Review and Herald, Vol. 50, No. 3.
MAGNIFICENT AURORA BOREALIS ENCOMPASSING THE WHOLE FIRMAMENT TO ITS FARTHEST BOUNDS.—1837Page 1
Earlier text: REMARKS ON ZECHARIAH 14GOD WILL BE RESPECTED AND OBEYED.
By Albert Stone
The prosperity of earthly governments depends upon having good laws, good rulers, and virtuous citizens. The same is true in the government of God. Hence, “righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Heaven is a unit in acknowledging the constitution formed by God, and the laws he has ordained. And such acknowledgment is the only true position of God’s people in this world. But until earthly governments have passed away as the chaff of the summer threshing floor, the people of God must be content to be strangers and pilgrims on the earth. In the meantime, it is their duty to respect God and obey his law in anticipation of the time when his will shall be done on earth as it is in Heaven. At present they must fight the good fight of faith; and thus lay hold of the promised reward. To crucify the flesh and overcome the world, will require their utmost efforts. It is well to have respect unto the recompense of the reward, but even this must be subordinate to our respect for him who is to bestow on us the reward. To labor unselfishly to honor God, is a sign of grace in the heart. Unselfishness is a characteristic of God, of Christ, and of the angels. This characteristic will be prominent in all who live out the principles of Bible religion. To be a Christian is to be assimilated to Christ. God has a perfect arrangement, and if we do not come into it, or having come into it, diverge from it, because of blind selfishness, we just put ourselves outside of the only plan by which we can be saved. God’s plan is perfect; to change it would be to make it imperfect; it is therefore arbitrary in the sense that it cannot be changed without injury to all parties. God is full of love, compassion, and accommodation. The gospel is a system of accommodation to man’s wants. But man must not interfere with its terms or provisions. These are fixed by infinite wisdom and goodness; they are perfect, and will resist all attempts to add to them or take from them. Unconditional acceptance and submission is God’s requirement and man’s necessity. Many ostensible helps are offered to religion by its professed friends, which are disrespectful to God and ruinous to men. Much labor has been spent to separate religion from moral principle, and thus make it acceptable to the carnal mind. The long train of church festivals and pleasure-seeking arrangements now practiced by the nominal churches evince a powerful effort of the enemy to reduce religion and its Author to the low level of fallen man. Unbelief and the rejection of present truth has caused a vacancy in the ranks of God’s professed people, which fallen angels are filling up with great rapidity. Thus the religion of the crucified One is disemboweled, its carcass embalmed and made the welcome home of foul spirits and unclean birds. Such is the effrontery offered, by the would-be friends of religion, to the Father and the Son. But the sequel is yet to come, and nigh at hand. Every act of disrespect to God will be avenged, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. ALBERT STONE. YOUNG MAN, YOUNG WOMAN, EDUCATE YOURSELF.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
In the State of New York alone there are more than one hundred young men and women, between the ages of fourteen and twenty-two, children of our Sabbath-keepers, who ought this day to be in our school at Battle Creek. Some of them can come just as well as not. Their parents are able to send them, and are willing to do it. With some it would require a little effort. Their parents would send them if they were particularly anxious. In other cases it would require a great effort to go. They would have to save every dollar, wear the cheapest clothing, and live very plainly in order to go there; but they can do it if they have a will. Dear young friends, let me advise you by all means to seize the opportunity and go if you can. Now is your time, if ever, to secure an education. With you, these are golden moments. Once passed, they are gone forever. These very few years in this part of your life will decide largely what you are to be mentally. Let these years slip by without obtaining an education, and you will probably be an uneducated person for the remainder of your life. The cares of the world will press heavily upon you, and you will find no opportunity to attend school. Furthermore, it is in these years of youth that we can learn the fastest, and retain what we learn the longest. The mind is now impressionable, and ideas once received and stamped upon the memory are never forgotten. Will you sit idly down, and let these moments slip away from you forever, and the golden opportunity be lost? Take my advice, seize the moment and make the most of it. Make any reasonable sacrifice to gain an education. Don’t be ashamed to wear plain clothing or to live on plain fare. Save every penny, work