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Review and Herald, Vol. 52, No. 2.

WHY NOT FOUND OUT BEFORE?
Earlier text: WHY NOT FOUND OUT BEFORE?

MINNESOTA CONFERENCE.

By Harrison Grant; D. P. Curtis

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION.

The Conference convened at Hutchinson, June 19, 1878. Meeting called by the President, Eld. H. Grant. Prayer by Eld. Stephen Pierce.
Upon the call of the churches, the following responded by delegates; viz., Agency, Alton, Artichoke, Blue Earth City, Cambridge, Dodge Center, Grand Meadow, Geneva, Grove Lake, Golden Gate, Greenwood Prairie, Home, Hutchinson, Kenyon, Kingston, Litchfield, Lake Ellen, Lake City, Lake Johanna, Maiden Rock, Monticello, Mankannah, Mankato, Medford, New Auburn, Pine Island, Round Grove, Riceland, River Falls, Stewartsville, Steele Center, Sauk Rapids, Tenhassen, Wells, West Union, Wrightstown.
The following-named new churches, with an aggregate of 92 members, were admitted to the Conference; viz., Belleville, Eau Galle, Faribault, Granite Falls, Irving, Milford, Oak Spring, Trade Lake, Weston.
A company of nine, raised up by Brn. D. C. Burch and E. A. Curtis, at Union Lakes, Rice county, were received under the watch-care of the Conference. Eld. D. M. Canright and Bro. G. W. Stone were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference.
On motion, The chair was instructed to appoint the usual committees.
Adjourned to call of chair.

SECOND SESSION, JUNE 20.

Called to order by the president. Prayer was offered by Bro. L. H. Ellis.
The chair announced the appointment of the following committees; viz., Auditing Committee, B. F. Lee, Jos. L. House, J. M. Little, H. W. Norton, Hans Rasmussen, Wm. Harper, R. Richardson; Nominating Committee, John Emmerson, J. B. Edwards, Jos. L. House; on Resolutions, C. W. Stone, D. P. Curtis, A. H. Van Kirk.
The Stewartsville church asked to be allowed to retain a part of their S. B. to aid in building their meeting-house, and that the name of the church be changed to Pleasant Grove.
On motion, The name of the church was changed, and the other part of the request was referred to the Conference Committee.
Adjourned to call of chair.

THIRD SESSION, JUNE 23.

Conference convened at eight o'clock. After prayer by D. P. Curtis, calling the roll, and reading the minutes, the chair announced for the Committee on Credentials and Licenses, D. P. Curtis, L. H. Ellis, W. B. Hill.
The Sibley church, having become extinct by reason of removals, it was voted to drop the name of the church from the records.
On motion, Voted that the Conference Committee be instructed to send some competent laborer to visit those churches which have not reported during the year, to set them in order, as far as practicable. After some informal discussion in relation to the Mankato meeting-house, adjourned to call of chair.

FOURTH SESSION, JUNE 24.

Letters from the churches were presented and read. The secretary read the statistics of the churches, as far as reported. Whole number of churches, 43; No. reported, 33; losses during the year, 79; additions, 139; present number, 779; No. of Sabbath-school-scholars reported, 649.
The Nominating Committee reported, and the Conference elected Harrison Grant, president; D. P. Curtis, secretary; W. I. Gibson, treasurer; executive committee, H. Grant, W. H. Hall, Calvin Kelsey.
The Committee on Credentials and Licenses reported, recommending 1. That credentials be renewed to Elds. Stephen Pierce, H. W. Babcock, Harrison Grant, G. M. Dimmick, D. P. Curtis, C. Nelson, A. C. Spicer, Peter Lindblad, Wm. B. Hill, L. H. Ellis, John I. Collins, and Newton Battin; 2. That Brn. John W. Moore, Samuel Fulton, and John E. Norstrum be ordained and receive credentials at this meeting; 3. That a license be granted to Sr. Anna Fulton, Brn. W. Walker, A. H. Van Kirk, John M. Hopkins, D. C. Burch, A. Mead, J. H. Hackett, E. A. Curtis, H. E. Hanson, W. T. Hinton, Peter J. Peterson, Ernest E. Olive, Jas. S. Brower, John E. Moore, Calvin Kelsey, Jos. L. House, T. J. Cross, Peter Amundson, Geo. W. Stewart, E. H. Pullen, L. A. Curtis. 4; That the names of M. S. Spicer, M. W. Clark, Erick Peterson, Erick Linn, Lewis Nelson, and Louis Kallberg be referred to the Conference Committee. Report adopted.
The president then laid before the Conference the financial needs of the cause in the Conference, and proposed to take subscriptions to raise means to carry forward the work. The sum of $1500.00 was pledged, in sums of $5, $10, $15, $25, and about $50 paid in smaller sums. The subscription lists were directed to be placed in the hands of the several directors of the T. and M. society, the money to be paid by the subscribers to the librarians of the several church T. and M. societies, and by them forwarded (with the names of the persons paying) to the directors, and by them to the State treasurer. About $260 of the subscription was paid in. The remainder to be paid before the first of January, 1879.
Voted, To donate $100 to the General Conference.
A communication from the Scandinavian brethren of the Conference was presented and read, and on motion it was referred to the Committee on Resolutions.
Adjourned to call of chair.

