Review and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 8.
RELIGION OR DRESS, WHICH?Page 1
Earlier text: BROKEN VOWS, AND BACKSLIDING—A COLONY of Swedes intend to settle in Northeast Georgia. —FLORIDA orange-growers are experimenting in making wine from oranges. —FLORIDA proposes to hold its first Sunday-school Convention during the coming summer. —SHOEMAKERS in Japan are now making boots for the American market out of American leather, —REV. R. W. McCALL is about to open the twenty-third evangelical station in Paris. MR. SANKEY has been having overflowing meetings in Newcastle, Eng., sometimes holding four a day. —It is estimated that the snow in Scotland this winter has occasioned a loss to the Highland sheep-farmers of £100,000. —THE French Evangelical Society has sold 400,000 copies of Scriptures among the 35,000,000 of France, besides what it has given away. —THE total receipts of the recent Fair in aid of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York city, where there was so much gambling, were $172,625.48. —THE German Reichstag was opened by the Emperor in person on the 12th of February. It is thought the present session will be a stormy one. —CARDINAL GUIBERT, Archbishop of Paris, thinks that the Radicals, with President Grevy at their head, will insist on the separation of Church and State. —THE Daily Inter-Ocean says: “Cincinnati has cut down the salaries of its school teachers, so as to meet the extra expense of lawyers’ fees, etc., of the Southern Railroad. Nothing like economy.” —THE pope has sent 10 Jesuits to Central Africa to evangelize the countries traversed by Stanley and Livingstone. The mission will cost $40,000, and includes 500 porters, servants, etc. —It is stated as a proof of the strength of infidel principles in Germany, that a weekly paper in opposition to Christianity, published in that country, has a circulation of 600,000 copies. —A CHICAGO doctor recently prescribed for a baby a mile away, attacked with the croup, which was held up to a telephone so that he could listen to its breathing and hear its shrill cough. —ENGLAND is again in trouble on the labor question. A dispatch from Liverpool dated Feb. 10 says that the number of strikers of all classes is estimated at from 50,000 to 60,000. There have been some riots, but they were promptly suppressed. —THE directors of the City of Glasgow Bank have been tried and convicted of falsehood, fraud, and wilful imposition with intent to defraud, and also of theft and embezzlement, and they have been promptly sentenced to imprisonment. —THE Vatican, which contains so many choice works of art, was built by Pope Symmachus and has been beautified and enlarged by subsequent popes till it is now the largest palace in the world. It contains 11,000 rooms, the greater part of which are occupied by works of art. —THE balance-sheet of our foreign trade for last year is an encouraging one. We sold abroad merchandise to the amount of over $726,000,000, exceeding our imports by $304,540,000, while our specie imported was nearly $2,000,000 in excess of that exported.—Christian Weekly. —On the 22d of January a disastrous engagement occurred between a small body of British troops stationed at Rorke’s Drift, Cape Colony, and an overwhelming number of Zulus. The British force was nearly or quite annihilated. Reinforcements sufficient to put down the Zulus will be promptly sent to Southern Africa. —THERE will soon be no necessity for encountering the dangers of the St. Gothard Pass in winter. A tunnel through the mountain is being bored from Switzerland and Italy. It will be the longest tunnel in the world, having already reached 13,481 yards, and nearly 3,000 yards are still to be excavated, which will require another year. —A PROMINENT feature in Henry Varley’s new Tabernacle in Melbourne Australia, will be a large coffee-house, where eatables will be furnished at a little over cost price. The whole edifice will cost about $100,000. A “Working-man’s Club” will find shelter under its roof, with reading-rooms and other ample conveniences. —A DECIDED change has come over the morals of New England within the last decade. It used to be that that section of the Union was noted for its morality, and for the model deportment of its people. Occasionally a brutal murder was committed there, but such crimes were of rare occurrence. Of late years the happy state of affairs has undergone a marked change. Murders, attempts at murder, poisonings, wife-beatings, burglaries, embezzlements, etc., have prevailed to an extent that is absolutely shocking, and which takes from New England all right to claim its pre-eminent morality.