Signs of the Times, Vol. 3, No. 37. (9/27/1877)

Signs of the Times

Sep 27, 1877

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Sep 27, 1877

THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

The Jews had separated themselves so far from God by their wicked works, that angels could not communicate to them the tidings of the advent of the infant Redeemer. God chose the wise men of the East to do his will. These men were not Jews; but they had studied prophecy, and knew that the time was at hand for Messiah to come. They were not idolaters, but philosophers, who had studied the works of God in nature. They traced his handiwork in the wonders of the heavens, the glory of the sun, moon, and stars. The Jews regarded these men as heathen; but they were purer in the sight of God than those, who, while making exalted professions of piety, utterly failed to live up to the great light God had given them.

Believing that the predicted time for the advent of Christ was at hand, the wise men were anxiously watching for some sign to indicate the great event, that they might be among the first to welcome, and worship the heavenly King. They observed the heavens brilliantly illuminated, at the time when the heavenly host heralded the advent of Christ to the shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem; and when the light had faded out, they beheld a luminous star appear, and linger in the heavens. This light was in reality a distant cluster of angels. The wise men were not privileged to hear the proclamation of the angels, nor to see them face to face as did the humble shepherds; but the Spirit of God moved them to look upon that beautiful star, which they had never before seen in the heavens, as a sign of the advent of Messiah.

They set out to seek the divine visitor to a fallen world, taking the direction indicated by the star. But as they drew near Jerusalem, the star was enshrouded in darkness, and no longer guided them. The wise men believed the Jews to be well acquainted with all the particulars relating to the advent of Messiah, and the exact time and place of his birth; what then was their astonishment, upon arriving at Jerusalem, to find no unusual interest upon the subject, nor any preparations for welcoming the infant Redeemer.

They heard the priests repeating and enforcing their traditions, expounding the law, and exalting their own piety. They heard them denouncing the Greeks and Romans as heathen and sinners above all men, while they pointed to the phylacteries upon their own persons, and the borders of their garments, upon which the precepts of the law, and their traditions were inscribed, as evidence of their devotion. The wise men were at a loss to understand how these learned expounders of the law and the prophets could be ignorant that the time had arrived for Messiah to appear. They became uncertain as to whether they themselves had read the prophecies correctly.

The wise men plainly stated their errand, and asked, “where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” The city was thrown into great excitement by the sayings of the wise men. The news was immediately carried to Herod, the king. He listened with intense interest. Envy and opposition were immediately awakened in his heart. He had heard the chief priests and scribes, who professed to understand the prophecies, assert that Messiah was to establish a magnificent, temporal kingdom, and bring every other nation under subjection to his authority. To substantiate these statements he had heard them repeat the prophecies which refer to the second coming of Christ, in power and great glory, to put down all authority, and to rule over the whole earth.

Their anxiety to gratify their lofty pride, had led them to search the Scriptures, not with a desire to conform their lives to the high standard marked out by the prophets, but to find that which they could interpret to sustain their worldly ambition, and to show that God held all nations but the Jews in contempt. They had declared that the power which they were then compelled to obey, would soon come to an end; for Messiah would take the throne of David, and by force of arms restore the Jews to their exalted privileges, and to the pinnacle of earthly glory.

Herod, remembering all this, was alarmed by the sayings of the wise men, fearing the birth of a rival who might drive him, or his descendants, from the throne. The Jews manifested a stupid indifference to the story of the wise men; but Herod was intensely interested in it. He summoned the priests and scribes, and urged them to carefully search prophetic history, and tell him where the infant king was to be born. The indifference, and apparent ignorance of the priests and scribes, as they turned to their books, irritated him, and he began to think they were seeking to conceal from him the true facts in relation to Messiah. He therefore commanded them to make close search concerning their expected king, and declare to him where he was to be born.

“And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Juda; for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not least among the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.”

Herod received the wise men with apparent respect, and appeared to hail with joy the supposition of the birth of Christ; yet in reality a storm of opposition, and satanic fury was raging in his heart, and he determined to destroy the infant king. The wise men were unable to read the heart of the cruel tyrant; but God, who knows the motives and intents of all hearts, was not deceived by his base pretenses; and he was strong to protect and preserve the Saviour from Satan's devices, until his mission on earth was accomplished.

