It is a serious fact that there has been much needless sickness at these yearly gatherings, and much valuable time and knowledge been consequently lost. In these sudden paroxysms much excitement prevails which distracts the minds of ministers and people and wholly unfits them for the duties of the meeting.
There are no valid reasons why people should be sick while in camp for a single week, more than while at home, providing the proper sanitary regulations are carried out.
In locating the camp-ground, care should be taken to have the grounds high and dry as may be, with a southern slope if possible, contiguous to a running stream or spring of water.
Should no soft water be obtainable, the hard water should be boiled before using for drinking or cooking, as by boiling, the lime and other impurities are precipitated to the bottom or sides of the kettles. This precaution should be taken; for hard water alone may cause much of camp sickness by closing up the pores of the skin. To make the water quite soft, boil a quart of wheat bran, tied in a rag, with two pails of water for an hour or more, and set it away to cool until needed.
In selecting the grounds for tents, they should slope if possible to the north, which will prevent in a measure the waste from decomposition for a longer time, and these grounds should be located so that the winds will not blow to any extent toward the camping grounds.
A common yet reprehensible practice is to throw out large quantities of moldy and refuse food with other wastes just in the rear of the tents, which soon causes a disgusting sight and smell, and is a fruitful source of disease at night!
If we add to this a company of from 30 to 60 sleepers in the tent, exhaling barrels of carbonic acid night after night, it will be a miracle indeed if some are not stricken down with disease before the week is over. This can all be prevented by burning, burying, or otherwise disposing of the wastes thrown out; and a small quantity of carbolic acid in vessels set in various parts of the tents, is one of the best disinfectants known.
Great mistakes are made in preparing for these meetings by over-crowding work, increasing each day up to the hour of departure. In this condition the nervous system is strung up to its highest tension, and on reaching the camp-grounds persons feel exhausted. A comparatively inactive state of the muscles induces a lowering of the vital forces. The mind becomes dull, and several days elapse before the mind can be fully aroused to the importance of the time and place.
This is why so many are found dull and sleepy at Sabbath meetings. Both mind and body are wrought up during the week, even to the very commencement of the Sabbath; and the sudden dropping off from labor induces stiffness of the body and dullness of intellect.
All should have their hardest work done by noon of the sixth day of the week, ending with the lighter work. This would afford comparative rest, and enable us to have clear minds to grasp and comprehend more clearly spiritual things, and the object for which we were created.
Our habits of eating in camp is a source of evil. From a life of excessive activity and hearty eating, we suddenly drop to a life of bodily inactivity, making little or no change in our food or eating. This tends to induce gastric fevers, digestive disorders, and nervous paroxysms. These periodical disorders frighten many into sickness of various grades, who otherwise would have remained well. These mental hallucinations run from tent to tent at the cry of friends in search of doctors A, B, or C. At such seasons there is not nearly the amount of food needed as while we are at work in manual labor, neither should it be as concentrated as when at hard labor. The food should be properly cooked. Cold food should be avoided as much as possible, as it will not easily digest under 100°, and if much cold food is taken, the blood is drawn from the capillaries to the stomach, thus turning our stomachs into warming pans, the blood being called upon to act as fuel to heat our food, while outer parts are left without power to resist the changes of the weather. In this condition we are liable to colds, catarrh, cholera morbus, diarrhœa, and other diseases of greater or lesser magnitude.
If, as some physiologists say, it is a sin to be sick, it is doubly so upon the camp-grounds (all contingencies set aside). Of all places where we need clear heads and sound judgments, it is when we come before the Author of our being. But how can we do this while our stomachs are clogged with unsuitable food, and our minds befogged by fits of indigestion?
All should know that in febrile diseases, whether gastric or synochal, there is little or no gastric juice secreted; hence the importance of withholding food from the stomach in these complaints until nature makes a call, but give in place plenty of cold water, and patiently wait until nature makes a demand for food.