—Phila. Star. —It is a startling fact that in a single year fifty American preachers should have been found guilty of crimes or misdemeanors by the secular courts. The list of these reverend offenders, printed by the Cincinnati Commercial, is an interesting contribution to the statistics of 1878, and deserves the serious attention of the class chiefly concerned. Naturally the larger denominations furnish more black sheep than the smaller ones; thirteen of the fifty were Methodists, and eleven Baptists. —A CORRESPONDENT sends the following item concerning the dark day, clipped from the Grand Rapids Eagle: “An old lady living on the little Colorado, says the Arizona Miner, who has attained to the comfortable old age of 128 years, was 30 years of age at the time of the dark day, of which she has a vivid recollection, and she recalls many interesting incidents which took place with her people, the Spanish, and also the Indians, who were more superstitious. The Spaniards buried all their saints, of which they had a goodly number, while the Indians took to feasting on dogs and other animals.” —In St. Petersburg, Russia, there is general unhealthiness and predisposition to epidemic. In the government of Tver typhus fever and small-pox are increasing in an alarming manner. Of 2,000 head of cattle attacked by the cattle plague in the vicinity of Ekaterinoslav, half have perished. Small-pox, the plague, and an unknown epidemic, have broken out in several other localities. The St. Petersburg Golos says that several hundreds of bodies of those who died from the plague in Astrakhan last December are still unburied. The Russian army in the Balkan peninsula suffers much from spotted typhus. The President of the Board of Health at Rome predicts that if the plague enters Europe it will destroy one-third of the population. —THE following extract shows what suffering prevails in the beautiful and fertile regions of Alsace and Lorraine: “From all parts we hear the same cry of desolation. Misery exists everywhere, and business has come to an end. The economical crisis which has generally affected Europe has not spared our country; trade languishes, and purses are closed. The same cause which leads to economy in high circles produces want a degree lower, and starvation lower still; and all this occurs at a moment when winter brings to the poor its ordinary increase of suffering and sorrow. Some time ago we stated that the Charitable Society of Strasburg had 3,800 families on its books, and this is now the case throughout Alsace-Lorraine, where the people are suffering as much as in the neighboring countries. In Lorraine it is stated that there never existed so much distress, and that there is every appearance of its being aggravated by the continuance of winter.” European Lottery Epidemic Spreads Amid Bank Relief Schemes
A STRONG lottery epidemic seems breaking out in Europe; the French Exposition has been followed by one in which all France has been interested. An effort was made to establish a lottery in Glasgow for the purpose of relieving the unfortunate shareholders of the City of Glasgow Bank. The amount collected for their relief was only about $1,800,000, and it was proposed to raise $30,000,000 by lottery. The scheme at first met with much favor, but the opposition of influential ministers and members of the Scotch churches has prevented the execution of the plan. So many other schemes of this kind have been devised for relieving shareholders of insolvent banks that the British Government has been obliged to interfere, and to threaten those engaged in them with prosecution. There would not be much danger in this threat unless there is some difference between British laws and ours; for lottery dealers here openly advertise and carry on their illegal business, in spite of indictments, right under the eyes of the District-attorney.—Christian Weekly. IOWA
By George H. Rogers; S. N. Haskell