When the wise men left Jerusalem, to their great joy, they again saw the guiding star in the heavens; “And lo! the star which they saw in the east went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was.” When the wise men arrived at the birthplace of the Saviour, they found no loyal guard to debar their entrance. The honorable of the world were not in attendance upon the infant King. In place of the people who should have welcomed the Prince of Life with grateful homage, he was surrounded by dumb beasts. But the wise men were not deterred from their object. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child, with Mary, his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

The wise men had purposed to return to Jerusalem, after the object of their journey was accomplished, and bear to Herod the joyful news of their successful search for the infant Messiah. But God sent his angel to turn them from their course. In a vision of the night they were warned not to return to Herod. They obeyed the mandate of Heaven, and returned by another way into their own country. “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.”

The wise men were the agents of God to make known to the world the birth of the Saviour. Their coming to Jerusalem made the whole nation acquainted with the object of their journey, and directed their attention to the event which prophecy had foretold would occur at that time. God well knew that the advent of his Son to earth would stir the powers of darkness, that Satan would exert all his might to frustrate the design of God in sending Christ into the world. The eye of the Father was constantly upon his Son. Joseph, in fleeing into Egypt was not destitute. He who fed by a miracle the prophet Elijah, when upon a long journey, who rained manna from heaven for the children of Israel, provided a way for Joseph to preserve the lives of himself and his precious family upon the journey, and while tarrying in Egypt. The earthly parents of Jesus were poor; but the costly gifts brought to the infant Saviour by the wise men were of sufficient value to sustain them all while in that land of strangers.

Herod waited anxiously for the return of the wise men, for he was impatient to carry out his purpose of destroying the infant king of Israel. After waiting long for their reappearance, bringing the knowledge he desired, he began to fear that they might have suspected his dark design, and so purposely avoided him. He looked upon this act as an insult; and his impatience, envy, and hatred of the unknown Prince increased. He was stirred by his father, the devil, to accomplish his purpose by the perpetration of a monstrous cruelty. Since he could not carry out his murderous intent by subtlety, he determined to strike a blow which should not only free him from the fear of a rival, but would, at the same time strike terror to the hearts of the Jews, and silence their proud boastings of a future kingdom.

He therefore issued a proclamation to his soldiers that all the children of two years old and under, throughout Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof, should be massacred without mercy. The soldiers were immediately sent to execute this order. The swords of these unfeeling men carried destruction far and near, until the cruel work was accomplished. The horror and distress of parents were beyond description. The wailing of bereaved mothers, as they clasped their expiring infants to their breasts, rose above the coarse jests and imprecations of the soldiers. Many stricken ones cried to heaven for vengeance on the tyrant king.

God suffered this terrible punishment to fall upon the Jews, that their wicked pride might be humbled. Had their lives been pure before God, he would have preserved them from being thus afflicted and humiliated by their enemies. He would, in a special manner, have made harmless the wrath of the king against his people. The Jews had excited the envy and hatred of Herod toward Christ, through their false interpretation of the prophets. They declared that Christ was to reign over an earthly empire, in unsurpassed glory. Their proud boasting presented the Saviour before the world in an entirely false light. Their unsanctified ambition, however, did not result in the destruction of the infant Saviour, as Satan had intended, but rebounded upon themselves in consequences that filled their homes with grief. Jeremiah, in prophetic vision, says in regard to this event, “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted because they are not.”

Herod did not long survive his cruel work; but died miserably unmourned by his family or any of his subjects. When Herod had been cut off from the earth, the angel of the Lord warned Joseph to return with the babe and his mother to the land of Israel. Joseph desired to make his home in Judea, but learning that the son of the tyrannical Herod occupied the throne of his father, he was afraid that the purposes of that father might be carried out by the son, in the murder of the infant Saviour. While in perplexity, not knowing where to locate, the Lord, through his angel, again selected for him a place of safety. “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Thus was the Saviour received by a fallen world. He left the majesty and riches of his heavenly home, and his position of high command, and took upon himself the nature of man, that he might save the fallen race. But instead of receiving the worship and affection of men, because of this surpassing love and condescension, the Son of God seemed to find no rest nor safety on earth. He who came to bring life to man met insult, hatred, and abuse from those whom he came to save. God could not trust his beloved Son to men, while he was engaged in carrying out the work of salvation, but sent angels to attend him, and to preserve his life till his mission on earth should be accomplished.

