BRO. WHITE: I left home Wednesday morning, June 14, for my field of labor in the East. Thursday evening I arrived at West Enosburgh, the place of meeting for the Vermont Conference. I found a pleasant home in the family of Bro. A. C. Bourdeau, whose kind attention is gratefully remembered.
On Friday the brethren convened for the business proceedings of the Conference. This part of the Conference was marked by harmony of judgment and unity of action. But as the Secretary of the Conference has already prepared a report of the meeting, I will omit particulars. Our meetings for prayer and social worship were very interesting. The Spirit of God rested down, and many cheering testimonies were borne.
The meetings for public worship on Sabbath and first-day were well attended by those who are not identified with us. The word of God seemed to take hold upon many hearts, and to make a deep impression for good. The meetings, as a whole, were cheering and refreshing to my spirit, and such I judge they were to many others. It was especially gratifying to me to meet with some of those who were among the first to observe the Sabbath in Vermont, and whom I had not seen for a long time. It was hardly less so to meet for the first time with a goodly number who have turned their feet into the testimonies of the Lord. But how many were missing that I met years ago in gatherings of this kind in Vermont. Some of them are still pressing forward toward the prize, and laboring with consistent faith and practice for the cause of God in the West; and others are sleeping in the silent grave. Strange that any are able to set their affections upon such a world as this, or to seek for their treasure in that which can but disappoint those who make it their portion.
I was happy to form an acquaintance with Bro. A. C. Bourdeau, and the church at West Enosburgh. I was much pleased with their plain, neat, and commodious house of worship. May there be many added to their numbers who shall adorn the truth by living it out in humble, consistent, and godly conduct.
I spent a second Sabbath with the church at West Enosburgh. Had the pleasure of listening to the testimony of a young lady, the daughter of Catholic parents, who for the first time took her stand with the people of God to walk in his commandments. May she find help from the Lord to meet the strong opposition that she has to encounter.
From West Enosburgh I came to Topsham, Me., by way of Boston and Portland. Was happy to meet with Bro. and sister Howland whom I had not seen for fourteen years. Here I met Bro. Cornell and spent some time with him in learning of the progress of the work in this State, and in making some arrangements for labor where it may be most needed.
Our meetings Sabbath and first-day in Topsham and Brunswick were thinly attended owing to the rainy weather. We are to have meetings in Portland the coming Sabbath and first-day if the Lord will, and after that to labor in the interior of the State.
I have devoted all my leisure time thus far on this tour to the preparation of an article on the commandment of Dan. ix, 25. The subject was so far written out when I left home that I hoped to complete it in Vermont; but it has increased in interest, and consumed more time than I expected as I have continued to study the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, and the parallel scriptures.
There is an earnest desire on the part of those with whom I have thus far met, that Bro. and sister White may visit the East this season. Especially was this feeling strongly expressed at the Vermont Conference. I trust that such may be the order of Divine providence.
Letters to me may be addressed either to Topsham, Maine, care of S. Howland, or to Rochester, N. Y., Box 1200.
J. N. ANDREWS.
Westbrook, Maine, July 6th, 1865.
A Race of Giants.
By John Norton Loughborough
When the bones of men and animals of a much larger size than those living on earth at the present time are discovered, many are ready to claim, that "these bones must have belonged to a race of men, and to classes of animals that existed before Adam was placed upon the earth." We believe the Bible gives us a record of the very commencement of the inhabiting of the earth. And instead of endorsing the idea of Moses' record of "the beginning" being incomplete, we claim that earth's first inhabitants, both man and beasts were much larger than at present, having now been affected by the curse for nearly six thousand years.