FIFTH SESSION.

Conference called at 7:40 P. M. Prayer by D. P. Curtis. The Auditing Committee presented their report, which was read and approved. The report shows the names of 19 persons who have labored from 5 to 45 weeks. The aggregate expense was $412.96; time in weeks, 372. Allowed from $2 to $8 per week. Total amount allowed, $2531.55. The treasurer presented his report as follows:
Amount reported June 25, 1877 $72.80
Received after report 13.50
Total $86.30
Paid out on the campground $76.30
Received during the year $3248.61
Paid out $2168.88
Expenses 5.33
Church Record and S. B. Books 2.10
Total $2176.31
Cash on hand $1072.30
The report was approved.
The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:—
We, the S. D. Adventists of Minnesota, believing that the Spirit of God has rested down upon our camp-meeting, and caused it to be the best ever witnessed in this Conference, therefore,
Resolved, That our lives for the future shall be spent more in accordance with his will, and that we will make greater efforts to grow in grace than ever before.
Resolved, That as the T. and M. society has proved to be of great value in creating an interest in “present truth,” and in opening up the way for the living messenger to declare the last notes of warning, and the impending judgments of God upon a wicked world, we therefore extend it our warmest sympathy and support in its future work.
Resolved, That we heartily unite in the effort initiated by the General Conference last March, to bring about uniformity in the manner of organizing and conducting our Sabbath-schools, and so make them an efficient means of strengthening and holding our children in the truth.

BY THE SCANDINAVIAN BRETHREN.

Whereas, In reviewing the earnest and sacrificing steps taken by our American brethren both of the General and the State Conference, to bring “present truth” before our Scandinavian people, we feel and realize to some extent the greatness of our obligations to them and to God. Remembering with sadness the course taken by some that were among us in the past, we are willing to forget the same, trust, however, learning the lesson that it is necessary to guard against everything that may have a tendency to the same result. Therefore,
Resolved, That we, the Scandinavian S. D. Adventists of the Minnesota Conference, hereby express our heartfelt thanks to our American brethren, who have exerted themselves in our behalf, making us partakers with them in the work of the last message to the world.
Resolved, That we as a people most heartily indorse and believe every point of the many kindred truths that are proclaimed in connection with the third angel’s message, the writings and testimonies of Sr. White not excepted.
Resolved, As we behold the onward progress of this work, and, as we believe in our very hearts that this is the work of God, preparing a people for his everlasting kingdom, we desire to bear that humble part in it, both in men and means, that will be pleasing in the sight of God.
Resolved, That we hereby express our sincere gratitude to the General Conference for sending Bro. J. P. Jasperson to Minnesota at this time, to look after the interests of the cause among our people.
A unanimous vote of thanks was given to the General Conference, and to Brn. Canright and Stone for their presence and efficient labors in our camp-meeting and Conference.
Report adopted.
The minutes were read and approved, and the secretary instructed to revise and forward them to the Review for publication. Adjourned sine die.
HARRISON GRANT, Pres. D. P. CURTIS, Sec.

CONFERENCE DIRECTORY

for Minnesota the Present Conference Year.

PRESIDENT.

HARRISON GRANT, Medford, Steele Co., Minn.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

HARRISON GRANT, Medford, Steele Co., Minn.
W. H. HALL, Kingston, Meeker Co., Minn.
C. KELSEY, Wells, Faribault Co., Minn.

