Earlier text: EDITORIAL NOTESAMONG all the prayers which are offered to our Heavenly Father, he has honored some few by giving them a place in his word: some very short ones, like that of the publican, but all models after their kind. Daniel's prayer is a model of the large-heartedness of a man who lives in the life of God more than in his own, and has God's interests more at heart than his own. He tells us (verse 20) that he was “praying, and confessing his sin and the sin of his people Israel, and presenting his supplication before the Lord his God for the holy mountain of his God.” Here was a man whose life was so faultless that his bitterest enemies could not find a flaw, unless it was that he loved God too much. He was called by God the “man greatly beloved” (chap. 10:19), yet it was this man who lay low before God in confession for himself and his people. How was it? One reason was that the purer the atmosphere becomes, as we live in more close and unbroken communion with God, the less can we tolerate a speck of dust upon us, and that which we once saw not to be sin becomes intensely hateful. Another reason was that Daniel's inner life was not for himself; he lived for God and for God's people. He was a part of Israel; their sins were his sins, their shame his shame. He realized, by the unselfish love of his heart, the Christian principle, we are “every one members one of another” (Rom. 12:5), and undoubtedly he drank into the same spirit with Paul, when he said (2 Cor. 11:29), “Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?” It is humbling to us Christians, when we find a man of the old dispensation carrying out in his life a principle which was not in his days revealed in the word of God, while we, who have our Lord's example and his teaching, and that of the apostles, live so often a life of self, even in spiritual things, making our own joy or our own progress the end of our being, instead of “bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfilling the law of Christ.” Gal. 6:2. We are ready to condemn the sins of others, and to rejoice, like the Pharisee, that we are not as other men are. But who among us is humbled and crushed under the sins of others, so as to bear on their hearts the sins of their church, their family, their town, their nation? Then Daniel was well aware whether or not he was in the presence of God, for he was before the Lord his God; and he prayed, not for himself, but for “the holy mountain of his God.” And it was a time solemnly set apart, with “fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.” And he addresses God thus: “O Lord, the great and dreadful God [or wonderful God], keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.” Verse 4. Thus his first thoughts in prayer are of God's faithfulness, as though he would steep his soul in the character of God before he made one request before him. Then he makes a full confession: “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled.” He makes no excuse; on the contrary, he cuts away all shadow of excuse from under the feet of his people, acknowledging, “Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name.” Then he draws a sorrowful contrast, but, oh, how just! “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day.” And he repeats the same in the eighth verse, adding, “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him.” It was an uncompromising avowal—confusion of face, no power, no right to look God in the face; and he adds that this confusion belongs “to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.” “Yea,” he continues, “all Israel have transgressed thy law.” There is no exception made in his own favor, or that of his companions in Babylon, or of any of the good kings or prophets which had been before him. “Therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. And he hath confirmed his words which he spake against us.” (See Lev. 26:14–39; Deut. 28:15–68.) Daniel seems all through his prayer to have it at heart to justify his God, as though he would say, “We have nothing to say for ourselves, we had nothing else to expect; thou hast but been true to thy word, thou couldst not have done otherwise.” “Under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.” Probably Daniel, who prayed three times a day with his window open toward Jerusalem, had never ceased to pray for that beloved city; but, taking his place now as an intercessor for his nation, he comes down to their level, and makes no distinction between himself and them, for in his prayer he was Israel, and not Daniel. It was something of the same spirit which actuated Paul when he said, “Unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, . . . that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Cor. 9:20–22. Paul lost sight of Paul to gain souls, and Daniel lost sight of Daniel to intercede for and bear upon his heart his nation's sins. Oh, how few there are among us who have anything like this largeness and nobility of heart! “Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth; for we obeyed not his voice.” It is touching to see how he maintains that God is righteous; there is not a shade of blame cast on him. Having thus fully taken the place of the guilty on behalf of his people, Daniel begins to urge his petition: “And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain,” etc. According to thy righteousness. How could this be? If God was righteous to judge his people, could he be also righteous to forgive? Daniel would not that his God should cease to be just. But he remembered the promise of Lev. 26:40–45: “If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers,” “if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: then will I remember my covenant,” etc. Thus the prophet could plead the very word of God in favor of his people. “Now, therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.” Never for a moment does he forget that the object of his prayer is the glory of God. He maintains God's cause all through, and this is the essence of prayer which prevails. He goes on, “O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name; for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.” Why are there so many unanswered prayers? The Lord himself shall answer: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. The love of God's name abode in Daniel, and his words, and thus his prayer was an emanation of the Spirit of God. “O Lord, hear; O Lord forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.” There was no personal plea in the whole prayer; he urged nothing on behalf of his people but their guilt and God's promise. No wonder that while he was speaking the answer came, and that such a prayer was not left unheard.—Selected. WORDS OF CHEER.