Toledo, Feb. 11.—I leave in this place, as the result of labor here, five who are keeping the “Sabbath of the Lord our God,” seven almost decided who express a firm determination to continue the investigation till the Bible evidence on the question is clear to them, and many others favorably impressed. This is the field where B. F. Snook made his great blunder; and the minds of the people were more terribly prejudiced against present truth than in any other place I have ever labored. Most arrogant contempt was exhibited by all the churches, and especially by the pastors of the place, of whom there are five. I now return to Kansas, praying God to keep this little company through grace unto salvation when the dear Lord shall come. Those taking hold of this work are the most influential and devoted of the Baptist church. Sigourney, Afton, and State Center.—Our meetings in Sigourney have already been mentioned in the report of the T. and M. Institute. The Sabbath school was quite interesting. They have black-board illustrations each Sabbath. The brethren here take a club of thirty copies of the Signs. They formerly had a V. M. society, but as their few copies of the Signs are used up by those paying for them, an organized society was deemed unnecessary. Owing to the hard times, the brethren being mostly poor, they did not feel able to enlarge their club. We hope, however, that before long they will be able to do so, and to procure maps for their Sabbath-school. They seem anxious to do all they can. Eld. McCoy and myself were in Afton the first four days in February. The brethren here are much scattered, but they manifested a commendable zeal in attending both day and evening meetings during the time we were there, and expressed a desire for them to continue. The time Monday and Tuesday was mostly occupied in setting before them the progress of this work, and the importance of health reform, tract and missionary work, spiritual gifts, etc. This was meat in due season. Some of the Spirit of God was in our midst. This is the poorest church, financially, I have found in Iowa, yet they took two church libraries consisting of Sister White’s bound books, and fifty copies of the Signs, desiring to pay for them in canvassing for Good Health. They have an interesting Sabbath-school at this place. We commenced meetings at State Center Friday evening, Feb. 7, and shared a degree of God’s Spirit while the meetings continued. The brethren came each morning prepared to remain through the day. At noon a temporary table nearly the length of the meeting-house was arranged; and as the bread and fruit were bountifully placed upon it, we were reminded of the time when a table many miles in length will be spread, and the saints will gather around it, and Christ will come forth and serve them. Monday was occupied in explaining the nature of the work, including the tract and missionary enterprise, etc. There was no money in their treasury; and a lively discussion with reference to “Sabbath offerings” for the Sabbath-school, took place, lasting about two hours. To show that it was morally right to make Sabbath offerings under certain circumstances for a special purpose, the Saviour’s words in Matt. 12: 5 were cited in connection with Num. 28: 9, 10. At one time when all the offerings had been applied to the priests, and there was nothing in the treasury with which to repair the house of God, “Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the Lord; and the priests which kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord.” 2 Kings 12: 9. This was a wise provision at that time, and God’s blessing followed it. See 2 Chron. 24. This church had been taking a club of thirty copies of the Signs, but at this meeting they added over one hundred copies. They also organized a V. M. society, and purchased thirty dollars’ worth of maps for their Sabbath-school. The friends manifested a desire to take hold anew in the work of the Lord. May God bless the cause in Iowa. A CARD OF THANKS.
By Chas. B. Reynolds; F. C. Reynolds
We are again, with our dear children, beneath our own roof; and we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to those dear friends who have aided us by their contributions and cheered us by their love and sympathy. Our house is neither plastered nor furnished; but despite lacks and inconveniences our hearts go out in thankfulness, and in earnest prayer to our Heavenly Father that each of the dear friends who have aided us in our time of need may, at the glad morn of the first resurrection, receive the blissful welcome to a home in those mansions Jesus has gone to prepare. CHAS. B. AND F. C. REYNOLDS. North Parma, New York, Feb. 12. WELLSVILLE, N. Y., INSTITUTE.
