Earlier text: The Roman EmpireJonah’s Genuine Repentance
Yet it is to be feared that, in most cases, after the Lord at such times has heard their cries and delivered them, they remember him, at best, for only a little while, and turn again to folly. But Jonah well says: "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy." "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteous-ness unto them which are exercised thereby." Heb. 12:11. Jonah's repentance was genuine. He was ready to obey God, and he said, "I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land." NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON.
LAST week’s lesson ended with Jonah in the fish’s belly. Then he began to pray. In fact, he began to pray as soon as he was cast into the sea; for he says: “For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about; all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.” “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thy holy temple.” Chap. 2:3, 4, 7. It often happens that some such upsetting as this is necessary to bring men to see themselves. David said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy word.” Ps. 119:67. Then he says: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.” Verse 71. The whole of psalm 107 is made up of instances of men being brought by dangers, afflictions, etc., to acknowledge God, and of calls upon men to “praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.” "And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee." "Preach the preaching that I bid thee," is the Lord's command to every preacher. "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thy heart, and hear with thy ears." "And tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." Eze. 3 : 10, 11. "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, Preach the word." 2 Tim. 4 : 1, 2. That which the Lord says, is the only thing that is right. It may not always be the most pleasant thing to speak, nor the most pleasant thing for men to hear, but it is the best thing to speak, and it is the best thing for men to hear. Nineveh Repents at Jonah’s Preaching
“Now NINEVEH was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.” Nineveh was built by Asshur, a grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:11), and at this time was the greatest city in the world, containing about 600,000 people. It was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which had spread its rule from the Tigris to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the Black Sea to the Persian Gulf. “And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.” Nineveh’s King Proclaims Repentance
The message reached the king, and he too joined the general fear. He not only joined in it, but issued a decree that the good work should go on. “For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God; yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.” The Nature of Genuine Repentance
This was genuine repentance. The Saviour declared it to be so, and that these men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment and condemn the generation to whom he preached. "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." Matt. 12:41. We have, therefore, the testimony of Jesus that the men of Nineveh repented. The word which John the Baptist, and Jesus, and Peter, and all the apostles preached, was: "Repent." And by the action of the Ninevites, it is shown that repentance is not only in word, not only in fasting and prayer, but this with turning every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. "Put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well." Isa. 1:16. Anything short of turning from evil and putting it away, is not repentance; however much men may talk of sorrow for sin and of wanting to do better, it is of no avail until they really do better. And all who do so God will receive and forgive as really as he did the (Continued on page 670.) What Is the Use?
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
THIS is called a practical age. Men always ask, before engaging in any business, Will it pay? And this is correct. It is useless to work to no profit, and we have Scripture warrant for counting the cost before beginning any enterprise. But men are not always wise in their estimates. Sometimes, indeed in the majority of instances, the results will show that the entire cost has not been counted. Some factor has been omitted, or else the individual has not looked far enough ahead. We might cite a few instances:— It is generally considered a prudent thing for a man to amass wealth. "Men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself." Ps. 49:18. Indeed, so fixed is the idea that to get rich is the one thing essential, that few, before praising the prosperous man, stop to inquire by what means he obtained his wealth. But according to the Bible standard, the gathering of great wealth may be the most foolish thing a man can do. The wise man says: "He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor." Prov. 28:8. If people knew that men who are toiling and planning night and day in order to accumulate property, were simply working for some one else, and that they themselves should enjoy none of their savings, they would say, "How foolish to work so hard for nothing!" Well, that is just what the Bible says. "He that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool." Jer. 