While at Princeville, Ill., visiting at the house of Bro. Bliss, a circumstance was related by him which I consider a striking proof of man's larger stature in former times. Several years ago, as Bro. Bliss was passing through the woods, I think he said in southern Ill., he came across a tree that had been blown over. There were eighteen very large-sized human skulls in the earth turned up by the roots of the tree. These skulls, with many other human bones found under the tree, were in a good state of preservation. The tree, as designated by its grains, was at least one hundred and fifty years old. The jawbones of these skulls were so large, that Bro. Bliss' father, who is a large man, could easily put the lower jaw over his chin. A leg bone was found there, which proved to be the bone between the knee and the ankle joints. This bone, when set up endwise on the floor beside a six foot man, would extend a hand's breadth above his knee. By comparing this bone with the same bone in the leg of a six foot man, it was decided that the bone must have belonged to a man at least eight feet high.
Bro. Henry Nicola of this place has just stated to me that in his boyhood days he lived in Virginia. A mound was opened on his father's farm, in which were found very large human bones. Among these bones was a skull, so large that it could easily be placed on the outside of the heads of the largest sized men. These bones were supposed to belong to men eight or nine feet in hight. The discovery of such large bones we regard simply as proof that men were once much larger than at present. The existence of these bones is not evidence that they belonged to men that existed before Adam.
By comparing man's present stature with that of those who possessed these bones, we may learn that the race has fallen off greatly in size. And in this we also behold the fulfillment of Isaiah's prediction of the languishing of the earth under the curse. "Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest. As with the servant, so with his master. As with the maid, so with her mistress. As with the buyer, so with the seller. As with the lender, so with the borrower. As with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken this word. The earth mourneth and fadeth away. The world languisheth and fadeth away. The haughty people of the earth—margin, the hight of the people—do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the law, changed53the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth and they that dwell therein are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left." Isa. xxiv, 1-6.
This prophecy is a striking description of the effects of the curse upon the earth and its inhabitants. It seems also from this prophecy that the hight of the people's stature was to diminish. This part we understand is strikingly accomplished in the physical, mental, and moral languishing of the race.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Pilot Grove, Iowa, July, 1865.
Thoughts on the Revelation.
By Editor
We have commenced to revise, and in a great measure re-write, the Thoughts on Revelation, published in Review, Vols. xx and xxi. We shall devote what time we can to this work, besides preparing matter for the Review, otherwise than writing. If any brethren have any suggestions to make on any part of the book, we hope to receive them at once. Meanwhile, we second the proposition of Bro. White in Review No. 3, that brethren put their pens in special working order, to supply the Review with matter. We are happy to present an interesting variety this week.
THE BIBLE RECORD OF NAMES AND PLACES VINDICATED
By M. E. Cornell
Interesting Extracts. No. 16.
BY ELD. M. E. CORNELL.
THE BIBLE RECORD OF NAMES AND PLACES VINDICATED.
"The mounds of Mesopotamia, lately opened, furnish records buried for nearly three thousand years, which show the existence of such places as were before supposed to be only names, perhaps of imaginary localities. 'Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar,' all unknown before, come thus to light. Calah and Resen in the country peopled by Asshur, Eleazar and Ur of the Chaldees are found thus to have been real and well known places of that remote age. The confusion of tongues at Babel, and the consequent dispersion of mankind are facts confirmed by an inscription discovered at Birs Nimroud, read by Oppert before the Royal Society of Literature. The three-score cities of Og, fenced with high walls, east of the sea of Galilee, are certified to by modern discoveries of the ruins of such walled cities. So also the researches in the Dead Sea and the valley of Jordan, all confirm these ancient scriptures as being true history. Oftentimes the very things which skeptics have regarded as proofs of ignorance in the writer, have only proved the ignorance of the objector."-Jacobus' Notes on Genesis, p. 25.
THE INDEFINITE PERIODS.
It is claimed that science has positively decided in favor of the days of indefinite periods; and that no other interpretation is consistent with scholarly views or abreast of the time. But Geological science is less and less satisfied with this concession. The order of the creation as here given is disputed, and the long periods are used to favor a notion of pre-Adamic man, and a theory of development that would push the creative fiat far back out of view, and enthrone impersonal nature in the place of the personal God. No attempt which has yet been made to identify these six periods of the Mosaic days with corresponding geological epochs can be pronounced satisfactory.