By Mary L. Brown
Our V. M. society at Adams Center, N. Y., has received some omens of good cheer. Our numbers at first were quite small, as but few seemed willing to enter into the work, expressing a wish to wait a while, and see what progress the society made. But to the Lord be all the praise; at nearly every meeting we have had additions to our number, and I believe the Lord approves of our doings, and blesses us. We have felt quite sensibly the sweet, melting influence of his Holy Spirit in some of our gatherings. There seems to be a feeling of union and love in our hearts, and also a general desire to draw near to the Lord and be consecrated to his service. In a letter from one of the lonely ones whom we solicited to act as corresponding agent, she says: “You have opened to me the way of life. You have asked me to help do somebody good, and I feel anew to thank God that I am fitted to fill a place, no matter how humble, in the service of God. In reply to your call I will gladly do the best I can. I have wanted just such a means of reaching many in whom I am interested.” As a commencement of her work, she sends in five interesting cases to be looked after. One in Georgia to whom we have been sending the SIGNS the past year, says: “It is the best paper I ever read. I intend to take it myself another year. I read the papers, then give them to my father. I would go fifty miles to hear Sr. White. The influence of these papers here is good.” A gentleman in North Carolina writes that he has been receiving the SIGNS regularly the past year, and has carefully perused them. He is pleased with the paper. He has also received “United States in Prophecy” and some tracts, and is very thankful for the information gained therefrom. He has distributed them among his friends and neighbors. He sends the address of another gentleman who wishes the SIGNS sent to him. Thus the good work goes on; and we desire ever to be found faithful at our post, ready to perform any duty the Lord may make known to us. MARY L. BROWN. MR. STRINGENT AND THE TEMPTER.
A COLLECTION was to be made—not in the chapel where every man could dodge or conceal his parsimony, but by an open subscription, black and white. The collector was to come around at once. Then it was that the following dialogue, which is said to have taken place between Mr. Stringent and the devil, occurred. “How much must I give?” said Stringent. “As little as you can and be respectable,” said the devil. “I am far from being rich,” said Stringent. “You are the richest man in the church,” said conscience. “Suppose I give five pounds?” “Fully enough,” said the tempter. “Freely ye have received, freely give,” said conscience. “Remember your great family, their schooling, and clothing, and the new furniture and the new carriage which you need,” said the tempter. “I shall put down ten pounds,” said Stringent. “You are beside yourself! Why, they will expect you to do in like proportion for everything, hereafter. There’s no end to these calls,” said the tempter. “I shall put down twenty pounds,” said Stringent. “Yes, but do consider,” said the tempter, “you know your taxes are awful this year; and you know your oats are very light, and they sell by weight and not by the bushel, as they once did, and the drought has injured your grass and your fruit will be next to nothing.” “Yes,” said conscience, “but your corn is magnificent, and so are the potatoes; and if hay is light, the price is certainly heavy; and your workmen never earned so much as they do this year, and the ship-timber, which had been growing long before you were born, has brought an enormous price.” “I shall put down fifty pounds!” “O Mr. Stringent! Mr. Stringent! you are nearly crazy—to throw away money so! Why sir, with that sum you could buy two young cows, or ten first-rate—” “Get out—get out, you tempter of my soul! I shall put down one hundred pounds this time, and if you don’t let me alone, I will double it!” And Mr. Stringent did put it down; and he felt so much better, and grew so strong under it, that it was well understood between him and the devil, ever after, that if he was tempted he would double his charity. And so well did he abide by it, that he became one of the most liberal men in the community. And when he went around to collect for charities, as he often did, the most liberal man always being the best collector, and his brethren would make excuses, he would shake his head and say, “I only wish you could have such dialogues with the devil as I have had!”—Selected. “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Quarterly Meeting at Clyde, Ohio.