The churches of our time are seeking worldly aggrandizement, and are unwilling to see the true light of the prophecies, and to receive the evidences of their fulfilment, which show that Christ is soon to come, as were the Jews at his first appearing. They were looking for the triumphant, temporal reign of Messiah in Jerusalem. Professing Christians of our time are blindly expecting the temporal prosperity of the church, in the conversion of the world, and the reign of the temporal millennium.

The Old Story.

Come and hear the grand old story, Story of the ages past; All earth's anthems far surpassing, Story that shall ever last.

Christ, the Father's Son eternal, Once was born, a Son of man; He, whose home had been in heaven, Here on earth a life began.

Here in David's lowly city, Tenant of the manger-bed, Child of everlasting ages, Mary's infant lays his head.

Here at Nazareth he dwelleth, 'Mid the sin of sinful men; Sorrowful, forlorn, and hated, And yet hating none again.

Here in Galilee he wanders, Through its teeming cities moves, Climbs its mountains, walks its waters, Blesses, comforts, saves and loves.

Words of truth and deeds of kindness, Miracles of grace and might, Scatter fragrance all around him, Shines with heaven's most glorious light.

In Gethsemane behold him, In the agony of prayer; Kneeling, pleading, groaning, bleeding, Soul and body prostrate there.

All alone he wrestles yonder, Close beside him stands the cup, Bitterest cup that man e'er tasted; Yet for us he drinks it up.

In the Roman hall behold him Stand at Pilate's judgment-seat, Mocked and beaten, crowned and wounded; Jew and Gentile join in hate.

On to Golgotha he hastens; Yonder stands his cross of woe; From his hands, and feet, and forehead, See the precious life blood flow.

Sinless, he our sin is bearing, All our sorrows on him lie, And his stripes our wounds are healing, Christ, for man, consents to die.

But in vain the grave has bound him, Death has barred its gate in vain; See, for us the Saviour rises, See, for us he bursts the chain,

Hear we then the grand old story, And in listening learn the love, Flowing through it to the guilty, From our pardoning God above.

The Seeds of Kind Words

Good, kind, true, holy words dropped in conversation may be little thought of; but they are like seeds of flowers or fruitful trees falling by the wayside, borne by some birds afar, haply thereafter to fringe with beauty some barren mountain side, or to make glad some lonely wilderness.

Naples, Italy.

By John Nevins Andrews

I have now spent three weeks in this city, and have made diligent improvement of my time. I wrote a short report immediately after my arrival, which I trust has been received. I have formed a deeply interesting acquaintance with Dr. Ribton and his family. I have with him visited many persons in this city, and have conversed with them upon the Scriptures. We should have had many public meetings if it had been possible to obtain a hall. But though the laws of Italy are very tolerant, the power of the Roman Catholic priesthood is almost omnipotent. If a man rents us a hall the priest can ruin his business by forbidding his customers to deal with him any longer, and by causing every person who has rented the other parts of his building to quit the place if the hall be allowed to heretics.

I have, however, used every hour possible in giving instruction from the word of God. My own spirit has been refreshed, and I think those who have listened have been benefited. Brother Ribton is very desirous to give himself to the work of the ministry. I cannot doubt that God has called him to this work. He has a collegiate education, having graduated at the University of Dublin. He is well instructed in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, and can preach in English, French and Italian. He is, however, most familiar with the Italian language, and his heart is greatly set on doing something for Italy. He is fully convinced that the advent of Christ is near at hand, and he desires to give warning to the world. I have learned from him how he became interested in the advent faith. A long time since I sent to Dr. Zimple, of this city, some of our publications. Dr. Z. gave some of these to Brother Ribton, and thereupon Brother R. wrote to me for others, which I sent him. He has diligently studied these books, and has a very thorough understanding of them. His first light upon the Sabbath came from the Sabbath Memorial, which Dr. Z. had received from Brother Jones, of London. Brother Ribton is well instructed in the law of God and in the history of the Sabbath. If he walks humbly with God I believe that he will be a useful minister of Jesus Christ.

