Your Shelf Your Projects

Review and Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 22

THE COUNSEL OF THE TRUE WITNESS.

Earlier text: WHAT SHALL I GET TO EAT?

Appointments.

By James White; G. L. Holliday

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Appointments Postponed.

We wish to say to our brethren in New England that in consequence of an open door, many calls, and much to be done in Maine, the meetings in New Hampshire and Vermont are indefinitely postponed. JAMES WHITE.

The first Quarterly Meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Albany, Wis., will be held in Albany, November 23 and 24. Can a preacher of this Conference meet with us? The churches of Monroe and Avon are expected to meet with us. G. L. HOLLIDAY.

REFORM.

By H. F. PHELPS

LETTERS are simply the representatives of sounds, and these, combined, form words, and these convey to the mind an idea. So with the word at the head of this article. It suggests to the mind, if applied to man, that he is in some way deformed; that something is wrong; that his condition is for the worse and not for the better; that he needs a change from the worse to the better; that he needs to be restored to a former good state, a state that perhaps he has once enjoyed but now does not enjoy. The word in itself suggests volumes, taken merely as a word; but let us take it as a command given by some one who has a right to command, and then what does it bring to our mind?

By that simple word we are exhorted to reform; exhorted to change our course, for we are going the wrong way. Exhorted? Nay, commanded, to reform—from what? That is the question; it can be answered in a thousand ways. We need a reform in living taken all together. In eating and drinking: in what we eat, how much, and how often. The same may be said of drinking. I need not say we need a reform as to those tea and coffee pots; that even those flesh-pots need to be cast aside; those rich gravies, pies and cakes, filled with spices, and shortened with the oil of that ever-to-be-detested animal, so filled with disease.

I need not even say that we need a reform concerning that tobacco-box. Put it to a better use; fill it with beans, and let the little ones have it for a rattle-box—but clean it first. And that pipe too; throw it away. Or if you wish to put it to some good purpose, just burn it out and put it to the same use that Newton did: blow up soap bubbles, and show the children the beauties of the rainbow, and teach them the cause of it.

We need to reform in our labor, in our apparel.

But we will come a little closer, and speak of spiritual things. Nay, but these things of which we have spoken are of vital importance, for an individual indulging in these cannot discern spiritual things, but we should not dwell too much upon these to the exclusion of others of just as much importance.

Perhaps some of us need to reform in our families. We need to guard well that tongue, that temper; that face, even, needs to carry a different look. It should bear the impress of love. Our characters may need reforming, all through and through. There are also some other things we may need to reform. That habit of being irregular in attendance at the house of God. That family altar may need repairing, if not rebuilding; there may be need of more life, more energy, more zeal, in this duty. That mother may need to throw her influence fully into the scales; may need to join her prayer with that of the father; for children think a great deal of what mother does. We might dwell for hours upon this word and then not exhaust its fund of worth, but we wish to notice another.

REFORMER.

This word primarily signifies one who effects a reformation or amendment; as a reform of manners, or abuses. We can all be reformers, indeed we must be if we escape those awful judgments soon to be visited upon the world of the ungodly. If we would escape the fate of the unrighteous man, we must reform in all these things mentioned, and perhaps a thousand other ways, for look where we will, within or without us, we see the need of a change. We are far below what man once was, far below what we might be, indeed, far, very far, below what we must be in order to see the King in his beauty, and partake of those joys that await the righteous. May God help us all, writer and reader, to bear the character of the reformer.

H. F. PHELPS.

Pine Island, Minn.

MONTHLY MEETING AT VASSAR, MICH.

By D. MALIN

Nov. 2, a good number from the churches at Tuscola and Watrousville met with us at Vassar. Testimony No. 13 had just been received, the reading of which caused much self-examination, and many expressed their determination to try to be one of the few to go through to the kingdom.

We all realized that we had much to do to prepare ourselves before we could hope to meet our Lord in joy at his return to gather his ransomed ones home.

The Spirit of the Lord was felt among us. We trust all went home encouraged and strengthened to press their way onward and make their calling and election sure.

D. MALIN.

Vassar, Mich., Nov. 4, 1867.

“PURGATORY” is the significant title of an article published in the Italian Gazette del Populo. A writer has gone into a calculation to show that the indulgences granted since 1856 by the Pope must have completely cleared Purgatory out, and left it empty. The writer, in a bold, sarcastic vein, argues this point, really making fun of the whole subject of masses, plenary indulgences, and Purgatory—all showing that the world moves when such a paper can be sent out under the very eaves of St. Peter’s.

BUSINESS AND PERSONAL.

A limited space will be given under this head for Business Notices from the brethren, at 20 cents per line for each insertion. Parties must give good reference as to their standing and responsibility.

FARM FOR SALE.—The subscriber offers for sale his farm, five miles south of Battle Creek, Mich. It is in a good state of cultivation, contains 60 acres, and will be sold for $65 per acre. The improvements are, a Frame House, Barn, Corn-house, Well, Cistern, &c. Call at the premises, or address Robert Sawyer, Battle Creek, Mich., Box 455.

Business Department.

Not Slothful in Business. Rom. xii 11.

IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS! See CATALOGUE inside.

Business Notes.

The Post Office address of Elder R. J. Lawrence is changed from Rochester, Mich., to Troy, Oakland Co., Mich.

RECEIPTS.

For Review and Herald.

Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD TO which the money received pays,—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Posters. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged immediate notice of the omission should then be given.