SECRETARY.

D. P. CURTIS, Hutchinson, McLeod Co., Minn.

TREASURER.

W. I. GIBSON, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minn.

Sabbath School Department.

By G. H. Bell

Bible Lessons for Youth.

Lesson IV.

The Antediluvian Patriarchs.

Note.—A great number and variety of interesting questions may be answered from the following table. The first line shows in what year of the world each of the patriarchs was born: Adam at the beginning of time; Seth, in the year of the world 130; Enos, 235; Cainan, 325; Mahalaleel, 395; &c. The same thing is shown in the first column down the left. The extreme right-hand column shows in what year of the world each of them died. The same thing is shown in the twelfth line. The thirteenth line gives the entire age of each.
The remainder of the table shows how long the patriarchs were contemporary one with another. By following along the second line we find that Adam was contemporary with Seth 800 years; with Enos, 695; with Cainan, 605; with Mahalaleel, 535, &c.; that Seth was contemporary with Enos 807 years, with Cainan, 717; with Mahalaleel, 647, &c.; that Noah was not born until after the death of Adam and Seth, and not until after the translation of Enoch. The columns, beginning at the left, show the same thing that is shown by the lines. An oblique line from the upper left-hand corner down to the lower right-hand corner shows the age of each patriarch, or, as we might say, how long he was contemporary with himself.
Patriarch Born A.M. Died A.M. Age
Adam 0 930 930
Seth 130 1042 912
Enos 235 1140 905
Cainan 325 1235 910
Mahalaleel 395 1290 895
Jared 460 1422 962
Enoch1 622 987 365
Methuselah 687 1656 969
Lamech 874 1651 777
Noah 1056 2006 950
1. How many generations were there from the creation to the flood?
2. Name the antediluvian patriarchs or fathers of these generations.
3. Give the age of each.
4. What do we say of those who live at the same time?—That they are contemporary, or contemporaries.
5. Which of these patriarchs were contemporary with Adam?
6. Which of them with Noah?
7. With how many of these patriarchs was Adam contemporary?
8. How old was Lamech when Adam died?
9. How many years had Adam been dead when Noah was born?
10. How many years was Adam contemporary with each of the other patriarchs?
11. How many years was Noah contemporary with each?
12. How long was Mahalaleel contemporary with Adam? How long with Noah?
13. How long was Jared contemporary with Adam? How long with Noah?
14. How long did Adam live after Methuselah was born?
15. In what year did Methuselah die?
16. How many years from the creation to the flood?—1656.
17. How old was Noah at the time of the flood?
18. How many years did Noah live after the flood?
Note.—Ask more questions similar to the above, and let the class look out the answers from the table, or by their own computation. There may be some who cannot remember the answers to all the questions, but the lesson should be reviewed until the most important answers can be remembered, and until the subject has become so familiar as to impress the lesson it is intended to teach.

Remarks.

By a consideration of this subject, we see what advantages the antediluvians had for transmitting the history of their time, even without the aid of revelation.
Jared lived with Adam 470 years, and with Noah 366; Methuselah lived with Adam 243 years, more than twice as long as the United States has been a nation, and with Noah 600 years; and Lamech, the father of Noah, lived with Adam longer than an average life-time of the present age.
What opportunities were thus afforded Noah for becoming acquainted with God's dealings with our first parents in the garden of Eden, for learning what God had taught them there, and for forming a conception of the beauties and blessings of that place, of the glories of Heaven, and the purity and holiness of the happy beings who dwell there.

Lessons for Bible Classes.

Lesson IV.

The Fourth Kingdom.

1. What three things did Daniel particularly desire to know? Dan. 7:19, 20.
2. What do we learn from verse 23 in regard to the character of the fourth kingdom?
3. What in regard to its extent?
4. What is it said that this kingdom should do?
5. How was it to compare in strength with Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia?
6. What may be plainly inferred from Dan. 2:40?
7. What is said of the course of the fourth kingdom toward the other kingdoms?
8. What is said of the strength of the beast that represented the fourth kingdom? Dan. 7:7.
9. What is said of Medo-Persia in the last words of Dan. 8:4?
10. What is said of Grecia in the first sentence of the eighth verse?
11. What is said of Rome in the first words of the ninth verse?
12. What does history show in regard to the fulfillment of the conditions of this prophecy?
13. What does the historian Plutarch say, that establishes the warlike character of the Roman kingdom?
14. What statement is made by reliable historians in regard to the cruelty of Papal Rome?
15. Give the substance of Lesson 3.
16. Give a synopsis of this lesson.

