, save one, and Sabbaths and first-days, until last evening I closed. The interest increased from the commencement to the close. The house has been filled to its utmost capacity. Yesterday and last evening, there were some people here from Clinton, Big Springs, and from near Lecompton, and Topeka, who had just heard that I was here, and they expressed their sorrow that they did not hear before. There are calls in every direction. There is work enough for twenty men if we had them here. Oh! may the Lord respond to the prayer of his people. The Lord greatly blessed in the presentation of the truth. Its enemies seemed to be awed before it. Praise the name of the Lord. I have held sixteen meetings, and the friends of the truth are greatly strengthened and blessed. Some new ones have taken hold. We met last Friday at Bro. Wm. Lewis's, at ten o'clock, on Dry Creek, where four men and one woman of middle age were baptized in the presence of over one hundred people who had come to witness the scene. These men were converted from the world. Then we met at the house and took the names of twelve persons, all middle-aged persons, heads of families. After examining them satisfactorily their names were attached to the covenant, taking the name of the Seventh-day Adventist church of Big Springs. Bro. John Lewis was elected elder, and Bro. George Kennedy, deacon, on trial. Since then two more have joined, making fourteen; eight men of middle age and, five women, all heads of families, also one little girl. One of them had heard but one sermon in fifteen years, and that was a funeral sermon of his own daughter. He came out to hear, to the astonishment of all. He accepted the truth, was baptized, and is a member. Oh! what a change! He is now clothed and in his right mind. We organized Systematic Benevolence amounting to over seventy dollars; also a Tract Society, the males paying one dollar and a quarter apiece, exonerating the women from paying, and giving them a membership; thus raising ten dollars for books, for which I gave them thirty dollars' worth of our tracts. Brethren, pray for these dear friends, that they may stand fast. They are greatly strengthened; they express great joy over the light they have received. May God bless them. Others we expect will join them soon. Big Springs, Kan., Feb. 26, 1872. Switzerland.
By James Ertzenberger
The interest in, and the attendance of, the lectures is still growing, so that in both places the lecture rooms are becoming too small. Spoke at each locality three times on the Sabbath of the Most High, which caused several to cease their attendance, while, on the other hand, new ones are coming to hear the word. There are many who say, “He told us the truth.” And others say, “It is a pity that he touched these questions.” However, souls are stirred up by the truth of God, and are earnestly inquiring. What shall we do? The ministers of the National church, too, are aroused. But they try to tranquilize the people about the coming of our heavenly Master, his holy Sabbath, and Scripture baptism. They say that about the great day of God Almighty nothing can be known, and that the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, are not fulfilled yet. They have already preached in their churches against the impending day of the Lord, his holy Sabbath, and Scripture baptism. In regard to the coming of our dear Lord, they say nothing can be known about it, and that the signs in the sun, moon, stars, etc., are of such a nature as to base no faith upon. The signs of the times, they say, will be fulfilled just before the great day. Poor men! They forget wholly that which is written in Matt. 24:29, 32, 35; Mark 13:24, 28, 29. Concerning the Sabbath, they pretend that the whole law, all the prophets, and the entire Old Testament, were fulfilled by Christ. But has Jesus fulfilled Dan. 7:23–25? Are we on the new earth spoken of in Isaiah 66:22, 23? Where is it? What absurdity! How can men speak thus? The Sabbath, it was said, was Jewish, and Sunday observance took its place, and this observance came to us directly from Christ and his apostles. To prove this, appeal was made to the epistles of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the letter of Justin Martyr. Thus, to sustain Sunday observance instead of that of the holy Sabbath of the Creator, they must have recourse to the spurious letters of the Catholic church, and other fables. Shall we be judged according to their standard? Oh, what a shame! But here is also to be seen the accomplishment of the word written in 2 Tim. 4:3, 4. On baptism, they would not say as much as on the other points. Their main points were, It is of no importance whether sprinkled or immersed, whether child or an adult. Babes are holy and have faith in virtue of their parents, and, therefore, can be baptized. Thus they make the commandments of God of none effect by their traditions. But what says the Lord because of all this? “But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:9. Already I have refuted the points advanced by the National ministers against the Sabbath, and many were convinced of the truth. Will they obey? The future will show. May the Lord help. I shall try to refute the others too. May I be guided by the Lord’s Holy Spirit. May his work be deepened in the hearts of many. May his holy name be glorified, and souls saved in his everlasting kingdom! I ask an interest in the prayers of God’s dear people for myself, as well as for the work in Switzerland. Yours, with Christian love, Chaux de fonds, Feb. 14, 1872. Wisconsin.