$3.00 each. L M Bodwell 31-14 W B Davis 32-1 L R Lawrence 33-1 Wm Pepper 32-21 N Talbot 32-10 J W Ellis 32-1 E F Award 32-5 M Aldrich 32-22 D Baker 31-1 W Cheever 32-1 C D Cook 32-19

$2.00 each. J Terwilliger 31-4 Lydia Jane Shaw 33-1 J Q A Haughey 32-22

$1.50 each. N J Merrow 31-1 N S Brigham 32-1 Sophia Brigham 32-1 A McClure 31-5

$1.00 each. Mrs N J Blowers 31-22 Mrs N Warner 31-22 Thos Mars 31-22 N B Cooper 32-1 H H Weld 31-22 Mrs Wm Boyce 31-22

Miscellaneous. A Zellers 75c 31-14 O C Spenner $4.08 33-1 E J Pierce 2.40 33-1 R Chalker 5.00 32-1 H P Symonds 2.40 30-20 J D Pierson 2.45 31-23 R S Oaks 1.25 32-22

To make up Advance Credits.

Eliza Gardner 50c A Zellers 25c S Collins 25c S Baker 25c S Breece 25c D Baker 75c

Donations to the Publishing Association.

Oliver Hoffer $5.00 Juliana Hoffer 2.00

Cash Received on Account.

J H Waggoner $1.05 A C Bourdeau 31.00 J D Pierson 2.30

Books Sent By Mail.

Dr J Grover 20c L C Tolhurst $2.00 H C Blanchard 6.00 H G Whitney 2.00 S Myers 1.60 E P Below 40c H E Lovejoy 25c S A Doud 15c H Hopkins 3.00 J C Witter 15c G Green 15c W F Goff 30c D Owatt 30c E Gardner 50c C N Reid 60c Wm P Andrews 1.80 Francis Gould 40c S T Bold 6c G W Perry 30c R M Inman 15c J A Smith 15c Chas M Shepard 15c L S Hopkins 2.15 Jas Harvey 1.00 F Ramsey 40c W S Peters 25c M W Steere 35c A D Love 25c C D Cook 2.75 D W Emerson 15c W W Wilson 15c Louisa Mann 15c A A Fairfield 75c D A Wetmore 30c Jas Pease 15c W William 15c W B Davis 1.15 N S Warner 1c G W Newman 2.62 J N Loughborough 2.46 C M Nichols 15c Juliana Hoffer 15c G A Thomas 1.00 P Potter 25c C Carpenter 15c H F Fisher 25c S Shaw 30c J Griggs 20c M H Chalker 30c N T Furman 1.00 J W Sawyer 30c P Scarborough jr 25c Miss E A Humphries 20c E Sanford 1.00 E Church 30c Eld S Pierce 60c M B Fenton 30c C E Coke 15c A L Symonds 1.85 T N Pike 50c J L Baker 15c J D Durcas 2.00 S Collins 30c H Sweet 30c J M Ett 15c J F McReynolds 65c G R Barber 1.50 M A Aldrich 15c Mrs E M Butler 30c D Baker 90c C Kramer 50c D W Milk 1.00 C N Pike 45c J Lindsay 30c D Perry 15c M J McGilvray 15c S Tobias 1.50

Books Sent by Express.

Elder James White, Skowhegan, Me., $17.03. N T Furman 4.00

Books Sent as Freight.

C P Rodman Ashaway R I $154.94.

To Publish Tracts for Gratuitous Circulation.

N S Warner 35c Marcus Ashley 1.37

Michigan Conference Fund.

RECEIVED FROM CHURCHES, Ch at Chesaning $11.00 Orange 13.00

On Shares in the H. R. Institute.

The following amounts have been paid on pledges previously given to the Health Reform Institute.

James Harvey $450.00 P Scarborough jr 30.00 S R N Barrows 25.00 Daniel Wilcox 25.00

We have been enjoying the past week a very interesting visit from Bro. M. G. Kellogg, who has been for the past nine years in California, keeping the Sabbath, and thus by his example and publications from this Office, letting the light of the last message shine there. Quite a number, as the result, are keeping the Sabbath. He designs to return in the spring; and should he do so, we trust he will be able to take back some help for that promising field.

A QUESTION FOR THE DISCOURAGED.

You say it is of no use to try. Settle first this more important question, Is it of any use to give up?

We have received from H. L. Hastings, No. 19 Lindall street, Boston, Mass., a few specimen copies of a sheet containing nine pieces of music, with appropriate words, entitled, Calvary, Over There, I Shall Rest, The Shining Land, ’Tis the Very Same Jesus, Hallelujah, Say, Brother, Shall We Meet? The Little Grave, and, We Shall Walk through the Valley in Peace. Price 20c per sheet, to be had by addressing H. L. Hastings as above.

Eld. H. has also sent us the prospectus of his monthly publication called “The Christian.” A new volume will commence Jan. 1, 1868. A large, eight-page family paper, devoted to sermons, tracts, tales, sketches, stories, poetry, music, &c., for old and young. Price 60c per year.

The nature of this publication is similar to that of the American Messenger, by the American Tract Society, with the omission of some of the popular errors, which are found more or less in the latter. There is much good, practical, religious instruction in both; and we rejoice in the good that may be done by either or both of these agencies in a general way. But with all due deference to this, we think that those who have the light on the immediate second advent of the Lord of glory, should make that great theme a specialty. There are plenty to publish general and practical instruction; but few are willing to devote their energies to the proclamation of the unpopular doctrine of the coming of the Lord. But if this great event is even now at the door and hastening greatly, the times demand that those who behold its awful approach, should devote their time and talent to raising the definite alarm in the ears of the careless, slumbering and wicked world, in tones of thunder and words of flame.

THE importance of circulating the publications seems to rest with some weight on the minds of our brethren, and is further illustrated by the article in another column from the pen of Bro. Miller. We presume the instances given where these little messengers have accomplished good results, are the few among thousands which will be revealed in the great day when every secret thing will be brought to light, and which will be greatly multiplied if our brethren take hold of this matter faithfully and in earnest.

W. C. G.