As in diet, so in regard to clothing. Much care is needed. While at rest, the body needs more clothing than when in motion; and at night, than during the day; and while asleep, than when awake. Therefore at evening meetings the linen coat of the day should be exchanged even for the overcoat, if need be, to protect the body from dews and the chilling air of evening which induce cramps, colics, agues, &c., &c.
I throw out these few practical hints, hoping that due caution may be used by those for whom they are intended, and they may thus prevent sickness and obtain the greatest amount of spiritual good possible, while at these yearly gatherings.
DR. GINLEY.
Health Institute, B. C., Mich.
Cain and Abel,
By Jos. Clark.
—OR, THE FIRST AND LAST TRAGEDY.—
The difficulty between Cain and Abel which finally culminated in the murder of righteous Abel, arose from the disregard which Cain manifested to the order of God in offering the blood of beasts in sacrifice. Cain held it a small thing to deviate from the letter of the command, and hence he held that the fruits of the ground were as acceptable as the blood of beasts; and as these were the fruits of his toil he scorned to offer the blood of beasts. Abel, on the contrary, offered the blood of beasts (see Gen. 4:3, 4), and was accepted, while Cain was rejected.
To many superficial observers, the position of Cain was reasonable and fair; and no doubt Cain reasoned himself into the belief that he was right in his position; and from this delusion he never awoke until his hand had shed the blood of Abel, who doubtless often plead with, and reasoned with, Cain on this subject, which so exasperated Cain that in a moment of frenzy he struck the fatal blow which has resounded through the lapse of six thousand years to the present moment.
So ends the first fatal dispute in the family of Adam, or what Cain was pleased to call a non-essential; a very small and trifling affair in his esteem. Whose affair is it, he reasoned, what I offer? If I offer the value of the sacrifice, whose business is it what I offer? Is not the produce of the field as sacred as the flock or herd?
The second and the last dispute in the family of Adam, on a similar topic, is likely to end in a similar manner.
Cain disputed the right of proper order in sacrificial offerings. He held that there was a proper substitute for the blood; and, accordingly, he offered this substitute; that is, the produce of the ground. So, at the present day, there are many who hold that there is a substitute for the true Sabbath; that is, the first day of the week, and they practice accordingly.
And I regret to say that too often the advocates of the substitute Sabbath manifest the disposition of Cain when the subject is presented for their consideration. If they do not cut a club from the forest, they procure a club equally dangerous in their influence upon popular assemblies and legislative bodies. They openly proclaim their intention to uphold their substitute Sabbath by the strong arm of law. And, I ask, did Cain use a more powerful instrument in the murder of Abel than is wielded by the officers of the law? Are clubs as effective as revolvers? And when religionists appeal to the secular arm, do they not invoke swords, and all the modern destructive implements of warfare, to put down their opponents? Was not this the principle on which Cain acted?
Is it not a striking coincidence that a dispute upon order in the worship of God should be the first to rend the family of Adam, and a like dispute upon a similar topic should close the history of the race? One substitutes for blood, the other substitutes for holy time.
Jos. Clark.
Hiving Bees upon the Sabbath.
By GEO. L. BUTLER.
There are many questions constantly arising in which our business is liable to conflict with the claims of the Sabbath of the Lord. This is one of them, and there is some diversity of opinion and practice upon it. It must be desirable to every conscientious Sabbath-keeper to have a proper course plainly set before him so that he can see what he ought to do. It is with the intention of assisting in this desirable conclusion that this article is written.
The design of the Sabbath commandment is to secure a day of rest every week as a memorial of God’s creative work, in which the mind may contemplate sacred things and engage in the worship of the divine Author of our being, and the body may rest from physical labor inconsistent with such design. The seventh day of the week he selected and appointed for this purpose, and no other day; works of religion and mercy are exceptions, and are permitted by the law and by our Saviour’s teaching. But works merely involving pecuniary advantage to ourselves are not only not permitted, but are expressly forbidden. Where the life or suffering of man or beast is involved, we are to labor even on the Sabbath, to alleviate the one, and save the other. But there are certainly no exceptions made in the Bible in favor of laboring merely for pecuniary advantage. Our horses and cattle should be fed and watered. They will suffer without. Our teams may be harnessed and we may drive them to meeting. We could not well meet to worship God without. This is not “our work” in the sense of the commandment. But we may not hitch up our team and haul in a load of hay lest a shower coming up would spoil it.