"As a literal view exalts our estimate of the week, and of the Sabbath, that God actually made the present heavens and earth in six days, and actually rested on the seventh day, and blessed and hallowed the Sabbath-day for us,-not by any fiction, nor according to any forced construction, but as a bona fide pattern for us; and as the foundation of the statute in the decalogue for a permanent obligation as long as weeks and days shall last."-Id. pp. 47, 50.
GEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT EXPOSED.
"In 1840 the gravel beds of Abbeville were alleged to have yielded such human remains as to prove an antiquity for the race far back of that allowed by the received understanding of Biblical Chronology. But recently the Abbeville Jawbone, about which already the English savans were much in doubt, is proved to have been a fraud practiced by the French laborers. A London paper thus exposes this latest imposture:
"Although nothing has been said in the newspapers, we believe discoveries have been made of the character of the osseous fragments, which now change the doubt felt by the English geologists into certainty. Mr. Godwin Austin after skillfully conducted inquiries of one of the French laborers, procured the exhumation of certain remains that had been interred by the individual referred to; and upon the exhumation of a particular skeleton which wanted the jaw, the Abbeville bone was found to fit exactly."-Id. pp. 83, 84.
Meetings in Mich.
By Joseph Bates
BRO. WHITE: We were with the church in Wright from June 15 to 19. The Quarterly Meeting on Sabbath and first-day was a profitable and interesting season. One was added to the church.
Held two evening meetings in West Plains on the 21st and 22nd. The brethren were much encouraged at the increasing interest of their neighbors to hear the present truth.
Our next appointment was with the church at Fair Plains, June 24. The churches of Orleans, West Plains, and Bushnell united with us, and added much to the interest of the Sabbath meetings, which closed with celebrating the ordinances of the Lord's house. One was baptized and added to the church.
June 27 and 28, held two evening meetings with the brethren in Bushnell. This company is progressing, and endeavoring to interest their friends and neighbors to go with them in the third angel's message. We hope they will soon be organized, and continue to increase in knowledge and loyal members.
June 29th to July 3d, with the church at Orleans. At the commencement of our meetings, the church in Fair Plains united with us, and added much to the interest of our meetings, which were good and encouraging. Friends and neighbors came, manifesting an increasing interest to hear more respecting our position.
On our way from Orleans to our next appointment (in Lowell), in company with Bro. S. H. King, yesterday, in Ionia, we had a solemn season in prayer with our dear Bro. E. M. Davis, who has been lingering so long in consumption.
JOSEPH BATES.
Ionia, July 5, 1865.
Report from Bro. Lawrence.
By R. J. Lawrence
Bro. White: My last report was from Ithaca, June 19. From this, I went to North Star, where I gave four discourses in the school-house near Bro. Mellinger's. There is some interest. From this I went to Matherton. Here I spoke five times, and baptized two. The most of those that lately professed the truth here, have given it up. Some two or three are holding on.
The 29th I went to Orange. The 30th, with Bro. Howe, I visited Bro. Davis at Ionia. He is in the last stages of consumption. He is resigned, and expects soon to sleep in hope of being brought up again with Christ. We prayed with him, and parted in hope of meeting again in the kingdom.
I spent Sabbath and first-day July 1 and 2, with the church in Orange. Spoke five times, baptized four, and partook of the ordinances. This little church are struggling for the victory.
From this I came to Greenbush, and spent with them the 4th and 5th of July. Two loads of brethren and sisters were from Ithaca. We had a very agreeable 4th, while we contrasted the objects and prospects of the masses with ours. The few here are holding on, and expressed themselves much edified and strengthened by the testimony borne. I gave four discourses here, and attended to the ordinances.
The 8th and 9th, I spent in St. Charles. Spoke six times, and attended to the ordinances. This church appears firm, but there is not that lively interest manifested that the times seem to demand. Monday, the 10th, I spent with the church in Chessaning. This church has been passing through deep trial and affliction. The crooked and unchristian conduct of their former elder, who has now left the truth, has brought a great reproach upon the cause here, and some others also have given up the truth, while some of their much-loved members have been stricken down in death. We had a business meeting which resulted very happily. The Spirit of the Lord was with us to cement our hearts, and to encourage them anew to take hold of the work of the Lord. I spoke twice, seemingly much to their encouragement.
