p. 123 | Review and Herald, Vol. 27, No. 16. (3/20/1866)

Review and Herald

Mar 20, 1866

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 20, 1866

Spiritualism.

THE DOCTRINES OF SPIRITUALISM.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Tim. iv, 1.

As the Scriptures cannot be broken (John x, 35), the foregoing must be fulfilled "in the latter times," where it is believed we are now living. It is a well-known fact, that large numbers of the most noted Spiritualists have once been professors of religion, and members of churches. Many of their lecturers have been preachers of the gospel. Thus it is shown that the Scripture, just quoted, is not broken. If we did not see what we do, then it might be said, the Scripture has failed.

If, as we have endeavored to show, Spiritualism is but another name for Demonism, then the doctrines taught by the spirits and their followers, should be opposed to the Bible, in order to correspond with the rest of their teachings. We will now let the spirits and the Spiritualists tell their own story in their own language. Most of the evidence will be that which has been published in the Banner of Light, in Boston, which has been the leading Spiritualist paper for many years. Other Spiritualist papers and books publish the same. We will arrange their doctrines in the following twelve articles of faith, which we will call

THE SPIRITS' CREED.

1. The Bible is not a reliable book.

In the testimony of a spirit given in the Banner of Light, Nov. 23, 1861, it is said:

"Many times before have we said that we cannot place implicit confidence in that which we find between the lids of the Bible."

A spirit, claiming to be Rev. John Moore, says: "My friend asks, 'Do you believe the Bible?' I answer, No, I do not. I cannot believe one word of it as the word of God."

Another, when speaking of the Bible, says: "You may not place any confidence in that book. . . . I can assure my friend that God had no more to do with writing that book than he had; . . . and do not expect to create any light in the mental world, if you cling to your Bible."

A spirit, who claims to be Timothy M. Baker, says: "I've got folks in Montpelier, and . . . I want them to get my sister where I can talk to her straight as I do to you, and I'll knock her God and Bible all to nothing."

2. There is no sin.

These spirits say:—"We say, as we have said a thousand times before, there is no such thing as sin; no such thing as evil. . . . Now, then, if there is sin anywhere, God made that sin—he is the author of it." "The foundation of your religion is fast fading away. Soon we shall find you shaking hands with these new things. This must be so. . . . Jesus of Nazareth, if he were here to-day, would tell you as we tell you."

Another spirit, when speaking of sin, says: "Spiritually and divinely considered, there is no sin. Full well we know the book you call the Bible teaches of sin. Full well we know the whole Christian world recognizes such a condition; but, to us, there is no sin."

Another says:—"All men and women are equally righteous, because all are good. No matter where we find them, or under whatever condition they exist, they are good."

Says another:—"Every thought, word, and deed, is of God, and therefore modern Spiritualism is of divine origin. . . . The religion of the heathen is no less divine than is yours. God approved of it as well as yours."

Another spirit says:—"Everything that ever has been or ever will be, is an immutable decree of God. . . . There is not an atom in the universe but will at some time become an immortal spirit. . . . It is vain for man to talk about disobeying the law of God; he can at no time disobey it. . . . Every grain of sand you tread upon to-day, shall in time become an immortal soul, endowed with wisdom. . . . You may curse the Author of your being. Do you sin? No; you are but casting off the gross in your nature—obeying your God. . . . The highest archangel was once the lowest spirit on earth."

Says another spirit:—"'What!' says the self-righteous man, 'is God controlling the murderer when he lifts his hand against his brother?' Yes, we answer, he is, and every atom in nature proves us true."

Another says:—"We believe our God to be the author of sin, as of good. If we give him his due, we give him this."

3. There is no Devil.

The demons appear to be very anxious to have us believe that no such beings exist. This is just as we should expect. A thief would be glad to convince all his neighbors that there were no thieves, so that they would not lock their doors and safes, and then he could have free access to them. So, if the demons can convince us that there are no such beings, we shall not be on the watch for their snares. The following is their teaching on this point:

"There is no Devil either. . . . Seems to me man must be devoid of good sense to believe anything of the kind."

4. Christ is not raised.

A spirit says:—"But the question arises, What became of the body of Jesus? We answer, the friends of Jesus stole away the body. . . . So then, we will say the natural body of Jesus Christ was never re-animated after the crucifixion. All nature, our God, tells us

so."