Brother R. has sought diligently for a long time to find a hall for public service in this city. For reasons which I have named this has been a very difficult undertaking. It is wholly impossible to obtain a hall for Protestant service for a few weeks, for if one is taken at all, it must be by a regular lease for six months or a year. A few days since a hall in the central part of the city was found, which could be had for fifty francs per month, if we would take it for nine months. After much prayerful consideration I have taken the responsibility to hire the hall. I would have referred the matter to the General Conference Committee, but the decision could not be so long delayed. I believe that after a few months this expense will be met by the friends of the truth in Naples. Brother Ribton feels deeply the responsibility of the work upon which he has entered, and he will do everything in his power to lead men to the truth and to make the work self-sustaining. He will seek to benefit not merely the Neapolitans, but the foreign residents of this city, with many of whom he is acquainted. This class of persons, if converted, could help greatly by their means, for they are generally wealthy.

Naples is a city of more than 600,000 inhabitants. It is a point from which the truth can be sent in many directions, and into many countries bordering upon the Mediterranean. If the truth can be established here, it will be an important center from which to extend the light. It must be done. I cannot doubt that it will be done. Men and means will be needed to extend the work, but neither the one nor the other will be wanting. God is in this work, and it will go forward.

I came here to baptize Brother Ribton, and a few others, and in hope of finding a Sabbath-keeping printer for our paper. So great was the difficulty to find time for this visit to Naples, that I thought a very few days must suffice for my stay in this city; but though other duties have caused me unceasing anxiety, I have remained here more than three weeks. I have given this time to teaching the word of God to all that I have been able to meet, but especially in the study of the Scriptures with Brother Ribton. We have had only one public meeting, but if our hall could have been earlier obtained we should have had many.

Besides the family of Brother R. there are a few others in this city who have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and there are several who confess their faith in it as obligatory upon men, but who do not yet obey. I have visited nearly all these persons, and I hope that the most of them will walk in the truth. In company with Dr. R., I have visited an English lady who has commenced to keep the Sabbath from reading the papers and the tracts. She is a teacher of languages, and has the command of German, French, Italian, modern Greek and Russian. She was a teacher in Russia for six years. I asked her if while in Russia she heard of a denomination of seventh-day Christians living in that empire. She said that she had often heard them mentioned. I asked what was said of them. She said they were spoken of contemptuously, because they do not acknowledge and unite with the national church. She heard nothing else said against them. I think this testimony must confirm what I have heretofore written concerning the existence of Sabbath-keepers in Russia. The time is not distant, I hope, when we shall open communication with them.

Thursday, August 2, I baptized four persons in the sea at Puteoli, the port at which Paul landed when on his journey as a prisoner to Rome. Acts 28:13. It was a very precious season, and the association of the place with the events of the past made an impression upon my mind which will never be effaced.

I have felt great responsibility, while here, and have made an earnest effort to faithfully discharge that responsibility to the acceptance of Christ. After some months, if God will, I think it may be my duty to come back and to remain for a longer time. The way is now open for public preaching in this city, and I hope for much good from this attempt to preach the word of God. I ask that many prayers may be offered in behalf of the work in Naples.

To-morrow I set out, if God will, on my way to Switzerland. I must visit Sister Revel, of Northern Italy. She was the first person in Europe to receive the Sabbath from the preaching of Elder M. B. C. She has stood firm for many years though called to meet great opposition. After this visit I must spend a little time with Brother Bourdeau at Valence. We shall consult together as to the future of our work. What has been written in the Review will have great weight with us in the decision which we make.

I have written to Brother Ertzenberger to know if he can leave Germany for a time. If so, my convictions are that it will be duty to commence public labor in Bâle in the German language. I think there is a good field for the truth in Bâle, and I am anxious to enter it as soon as possible.