From this, I came to Owasso. Here we had three meetings. The church are firm in the truth. The brethren so far are taking hold of the health reform.
May the Lord speed the work of reform, until holiness54shall be perfected, and God's people be prepared for translation.
R. J. Lawrence.
R. F. COTTRELL
By R. F. Cottrell
The World's Conversion a Fable. No. 3.
THE parable of the tares of the field, Matt. xiii, 24-30, admits of no possibility of the conversion of the world before the harvest, or end of the world or age, at the second personal coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The wheat and the tares both grow together until the harvest. In explaining this parable, our Saviour said, "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the Devil; the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Verses 38-43.
The righteous and the wicked, according to this testimony, are to exist together in the world until the end, when the Son of man will send forth his angels, gather out the wicked, and cause the righteous to shine forth in the kingdom of their Father. There is no possible place here to get in the conversion of the world and an age of millennial glory. The field is to be occupied by both classes to the consummation.
With testimonies so clear and explicit in our hands, how can any be deluded by a theory so baseless as that of the conversion of the world? How careless readers of the Bible must be, to accept of such interpretations without inquiry! If inquiry is made, it must surely result in exploding the whole scheme.
The coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord is thus postponed to a far distant day, when, in fact, it is about ready to burst upon a world almost universally unprepared. It is because of such deceptions as this, that that day will come as a thief upon the world and the professed church. They will be crying, "Peace and safety, when sudden destruction shall come upon them as a snare.
The Scriptures tell of no time of glory to the saints, till they shine as the stars in the kingdom of their Father; and of no age of glory to the earth, till it is renovated from the curse by that burning day to which it is reserved against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Then there will be eternal glory on earth. There will be no sin nor sinners there; but all in Heaven and on earth will join in ascriptions of praise to God. Rev. v, 13.
Dear reader, cast off the snare of popular fables, and strive for a share in the glory soon to be realized by the people of God, in their Father's house which has many mansions.
“THE dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.”
Who are the “WE” that are thus distinguished from the dead, and who shall praise God forevermore? Answer. The living righteous. “For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee; they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.” Isa. xxxviii, 18, 19. See also 1 Thess. iv, 15, 17, in which Paul distinguishes the two classes as “WE” and “THEY”. J. N. A.
Riches
RICHES.—'I cannot call riches better than the baggage of virtue; the Roman word is better, Impedimenta; for as the baggage is to an army, so are riches to virtue; it cannot be spared nor left behind, but it hindereth the march; yea, and the care of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory. Of great riches there is no real use, except it be in the distribution; the rest is but conceit.'—Bacon.
The Lord Is a Strong Tower
THE name of the Lord is a strong tower into which the righteous man runneth and is safe.
Response to Eld. T. M. Preble.
By M. E. Cornell
Some months ago Eld. Preble proposed a discussion of the Sabbath question. A promise was made through the Advent Review, that if not satisfied when Bro. Smith had finished his Review of Preble's articles in the World's Crisis, he would be accommodated with a discussion.
When I learned that Eld. P. had given a challenge, or proposition for a public discussion, I concluded he was not satisfied with his previous efforts, and so accepted the proposition that he might have another chance.
The Elder thinks we "betray some fear in regard to the result of such a discussion," that we may "finally back down," &c., and so very kindly offers to accept a substitute! Thank you, Bro. Preble. I may be glad to accept the offer. But when Bro. P. has a correct understanding of my conditions of acceptance, the case may look different.
As I am not willing to give an opponent undue advantage against what I believe to be truth, I refuse to meet any man on his own ground where he has preached for years, and has many friends, except I have the privilege of giving a course of lectures and forming some acquaintance with the people before we meet in discussion.