We claim that these principles are incontrovertible, and are acknowledged by Sabbath-keepers generally, and we believe they should apply to the bees, as well as other things. If there is any alleviation of suffering, or any principle of worship involved in the hiving of a swarm of bees on the Sabbath, we have no objection to our brethren doing it on the Sabbath. If it is merely a pecuniary transaction, the case seems clear that it should be avoided.
But when persons stay at home, or have a portion of their families stay at home from meeting on the Sabbath, week after week, and drum on tin pans, and go through such other performances as are customary in hiving bees, we think, for the good of the cause and for their own good, they should realize that this is not consistent with our faith. What right have individuals to choose any vocation that will involve a necessity for breaking the law of God? If keeping bees did involve such a necessity, it would go very far to prove to me that it is inconsistent with our faith to keep them. But I do not believe there is any great difficulty in keeping bees and not swarming them on the Sabbath. But, says one, I might lose many swarms, amounting to a large sum in a year, if I did not stay at home on the Sabbath and attend to them. So you might lose a large amount of hay or grain by a coming storm if you did not hitch up and get it in on the Sabbath; and you might apparently earn a good deal of money by laboring Sabbaths, which you will not get by resting.
It will hardly do to go to reckoning how much we might lose or gain pecuniarily by Sabbath labor. We find men here and there with mills and gangs of men under their employ, who would suffer a loss far exceeding many swarms of bees by closing up on the Sabbath, and yet we think it a solemn duty for them to do so. What business have we with God’s time, or what right have we to be considering how much we shall lose or gain by appropriating that time which he claims to our own purposes? Why is it better to steal that which he claims as his own, than it is to steal from others? We should hardly think it safe to set down to reckoning how much we might gain to occasionally violate the eighth commandment because we had a good chance to make well pecuniarily by so doing. What God claims as his let us render to him. He does claim the whole seventh day of the week, and only excepts labors of mercy and religion.
The influence of this practice upon unbelievers must be to make them doubt our conscientiousness, when carried on as it is with noise and neglect of religious duty. Worldlings are watching us, and it will be bad indeed to do anything which will make us stumbling blocks in their way.
The influence also upon our own children will be to lead them to think we value money higher than sacred things. And it is very doubtful to my mind if the apparent necessity of doing it or suffering great pecuniary loss is not imaginary. Many have learned the art of dividing their swarms and thus avoid the necessity of losing them when they swarm. It can generally be told when they are about to leave the parent hive, and in this way all difficulty may be obviated. At any rate it is safe to obey God, and his work should be done with carefulness. It will be seen in the end that it is wisest and safest.
GEO. L. BUTLER.
Big Springs, Kan., May 30, 1872.
Interest in Woodland Meetings
Bro. Loughborough writes from Woodland, Cal., that the tent is full every night, and the interest increasing.
Avilla, Mo.
By George Ide Butler
OUR meeting at this place closed Monday, the 27th inst., in which was included the Kansas and Missouri Conferences. We trust it was instrumental for good to those present. If it could have been continued several days longer, it might have accomplished far more good.
Avilla is situated in the extreme south-western part of the State of Missouri, almost down to the Arkansas line, and but a few miles from the Indian Territory, and is farther south than any point where any important meeting was ever before held by our denomination. A few families of our people moved into that part of the country from Illinois, some three or four years since, among them, Bro. H. C. Blanchard of the Illinois Conference. They soon began to hold meetings and present our views to the people, and now there is a church in Avilla of upwards of fifty; and more than this, in other points near by, so that we have now quite a representation of our people in this community; and there is a general interest to hear in all directions around. The population is quite largely composed of northern elements, and the country is rapidly becoming improved, and is one of the finest fruit countries in the world.