Synopsis.

Daniel particularly desired to know the truth of the fourth beast, of the ten horns that were in his head, and of that horn that had eyes and a mouth that spake very great things, &c. Dan. 7:19, 20.
1. (a) In verse 23 we learn that this kingdom was to be very fierce and warlike, and was to rule over the whole earth; for it is said of it, that it “shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”
(b) It was to be stronger than any of the other kingdoms; for we plainly infer from Dan. 2:40, that as iron is stronger than gold, silver, or brass, so this fourth kingdom, symbolized by the legs of iron, is to be stronger than the kingdoms that had preceded it; and as iron will break and bruise the other metals, so the fourth kingdom is to mar and destroy other kingdoms. Furthermore, in Dan. 7:7, the beast that represents the fourth kingdom is said to be strong exceedingly; and in the eighth chapter it is said of the ram (Medo-Persia), that it became great; of the goat (Grecia), that it waxed very great; but of the little horn (Rome), that it waxed exceedingly great. Dan. 8:4, 8, 9. The Roman kingdom has fulfilled these conditions of the prophecy, as history will abundantly prove.
The historian Plutarch says that Julius Cæsar, a Roman general, in one tour of conquest, took eight hundred cities, made one million of men prisoners, and killed another million on the field; and it is said by reliable historians, that Papal Rome put to death not less than fifty million Christians.
G. H. Bell.

“BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.”

By Frank Starr

We believe that “Babylon is fallen;” and that her fall was, to a great extent, caused by her sinful connection with the world and conformity to its customs. The churches are often spoken of as taking the lead in fashionable dress; but God has commissioned his servants to denounce this vice, and he will certainly demand of them a faithful execution of the commission.
How necessary it is that we act consistently with our belief! As we see conformity to the world pressing in upon us, have we not reason to be alarmed? It may be said that none of us are taking the lead in fashion. Very true; instead of leading, some are being led by the votaries of fashion; and our Saviour says, “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” What difference does it make, then, whether we lead or are led?
“But,” says one astonished that such an application should be made of this text, “we are not blind; we are living in the light of present truth, and are rejoicing in it.” Very true, again; and this is what makes the case the more remarkable. For any one having the many warnings of God’s word and the Testimonies to submit to be led by fashion, is as unreasonable as for a person who has good eyes to submit to be led by some presumptuous blind man.
FRANK STARR.

Speculation on General Grant's Presidential Candidacy

REFERENCE is occasionally made in United States papers to the probability that General Grant will be a candidate for the Presidency at the next election. Charles Francis Adams has no doubt of it, and goes so far as to believe that, in the event of his election, “he will assume or be invested with a military dictatorship, and then good-bye to all Republican institutions.”—Religious Intelligencer.

Five Highwaymen Rob Third Avenue Car Passengers

A most daring highway robbery was committed by five highwaymen on board a Third avenue car at 10 o’clock on Monday night, while the car was crossing Ninety-fourth street, in this city. Although there were at least fifty passengers on board, including ten or eleven uniformed and armed soldiers of the Eleventh Regiment, the five robbers, with drawn revolvers, mounted the car, intimidated the entire crowd, beat one man named Joseph W. Lafetra, an employe of the Third-avenue car company, almost to death, robbed him of $150, and made their escape easily and safely.—New York Weekly Witness, June 13.

FOREIGN MISSION.

