WE notice yet another consideration pointing to the locality of this power. John saw it arising from the earth. If the sea from which the leopard beast arose, Rev. 13:1, denotes peoples, nations, and multitudes, Rev. 17:15, the earth would suggest, by contrast, a new and previously-unoccupied territory.
Being thus excluded from the eastern continent, and impressed with the idea of looking to territory not previously known to civilization, we turn of necessity to the western hemisphere. And this is in full harmony with the ideas already quoted, and more which might be presented, that the progress of empire is with the sun around the earth from east to west. Commencing in Asia, the cradle of the race, it would end on this continent, which completes the circuit. Bishop Berkley, in his celebrated poem on America, written more than one hundred years ago, in the following forcible lines, pointed out the then future position of America, and its connection with preceding empires:—
“Westward the course of empire takes its way;
The four first acts already past,
A fifth shall close the drama with the day;
Time's noblest offspring is the last.”
By the “four first acts already past,” the bishop had undoubted reference to the four universal kingdoms of Daniel's prophecy. A fifth great power, the noblest and the last, was, according to his poem, to arise this side the Atlantic, and here close the drama of time, as the day here ends its circuit.
To what part of the American continent shall we look for the power in question? To the most powerful and prominent nation, certainly. This is so evident that we need not stop to pass in review the frozen fragments of humanity on the north of us, nor the weak, superstitious, semi-barbarous, revolutionary, and uninfluential kingdoms to the south of us. No; we come to the United States, and here we are held. To this nation the question of the location of the two-horned beast undeviatingly leads us.
And the eyes of all Europe are intently watching our movements. Says Mr. Townsend (New World and Old, p. 583):—
“All the great peoples of Europe are curiously interested and amazed in the rise of America, and their rulers at present compete for our friendship. ‘Europe,’ said the prince Talleyrand long ago, ‘must have an eye on America, and take care not to offer any pretext for recrimination or retaliation. America is growing every day. She will become a colossal power, and the time will come when (discoveries enabling her to communicate more easily with Europe) she will want to say a word in our affairs, and have a hand in them.’”
The time has come, and the discoveries have been made, to which Talleyrand referred. It is almost as easy now to communicate with Europe as with our nearest town. By these things the attention of the world is drawn still more strongly toward us; and thus whatever the United States does, it is done in the sight, yes, even before the eyes, of all Europe.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE TWO-HORNED BEAST.
Having become satisfied where the power symbolized by the two-horned beast must be located, we now inquire respecting the time when we may look for its development. At what period in this world's history is the rise of this power placed in the prophecy? On this point, as on the preceding, the foundation for the conclusions at which we must arrive is already laid in the facts elicited in reference to the preceding or leopard beast. It was at the time when this beast went into captivity or was killed (politically) with the sword, verse 10, or (which we suppose to be the same thing), had one of its heads wounded to death, verse 3, that John saw the two-horned beast coming up. If the leopard beast, as we have conclusively proved, signifies the papacy, and the going into captivity met its fulfillment in the temporary overthrow of the popedom by the French, in 1798, then we have the time definitely specified, when we are to look for the rising of this power. The expression, “coming up,” must signify that the power to which it applies was but newly organized, and was then just rising into prominence and influence. The power represented by this symbol must, then, be some power which in 1798 stood in this position before the world.
That the leopard beast is a symbol of the papacy, there can be no question; but some may want more evidence that the wounding of one of its heads, or its going into captivity, was the overthrow of the papacy in 1798. This can easily be given. A nation being represented by a wild beast, the government of that nation, that by which it is controlled, must as a very clear matter of course be considered as answering to the head of the beast. The seven heads of this beast would therefore denote seven different governments; but all the heads pertain to one beast, and hence all these seven different forms of government pertain to one empire. But only one form of government can exist in a nation at one time; hence the seven heads must denote seven forms of government to appear, not simultaneously, but successively. But these heads pertain alike to the dragon and the leopard beast; from which this one conclusion only can be drawn: that Rome, during its whole history, embracing both its pagan and papal phases, would change its government six times, presenting to the world seven different forms in all. And the historian records just that number as pertaining to Rome. Rome was first ruled by Kings; second, by Consuls; third, by Decemvirs; fourth, by Dictators; fifth, by Triumvirs; sixth, by Emperors; and seventh, by Popes. See American Encyclopedia.
