Review and Herald, Vol. 52, No. 17.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTSPage 1
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS.
By James White; Uriah Smith
Ninth meeting, Oct. 14, at 10 A. M. After prayer by Bro. Haskell, Bro. S. Maxson, who had just arrived from Oregon, was received as delegate from the North Pacific Conference. The committee on supplying destitute fields with labor, being called for, reported through S. N. Haskell. Thereupon Virginia was, by vote, taken under the watchcare of the General Conference. It was recommended that Eld. S. B. Whitney, of New York, make Dakota Territory his field of labor for a while, and that Eld. D. M. Canright be transferred from Iowa, where his Conference connection now stands, to Michigan. The matter of help in Ontario for Bro. J. Fulton was referred to the General Conference Committee. Bro. S. H. Lane made an appeal in behalf of Indiana, and Bro. G. W. Colcord in behalf of the French in Illinois. The committee on the circulation of the SIGNS, being called for, reported, recommending that the SIGNS be offered as follows:— Single copy to Sabbath-keepers and old subscribers, $2.00; single copy, to tract societies only, $1.50; in clubs of ten to tract societies, at $1.20 per copy; in smaller clubs, as may be arranged by the tract societies with their own members; and that churches that will take one hundred copies at $1.20 each shall have ten extra copies free. Bro. Canright then read a report from Bro. C. O. Taylor, in reference to his labors in Georgia. The following resolution was presented by Bro. Haskell, and adopted:— Whereas, The SIGNS OF THE TIMES is a pioneer paper, designed to advocate our views in new fields, therefore Resolved, That we recommend that our brethren pay not less than $2.00 per year for the paper for themselves; but that the tract societies, ministers, and agents be authorized to offer it to new subscribers at the rate of $1.50 per year, or four months for 50 cts. And further Resolved, That it be furnished to churches and individuals in clubs of not less than ten, for missionary work, for $1.20 a copy, smaller clubs being referred to the tract society officers; and that where one hundred copies are taken in clubs, for the above purpose, ten copies extra be furnished free. The committee appointed to examine the new music book, “The Song Anchor,” being called for, reported as follows:— Your committee, having performed the work assigned to them as thoroughly as their time would permit, would report that we find the “Song Anchor” to contain an excellent selection of music and hymns, which we consider, as a whole, above the ordinary standard of works of this class. We are especially pleased to find in it a fair proportion of easy music adapted for use in the ordinary Sabbath-school, as well as a good variety of more difficult pieces for advanced singers in choirs and families. One feature of the book especially commendable is its freedom from the theological errors so common in books of this class; and as we regard this a matter of vital importance, we recognize in this feature alone a very essential element of a suitable book for our Sabbath-schools. Your committee would therefore recommend the “Song Anchor” as the best work with which we are acquainted for use in our Sabbath-schools; and we also recommend its general adoption by all our schools, believing that it will be of great service in this important department of the work. All of which is respectfully submitted. B. L. Whitney,
S. B. Whitney, } Committee.
C. W. Stone. A resolution by Bro. Lamson, That the Conference recommend all our ministers to introduce the Song Anchor, and try to secure its adoption wherever they may labor, was adopted. Bro. Haskell presented the following:— Whereas, The subject of spiritual gifts is one of importance, and such works as The Spirit of Prophecy, and the Testimonies should be in the hands of all our brethren, therefore Resolved, That we recommend the various tract societies to make a special effort to place them in the library of each church, and in the hands of scattered brethren, and that they encourage the reading of them. And further Resolved, That where these works are used as above stated, we offer them at one-half the retail price, and that the difference between this and the regular wholesale price be paid from the fund raised for circulating these works, said fund to be increased from $1000, as at first started, to $5000. Moved, That this Conference recommend the holding of a camp-meeting in Texas the present autumn, at such time as Bro. and Sr. White can attend, they to give the appointment. Carried. Moved, That the matter of publishing a series of sermons on the principal points of our faith, to be written by Bro. White, for the use of readers, colporteurs, visitors, etc., be referred to the General Conference Committee. Carried. Tenth meeting, Oct. 14, 3 P. M. After prayer by Eld. W. H. Littlejohn, Bro. J. N. Andrews offered the following resolution:— Resolved, That we request the General Conference Committee to appoint a delegate from this body to the next session of the S. D. Baptist General Conference. This was spoken to by Eld. Andrews, who expressed a most kindly feeling toward the S. D. Baptists, and a deep interest that this feeling between the two bodies of commandment-keepers should continue and grow deeper. Similar remarks were made by Elds. A. C. Spicer and J. H. Waggoner, after which the resolution was adopted. At this point Eld. Andrews read a very interesting letter just received from Dr. Ribton, of Naples, Italy, in which he stated that a man who was a deist, who received the truth from him some time ago, has recently been out laboring in the cause, and that ten persons have embraced the truth under his labors. The report of the committee on a course of study for ministers, being called for, was presented. After some discussion, it was referred back to the committee, with a grant of further time to perfect it. The subject of the mission to England being introduced, Eld. James White offered the following resolution:— Resolved, That in the opinion of this Conference the time has fully come to open a mission in Great Britain, and- That Eld. J. N. Loughborough be our missionary to that field.