for your board, work during vacation. Interest some friend to lend you a little means for a few years. Try some plan. Where there is a will, there is a way. If you are really in earnest about this matter, there is more than one way to bring it about. Providence will favor you, friends will help you. Don’t say, “I can’t,” but say, “I will,” and lay your plans to do it. Did you ever hear any man say he was sorry that he educated himself when young? Not one. Did you ever hear any body say, “I am sorry now that I did not obtain an education in my youth?” Yes, hundreds of them. You can hear every day, men who failed to obtain an education saying that they have regretted it all their lives; and you will feel the same about it when you are older. Young man, you are eighteen or twenty, or perhaps two or three years older. Now, think of it. The next three or four years spent at school will secure you a fair education. How much that will be worth to you! But suppose you do not undertake it, what do you expect to accomplish in those few years? The probability is that you will accomplish very little, if anything. You will work a little, run around a little, and spend all you get when the years are up. Then your time is gone, and the opportunity is lost. You will have but little more than you would if you had gone to school. You will be sorry for it when it is too late. Suppose you do go to school till you are twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and go out at that time with only a good education, without a dollar in the world; or, suppose that to get an education you have actually had to run in debt from one hundred to five hundred dollars, what of it? Many a man finds himself at the age of thirty-five or forty, with a family on his hands, without a dollar in the world, and in debt as much as that. Does he not live through it? Yes, and frequently soon straightens it all up, and makes a good fortune besides. Cannot you do it, then, when you have more years before you and fewer burdens to carry? Of course, you can. Don’t let such little things frighten you. Fortune favors the brave. If you will do your duty, you will find friends somewhere. Come, young friends, we want to see you in our school this fall. Come, brethren, help these young people, and help them now. TURKISH EMPIRE’S DOWNFALL.
REV. DR. NEWMAN, of the Metropolitan church, Washington, D. C., preached last night the second of a series of discourses he has prepared on the “Rise, Progress, and Fall of the Turkish Empire.” The learned doctor interprets, with much plausibility and ingenuity, certain prophecies of Daniel and Revelation as referring to the Turkish Empire, and as pointing directly to its certain and total destruction within a brief period. He demonstrates the Turkish Empire as the most cruel, heartless, vile and wicked of all the nations of the earth, and declares it to be the duty of England, France, Germany and Italy to unite with Russia in its overthrow. Believing, as the doctor does, that the prophecy of Daniel, “He shall come to his end and none shall help him,” refers to Turkey, he says of that Empire, “Her die is cast, her funeral knell is sounded;” that “no Christian nation in all Europe will dare help her, and that Russia will sweep the accursed Empire from the face of the earth.”—Chicago Evening Journal. TRUTH discovers the evil; grace puts it away. Truth unfolds what man is; grace unfolds what God is. Truth brings out into light the hidden workings of evil in the heart of man; grace brings out in contrast the rich and exhaustless springs of grace in the heart of God; both are needful,—truth for the maintenance of God's glory; grace for the establishment of our blessing,—truth for the vindication of the divine character and attributes; grace for the perfect repose of the sinner's heart and conscience. How blessed to know that both grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Parisian Shirts Printed with Koran Verses for Turkish Soldiers
A PARISIAN manufacturer has received an order from Turkey for a large number of white shirts, upon which extracts from the Koran are to be printed in sky blue letters. Upon a number of white woolen undershirts is to be stamped the signature of Mohammed. The articles are intended for distribution to Turkish soldiers when upon especially dangerous duty, to stimulate their courage under the impression that they are talismans. Make No Haste to Get Rich