Our meetings were held in the house of worship erected by the Avilla church. We did not take the tent there on account of the distance and expense, and the probability that we could not get it back in season for the Kansas meeting.
Our meetings commenced Friday night. There was quite a fair representation of brethren from abroad, even more than I expected to see, considering the bad state of the roads and the distance they had to come. Some came over a hundred miles. The meetings were not as spiritual at their commencement as I had hoped to see. I thought I could discern that in the hurry of settling up new farms and other business, the spirit of the world had gotten far too strong a hold, and that there was great need of the mind being aroused to sense more fully the importance of the eternal world. This point was kept before the minds of the people, and our meetings improved all the time till the close, and could we have had a day or two more, I believe a good and thorough work might have been accomplished. As it was, all expressed much gladness for the privilege they had enjoyed, and seemed to realize their obligations to the cause much more than before. Bro. Lawrence preached twice. I gave five discourses. Our last social meeting was an excellent one, characterized by confessions and brokenness of spirit.
Two sessions of the State Conference were held, of which a full report is herewith sent to the REVIEW. All the churches belonging to the Conference which still maintain an organization were represented by delegates. Two newly organized churches, viz., Nashville and Big Springs, were admitted to the Conference with S. B. amounting to $150.00 or upwards.
When the subject of openings for labor came up, it seemed distressing to think of the calls in all directions, apparently good ones too, and the utter inability on the part of the Conference to meet that demand. However, there was a laudable interest manifested to do something in this direction. The subject of purchasing another tent for the Conference came up. While it was thought best that the new one bought this spring, the means for which mostly came from brethren in the northern part of the Conference, should be run by Bro. Lawrence and T. J. Butler, in the northern field, the brethren further south felt that they desired to have a part in this good work also; and when the matter was properly set before them, $307.00 were pledged in about fifteen minutes.
More pledges will be needed. But it is thought from the interest manifested by the comparatively few who were present in this good work that there could be no doubt that others scattered all over the Conference, many of whom are earnestly pleading for help in their various localities, will take hold of this work heartily and swell the subscription list to at least $500.00. There is no danger at all of its being too large; for by a vote of the Conference all the money raised in excess of what is required to pay for the tent is to be put into the conference treasury to pay the expense of running the same. And as the treasury needs means very much, this will be just as important a part of the work as the purchase of the tent. All pledges and money should be sent to Eld. H. C. Blanchard, Avilla, Jasper Co., Mo.
We expect this tent will be purchased, and that this comparatively weak, but very large, Conference will have two tents running this season. There will be if scattered brethren have as much interest as those present at the meeting had. Laborers will be forthcoming to run it as soon as it can be obtained. The means can be raised at once if pledges from responsible men in the Conference to pay by next fall are sent in promptly. We feel much pleased to see a prospect of this young Conference having two tents of its own, raised within itself, with which to prosecute the work of God. It looks like doing something.
On the whole, the result of the Conference was encouraging. Yet there is an evident lack on the part of very many to take hold of S. B. as duty requires. And the work being in its infancy makes this absolutely necessary if the cause shall prosper. There is much need of this being set before the churches forcibly to make them see it in its proper light.
Under existing circumstances it was not thought advisable to organize a Conference Tract Society. The churches are so few and so very scattered that it seemed useless to undertake it at present. But the churches were recommended to form local societies.
I can hardly close this report without alluding to some of our traveling experiences on this trip. Avilla is upwards of forty miles from Columbus, the nearest point on the Missouri River, Ft. Scott, and Gulf R. R., where we took stage to reach our destination. It is sixty-five miles from Ft. Scott where we reached the railroad on our return. These distances were much greater than we expected before going there. We had to start on our return trip to meet our next appointment, Monday afternoon. There had been very heavy rains the night before, and it has been very wet for weeks. Many thought it preposterous to start, thinking the streams would stop us; but we thought it better to go as far as we could.
