"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
This department of the paper is designed for the brethren and sisters to freely and fully communicate with each other respecting their hopes and determinations, conflicts and victories, attainments and desires, in the heavenly journey. Seek first a living experience and then record it, carefully and prayerfully, for the comfort and encouragement of the other members of the household of faith.
From Bro. Matteson.
BRO. WHITE : February 4th, we commenced our Quarterly Meeting at Bloomfield, and afterward continued meetings till the 14th.
These brethren are young in the message, but the good Shepherd is not forgetful of his young lambs. He carries them in his bosom. Our Saviour is very good. How great his love! How unchanging his faithfulness! We have now but a short time to be prepared for his coming. Yet we must all have a personal experience. How much faster must we therefore improve our talents when we are called at the last hour.
We tried to become established in Spiritual Gifts, that we could move in unity with our brethren, and the Lord smiled upon our feeble efforts, refreshing our longing souls with his sweet Spirit.
Many felt truly thankful to the Lord that he gives us such kind warnings in the latter days, and is bringing his remnant people "into the unity of the faith," realizing that this could not be done by creeds, nor by the Bible alone; but some are still hanging back. Yet we want to give time for all to examine for themselves, "to prove all things and hold fast that which is good."
Two brethren and a sister united with the church, and two were dropped.
Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 18th and 19th, we had meetings in Mackford. A goodly number of the brethren from abroad were present, and we had, truly, a refreshing season. We felt deeply impressed with the importance of preaching the third angel's message, by a consistent Christian conduct and holy conversation. I have now moved to Mackford with my family and intend to make this my residence. My P. O address is Markesan, Green Lake Co., Wis.
Last Sabbath we commenced to pray for the ceasing of the war, and the spreading of present truth. We feel that it is time for this petition to be offered up, and believe that God will hear the cry of his children. We long for more faith, love and humility, that we at last with Jesus can enter the heavenly city.
JOHN MATTESON.
Mackford, Wis., March 1, 1865
Sister Whitney’s Christian Experience
By S. Whitney
From Sister Whitney.
Bro. White: I believe there are those who would be glad to know just where I am in my Christian experience. To such I desire to say, that for the last five years, especially, I have been fearing and trembling at God's word, believing that we are living in the judgment, when every work shall be brought into judgment, and every secret thing, (among God's people) whether it be good or evil. With a sincere desire to understand and do my duty in all things, I ofttimes feel impelled to do that which meets the disapprobation of those whom I desire to serve and please, and am often convinced that I do not see myself as God sees me. This experience, if I mistake not, has had a salutary effect upon me, leading me to self-examination and self-abasement, to a "crying after knowledge, and lifting up the voice for understanding," begetting a hungering and thirsting after righteousness producing in some sensible degree, that "meekness and quietness of spirit," described in the extracts from Matthew Henry, which to me were meat in due season.
Five years ago last August, I decided to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. I have never regretted the choice, but feel daily to give thanks to God that I am what I am, and especially that he gave me so many of my children to walk in the law of the Lord with me. I can but feel that "thus far the Lord hath led us on."
We hail with joy the coming of the Review, and when perchance one fails to come, we feel that we have lost what we cannot well afford to lose.
The Testimonies to the church appear to me to be just what will bring God's people into the unity of the faith, and make them one. Every advance in reform increases my confidence that this people are the people whose God is the "Lord who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is," that their way is "the path of the just, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." I feel that if I would be found faultless before the throne, I must give earnest heed to the sure word of prophecy, proving all things holding fast that which is good, going on from grace to grace, and from strength to strength; enduring every test, remembering that "he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved."
But I find in myself a disposition to rest in my weariness, and would be glad to know that it is my "strength to sit still," yet I would have an ear to hear the voice of the good Shepherd, learn submission from day to day, seek meekness and righteousness, and by and by share in the rest that remains to the people of God.
It has not been my privilege to meet with the brethren for a few months past, nor with my sister who "walks alone," by whom I have been much strengthened and encouraged, nor have I had the privilege of receiving them into our house; but though unworthy that they should come under my roof, I should prize the privilege, and would try to show my gratitude to God.
S. Whitney.
Malone, N. Y.
Extracts from Letters.
Bro. Geo. Wright writes from Lapeer, Mich.: Never, no never was my heart more fixed, come what will, to live out the truth and keep pace with God's dear people than now. I have learned wisdom by the things I have suffered.