How different the foregoing reads from the Bible on this subject. Says the apostle Paul, "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. . . . But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." 1 Cor. xv, 17, 18, 20. Luke says, "Jesus showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs." Acts i, 3. Peter said to the Jews, "Ye . . . killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses." Acts iii, 15.

5. Man is his own judge.

"Within the bosom of every man and woman, there is a judgment-seat, a throne of God; and before that, and that alone, should men bow down and worship. By that alone they are to be guided. He is to be judged by himself as a spirit; he is to come before no other tribunal. If by the law of self he is condemned, he must suffer according to the condemnation; if acquitted by self, he is indeed acquitted."

We need not stop to say that this is utterly opposed to the teaching of the Bible. According to this standard, if a man gets mad at his neighbor and kills him, no one must condemn him. Or if the seducer leads hundreds from the path of virtue, to gratify his beastly passions, which have completely seared his conscience about such things, "he is to come before no other tribunal" but "himself;" and his decision is, to seduce the next fair one he can find. This is but one item in the "new religion" of Spiritualism, which, it is said, will "exert a moral and reformatory power among the nations, and inaugurate the millennial era."

6. There is no resurrection of the dead.

A spirit says:—"We presume our good brother will ask if Jesus did not raise the dead? He never did, and never could." Another says:—"The grave is the resting place of the form we no more require." All the spirits and their followers, so far as we know, deny the resurrection of the dead, which is a cardinal doctrine of the Bible. Says the apostle Paul, "If the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised." Again he says, "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?" But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen." 1 Cor. xv, 12, 13, 16. It will be seen that the apostle was free to admit that Christianity was a failure, if the dead rise not. He says, "If after the manner of men I have fought with the beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." 1 Cor. xv, 32. Again we read, "The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 1 Thess. iv, 16. Says the Saviour, "Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John v, 28, 29. No doctrine is more plainly taught in the Bible, than the resurrection of the dead. This the spirits deny.

7. Man is his own Saviour.

"The only true religion, is a natural religion. . . . You are your own Saviours."

In answer to the question, "Did not Christ die, that through his death we might inherit eternal life?" a spirit answers, "No! Christ did not die, that through his death we might live. . . . His death has no more to do with the remission of your sins than the death of any of your martyrs."

Says a spirit: "No man should rely upon any Saviour outside of himself. . . . Each and every one is a Saviour, as he is a judge, a God."

The teaching of the spirits on this point is directly the opposite of that in the Bible. When speaking of Jesus, Peter says, "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." Acts iv, 12.

8. Christ will not come personally.

Said Leo Miller in a discourse at the Melodeon in Boston, June 2, 1860, "We behold in the advent of Spiritualism the second coming of the Spirit of Jesus of Nazareth."

So far as we can learn, all the spirits deny the personal coming of Christ. According to the teaching of the apostle John, this denial is one of the special marks of antichrist. When Jesus ascended, it was said to his disciples, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? this SAME Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven." Acts i, 11. No language could more plainly express the personal coming of Christ. Says the apostle, "The Lord HIMSELF shall descend from Heaven." 1 Thess. iv, 16. Christ came personally the first time, as such he taught in Jerusalem and elsewhere, was crucified, dead and buried, and "rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor. xv, 4. "This same Jesus" is the one who is to come again to raise the dead, and set up his kingdom. But all the spirits deny it. Which shall we believe? the Bible, or the spirits?—World's Crisis.

Waiting for Christ.

By C. H. Rogers

AIR.—Hazel Dell.

SAD and lone my weary watch I'm keeping, Pressed with many a fear, For my blessed Saviour now I'm waiting, When will he appear? While the scoffers round me walk securely, Smiling at my pain, I am waiting for a hope that surely Is my lasting gain.

CHORUS.

Sad and lone my watch I'm keeping, Pressed with many a fear; For my blessed Saviour now I'm waiting, When will he appear?

Signs and tokens now are fast fulfilling, Of the kingdom near, While the cry of sin and wrath is filling Every listening ear. While with anxious hope our minds subduing, Here we watch and pray, And with faith our weary hearts renewing, In this rugged way.

CHORUS. Sad and lone, &c.

Dearest Lord, we wait for thine appearing, Hasten the glad day, When our loved ones from their graves uprearing, Wake from slumbering clay; Then while floods of endless love come o'er us, Join with loud acclaim In the tones of joy that swell the chorus, To the Lamb once slain.