- That there should be a committee of three to take the supervision of the entire work in Europe, who should act in harmony with, and under the direction of, the General Conference of S. D. Adventists of America.
- That Eld. J. N. Andrews, J. N. Loughborough, and a third brother whom these two may appoint, be that committee.
This resolution was unanimously adopted. Remarks were made by Eld. Andrews, Sr. White, Elds. D. M. Canright, S. N. Haskell, and James White, on the Swiss mission, the establishment of the press at Bâle, and the advisability of recommending W. C. White and wife to go immediately to Switzerland. No action was taken. The following resolution was offered:— Whereas, Eld. White requests the Conference to excuse him from acting as president, therefore Resolved, That we regard it as his privilege to resign at any time he may feel it to be his duty so to do, and that we empower the other two members of the committee to appoint a president to fill the vacancy. On motion to adopt, the question was put, and the motion was lost. Adjourned to call of chair. Eleventh meeting, Oct. 16, 3 P. M. Prayer by Eld. J. N. Andrews. Voted, That Eld. A. O. Burrill accompany Eld. D. M. Canright to Ohio to labor there. Voted, That D. M. Canright attend the Kentucky Conference. Voted, That Bro. and Sr. White and Bro. Haskell attend the two later Kansas camp-meetings. Voted, That we recommend Eld. Butler to draw two laborers from Iowa to help in Kansas. Voted, To recommend Bro. E. W. Farnsworth to go to the Pacific coast to labor. Voted, That this Conference recommend Eld. D. M. Canright, assisted by C. W. Stone, to hold a tent-meeting in Chicago next tent season. Voted, That Eld. A. C. Spicer be recommended to labor in the Nebraska Conference. Voted, That Bro. D. T. Bourdeau be recommended to labor among the French brethren of Illinois. JAMES WHITE, Pres.
U. SMITH, Sec. GENERAL SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
By Dudley Marvin Canright; G. H. Bell
The first annual session of the general Sabbath-school Association was held on the camp-ground at Battle Creek, Mich., Oct. 11, 1878. Prayer by Eld. S. N. Haskell. All ministers present were invited to take part with the delegates in the deliberations and business of this meeting. The Secretary’s Report showed that auxiliary S. S. Associations have been formed in twelve of the different Conferences. Since most of these organizations have been so recently formed, their reports are many of them very brief and incomplete. They show an entire membership of 5,851.
Michigan, 55 schools with 2,022 members.
Iowa, 23 schools with 885 members.
Kansas, 32 schools with 754 members.
Wisconsin, 20 schools with 506 members.
New England, 20 schools with 470 members.
California, 10 schools with 446 members.
Illinois, — schools with 310 members.
Missouri, 10 schools with 274 members.
Ohio, 7 schools with 184 members.
Minnesota, — schools with — members.
Vermont, — schools with — members.
Indiana, — schools with — members. Received by donation from Battle Creek Sabbath-school, $25.00.
Expenses for stationery, stamps, and blank reports, 16.40.