Bro. J. Fuson writes from North Liberty, Ind.: I am striving to walk the narrow road that leads to life. The pathway that lies before the remnant, is truly a narrow and rugged one, and were it not that Israel's God is able to save and to deliver even to the uttermost, our hearts would indeed fail us as we view the great storm that will take place upon the earth. Although we may be brought into trial, and the world cast our names out as evil, and scoff because we believe that Jesus is soon coming to gather his faithful waiting people home, yet let us remember that Jesus says, "Fear not little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Brethren and sisters let us strive to be of that little company that shall be permitted to meet in the kingdom. I long to be there, where we will not hear of wars and rumors of wars, but where there will be peace, joy, and life eternal. It is now ten months that I have been trying to keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, and I feel more determined than ever to go on. Brethren and sisters I want your prayers; for I feel that I am the weakest of you, and I will strive by the help of God to be an overcomer and at last with the redeemed strike glad hands on Mt. Zion.
P. Z. Kinne writes from Kirkville, N. Y.: As we are now located at Kirkville, Onon. Co., N. Y., we would say through the Review to the brethren and sisters who may be passing through here on the N. Y. Central R. R., that we should be glad to have them call on us when they can make it convenient to do so.
Inquire for P. Z. Kinne, as there are other Kinnes in the place, and other Adventists here that are not in sympathy with the body.
Hints to Mothers.
It is a pernicious practice, which prevails in some nurseries, of correcting every little error of the child by a hasty, angry blow. You can tell such children, by the way they have of continually dodging the head at every motion around them. Poor little ones, it is enough to make one's heart ache, to witness such marks of domestic tyranny. Nothing can tend more to undermine a mother's influence, and turn the sweet waters of her children's souls to bitterness. If an offense is serious enough for a blow, it is of enough importance to be deliberately and prayerfully punished. If you cannot command your own temper, you have no right to punish your child. Wait till you are cool yourself, or you are in no condition “to deal justly” with your child. God will bring you into judgment as surely for injustice to him, as to any one else you have dealings with. No parent can say, “It is my own child, and I can do what I please with him.” It is God's child, and his command to you is, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give thee wages.”
Any punishment which is administered in a way that simply “provokes your children to wrath,” will do nothing toward correcting evil habits and tempers. A single act of injustice to a child will do much to alienate the affections, and weaken the parent's authority. They will see only oppression afterward, in every act of discipline, even though it be just and reasonable.
Perhaps the majority of parents err on the side of too frequent punishment. It seems the easiest way of mending matters, it takes so much less time and trouble. But, O! mother, remember you are sowing for all time, and eternity too, and can you not afford to take trouble?
It is degrading to the mind to be kept constantly under the influence of penalties. Rewards are a far more wholesome and powerful stimulant.
Let love be the guiding star in your nursery, and you will find it a safe one to steer by. Over the desert wastes of life, your children's eyes will turn back gratefully to its pure, steady light, and gather strength and cheering for all the onward journey.—N. Y. Chronicle.
Our Saviour.
"UNTO you who believe His name is precious."
Yes, dearer than all else on earth
The knowledge of the Saviour's love,
The study of his truth and worth
The coldest might to kindness move.
Precious his name who died to save
His people from each sin,
Dispelled the terrors of the grave
For those who trust in him.
Precious the precepts given to us,
To guide our way through life;
If heeded, they our hearts will bless—
Will silence passion's strife.
Precious the promises to those
Who walk the heavenly way;
On such how peacefully shall close
Life's darkest, dreariest day.
Precious His name, His works, His love,
Unto you who believe ;
You shall from Him, in Heaven above,
Eternal life receive.
The Maintenance of Piety.
THE individual who would be saved, must not only enter upon the Christian pilgrimage—the king's highway, but must continue therein to the end of his journey. It will not answer to enter the strait gate, go a short distance in the path to Heaven, and then stop. He must continue on the way he first set out through light, and shade, joy, and despondency, never turning aside, or halting until he reaches the Celestial City, and passes through its portals. "He that endureth unto the end the same shall be saved."—Sel.
Report from Bro. Fuller.
By N. Fuller
BRO. WHITE: I commenced meetings in this place the 10th of this month, and have given twenty lectures. The interest is good. Twenty have promised to serve and obey God. Eight have subscribed for the Review, three for the Instructor. Books have gone off well. Bro. L. Lyman, living in this place, has done all in his power to advance the cause of truth. He has bought and distributed many of our publications, which I think will do a good work.
Some of the most influential inhabitants of this place have decided to keep the Sabbath as well as the other nine commandments.
Some ten or twelve have come out from the world; but I fear that opposition will be too strong for some of them. Oh may God's grace be sufficient for them.
I have closed meetings here for a time. I shall try to visit them soon again.
Yours for the truth. N. FULLER.Roulette, Pa., Feb. 27, 1865.
Appointments.
PROVIDENCE permitting I will hold meetings on my way homeward as follows :
Falmouth and Portland, Maine, Sabbath and first-day, April, 1st and 2nd.