17:11. How many foolish people there are, who by the world are accounted wise. And this exposes another shortsighted calculation that is very common, viz., that it is safe to do anything which is done by the majority of people. Precedent is a thing that has great weight, both in courts and public opinion, oftentimes to the exclusion of justice. But numbers can never make wrong right, nor will the Lord remit the punishment due for the commission of crime, because very many are engaged in it. "Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished." Prov. 11:21. And the truth of this statement has often been demonstrated. In the days of Noah, "the earth was filled with violence," because "every imagination of the thoughts" of man's heart "was only evil continually." Gen. 6:5, 11. Only Noah was found righteous. Yet the Lord preserved Noah, and destroyed all the wicked, "bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly." 2 Pet. 2:5. In the days of Lot, "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." Gen. 13:13. In all that city, careful search was made (Gen. 18:23-33; 19:12-14), and, besides Lot, not a righteous man was found. But the Lord had no respect to numbers, "and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." 2 Pet. 2:6. There was also a time when a single man, Elijah, stood out against the whole kingdom of Israel. He was not content with simply disagreeing with the majority, but he was earnest in reproving both monarch and subject. Baal-worship was popular, and was, moreover, the State religion. How presumptuous in that one man to attempt to teach the priests and rulers! How was it possible that he alone of all the people should have the truth? And even allowing his claims, what headway could one man hope to make against a nation? What was the use of his engaging in such an unprofitable task? Thus, no doubt, many reasoned at that time. But God vindicated the faithfulness of his servant. The prophets of Baal were slain; the wicked king and queen had the death of a dog; the apostate nation was carried into captivity; and Elijah, who was not afraid to engage in an unpopular and seemingly unprofitable work, was taken to Heaven in a chariot of fire. Who will now say that his work was to no profit? Not one. But why is it that men can now approve Elijah's course? Simply because the sins which he particularly denounced are not now popular. For proof of this assertion, we quote from the Friend, a religious journal published at Honolulu, H. I. It says:— "We have for a year or more had a couple of good brethren among us, who have been devoting their time and strength, and the means of the organization that sent them, to the task of disseminating the idea that Saturday instead of Sunday should be observed as the day holy unto the Lord. We have often wished that the two brethren might see their way clear to engage in a worthier and more promising enterprise. One of them, Brother Scott, we think has gone back to whence he came, and we wish him well. The other brother still tarries among us, and we would not have him depart; but we hope in his behalf for more useful employment." And then it quotes as follows from an exchange, concerning those who are working in behalf of the Lord's Sabbath:— "We are sorry to see such a waste of time and pains. If the past shows anything, it shows that the vast majority of Christendom always has been, and it is now, firmly persuaded that the first day of the week is the day of rest by divine appointment. Can this judgment be reversed? Is there the remotest possibility that it ever will be? It seems to us that there can be but one answer to these questions. If so, then all the good intentions and conscientious convictions of our brethren do not hinder their efforts from being thrown away. Besides, there is the injurious effect of turning men's thoughts away from the due observance of the day to the very subordinate question of its numerical designation." Not one hint of a question do we find in the above as to whether those who advocate the observance of the seventh day are really in the right, but only the consideration of popularity. "The vast majority of Christendom has been, and is now, firmly persuaded that the first day of the week is the day of rest." "And since there is no probability that this verdict will ever be reversed, what is the use of trying to show its fallacy?" So the people might have talked in the days of Noah. "We are fully persuaded that the course which to us seems good is right, and you might as well quit your preaching. Better come and join us." Likewise when Lot went out to warn the inhabitants of Sodom, "he seemed as one that mocked." No doubt he was called an old fool for his pains. And in both of these cases it was found that there was not any possibility of changing the universal verdict. Will the Friend say that they ought to have ceased preaching? What does the Lord say? "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Isa. 58:1. "Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. . . . And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious." Eze. 2:3-7. The question to be asked, then, is not, "Is the prevailing sentiment favorable to my message?" or, "Is there any hope of changing the general opinion?" but, "What is truth?" As a matter of fact, the majority of people have never been in the