The Ohio State quarterly meeting will be held at Clyde the third Sabbath and Sunday in the month, Jan. 17–20. We find that we must give up the proposed T. and M. school at this time. But we wish a general turnout of all who can come to this meeting. Every director should either be present or send in a full report. D. M. Carright. No providence preventing, I will hold meetings at Patricksburg, Owen county, Ind., Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 1, 2, 1879. Expect to hold meetings as long as the interest may demand. First-day, Feb. 2, the new meeting-house will be dedicated. Hope to see a general turnout. S. H. Lane. Quarterly meeting for Dist. No. 4, Pennsylvania Conference, at Randolph, N. Y., Jan. 18, 19. Eld. J. W. Raymond will be with us. Let all report in season. Librarians, please send reports the week previous. S. Thurston, Director. I purpose, the Lord willing, to hold meetings in Illinois as follows:—At Bro. Devere’s, among the French near Kankakee, Wednesday evening, Jan. 22. At St. Anne, Sabbath and first-day, Jan. 25, 26, a general rally for St. Anne, Kankakee, etc. Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 1, 2, where Brn. Colcord and Andrews may appoint. Any suggestions from these brethren relative to this general rally will be thankfully received. D. T. Bourdeau. Meetings will be held in Wisconsin as follows:—Sand Prairie, Richland county, Jan. 21–23. Mount Hope, “25, 26. Waterloo, Jan. 28 to Feb. 2. H. W. Decker. The State quarterly meeting of the New York S. S. A. will be held at Adams Center, Jan. 18, 19, in connection with the State quarterly meeting of the T. and M. society. Let every Sabbath-school be represented at this important meeting. Blank reports should be filled out and forwarded at once to the State secretary. M. H. Brown, Pres. The quarterly meeting of Dist. No. 3, New York, will be held in connection with the State meeting at Adams Center, Jan. 18, 19, 1879. Hope there will be a general attendance. Wm. H. Brown, Director. District Quarterly Meetings, Jan. 11, 12.
Dist. No. 7, New England Tract Society, at Danvers, Mass. It is expected that our brethren and sisters will make a special effort to attend. A. P. McDuffie, Director. Dist. No. 3, Iowa, at Sigourney. Let each church be represented. J. W. Adams, Director. Dist. No. 5, Iowa, at Knoxville. Noah Hodges, Director. The State quarterly meeting of the Iowa T. and M. society will be held in connection with the Institute at Sigourney, Jan. 25, 26. Officers of the society will please send their reports to the State secretary, Lizzie Hornby, Sigourney, Keokuk county, Iowa. Let there be full reports and a general attendance. L. McCoy, Pres. The next general quarterly meeting of the Maine Tract Society will be held at the