John saw one of these heads wounded, as it were, to death. Which one? Can we tell? Let it be noticed, first, that it is one of the heads of the beast which is wounded to death, and not one of the heads of the dragon; that is, it is some form of government which existed in Rome after the change of symbols from the dragon to the leopard beast. We then inquire, How many of the different forms of Roman government belonged absolutely to the dragon, or existed in Rome while it maintained its draconic or pagan form? These same seven heads are again presented to John in Rev. 17; and the angel there explains that they are seven kings, or forms of government, verse 10; and he informs John that five are fallen, and one is; that is, five of these forms of government were already past in John's day; and he was living under the sixth. Under what form did John live? The imperial; it being the cruel decree of the emperor Domitian which banished him to the Isle of Patmos where this vision was given. Kings, Consuls, Decemvirs, Dictators, and Triumvirs, were all in the past in John's day. Emperors were then ruling the Roman world; and the empire was still pagan. Six of these heads, therefore, Kings, Consuls, Decemvirs, Dictators, Triumvirs, and Emperors belonged to the dragon; for they all existed while Rome was pagan; and it was no one of these that was wounded to death; for had it been, John would have said, I saw one of the heads of the dragon wounded to death. The wound was inflicted after the empire had so changed in respect to its religion that it became necessary to represent it by the leopard beast. But the beast had only seven heads, and if six of them pertain to the dragon, only one remained to have an existence after this change in the empire took place. After the Emperors, the sixth and last head that existed in Rome in its dragonic form, came the Popes, the only head that existed after the empire had nominally become Christian. The “Exarch of Ravenna” existed so “short a space,” Rev. 17:10, that it has no place in the general enumeration of the heads of this power.
U. S.
(To be Continued.)
California Conference Proceedings.
The eighth annual session of the California State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held at the Healdsburg camp-ground, Sept. 18-23, 1879.
FIRST MEETING, Sept. 18, 9 o'clock A. M.
Owing to the absence of a President the meeting was called to order by the Secretary. The Conference having no President, Eld. Haskell of the General Conference Executive Committee was called to preside at the meetings of the Conference.
The President elect took the chair. Opening prayer was offered by Eld. J. H. Waggoner.
The following delegates presented credentials from their respective churches:—
Bloomfield,—Horace Lamb; Christine,—W. C. Grainger; Fairview,—E. L. McCapes, Joseph Hutchings, W. M. Smith, G. W. Hutchings; Healdsburg,—Geo. W. Mills, John Cook; Lemoore,—J. E. Yoakum; Lone Oak,—Bro. Hanseu; Middletown,—R. D. Hicks; Napa,—W. G. Myers; Oakland,—F. L. Holmes, P. M. Partridge, W. J. Bostwick, W. A. Harris, J. E. White, John I. Tay; Petaluma,—Edwin Moore; Red Bluff,—R. Fairbanks; Rocklin, Griffin P. Davis; St Helena,—E. J. Church, Geo. R. Drew; San Francisco,—M. C. Israel, Joseph Fieger, J. B. Dymot; Santa Rosa,—J. G. Hurley, Fidus Lyttaker, John Morrison; San Pasqual,—J. H. Waggoner; San Jose,—J. W. Croukrite; Sacramento,—Wm. M. Healey; Vacaville,—R. A. Morton, M. Swazey; Vallejo,—W. G. Whitney; Woodland,—Wm. Saunders, N. Grayson, T. H. Horn.
Arbuckle and Nevada City were taken under the watchcare of the Conference, and J. D. Rice was appointed to act as delegate for them.