Balance in the treasury, $8.60. Elds. H. W. Decker, E. R. Jones, and A. O. Burrill were chosen as a committee for nominating officers. After consultation, they recommended as officers for the coming year: President, Eld. S. N. Haskell; Recording Secretary, G. H. Bell; Corresponding Secretary, Eva Perkins; Executive Committee, Eld. S. N. Haskell, Eld. D. M. Canright, W. C. White. These persons were unanimously elected to their respective offices. Spirited and interesting remarks were made, showing that an unusual interest in the Sabbath-school work is springing up in every part of the land. All seemed to agree that the INSTRUCTOR should be published weekly, and contain Sabbath-school lessons. The following motion made by Eld. S. N. Haskell was unanimously carried:— Moved, That it be the sense of this meeting that the INSTRUCTOR be published weekly. Eld. White thought that in addition to the weekly INSTRUCTOR the monthly should be issued the same as now. Many thought that much good might be done in some places by organizing and conducting Sunday-schools. Several interesting cases were cited in which efforts in this direction have been attended with marked success. In discussing the question of raising means, there seemed to be a difference of opinion in regard to the propriety of receiving penny contributions on the Sabbath. Sr. White thought it would be proper. She remarked that anciently the work of the temple service on Sabbath day was double what it was on other days. God does not withhold his bounties on the Sabbath day,—the sun shines, the rain descends, plants grow, fruit ripens, and all the work of nature goes on without interruption. There is no reason why a freewill offering, previously set apart for that purpose, may not be presented to God on the Sabbath day. The following resolution from Eld. J. H. Waggoner was adopted:— Resolved, That we recommend to all our Sabbath-schools the practice of contributing a penny or more to the funds of the Sabbath-school, by both teachers and scholars, on every Sabbath day. Adjourned to the call of the chair. D. M. Canright, Pres.
G. H. Bell, Sec. The storms no mortal hand can bind;
But refuge, lo, we all can find,
Since Christ's a shelter near at hand,
E'en like a rock in weary land. 'Tis sweet indeed, when tempests blow,
A hiding place to have, and know
That Christ a refuge is at hand,
E'en like a rock in weary land. The desert, drear with scorching heat,
Can never harm the pilgrim's feet;
For Christ's a shadow near at hand,
E'en like a rock in weary land. The burning sun is hidden quite,
And has no power to harm the sight,
When Christ's a shadow near at hand,
E'en like a rock in weary land. And in that dread, soon-coming day,
When earthly things all pass away,
Will Christ, a shadow near at hand,
Be like a rock in weary land? If covert now we seek from harm,
And grasp the Everlasting Arm,
Then Christ, a shadow near at hand,
Will be our rock in weary land. Duties Performed Strengthen Us for Others
By F. W. Robertson
In matters worldly, the more occupations and duties a man has the more certain is he of doing all imperfectly. In the things of God this is reversed. The more duties you perform, the more you are fitted for doing others; what you lose in time, you gain in strength.—F. W. Robertson. THE SEAL OF GOD.
By J. Q. Fox
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2:19. As to what constitutes the foundation of God, there seems to be little room for controversy, inasmuch as the foundation of every government is its laws, that by which its authority is shown and enforced. Hence to destroy the law of any government is to destroy its foundation—to destroy the government itself. Ever since the fall of Satan, it has been his studied plan to overthrow the government of God. In what more effectual way could he do this than by doing away with that law which enforces God’s authority? In various ways has he attempted this. In the minds of some, though the number of those holding this opinion is comparatively small, that law has been abolished; but this is a supposition not entertained by the apostle when he penned the language above quoted. Another class, far more numerous, unwilling to admit this, still claim that in this law of which the psalmist says, “The law of the Lord is perfect” (Ps. 19:7), a change has been effected. This, as all must see, is essentially the same thing; for to change a perfect law, is, manifestly, to make it imperfect; and to admit this of the law of God is to yield the point; and Satan’s object, so far as such are concerned, is gained. Not content, however, with merely changing that law, and thus rendering it imperfect, Satan, seemingly to place the matter beyond all question, has attacked the fourth commandment, which alone defines the God whose authority is shown by this law, and which therefore constitutes the seal of that law. It will not be denied that a law without a seal—a law that does not clearly define its author—is of no value. It may, however, be questioned whether the fourth commandment—the one claimed to have131been changed—does sustain this important relation to the law of God. A careful reading of the ten commandments will make this point clear to the minds of the candid, as the fourth alone plainly points to the Creator of the heavens and the earth as the author of the ten commandments, which constitute the law of God (Deut. 4:13; Ex. 24:12); whence it follows that in the minds of those who claim that this commandment has been changed, the law of God is without a seal. Is it true that the Sabbath ever was a sign (or seal, see Rom. 4:11) between God and his people? Reference to Ex. 31:16, 17 will show this to be a fact, and further, that it will remain so forever—as long as Israel exists, which will be to all eternity; for the apostle assures us that all Israel will be saved. Rom. 11:26. By carefully reading this chapter it is easy to determine who are Israel. Compare verse 1 with Gal. 3:29. We learn from Rev. 21:12 that the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are inscribed on the gates of the city of God; and from Isaiah we learn that both Israel and the Sabbath are to exist in the new