In consequence of false reports and a misunderstanding of our views, there is a great amount of prejudice all over New England, against our people, hence I deem the above proposition just and right.
I will now propose a private correspondence, in the spirit of brotherly kindness, in reference to the question, time, and place for the discussion. My address is Topsham, Maine.
M. E. Cornell.
(World's Crisis please copy.)
Selecting Our Cross.
By H. C. Miller
OUR Lord chooses for us just such a cross as is best for us, and if we take up this, our cross, and follow him, not taking it up and walking in a contrary direction, but meekly bearing it after the pattern he set, it will bear us safely through to the Master's feet in the kingdom of God, where we shall lay our burdens down; leaving our cross for a glorious crown.
But in this choosing of crosses, many are like the youth who was represented in a picture I once saw, entitled "The Cross Selected." His cross had been given him by the Master, but dissatisfied with it he had put it under his feet; and, seated upon it, amid a number of crosses large and small, he was choosing one to suit himself. He had taken up one, the very smallest, a little diminutive thing, when his Lord suddenly appeared to him, looking sorrowfully upon the scene. We all want the crown—a large, bright, and glittering one, but we want a very small cross, one we could carry in our pocket out of sight. Any one but that the Lord gives us. Foolish children, why will we be so wayward? Says the Lord, "I gave thee this cross. It was prepared for thee in the councils of Heaven. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost sent it to aid in fitting thee for thy final home. Infinite Wisdom made the choice. Infinite Love approved it. And dost thou, weak, foolish child, think to find a better one by thine own understanding?" The following from a religious writer of the day upon selecting crosses, is, I think, well said:
“There are disciples earnest in purpose, benevolent in disposition, giving and laboring freely to promote religious enterprise. Some of them are rough and of an ungovernable temper; active in building up good institutions, but neglecting to build up that best institution—a meek and gentle spirit. They can crucify avarice, because they have none in their natural disposition, but they cannot brook an insult. ‘No’ was the reply of one, when urged to forgive an offending brother:—‘No, I could forgive any other insult; but that is not to be borne.’
“And so there are some who could be honest, if it were not for the peculiar temptations they meet in their business. They are willing to sacrifice much for Christ; but just this sacrifice is too much to expect from them. And yet this selecting our cross is not the way of wisdom, obedience, or peace.
“This was the error of the rich young magistrate who came running to Christ, to learn what yet remained to complete his title to Heaven. The Lord handed him a cross. It proved to be just the one he was not willing to carry. So he went away sorrowful, because he could not choose the cross he was to bear.
“To one the cross of meditation is too heavy; so he selects that of activity, which is congenial to his nature. Another will be active; even make himself prominent in religious circles; yet there may be all the time a great sparing of a petted sin. Ambition can be gratified notwithstanding; self-will can still insist on carrying things in its own way. Harsh judgments can escape from lips that profess extraordinary attainments. Many a reformer has stumbled just here. Slander and gossip can go along with much zeal. A man may conquer his aversion to confess Christ, or to pray with his household, who never overcomes his avarice or his pride.
“One dislikes the severe part of secret prayer, which seems to be the struggle of the soul against the powers of darkness; or what the apostle Paul terms, ‘wrestling with principalities and powers.’ Such, therefore, prefer social to secret prayer, where they are not expected to have any special heart-struggles. They want only agreeable religious exercises.
“One shrinks from the vexations of his position, which is the very cross his Lord has laid upon him. Another attaches himself earnestly only to those pursuits which are agreeable. Self-pleasing is ever uppermost.”55
Said Fenelon: “God gives to some, crosses of iron, and of lead, which are overwhelming in themselves; some he forms for us of straw, that seem to weigh nothing, and yet which are no less difficult to bear. Some he makes of gold and precious stones. And it is not for us to prefer the leaden to the golden; but to prefer that our Lord's blessed will may be perfectly done in us, and by us.”
“Some with Jesus are delighted
While he speaks of joys to come,
Thinking that to them is plighted
After death a happy home;
But the ‘Cross,’—when he declares it,
‘None but he who takes and bears it,
Can my true disciple be;
Few, how few, to this agree.’