I have much evidence that our paper, Les Signes des Temps, is taking hold of the people. I believe there are many places where a harvest of souls can be gathered from those who have been reading the paper and the tracts. I hope hereafter to be able to give much time to preaching and yet to keep up the publication of our paper. Do not forget to pray for us.

J. N. A.

Svendstrup, Denmark.

By John G. Matteson

SVENDSTRUP is in the district of Han, about twenty miles from Alstrup. A man of wealth from this place attended our meetings in S. Saltum, and was so well pleased with what he heard that we had to promise that we would visit his neighborhood also. He has a beautiful grove, where both political and religious meetings have at times been held.

Last Tuesday he sent his conveyance after us, and in the afternoon about one hundred and fifty people were gathered to listen to a lecture on the signs of the times. During the next two days we held two meetings, and although it rained, there were not a few out. The last day there were about one hundred and twenty in the house. They unanimously invited me to visit them again after the harvest, to teach them the word of God more fully.

Friday afternoon we went to Oland, a small island about nine miles off. Here also we had a house full of attentive and interested listeners, whom we promised to visit again. We were then taken back to Alstrup by the kind friend who had conveyed us to Svendstrup. On Sunday over one hundred people came to our meeting in Renbæk, notwithstanding muddy roads. The melting influence of the Spirit of God was in our midst, and many hearts were deeply moved. In the afternoon, the people thronged to the large barn in Saltum, where we hold our meetings, and filled it. There were about five hundred present, among them the priest and three school-teachers. One of the school-teachers read an article he had written, which he regarded as giving arguments against keeping the seventh day and reasons for keeping Sunday. Many showed that they were displeased with it, by beginning to talk and to show signs of impatience.

After this article had been completely answered, the priest himself stepped forward and tried to explain to the people that it would not do thus to confine ourselves to the Bible. What would then become of the many customs which were recognized in the church? No; we must follow the Christian church, which is about two thousand years old, and which is led by the Spirit of God.

When this well-known Catholic claim had been made, he asked several questions in regard to faith and baptism, which were all answered by the plain word of God. I invited further inquiry, but at last they said they had no more questions to ask. I then asked the priest to give me a definite answer to two questions I wished to ask him: 1. Have you found any text in the Bible which commands us to keep the first day of the week, or which shows that God has blessed or sanctified that day? 2. Are not the ten commandments binding upon Christians in the new dispensation? To the first question he answered, “No, I have not.” To the second, “Yes, certainly.”

Thus our opponents publicly admitted that our views on these points were in harmony with the Bible. But if the ten commandments are binding upon Christians in the new dispensation, and if the word of God has not abolished or changed the Lord's Sabbath, we come to the indisputable conclusion that the seventh day is the Sabbath for Christians, and that we honor God by keeping it holy. But we serve God in vain by teaching such doctrines, which are the commandments of men. I then spoke about the great foundation for Christianity—love. I believe that the Lord blessed these words to the good of many souls, and that the efforts of the priest and his assistants to oppose our work have been instrumental in enlightening many in regard to the great truths of the Bible, and in opening hearts and doors to us.

The people here in general receive the truths of the second advent of Christ, and the gospel of his death and resurrection finds a welcome response in many hearts; but old customs and habits are much stronger here than in America, and people do not forsake that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good, very readily. But we will labor on patiently, and hope through the grace of God to gather in souls for his kingdom. JOHN G. MATTESON.

Camp-Meeting.

By L. M. H.

THE Northern California camp-meeting was held, according to appointment, September 13-19, near Yountville, Napa county. There were over one hundred tents pitched and five hundred and sixty-nine persons encamped. Everything about the encampment was neat and in the most perfect order. The tents were numbered, and the streets of the cotton village laid out by actual survey and alphabetically named. The grounds were beautiful, being level and well shaded by majestic oaks that had the appearance of having existed for centuries, and on either side, or nearly surrounding, was a delightful stream of pure, soft water. The entrance was a broad archway, and a smaller arch each side, draped and festooned with evergreens. Over the broad entrance, on the outside, was inscribed, “Seventh-day Adventist Camp-Meeting;” over the side entrance, at the right, “Behold I Come Quickly;” at the left, “Walk in the Light.” On the inside, over the broad entrance, in letters of evergreen, “God Is Love;” at one side, “Love the Lord;” at the other, “Love thy Neighbor.”