Salisbury meeting-house in Canaan, Jan. 18, 19, 1879. Meetings will commence Friday evening, Jan. 17. J. B. Goodrich. The State quarterly meeting of the Indiana T. and M. Society will be held at Rochester, Ind., Jan. 18, 19, 1879. Let each district secretary or director report to the State secretary, E. A. Wilhelm, Bourbon, Marshall county, Ind., immediately after the district meeting, that a full report may be obtained for the State meeting. Hope to see a full representation of all the brethren within a reasonable distance of Rochester. S. H. Lane. The Vermont State T. and M. quarterly meeting will be held at Wolcott, Jan. 25–27, 1879. As the number of brethren in this church is small, we hope all will come prepared with bedding and provision, as far as convenient, to care for themselves. And further, don’t fail to come. A. S. Hutchins, Pres. General quarterly meeting of the Iowa T. and M. Society at Sigourney, Iowa, Jan. 18 to 20, 1879. A full attendance of all the directors is very much desired; and as many of the officers and members of the society as possible. A full and complete report is expected from each district. L. McCoy, Pres. Adrian, Mich., Jan. 18, 19, 1879. Meetings will begin 10:30 A. M. Sabbath; and will be held in the rooms of Leonard Osborn on the third floor, over the W. C. T. Association’s lunch rooms. M. B. Miller. F. D. Snyder. Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD TO which the money receipted pays—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Pastors. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, notice of the omission should be given. L L Glover 55-6, Ephraim Mead 54-25, Mrs N Dennison 55-1, Mary M Leach 55-1, Mrs A G Beede 55-1, W F Brice 55-1, Dr Wm Hill 55-1, Austin Hamilton 55-1, David Burdick 55-2, N Wardner 55-1, Wm McCurdy 55-1, G B Bunker 55-1, J R Elliot 55-1, Mrs N A Goodwin 55-1, John McGregor 55-5, A Rankin 55-1, Wm Grant 55-1, Elizabeth Brown 55-1, Sarah S Brown 55-1, Mark L Hancock 55-1, M L Clark 55-1, L M Freeto 55-4, Hermon Jenkins 55-1, Jesse Dorcas 55-12, Harvey Pratt 55-1, W W Putnam 54-23, L Gotfredson 55-17, J D Ballard 55-1, C F Clapp 55-1, James Rowe 55-1, O F Guilford 55-1, D Andre 56-4, Sally M Stockwell 55-1, R G Lockwood 55-1, John Place 55-1, Mrs A F Moe 55-1, Elisha Godfrey 55-20, Deborah S Crandall 55-14, Mrs J House 55-17, E Lander 55-1, Sanford Rogers 55-1, Mrs A H Bradford 55-2, C H Potter 55-2, J E Pickle 55-1, R B Simmons 55-2, Hans Sorensen 55-8, Mary A Turner 55-1, Julia A Savage 54-5, Willis Haskins 55-1, S A James 55-1, Mrs L E Warren 55-8, J W Corrothers 55-1, Rebecca Ake 55-1, Clark Satterlee 55-1, M J Lippencott 55-2, Henry Mack 53-18, Mrs R C Straw 55-1, A H Clymer 55-12, Wm M Graves 55-1, John Francisco 54-23, Mary Montgomery 55-1, J H