CHORUS. Sad and lone, &c.

C. H. ROGERS.

Mauston, Wis.

False Christs in the Last Days

By Editor

1866.

We pause upon the margin of 1866, and feel, as the students of prophecy have been giving out for ages, that it must bring forth occurrences of unwonted significance and moment to the church and to the race! Signs of various sorts are multiplying on every side.

False christs are appearing. We have just received certain printed documents proposing the re-organization of society, from one who announces himself as "The Promised Son of Man." He propounds his scheme as "the world's desired, prayed for, and expected kingdom of and from Heaven." He says, "Jesus, and the Christ in him, came the first time to preach about the kingdom spoken of by the prophets, which has been repeated unto this day; but now, having received the kingdom, and returned in the present Son of Man, I come not to preach about it, but to set it up, practically, without money, hire, or price, that the praying for it may be answered and ended."

Is not this in the direct line of the Saviour's words, that, as the day draws near, "there shall arise false christs, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth; behold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it not."

The Policy of Assassination.

WHEN the ball from the pistol of Booth went rudely crashing through the brain of President Lincoln, and his noble spirit passed to the bar of God, every one felt that whatever might be the effect upon the North, the deed was ruinous policy for the South. Roger A. Pryor is said to have declared at a public meeting in Petersburg, Va., that it was the severest blow the South had received. This appeared to be the prevalent feeling with thoughtful men both North and South. The thought was entertained and frequently expressed (by some as a hope, by others as a fear), that the Vice President was made of "sterner stuff" than the martyr who had fallen, and would deal with the rebels more severely, and more in accordance with their deserts. How far this hope has been realized, the country is generally aware. We are by no means willing to venture a wholesale and indiscriminate condemnation of President Johnson's exercise of the pardoning power. That its exercise, in many instances, was wise and just, none will dispute; and that the executive clemency has been freely, largely, recklessly, and even ridiculously extended, few thoughtful men in the North will deny. The present aspect of affairs both North and South, as compared with what it was ten months ago, is calculated to raise the question of the policy of assassination as a stroke of political expediency. The apparent success which, in the case under consideration, has attended a resort to the custom of mediæval and still more barbarous times, would seem to warrant the conclusion that this relic of barbarism has not lost its wonted power, even in the nineteenth century.

At the conclusion of the war, the rebels were subdued in spirit, humbled, almost terrified. They were ready to accept any terms. To-day they are bold, arrogant and defiant—more disposed to dictate than accept terms. While there is a faithful, and, fortunately for us, a large body of men in Congress who are disposed to insist on proper guarantees as regards the South, for the honor and peace of the nation in future, there are not wanting evidences of the revival of the spirit of compromise, which was the bane of our politics in the past. No terms will be accepted by the South now comparable with what would have been gladly accepted last spring. How far this state of things would have been different had Mr. Lincoln lived, is, of course, matter of conjecture. But we suppose few intelligent men in either section think it would have been anything like what it is.

While the deed of assassination may not have been prompted by the leaders of the rebellion at the moment of its execution, we are far from thinking that the profounder spirit who managed their cause from the beginning, and whose interests were inseparably linked with theirs, did not instigate the last and crowning act of malignity, as a master-stroke of policy in the interests of oppression. And though we have full faith that in this act of diabolism, as in all others, he will be ultimately outwitted, overreached, and crushed by the power of a mightier hand; yet he gains time, appears to succeed, and at least manages a hopeless cause with consummate skill.

The horror with which the deed of assassination was for a time regarded, led many to hope, and confidently to express the hope, that as this was the first attempt in the history of our country to decide political differences by the assassin's stroke, so it would be the last. But the recent somewhat doubtful attack upon Senator Wade, and the ill-concealed wish, if not purpose (in the current language of these men), of "putting Senator Sumner out of the way," raises the apprehension that in the management of our politics, the code of the duellist is hereafter to give place to that of the bandit, and consequently also, the startling inquiry, whether the nation is in the ascending or descending scale of civilization.—Christian Press.

"Trichina Spiralis."