Make no haste to get rich if you would prosper. I commenced a series of meetings at Wacousta, June 20, and to date, July 2, have given thirteen discourses. This is a very small country town, so I have to depend on the country around for a congregation. It is a very excellent farming community. The interest is decidedly on the increase. I have now reached the Sabbath question, and some excitement prevails. Some come five and six miles to attend the meetings. I find warm-hearted friends, who care for my wants and urgently invite me to their homes. They are mostly from the country, and are intelligent, fine-looking people. But thus far I have been alone; and as the weather has been such as to make it unsafe to leave the tent any length of time without care, I have been able to do but very little of that most important part of all our work—visiting, and praying with families. So far, I have done the work usually performed by two and sometimes by three, but still my strength and courage are good. I need assistance very much; and if there is a young man in the Michigan Conference who fears God and has this cause at heart and can endure hardness like a good soldier, I would be very glad to have him come and help me. We have now, July 2, been here nearly a week, and are having, the citizens say, the largest gatherings ever known in this village. The best of attention is paid, and we are expecting to see good results from this tent-meeting. There is a church of our people in this vicinity, but they are very much scattered. ILLINOIS
By G. W. Coleman; R. F. Andrews
We have now been here two weeks, and have spoken twenty times. Although we have taken more pains, and have incurred more expense in fitting up our pavilion than ever before, we believe our efforts are not more than the case demands. Our new tent does not leak. Most of the seats have backs. We have a pulpit-platform, arranged after the plan suggested by Bro. Canright; an organ, and a book stand. At eve we illuminate the tent with six jet-burning, gasoline lamps. It is a beautiful scene. The brethren and sisters near here take hold nobly. Bro. Geo. White, Durand, Ill., is with us to aid by way of printing. He uses his “amateur press” in our family tent. Some canvass; others scatter bills. Thus far, the prospect appears favorable. But this is a city of more than twelve thousand inhabitants, containing sixteen or more church edifices, with hundreds of communicants. We are now investigating the Sabbath question. Some ire is already manifested. We trust the interest is increasing. One of the foremen in the Rockford Watch Factory has concluded to keep God’s rest-day. His wife, this week, decides to do the same. We hope for others. G. W. COLEMAN. R. F. ANDREWS. June 30, we had an excellent meeting at Marshalltown. All took part in the social meeting. It was indeed cheering to see how earnest those were who have recently started to serve the Lord. A business meeting was held, and s. s. re-organized. The amount pledged was $95, and others not present will raise it to over $100. The one-third was added for the tract work. Ten copies of the SIGNS23were taken. Bro. C. A. Carter was elected elder. Several wish to unite with the church. We commenced meetings in Lancaster, county seat of Grant Co., July 1. About three hundred were present. They listened with rapt attention. Our hand-bills, which are quite extensively circulated, and our notice in the Grant Co. Herald, seem to have aroused quite a desire to hear on the subjects announced, and we are quite hopeful that much good may be done. The way opened remarkably for us to pitch the tent in Lancaster, and we are very cordially received. There are three papers published here, through which we hope to reach many who do not come to the tent. The editor of the Herald, which is said to be the most popular paper, attended our first meeting, remained for conversation with us, and solicited information concerning us as a people. He desires articles on our faith for his paper. We consider the proffered avenues for reaching the people providential openings. Nearly every influence is in direct opposition to the reception of this glorious message; but the results of this work are in the hand of God. I. SANBORN. ELDS. N. M. JORDAN AND A. D. OLSEN commenced tent-meeting in Wis. tent No. 5, June 28, at this place. NEWBURYPORT, MASS.
By C. W. Stone
Thus far the audience has been small, averaging one hundred and fifty; but it is composed mainly of very intelligent people, who are deeply interested in the truth as far as has been presented. Eld. Canright has spoken upon the personal advent of Christ, special signs of his coming, the image of Dan. 2, the vision of Dan. 8, the two-horned beast of Rev. 13, spiritualism, and the Judgment. There are many Adventists here, and a number of our hearers are orthodox. They all acknowledge the truth thus far, and say it seems very clear. Dr. Josiah Litch was present and dismissed the congregation Monday evening. Eld. Haskell spoke on Sunday afternoon, but is not here now. Monday morning the wind lifted our eighty-foot tent, taking up several stakes. We let it down through the windy day, and having made sure our “moorings,” we raised our tabernacle just in season for the evening lecture. C. W. STONE. DREAMINGS
By Mrs. Wm. Jones
We dream of a home in the valley of light,
Where storms never come, or mildew or blight;
Where flowers shall bloom, and fountains shall play,
In realms of the blest and in endless day. We dream of eternity, blessings, and rest;
We dream of the angels, purest and best,
Our companions at eve, at morning, at noon,—
No sorrow, no trial, no shadows, no gloom. But how little we work for that home over there!