earth. Chap. 66:22, 23. “Nevertheless [in spite of all the efforts of Satan and his agents to destroy] the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his.” How? From Rev. 14:1, we learn that they are to have his name in their foreheads, and by reference to chap. 7:2–4, we learn that this is the seal of God, the distinguishing characteristic of his people. Should the query arise in the minds of any, Is it necessary, in order that the Lord may know his people, that they be thus marked? it is perhaps sufficient to say, We have the assurance that they will be. Rev. 22:4. Chap. 3:12 asserts not only that they will bear the name of the one to whom they belong, but that the name of the city of God—their destination—will be inscribed upon them. Thus labeled, who can doubt but they will be safely delivered? “And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” In these days it is very common to hear people say, “We have nothing to do with the law; we must believe, and trust in Christ.” To such the apostle here administers a severe rebuke. Iniquity is sin; sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, every professed follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, cease to transgress that law. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5. J. Q. Fox. The New Haven Union of May 26, in an article respecting Mr. Pentecost, the evangelist, speaks as follows of one of the sermons which he delivered in that city:— “We desire to commend him for the bold stand he took against what he is pleased to call the ‘Egyptians’ in the church, in his discourse at the First Baptist church on Thursday afternoon. This is one of the most commendable as it is one of the most remarkable sermons that was ever delivered in this city. It is a severe assault on hypocrisy in the church, a terrible arraignment of the godless creatures who manipulate Christianity for unholy ends, and yet, with brazen effrontery, point the finger of scorn at those who choose to remain outside the ‘Egyptian’ organization. No settled pastor could preach such a sermon and retain his hold on his congregation. Mr. Pentecost presented a fair picture of the average church of to-day. The desire is for extravagant edifices, professional music, eloquent but not spiritual preaching, and a toleration of hypocrites. As Mr. Pentecost says, the members want a minister who will fill the house with auditors, not their hearts with grace, charity, and true piety. A pastor who will deal tenderly with the wealthy of his congregation, overlook their sins, and affectionately call them ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters,’ is in constant demand; but one who lifts the veil of hypocrisy and demands a square living up to the faith, is sent adrift. This thing is so notorious that the church members discipline the ministers instead of the ministers disciplining the church members. The average pastor dare not bring the every-day sins of his parishioners home to them. See what Mr. Pentecost says:— “‘A man can be in a New Haven church and be an adulterer, if he has good Egyptian connections. He can fail in business and defraud his creditors. He can desert his wife, and, if he wishes, rob her, and spend her substance with harlots; and there is not power enough in the church of God to remove these things. I haven’t been in the inquiry room a night for three weeks without hearing of such things. And it is not peculiar to New Haven. It was so in Hartford, in Providence, and in Boston.’ “We do not doubt Mr. Pentecost’s word. Our own observations confirm his statements. The church is honeycombed with such men as he describes. Unfortunately they are the ‘pillars’ of the church because of their ‘good Egyptian connections.’ The poor are excluded by them; for they surround their edifices with all the cold formalities of fashion, and by their hauteur make the lowly feel that they are not wanted. If Mr. Pentecost will devote himself to the work of driving these men out of the church, or of making sincere and humble Christians of them, he will engage in the field of Christian work that is most in need of missionaries. Let him fling creeds and dogmas to the wind, and plant himself on the broad ground of practical Christianity. A religion which ignores humanity can never attract the multitude. It is such a religion that is exemplified by our churches to-day. We want more of the religion preached by Christ in his sermon on the mount. When the church makes men better—less selfish and uncharitable—than those beyond its pale, then it will be a much easier task to reach the hearts of the people. “There is in this world what we may call ‘respectable’ wickedness, which is a thousand times more deadly in its general influence on society than statute crime. It is the wickedness which, when formulated into law, steals the liberties, the earnings, and the happiness of an industrious people; creates criminals, paupers, and tramps; engenders bloody wars; sets man against man; rears up monied oligarchies, and rules with a merciless hand God’s creatures here below. This wickedness is upheld by the church organizations the world over. It is the work of true Christianity to wipe it out of the universe. The ministers of the gospel should preach against it in all its various phases, in and out of season. That they do not do it, is evidence that, as a class, they are as worldly as the rest of us, and are ready to uphold doctrines of political and social economy that militate against the common weal, because these doctrines have become ‘respectable’ by the usage that has been given them by so-called Christian governments.” Did it use to be so with the church? Previous to the great Advent movement, did ministers have occasion to bring such charges against their congregations? Did the world notice and comment upon these things then as now? If not, then a great and sad change has come over the professedly religious world. And if a pastor cannot point out these departures from godliness without losing his place, as the Union asserts, then have we not reached the time when 2 Tim. 3:1–5; 4:3; and Rev. 14:8, are having their fulfillment? THE SECOND ADVENT.