By B. L. WHITNEY
This meeting closed Sunday evening, Feb. 9, having continued two weeks and two days, including our State tract society quarterly meeting with which the exercises commenced. During this time there were held forty-five regular meetings of the Institute, the greater share of which were each two hours in length. Besides these, there were regular prayer and conference meetings each day, and thirteen sermons were preached during the session. Notwithstanding the fact that so many meetings were held, the interest continued good to the last, the steady and constant application of so many unaccustomed to study being one of the remarkable features of the Institute. The work was divided into five departments,—the tract society, the Conference, the Sabbath-school, the musical department, and the department for parliamentary practice. For each of these departments an instructor was appointed, who had the general charge and responsibility of the exercises for the time assigned to his department. In the tract society department the Institute was organized into five districts, each having its director and district secretary, and being composed of three church societies with their librarians and membership. All the regular transactions of business, drawing publications, distributing tracts, obtaining subscribers for periodicals, writing letters, making reports, etc., etc., were carried out as actual transactions, while at the same time instruction concerning the method of keeping the proper accounts was given so that the business might be done in a systematic and thorough manner. In the Conference department the entire membership was organized into churches, for which the proper officers were elected. Proper records of the organization were made by each church clerk; the regular church quarterly meetings were held, in which all the business pertaining to such meetings was transacted, including the payment of the tithes and one-third, receiving members, granting letters, etc., in fact, all the business actually occurring in our regular church work. Minute instructions were given on all these points, which were illustrated and enforced by the actual practice had in connection therewith. In the S. S. department the entire Institute was organized into a school, after full instruction had been given as to how this should be done, and a practical illustration had been afforded by organizing schools in each district. It is to be hoped that this instruction, with the practical illustration of how the work should be done, will prove of great benefit to the work in this new Conference in establishing that order and system that should be seen in all these departments of the work of God. The visit of Eld. J. N. Andrews during the last days of the session, will, we trust, prove a lasting blessing to those who were present. His earnest appeals to those who are engaged in the work to become possessed of the true missionary spirit were not without effect on the hearts of those who heard them, and we trust that our Institute will not prove a failure in this important particular, but that the work among us will be marked by more of that real spirit of zeal and devotion that should characterize so important a work as that in which we are engaged. The brethren separated to go to their homes with a good degree of courage and determination to carry out the instruction they had received, and to labor earnestly to build up the work of God in our midst, and wherever their influence may reach. B. L. WHITNEY. VERMONT T. AND M. MEETING.
By A. S. Hutchins; C. W. Stone
The session held at Wolcott Jan. 25 and 26 was opened Jan. 25 immediately at the close of the first S. S. meeting. C. W. Stone was appointed secretary pro tem. Director present, C. F. Worthen. Voted, That a committee be appointed by the Chair to draft resolutions for discussion. The Chair appointed C. W. Stone, R. S. Owen, A. O. Wilbur. Adjourned to call of Chair. Prayer by Eld. R. S. Owen. Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:— Resolved, That we approve the action of the New England Conference in relation to the raising of a tract fund, and that we raise $500 by contributions to aid in that matter. Resolved, That every director in the Vermont T. and M. Society be appointed to solicit contributions in his own district for this purpose. Whereas, It is the duty of every member of our T. and M. Society promptly to report his labor for each quarter, and Whereas, This duty has not been well performed, therefore Resolved, That we urge our members to renewed energy and diligence in this matter. Resolutions discussed and adopted one by one. C. W. STONE, Sec. pro tem. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth.” REV. 14:13. Frankie Goodman, of East Norwalk, Ohio, died of inflammation of the bowels, Jan. 29, 1879, in the tenth year of his age. A loving father and mother and two little brothers mourn their loss. Frankie, together with his parents and brothers, attended our meetings in East Norwalk, and all were much interested. He loved to read the Bible, and during his dying moments gave good evidence that he loved the Lord and had his blessing. He bade all the family and friends an affectionate farewell, and sweetly fell asleep in death. May the bereaved parents be ready to meet their dear little boy when Jesus comes to raise the dead. Funeral discourse by the writer to a large and attentive congregation. Text, 1 Cor. 15:26. H. A. St. John. Noah W. Perrine died at Spring Arbor, Mich., Feb. 12, 1879, of congestion of the lungs, aged 31 years. Though never openly professing Christ, he in his last sickness expressed confidence in the truths of the Bible, and a wish to live them out. His friends laid him away, trusting in God who doeth all things well. Discourse from 1 Pet. 2:7, first clause. J. O. G. Died of scarlet fever, near Arago, Richardson Co., Neb., Feb. 1, 1879, Mary E., aged 4 years, 10 months, and 16 days; Feb. 2, Olive L., aged 3 years, 3 months, and 6 days; Feb. 2, Arthur C., aged 2 years and 7 days; Feb. 3, Alice A., aged 3 years, 3 months, and 7 days,—children of Sanford R. and Mary J. Twist. “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” S. R. Twist. Died of lung fever, in Defiance, Ohio, Jan. 9, 1879, Bro. Elisha F., son of C. G. Daniels, aged 28 years, 4 months, and 3 days. He was one of the members of the Defiance church when it was first organized by Eld. I. D. Van Horn in 1870. Much of the time during his short and painful sickness was spent in seeking a nearness to God. He expressed great anxiety to unite in prayer with myself and wife. We arrived there about one o’clock P. M., and had a sweet season of prayer, during which his responses expressed a confident hope that all was well. At the close of the exercises he responded, “Amen,” and in about five minutes sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. Wm. F. Crous. Died of diphtheria, Feb. 6, 1879, at DuQuoin, Ill., James Stanhouse, aged 38 years, 7 months, and 27 days. Our dear brother embraced the truth last August under the labors of Bro. Colcord and Bliss, and he has since been a devoted, earnest worker in the cause of God. Funeral discourse by the writer, from Joh. 14:14. We miss the counsel and influence of our brother. C. H. Foster. Died of bilious pneumonia, in Matherton, Mich., Jan. 17, 1879, my mother, Mrs. A. C. Kellogg, wife of Leander Kellogg, in the 59th year of her age. We mourn for her but believe she sleeps in Jesus. Funeral discourse by Eld. Jordon, M. E., from 2 Tim. 4:6-8. E. Brink. TO THE BRETHREN IN DAKOTA.