Manchester, N. H., and attend baptism Tuesday afternoon, April 4th. Preach evening of the 5th.
North Berwick, Maine, Sabbath and first-day, April 8th and 9th.
Clinton, Mass., Thursday evening April, 13th.
Vernon, Vt., Sabbath and first-day April, 15th, 16th.
East Otis, Mass., April 22d and 23d.
Victor, N. Y., April 29th.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
PROVIDENCE permitting, I will meet with the Brn. as follows :
At Orange, Mich. Sabbath, Mar. 25.
" North Plains, " April 1
" Woodhull, " " 8.
" Locke, Monday and Tuesday " 10, 11.
" Lapeer, Sabbath, " 15.
The Brn. at the several places will please arrange for meetings as they shall think best.
I will be at Owasso, Thursday morning April 6. Will some of the Brn. from Woodhull, please meet me there with a team? I shall have a heavy trunk with me.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
PROVIDENCE permitting I will meet with the churches as follows : Convis, Cal. Co., evenings of March 14th and 15th. Charlotte, Sabbath and first-day 18th and 19th. Oneida, 25th and 26th. Windsor, 27th. Bunkerhill, April 1st and 2nd. Jackson, 5th. Tompkins, 8th and 9th. Newton, evenings of 11th and 12th. Burlington, 15th and 16th. Hanover, 18th and 19th. Hillsdale, 22d, and 23d. Salem Center, Ind. 29th and 30th. North Liberty, May 6th and 7th.
Monterey, March 6th, 1865. JOSEPH BATES.
PROVIDENCE permitting I will meet with the church at Owasso, Sabbath and first-day March 25, and 26.
Church at Tyrone, " 28, " 29.
" " Milford, Sabbath and first-day Apr. 1, 2.
" " Oakland, " " " 8, 9.
" " Shelby, " 10, 12.
" " Memphis, Sabbath and first-day " 15, 16.
We make no appointment at St. Charles and Chesaning, on account of the Small Pox. Will the brethren at these places, all that can, meet us at Owasso?
At the places appointed the brethren will please arrange meetings to suit their own convenience.
I. D. VAN HORN.
THE next Quarterly Meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist churches of Waukon and West Union, Iowa, will be the second Sabbath and first-day of April which will be the 8th and 9th of the month. We hope to see a general gathering of the friends of the cause. Bro. Brinkerhoff is expected to attend.
W. Union, March 5, 1865. NASON HOYT.
How to Live
By James White
How TO LIVE.—Many of our friends wish to obtain this work, bound in one volume. Our object in issuing it in numbers was to get the subject of diet before our people at once, in the first number, that whatever changes they might see fit to make in diet they could make them best and safest in the more leisure season of winter.
Great changes should be made gradually and carefully, lest the constitution be injured. Persons of feeble constitutions, who have been great meat-eaters, may be seriously injured by abstaining entirely at first, especially if they continue their same habits of labor.
We now design to publish six Pamphlets, each containing 64 pages. It may require several months to complete this work properly. Then we can furnish the entire work of 384 pages, well bound, post-paid for $1,50. Those who order the six Pamphlets can have them, post-paid, for $1,00. Number three will be ready in a few days. J. W.
Humiliation and Prayer.
By R. F. Cottrell
The church in Olcott cheerfully complied with the request of the General Conference Committee, to meet together on the first four days of the month for humiliation and prayer. The weather was stormy a part of the time, yet the brethren at Somerset met with us two days of the four. We fully coincide with the Committee in the views set forth in the call. And while we prayed in faith that God would still the raging elements of political strife, and thus open the way for the spread of the truth, even to the oppressed and down-trodden, white and black, who have been so long under the despotic rule of the slave power, we also felt the need of a preparation of heart, to engage in this great work, when God should thus open the way. There is no doubt that God will open the way, and that the work will be done; but the question is, Who will have a share in the work? It is a prayer for the progress of the work of the Lord. And while we pray for the winds to be held, it is important that we pray first of all, for a personal consecration and preparation of heart, and second, for the refreshing or out-pouring of the Spirit to qualify us for the work.
Our meetings were solemn; and the interest increased to the last. And we trust it will not stop here, but that we shall continue to wrestle in prayer, till we receive the refreshing.
I believe the united prayers of the church will be heard, that the obstacles will soon be removed out of the way, and all who earnestly engage in the work of preparation now, will soon be qualified, by the Spirit, for the closing work. R. F. Cottrell.
Moving West.
By J. H. Rogers
Bro. White: I wish to say to the brethren and sisters who may be contemplating moving West to seek homes where land can be bought cheap, that Daviess Co., Missouri is as good as the West affords. You see by our Governor's proclamation, that slavery no longer exists in our State, which has been such a drawback to enterprise, and hindrance to emigration from the East to this State.