Johnson 54-24, L N Whisby 56-1, Wm A McIntosh 55-14, B H Melendy 55-1, J B Vaughn 55-1, Henry Sheppard 55-10, E D Welch 55-1, L B Miller 55-2, Richard Asbury 55-1, Jacob Coulter 54-24, Vesta Dunham 55-1, Susan Weaver 55-1, Anna Emans 55-1, H Fellows 54-7, A C Woodbury 55-1, Emilie Jorgensen 55-1, J G Lamson 55-1, J M Jones 56-24, Mrs E A Brown 55-1, Lucy Norwood 55-1, E E Eaglesfield 55-1, Elizabeth Parks 55-1, T R Staples 54-24, Mrs A M Trask 55-1, Mrs Ezra Peavey 55-1, J A Ashbaugh 55-1, Elizabeth M Ashbaugh 55-1, C W Hiatt 55-1, Martha Hinds 55-1, R Babcock 55-10, Pliny Potter 55-3, Royal Phelps 55-1, S Serns 55-1. Mrs Mary Child 54-4, L H Priest 54-1, G B Castle 54-1, Mrs Mary E Dale 58-9, John Mears 54-1, E M Greig 54-1, J L Jordan 54-1, J A Smith 52-24, J Pritchard 54-1, D B Webber 54-1, C I Kellogg 54-1, Miss Emma L Hall 54-1, H W Lawrence 54-3, Mrs M J Farnsworth 54-1, W S Fairchild 54-1, Wm Lawton 54-1, C F Jenkins 54-1, Darius Taber 54-1, A R Foster 54-2, Mrs Della M Curtis 54-1, Mary Lovejoy 54-1, James Marvin 53-23, Jas M Baker 54-1, Geo Knight 54-1, Mrs Z Woodworth 54-1, Allen Wilson 54-1, H P Wakefield 54-2, Grace Holbrook 54-1, E V Fenncomb 54-2, Ida E Rankin 54-1, Martin C easy 54-1, Mrs M I Clark 54-24, Gustaf Freeman 54-1, Emeline Griffin 54-1, Jos C Irvin 54-1, O M Olds 54-1, Daniel Pitts 54-8, J D Butcher 54-1, J G Jones 54-1, Elvira M Ames 54-1, Norman S Hallock 54-1, A H Wentworth 54-1, John Aitken 54-1, J C Tomlinson 54-3, Josephine Mott 53-25, Bella Shafer 54-1, W H Hunt 54-1, Mrs Mary Caster 54-1, J T Terrell 54-1, Hattie Huse 53-25, Mrs R Weaver 54-1, E Ellsworth 54-1, Rasmus Peterson 54-1, J C Nielson 54-2, Alex Paton 54-2, Amos Prescott 54-3, M E Harris 54-20, Smith C Bell 54-1, R A Kale 54-1, Judith Foster 54-1, Mrs Franc Ellis 54-1, Mrs R A Dunbar 54-1, F A Marvin 54-2, A H Robinson 54-1, Susan B Watrous 54-1, J E Hool 53-24, Benj Hill 54-1, Mansier Green 54-8, J R Stone 54-2, Geo Stone 54-1, Joseph Hilton 54-1, James Davison 54-1, H H Elliott 54-1, Dennis Durgin 54-1, H W Pierce 54-1, A A Covey 54-1. N Graves $1.50 55-1, Rhoda L Lacy 1.50 55-1, Geo C Fisher 1.50 55-1, A L Miner 1.50 55-1, Byron Gage 1.50 55-1, George Patrige 1.50 55-1, F M Davis 1.50 55-1, L Hackett 50c 53-12, L W Marlin 1.25 54-12, Hiram Luce 65c 53-20, Wm J Lawrence 1.50 55-1, A T Stevens 50c 53-17, Jos W Meyers 50c 53-17, J F Sindlinger 2.25 55-11, Sarah E Waffle 50c 54-1, Mrs M Finback 50c 54-1, Mrs Louisa Smith 1.50 54-17, A J Richmond 25c 53-21, William James 2.45 49-5, Caroline Draper 75c 54-1, C H Beach 1.50 55-1, Emily J Paine 1.16 54-12, Minnie Reynolds 1.45 55-1, J F Thorne 50c 53-15, L Manley 1.50 54-12, O F Colwell 50c 53-18, S A Millikin 27c 53-1, John Alten 1.50 55-1, Perkins Bunnell 1.50 55-1, Mrs Abiel Frye 1.50 