By S. B. Whitney
Dear Brethren: Permit me once more to express my anxiety for the prosperity of the work in our territory. I have been pleased to see the readiness with which the suggestions that have been made to this end have been received; but I am desirous that in proportion to our numbers and ability Dakota should not be behind the foremost in our ranks in all the enterprises connected with our cause. Especially would I appeal to my brethren that come from the East. I have already learned that in this new country it needs much watchfulness and prayer not to be overcome by the spirit of the world; and in view of the testimonies that have been given on this point, we should remember that our object in coming here should not be merely to advantage ourselves temporally, but to spread the light of truth and be more useful in the cause. And I would also impress the minds of our American brethren with a sense of our responsibility in view of the fact that our work is eminently American, and in all its branches is under the supervision of our English-speaking people; and as the brethren in the territory are three-fourths or four-fifths of foreign extraction, if we wish them to cheerfully acquiesce in this order of things we must take a course to command their confidence and respect. Consider, too, that our standing will give color and character to the work, and therefore should be of the highest type. There are several enterprises to which I wish to call particular attention, and which should be immediately attended to. 1. The General Conference Committee advise us to procure a fifty-foot tent, which will cost, complete, about two hundred dollars. We expect all to be equally interested in this matter. 2. The Supplement from Bro. and Sr. White relative to a paper for Bro. Matteson is just at hand. Who can resist such appeals? Here we expect our Scandinavian brethren, as Bro. W. suggests, to be especially interested, and to nobly respond. 3. A reserve fund for our T. and M. society is needed, that we may have a supply of publications without getting into debt. Here, again, we expect all to be equally interested. We would be glad to receive responses to all these calls in the form of remittances, or pledges to be paid monthly or otherwise. Pledges for the tent should be sent in immediately, that we may know what to do, and the funds for this purpose will of course be needed soon. Communications relating to these matters may be addressed to me, care of D. T. Biggs, our State secretary, at Howard, Turner Co., Dak. Let us hear at once. S. B. WHITNEY. TESTIMONY NUMBER 28.