right, in spite of all efforts to lead them in the right way, and there is indeed no hope that they ever will be. Let us cite two authorities. Luther, as a reformer, was very much like Elijah. In reality he was more alone than was the prophet. One of the strongest arguments brought against his work was that the pope, bishops, divines, councils, and universities were against him, and that he could not hope to convince them that they were in error. The majority never were convinced. But Luther replied as follows:— "Moses was alone when the Israelites were led out of Egypt; Elijah was alone in the time of King Ahab; Ezekiel was alone at Babylon. God has never chosen for his prophet either the high priest, or any other person of exalted rank; he has generally chosen men of a mean and low condition,—in the instance of Amos, even a simple shepherd. The saints in every age have been called upon to rebuke the great of this world,—kings and princes, priests and scholars,—and to fulfill the office at the peril of their lives. . . . I say not that I am a prophet; but I say that they have the more reason to fear because I am alone, and they are many. Of this I am sure, that the word of God is with me, and that it is not with them." "But it is further objected that men high in station pursue me with their censures. What then! Do not the Scriptures clearly show . . . that the majority has always been on the side of falsehood, and the minority only on the side of truth? It is the fate of truth to occasion an outcry."—D'Aubigné's Hist. Reformation, Part 1, Book 7, par. 168, 173. For the second authority, we have only to refer to the overwhelming wickedness in the times of Noah and Lot, and then read these words of Christ, which bring the matter home to our own day:— "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:26-30. These illustrations are sufficient to show us that instead of appealing to common custom for proof of the correctness of any practice, that very fact ought to cause us to doubt. "The customs of the people are vain." Jer. 10:3. And it will not do to say that, in the instances mentioned, those who were in the majority, and wrong, were heathen, while, in the matter of Sunday observance, the majority are Christians. In Elijah's time it was the house of Israel—the church—that had taken Baal in preference to Jehovah. Ezekiel was sent with his warnings to the church of God; and in order that he might perform his thankless task, it was necessary that his face should be made "harder than flint." Moreover, he was plainly told that the house of Israel would not listen to him. Eze. 3:4-9. Isaiah was commanded to show God's people their transgression. John the Baptist lifted up his voice in the wilderness against the sins of the very leaders of the church. And it was solely on account of the corruption of the church that Luther began to preach the reformation. Since our reverence for God is measured only by our obedience, and not by our profession, all those who persist in violating any of God's commandments are termed heathen. Throughout the Bible, the judgments of God are pronounced only against the heathen; and many who say, "Lord, Lord," will receive those judgments. So in this matter, if it can be shown that God has commanded us to keep the seventh day of the week, those who work to that end are engaged in a profitable business, even though the professed church will not hear. Those who do his commandments shall have right to the tree of life.665Next week we shall continue this subject, and show that the "numerical designation" of the day is not a "subordinate question," and that whatever "injurious effects" may follow the preaching of truth, no blame can be attached to the few who thus labor against the majority. E. J. W. Where Shall the Line Be Drawn?
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
THE Christian Weekly, after making the statement that polygamy is not the only evil of Mormonism, says:— "Its unrepublican hierarchy, that exalts the church above the Government, and demands unconditional obedience to its requirements, whatever may be the law of the land, makes it a dangerous institution in a country where the ballot box should be free from ecclesiastical domination." With the truth contained in the above quotation, there is also a very popular error. It is a truth that cannot be too often repeated at the present day, that the ballot box should be free from ecclesiastical domination. We say that this truth cannot be too often repeated at the present day, because there is now an influential and rapidly increasing party (not Mormons) whose great aim is to have the State legislate on matters pertaining to religion; or, in other words, to place the ballot box under the control of the church. When this state of things shall be brought about, the liberties of American people will be at an end. We protest, therefore, against ecclesiastical domination in political affairs, whether it be by Mormons or by Christians; with either class the results would be the same, for no matter how pure a church may be, if it has civil power it will persecute just as quickly as will the corrupt church. So Mormon domination of the ballot box is to be objected to, not simply because it is Mormon domination, but because it is ecclesiastical domination. The error in the quotation is in supposing that it is wrong in principle to obey the