BRO. SMITH:—Please say through the Herald to the brethren in Vt., that our Tent is in the field, and as it is pitched in new places, it incurs some considerable expense. This is therefore to invite all friends who have the free-will offering, to forward their liberalities either to the brethren who are with the Tent, or to me, as is most convenient, that the Tent expenses may be met as we pass along.
Also, please say, that the Book Deposit for the Vt. Church, is with me where nearly all the publications are to be had.
I think we have reason to thank the Lord that our feeble efforts in the Tent, appear to be the means of good to many. Praise the Lord! Truth will triumph in the minds of the honest. He that hath ears to hear let him hear.
H. BINGHAM, for Committee.
Morristown, Vt., July 10th, 1856.
E. J. WEAVER
By E. J. Weaver
From Bro. Weaver.
BRO. SMITH:—Through the mercies of God I am still alive, although in a world of suffering and death. I have seen the need of a trust and firm reliance in my Saviour for a short time past, while disease and death has entered my peaceful family circle and snatched from my embrace a little daughter aged two years, and three months. Still unsatisfied, in a few short months death claims my companion, and now they sweetly sleep in the dust of the earth, ready to be awakened by the last trump.
Since the death of my wife, I have gazed upon the cold and lifeless form of a sister; and others within a short time have gone the way of all the earth, that have been near to me. But Christ has promised to redeem us from the power of the grave and destroy him that hath the power of death that is the devil! then let us take courage, prove faithful a few days longer, and God will give us rest. Brethren and sisters, aid me by your prayers.
E. J. WEAVER
Fredonia, Chaut. Co., N. Y., June 30th, 1856.
Book Notices.
By Editor
Through the kindness and courtesy of the Publisher we have received the following works:
Books and Tracts on the Future State.
The Unity of Man; or, Life and Death, Realities. Price 15 cts. Pauline Theology, or the Christian doctrine of Future Punishment, as taught in the Epistles of Paul. 15 cts. The Old Paths, or the primitive doctrine of a Future life. 18 cts. State of the Dead, by John Milton. 5 cts. Future Punishment, Destiny of the Wicked, each 3 cts.
Tracts on Prophecy.
The Church not in Darkness, The Last Days, A Voice of Warning from the Four Winds, The New Heavens and the New Earth, Noah, his Age and Ours, It is done, each 5 cts. An outline of the Coast of Man, 3 cts; and various other Tracts for the Times.
Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion, and Sign of the Times, by Wm. Ramsey, D. D. A good work on Spiritualism, in which the manifestations are shown to be the work of the emissaries of Satan. The writer appears to be a man of deep and extensive research, which is well brought to bear in the work before us. Though we conceive that the true and effectual way to meet Spiritualism, is by presenting the scriptural doctrine of man's unconsciousness in death, which this writer does not particularly use, though he does not oppose, there are nevertheless many other arguments which go to disprove the claims of Spiritualists. The work is worthy of a candid perusal. 122 pp. neatly bound, price 50 cts.
All the above works are published by H. L. Hastings, Peace Dale, R. I., and can be obtained by forwarding orders to his address.
Tent Meetings in Vt.
By A. S. Hutchins
Our first meeting with the tent for this season, was held at Waterville, June 14th, 15th and 16th. The greater part of the friends who came to hear knew but little respecting our views, except by report, which of course was quite unfavorable. But on First-day our congregation was quite large, and listened with interest to the word spoken. Several took books, with a desire to investigate the points of Bible truth presented.
Our convictions are that these meetings will prove a savor of life unto life, to some of the kind and candid friends there.
Before the commencement of the meetings the report was in circulation that each individual who entered the tent would be charged from three to six cents. How much surprised the congregation was to be welcomed to the tent without charge, we do not know. But several did seem quite astonished to learn that we have never taken up a public collection to defray our expenses; and well they might, for while we were erecting the Tent, one of the ministers of the place came under the tent and remarked (we were informed by a friend) that the tent was a money-making concern, and added that he presumed we had taken thousands of dollars under it. We pity this professed Christian minister, and are sorry that he had not learned that where the gospel is preached in its purity, that the hearers are not followed up with the collector's hat or box.
Our next meeting was held in Bakersfield, near Bro. A. C. Bourdeaux's. He did what he could to encourage his friends and neighbors to attend the meeting. On Sabbath we had the privilege of presenting the refining, saving truths of the last message of mercy, to more attentive hearers than we could have expected. On First-day our congregation was smaller than we had supposed it would be. The probability is that more would have been present if it had not been for a F. W. B. Quarterly meeting in that section. But the word was spoken with freedom. Bro. Bourdeaux, and family, and friends, were much interested in these meetings.
We do most earnestly pray that the Lord of the harvest may so guide Bro. B. that he can soon enter the field and labor for the rise and spread of the truths which have made his soul so free, among his brethren. Dear brethren, forget not to pray that the Lord would raise up and send out more laborers.
We next pitched the tent in South Troy. We were quite sorry to know that the leading Advent brethren in this place, who once rejoiced greatly in the soon coming of the Just One, were so strongly opposed to hearing us, as to employ a Methodist minister to preach to them, and that, too, within one fourth of a mile of the tent. Notwithstanding this very discouraging feature among those who once cheerfully left the fallen churches, and loved well the blessed sound of the coming of the Redeemer; yet we felt that our efforts to do the people good there would not all be lost; for some there love the truth and others are seeking for it. O, may the Lord stir up his professed people there, to an inquiring to know their true standing and situation in the mind of the great Searcher of hearts. "Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping."