By James White
We have received copies of this work, and are pleased with its appearance. The subject matter we had read before it went to press. We only regret that the press of work at the Review Office, which always comes at the beginning of the year, made so long a delay unavoidable. The contents, “Experience and Labors, General Testimony, Appeal to Ministers, Epistles Number One, Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six,” give a general idea, to those who have read the preceding numbers, of the reading matter of No. 28. Will Bro. Haskell arrange to have the tract societies circulate this important little work without delay. Single copies, postpaid, 25 cents; five copies for $1.00, one-fourth discount by express or freight. Address, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. JAMES WHITE. Pastor French on the Lord's Tithes
J. Abbot French, pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, preached in his church, Feb. 9, 1879, a sermon on The Lord’s Tithes, taking the truthful ground that a tenth of one’s income should be faithfully and conscientiously given to the cause of the Lord; and that the obligation to pay the tithe is more binding in the present than it was in the former dispensation. Correction: South Lancaster V. M. Society Report
There was a report given in the Supplement last week headed, “Report of N. E. V. M. Society;” it should have been “South Lancaster V. M. Society.” To spread the work of one church over all New England makes it almost too thin to do it justice. Seed Thoughts Pamphlet Available From Battle Creek
The pamphlet entitled, “Seed Thoughts,” noticed last week, may be had by addressing Miss A. C. Hudson, Battle Creek, Mich., instead of Allegan, Mich., as there given. A Dreadful Picture: Famine and Pestilence in Brazil
Under the heading, “A Dreadful Picture,” the Inter-Ocean of Feb. 15 gives the following description of the appalling situation in Brazil. In the midst of the ordinary blessings of health and prosperity, we can hardly realize the condition of the unfortunate inhabitants of the smitten districts of Brazil. It seems as if the worst inflictions recorded in history are to be surpassed in our own day. We may expect these calamities to increase and spread; for the world has grown old, and the Judgment is near. The Inter-Ocean says:— NEW YORK, FEB. 14.—The Herald’s letter from Brazil gives a frightful picture of the drought, famine, and pestilence raging in the northern portion of that country for more than a year past. It is said to be the greatest calamity in two hundred years. Half a million people have been swept away by starvation and disease. The small-pox and black plague carried off victims in appalling numbers, and thousands of bodies are rotting in the open trenches at Lagoa, Funda. Thousands of other corpses are torn and devoured by wild animals. The starving peasants eat up their own offspring. Some places, including the city of Cerea, are depopulated. There are terrible struggles for life. The children are abandoned, and the young souls sold for bread. Thousands of living skeletons were to be seen. Government aid is tardy. The letter presents a picture of woe such as can hardly be paralleled in history, except by the siege of Jerusalem and the black death which desolated Europe in the fourteenth century. QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
By S. N. Haskell
“Has the plan of paying to the tract society a sum equal to one-third the systematic benevolence been given up?” No. Wherever this plan has been adopted, it has proved a perfect success; where it has not been adopted, the tract society fund is more or less deficient. “Does the S. B. treasurer retain the ‘one-third’?” No; he only collects it, as it is convenient for him to do so when he collects the systematic benevolence. The one-third is tract society money, and should always go to the librarian. It is always distinct and separate from the systematic benevolence money, and has no more to do with it than camp-meeting money, or money on any other enterprise. “Can we draw publications on the strength of what we pay into the reserve fund?” We should not; for that is not given to be used up in this manner, but to keep a supply of publications in the State depository. S. N. HASKELL. The statement of the financial standing of the tract societies last week should have given the value of publications on hand, amount of unpaid pledges, etc., in each society; but as most of the societies failed to report this item, it could be given only in a few cases. Have since received a statement giving the value of publications on hand in New England and Ohio, as follows: New England, $1700; Ohio, $116.87. M. L. H. S. B. WHITNEY
By S. B. Whitney
HAVING read this testimony, I feel like urging my brethren everywhere to obtain a copy and carefully study it. Although it is an occasion of the deepest distress that, as ministers and people, we should need instruction of the character contained in this book, yet it is also a reason for devout gratitude to God that, such being the case, God condescends to regard us with such mercy and love as to impart it. The reproofs are severe but just; and if we are led to sorrow “after a godly manner,” we shall “receive damage by it in nothing.” (See 2 Chron. 7:8-11); and the exhibitions of the love and power of God in the experience of his servants, as therein related, should inspire faith and courage in our hearts, that we may draw nigh to God by repentance and consecration, and enjoy the same blessings at his hand. A SUGGESTION.
By J. B. Logan
I SUGGEST that the Sabbath-keepers in Illinois petition the legislature to change the school law so as to hold district elections on some day besides the Sabbath, as the law now requires. Let a correct form of petition be prepared, and due notice be given, so as to have concert of action in the circulation. If a good number from all parts of the State could be sent in, I think the change would surely be made. As it is, we are disfranchised, we, as well as the Seventh-day Baptists and Jews. A time should be fixed upon to send in petitions, so that all should come at once before an appropriate committee. J. B. LOGAN. WHAT THE TRUE POET TEACHES.