All members in good standing were invited to take part in all the deliberations of the Conference except the voting.
Wm. Saunders, of the Committee to defend our position before the Constitutional Convention on Sabbath observance, reported
That the Committee had caused petitions to be circulated throughout the State which had received about 2000 signatures. That this petition had been duly presented to one of the delegates to the convention, but owing to the liberal disposition of that body in placing all religious denominations upon an equal footing, no action was taken upon the petition.
Adjourned till 5 o'clock.
SECOND MEETING, Sept. 18, 5 o'clock, P. M.
Prayer by W. C. Grainger.
The following committees were appointed:—
Nominations—T. M. Chapman, Wm. Saunders, M. C. Israel.
Resolutions—W. M. Healey, J. H. Waggoner, Wm. Saunders.
Auditing—N. Grayson, G. D. Hager, J. E. Yoakum, T. M. Chapman, Wm. Saunders, John Cook.
Credentials—J. E. Yoakum, T. M. Chapman, Wm. Saunders.
Auditor—Wm. Saunders.
Instructive remarks were made by the President on the duties of the committees, when the meeting adjourned.
THIRD MEETING. Sept. 22, 10:15 A. M.
Prayer by Eld. Waggoner. Eld. J. H. Waggoner in behalf of the committee on resolutions, submitted report as follows:—
1. Resolved, That we express our thanks to the General Conference for its interest in the cause in this State, and especially as shown in sending Elder S. N. Haskell to assist in our work.
2. That we appropriate one-tenth of the funds of our State Conference to the General Conference.
3. That we hereby express our confidence in the Testimonies, and recommend to our churches to procure libraries and have the books read by all the members.
4. That we recommend the adoption of the plan now acted upon in other States, of dividing the Conference into districts and assigning to each laborer his own field.
5. That it is the duty of every member of a Seventh-day Adventist church to pay something to the support of the ministry and for the spread of the truth, if it be but a small sum, but that all pay something, and thereby connect themselves more closely with the cause of God.
6. That we request our churches to consider that article of our State Constitution which provides that all funds be paid into the State Treasury and not into the hands of ministers and licentiates.
7. That the officers of the Conference be requested to restrain the ministers from drawing funds from the treasury in advance of their labors, as we consider it has a bad influence for them to become indebted to the Conference.
8. That we recommend the holding of our next Northern Camp-Meeting in Healdsburg providing that satisfactory arrangements can be made.
9. That we acknowledge our obligation to Messrs. Hassett for the use of the camp-ground and straw free of charge.
10. That our thanks are due to the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad Company for favors received in transportation of tents free, and reduction of fares.
The Resolutions were adopted; those relating to the Testimonies, and the interests of the cause, were also passed by a rising vote of the congregation.
Bro. Saunders submitted the following:—
Resolved, That we appreciate the services of Eld. Waggoner at this meeting, and we hereby express our thankfulness for his presence, counsel, and labors. Passed by a rising vote, but was strongly protested against by Eld. W. C. Grainger.
The Nominating Committee submitted a report as follows:—
For President,—Eld. S. N. Haskell; Secretary,—J. D. Rice; Treasurer,—Mrs. Emma L. White; Executive Committee,—John Morrison and M. C. Israel.
On motion the meeting adjourned.
FOURTH MEETING, Sept. 23, 5:45 A. M.
Prayer by R. A. Morton. The motion of the previous meeting in reference to accepting the report of the nominating committee was then called up. Remarks were made by Eld. Haskell stating that if he were elected President it must be with the understanding that he could only spend a part of his time in the State as he was under obligation to other conferences. Further remarks were made by Eld. Waggoner to the effect that it was not only the best, but really the only thing that could be done under the circumstances, when the motion was put and carried.
The Committee on Licenses submitted a partial report to the effect, That the following ordained ministers receive credentials, viz, M. C. Israel, J. L. Wood, J. D. Rice, B. A. Stephens and Wm. M. Healey.—Credentials granted.