EUROPE is afflicted at present in more ways than one. Hardly had the cholera disappeared when the cattle plague broke out, and now we hear that a still more alarming epidemic has seized upon the hogs. While the cattle in England are dying by the thousand, the hogs in Germany have been attacked by a species of worm called "trichina spiralis," which are so small that their presence can only be detected by the most careful microscopic examination. Already hundreds of people who had partaken of the pork thus tainted have died, and thousands are lying dangerously ill in consequence of it. Thus, in the Prussian village of Heidersleben, 350 persons have been taken sick and 90 have died, out of a population of 1,800. In each one of these cases the origin of the illness has been traced to the same source. In Brunswick, Magdeburg, and other districts, a number of similar instances have occurred, and the panic seems to have extended all over the country. At Berlin the hospitals are filled with patients thus afflicted, and the physicians daily report new cases in their private practice. Pork is, therefore, at a discount, and though in front of the butchers' stalls large placards announce that the meat has been microscopically examined, few can be induced to buy the dangerous article. At the same time, there are not wanting skeptics who pronounce the whole thing a humbug. At a public meeting convened recently at Berlin to discuss this question, which was attended by the magistrates and leading physicians, a veterinary surgeon, named Urban, declared that these worms had always existed, were entirely harmless, and that the excitement was all nonsense, got up by the press and the medical faculty. This assertion greatly exasperated the audience, and a member of the press, who was present, immediately challenged the skeptic to eat some of the sausage made out of the diseased meat, which the latter declined. But the cry "eat! eat!" becoming quite threatening, he finally consented to the ordeal, and ate a large piece.

The strangest part of the affair is, that in spite of all these solemn facts and the testimony of the most distinguished medical authorities, there should still remain any doubt about the poisonous properties of the meat attacked by trichina spiralis. Yet such seems to be the case, for the German papers teem with arguments on both sides of the question.

As far as we can learn, these worms seem to exist only in the lean portion of the flesh, not in the fat. In the human body they chiefly attack the muscles, and cause, if not death itself, paralysis. Under the microscope their heads present the same formation as those of the tape-worm.

A Cincinnati paper says:—Good people who dearly love a roast of pork, a slice of ham, or a savory sausage, have flattered themselves that trichinæ were indigenous to Germany, and would confine their labors to the domesticated and demoralized offspring of the wild boar of the Thuringian forests. Not a bit of it. Since the German physicians have made such valuable use of their microscopes, others have been engaged in the inspections of pork, and the result is the announcement that trichinæ have developed themselves in the swine of America. The Chicago papers inform us that a load of pork put on sale at Peoria, Illinois, last week, was examined microscopically, and two of the hogs were alive with trichinæ. Dressed hogs examined at Dixon, were also discovered to be inhabited by these infinitesimal creatures. The St. Louis papers of Saturday announce the poisoning of two families in that city from eating "diseased pork," though no attempt appears to have been made to discover the character of the disease.

There are two ways of keeping trichinæ out of the human stomach. Buy a microscope or leave off eating pork. If you are as fond of roast pig as Charles Lamb

was, and will have it, keep a microscope in your kitchen. It will have to play an important part in domestic economy. Engage no cook who is not as familiar with a microscope as with a waffle-ring. Avoid sausage—German sausage, (imported particularly). Yield not to the temptation of Bologna, and eschew Westphalia ham. Eat sparingly of pork, though you know who raised it, and are positive that it was corn-fed. A microscope would not be objectionable by the side of your plate, to inspect the morsel that tantalizes you on the fork's end. It will be a slow process, this inspection by mouthful, but it will be safe.

Noah's Carpenters.

By James White

[Bro. White:—I copy the following, believing that it will be beneficial to many of the readers of the Review. P. Strong.]

"Henry," asked the elder of the younger, "do you know what became of Noah's Carpenters?"

"Noah's Carpenters!" exclaimed Henry; "I didn't know that Noah had any carpenters."

"Certainly he must have had help in building one of the largest and best proportioned ships ever put on the stocks. There must have been many ship carpenters at work for a long time, to have constructed such a vessel in such an age. What became of them, think you, when all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened?"

"What do you mean by such a queer question?" Henry replied.

"No matter what, just now. Please answer the inquiry. And you may also tell me, if you will, what you would have done in that dreadful hour, when the storm came in its fury, and Noah's prophecies were all fulfilled, and all but the family of the preacher of righteousness were ready to be engulfed in those black waters?"

"I don't know," said Henry, in a half-thoughtful, half-trifling manner; "but I think I should have got on the rudder."