How meager our watchings! how languid our prayer!
Awake! let us up and be doing; full soon
The summons will come. Are we ready for home? Dreaming we stand in the vineyard, I ween,
But watching the shadows, not gathering the grain;
Dropping the sickle when thorns prick our feet;
Seeking for pleasures, forbidden, though sweet;
Resting because we are tired, we say;
We'll work more to-morrow for resting to-day. Alas! and alas! The morrow may dawn,—
But the pathway we trod in the past is gone;
The angels bear record each step that we take,—
No backward account on the tablets of fate.
So awake! friends, awake! our courage renew;
No dreaming or idling, for Jesus, will do.
Go forward's the cry. Let us heed and obey;
We have slept through the night, let us work through the day. VEILE, DENMARK.
By John G. Matteson
We arrived safely at Veile a week ago Wednesday. Everything connected with the railroad in this country is in excellent order. They do not jerk and slam the cars together, but start carefully. The baggage is handled gently. The express trains run about twenty miles an hour. They have four classes. Third and fourth class is much cheaper than traveling in America; second class costs a trifle less than three cents a mile. The engines have no bell; the train comes up to the station very quietly; but the entrance to the railroad is shut at that time, and neither teams nor people are allowed to cross the track. My trunk with tracts and books, weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds. It cost nothing to Hamburg. From there to Veile, about one hundred and forty miles, delivered at my door, it cost $1.48. I had to pay 2½ cents in toll, after the officers had examined the contents carefully. The next day we went out in the country to visit some Sabbath-keepers. We found Bro. Melkjar six miles from Veile. He is united with us in the faith, and was very glad to see us. Yet there is no call for labor in his vicinity. Friday we walked eight miles, and found three families keeping the Sabbath. Another, a Baptist family, was well disposed to us, and attended Sabbath meetings. I held three meetings here. Sunday forenoon, about thirty came together. All paid good attention. We will look after this little company again, and try to help them further. These people are very plain, and live very economically. Health reform could not take away anything from their fare, but would add something more nourishing. We returned to Veile Monday, after having visited several families. The printer is working on a small hymn book for me (64 pp.), which I have to look after next week. To-morrow, I go out to see another little company of Sabbath-keepers, twenty-four miles from here. I have calls from other places, where there is a prospect of a more permanent work. This is a beautiful country. Our health is good. The Lord is merciful to us. We feel united with our dear brethren in America in the blessed truth. DALLAS, TEXAS.
By R. M. Kilgore
The quarterly meeting is just closed. Our large 50x70 tent came just in time to be used at this meeting. The outside attendance was small, and but few of our brethren from a distance were present. During the three days, ten meetings were held. We all enjoyed the blessing of God. The church was greatly encouraged and revived. Union and harmony prevailed. Systematic Benevolence was presented and re-organized, the pledge amounting to $435.00, and the church voted unanimously the one-third for T. and M. work. We presented the claims of the “Texas Mission” to the brethren with a pledge. The total, including that which has already been paid and pledged by those present, amounts to $435.87. Fifteen were added to the church, and nine were baptized. The meeting closed with the celebration of the ordinances. The Lord came very near to us by his Spirit. The brethren look forward with fond anticipation to the proposed camp-meeting, when they shall see and hear Bro. and Sr. White. Monday P. M. the tent was started for Cleburne, Johnson Co., fifty miles southwest from Dallas, where we expect to begin a course of lectures July 6. This will be our address for the present. INDIANA
By S. H. Lane; A. W. Bartlett; L. Caldwell
Thornstown, Boone Co., Tent No. 1.
THE interest at this place continues good. We have thus far given thirty-five discourses, and have held two Sabbath meetings, which have been well attended. Last Sabbath ten voted to observe the seventh day of the week as holy unto the Lord. Others are keeping the Sabbath who were not present. We feel greatly encouraged. Last Sunday we spoke on the subject of the “European War in Prophecy.” The tent was filled to overflowing, and many stood up, such was the interest manifested to hear upon this subject. Many came several miles; and ninety-five horses were hitched near the tent at one time. S. H. LANE.