There is a little band of Sabbath-keepers here, who would gladly welcome into our midst those of "like precious faith." We need your society, and influence. And to the preaching Brn. who have not a field of labor, let me say, "Come over and help us." It does seem to me that now is the time to make proclamation of the third angel's message in this part of the country. J. H. Rogers.
Victoria, Daviess Co., Missouri.
The Frightful Roll.
It is recorded of Luther, that during a serious illness, the Evil One seemed to enter his sick room, and looking at him with a triumphant smile, unrolled a vast roll which he carried in his arm. As the fiend threw one end of it on the floor, and it unwound itself with the impetus he had given it, Luther's eyes were fixed on it, and to his consternation he read there the long and fearful record of his own sins, clearly and distinctly enumerated. There stood before his very eyes "the sins and offenses of his youth," and all "his transgressions in all his sins."
There they were in letters as black as he felt his sins to be, and as plain as he knew they would be if God should "set them before him in the light of his countenance." "His heart failed him" as he looked. That stout heart which never quailed before man—that firm, honest eye, which could look cardinals and bishops, princes and palatines, in the face, did quail before that ghastly roll. "His sins took such a hold upon him that he was not able to look up."
Suddenly it flashed into his mind that there was one thing not written there. He said aloud, "One thing you have forgotten; the rest is all true, but one thing you have forgotten, 'The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin;'"; and as he said this, the "Accuser of the brethren," and his heavy roll of "lamentation and mourning and woe," disappeared together.
Business Department.
By Editor
Business Notes.
D. V. Winne. The address for which you inquire is Bath, Clinton Co., Mich.
J. N. L. The Instructor has been sent regularly to A. A. Farnsworth, Fitchburg, Mass. We send back numbers of this volume again.
RECEIPTS.
For Review and Herald.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD to which the money receipted pays. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
Ethan Allen 27-14, L Paquin 26-14, Mrs A Green 25-1, R E Fuller 27-1, S Simonds 26-14, Mrs Place 26-10, A H Otis 26-14, A B Hart 27-14, O McKean 27-5, Mary Austin 27-14, Charity Prentice 26-1, K Armstrong 27-1, H E Wood 27-14, each $1,00.
Mrs E Temple for S P Chase and Sarah A Balcom each 27-14, D Myers 27-1, I C Willmarth 27-14, A Tubbs 27-1, M McGillioray 27-19, J N Wilkinson 26-1, B Farnham 27-1, J Philo 27-14, H Mills 27-14, S Richer 27-14, Harvy Pratt 27-14, D Upson 26-1, each $2,00.
A Moore 26-14, G W Bartlett 26-14, M L Hunkins 26-14, D C Toping 26-14, W Shaw 26-14, B M Wandel 26-14, W Snyder 26-14, C Wallace 26-14, R S Herrington 26-14, C Seger 26-14, D Sutton 26-14, L Preston 26-14, A Nash 26-14, each 50c.
Diana Pruden $1,50 27-14, T Francis $1,50 27-14, P C Truman $5,00 28-14, Catharine Kent $1,25 26-1, L H Bond $5,00 in full of acct.
Subscriptions at the Rate of $3,00 per year.
W Hafer $5,50 28-18, L A Green $3,00 27-1, J L Edgar $3,00 28-14, Geo. Cobb $4,00 27-18, Josiah Wilbur $3,00 27-18, J L Baker $1,50 26-1, J Russ $3,00 27-1, J Bartholf $3,00 28-1.
Books Sent by Mail.
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Books sent by Express.
John Heath, Marengo, Iowa, $4,20. A J Stover, Sandyville Iowa, $16,90.
Donations to Purchase a Stock of Paper.
F T Wales $11.
Cash Received on Account.
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For Shares in the Publishing Association.
S E Sutherland $5,00.
General Conference Missionary Fund.
G L Davis (s B.) $1. S D Smith 24c. J Claxton $4,25.
Donation to S. D. A. Publishing Association.
A Campbell $80,00.
Continuing Prayer Meetings in Battle Creek
By Editor
In reporting the season of prayer in Battle Creek, in last Review, we made the remark that the work was but just commenced. The meetings have continued evenings another week, and yet we do not consider the work accomplished. For in endeavoring to come to the point, and get into working order in the cause of the Lord, we find no small work to be done. Special meetings will still continue.
Michigan Conference Labor Appointments
By Editor
Labor within the bounds of the Mich. Conference the coming quarter, will be performed as follows: Brn. Van Horn and Canright will visit the Eastern district, and Bro. Bates the central. See appointments in this number. Bro. Lawrence has signified his readiness to take the Western district, though we have received no appointments as yet.