He teaches love to suffer and be pure;
That virtue conquers if it but endure;
That noblest gifts should serve the noblest ends;
That he is richest who the most befriends;
That through life's journey, dark or bright the day,
Fate's not unkind, whatever men may say,
If goodness walks companion of their way. IS IT RIGHT?
By S. N. Haskell
“Is it right to have Christmas trees, and pattern after the world and nominal professors in their wickedness?” No. But we wish to change this question a little. Is it right to appropriate to God's service any custom or practice that the devil has made use of in his cause? If it is not, men should not pray, attend church, or perform any act of worship whatever; for all these things are in some way perverted by Satan. No Christian will contend for a moment that Satan does not usually have the best talent, nor that he does not lead men and women to sacrifice their dearest objects in his service. Does he not cause them to become devotees of the goddess Fashion, in consequence of which they suffer pain and inconvenience during their whole lives? Now shall we refuse to devote ourselves to the cause of God, and to make sacrifices for it, because Satan requires talent and sacrifices in his service? Every good thing, whether in the worship of God or not, and every evil thing also, he has turned to his account. We should seize upon circumstances and customs, and make all tell for God and his cause. A wise general will make use of the enemy's guns, and what he cannot use he will spike. “The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.” The devil gets up pleasure parties and pleasure scenes of every description for the young, and then strews a thousand snares for their unsuspecting feet. Shall we not interest our children in any manner that is lawful and right? Every Christian man and woman will say, Yes. A Seventh-day Adventist church in the Eastern States obtained an evergreen tree, and placed it in their meeting-house. The children took an interest in decorating it with offerings for the Dime Tabernacle and the Oakland meeting-house. With every offering was a text of Scripture on the subject of liberality and the promises relating thereto, until the tree might well be called a scriptural tree. They met on Christmas eve, not because they believed Christ was born that night, but to celebrate the event of his birth with joy. 1. After singing and prayer, passages of Scripture containing promises of the coming Messiah were repeated. 2. Verses relating to his birth were repeated. 3. Declarations concerning his death, resurrection, and ascension were given. 4. Bible stories, such as that of David and Goliath, Christ's healing the sick, etc., were related. 5. The fruit was gathered from the tree, and the texts of Scripture accompanying it were read. Appropriate hymns were interspersed with these exercises, in the singing of which the children took a part, and the scene was very affecting. There was no levity, but all were edified and instructed, and went home with increased feelings of reverence for God and the Bible. Most of these little ones from eight to twelve years of age have since given their young hearts to God. Was it right? “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matt. 10:7. MEETINGS in Wisconsin as follows:—
Maple Works, March 4-9
Loyal, " 11-16
Nasonville, " 20-23 THE next quarterly meeting of the Tennessee Tract Society will be held at Edgefield Junction, April 19, 20. We solicit a general attendance of all the scattered Sabbath-keepers, as we want to attend to some very important business previous to our camp-meeting. Bro. G. K. Owen and wife will be present. Make every reasonable effort to attend. We need to get near the Lord and into better working order. Will all the scattered Sabbath-keepers in the State send me their names and addresses at Edgefield Junction, Davidson Co., Tenn. ARMADA, Mich., Friday evening, Feb. 21, to continue as long as the interest may demand. Any church or company in that vicinity needing help, please report to me at the above place. Publishers’ Department.
By Editor
John Myers, New London, Howard Co., Ind., would like to work on a farm for a Seventh-day Adventist. Address as above. To the Ohio Sabbath-Schools.—Wanted, the names and addresses of the officers of the newly organized Sabbath-schools, that have not already reported to me. E. H. Gates, State Sec.