55-1, Mrs Henry Bragg 1.50 55-1, Thos H Palmer 50c 53-17, A B Morton 1.50 55-1, Mrs R E Drake 1.50 55-1, Frederic Selemeier 75c 54-1, Lizzie Mitchell 1.50 55-1, F A Barlow 75c 54-1, Manuel Pierce 25c 68 8, Frank Stephens 25c 53-8, W W Neal 25c 53-8, John Hughes 75c 54-20, Eunice Howland 75c 54-20, Joseph White 1.50 55-1, L P Hodges 75c 54-1. N Battin $1.00, H B Stevens 1.10, Eli Barrett 45c, Abel Buck 15c, A Hones Jr 10c, Mrs B E Lawrence 1.00, Willie H Lee 25c, Laura O Nurse 1.50, J N Duy 1.25, Lettie Harp 1.00, A W Lyman 9c, Samuel Peck 9c, Miss Betsey Simons 9c, Geo Webster 9c, Mrs Ruth Watkins 10c, Mrs Sarah Shaw 10c, Mrs John Appleby 20c, Mrs Tinker 10c, H N Kinner 10c, Samuel Kingsbury 10c, Dennis Thorp 10c, Clayton Harvey 10c, Mrs Lucy Burrows 10c, James Hart 10c, Frank Seely 10c, Harriet Mitchell 80c, Eva Carson 30c, Mrs Sarah Campbell 50c, Mrs N Dennison 45c, Wm Hibben 2.40, Niels Jensen Dam 12c, J McKeen 31c, Cornelius Clark 20c, W A Young 1.00, Mrs Mary Casert 12c, Mrs J H Walker 50c, J D Pegg 50c, R B Simmons 2.00, James McFarland 10c, Emma Luce 10c, Helen R Stanton 15c, Mrs Diana Smith 50c, A H Clymer 1.80, Wm V Field 6.20, Thos McCowen 80c, Mrs S Yaker 10c, Wm H Hall 1.00, G S Honeywell 50c, C B F Palmer 75c, Geo G Mathews 75c, Wm A Brace 45c, E S Hunt 1.00, Columbia McClelland 2.25, Henry Mack 2.12, Fiducia M Bliss 50c, Elmer E Marvin 30c, J S Harris 1.50, Mrs Tryphena Wilson 25c, H Peebles 50c, William James 15c, I E Wilson 1.00, H S Dille 10c, G C Mickelson 1.60, Florence J Grantham 2.93, F A Whittaker 4.62, M A Kerr 4.23, R M Kilgore 30c, W W Smith 4.72, S R Shapman 33c, F Howe 4.64, M A Kerr 3.05, Mrs A E Brown 1.60, J T Wood 12.65, D P Wm Pottinger 3.90, M L Caldwell 50c. Alfred Holland $5.00, Leander Kellogg 8.38, M F Mullen 2.50. M A Kerr $82.95, Ole Olsen 28.64. A H Clymer $6.20, Indiana Conf Fund per S H Lane 6.50. Ind T & M Society, S H Lane (donation) 10.00, Ind T & M Society S H Lane (on account) 4.15, Vt T & M Society per A S H 63.35, Vt Conf Fund per A S H 46.65, Ira J Hankins 8.00, C J Boyd 25.00, Chas F Sterns 6.02, Jackson per L A B 24.83. Ithaca per J O Oorliss $2.50, Lapeer per Wm Potter 3.55, Lapeer per E B Lane 75.30, Thetford per E B Lane 14.00, L N Miller Rockwood 10.00, Ovid per H L Birmingham 11.00, Douglas per Geo Vedder 7.95, Thetford Center Nettie Johnson 2.85, Mrs E A Kelsey 3.00, Spring Arbor per J Fargo 29.80. Lapeer added ⅛ per Wm Potter 68c, Dist 2 per L A B $4.87, Lapeer added ⅛ 18.00, Dist 9 per D Malin 16.30, Dist 11 per Geo R Avery 3.00. B H Melendy (s b) $15.00, L P Anderson for Colorado Mission 10.95. A H Clymer $20.00, J Shearer 1.00, Percie Mayhew 1.00, Convis church per E R Jones 10.00, John F Hansen 2.00. Geo H Porter $10.00, Maylon Pierce 10.00. Gen. T. & M. Society.—Donations.