Last Sabbath and First-day the tent was at Derby Centre. At the close of the first meeting on Sabbath, Elder Cummings, who has been so active in preaching the New Time theory, arose and requested the privilege of throwing in some objections to our views of the Sabbath, and of asking some questions upon the subject of the Sabbath, stating that his desire was to obtain light. This privilege was granted him in the next meeting. At the opening of this meeting we stated our position upon the Law of God, and our firm belief that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord. Eld. C. objected and took the no-Sabbath position; and as a matter of course mangled and wrested the Scriptures to sustain his groundless position. Our interview was some three hours long. Several seemed quite interested in the remarks made. But we do not know that Eld. C. was particularly benefited.
One thing is certain: unless he had more relish for the Sabbath truth, so clearly brought to view in God's sacred word, and so precious to all lovers of the holy Sabbath, than we had for his no-Sabbath heresy, he was not much fed and strengthened.
"When men oppose that law of love,
They lack the wisdom from above;
Deluded souls! they're in the dark,
Without the truth—without the Ark."
In our interview Eld. C. admitted if there is any Sabbath, that the seventh day is the Sabbath: also that he had not the least doubt but that the seventh day comes on the day usually called Saturday.
On First-day our congregation was large, and listened attentively to the word spoken. We were informed that many were convinced, or rather well convicted of the truthfulness of our position on the Sabbath question. We left Derby, confidently believing that our efforts there will certainly be blessed of our heavenly Parent; and that some of those dear friends will by and by keep all the Commandments of God. Bro. C. O. Taylor was with us in our last three meetings, and took part in speaking the word, for which we felt thankful.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
H. G. BUCK.
Barton Landing, Vt., July 8th, 1856.
P. S. In my last communication, for Bro. and Sr. Sheffield, of South Troy, read, Bro. and Sr. Litchfield.
A. S. H.
Business.
By Editor
B. M. Hibbard:—The INSTRUCTOR is thirty-six cents a volume. You can safely send by letter, either silver or postage stamps.
E. Temple:—The INSTRUCTOR sent to I. Temple is paid for the present volume.
O. M. Patten:—Your INSTRUCTOR has been sent to your address, in Mass., regularly, as long as the REVIEW.
L. N. Corruth:—You have paid only to the commencement of the present volume.
Receipts.
By Editor
S. Osgood, S. Sargent, L. Fogg, Mary Foster, S. H. Peck, (should have been receipted in No. 1,) J. Brezee, L. D. Weaver, F. Blinn, B. M. Hibbard, N. Andrews, A. Woodruff, (for A. L. Woodruff,) Geo. Davis, E. Temple, (for J. E. White,) B. Wilkerson, C. Osborne, P. Robinson, G. Kimble, S. S. Wade, Jona. Wade, S. B. Craig, J. L. Baker, H. H. Bramhall, A. Spencer, M. Brudage each $1.
Wm. Carpenter, J. Luddington, S. Woodhull, J. Backer, each $2. R. Hicks $0,50.
REVIEW TO THE POOR.
S. W. Rhodes $3. A. Woodruff $2. J. A. Wilcox $0,36.
Extracts from Letters.
By Editor
Bro. H. M. Kenyon writes from Monterey, Mich., July, 1856:—"I served the Enemy the most of my life till about four months ago; and I have found more peace and joy in striving to serve God since, than I have before in all my life.
"I am looking for the near coming of Christ, and if I ever found anything that cheered my heart, it is this. I am determined by the grace of God to be one of that happy number that shall walk o'er the sea of glass, and enter the golden City, New Jerusalem."
To Correspondents.
By Editor
G. W. A.—The Greek word kolasis, (defined by Robinson, a curtailing, pruning,) is found in the New Testament only in the following instances :
MAKING IT PLEASANT.—A writer in the Christian Register expresses the opinion that "another generation will look upon our custom of holding church at the hottest hour of the day in Summer as no less absurd than we consider our grandparents worshiping during Winter in churches entirely unwarmed." This writer, like a sensible man, wishes to make the journey to heaven as pleasant as possible, probably because when made so, it will prove twice as attractive to mankind. There is a double philanthropy, therefore, in his suggestion.
The Sabbath in Buffalo
By Editor
THE SABBATH IN BUFFALO.—The Mayor of Buffalo has made a movement for the better observance of the Sabbath, promising by proclamation to enforce the ordinances which forbid the opening of all shops, (except the barber shops, till ten o'clock.)
Receipts for Book Fund.
By Editor
H. N. Bates, Jona. Lamson, each $5. S. H. Peck, $3. C. Osborne, J. B. Lamson, M. Edson, each $2. R. Colby, L. Mann, D. Howard, P. M. Lamson, M. Lamson, C. Lawson, J. L. Baker, each $1.
Receipts and Pledges for Relief of Office.
By Editor
Of the following sums those that have been paid are so marked. The rest are pledges to be paid before the first of September next.
J. W. Stewart, (pd.) $3,00 | M. E. Cramer, (pd.) $0,57
A. Woodruff, (pd.) 5,00 | A. P. Lawton, (pd.) 3.00
E. S. Lewis, (pd.) 1,00 | H. N. Bates, 5.00
FOR TENT IN MICH.—Ch. in Shelby $5. H. D. Corey, E. M. L. Corey, each $1. Ch. in Monterey $10. M. A. Eaton $0,75. L. Kellogg, M. S. Kellogg, each $2. J. Whimre, $3.