requirements of the church, "whatever may be the law of the land." We are no apologists for the Mormons, but we say that this principle is not the one at issue. The question for individuals to settle is, Are the teachings of the church in strict harmony with the Bible, making unperverted Bible truth the sole standard? If fair and candid investigation shows that those teachings are in perfect accord with the Bible, then he should obey them, whatever may be the law of the land. "The powers that be are ordained of God." Then certainly they have no right to contravene the laws of God. As a matter of fact, the Mormons are guilty of a sin, not against God alone, but against man as well. Murder, adultery, and theft are sins which destroy the well-being of society. If these things were allowed to be practiced with impunity, human governments, which God has ordained, would be overthrown. Therefore they must not be tolerated. On this ground, and this alone, the pet abomination of the Mormons should be suppressed by the Government. But a practice which is in strict accord with God's word, will not be detrimental to society; and against such a practice the Government has no right to enact a law; if it should, the people would be in duty bound to break that law. No one need be confused over this matter. The Christian's duty is plain: "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29); and if people would always remember this, and live accordingly, they would never make laws to suit their own inclinations or propensities, and try to palm them off on the people as the laws of God. E. J. W. IN Psalms 146 : 3, 4 we read: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." This is in harmony with the Scriptures throughout. As stated elsewhere, "the dead know not anything;" "their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished." Eccl. 9 : 5, 6. "The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence." Ps. 115 : 17. To evade the force of the words of Psalms 146 : 4,—"In that very day his thoughts perish,"—it has been, for a long while, a favorite scheme of those who hold to the immortality of the soul to change the words of the text by substituting the word "purposes" for "thoughts," claiming that the man still thinks when he is dead, but that the purposes which he had formed while living have perished, that they cannot be accomplished. And now comes the Revised Version, and, with a marginal reading, bolsters up this theory. The text of Psalms 146 : 4 reads in the Revised Version just as it does in the Old Version, but "purposes" is put into the margin as an alternate reading. Thus this version is made to favor the idea that "thoughts" in the text is at least equivalent in meaning to "purposes;" and that when a man dies, in that very day his purposes perish, but his thoughts go on. Such an interpretation of the text is, as we have seen, to make the scripture contradict itself. But that is not all, it is to make the scripture contradict every principle of fact and evidence as seen in human experience. Let us cite a few instances of men's purposes that did not perish "in that very day," in which their breath went forth and they returned to earth. Nebuchadnezzar formed the purpose of confining the River Tigris within certain limits, and built an extensive embankment at a place near where Bagdad now stands; and the bricks with which he faced and strengthened the embankment, and which have upon them his own name, lie to-day exactly as he placed them. We know, therefore, that that purpose of his did not perish in the very day in which his breath went forth, nor for ages afterward, if indeed it has yet perished. Stephen Girard purposed that the poor white orphans of the city of Philadelphia, Pa., should have the benefits of education, and should be supported till they had acquired an education. That purpose did not perish when his breath went forth, and he returned to the earth; nor has it yet perished, nor will it ever while the world lasts. Peter Cooper purposed that mechanics and artisans should have opportunity to acquire "the most skillful practice of their several trades; to that they could not only apply their labor to the best possible advantages, but enjoy the happiness of acquiring useful knowledge—the purest and most innocent of all sources of enjoyment." His purpose did not perish when he died. James Lick purposed that the State of California should have an observatory, and in it a telescope having a larger object-glass than any that had ever yet been made. He died. But so far from his purpose perishing the "very day" in which his breath went forth, Europe and America have been engaged ever since in fulfilling that purpose, now soon to be accomplished. Multitudes of such instances might be given from all ages of human history in illustration of the fact that to read purposes for thoughts in psalm 146 : 4, is to put darkness for light, and falsehood for truth. The fact of the matter is, men's purposes perish while they live as well as when they die. It is not necessary to wait till their "breath goeth forth," and they return to earth, to realize that fact. To-day I may form a purpose concerning to-morrow, or next week, or next month, or next year, and that purpose may, and indeed does as often as otherwise, perish. Yet I continue to live and to think. To-day I may purpose a thing in regard to even the things of this