Moved by J. E. White that as Eld. Loughborough, missionary to Great Britain was still connected with this Conference, he receive a renewal of his credentials from it.
The churches at Vacaville and Rocklin were received into the Conference.
Further remarks were then made by Elds. Waggoner and Haskell on the duty of licentiates and colporteurs when the meeting adjourned.
FIFTH MEETING Sept. 23, 4:15 P. M.
Prayer by R. A. Morton.
Committee on Licenses submitted further report as follows:—
We recommend that John Judson have his credentials renewed; that Brn. R. A. Morton, J. E. White, W. C. Grainger and J. S. Howard receive ministerial licenses; and that Brethren Edward Bush, Geo. Manuel, J. G. Hurley, E. L. McCapes, J. B. Dymot, W. M. Smith, M. D. Church, L. H. Church, R. D. Hicks, P. M. Partridge and Frank Lamb receive Colporteur's licenses. The names of M. G. Kellogg, A. D. Benton, W. E. Price and W. W. Smith were referred to the Conference Committee.
Remarks were made by Eld. Haskell explaining the difference between Ministerial and Colporteur's licenses, and also giving instruction and advice to both classes.
A request was presented from the Lemoore church asking to be received into the Conference. Request granted.
The matter of the distribution of tent labor then engaged the attention of the Conference. No action was taken except the appointing of a meeting of the ministers, licentiates, colporteurs and those especially interested to arrange a plan of labor for the coming year. Meeting adjourned sine die.
GEO. MANUEL, Secretary.
Our Obligations to the Dumb Animals.
By Mrs. Edith Degan
SOME months ago Dewey & Co., of the Pacific Rural Press, San Francisco, offered a prize to the ladies of Alameda county for the best essay on "Our Obligations to the Dumb Animals," to be competed for under the auspices of the Oakland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. There were eight competitors. The prize, a handsome framed steel plate engraving "The Wounded Hound," is awarded to Mrs. Edith Degan, wife of Prof. Degan, of the Classical Institute, Oakland. The following is Mrs. Degan's prize essay:—
Nine persons out of ten will agree in giving tenderness as high a place among the essentials of the womanly character as they assign to courage among manly qualities. The quiet path in which the lives of most women lie—the one which leads to the greatest hight, and from which we see most widely and most clearly; the path of home and wifehood and motherhood—tends to develop this characteristic. Woman's tenderness is not weakness, but strength. Its charm lies in the fact that it flows towards those who are more or less dependent upon the giver, and it is therefore most charming when bestowed on little children. Nor is tenderness wanting in those women to whom this sweet home life is denied. We often see it lavished on what we call unworthy objects, for with most women the desire to bestow affection is irresistable, and the love which would, under different circumstances, be given to husband and children, is still forced to flow, though in these narrow channels. Tenderness is a natural quality, though one capable of and demanding development. Courage may be either physical or moral. In either case it will meet evil bravely, oppose it mightily, or, if need be, endure it patiently. Man's life and work develop this quality as woman's surroundings develop her tenderness. His work lies outside of home. He goes into the world to make his mark there; to fight for existence. He needs, for his daily task, all the courage he can command—courage to resist the temptation and wrong which meet him on every side—to fight for the oppressed, and to keep cheerfully at work when the days look dark. Home is his resting place, and in its change and quiet and tenderness, he finds his strength renewed for to-morrow's battle.
The highest development of character, either in man or in woman, depends upon the combination of these qualities in one and the same person. The man who can best lead an army into battle, who can stand in the thickest of the fight with a courage which is sublime, is the same man who, in the calm which succeeds contest, can stoop to look into dying eyes to receive last words from dying lips. And the woman who most tenderly fondles her little ones is the same, who, in great and sudden crises, can summon to her aid a courage which is simply marvelous. Our tenderness is commonly measured by the helplessness of the recipient. The ordinary tone in which we address our fellowmen is wonderfully softened when we speak to little children, and baby ears should only hear the cooing whispers which lessen the distance between heaven's music and earth's discords.