"That is human nature exactly, Henry. It would 'climb up some other way,' rather than enter the fold by the only door. It will 'get on the rudder,' in its pride and short-sightedness, rather than go into the ark of safety. It will save itself by hanging on, at the hazard of being swept into the gulf of despair, instead of being saved by the provisions of infinite love.

"But I'll tell you plainly what I mean, Henry, by Noah's carpenters. You have been kindly and generously giving me your aid, day after day, in building an ark in N——, by which many, I trust, will be saved. I feel grateful for your help. But I greatly fear that, while others are rejoicing in the fruits of our labors, you will be swept away in the storm of wrath which will by and by beat on the heads of those who enter not the ark Christ Jesus. No human device will avail for you. 'Getting on the rudder' will not answer; you must be in Christ, or you are lost. Remember Noah's carpenters, and flee to the ark without delay." *

Though Noah's carpenters were all drowned, there are a great many of the same stock now alive—those who contribute to promote the spiritual good of others, and aid in the up-building of the Redeemer's kingdom, but personally reject the great salvation.

Sabbath-school children, who gather in the poor, or contribute their money to send libraries or tracts and books to the West, or to aid the work of missions, and yet remain unconverted, are like Noah's carpenters.

Teachers in Bible-classes and Sabbath-schools, who point their pupils to the Lamb of God, but do not lead the way, are like guide-boards that tell the way, but are not travelers on it; or like Noah's carpenters, who built an ark, and were overwhelmed in the waters that bore it aloft in safety.

Christless parents, who instruct their children and servants, as every parent should, in the great doctrines of the gospel, yet fail to illustrate those doctrines in their lives, and seek not a personal interest in the blood of Christ, are like Noah's carpenters, and must expect their doom.

Printers, folders, sewers, and binders, engaged in making Bibles and religious books, booksellers and hawkers, and publishers of religious newspapers, who are doing much to increase the knowledge of the gospel and to save souls, but so many of whom are careless about their own salvation, will have the mortification of knowing, that while their toils have been instrumental of spiritual good to thousands, they were only like the pack-mule that carried a load to market without tasting it; or like Noah's carpenters, who built a ship they never sailed.

Wealthy and liberal, but unconverted men, who help to build churches and sustain the institutions of the gospel, but who "will not come unto Christ that they may have life," are hewing the timbers and driving the nails of the ark they are too proud or too careless to enter. Perhaps they think they will be safe on the "rudder;" but they may find too late, that when they would ride they must swim—when they would float they must sink, with all their good deeds, unmixed with faith, as a millstone about their necks.

Moralists, who attend church and support the ministry, but who do not receive into their hearts the gospel they thus sustain, are like Noah's carpenters.

Professed ministers of the gospel, who preach the truth without practicing it, who commend the love of Christ without experiencing it, who guide the wandering to the fold of Christ without entering it themselves—are they not like Noah's carpenters? If Paul might indulge the apprehension least, when he had "preached to others" he should himself "be a castaway," may not those of us who follow at a sad distance from Paul in the Christian race, well see to it that we are not left to buffet the waves of an overwhelmed world, when some of these we have led into the ark are borne triumphantly above the billows in which we are engulfed?

Reader, the ark, Christ, is now ready. Mercy still lingers. Hasten then to Christ and be saved.

The Fearful State of the South.

THE following is from evidence before the Reconstruction Committee. It is simply one of the thousand of similar testimonies, daily spread before the country.

DISORGANIZATION AT THE SOUTH.

‘The evidence before the Reconstruction Committee in regard to the state of the South is of a startling character. Nearly all the witnesses agree that the state of things has been daily growing worse since the surrender. Citizens from Virginia and North Carolina represent a most deplorable condition of affairs in portions of these States. In some sections, all the Union men, who are able, are moving with their families.’

We subjoin a portion of a recent and very able letter to Speaker Colfax, from that brave, frank man, and sterling patriot, Governor Brownlow of Tennessee.

‘I tell you, and through you all whom it may concern, that without a law to disfranchise rebels, and a force to carry out the provisions of that law, this State will pass into the hands of the rebels, and a terrible state of affairs is sure to follow. Union men will be driven from the State, forced to sacrifice what they have, and seek homes elsewhere. And yet Tennessee is in a much better condition than any of the other revolted States, and affords a stronger loyal population.