very day, and that purpose is just as likely as not to perish; but that affects neither the fact of my living, nor of my thinking. Again we say, and the experience of every human being proves the truth, that men's purposes perish in the days that they live, as well as in the day that they die. It is not so with men's thoughts. When a man dies, it is the truth that "in that very day his thoughts perish"—he ceases to think, the mind ceases to act. As long as there is consciousness, there is thought; but when a man dies, all power of thought is destroyed. That a man can think when he is dead is certainly one of the most perverse ideas that ever entered men's brains. A man may be struck a slight blow on the head, and he ceases to think; but let him be struck a crushing, killing blow, and lo! he thinks more and better than ever! In other words: knock him senseless and he cannot think at all; kill him, and he can think better than ever before!! Was there ever such nonsense? Does any one suppose that Adam, before he lived, had any powers of thought? Assuredly not. Then upon what principle can it be supposed that he had any such powers after he died—when he had returned to the condition in which he was before he lived? Did he, by sinning, acquire the power to think after he was dead? Did he, by sinning, acquire the power to retain in death one of the very chiefest of the attributes of life—the power of thought? It is the absolute truth that "the wages of sin is death;" and when, because of sin, death passed upon all mankind, it is equally the truth that when "his breath goeth forth," and "he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish." A. T. J. The Best Argument for Sunday.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
FROM the Review of October 27, we learn that Sabbath-keepers in Arkansas are being put to serious trouble on account of their faith. Formerly there was provision made in the Sunday law of that State, so that those who conscientiously observed the seventh day of the week were not liable to arrest for working on the first day of the week. Last spring, however, this provision was repealed, and now all who do any work on Sunday are liable to heavy fine and imprisonment. As a natural consequence of the law as it exists at present, quite a number of Sabbath-keepers have been arrested, and Elder Wood, who is laboring there and knows the state of feeling, thinks that there will be scores of arrests before the holidays. The brethren in Arkansas are poor, and can ill afford the expense and loss of time incident to court proceedings, even should they not be convicted; any persons wishing to aid them in their time of need can forward money for that purpose to F. N. Elmore, Springdale, Ark., and it will be thankfully received and properly applied. The leaders of the so-called National Reform party have been constant in their assurances that no harm was intended by them to conscientious observers of the seventh day. They have often seemed to feel grieved and indignant because we have said that persecution would be the necessary result of their efforts to enforce Sunday observance. But, in spite of their pacific assurances, it has happened that, every time the law would allow it, Seventh-day Adventists have been promptly indicted for working on Sunday. If this is not a persecution because of religious convictions, then the popes of Rome never conducted such a persecution. None of our brethren need be surprised when such persecution comes. For years we have been expecting it, knowing that it would come, because the "sure word of prophecy" plainly said that it would. The fulfillment of this prophecy is only a warning that the end is near, and an admonition to us to redouble our diligence. Here in California we have had an opportunity to see how quickly the spirit of persecution becomes rampant as soon as there is the slightest prospect of enforcing a Sunday law, and we shall watch with prayerful interest the proceedings in Arkansas. Whatever the immediate result, we are certain that God will make the wrath of man to praise him. E. J. W. European Council of Seventh-Day Adventist Missions.
THE third session of this Council convened in the new meeting hall at Basel, Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 11 A. M., the chairman, Elder B. L. Whitney, presiding. The following persons were present at the meeting: Elders J. G. Matteson, A. B. Oyen, E. G. Olsen, and Knud Brorsen, and Sisters Oyen and Dohl, from Scandinavia; Elders B. L. Whitney, D. T. Bourdeau, A. C. Bourdeau, J. Ertzenberger, and Brethren Albert Vuilleumier, Ademar Vuilleumier, A. Keller, and A. Roth, from Switzerland and Central Europe; Brother Thos. G. Aslan, from Roumania; Brethren J. Geymet, A. Biglia, V. Guerini, J. D. Malan, and Sister Malan, from Italy; J. B. Conte, J. P. Badant, and A. Aramy, from France; Wm. Fleck, Chas. Kuller, and Hugo Schneppe, from Germany; Elder R. F. Andrews from Ireland; Elders S. H. Lane, M. C. Wilcox, A. A. John, and Brother G. R. Drew, and Sisters S. H. Lane and Jennie Thayer, from England; and E. G. White, W. C. White, and H. W. Kellogg, from America. Besides these, the meetings were attended by the employees of the publishing house, and quite a number of the brethren and sisters of the Swiss Conference. The following committees were appointed:—
On Order of Meetings—W. C. White, R. F. Andrews, S. H. Lane.