By David Downer
I WOULD inform the readers of the REVIEW that I am yet laboring on. After closing our tent labor, I returned home, and was sick for some time. I commenced meetings at the Burns church, LaCrosse Co., Dec. 6, 1871. I remained one week. Our meetings were attended with success. We all felt that we had been profited. I then went to Robinson Creek. By an urgent request, held three meetings. People were much astonished to find no Bible for Sunday-keeping. Their Methodist minister made them hope he would confirm the word; and said if he did not find proof for Sunday-keeping in the Bible, he would give them one hundred dollars. He has since attempted and failed. I have had two invitations to return and follow up the interest. I then attended our Conference, which I truly feel was of great importance to me. I then returned to Plainfield, Waukesha Co. Jan. 12, went to Fish Lake church and held a quarterly meeting; five churches were represented; two united with the church. We had a good meeting. Jan. 15, visited Bro. Lane, formerly at the Institute; found him strong in the faith of redemption. We can truly say, he died in hope. I then commenced meetings at Plainfield; spoke in the school-house two evenings; there was one objector, and I closed meetings at the school-house. I then held meetings in a hall. There has been good interest and eight more have commenced keeping the Sabbath; others are almost persuaded. Feb. 9, 10, held a meeting of fasting and prayer. This was a very good time for the brethren. More are now keeping the Sabbath there. Friday, 16, went to Dell Prairie church; held a two days' meeting; this was a very good meeting; we all feel strengthened; two churches only were represented; one or two more have obeyed the Lord there. People are crying for help in many directions. May God help me to do his will. Bro. Thurston has aided me in some of these meetings. Pray for me.
DAVID DOWNER. Reports from the Field.
By Adolphus Smith
THE reports that come in from all parts of the wide harvest field, as they appear in the REVIEW, are cheering in the highest degree. A general awakening in the churches connected with our Conference, is manifest. Preachers and people seem endowed with a spirit of earnest, persevering effort, for the salvation of souls. In an advance ratio to this encouraging feature, the Macedonian cry from all parts of the country is at once a solemn and affecting appeal to the church, to be no longer recreant to her obvious duty. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” But prayer upon this point, as upon any other, should be accompanied with works that will fully attest its sincerity. One of the most obvious duties growing out of this principle, as connected with the subject before us, is that of promptly contributing of our means, in harmony with the Heaven-approved system of benevolence among us, for the support of the ministry. Upon this point, much more might be written, but I leave the subject to those whose pens are less circumscribed than mine. In the general Tract Society, with its auxiliary branches, the hand of the Lord is manifest, fitting the church to carry the message under the guidance of the mighty angel whose glory is to lighten the earth. Thus briefly noting points of interest among ourselves, that move our hearts to rejoice in the evidently speedy outpouring of the latter rain, and the appearing of our Lord in the clouds of heaven, we turn our attention to the political world, and witness rapidly ripening principles, that we know must culminate in a point no less near at hand, a gigantic faction arising from the ashes of the consuming papal See, and, by attrition, absorbing corrupt Protestantism, produce a speedy formation of the image to the beast, against the worship of which the third angel’s message is increasing its volume of solemn warning. The fulfillment of our Lord’s prophetic declaration, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the seas and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth,” is too manifest on every hand to need elucidation here. Nahum’s chariots, with their flaming torches, on every hand, proclaim, in tones that shake the earth, the day of His preparation, whose right is universal dominion here, as an event at hand. Not only in America, and throughout Europe, but in the land of the Pharaohs, the country of the Veda, and