By J. G. Wood
[I am glad to see that the Lord is moving upon the minds of the people both in this country and England to investigate the great and important prophecies of the Bible relative to the second advent of Christ and the establishment of his kingdom upon earth. The following, which I cut from the Sedalia (Mo.) Daily Bazoo, of Sept. 20, was copied from the New York Sun. J. G. Wood.] A Great Council of Protestants to Discuss the Subject in New York.
There was, last evening, a well-attended meeting, both of laymen and ministers of all Protestant denominations, in the chapel of the Church of the Holy Trinity, to make preparations for the great Conference to be opened in this city next month to discuss the second coming of Christ. The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr., presided. The meeting was opened with prayer, and the hymn “When Jesus Comes.” Then at the suggestion of the chairman most of those present repeated a scriptural text referring to the expected coming of Christ. Dr. Tyng said that last June there was a meeting of believers at Clifton Springs, at which it was resolved to call a Conference similar to one which lately met in England to discuss the question of the Lord’s coming. The call was drawn up, and signed by more than two hundred of the most popular clergymen and laymen of the country. Letters have been received from many of the large cities, including Chicago, begging that the meeting might convene there; but it had been decided to hold it in the Church of the Holy Trinity, New York, on Oct. 30 and 31 and Nov. 1. Mr. Moody, Dr. Tyng said, would probably be there, and many other skilled evangelists. He was sure the Conference would be largely attended from all parts of this country, and many distinguished English clergymen had been invited, and would be likely to attend. He hoped to see even the Rev. Dr. H. Bonar. The Rev. Drs. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr., and J. D. Herr, and the Rev. Mr. Gillespie, were appointed to nominate sub-committees of arrangements, and, before closing, Dr. Tyng, in reply to a question, said he was firmly convinced that the Lord Jesus Christ would veritably come again to this world to take his church and establish his kingdom upon earth. HOW POLLY SPOKE IN MEETING.
By Lindell Brooks
Once in a quiet school-room hung
A parrot with a noisy tongue;
Yet who, as any one may see,
Was bright as any Poll could be;
And that was just the matter. A Quaker damsel kept the school,
With patient, firm, yet gentle rule;
And saucy Poll, one scarce knew how,
Would mimic oft her “thee” and “thou,”
With endless, constant chatter. Oft, too, would hear her mistress say,
When scholars spoke in drawling way,
With stammer, stop, and stutter,
Or half-learned tasks too low began,
“Thee must speak louder, thee knows thee can!
Not mutter! mutter! mutter!” The country folks, about this time,
For special purpose did combine
To gather in the houses there,
For exhortation, praise, and prayer,
And higher inspiration; And in their own peculiar way,
The Quakers gathered day by day,
The Spirit’s influence to meet
By inward meditation sweet,
And silent contemplation. So as in order they had met
Within each house, a day was set
For kindly social greeting,
And conference in friendly mode,
Next at the teacher’s neat abode—
A large and general meeting. The school-room’s large and airy space
Was deemed a fit and proper place
For Friends to meet; and, school-hours past,
To perfect order grew at last,
All books and slates discarding. Then, having gathered one by one,
And being sure the last had come,
All sat in silence for a while,
Until with gentle, pleasant smile,
The audience regarding, An aged Friend arose to speak,
In voice scarce audible and weak,
Commenced her thoughts to utter;
When through the room the shrill words ran,
“Thee must speak louder, thee knows thee can!