So with courage. Friend fights for friend, and fights nobly. But compare this friend with a father defending his children. Who stands the stronger? The helplessness of those we benefit spurs us on to mighty efforts; it keeps us patient and tender when we are tempted to be harsh and irritable; it sustains us in resisting evils and dangers which we could not conquer were we fighting for ourselves alone. Must it all end here? Are there no calls for the exercise of these qualities save from our fellow men and from our children?
All around us is constantly ascending the cry of the oppressed against the oppressor—the old, old cry, uttered when the world was young. Again and again it sounds in our ears and moves our hearts to pity. But there are other oppressed ones from whom no cry ascends—who have no word to tell their sufferings—the great army of dumb creatures. Few eyes shed tears for them; few hearts are heavy with the thought of their distress; few hands are stretched forth to relieve them. For very thoughtlessness our sympathies cease with humanity. Beyond that line we think there is no call for active pity. And yet among that silent throng are the most helpless of God's creatures. To us, the stronger, the more gifted ones, belongs the duty of caring for these.
With most of us the attention given them is proportionate to the benefits we receive from them. A horse or a cow is well sheltered and well fed because this care brings to the owner just so much comfort or just so many dollars and cents; because they cannot afford to neglect them. This is hardly fulfilling the obligations placed upon us by Him who gave man dominion over all His other works. That gift brought its responsibilities—responsibilities which we dare not shirk. Because we have a certain power of making life yield good or evil, we are bound to call forth all the good we can, not only for ourselves, but for all creatures. And besides food and shelter, a proper amount of rest is necessary to the well-being of a working beast as to that of a working man. The night's rest and the seventh day belong to all. Statistics prove that the horse or ox who works seven days in the week breaks down sooner than the one who receives his due share of rest. In short, practical fellowmen, it does not pay to be unmerciful to one's beast. Now and then, when we can spare him, let us give an animal a holiday outside of stable doors. He will thank us, in his own way, doubtless, and such thanks are not to be despised. So much for the three essentials—food, shelter, and rest. Besides these there are a hundred little ways in which we can minister to an animal's comfort. We can do infinitely more in preventing pain than in making reparation after we have inflicted it. Small words and deeds of kindness will soon win an animal's friendship. These kindnesses are owed. And they are owed not only to those animals who work for us, but to every creature endowed with the power to suffer and enjoy. By a universal law, made not by men, but for them, we are bound to relieve misery; to bestow good wherever we can.
Then let us summon all our courage and take up arms for the oppressed; fight for the weak—against the strong; plead for those who cannot plead for themselves. Let us call up all our tenderness and bestow it where it is surely needed—on the suffering, the helpless, and the silent.
A Sad Story.
By Mrs. Anabel C. Andrews
"THAT dog? yes, he is a noble old fellow, and he thinks considerable of me, don't you sir? Kiss me if your'e glad to see me—down, sir, down! that'll do. See here, Bruno, where's little Will? little Will, Bruno?"
The dog looked up in his questioner's face and began a low mournful whine almost human in its sadness.
"There!" said Mr. Snow to me, "you hear that? That old dog remembers the child's name and he knows little Will is dead."
"Was he the dog's little master?"
"Yes; do you see that little brown house down there between those maples? The Melvilles lived there—father, mother, and three-year-old boy. A year ago there wasn't a happier family in this State, and a tidy, made on this Java canvas, I believe they call it, ruined it; made the father old before his time, and the mother a confirmed invalid."
"A Java canvas tidy! how on earth could it?"