in the distant isles of Japan, is heard the unearthly screech of the locomotive, as it dashes forward with impetuous speed, drawing in its train a freight of precious human souls, or, it may be, carrying the bread of life to perishing millions. The very sea that parted its waves for escaping Israel, now bears upon its bosom many of the most important steam vessels of the commercial nations. The magnetic telegraph, by which the most remote points on the earth’s surface can hold strange converse, speaking our mother tongue, affords facilities for communication, which apparently cannot be surpassed in this mortal state. A telegram to Japan, and reply in ten minutes, is said to be a possible feat. Thus, we see that the facilities for carrying the message to every quarter of the earth in a very brief space of time, are nearly perfected, and what a half century ago would have required years to accomplish, can now be crowded into a few days, or weeks. A contemplation of these facts compels the glad conviction that the period of the happy release of God’s faithful people is near at hand, and calls upon them to lift up their heads and rejoice. Soon, their bodies now mortal, and clad in the badges of our transgression, shall put on immortality, and, clothed in the vestments of light, shall meet our descending Lord in the air, and with the millions of the redeemed of all ages and nations, escorted by myriads of angels, discoursing the richest melody of Heaven, they will ascend to the city above, whose walls are resplendent with the glory of God. O reader, shall it be your happy lot, and mine, to be there, to join in the symphonies of Heaven, to cast our crowns at the feet of Jesus, and cry, “Worthy, worthy, is the Lamb?” THE beautiful aspects of nature are not limited to times and seasons. This would be a strange world if the revolving year clothed it now with grace and then again with ugliness. Winter, to those whose frames are in harmony with it, is neither sullen nor repulsive. The cold gray of its clouds, the somber hue of its earth, and the dimmed brightness of its brief days, have a charm of their own. The colors of the universe are toned down, but the reverent eye can detect the touches of the divine Artist still. The keen air of winter is more resonant than the moisture-laden atmosphere of summer; the sense of hearing grows more acute, and sounds which, in other seasons, would be dull thuds, in winter bring echoes. The chords of nature are strung to their utmost tension, and every one rings out melody. Perhaps to this fact of nature is due the musicalness of winter winds. Dwellers in cities, where houses in long rows shelter each other, know little or nothing of this weird music. The winter wind, as it sweeps round the country house—now sobbing like a fretful child, now dying away with a long sigh, now coming on ten thousand strong, with a whistle and a whir, as if it would storm its way in-doors—creates the feeling that the whole mid-region of air is vital, and endowed with semi-intelligence. One is now and then startled with sounds that almost resemble human calls. To the lover of the beautiful, such sounds are but strains from nature's great orchestra, which never cease their outpouring of melody, though the melody falls for most part on inattentive ears. But the eye is not left in winter unblessed by sweet visions. The glinting of the sunbeams through the bare and blackened branches of the forest, all the poets love to celebrate. The cloud formations follow each other so rapidly that there is a constant change in the tone of the landscape. And as we are made to be affected by the aspects of nature, we find our feelings played upon with a power which it is impossible to resist. Our sensibilities are toned down with the subdued coloring of the outer world. Occasionally, however, there comes to us in the midst of winter, with the south-west wind, a return of mellow October. We see all things in the golden mist once more; the haze gathers again upon the horizon, and at sunset is burnished until it is all aflame. Such days we have had since the beginning of our new year, and they make our winter inexpressibly lovely. If the lesson of summer is gentleness, the lesson of winter is force. The winter is not dark; it is brightness relieved of the glare, which, if not suspended for a time, would become painful.—The Methodist.