Peninsula, Summit Co., Ohio. Help Wanted.—Gorham Newcomb of Akron, Erie Co., N. Y., wants to hire a Sabbath-keeper, either married or single, to work on his farm or take it on shares. For particulars, address as above. A farm of 80 acres in Shelby Co., Iowa, to be let on shares to a Sabbath-keeper. For particulars, address H. W. Gotfredson, Elkhorn, Shelby Co., Iowa. Wanted, a situation in a planing, jointing, and job sawing mill, or at carpentering, among Sabbath-keepers. Address, Henry S. Priest, Still River, Mass. We hold a letter from Onawa City, Monona Co., Iowa, with name of writer blank, asking for Question Book, and for pay referring to a credit on our books of last spring. Should like name of the writer, so we can fill order. Wanted, by a lad of 16 a situation for a few months with Sabbath-keepers, in a healthy locality, with a view to attending school at Battle Creek. Would like to work in a store or shop. New England preferred. Address, Henry C. Wilcox, Kensington, Hart Co., Conn. Who? A letter from Olivet, Mich., inquires for some reading matter on our views. We should be happy to send it, but no name was signed to the letter. Who is it? For Sale.—A farm of 160 acres near the village of Sandyville, Warren Co., Iowa. For particulars, address Eld. Geo. I. Butler, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, or Noah Hodges, Sandyville, Iowa. Peter Mott, of Wilmington, Will Co., Ill., a blacksmith and machinist of thirty years’ experience, would like to find work where he will be with Sabbath-keepers. Address as above. Notice.—The change of figures on the address labels, will be in all cases a sufficient receipt for money sent for the paper. If these changes do not in due time appear, and if books ordered by mail are not received, notice should be given. All other business is acknowledged below. Jennie Reid $4.60, E H Winchester 8.00, B Hill 4.63, G S Honeywell 11.27, J M Gallemore 6.75, A M Fulton 4.00, Amos Snyder 11.50, E B Lane 4.50, A E Burrill 5.50, Ole Olson 17.18, Clara E Tomlinson 7.40, S N Haskell 9.38, August Rasmussen 4.00, A W Maynard 4.00. C A Washburn $20.68, James White 74.25. S N Haskell per A W Jensen $9.00, Ill T & M Society per Lizzie S Campbell 20.50, A H Clymer 5.00, Wm Ings per R G Lockwood 3.00, W W Sharp 9.00, H A St John 33.66, Ky & Tenn T & M Society 95.00, D Morrison 1.50, Kan T & M Society 35.65, S N Haskell per A J Stover 6.15. Mrs J D H Camp $2.74, Dist 8 per J McGregory 6.50, Dist 4 per M A Day 3.88, Dist 15 per A B Moore 2.00, Dist 5 per J S Wicks 17.00, Dist 12 per — Berry 8.00, Dist 16 per M E Rathbun 10.70. Hastings per D A Owen $11.56, Leslie, Wm Hunt (S B) 10.00. Mrs A Chafee $2.00, Alpha Chafee 4.00, Alma Chafee 4.00, M S Burton 50c. A C Woodbury & wife $75.00. Nellie C Taylor $5.00, R Evans 5.00. Oscar Tait $6.25, Mrs E Owen 5.00, R Evans 5.00, E C Eckert 10.00. J C Rasmussen $4.00, J S Wicks 25.00, A friend 10.00, Peter Moore & wife 14.00, W H Hall & wife 25.00, Charlie Hall 1.00, Cleora Hall 1.00, Ethel Hall 1.00, Wm Morrill 3.00, Alexander Seymour 1.00, A H Clymer 2.00, E Zytoskee 5.00, C W & L D Comings 10.00, R Evans 5.00, C A & E M Just 2.00, Wm McMoran & wife 15.00, Henry Dixon & wife 5.00, N P Dixon & wife 10.00, Mrs L Messerve 50c, Mrs Judith Miller 50c, Wm Brundage 25c, Bert Miller 6c, August Rasmussen 6.67, Jacob Miller 5.00, J P Christensen 5.00, F Petersen & wife 3.00, Peter Nielsen 1.00, Niels Larsen & wife 1.00, Anna & Frank Larsen 15c, Gowen church 3.18, E Van Deusen 5.00, John F Chubb 5.00, C B Tower 15.00, Levi Wells 10.00, P D Flood 5.00, Charlie S Coon .50c.