A short distance from the entrance, hanging upon a large oak, was a nicely framed diagram of the grounds, giving the location of every tent, with number, and the name of the occupant. The large pavilion, with a capacity for seating nearly two thousand, was well located. The speaker’s stand was decorated with an anchor and trimmings of evergreen.

The opening meeting was held at six o’clock Thursday morning, at which there was a good representation of those encamped on the ground. Prayer was offered by Elder Loughborough, followed by remarks with reference to the arrangements and regulations of the camp. At 10 A. M. the bell rang for service, and the people again congregated in the large pavilion. Service commenced with the reading of the first and last psalm by Elder Loughborough, calling particular attention to the fact that instruments of music were employed in the worship of God, these remarks being suggested by the thought that some might be disturbed by seeing an organ upon the ground. The praises of God were then sounded forth by melodious voices, accompanying the deep tones of the organ. At the hour for preaching Elder Healey gave a discourse on the subject of the advent, clearly setting forth the teachings of the apostles and the prophets, and their faith in the second advent of Christ. At 2 P. M. Elder Loughborough discoursed upon the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, giving the signs betokening Christ’s second coming.

At 5 P. M. the California Conference convened. The secretary’s report showed an increase of nearly one-third to the membership of the Conference the past year. In the evening Brother Stephens spoke on the Prophecy of Daniel, chapter 2.

The meetings on Friday commenced with the 6 o’clock morning meeting. Elder Loughborough made some remarks on the subject of family prayer. At 9 A. M. a social meeting was held. Over one hundred spirited testimonies were borne in forty minutes. The praise of God was on every tongue, and all seemed to feel, as expressed by one sister, “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord, and everything into which breath can be put.” Elder Healey spoke at 10:30 A. M., Elder Loughborough at 2 P. M., and in the evening Brother Rice gave a discourse on the Sabbath question.

Sabbath, the morning meeting was well attended, and at 9 A. M. another interesting social meeting was held. At the hour for preaching Elder Healey spoke on the law. At 2 P. M. an interesting Sabbath-school address was read by Brother J. E. White, which appears in the present number of the SIGNS as voted by the audience. A model Sabbath-school, conducted by Brother J. E. White, was then held, to demonstrate the manner in which the general exercises should be carried out.

At 5 P. M. a meeting was called for the benefit of those just making a start to serve the Lord. About forty came forward for prayers. Deep feeling was manifested, and the Spirit of the Lord seemed to place a seal upon the work. At the close of the Sabbath a special season of prayer was engaged in for the afflicted, particularly for one of Brother Morrison’s daughters, who, in her anxiety to attend the camp-meeting, was brought upon the ground on her bed. But little hope of her recovery was entertained, the physician having given her up, stating that she might not live twenty-four hours. The Elders and a few friends gathered by her bedside and fervent prayers were offered in her behalf, after which she was much relieved, slept quite well during the night, and felt much better the next morning.

The meetings on Sunday were important and very interesting. Over one thousand persons from surrounding towns and the intermediate country were in attendance. On Monday at 9 o’clock Elder Loughborough read a Conference address, after which a missionary meeting was held; also a session of the California Conference, at which it was voted that the Conference address be published in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. At 10:30 A. M. Elder Healey spoke on the subject of temperance, at 2 P. M. we were favored with a discourse from Dr. Kellogg, and at 3 o’clock Brother Brorsen spoke on the prophecy of Daniel. An inquiry meeting was then held and a large number came forward for baptism. In the evening a discourse was given by Elder Loughborough.