"Well, Mrs. Melville got what I call the 'fancy-work craze.' She made tidies and lamp-mats and all those things until the house was full of them. By and by she didn't have time to go to lectures, or walks, or rides, because she had hired, or borrowed, a pattern of somebody and must get it worked as soon as she could. I noticed, too—she's my favorite niece, sir, and I was there a good deal afternoons—that she didn't have time to play or talk much with little Will, because you see they have to count the stitches on this kind of work, and it bothers 'em to look off the pattern, till at last Bruno got to be about all the playmate or company little Will had through the day, while his father was away."
"I don't want you to think, sir, that I don't like pretty things, because I do; I love to see 'em, and the good God who made the flowers meant we should; but there's some women who never ought to touch fancy-work because it fascinates 'em so it spoils 'em for anything else, and Laura Melville was one of them. Well, along in the spring Laura went to Boston to visit her aunt—my sister—and when she came home she had learned two or three new stitches, and a pattern for a Java canvas tidy that was something new around here. She hardly waited to get settled down at home before going to work on that tidy; and how she did work! Every moment that she could spare from household duties she devoted to that tidy. It was designed to cover a sofa and of course there was no end of work in it. One afternoon she tied on little Will's hat and sent him out to play with Bruno while she sat down to work on her beloved tidy. The doors and windows were wide open and for a while she heard the baby voice commanding Bruno to 'Dit up! whca!' then there was a mad barking and Bruno rushed in and caught her dress, trying to pull her toward the door; she was so absorbed in her work that she never noticed the little sunny head was not behind him, and giving him an impatient push and a command to 'go away!' she went on with her work, but the dog did not obey; he made a snatch at her work, dragging it from her hands; she rescued it, and striking him, pushed him out and shut the door after him. He barked and whined at the door a few seconds, then all was still again. 'I never knew him so rough!' she exclaimed, impatiently, as she gathered her work once more. The time sped by unheeded until her husband opened the door. 'One, two, three, four,' she counted, without looking up. He strode in and laid little Will in her lap, his golden hair all matted with mud, his blue eyes set and glassy! For a moment she looked, and then put him on the floor saying: ""There, go and play, Willie, mamma must work now?'"
"You see, sir, the shock had crazed her, but the boy's father was so full of bitter feelings toward her for her neglect that he never stopped to think of the mighty volume of mother-love behind its barrier of fancy-work. They got her to bed and gave her a strong opiate, and then kind neighbors came and did all that earthly hands would ever need to do for little Will. Poor little Will! You stayed with him till the last, didn't you, Bruno? and when they walked to the grave to lay him to rest you followed behind the tiny casket, and no one disputed your right. It happened in this way: In the garden there was a shallow tub containing pond lilies; we suppose that in running, little Will struck his foot against the tub and it threw him right across the edge, his face in the water; his struggles drew him over farther, and though poor old Bruno did his best it was of no avail. Mr. Melville saw them before he reached the house, coming from his work, and Bruno was holding him tightly by the skirts; when he heard his master's step he whined pitifully but never relaxed his hold till Mr. Melville lifted up the baby form. A large spike on the inside of the tub had slipped under a leather belt little Willie wore, thus holding him back so Bruno could not rescue him; that he had tried hard was evident from the boy's clothes which were torn to shreds; when he found he could not draw up his little master he had gripped his clothes tight and held him until Mr. Melville came. Yes, it is a sad story; a sadder one I never knew."
"Laura? She was sick and unconscious quite a time; she has never fully recovered, nor do I think she ever will. Her first request was for little Will; they told her as gently as possible that he had been dead almost two weeks, but her grief was uncontrollable. She asked that all her worsted and fancy-work might be distributed among her friends, as reminders, she said, that fancy-work was well in its place, but should never absorb the mind to the exclusion of real duties, and particularly motherly duties. The sofa tidy she kept herself, just as it was, for she has never touched worsteds since."
"Poor old Bruno! you know every word she said, don't you? you did your best; no one blames you."—Mrs. Anabel C. Andrews in the Household.
The Home Circle.
UNDER THE LEAVES.
THICK green leaves from the soft brown earth,
Happy spring-time hath called them forth;
First faint promise of summer bloom
Breathes from the fragrant, sweet perfume
Under the leaves.