By James White

Eld. S. N. Haskell brings information in reference to the work in Italy and in Egypt which is of the deepest interest. The way seems fully open for Dr. Ribton of Naples, Italy, to spread the present truth in those countries. Nothing can more fully confirm our brethren that the present movement relative to the third message is of God than the fact that the way is opening for its proclamation.
That which constitutes a sign of the times must be a matter of prophecy. When such prophecies are fulfilled and fulfilling, we have the signs before us which constitute a strong evidence that we have the truth. And there is no sign so calculated to strengthen the waiting people of God as the present progress of the third message.
Wars, famines, and pestilences are given as signs of the end; but as these have existed all along they cannot constitute a definite sign. In the history of the past, we have wars and rumors of wars, and then peace; famine, and then plenty; pestilence, and then general health; earthquakes, and then the bowels of the earth seem to be quiet. These are growing more frequent, and as they gradually increase will be strong evidence of the comparative nearness of the end.
But the third message is given but once. It is the last message. The preparatory work of the loud cry of the message when the work will be cut short in righteousness has now been in progress more than thirty years. The Lord has led his people out on the subject of organization, systematic benevolence for the support of the ministry and the advancement of his cause, and through the spirit of prophecy has brought his people into such harmony and unity of action that the Lord can finish this great work, with even humble instruments, in a short time.
In behalf of the Seventh-day Adventists of America we say to Elds. Andrews, Bourdeau, Ertzenberger, Ribton, and others, Be of good cheer. You have the warmest sympathy of your American brethren. You have their prayers; and let them, from every land, go up in faith and unity to the throne of grace, that success may attend our efforts.
And while we pray, let us act the part that God would have us act in the answer of our own prayers. This great work will require not only men of means, but men who will study to show themselves approved of God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, men of energy who can risk their lives, men who give all, and can say as Paul has said, “I die daily.” And while such men shall take their lives in their hands and go forth to their last reaping, those who have the means to put the truths of the message in print, should cheerfully give of their money to support the cause.
We have made an appeal for ten thousand dollars to support our missions in Europe besides the ten thousand already raised to establish the press in Switzerland. A portion of the ten thousand has been pledged and a few hundreds have been paid. We pledged for Mrs. White and self five hundred dollars during the present year. We now raise that pledge to one thousand dollars. We have paid two hundred, and by the very first mail we send one hundred dollars more to Eld. Andrews, to be forwarded to Bro. Ribton to give him immediate assistance in his present work. The missionary fields are opening everywhere. If those who manage these missions could command one hundred thousand dollars, it could at once be appropriated to the advancement of the cause. May God move upon the hearts of those brethren who have a surplus.
Some have been talking of waiting until the “selling time” should come. We would say to such, That time has come. In a little from this those who refuse the mark of the beast cannot buy nor sell. Then the gold and silver of those who withhold it now will in anguish be thrown into the streets; but neither their gold nor their silver will be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s fierce anger. Now is the time to work for God; and no one need to wait for any further light or any further appeal to their liberality only as the wants of the present message are appealing to them at the present time.
JAMES WHITE.

THINGS IN EUROPE.