We had no serious trouble till Tuesday morning when we came to a stream several rods wide which looked rather dubious; and when we drove some cows through which stood on the bank, to test its depth, we found they had to swim. After debating quite a while, we took our baggage across a log farther up, and one of our number stood up in the wagon and swam team, wagon, and all, safe to the other shore. It was not dangerous, as there was no current.
We congratulated ourselves on our chance to once more pursue our journey toward our appointments, and hoped for no further trouble. We knew there was quite a large stream a mile or two ahead, but we learned it was bridged and hoped for no difficulty. But when we got within half a mile of it, we saw the people hastening to see the unusually high water, and they commenced telling us it was no use to try to cross. As we got nearer, we could see the emigrant wagons stopped, and teams off, concluding to wait for the water to go down; but as the water was rapidly rising, that did not seem very encouraging, and there seemed quite a prospect that the bridge would soon go off. Our situation was not pleasant. As far as we could see, it was an unbroken waste of water running over the road. The bridge itself was hidden from view by the trees. There was no way to get round it without going forty miles further. If we stayed, we were sure to miss our appointment.
We judged from some circumstances that the water over the road could not be dangerously deep; but the difficulty was to keep the grade of the road bed, no telling how deep it was either side. Under these circumstances two of our number concluded to wade through and test the practicability of getting to the bridge, and over it. So they waded full one hundred rods, as near as we could judge, and found the water in places breast high, with quite a strong current. The bridge was all right, the main current running up to the bridge, but not over it. These then returned and walked one in front of each horse to keep the track, and all got through in safety with no loss whatever. The water in the deepest place was within three inches of the top of the wagon box. The baggage was piled up on the seats and was not seriously damaged. We all felt very grateful to God for our safe arrival on the other shore, and we did not fail to express it.
We had no further difficulty, and reached the railroad communications safely. Two of our brethren from Kansas brought our company, consisting of Bro. Lawrence, T. J. Butler, and myself, through to Ft. Scott in their wagon, and saved us much expense, for which they have our gratitude. Traveling in the far south-west under such circumstances, has sometimes rather an exhilarating effect, and breaks up monotony very effectually. We are all well and in good spirits.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Kansas City Depot, May 29, 1872.
Report of the Missouri and Kansas Conference.
By R. J. Lawrence; Smith Sharp
According to previous appointment, the third annual session of this Conference convened at Avilla, Mo., Sunday, May 26, 1872, at 4 P. M. It was called to order by the president, Eld. R. J. Lawrence, and Bro. Geo. I. Butler opened it by prayer. Credentials of delegates being called for, the following churches and delegates responded: Avilla, Mo., Eli Wick, John Hoff, D. M. Wood; Mound City, Kan., J. H. Cook, J. Lamont; Civil Bend, Mo., T. J. Butler; Centerville, Kan., Smith Sharp.
The secretary being absent, Smith Sharp was elected secretary, pro tem.
Moved, That Eld. Geo. I. Butler be invited to participate with us. Carried.
Moved, That all persons present in good standing in any of our churches be invited to participate with us in our deliberations. Carried.
A call was made for any organized churches within the bounds of this Conference, which had not been admitted, to present themselves; whereupon the churches of Nashville, Barton Co., and the church of Big Springs, Douglass Co., Kansas, were voted into the Conference. The former was represented by Bro. Jos. G. Wood, as delegate.
The chairman, after being properly authorized, appointed the following committees:
On Nominations: Geo. I. Butler, Eli Wick, Smith Sharp.
Auditing Committee: Eli Wick, J. Hacket, J. Lamont, Smith Sharp, J. Hoff, D. M. Wood.
On Resolutions: Geo. I. Butler, T. J. Butler, H. C. Blanchard.
When the question of openings for labor came up, interesting statements were made by Brn. Blanchard, Cook, Lawrence, and T. J. Butler, embracing many places in the Conference, besides calls in the Indian nation from people, many of whom are civilized and respectable. The most earnest and pressing invitations are being received, embracing probably ten times the places which the present available labor can fill.