Lift them! what marvelous beauty lies
Hidden beneath, from our thoughtless eyes!
May-flowers, rosy or purest white,
Lift their cups to the sudden light
Under the leaves.
Are there no lives whose holy deeds—
Seen by no eyes save His who reads
Motive and action—in silence grow
Into rare beauty, and bud and blow
Under the leaves?
Fair white flowers of faith and trust,
Springing from spirits bruised and crushed;
Blossoms of love, rose-tinted and bright,
Touched and painted with heaven's own light
Under the leaves.
Full fresh clusters of duty borne,
Fairest of all in that shadow grown;
Wondrous the fragrance that sweet and rare
Come from the flower-cups hidden there,
Under the leaves.
Though unseen by our vision dim,
Bud and blossom are known to him:
Wait we content for His heavenly ray—
Wait till our Master himself one day
Lifted the leaves.
—Selected.
A Child’s Repentance
A FULL blown rose "besprinkled" with the purest dew is not so beautiful as the child blushing beneath the parent's displeasure, and shedding tears of sorrow for its faults.
Reports from the Field.
By John Harvey Kellogg
Reynolds, Georgia.
AFTER an absence of four months, we are again at this place. During the time we have driven our faithful horse thirteen hundred and fifty miles. I was weary before starting, but duty urged. After traveling many miles, laboring hard and seeing no fruit, we are sometimes ready to ask, What good has been accomplished? Such have been my thoughts in regard to the labor put forth in South Carolina. But a letter written by a first-day Adventist minister, to friends here, has cheered me much. I copy from it:—
"Bro. C. O. Taylor's visit has been a blessing to me. I never saw the heavenly sanctuary as I now see it. Oh! it is a great subject. Bro. T. gave me several works which I appreciate very much. The S. D. Adventists are right on the Sabbath. It is the Lord's day, and should be kept. We are evidently in the time of the third angel's message, when the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord will be the sign of his people. Last Sunday I spoke from Dan. 8, on the cleansing of the sanctuary. The Lord helped me, and I trust some good was done."
In Wautauga Co., N. C., I left fifteen keeping the Sabbath. Six received baptism, and entered into church covenant. They are growing in all the truth. Others will unite with them soon. Brethren having back numbers of Good Health, who wish to have them doing good, may send them to L. P. Hodge, Boone, Wautauga Co., N. C. He will put them to good use. Several counties in that part of the State, are the best fields for labor that I have found in the South.
Sept. 14. C. O. TAYLOR.
Potter Brook, Penn.
By J. G. Saunders, Phillip Kent
WE strike our tent to-day if the weather will permit. Have held in all eighty meetings. Our congregations were good during the first five weeks, by which time we had canvassed the Sabbath question. Then, by vote, twenty acknowledged the Bible Sabbath binding.
Strong prejudice prevailed here among the no-law Adventists. We called them into the tent, and asked them to have the manly courage and Christian courtesy to state publicly their position, and we would meet them; but they refused. They finally challenged us for a discussion on the two covenants. We accepted the challenge, and held three meetings in the tent. These were very exciting times. From this effort ten took their stand on the side of the Bible Sabbath. The interest has kept up from first to last. The last evening of our meetings, the tent was filled, although it rained hard.
Sept. 10. J. G. SAUNDERS,
PHILLIP KENT.
Sevastopol, Ind.
By S. H. Lane
The meetings during the past week have been of an interesting nature. Although the nights have been very cool, yet the congregations have decreased but little. Last night (Sunday) we had the largest congregation we have yet had. The Sabbath meeting was especially interesting. Some twelve are keeping the Sabbath. After a sermon, ten or fifteen gave in cheering testimonies, which gave evidence that their hearts were moved by the Spirit of God. Some of the conversions are remarkable. Four weeks ago they knew nothing of the views of S. D. Adventists, and some were non-professing, profane men. But what a change! Now these men pray, ask a blessing, and read the Bible and our publications all their spare time, even taking these books to their places of labor. A few weeks ago we purchased a set of Sr. White’s works for each one of our three tents. We lend ours to the most interested ones, and they are doing good.
