The Portland daily press., 1879-09-06
The Seventh-Day Adventists.

WATERvILLE, Sept A.
This morning the weather is chilly, damp
and uncomfortable Heavy clouds hide the
face of the sun, and tiny rain-drops patter on
the roofs of the temporary houses. The tent
ers have put on winter clothing and keep their
spirits up by talking and singing of the glad
time ''when the mists shall roll in splendor
from the beauty of the hills and darkness,
gloom and unpleasantness forever pass away.
Last evening the ears of the people were
made glad by the arrival of Elder Geo. 1. But
Ter, from Iowa. He is an eloquent speaker,
and will soon make the grove ring with his
stirring words. The morning social meeting
was an occasion of much interest.
At 1890 the people assembled in the Maine
mission tent and listened to a discourse by Ed.
Butler, from the words, "And take heed to
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be
over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness,
and cares of this life, and so that day come
upon you unawares' Luke xxi, 81. These
words are applicable to the closing years of
time, for tokens that herald the coming of the
Lord are given in preceding verses, and our
text is thrown in as warning to the latter-day
church. 1t is useless to sit down and fold our
hands and tdlk of the. coming and the end.
Work is necessary in order to perfect spotless
character The speaker then displayed large
pictorial chart illustrating the various lines of
prophecy mentioned-in Daniel and John. He
rapidly enumerated and described the various
symbols, comparing history with prophecy and
proving that time will soon be lost in eternity.
Much practical instruction was then given
concerning the influences of the age. The per-
ilous times, characteristic of the last days. Tim.
iii, l. consist not in persecution, for that tends
to keep the church pure; but the danger lies in
suffering an Indifferent, stupid, careless state
of mind to overpower the energies of the soul.
Satan is trying to soothe every fear and rock
the world to sleep. The cares of life crowd
God out of the heart. This is an age of hustle,
hurry and drive. Men in laboring for the
things that perish lose sight of the eternal
treasure and become satisfied with kind of
easy-going religion that has no power in it.
Christ foresaw this state of things and gave
the warning, 'take heed to yourselves ALSO
'watch and pray The speaker closed his
sermon with words that seemed to come from
his Utmost soul.
Elder Butler stirs the feelings of his audience
and carries their minds along with him almost
irresistibly. He talks very rapidly and has an
unusual flow of language, which tends to at
traat attention and reach the ears OF the people.
This afternoon the services were held in the
large tent as before, and the "Songs of Zion''
were sung to the accompaniment Of falling
drops of rain.
Ed. Butler again took the stand and gave a
stirring discourse from Matt. 10, beginning
with the statement that Christ spake much in
parallels, especially near the middle of his
ministry. Clear and beautiful illustrations are
pleasing modes of presenting truth, but Christ
used parallels for different reason than this
His disciples asked him why he thus spake,
and he said, because it is given to you to
know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven,
but to them it is not given" This answer
does not teach Reorganization. 1t shows that
the disciples, having lived up to the light given
at FIRST were entitled to more; but the Jews as
a class, refused to walk in the light, hence
words were spoken to them in parallels. Re-
iecting light caused the heart to wax gross,
and this principle is applicable to all ages.
The Hebrew church had great light, bat not
approaching it, that light grew dim. God de-
signs to give his people new light by degrees,
until the dawning of the perfect day. Those
who do not advance as light is given will re-
main stupid and Indifferent under the most
urgent appeals, and find themselves at length
enveloped in the darkness of everlasting
despair. God sets before us the city of gold,
mansions of glory, the river of life, crowns OF
beauty, harps of joy, robes of white and ever
lasting treasure, yet the great mass of people
choose the -heeting- pleasures of earth and
neglect the gladneSS of endless ageS-the lie
that measures with that of the Infinite Ii the
plan of God could be laid open before all eyes,
fear would compel all to enlist every energy OF
body and mind in the work of preparation for
eternity. God has wisely arranged matters so
that man can act freely from love in his heart
The parable of the sower was dwelt upon and
many eloquent words spoken concerning the
heavenly husbandman and the glory OF the
final harvest.
Elder James White and wife have arrived
on the ground and were gladly welcomed by
all. The rain continues to fall and a general
dampness pervades the camp.
Elder James White preached the evening
discourse, using for q text the question asked
so long ago,-''What think We will he not come
they made the inquiry was to capture Christ
and destroy him. We desire the Lord to come
up to this feast, but our object is to obtain
blessing. We don't expect him to come per-
sonally and visibly, but by his representatives
the comforter and the angels. He has prom
ised his servants that he will be with them
always, and the little company of two or three
may claim his presence. If we desire him to
thus abide with us we must make ready, pre-
pare the way and invite him to come. World
ly cares, thoughts and feelings must be dis
missed, and distracting influences put aside.
Many words of counsel were given, and the
speaker closed with the statement that he
should have much to say during the meeting
about Christ, the beauty of his love, and his
relation to the great plan of salvation.
REPORTER.