By John Nevins Andrews

The situation of the people of Europe, so far as my observation has extended, is by no means favorable for the reception of the truth. The prevalence of false ideas concerning our duty toward God is something alarming. Those who profess to be Christians seem to be lulled into the most profound slumber. Many, perhaps the great majority, believe that they are certain of eternal life because they have become members of the church. They have no definite idea of conversion; for they came into the church by infant baptism and by confirmation, but, being in the church, they have no doubt but they are Christians, and they are sure that no Christian can ever be lost. If there are any who do not cherish this idea of the impossibility of apostasy, they hold other ideas that are equally well adapted to cause them to sleep. They believe that faith in Christ is the only thing necessary for salvation, and that if any one insists on the necessity of good works, that person does not trust in Christ for salvation. We have only to believe that Christ died for our sins and to trust in him, and we are sure of eternal life. And so obedience is never insisted upon. On the contrary, it is taught that grace saves those that believe and do not obey; while those that obey; are not the subjects of grace, but the slaves of the law.
Then they have equally false ideas of the day of Judgment. Instead of being regarded as the day in which God will reward or punish every one according to his works, it is, in the general estimation, the brightest period in the history of the gospel. The work of evangelizing the world will be mainly accomplished after Christ returns. I think there is very little opposition to the doctrine of the near advent of Christ. In fact, the doctrine that Christ will soon come is prevalent. But Satan has been able to pervert this doctrine to such an extent that it lulls men to sleep in sin, instead of arousing them to repentance.
When our brethren in America preach the truth, or when they distribute publications, they find some degree of preparation on the part of the people to receive their teaching. The necessity of obedience on the part of those that believe in Christ is very generally understood. Also in America men understand that there is no time for repentance after the Son of God descends to execute the judgment. Here we labor under great disadvantage on account of the prevalence of such ideas as render men quite incapable of receiving the truth.
This profound sleep of death is the result of unfaithfulness and false teaching on the part of the ministers. They never reprove in their discourses, and because people have never received reproof they are wholly unprepared to receive it. They can hardly distinguish between reproof and insult.
A Swiss minister, writing against our paper, says that we deny salvation by Christ, because we teach that obedience must be added to faith in Christ. A French minister who has written a pamphlet against our doctrine makes a special point against us because we teach that men must “overcome their sins.” He is shocked at the idea, and says that we destroy “the peaceable repose of good Christians” by this most unwelcome declaration.
These things are painful to mention, but they do not discourage us. They are serious hindrances, but they are not insurmountable difficulties. There is power in the truth of God to overcome error. The light can shine in the midst of dense darkness. If it is caused to shine in the darkness, it will prevail against the darkness. Our paper does exert an influence which causes it to be feared by our enemies. The religious journals warn their readers against our paper and our publications. To do it they resort to misrepresentation and ridicule. Two things are evident: 1. That they fear the influence of our publications; 2. That they cannot give them a fair and reasonable answer. “The peaceable repose” of these sleeping ministers begins to be rudely disturbed, and they are much troubled for fear that their best members will leave them. The fear is well founded, and will be realized.
We have now such helpers at Bâle as render it possible for me to be absent nearly all the time. The past six weeks I have given to the tract and missionary work among our churches. I think that our friends will persevere in this work with zeal and with judgment. Everything has that appearance now. They are very much encouraged, and have made a good commencement. If the work is carried forward as it is begun, it will cause a large number of publications to be scattered over Europe, and it will extend the circulation of our paper. As soon as I have finished this effort among the brethren, which will be in a few days, I hope to join Bro. Bourdeau in a new field of labor.
There came to our meeting in this place last Sabbath, from an adjacent village, a teacher and his wife and another lady. These persons have been reading our paper for some time, and are convinced that it publishes the truth. The teacher and his wife each understand four or five of the languages of Europe. They do not appear to know anything of Christian experience, but are so fully convinced of the truth that they are talking seriously of obeying. The lady who accompanied them seems to be a real Christian, and she has already begun to keep the Sabbath. So far as I know, in every place where our paper has been read for any length of time, it has not failed to convince its readers that it publishes the truth.
In the first volume of our paper there was a discussion on the subject of the Sabbath with M. Corcode, a Baptist minister at Rome. This was read by Bro. Bertola at Alexandria, Egypt, and convinced him of the truth of the Sabbath. He gave us the address of a number of persons at Alexandria and Cairo. We have been sending them the paper, and Bro. Bertola, who is a commercial traveling agent, has preached to them occasionally. Now there is a company oftwelve or thirteen in each of these cities who have decided in favor of the fourth commandment, and who have addressed to Bro. Ribton an earnest entreaty that he will come and preach to them concerning the Sabbath and the near advent of Christ. A considerable number of persons at Alexandria, who have not yet decided in favor of the Sabbath, have decided, from our publications, that the coming of Christ is at hand. It seems that something should be done immediately for these persons.
Bro. Bourdeau has made a visit at Valence to encourage our friends there. He has also spent some time in a new field, near Lyons, with Bro. Gabert. There are a few persons in this place who are keeping the Sabbath. Sr. Bourdeau is gradually recovering from her dangerous sickness. Bro. B. will immediately commence in a new field in Southern Switzerland, and I hope to join him after a few days. I shall try to do my writing and proof-reading while thus at work with Bro. B.
Bro. Ertzenberger has given much time for some months past to the revision of our German publications, and we have now nearly finished the printing of his entire list of fifteen different tracts. This gives him a good assortment for a new field. He has done much to instruct and establish the churches at Vohwinkel and Solingen, and they will be able to prosper in his absence. He has now removed from them to a new field of labor, but I have no news of his present location. Bro. Ings has gone to labor for a time among his relatives in England.
We are grateful for the deep interest manifested by our friends in America for our work in Europe. I have sought in this letter to give as just an idea as possible of the condition of things in this part of the world. I can assure our brethren that we are laboring earnestly to bring the truth to the knowledge of our fellow-men. It can be seen that the labor necessary to instruct men in the truth is greater here than in America; but we have confidence that God is faithful to help, and our hope in him is steadfast.
J. N. ANDREWS.
Bienne, Switzerland, June 7.