Eld. Geo. I. Butler then made some remarks in reference to raising another tent for this Conference. It seemed proper that the new tent just purchased should operate in the northern limits of this Conference, and that another should be bought for the Conference, to run at present in the southern part. These remarks were heartily seconded by Bro. Blanchard; whereupon it was unanimously voted to raise means to purchase a second tent for the Missouri and Kansas Conference, and in fifteen minutes $307.00 were pledged for this purpose. Adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Second session, Monday, 10½ A. M. Prayer by T. J. Butler. The committee on nominations reported as follows: President, R. J. Lawrence; Secretary, T. J. Butler, Half Rock, Mercer Co., Mo.; Treasurer, J. H. Rogers, Alta Vista, Daviess Co., Mo. Executive committee: R. J. Lawrence, H. C. Blanchard, Avilla, Jasper Co., Mo.; J. H. Cook, Ft. Scott, Kansas. The report was accepted, and these brethren elected to these several offices.
The auditing committee reported that the brethren who had labored in the Conference desired to give their past labor gratuitously, and that there were no charges against the Conference for past labor.
Treasurer’s report was as follows:
Systematic Benevolence on hand as reported at last Conference, $68.85
Received during the year, $104.85
Total, $173.70
Paid out since May 28, 1871, $73.70
Amount on hand, $100.00
J. H. ROGERS, Treasurer.
Rec’d for Kan. and Mo. tent, $297.25
Paid out on the tent, $286.40
Balance on hand, $10.85
J. H. ROGERS, } Tent
J. H. MALLORY, } Com.
The above reports were accepted.
Moved, and carried, That a committee of three be elected to raise means and purchase the new tent for the Conference, whereupon H. C. Blanchard, Eli Wick, and J. G. Wood, were elected to constitute said committee, and Eld. H. C. Blanchard was selected as the person to whom all pledges and money should be sent designed to apply for the purchase of the tent.
The subject of credentials and licenses being introduced, the credentials of Eld. H. C. Blanchard were renewed, and the following persons received licenses to improve their gifts the coming conference year: L. D. Santee, T. J. Butler, J. H. Cook, J. H. Rogers, T. E. Morey, J. G. Wood, J. Lamont, Chas. H. Chaffee, and James Hacket. All others were referred to the executive committee.
The subject of organizing a Conference Tract Society was introduced, and after some remarks it was deemed inexpedient to undertake the formation of one, because of the scattered and weak condition of the churches; but it was recommended that local societies be organized in proper localities.
Bro. J. H. Cook of Ft. Scott, Kansas, and Bro. Wm. Evans of Hamilton, Mo., were appointed by the Conference to correspond with delinquent subscribers for the Review, Reformer, and Instructor.
The amount of S. B. pledged by the churches composing the Conference for the coming year is not far from $550.00. The following resolutions were adopted by the Conference:
Resolved, That we express our gratitude to the General Conference for the interest they have manifested in our behalf, and for the laborers that have been sent among us, and we desire them to still remember us and exercise a watch-care over us.
Resolved, that we express our unabated interest and confidence in all the doctrines held by the Seventh-day Adventists, and our determination to aid in their dissemination by our means and influence; and we desire to express our encouragement at the prospect of a forward movement of the cause in this Conference, and our earnest desire that all the scattered brethren within its bounds should come forward at this important time and assist to bear its pecuniary burdens.
Resolved, That under the existing circumstances, and considering the wants of the cause in regard to means, while it is comparatively weak, all the S. B. raised within the bounds of the Conference shall be appropriated to the Conference treasury, for the support of labor and to pay necessary expenses.
Resolved, That all money that is raised by subscription for the purchase of the two tents, in excess of the amount necessary to pay for them, shall be paid into the Conference treasury for the purpose of meeting the expenses necessary for running the same.
