p. 87 | Review and Herald, Vol. 25, No. 11. (2/7/1865)

Earlier text: Report from Bro. Loughborough

WILLIAM JOHNSTON

By William Johnston

From Bro. Johnston.

BRO. WHITE : Excuse my neglect for not acknowledging the receipt of the Review and Herald. I feel to thank God that it has been sent to me. Oh the pleasure and comfort I enjoy, in the perusal of its articles. It rejoices my heart to learn from it, that so many of God's dear servants have turned their backs on the commandments and doctrines of men, of priests and popery, to proclaim the truth, the plain, the simple truths of the everlasting gospel.

I have for some years past endeavored to call the minds of the people among whom I preached, to the importance of keeping the Sabbath of the Lord. This I did however by private conversation, more than by public preaching; until within the past year, my conscience smote me so severely for so mincing the matter, that I had to come out boldly and proclaim from the pulpit, the unaltered, and unalterable truth, that the "seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God."

I have just returned from a protracted meeting which I held over two Sabbaths, I endeavored to show the people not only the claims of the law and gospel, but also the doom of the willful violators of it; namely, that "the soul that sinneth it shall die;" that "the workers of iniquity shall be destroyed together," at the coming of our divine Immanuel, which is near at hand.

Our congregations were small at first, but became larger and larger every evening until the meeting-house was filled to its utmost capacity. Some few found fault and grumbled at the new doctrine, as they called it; but as a general thing, I can truly say, that for the last ten years, I have not witnessed more seriousness, or candid attention to the word, than was manifested by the people during this series of meetings. Numbers who attended this meeting are convinced that they ought to keep the Lord's Sabbath; others have declared that they will endeavor to keep the commandments, lest they die the death that never LIVES. The few commandment keepers who attended this meeting were revived, refreshed, and encouraged to let their light shine, in this dark corner of the Lord's vineyard.

Believers in the present truth, pray for us! And preachers, visit Perry Co., Pa., when possible; you will be received by many families with open arms, who a few years ago, would in all probability have shut their doors against you.

Oh that the cause of truth may spread and increase, until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON

Newport, Perry Co., Pa.

Home Influence.

Wouldst thou listen to its gentle teaching, All thy restless yearning it would still, Leaf, and flower, and laden bee are preaching Thine own sphere, though humble, first to fill.

TRULY it has been said, that "our duties are like the circles of a whirlpool, and the innermost includes home." A modern writer has designated home "heaven's fallen sister;" and a melancholy truth lies shrouded in those few words. Our home influence is not a passing, but an abiding one; and all-powerful for good or evil, for peace or strife, for happiness or misery. Each separate Christian home has been likened to a central sun, around which revolves a happy and united band of warm, loving hearts, acting, thinking, rejoicing, and sorrowing together. Which member of the family group can say, I have no influence? What sorrow, or what happiness, lies in the power of each!

"A lighted lamp," writes M'Cheyne "is a very small thing, and it burns calmly and without noise, yet it giveth light to all that are within the house." And so there is a quiet influence, which, like the flame of a scented lamp, fills many a home with light and fragrance. Such an influence has been beautifully compared to a "carpet, soft and deep, which, while it diffuses a look of ample comfort, deadens many a creaking sound. It is the curtain which, from many a beloved form, wards off at once the summer's glow and the winter's wind. It is the pillow on which sickness lays its head, and forgets half its misery." This influence falls as the refreshing dew, the invigorating sunbeams, the fertilizing shower, shining on all with the mild lustre of moonlight, and harmonizing in one soft tint, many of the discordant hues of a family picture.

Letters.

"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.

