The Portland daily press., 1878-09-06
CA MP MEETINGS.


WATERv1LLE, Sept. 3.
The meeti ngs yesterday were opened by FL
der Farnswo of Iowa, who spoke from the
text, "Here is the patience of the saints, here
are they that keep the commandments of God
and have the faith of Jesus" Rev. xiv, IL.
The text has special application to our own
times and refers to the church who are look
ing for the second appearing of Christ, as that
is the next event mentioned in the connection.
national characteristics of the people and the
former clause to a virtue which circumstances
will loudly call for Those who pass through
the trying scenes of the last days will need
much discipline in the school of patience. In
Rev. xiv, Z, we find message identical with
that OF Rev. x. disappointment is there
brought to view. The proclamation must be
made, 'The hour of Gods judgment is come"
and then the angel must "prophesy again be-
fore many nations and peoples" The advent
people in 1874 gave soul.stirring message
which was accompanied with the spirit and
power Of. God. The church stood forth stair
as the sun, clear as the moon and terrible as
an army of banners until the disappointment
came, and then she drank the cup of bitterness
to the dregs. Floods of reproach and SANDER
were heaped upon the advent people and the
very name of VIM. Miller has become stigma,
God wants triep people and he has taken
this means to test them. They were, like the
Hebrews, all ready to enter Canaan, but when
the trial came thousands and thousands gave
up the whole thing as humbug. There is
wonderful analogy between the history of the
Jews and that of modern Israel. They were
tested forty years in the wilderness, and Gods
people today will be sifted until nothing is left
but pure gold. In James v, 1, 5, we find pas.
sages which refer to the last days and point out
the same state of things as the text, and Heb.
K, 49, 81, brings to view the same tarrying time
and need Of patience. This time is given the
church in which to warn the world and they
can hasten the coming of the just one, I'd Pet.
lii, II. God has work to do in the nations
which will keep pace with the work of his peo-
pie. We live in an age of the world when the
work of warning our fellow men should be
made the business of our lives, and the truths
of the Bible become a living reality. God
would be well pleased to have US step into the
boundless ocean of his love and oLsecrate our
lives to His service. The speaker closed with
an earnest appeal to the people, urging them to
Lift ia the work of God. Elder Farrsworth IS
Uvery rapid aud enthusiastic speaker, and one
who throws his whole soul into his preaching :.
The words were listened to with marked atten.
ton.
The services yesterday afternoon were opened
by singing 20 where shall rest be fonnd." The
singing was led by Elder Whitney who played
the organ and made the grove resound with
sweet waves of harmony. Elder Farnsworth
made feeling prayer, after which Elder Web
Der of Richmond, Me-. gave discourse upon
the law of God from the text found in Psalms
cxix' 96j The text refers to the ten command
ments, which comprehend much more than
many suppose. They are perfect and include
the whole duty of man. There is not sin in
the catalogue of crimes that they do not cover.
The first four show our duty to God. The last
six our duty to man. Therefore, in order to
'love God with all our hearts and our neghbors
as ourselves" we must keep the whole law.
Christ referred to the law in his sermon
on the mount, aud gave it wider meaning
than was generally supposed. We are living
in an age of the world when men are skepticaI
and have little faith in the Bible. Those who
profess to believe the Bible, and yet teach that
Christ abolished his fathers law. are worse
than open irfdels for their influence in a
Christian community is greater. While heav-
en- and earth stand, the law will remain and
we are at last to be judged by it, 1t is so broad
that it touches the thoughts and interests of
the heart as we'll as covers every outward act.
SSH is the transgresson of the law" LIST John
iii, T. 1.-THE wages of sin is DEATH The
speaker spoke feelingly in regard to the raw
ages which death makes in the homes and
hearts of men. The awful desolaton and de-
spair which accompany the dread monster
were portrayed with thrilling words and the
time referred to when death will nowhere be
known or feared. The glory and beauty of the
other life was pictured and described, and the
i'm portance of preparing for it. dwelt upon.
The audience gave good attention and seemed
pleased wi tn the discourse.
At o'clock session OF the Maine Confer
ence was held in the grove and some business
transacted. At Z o'clock the bell rang and the
people assembled The grove was lighted with
swinging lanterns which cast subdued light
over the encampment, and like friendly eyes
Looked out from among the trees. The beauti-
full music of the stirring hymn 'Long for my
Saviour I've been waiting" foated far out ap-
on the evening air and attracted outside wan,
derers.
Elder Whitney of New York then took the
stand and spoke upon the question, "Have we
a right to be Adventists?' He gave an able
discourse, which covered the grounds of faith
concerning the doctrine of the advent The
sermon was based on the text in Amos iii, Z,
and resolved itself into three propositions, the
first Of which was: that the Scriptures plainly
declare that Christ will visit this earth the
second time, literally and personally. This
has been the hope of the Christian church in
all ages-Matt. xvi, 81; John xiv, 1-5; 1 Thess.
iv, 15-1S. That day will be such day as the
earth has never known. Not despised and spit
upon and crowned with thorns will the Saviour
appear, but His coming will be as q King,
glorious and eternal. The second proposition
was that the Scriptures declare that signs will
mark His coming-Matt xiv. This fact lays q
solemn responsibility upon the church; even
that of watching for and interpreting those
signs, and then making them known to the
world. The third point was that God will
send solemn warning message to the inhab.
itants of the earth, that they may be prep ired
for His Advent God has always thus deal.
with His people prior to sending judgments.
The work of Noah was referred to, in warning
the world of the flood. An angel was sent to
warn the nh abitants of the cities Of the plains.
When Christ made His first advent, the prophe-
cies pointed to the event and John the Baptist
was sent before Him as messenger. Even sc
God has heralded and foretold the second ad,
vent, and when that great event takes place
men cannot reproach Goo for not warning
them.
The speaker evidently thoroughly believes
what he breaches, and his whole manner shows
that he is terribly in earnest. He entreated
the people to seek higher ground and to live
holier lives. This people teach practical God
hHess, and however much one may differ from
them in regard TO doctrinal points, they cannot
fnt admire the purity of the religion they prac
tice and recommend.
The ministers in this denomination use NJ
notes while nreachino Thav aaau verv famil