‘Those who suppose the South is 'reconstructed,' and that her people cheerfully accept the results of the war, are fearfully deceived! The whole South is full of the spirit of rebellion, and the people are growing more bitter and insolent every day. Rebel newspapers are springing up all over the South, and speaking out in terms of bitterness and reproach against the government of the United States. These papers lead the people, and at the same time reflect their sentiments and feelings. Of the twenty-one papers in Tennessee, fourteen are decidedly rebel, outspoken and undisguised, some of them pretending to acquiesce in the existing state of affairs. In all the vacancies occurring in our legislature, even with our franchise law in force, rebels are invariably returned, and in some instances, rebel officers, limping from wounds received in battle, fighting against the United States forces! And yet, I tell you that Tennessee is in a better condition than any other revolted State.

‘Others will give you a more favorable account; I can not in justice to myself and the truth. I think I know the Southern people. I have lived fifty-eight years in the South, of choice, and two at the North, of necessity.

‘I have the honor to be, very truly, etc.,

‘W. G. Brownlow, Governor, etc.’

The Unity of the Bible.

As in Beethoven's matchless music there runs one idea, worked out through all the changes of measure and of key, now almost hidden, now breaking out in rich natural melody, whispered in the treble, murmured in the bass, dimly suggested in the prelude, but growing clearer and clearer, as the work proceeds, winding gradually back until it ends in the key in which it began, and closes in triumphant harmony; so throughout the whole Bible, there runs one great idea—man's ruin by sin, and his redemption by grace; in a word, Jesus Christ, the Saviour. This runs through the Old Testament, that prelude to the New, dimly promised at the fall, and more clearly to Abraham; typified in the ceremonies of the law; all the events of sacred history paving the genealogies of Ruth and Chronicles; spoken of as Shiloh, by Jacob, as the Star, by Balaam, as the Prophet, by Moses; the David of the Psalms; the Redeemer looked for, by Job; the Beloved of the Song of Songs. We find them in the sublime strains of the lofty Isaiah; in the writing of the tender Jeremiah; in the mysteries of the contemplative Ezekiel; in the visions of the beloved Daniel; the great idea growing clearer and clearer, as the time drew on. Then the full harmony broke out in the song of the angels, "Glory to God in the highest; on earth, peace, good-will toward men." And Evangelists and Apostles taking up the theme, the strain closes in the same key in which it began; the Devil, who troubled the first paradise, forever excluded from the second; man restored to the favor of God; Jesus Christ the key-note of the whole.—American Messenger.

The Dreams of Roman Catholic Chiefs

THE dreams of our Roman Catholic chiefs in regard to America, will be seen by the following extract:

"It was a policy of imperial Rome to open her gates to every form of heathenism. Every god was tolerated, every god was accepted, no matter how incongruous or contradictory its presence by the side of others. The Empire was intent upon one thing—aggrandizement—and for religion it did not care. Thoughtful men smiled or sneered at those mythologies and divinities and their forms of worship, and the people became cold and indifferent to them. They were dying of this contempt, when, behold, the newly-imported presence of the Fisherman into their midst, with his catechism of Christian doctrine, inspired one and all with a new life and energy; the gods began to speak, and the people began to hear them. It was not that a new faith had been awakened in their old idolatry, but a new hostility and hatred had been aroused against the majesty of consistent truth, which stood before them humble, yet confounding them. They began to school themselves to become devout pagans, and to prove the sincerity of their convictions by endeavoring to smite down a divine figure of the Catholic Church which claimed a universal homage and a universal power. Events strangely repeat themselves in the world. That which occurred among the sects of ancient Rome, is now taking place among the sects of America. Men smile at their pretensions; their convictions are not moulded by them, and they will not submit to their discipline, or bow to their authority. But the sects object to death, and they think to prolong the term of their existence, not by a life of faith, but by a life of sustained enmity against the religion which is strongly gaining upon them, and supplanting them in the mind and affection of the people.—Dublin Review.

Report from Tuscola, Mich.