Resolved, That it is the judgment of this Conference that Bro. T. J. Butler should labor with the tent in the northern part of the Conference, the coming season, in connection with Bro. Lawrence.
Resolved, That it is the judgment of this body that Bro. L. D. Santee should labor with the tent the coming season, in the southern part of this Conference, in connection with Bro. Blanchard.
Resolved, That we tender our thanks to the church of Avilla for their kind hospitality shown to the members and visitors of this meeting.
Resolved, That the proceedings to this Conference be published in the Review. Adjourned sine die. R. J. LAWRENCE, Pres.
SMITH SHARP, Sec., pro tem.
I. SANBORN
By I. Sanborn
Wisconsin.
I HAVE just closed an excellent quarterly meeting at Avon. It was the first church that was organized in the State. There have belonged to it in all about 125 members. A very small proportion of those have given up the truth. Some have died, and many have moved into other parts of the country. It still numbers about 25 members. Sometimes things have looked discouraging as to its future prosperity, as the evil one has tried so hard to break it down; but he has utterly failed; and the prospect for the future prosperity of the third angel's message in the vicinity of this church looks very promising.
We had good congregations and the Lord207gave much liberty in speaking the word. On the Sabbath, three were baptized and five were added to the church. And several others we think will soon come into the good work. I have no doubt but many will yet unite with that church, if the church lets her light properly shine, which I hope and pray that they may and that the Lord may yet add to their numbers such as shall be saved.
I. SANBORN
Avon, Rock Co., Wis., May 26, 1872.
THE USEFUL LIFE.
By H. Bonar
Go labor on; spend, and be spent,
Thy joy to do the Father's will;
It is the way the Master went,
Should not the servant tread it still?
Go labor on; 'tis not for nought,
Thy earthly loss is heavenly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises—what are men?
Go labor on; enough while here,
If he shall praise thee, if he deign
Thy willing heart to mark and cheer;
No toil for him shall be in vain.
Go labor on; your hands are weak,
Your knees are faint, your soul cast down,
Yet falter not; the prize you seek
Is near—a kingdom and a crown!
Go labor on; while it is day,
The world's dark night is hastening on;
Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away:
It is not thus that souls are won.
Men die in darkness at your side,
Without a hope to cheer the tomb;
Take up the torch and wave it wide,
The torch that lights Time's thickest gloom.
Toil on, faint not, keep watch, and pray,
Be wise the erring soul to win;
Go forth into the world's highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in.
Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice;
For toil comes rest, for exile home;
Soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom's voice,
The midnight peal: “Behold, I come!”
—H. Bonar.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
By John Norton Loughborough
California.
My last report was made May 10. Sabbath and first-day, the 11th and 12th, I spent at Santa Rosa where one more was baptized and united with the church. At the same time Bro. Cornell was having a very interesting time, meeting opposition, at Bloomfield. Spent the week preparing to go out with the tent. Sabbath, the 18th, I was again in Santa Rosa, and Bro. Cornell in San Francisco. Two more were voted into the Santa Rosa church at the Sabbath meeting.
Sunday evening, I left Santa Rosa and came to Woodland, Yolo Co., ninety miles from Santa Rosa, where we arrived on Tuesday evening, the 21st. This is a thriving town of about two thousand inhabitants, the county seat of Yolo County. Our first meeting in the tent here was last evening, and was attended by over one hundred and fifty candid, attentive listeners. There is much talking around town, to-day, concerning the meetings, and the people predict that we shall have a good hearing. May the Lord grant that it may be so, and that great good may be done here. Pray for us.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
[Since the foregoing was in type, we have received the following additional report. Ed.]