Not mutter! mutter! mutter!” She stopped and mildly gazed around,
Wondering from whence could come such sound,
Or who in such harsh tones should dare
To interrupt her then and there;
Then, silencing vexation, With stammering speech essayed once more
To speak as she had done before;
In calm, set phrase again begun,—
But Poll, delighted with the fun,
And bent on a sensation, Screamed louder yet, again! again!!
Till who the culprit was most plain
Marked out by fuss and flutter,
As through the room the echoes ran,
“Must speak louder—knows thee can!
Not mutter! mutter! mutter!” In vain the audience strove to keep
Their faces long, demure, and meek;
In vain—all gravity was o’er,
For Poll kept screaming more and more,
“Mutter! mutter! mutter!”
As through the cage she wildly ran,
“Must speak louder!—knows thee can!
Not mutter! mutter! mutter!” So meeting broken up at last,
The smiling Friends, dispersing fast,
With warm hand-shakings were content
To part in harmless merriment;
And part, too, for the season:
Though through the town the tale was heard,
How they were silenced by a bird
With neither rhyme nor reason. And yet, methinks, from this strange speech
A good, sound moral one might teach,
If we’ve the sense to learn it.
The inward voice cries out most plain,
And shall it call to us in vain?
Nay, friend, if thou discern it, When all around thou see’st the wrong,
Speak, timid soul, speak stout and strong;
Don’t stammer, stop, and stutter;
Speak for the right, speak out my man,
“Thee must speak louder, thee knows thee can!
Not mutter! mutter! mutter!”
—Lindell Brooks. “BLOWN ABOUT.”
By Mrs. Wm. Jones
There are a few of us at Fond du Lac, Wis., who are trying to encourage each other in the faith. We meet three times a week in a prayer-meeting, and once in a Bible-class, and we are strengthened by so doing. We interfere with no one; but even these little meetings had to be broken in upon by one who claims to be wise in the Bible, and who professes to know Greek and Hebrew. This man had spent his life in studying the word of God, and yet he wasted his time to show us our great error in keeping the commandments of God. He visited each one of us separately, and with a remarkable appearance of humility and meekness, tried to convince us of our mistake. To prove that the Sabbath of the Lord is no memorial to us poor Gentiles, he showed us the law as it is written in Deuteronomy (or, as I should think, spoken by Moses) as the real ten commandments written on the tables of stone. He claimed that the commandments as they are written in Exodus are only nine, hence cannot be those written on stone. He also told us that the Sabbath command is really the third commandment, and the fourth is a command to the Jews to remember that they were once in bondage, and that God brought them out with a high hand and an outstretched arm. So the Sabbath was a sign to the Jews only. From the words, “finished his work,” in Genesis, he claimed that God did more work on the seventh than on any other day. [The word used in Gen. 2:2 is ended, not finished.—ED.] To crown all, he deliberately tried to prove by three witnesses that Christ broke the Sabbath. These witnesses were Christ himself, John, and Justin Martyr. Christ broke the Sabbath by bidding a man take up his bed and walk, the carrying of burdens being forbidden on the Sabbath. His design was to prove to us that Gentiles are not under the law of God; and that no man can keep the first commandment, to say nothing of the Sabbath command. I reminded him that when our dear Redeemer was crucified, the cry was, “Away with Christ; crucify him;” now it is similar,—“Away with the Father; we want none of him or his cruel commandments that no one can keep.” If Gentiles are under no law, why need they be constrained to repent of their sins? Sin is the transgression of the law, and we know of no law we have transgressed but the law of God. But the word tells us we must repent toward God, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now if we are not under God’s law while in the bondage of sin, we might begin to fear that the God of the Jews is not the God of the Gentiles; and that the Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, is not our Father. To whom, then, shall we pray? Our Saviour bade us say, “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name,” and I thank God I can say this from my heart; for I love the Father as well as the Son, and I love all his commandments: they are holy, just, and good. I pray to the Father in the name of the Son; for we can approach the sublime presence of Jehovah, even in prayer, only in the name of his beloved Son. We cannot come to him by the deeds of the law; for all, both Jews and Gentiles, have sinned. I think the Bible says that if the Gentiles do from the heart the deeds of the law, it shall be accounted to them for righteousness. Oh! if people could only realize, before they dare to tamper with God’s holy law, that they are under condemnation through transgressing it, and only under grace through repentance of their transgressions, they would not take upon