Tuesday morning at 8 o’clock a meeting was held for examination of candidates for baptism. At 10:30 A. M. a procession was formed, the administrators, Elders Loughborough and Healey, taking the lead, the candidates next in order, then the singers, followed by the congregation, making a procession that nearly extended from the grounds to the water, a distance of about eighty rods. The hymn, “He cleanseth me,” was sung on the way to the water. The candidates, attendants and singers occupied the ground on one side of the stream, while the crowd covered the bank on the other. Here fifty-seven willing souls followed the example of their Lord in the solemn ordinance of baptism—the youth, aged and middle-aged, husband and wife, mother and daughter, and grandmother and granddaughter, two and two

went down into the water to rise to walk in newness of life.

Among this number was a convalescent daughter of Brother Morrison; and the one previously spoken of was able to be at the water to witness the baptism of her sister. These are sisters of Elder Healey’s wife.

Some came nearly three hundred miles by private conveyance to attend this meeting. Others came two hundred miles from another direction; thus persons living five hundred miles apart met, were baptized, and united in church fellowship.

The closing meeting was held Wednesday morning; and as the hour of parting came all seemed to feel that this had truly been a profitable camp-meeting, and that the blessing of the Lord had rested upon the encampment. Although much regret was expressed that Brother and Sister White could not be at the meeting, and the lack of their testimony was sensibly felt, yet all who attended have great reason to thank God for the good meeting, the fruit of which will not be fully known till the great reckoning day, when the sheaves are gathered for the heavenly garner. L. M. H.

Reports from the Field.

(Condensed from Review and Herald.)

Massachusetts.

DANVERS.—Elder Canright writes that the Lord is prospering the work here. A Sabbath-school and Bible-class has been organized of over sixty persons. By actual count fifty persons are now keeping the Sabbath, not one of whom observed it three weeks ago. The influence of these meetings is very extensive. There are now Sabbath-keepers in almost every direction, from two to ten miles distant.

Michigan.

PORT HURON.—Elder D. H. Lamson writes: “We have moved our tent to the northern part of the city, and have pitched it in a beautiful location, and one which is quite central. The majority of those interested at the former places have followed us here, and we are also getting a good many new hearers. A week ago Sunday evening our congregation numbered nearly five hundred, and this was our one hundred and first service in this city. The most intense interest was manifest in this the closing meeting on that ground, which had been occupied for seven weeks and two days. We have baptized fourteen, and our class list has increased to fifty members.”

LAKEVIEW.—The tent-meetings at this place have now closed. Elder Burrill writes that during the nine weeks’ stay here, an uncommon interest has prevailed, and many who never before manifested any interest in religion have given their hearts to the Lord. About fifty adults have promised to live out the truths of the third angel’s message. There are now more than one hundred who can meet on the Sabbath, including children and those keeping the Sabbath before the tent came here.

BIRCH RUN.—Elder Lawrence has been holding meetings alternately in two school-houses. He reports having given over one hundred discourses. As the result, eighteen have given their names to sustain Sabbath meetings and Bible-class. Several others are keeping the Sabbath; and many more are convinced, but worldly considerations prevent obedience.

New York.

GLENSDALE.—Elders Wilbur and Bump report their tent-meetings about to close here. They have given more than one hundred and sixty discourses. As the result, over twenty are keeping the Sabbath. Two remarkable cases have recently come out, one the son of a local preacher, who, like Saul of Tarsus, has gone to work to build up that which he previously tried to tear down. The other was a French Catholic, who served as a soldier twenty years in his own country and four years in the late war of the rebellion. When he heard on the subject of the “little horn” of the 7th chapter of Daniel, he was so enraged, he rushed out of the meeting exclaiming, “If I had a pistol I would shoot that Wilbur, I would shoot him.” But he is now truly converted to God, and is keeping the commandments.

Iowa.

INDIANOLA.—Brethren Farnsworth and Morrison write that the meetings in this place continue with unabating interest; the congregations ranging from two to seven hundred, and, generally speaking, the people give excellent attention. Some opposition is stirred as they enter upon the Sabbath question. One family is keeping the Sabbath, and many more are deeply interested.

GREENWOOD.—Brethren McCoy and Starr write that they have commenced meetings here, and have given eight discourses. The people manifest a desire to hear and investigate.

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