By Dudley Marvin Canright; Isaac D. Van Horn

Our meetings in this village have just closed. We have been here six weeks and have given about forty-five lectures. The opposition of our enemies has been very strong here from the first. When it was known that we intended to come here, a protracted meeting was "long drawn out" to keep us away. But at length, failing to get hearers, this stopped, and we began our meetings. We have had a large attendance all the time, and especially the last week. About the middle of the meetings the Methodists put in an appointment right on the top of ours. This only served to expose what spirit they were of, and turn the people in our favor. Then Eld. Silliman so utterly failed in his attempt to prove a Sunday-Sabbath that it still further opened the eyes of the people. Seeing all things going on so well, they at length tried to shut the house; but here they failed again as the mass of the people were in our favor. Not satisfied with these efforts, professors, and even ministers, have circulated all sorts of slanderous reports about us and our brethren. To this we pay no attention but keep steadily at work in our Master's business. Finding that none of these things move us, but that the truth was gaining ground every day in the county, the anger of some of the ministers was no longer restrainable. It was manifested in so harsh and unchristian a manner that many declared that they would never go to hear them again. All this only serves to bring out the honest from the fallen churches, and confirm our friends in the truth. As Paul says, "We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth."

The result of our labor is that about forty have embraced the truth and are now keeping the Sabbath. Others are investigating with a good prospect of obeying. It has been frequently objected to our views that we only made converts from other churches without converting any from the world. But so far as our experience goes the reverse is the case, as the most of those who embrace the truth have made no profession before. In this place many families have erected the family altar where one month since God was not reverenced nor his word read. Last Sabbath about sixty were out. In our social meeting about twenty-five testimonies were given and about twenty arose for prayers. This was a sight to make a Christian's heart rejoice. We trust that the work has only just begun, and that the Lord will carry it on to the glory of his name.

Some of our Wesleyan brethren have been very kind to us here, and rejoice with us in the work which God has wrought in this place. May the Lord bless them, and give them hearts to walk in all the light of his word.

We have obtained 17 subscribers for the Review, and 5 for the Instructor, and sold a large quantity of books. Our expenses have been about $15.

D. M. Canright, I. D. Van Horn.

Report from Bro. Taylor.

By C. O. Taylor

BRO. WHITE: It has not been for the want of something to write that I have been silent so long. After laying our children away to rest, till the indignation be past, we felt that our home duties were much lessened, and that we had more time to devote to the wide harvest-field.

In company with Mrs. T. we left home the 24th of Nov. last, to attend the Quarterly Meeting at Buck's Bridge. It proved to be a good one. God owned his truth and people. Sister S. Whitney, of Malone, came to enjoy the prayer of faith, that she might be healed. The Lord answered, and she returned to her home sound.

Was with the church at Norfolk from Nov. 29 till Dec. 5. Had meetings every evening and Sabbath. The interest continued to rise till the last.

We passed on to our native town, to enjoy, for a few days, the society of our relatives. Had sweet seasons in talking, praying, and singing, and the falling tear told that the heart felt.

Dec. 9 and 10, were with the Champlain church. They are few in number, but there are good souls there who are pressing on toward a home in the kingdom. Their numbers have been thinned by removals and deaths.

From the 16th to the 18th we were with the church at West Enosburgh, Vt. Had religious meetings on Sabbath and first-day, and business meeting on Monday, all of which were satisfactory and profitable for the church and cause of truth in that section. A great change has taken place since my first visit to that place, eight years ago. The Lord has raised up a large church, and everything to carry forward the third and last message. The kindness of the Brn. Bourdeau and families, made us feel perfectly at home. We found Bro. D. T. living out the laws of hygiene as strictly as though he had been at "Our Home," and gaining health and strength fast. Those who have assisted him in the recovery of his health, will not lose their reward. We shall long remember our visit with them.

We returned, and were with the Champlain church the 23d and 24th. Did what we could for them, yet not all that we wished to, on account of the bad roads, and the brethren being scattered, and not getting together.

During the following week we visited scattered families and brethren in Franklin Co., going from house to house, speaking words of cheer and comfort, praying with them, &c. We found it good to be in our Master's service, trying to prepare a people for his coming.

The 30th and 31st we attended the Quarterly Meeting at Bangor, which was the best that I had attended at that place for the last year, and but for one exception it would have been a sweet, heavenly sitting together.

The evenings of Jan. 2 and 3, 1866, we met with the church at Norfolk. Found them still willing to hear the plain testimony, and to profit by it; and when we left them we felt the truth was sinking down and taking root. We reached home the evening of the 4th.

I look back on this trip, and see many bright spots. Many times my own spirit was watered as I endeavored to water others.

Yours to toil here, and in hope of rest when the immortal age shall come.

C. O. TAYLOR.

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