Parkville church per J Fargo $1.50, Mary Crouch 3.00, Geo Benton 5.00, D W Aiken 10.00, Rand White 1.00, Mary L Randall 2.50, Mary S—— (Egypt) 5.00, E M Conger 5.00, F Kittle 10.00, O W Prescott 25.00, Harriet J Hunt 10.00, A friend (Egypt) 5.00, A sister in Colorado (Egypt) 1.85, Mary J Shattuck (Egypt) 1.00, Henry Mack (German Mission) 5.00, S Mortensen 5.00, John F Chubb (Egypt) 10.00, P A M 10.00, James Minisee (Egypt) 30.00, H Peebles & wife thank offering (Egypt) 30.00, A H Clymer 20.00, A H Clymer Egypt 10.00, Convis church per E R Jones 40.00, A friend 1.00, Mrs Della Gardner 5.00, John F Klostermeyer 50.00, Ann Stem 50.00. S. N. HASKELL
By S. N. Haskell
No testimony of more importance than the present one has ever been given to the church. It should be in the family of every Seventh-day Adventist. The Appeal to Ministers should be carefully studied. In short, every portion of it is replete with interesting and profitable matter. We ship to New England a sufficient number for the six New England States. We hope to hear from all parts of the field immediately. None can afford to be without the valuable instruction which it contains. The Weekly Instructor.
By S. N. Haskell
At our last annual meeting, the General Sabbath-school Association recommended the publication of a weekly INSTRUCTOR. This sheet is now published in behalf of the Sabbath-school interests, and its importance to the schools cannot be overestimated. Every Sabbath-school (and there should be one in every company of S. D. Adventists) should have a club of the weekly INSTRUCTOR. The question is often asked,— WHAT SHALL WE DO FOR LESSON BOOKS?
We have not enough for all the scholars, and can buy no more from the Office. We answer, Take a club of the weekly INSTRUCTOR. The INSTRUCTOR will contain weekly Lessons for Children, designed for those between the ages of ten and fifteen; and Lessons for Youth, suited to those who are fifteen years old and upwards. Once a month the Lesson Sheets for Bible Classes will be placed in the INSTRUCTOR as a Supplement. Thus everything we have in the line of lessons will be found in the INSTRUCTOR except “Lessons for Little Ones,” which is published in book form. The INSTRUCTOR will also contain much interesting and instructive matter relating to the Sabbath-school interests, besides its usual amount of original and carefully selected reading, with occasional letters from the children. Do not send for too small clubs. You should not estimate how many copies you need by the number of families that send children to the Sabbath-school. Clubs of sufficient size should be ordered, so that each scholar capable of studying for himself can have a sheet, and so that your neighbors and their children who may be induced to come in and take part with you, may each have a copy. to our ministers, tract-society officers, and Sabbath-school officers especially, to immediately take hold of this matter. A responsibility rests upon you who have influence. God will hold you responsible not only for the influence you have, but for what you might have if faithful in these things. Therefore, in view of the day of Judgment and the salvation of precious souls for whom Christ died, we appeal to you to take an interest in these matters which materially affect the usefulness of our Sabbath-schools. Usually, churches should have not less than twenty-four copies. This will cost you but one dollar per month, or three dollars per quarter. Small churches or companies need twelve copies. This will be but fifty cents per month, or one dollar and a half per quarter. Families living at a distance from the church, and having a different post-office, can have their copy or copies mailed to their address for ten cents extra per copy, when ordered through the superintendent. The object is, that the children may keep up with the class and recite at home, in case they cannot attend the school every Sabbath. Individuals living alone, who wish to arrange for a Sabbath-school for their neighbors and neighbors’ children, can subscribe for a club of five copies at sixty cents each. This would cost but twenty-five cents per month, or seventy-five cents per quarter. The money for their subscriptions can be paid to the librarian, or sent directly to the Office. In the latter case, the tract society will take no responsibility in the matter. We send this week to each of our tract-society officers, ministers, and librarians, sample copies of the weekly INSTRUCTOR, with blanks for orders for clubs of the INSTRUCTOR. We ask for the hearty co-operation of every lover of present truth, that before February, 1879, we may have 15,000 copies on their way to the different schools and homes of our people. To Sabbath-School Workers in Missouri.