On Nominations—R. F. Andrews, A. C. Bourdeau, E. G. Olsen.
On Resolutions—J. G. Matteson, D. T. Bourdeau, M. C. Wilcox.
On Auditing—W. C. White, R. F. Andrews, S. H. Lane, A. C. Bourdeau. At the close of the meeting, the committees proceeded to their work, which occupied the remainder of the day. The Committee on Order of Meetings proposed that something in the line of a Biblical Institute be held in connection with the Council, and in harmony with this suggestion, it was arranged that Elder Matteson should conduct a Bible-class at 9 A. M., and that Elder Lane, assisted by Elders Ertzenberger and Bourdeau, should conduct a Bible-reading at 6:30 P. M., each day of the meeting, which, it was thought, should continue two weeks instead of one, as appointed. These classes were very interesting and profitable. So great was the desire of all to hear every lesson that the office work was suspended so that the workmen could attend; and several of the German and French brethren who intended to return home after attending two or three meetings, remained till the close. In the Bible-class the subjects of the second coming of Christ, the millennial reign of the saints with Christ, and the return of the Jews, were considered. These subjects were especially appropriate because of the universal prevalence in Europe of the grossest errors on these doctrines. Few of those present had ever enjoyed the privilege of attending such a class before. The brethren conducting the Bible-readings, translated into German and French those readings that the colporters would wish to use first, and they were given simultaneously in French, German, and English, accompanied by remarks as to how Bible-readings should be conducted. These readings are being printed in leaflets, so that the colporters can use them in conducting readings, and then distribute the leaflets among those who wish them. REPORTS FROM SCANDINAVIA.
Elder Matteson thinks that Sweden is, at present, the most promising field in Northern Europe. His meetings in Stockholm were largely attended, and fifty persons were converted to the truth. The Stockholm church numbers seventy-one members, and there are ten others keeping the Sabbath, who have not yet joined the church. At the Conference just held in Sweden, about fifty Sabbath-keepers were present, representing seven churches, with nearly two hundred members. These, with scattered Sabbath-keepers, number two hundred and seventy-nine, a gain of ninety-four since last year. The two colporters and one minister laboring in this Conference the last year, have sold and distributed 426,400 pages of reading matter, obtained 448 subscribers for our papers, and received $585 from book sales and subscriptions. Elder E. G. Olsen has labored most of the time during the year in Christiania and Drammen. At Drammen a church of twenty-one members has been organized, and in Christiania twenty-eight have joined the church. The colporters and the missionary society in Norway have sold and given away 600,000 pages of tracts and books, and obtained 500 subscribers for our papers. Elder Brorsen reports that there are in Denmark nine churches, with one hundred and sixty members, besides ninety-eight scattered Sabbath-keepers. Elder Matteson presented the following summary of the work in the three Scandinavian countries:—
Number of ministers, 7; licentiates, 7; colporters, 8; churches, 18; members, 514; whole number of Sabbath-keepers, 698; tithes and donations, $2,163.86; subscribers for periodicals, 1,044; pages of reading matter sold and distributed, 1,041,400; received on sales and subscriptions, $1,033. Thursday, Sept. 17, Elder Lane gave an interesting account of his labors in connection with Elder Durland, at Risely. Finding that the renting of halls was very expensive, and quite unsatisfactory, they had purchased a linen tent, 27x50 feet in size, and with it had held meetings eight weeks. As a result, nine persons are keeping the Sabbath, and many others are convicted that it is their duty. Fruit, vegetables, and groceries were freely donated to those conducting the meetings, and the contributions were nearly sufficient to pay all the running expenses. Elder R. F. Andrews gave an account of labors in northern Ireland. Caste, prejudice, an unwillingness to attend open-air meetings, and meetings in halls, are some of the difficulties to be met with in Ireland. A large number are becoming interested in the truth. Elder A. A. John reported that he had moved to Wales, with a view of getting the present truth before that people. There are about 1,200,000 people in Wales, of which number about 400,000 are Englishmen, 400,000 understand both English and Welsh, and 400,000 understand only the Welsh. While devoting a little time to the study of the Welsh, he had labored for the English people at a large watering-place. He has found open-air meetings a satisfactory way of getting the truth before the people of England. Brother Geo. R. Drew has visited 2,216 ships, selling 301,000 pages of books, for which he has received $750. Three colporters have been at work a part of the time. They have visited 2,433 families, distributing tracts, and obtaining subscribers for the Present Truth. Elder Wilcox has spent most of his time at the office of the Present Truth. This paper has 514 regular subscribers in England and 300 in America; 77,800 copies have been sent to persons whose names were found in directories. The mission has received on the Present Truth $550; on book sales, $400; tithes and donations, $360. REPORTS FROM CENTRAL EUROPE.