themselves the task of breaking up a little body of commandment-keepers who are watching and waiting for the coming of the Lord, and striving, through the blood of the Lamb, to overcome their many faults. What misguided beings are they who are blown about by every wind of doctrine; what an unhappy lot is theirs. May God help them to see the dangerous ground they stand upon when they meddle with the sacred words our God has spoken with his own voice, and written with his own finger. My heart leaps for joy when I think, If God be with us, who can be against us? What power can throw down the work of his hands? I praise him for the solid rock he has given us to stand upon; and though winds may blow and waves dash against it, it can never be moved. — Two millions of dollars have been spent upon the still unfinished Roman Catholic cathedral in New York. — The deficit of the bank of Glasgow is £6,190,983, or $29,964,357.72. — The volcanic activity of Vesuvius has greatly increased. — The Chicago Tribune of Oct. 14 gives an approximate list of the deaths from yellow fever since its first appearance this year, which foots up 10,750. — Since the opening of the Paris exhibition, 600,000 portions of the Bible, in 22 languages, have been issued from the Bible stand of the French Exposition. — In Ireland there is one criminal to every 141 Romanists, one to every 162 Episcopalians, and one to every 429 Presbyterians. — The Sandwich Islanders have for several years given voluntarily about $24,000 per annum for the support of the gospel at home and on adjacent islands. — The most severe storm for fifteen years prevailed along the coast of Massachusetts, Oct. 12. There was immense damage to shipping, and some loss of life. — Reports are given of serious disasters to shipping on the east shore of Lake Michigan—effects of the late storm. — A dispatch from Berlin, dated London, Oct. 16, says the Porte has warned the press of Constantinople to avoid the expression of anti-Russian sentiments, as Turkey is again on the most friendly terms with Russia. — A telegram received at Vienna, Oct. 16, states that the district of Northern Krdina has been subdued after various engagements, which cost the Austrians 500 men killed. — There were between 4,000 and 5,000 persons in the Coliseum Theater, Liverpool, on the evening of Oct. 12, when a cry of fire was raised, causing a terrible and fatal panic. There seems to have been, not a fire, but a free fight in the pit. Thirty-seven were killed. The Advance says there seems to have been “crookedness” at the bottom of the failure of the bank of Glasgow. Extensive financial troubles appear to be close upon Great Britain. — The present Queen of Madagascar has formally repudiated the worship of idols. Three thousand three hundred Bibles have since been bought by the natives, and paid for, in a single week. — A recent fire in Pittsburg, Pa., destroyed between $350,000 and $400,000 worth of property. Two hundred and twenty-five buildings were destroyed; there is much suffering among those thus rendered homeless. — Dispatches from Bombay, dated Oct. 16, state that the Ameer of Afghanistan is endeavoring to raise a religious war among the Mohammedans of Central Asia against England. — About 2,500 negroes recently surrounded Waterproof, La., threatening to sack and burn the town. Oct. 15, a fight occurred with the negroes, at Goldman's field, four miles above Waterproof. Later dispatches report all quiet. — A letter from Shanghai, in relation to the famine in China, says millions of people in that country are eating the bark that makes the shoe roof. Human flesh is sold in the market. Parents are killing and selling their children to prolong their own existence. — The Constantinople correspondent of the London Daily News writes that anarchy prevails throughout the whole Ottoman empire, and that, in both Europe and Asia, ambitious men are taking advantage of the state of affairs to advance their own interests. — It is estimated that in the trouble with the Cheyennes who crossed the Union Pacific railroad, Oct. 7, the number of citizens killed was forty-three. Official reports state that destitution, lack of food, led the Indians to these hostilities. — There is a growing feeling in England, it cannot be denied, that Beaconsfield did not make so good a trade for his country at Berlin after all; that the blaze of glory which so dazzled the English people for a time, and still dazzles them, means some very heavy bills for fireworks. Some who stood by Beaconsfield go so far as to say that he was no match for the wily Bismarck. Undoubtedly England has undertaken grave responsibilities and assumed weighty burdens. The growth of this feeling is increased by the depression of business in England, which begins to tell upon strong concerns, and by such shocks to confidence as was occasioned by the great failure in Glasgow. With all the “hard times” we have seen in this country, we enjoy advantages here for which we cannot be sufficiently thankful, one of the greatest of which is our freedom from entangling alliances.—Boston Herald, Oct. 13.