By J. G. Wood
I HAVE just received and examined the Sabbath-school Record published at the REVIEW Office for the use of Sabbath-school teachers. I am pleased with it. Each teacher should have one of these class-books, and each secretary should have the Secretary’s School Record Book. These books are as useful and necessary in the Sabbath-school as the Teacher’s Register is in our common schools. For price and further instruction, see Supplement to REVIEW Vol. 52, No. 24. Will the superintendent of each school see that his school is supplied with these books? Let the money be made up by small donations from the members of the church. We would suggest that each scholar pay in five cents or more at the commencement of each month, with which to purchase cards and weekly INSTRUCTORS. Let all commence with the new year, and may the year 1879 show a more faithful and perfect record than any in the past. Appleton City, Mo., Dec. 24. To the Vermont Sabbath-Schools.
By H. Peebles
The new year has come. This is a most appropriate time for introducing new measures, and making an advance move in our Sabbath-schools. We all—officers and members—need much study and training to fit us for the work. Thorough consecration, first; and the rest is quite sure to follow. Let us all be ready to do whatever the Lord has for us to do, be it great or small. Do not forget the contribution. We shall need funds with which to supply schools with records, singing-books, clubs of the INSTRUCTOR, etc., and large offerings from those who are able, will be very acceptable. As to the manner of committing and reciting the lessons, let me call your attention to the excellent articles in REVIEW Supplement, Vol. 52, No. 24, and similar ones in our good paper. By all means let us avoid the habit of reading our lessons in the class. Often the excuse, “I did not know where the lesson was,” is given for not being prepared to recite with the class, and this is sometimes a proper excuse under present circumstances. Having conferred with the Executive Board, let me suggest as a remedy that there be a uniformity in lessons throughout the State. Let those who have not already procured question books subscribe for enough copies of the Weekly INSTRUCTOR to supply the school. Thus commencing with the January number of Lesson Sheets, let the first lesson stand for Jan. 4, 1879, after which get one lesson every Sabbath in regular order. Virtually, the State will thus be formed into one school, and no matter where a member may be, he may know what lesson to get for every Sabbath, and should get it. Those who are in advance of the lesson named for Jan. 4 will not be harmed by reviewing, and those who are behind can, by extra effort, make up whatever there is between. One lesson a week I think is sufficient. We are very anxious to have a meeting of all interested in Sabbath-schools, to discuss measures for increasing their efficiency, arrange for a fund for carrying on the work, and especially to take a drill in singing. If the brethren to whom I have sent letters send in their orders in season, I will have a full supply of the “Song Anchor” at that time, and also about as many sets of the Sabbath-school Records as there are schools in the State. This meeting should be held in the latter part of January, and should be attended by delegates from each Sabbath-school, all the superintendents and secretaries, and especially by all the singers. Letters touching upon the leading points of this article have been sent to all superintendents whose addresses can be obtained from the State secretary. Any schools not having been notified before, are requested, even at this late date, to prepare for the meeting. Let each one of us do our part as though success depended upon us alone. Eld. Geo. B. Starr’s permanent post-office address is Nebraska City, Nebraska. The address of C. N. Stuttle, director Dist. No. 11, Michigan T. and M. Society, is Vernon, Shiawassee county, Michigan. Until further notice, the address of Eld. I. Sanborn will be Mt. Jackson, Shenandoah county, Va., and that of Mrs. H. T. H. Sanborn North Scituate, R. I. The address of Eld. Stephen Pierce is Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. My address, for the present, is Elivon, McPherson county, Kansas; but mail will always reach me if sent to Ft. Scott, Bourbon county, Kansas. J. H. Cook. To the Sabbath-schools of Minnesota:
It costs something to carry on the work of the Association in stationery, postage, and traveling expenses, and every cent of this has so far been paid by the president and secretary. Those Sabbath-schools that have money in their treasury will please forward it to the State secretary. Let the one-cent plan be carried out fully by all the members of our Sabbath-schools, and there will be plenty of means. By order of Committee. L. A. Curtis, State Sec.