M. E. REYNOLDS

By M. E. Reynolds

From Sister Reynolds:

Bro. White: One year ago this present week, it was my privilege for the first time, to listen to a few lectures on present truth, delivered by Eld. J. H. Waggoner. I was much interested in the prophecies, heard and received the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, but was very incredulous concerning the sleep of the dead, destruction of the wicked, &c., believing it to be unscriptural. However I resolved to search the Scriptures and see if these things were so. I purchased a few pamphlets, which aided me much in scriptural investigation, and after a few weeks' study, I was forced to acknowledge that it was truth, furthermore that I could find no scripture for my former views. How strangely different did the Bible appear! How harmonious in all its teachings! To me it was indeed a new book. I love its sacred pages and its author far more than in former years, and can but praise the name of the Lord that he has given me an existence in this interesting age of the world, and permitted me to hear and heed the teachings of the third angel's message. Never was a people so highly favored as those who now live amid the closing events of earth's history, with the coming of the Lord just in the future, even at the doors. I love to think that life's conflicts will soon be over, and we shall be forever with the Lord. I love to meditate on the beauties of the New Jerusalem, and the earth made new, the final home of those who shall overcome. I long to feel that I am fully prepared to see the King in his beauty, who will soon appear on the great white cloud, to gather his children home. I am striving earnestly to overcome all of life's besetments. Pray that I may live in the exercise of faith, keep all of God's commandments, and gain an abundant entrance through the gates into the city.

Yours in hope.

M. E. REYNOLDS

Mesopotamia, Ohio.

Obituary Notices.

By M. Cartwright

DIED, in Lincklaen, Chenango Co., N. Y., of consumption, Sept. 11, 1863, Julina M., wife of Cyrus Cartwright in the fifty-fifth year of her age. She was a firm believer in the second-advent doctrine.

She manifested strong confidence that she should come up in the first resurrection. She felt to say with the Psalmist, "Then shall I be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness." She has left a husband, and an only daughter to mourn the loss of an affectionate wife and mother. Her funeral sermon was preached by Elder E. Poole. Text Phil. iii, 11.

Publishing and New Work

By Editor

THE friends of the Voice of the West, have formed an Association called the "Western Advent Christian Publishing Association," modeled after the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association. By this Association the Voice of the West has been published since the early part of December last. Up to the present time, some forty shares, at $10 each, have been taken.

THE Millennial Harbinger, published by T. G. Newman, has been moved from Seneca Falls, N. Y., and is now issued in Detroit, Mich., and Windsor, C. W.

W. H. WILD. We did not preserve the poetry. It would be well for all our correspondents to retain a copy of everything that they specially desire to preserve.

New Work. The End of the Wicked, by D. M. Canright. Price 5 cents, postage 2 cents.

Note from Bro. Sanborn.

By I. Sanborn

I AM having one of the most interesting meetings that I ever have held in any place. I have given twelve lectures. Several have commenced keeping the Sabbath. To-night before sunset the people began to gather. I counted twenty-three teams before dark. I am hoping for much good. May the Lord help, is my prayer.

I. SANBORN.

Gridley, Ills.

Suggestions to the Drafted.

By H. S. GURNEY

BRO. WHITE: It seems that something should be said through the "Review," which will give more definite instructions to those among us who may be drafted. I am not prepared to give the needful instructions, but will give a few hints. The first thing is to get the necessary papers, showing that we are non-combatants, or opposed to bearing arms. These papers should be got up in shape to satisfy the Secretary of War. No other officer has anything to do with them more than I have. Therefore these papers should be sent directly to the Secretary of War, with a request that he would assign duty in accordance with the Act, &c., defining it. Until the communication returns from Washington, no one should order us to leave the State. The communication when received would appoint our duty and inform us where to report, giving intructions to the commanding officer according to the rules and regulations of such an Act.

If this matter is put into the hands of our regiment officers, who in fact have nothing to do with such papers unless they are inclined to favor, many of whom are tyrannical, and exalt themselves above measure, and rule the people with rigor, when they should be in a degree servants of the people;—I say if these papers are left with such officers, it only increases the difficulty, and makes the matter uncertain. If this matter can be clearly understood, I think those difficulties with which our people have been troubled would be avoided.

Would it not be advisable and proper that the S. D. A. P. Association print a formal letter addressing the Hon. Secretary of War for the benefit of those who may be drafted? With these hints I leave the matter for the present, hoping that some one will make it clear.

Yours in hope of life, where the people will learn war no more. H. S. GURNEY. Jackson, Mich.

Stevenson and Thurman.