Elder B. L. Whitney spoke of the work in the Swiss Conference and in Basel. The Conference has one ordained minister, 7 licentiates, 10 churches, and 224 members scattered through Switzerland, Germany, Roumania, France, and Italy. There are, besides, 39 Sabbath-keepers in churches not yet connected with the Conference. The tithes paid in during eleven months of the year amount to $1,314.87, besides $264.35 which has been raised in Germany. The missionary society has 113 members. They have distributed 137,039 pages of tracts, and made 9,066 visits. The donations since the reorganization of the society amount to $2,041. The Sabbath-school association has 11 schools, with 251 members. During the past year the office has printed 61,000 copies of the French paper, 53,200 copies of the German paper, 8,000 of the Italian paper, and 9,000 of the Roumanian paper. The receipts on the French paper amount to $520, and on the German paper, $490. The French paper has 827 paying subscribers; the German, 568; the Roumanian, 172; the Italian, 130. The office publishes 31 different tracts and pamphlets in French, besides a volume of Sister White's writings just issued. In German 14 different tracts are published, and in Italian, 7. The amount received on sales of tracts is $91.67. Colporters have had some success in canvassing for the French and German papers. Interesting reports were made by Brother Aslan, of the work in Roumania; by Brother Biglia, of the work in southern Italy; and by Brother Malan, of the Waldensian Valleys. Brother Geymet said that he had sold 22,000 pages of tracts, and given away 8,000 pages. He requests that there be more Italian tracts printed, and an illustrated pamphlet on the prophecies. Elder Ertzenberger reported his labors in Germany. He says that religious meetings cannot be held there unless notice is given to the authorities beforehand, stating the place and time of the meeting, and the subject to be spoken on. If this is not done, one is liable to be fined. Elder D. T. Bourdeau reported his labors in Switzerland, Italy, and France; as a result, there are four new churches, with about forty members. Elder A. C. Bourdeau reported his labors in Roumania, France, and Italy, in which he had baptized fifty-seven persons. The meetings on the Sabbath were of a very solemn character. The necessity of a living faith in God, and of an earnest love for those for whom Christ died, were the themes dwelt upon. The business meetings of Sunday and Monday were occupied with a discussion of the various methods of labor, and the question whether tents can be used to advantage in the various countries of Europe. Many interesting facts were presented, showing that there was ground to believe that tents could be used in Sweden, Germany, France, and Italy. In some of these countries where the laws were the most oppressive a few years ago, they are now the most lenient. At the close of the discussion, it was voted to recommend: (1) That a second tent be purchased for use in England the coming season; (2) That a tent be obtained in time for use the coming season in Sweden; (3) That the Swiss Conference purchase two tents, one for the German and one for the French work; (4) That we request the General Conference to furnish a tent for use in Italy. The circulation of our papers was then discussed, and it was recommended that appropriate illustrations be obtained, and used in each of them.