“When we think the cross that is presented is too heavy, too hard to be borne, when the way he chooses for us seems rugged and rough, and we try to select one smoother and more pleasant, and lighter; as we begin to bear it along the way we have chosen, its seeming lightness is turned to heaviness that oppresses and crushes, and the pleasant way is dark and lonely. We pray to be relieved and the Lord relieves us, and again presents his chosen cross. We bow in humble, happy submission, and take the gift.
“And while we thus the chosen one confess,
We see a heavenly brightness on it rest;
And as we bend, our burden to receive,
The first presented cross we do perceive.
“But oh, how different does it seem to be
Now we have learned its preciousness to see!
No longer can we unbelieving say,
Perhaps our own is still a better way.
“Ah no! henceforth each one's desire will be
That he who knows us best may choose for me;
And so whate'er his love sees good to send,
We'll choose as best, because He knows the end.”
H. C. MILLER.
Woodlawn, Ill., July, 1865.
"I will Come Again!"
By A. M. A. Cornell
Long since these blessed words were spoken,
And for Him we are waiting still.
His promise sure cannot be broken,
It cheers us on, mid all life's ill.
We yet are looking, longing, waiting,
To see Him coming in the skies;
And still with ardent zeal are striving
That we may gain the glorious prize.
Come for thine own, thou blessed Saviour,
And take us home to dwell with thee,
O manifest thy wondrous favor,
And bring us immortality.
We long to enter those blest mansions
Which thou hast promised to prepare,
And oft to our enraptured vision
The golden gates almost appear.
The world is dark and we are weary
Of lingering in this vale of tears,
We long to leave this desert dreary,
And bid farewell to doubts and fears.
We long for rest, sweet rest in Heaven,
Where cares of life can never come,
And hail with joy the promise given
Of resting soon with Christ at home.
This earth is not our place of resting,
So full of blood and strife and crime,
And oft we find our spirits sighing,
For a more holy peaceful clime,
Where brother will not war with brother
With deadly hatred in his heart,
But dwell in peace and love together,
And brother act a brother's part.
For such a blissful state we languish,
And often sigh, dear Saviour come!
For oft our hearts are filled with anguish
As pilgrims o'er the earth we roam.
O quickly come thou blest Redeemer,
And banish all our grief and pain;
There with the curse removed forever
Shall Eden bloom on earth again.
A. M. A. CORNELL.
Topsham, Maine.
Note from Bro. Sanborn.
By Isaac Sanborn
BRO. SMITH: On my way from General Conference, I held five interesting meetings in Chicago with those brethren living there, and some others from Indiana. On Sunday two were baptized. A good interest was manifested by those who came in to hear the word. Tuesday evening following, I preached at Clinton Junction, in the Methodist meeting-house, from the following text: "But we desire to hear of thee, what thou thinkest; for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against." Acts xxviii, 22. By this much prejudice was removed. The next morning, Bro. Williams kindly took his wagon and carried us to Johnstown. Sabbath following we had a good meeting at Johnstown Center.
June 10th, and 11th, I met Brn. White and Loughborough at Monroe. The 17th, and 18th, I was at Hundred Mile Grove, which has already been reported.
The 24th, and 25th, was at Saud Prairie, Richland Co. Wis., on my way to Minnesota, to fill brother Loughborough's appointments. Here I had two good meetings. The 27th, commenced meetings in this place, Brodtville, Grant Co., Wis., where Bro. L. G. Bostwick had commenced a course of lectures. I have now given ten lectures under quite unfavorable circumstances, which have consisted in rains, and the celebration of the Fourth of July. Yet I think there will be some that will obey the truth. I shall give four lectures more before I leave. July 10th, yesterday afternoon, I preached on the seal of the living God; had uncommon freedom. There were three Methodist preachers present. This morning we repaired to the water where three were baptized. Others are deciding. May God help them, is our prayer.
ISAAC SANBORN.
Brodtville Wis.