OUR tent-meeting is progressing finely in this place. We have good audiences who give the best of attention. We have given only five discourses but are encouraged with the prospects before us. We first introduced the books to-day. About $20.00 worth were taken, which evinces an anxiety on the part of the people to know what these things mean. People are very friendly and treat us kindly, though strangers. We think the Lord was in our coming here. With his blessing to follow and set home the truth, our labors will not be in vain. J. N. L.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand
A two-days’ meeting in Greenwood Co., Kansas, five miles south of Eureka at Bro. Jesse Tomlinson’s, Sabbath and first-day, June 29 and 30. We invite the brethren and sisters of Howard and Butler Counties, and all others who can, to come. Can some minister meet with us. Jacob Yates.
Quarterly meeting of the S. D. Adventists at Hundred Mile Grove, Wis., July 6 and 7, 1872. We hope for a general attendance. N. M. Jordon.
Quarterly meeting at Alaiedon June 29 and 30, 1872. We want all the brethren and sisters belonging to the church to be present. We also invite the brethren and sisters at Locke and other churches to meet with us.
We very much desire some one of the preaching brethren to be with us at the meeting.
D. V. Winne, Clerk.
Missionary and Tract Meeting for District No. 7, at Wright, Mich., June 22 and 23, 1872. Let every member take special pains to be prepared to report at this meeting.
Also for District No. 8, at Greenville, Mich., June 29, at which time a report from all the members in that District will be expected. E. H. Root.Pres. Mich. T. and M. Society.
Wisconsin Camp-meeting.
This meeting will be held at Lodi, Columbia Co., Wis., commencing June 26th, and continuing to July 1. Those coming from the west by railroad from Prairie du Chien will change at Madison for Lodi; from the east, at Madison for Lodi; from the north, at Watertown for Madison, and at Madison for Lodi. We hope all our brethren will make a general rally and come to this meeting to work for the Lord. especially let every church send delegates, as we expect to organize a missionary society for this Conference.
Bring all your interested friends, and let all bring tents that can, and plenty of bedding, with empty ticks. Come to stay till the meeting is closed. There will be provision and horse feed on the ground for all who wish it, at reasonable rates.
Bro. and Sr. White are expected at this meeting.
Will Bro. Downer see that the churches at Wautoma and Plainfield are organized, so that they may be properly represented at the Conference.
P. S. Thurston, } Wis.
R. Baker, } Conf.
I. Sanborn, } Com.
Wisconsin State Conference.
Providence permitting, this Conference will be held in connection with the Camp-meeting at Lodi, Columbia Co., Wis., commencing Wednesday evening, June 26, and continuing till the morning of July 1. We do hope all will try to be on the ground at the commencement of the meeting and stay till it is closed. Bring all your interested friends with you. We hope all the churches will represent themselves by delegate or by letter, each giving the number of its members, and the amount of Systematic Benevolence that they wish to pledge to the Conference the coming year. Bro. and sister White are earnestly invited to attend our Camp-meeting and Conference.
P. S. Thurston, } Wis.
Rufus Baker, } Conf.
I. Sanborn, } Com.
Lapeer, Mich. June 22, 1872.
Holly, “ “ 29, “
H. S. Gurney.
Quarterly meeting of the S. D. Adventists at Ulysses, Potter Co., Pa., June 22 and 23. We hope for a general attendance of the brethren and sisters; for there will be important business to attend to upon first-day morning. Cannot some messenger be sent to help on the occasion, for such help is much needed.
A. D. Galutia.
Hundred Mile Grove, Sabbath, June 22, I expect to meet Brn. Thurston and Baker at this meeting to help fit up the camp-ground immediately after. I hope they will not fail to come. I. Sanborn.
Minnesota State Conference.
The Minnesota State Conference will hold its next annual session in connection with the camp-meeting to be held at Medford, Steele Co., commencing Wednesday June 19 and continuing to June 24.
Let all the churches at once in this Conference take the necessary steps to represent themselves fully at this meeting by delegates. We hope that all the friends of the cause will make an extra effort to be at this meeting. Bro. and Sr. White are expected to be with us. Bring your families and interested neighbors with you. Be on the ground at the commencement of the meeting and stay until the close.
Harrison Grant, } Minn.
D. McAlpine, } Conf.
J. B. Edwards, } Com.