By Editor

THE DISCUSSION ON CHRONOLOGY.

THE discussion between the two brethren named above, came off during the past week. We were not able to attend all the sessions, but were deeply interested with what we did attend. While we are not a convert to the peculiar theories of either the disputants, we feel deeply interested in the great question in debate: "Is the Canon of Ptolemy correct?" We are interested in it because the whole historical and chronological question is uprooted and unsettled if it is proved incorrect, and history and chronology is entirely afloat.

We are now entirely at rest on that question. Mr. Stevenson, by the most indubitable arguments and proofs, has done what he pledged himself to do, proved that Canon true. He has done a mighty work for the Christian world, and showed himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, in the department of chronology. The report is not to be published.—Advent Herald.

Influence.

If in one poor bleeding bosom, I a woe-swept chord have stilled; If a dark and restless spirit I with hope of Heaven have filled; If I've made for life's hard battle, One faint heart grow brave and strong; Then, my God, I thank thee, bless thee, For the precious gift of song.

Our Enjoyment.

By J. A. Dayton

DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD. 1 COR. X, 31.

This portion of Holy Writ was recently brought home to my mind with great force, by a few words dropped from the lips of a stranger upon whom I called. I inquired how she enjoyed her mind? "Oh," said she, "I always enjoy myself. Why, I've been a professor of religion for twenty years!" Words fitly spoken! As much as to say, Why! don't you know I am a child of God? How can any one fail to be happy who enjoys his approbation? I felt it was at once an exhortation and a rebuke; for I had not always given evidence to the world of the power of religion to preserve a happy frame of mind, but had sometimes allowed myself to become despondent and discontented with my earthly lot. I pondered upon her words. I thought how much better they recommended the religion of Jesus than the gloomy and discouraging answer sometimes heard from the lips of those who profess to be children of God, "Oh I don't get along very well," followed by a tedious recital of real, or often fancied woes, all of which might have been turned into blessings by making a right use of adversity. Should any, whose eye may rest upon these lines, have failed in this respect, may they also be exhorted by the example of this follower of Jesus, to "go and do likewise."

J. A. DAYTON.

Chesaning, Mich.

Religious Jesting.

By Herder

WIT and sorry ridicule in matters of religion, are always attended with very evil consequences. They sort so very rarely with mature, cool reason, and calm consideration, that they always rather displace these qualities, just in proportion as they prevail in the soul. The more habituated a person becomes to the reading and utterance of mere witticisms, the more does he incapacitate himself for sober deliberation. At every turn, derisive mirth steps in with its laughing mien. It throws itself athwart the path of investigation, and cuts up such a series of antics that we are entirely turned aside from our course. We try once more to reflect, but the jest returns; we laugh again, let go inquiry, and never attain to the knowledge of the truth.—Herder.

Preachers on Grace and Charity

By W H

THERE are many graceless preachers on grace—many uncharitable ones on charity. W H

Appointments.

THE next Quarterly Meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist church at Princeville, Ills., will be the first Sabbath and first-day in March, which will be the 4th and 5th of the month. We hope to see a general gathering of all the friends. Come, brethren and sisters, and may the Lord bless our efforts to do his will. Bro. R. F. Andrews and myself will be at Princeville on Tuesday, Feb. 28, and will commence a protracted meeting, which will continue over the following Sabbath, and longer if the interest demands. Bro. Sanborn is expected to be at the Quarterly Meeting. H. C. BLANCHARD.

Providence permitting, I will meet with the church in Newton, Mich., Sabbath, Feb. 11. Will brethren of Convis and Burlington churches meet with us? J. BYINGTON.

Business Department.

RECEIPTS.

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For Shares in the Publishing Association.

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Books Sent By Mail.

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General Conference Missionary Fund.

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Cash Received on Account.

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Donations to Purchase a Stock of Paper.

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Books sent by Express.

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Correspondence About Reviews

By Editor

C. L. PALMER. We cannot supply back numbers to the commencement of the volume.

T. T. BROWN. Where is R. Town's Review sent?

ELIJAH LOUDON. Where do you want your Review changed from?