ADDRESS AND APPEAL.

By James White; Dudley Marvin Canright; S. N. Haskell

The General Conference Committee, being together at Battle Creek, where our flourishing institutions are located, feel called upon to address our brethren scattered abroad, and appeal to them in the following words:—
Dear Brethren and Sisters,—
God has dealt very graciously with us as a people, and has prospered us in our work far beyond our expectations. Our publishing house at this point, to say nothing of those in California and Switzerland, has never done the amount of work that it has the past year. It is now fitted up to do all kinds of printing and binding in as good style as any publishing house in America. Recently complete stereotyping and electrotyping machinery have been added. The growth of the publishing business at this point calls for an outlay of about four thousand dollars to connect the two buildings which stand near each other. This will obviate the difficulty of carrying books and papers from one building to the other, as all the work will be done under the same roof. This was sometimes very disagreeable in rainy weather.
The number of students who have attended our college the past year has been four hundred and seventy-eight, and we are happy to state that the income has been sufficient to meet all expenses in a prompt and respectable manner. It is just to state, however, that our professors and teachers work faithfully on very small salaries.
The advent of three or four hundred students at the beginning of the next college year will swell our Sabbath congregation to nearly double its present size. How to accommodate them with seats in our present house of worship becomes a matter of great anxiety, for the usual number of visitors and patients crowd our present building to its utmost capacity. The Battle Creek Sabbath-school during the past year could not be convened in the present house. It was therefore divided and about one-half taken to the largest room in one of our publishing buildings. There are at present one hundred and twenty-five patients at the Sanitarium. These, with about fifty helpers, who are brethren and sisters with the exception of a very few, would make another comfortable congregation. Nearly this entire number wish to attend the morning service every Sabbath, so that it is probable that by the first of September a house of worship will be needed at Battle Creek of sufficient size to convene not less than fifteen hundred persons.
The Battle Creek church do not need a larger house of worship, the present one being of sufficient size for their use; but the General Conference, which includes all our State Conferences, needs a place of worship of sufficient size to seat 2,000 persons. A plain tabernacle would cost less than ten thousand dollars. Of this sum the Battle Creek church will pay, including what they can get for the present building, the sum of five thousand dollars. This would leave five thousand to be raised by wealthy brethren of all our Conferences, who send students to our college and patients to our Sanitarium. Not one dollar of this will come from our S. B. treasuries. Many patients who come to the Sanitarium to be treated feel that their hold on this world is weakening, and they feel the necessity of a firmer grasp upon the next. These are very anxious to attend our meeting, but many of them do not, because we are not able to give them a comfortable seat in our present house of worship. Here we are losing one of our very best opportunities of reaching these, and others through their influence, with the last saving message of mercy. Under the present disadvantageous circumstances, there are not less than fifty persons who have embraced the faith during the past year from the direct influence of their sojourn at Battle Creek. We appeal to you on this important subject. We ask you to assist the church at Battle Creek to erect a house of worship sufficiently large to accommodate all the students you may send to the College, and all the patients you may send to the Sanitarium.
It is said that it is not possible to raise the money so as to build the present season, and that this work must be put off one entire year. The loss to the cause by this delay, and the great inconvenience, cannot be estimated by dollars and cents. There has not been a time for the last twenty-five years when such a house could be built as cheaply as the present year. Laborers can be hired for small wages. There are many of our brethren who are first-class workmen out of employment. Many of these could give liberally in work. All kinds of material can be purchased at very low figures. A portion of this money can be raised at once, and the remainder during the year of 1878. We therefore recommend that the work of building commence without delay. We shall send out circulars for pledges from individuals, and shall expect the sum of five thousand dollars will be pledged immediately. A word to the wise is sufficient. If you have confidence in the men you have elected to stand at the head of the highest body recognized by the church, who are now on the ground and see the wants of the cause, you will respond to this appeal promptly. And may grace, mercy, peace, and the love of God abide with us until the message be finished, Jesus shall appear, and eternal life be given.
Servants of the Church,
JAMES WHITE, Gen. D. M. CANRIGHT, Conf. S. N. HASKELL, Com.
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