Experience Is a Pocket-Compass
EXPERIENCE is a pocket-compass that a fool never thinks of consulting until he has lost his way.
The Discussion of the Sabbath Question.
By T. M. Preble
In the Advent Review of May 9th, Eld. M. E. Cornell says:
“We have publicly accepted Eld. P.’s challenge for discussion of the question of the Sabbath, and shall be ready when time and place are agreed upon.”
The acceptance of the challenge above referred to, was first declared in Manchester, N. H., in a public meeting on the evening of April 17, 1865. But Eld. C., did not see fit to state in the Advent Review, the conditions on which he proposed to discuss the Sabbath question with me, as he had stated in his meeting of April 17th. If I have been correctly informed—which I have no reason to doubt,—the Elder proposes preliminaries which are quite novel, and we think betray some fear in regard to the result of such a discussion. We will not attempt to use his precise language, but the substance was this: “I will not discuss the question with Eld. Preble in this city, or in any other place where he and I, and our views of the Sabbath question, are so well known as they are here. But if Elder Preble will consent to go into some place which I will select, and let me give several lectures beforehand, so as to have my views fairly understood before we commence the discussion, I will meet him on these conditions.”
Now, I will just say to Eld. Cornell, that if he claims for his side of the question, such advantage as he thinks his proposition will give him, I will agree to it, provided, he will grant me the following favors:
1. He must act the part of a Christian gentleman, in selecting a suitable place for the discussion, so as to give me a fair opportunity with him in regard to travelling, and other expenses,—other things being equal,—and the place of meeting must be within the limits of New England.
2. He must notify me of the time of his preliminary discourses, so that I can attend as one of his hearers,—if I shall desire to do so,—and the discussion shall commence immediately on the close of his extra lectures.
3. He must allow me to have a voice in regard to the arrangements for the time when this meeting shall take place.
I will now add, that if Eld. M. E. Cornell shall finally back down from having a discussion with me, he may have the privilege of choosing a substitute; and I will, by the blessing of the Lord, “be ready when time and place are agreed upon.”
T. M. PREBLE.
East Weare, N. H., June 2, 1865.
The Present State of the Churches.
GLANCING now at the items of complaint, it is affirmed that "the Church of our times wants reverence;" that "a more serious defect in the piety of our day is its feeble evangelism;" that humility is wanting; that constraining love to Christ is rare; that it is harder than ever to deny ourselves; that we are worldly, uncharitable, unforgiving; that the feeling of redeemed ones is hardly ours; that the Christian will—that is, the identification of our will with God's will—is relaxed; that our prayer meetings are scantily attended and dull; that our "cultivated members never lead the devotions of their brethren at all; that those who do, show little proficiency in the holy art;" that Church meetings are miserably attended; that the nursing of young life, mutual oversight, and care for the common weal, are neglected; that family and friendly gatherings crowd out family praise and prayer; that concessions to the world on such occasions are common; that it is "more common than once to see Christian parents with unconverted children;" that the elder members of rich dissenting families gravitate towards "the wealthy and fashionable Establishment;" that making haste to be rich in consequence of the idolatry of social status is common; that "the great mass of our people" are unwilling to give in proportion to their income; and that, "last and saddest fact" of all, conversions are lamentably few.