A. W. BARTLETT.
L. CALDWELL. NEBRASKA
By CHAS. L. BOYD; HENRY SHULTZ
The new Nebraska tent is now pitched at North Bend, Dodge Co. Our meetings commenced June 22. Your prayers, dear brethren, are solicited. CHAS. L. BOYD.
HENRY SHULTZ. NEW HAMPSHIRE.
By D. A. Robinson
We have given twenty-three discourses at Westmoreland, and are now in the midst of the Sabbath question. Several are convinced we have the truth, and three have decided to obey. Our first Sabbath meeting will be held next Sabbath. We have a good many warm friends. They furnish us an organ free of charge, and a young lady who is interested plays for us. We have sold ten dollars’ worth of books, and given away a good many. We hope in God for success. KANSAS
By J. H. Cook; L. D. Santee
Our meetings at Limestone closed the 27th. The opposition here has been very bitter, but the people flocked out to hear and paid good attention. The interest deepened. Another family embraced the Sabbath. All expressed themselves much encouraged. We celebrated the ordinances for the first time at this new church. We commenced meetings at Amity the 28th. The attendance from the outside has been small; but there is a growing interest among the Sabbath-keepers. We expect to be able to complete the organization soon. Three were buried in baptism yesterday. The truth is steadily gaining foothold in this part of Kansas. J. H. Cook.
L. D. Santee. NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA.
We have held meetings each evening during the past week, with congregations ranging from one hundred to two hundred and fifty. We have never seen better attention given or better order observed than during our meetings here, so far. The brethren have manifested very much interest, some of them coming five miles every evening, and bringing their friends with them. One brother over sixty years old walks four and one-half miles to attend, and has not missed a single meeting. The brethren have also been very kind to us, doing all in their power to assist in every way. We have appointed the district meeting of the Tract Society of this district to be held in the tent the second Sabbath in July, at which time we hope to see a general gathering of the Sabbath-keepers in this section. Let all come prepared to take care of themselves as far as possible, as we expect a large gathering. B. L. WHITNEY.
M. H. BROWN. The cause here is progressing. The attendance has not been quite as large for the last week, as the ministers have discovered that open opposition only helps us, and they have adopted the old plan of staying away and trying to induce others to do so. The weather has also been more unfavorable. The night after the Sabbath, we had a most terrific storm that brought water into the tent to the depth of more than six inches around the stand and covering two-thirds of the ground under the tent; yet in the afternoon of Sunday, when the water was at its highest point of the natural flow, we had an attentive audience of over one hundred persons. About five o’clock, a dam gave way on the stream that flows back of the tent, and brought a freshet down upon us that raised the water to the depth of about two feet in the tent. This broke up our meeting in the evening; but yesterday (Monday) we got dried off and straightened out, so that last evening we had our usual audience and as interesting a meeting as any we have held yet. We have had two Sabbath meetings, and last Sabbath several committed themselves on the truth for the first time. Tent No. 2, Rutledge, N. Y.
We had a good meeting Sabbath. Three were baptized. Quite a number will go forward next Sabbath. Dear Bro. Cottrell made our heart glad by his presence and words of counsel and good cheer. He delivered a most effective discourse on Sunday morning. We were much encouraged by his brief visit. The work is onward. We are full of hope and confidence in the Lord. I came to this place, June 26. I visited the Canasaraga and Chittenango friends, and found them firm in the truth. Five of them united with the Kirkville church. Others will unite the first opportunity. Sabbath and Sunday, we had an excellent meeting at Bro. Kinne’s. One more was received into the church, making six in all. P. Z. Kinne was chosen elder, and Nathan M. Baker, deacon, and a clerk and S. S. treasurer were appointed. One brother seventy years old, who had belonged to the Baptists and first-day Adventists many years, united with the church. He said it was the best day he ever saw. Others who had almost given up were helped. I believe this church is going to come up again, and go to work for God. The ordinances were celebrated. A course of lectures ought to be given in this place, where so much truth has been spoken.