These are melancholy statements; and, as the writer remarks, "it is no relief to know that the same may be said of other churches also." The lethargy is chronic; the epidemic is wide-spread. How can we wonder, when the great Scripture doctrine of the Master's return is either kept entirely out of view, as in this pamphlet, or explained away by the ingenuity of the "spiritualizer," as in many a sermon? In cases not a few indeed even this miserable attempt to make the Holy Spirit say something else than the words obviously mean is not thought worth while, but sarcasm, caricature, and ridicule are deemed sufficient argument with which to dispose of that divine doctrine which apostles preached, and which is the only hope of the Church. If the Church will try every remedy in her deplorable state except that of looking for her Lord; if she will try every expedient except that which has been prescribed by the great Physician himself; and if she is determined not to believe the special truth which sheds its glorious light on the thickest darkness of the dispensation, and solves every difficulty in a way worthy of infinite wisdom, she must even take her course, and reap the fruits of her unbelief. Why, this very book of lamentations is a clear description of the very malady superinduced by disbelief of the Lord's return. Unconsciously the author has written a vivid commentary on the signs which precede the advent. It is very remarkable that we should have this cry of cooling love, increased conformity to the world, spiritual deadness, self-esteem, deficiency of faith, and paucity of conversions, coming from a body that regards the doctrine of the pre-millennial advent with special dislike, and believes and teaches that the conversion of the world is the mission of the Church. It is a "sign" to which it is well to take heed. There is more in all this than meets the eye that looks not beyond the boundary line of denomination, and rests quietly on the received theology of a most respectable brotherhood. Complaint has a meaning as well as congratulation, and frequently in religious matters the significance of the former is deeper than that of the latter. In this paper we need not pursue the subject farther, but we are quite sure that sincere love to our brethren has constrained us to make these few remarks on the disease without the remedy.—The Rainbow.
ELAM VAN DEUSEN
By Elam Van Deusen
From Bro. Van Deusen.
Bro. White: Bro. Bates met with us according to appointment in Review, and truly we feel that his visit to us, brought words of encouragement, admonition, and reproof and, we trust will be of lasting benefit to us. As it was the second Sabbath of the month, the one recommended by yourself to be observed in fasting and prayer, and having seen nothing in the Review why we should not observe it as heretofore, we willingly did so, and felt that the words on the subject from Bro. Bates were both instructive and cheering.
First-day, our meetings were held at the house called the Valley School House, for the benefit of those who live in the vicinity. Bro. B. spoke in the forenoon on the Sabbath with clearness and freedom, showing to the understanding of those present that the Sabbath is very plainly taught in the New Testament.
In the afternoon he presented, clearly and forcibly, the necessity of repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, as necessary to salvation, and the relation of the law and gospel to each other. As it was the word of the Lord, we believe it will not fall to the ground, but will accomplish that for which it was sent.
After this we repaired to the house of Bro. Keeney where we tried to do after the example our Lord set us, and to commemorate the death and sufferings of our Saviour.
ELAM VAN DEUSEN
Vergennes, Mich., July, 12, 1865.
Obituary Notices.
“Wm. F. Cole, was captured at Bean Station, Va., Aug. 25, 1864, and was confined in Salisbury prison, N. C., where he underwent all the ill-treatment of a prisoner in the hands of the rebels. He died of starvation, Jan. 27, 1865. He was a good and brave soldier during his stay.”
This statement is from his company's descriptive book. I received this from a soldier who was with him about sixteen months, by the name of J. B. Abbott, living in Juno, Livingston Co., Mich.
Bro. Cole of Locke or Sparta, enlisted at Jackson, Dec. 5, 1862. He was as faithful as his station would allow of. He had the Review sent to him in the army, and let the soldiers read it. He talked out his sentiments to those he associated with. His views were treated with some favor by some of the soldiers.
I visited a soldier in Jackson, in Camp Blair, by the name of Franklin Wilson, he was an intelligent appearing man, and told me he should send for the Review when he got home and settled again. He has become a believer in our doctrine by reading the books and papers, and talking with Bro. Cole.
J. B. Frisbie.
Died at Olcott, N. Y., June 28, 1865, of dropsy in the head, Gertrude May, infant daughter of Varney B. and Charlotte L. Gaskill, aged 7 weeks and 4 days.
Fairest flowers first are fading,
Griefs are still our joys invading,
Severing tenderest ties of love;
Earthly hope—a bursting bubble,
Earthly comfort—care and trouble,
But these will our raptures double,
When we meet again, above.
R. F. Cottrell.
DIED in Champlain, N. Y., June 19, 1865, Bro. Chester Walker, in the 70th year of his age.
Bro. W. was a firm believer in all the truths of the third message. We laid him away sorrowing, yet in hope.