Bro. Sharp reports an excellent meeting last Sabbath at Silver Lake, where a company of ten embraced the truth just before we moved the tent here. S. H. Lane.
Sept. 15.
Fremont Center, Mich.
By E. B. & E. S. Lane
WHILE we were at Fremont Center with the tent, an interest was awakened about four miles west of there, where we have been laboring since. About ten have taken their stand on the Sabbath question. Fourteen have signed a church covenant, and enough more are keeping the Sabbath to make a church of twenty or more. We have organized a Sabbath-school of twenty-five. The meetings continue with good interest. We look for several more to take their stand with us, as they are fully convinced.
Sept. 18. Four men took their stand on the Sabbath question last Sabbath, and others are deeply interested.
E. B. & E. S. LANE.
A Handy Anesthetic.
Forced respiration has recently been recommended as a very efficient means of securing freedom from pain during slight surgical operations. An English surgeon has made use of this means to a very considerable extent. In the following paragraph a gentleman described the mode of applying the remedy as well as its application for the relief of toothache:—
"Several evenings since I was attacked with a severe dental neuralgia. After resorting to friction, cold and hot applications, etc., without obtaining any relief, I lay upon my bed trusting that sleep might come and give me respite. Still the excruciating pain continued, and while I was suffering the 'tortures of the doubly damned,' undecided whether to arouse some tired druggist for a bottle of chloroform or chop my head off (with a decided preference, however, for the chloroform), I suddenly bethought me of what I had read in the anesthetic book we always carry with us. Thereupon I began to inflate my lungs to their utmost capacity, and then forcibly blew out all the air I could. Immediately the pain began to lessen, and after a few repetitions of the process it had entirely ceased, being displaced by a delightful tickling sensation in the gums. Furthermore I know not; for in less time than it takes to tell it I was sound asleep, awakening next morning delightfully refreshed and without any symptom of ailment left. Hence, you see, I was not simply temporarily relieved but entirely well again. I wish other sufferers would try this, and report results."
Forest City and Buffalo Grove, Iowa.
By John F. Hanson
SEPT. 10 to 14 I spent with the Sabbath-keepers in these places. Our meetings were blessed with the deep workings of the Spirit of God. Here are not less than twenty who regard the Sabbath of the Lord. Organized a church of sixteen members. These friends will now hold their regular meetings in each place every Sabbath, and once a month they will meet together in the school-house near Silver Lake. A Bible-reading class and Sabbath-school is formed of sixteen members, which is carried on in the English language by Bro. Hardy, and Bro. Benton, another American brother who, with his family, has lately come into the truth by reading the Signs. May God bless the cause here.
John F. Hanson.
Mason, Mich.
By T. M. Steward, E. P. Daniels
Our meetings continue here with increasing interest. Last Sabbath we had an excellent meeting. Some are making a start to serve God. The Lord is at work among the people. Praise his holy name. Last night our tent was packed with attentive listeners. Some have taken their stand on the Sabbath, and others are investigating. Pray for us, that God will give us wisdom to do his work faithfully.
T. M. Steward,
E. P. Daniels.
Sept. 15.
A Hint to Bald-Headed People.
Frederick Kemp writes from the silver mines of Montana to the Herald of Health, giving the following hint in reference to a cure for his bald-headedness:—
“A friend of mine, who had the misfortune to be bald-headed, knowing that there is a wonderful invigorating power in the sun's rays, last spring threw away his hat, and worked in the gulch all spring, summer, and fall, bare-headed, and also for the first few days at mid-day. For a few days the rays of the hot sun on his head were almost unendurable (we think the dangerous point in the experiment is just here), after that time he experienced no uneasiness whatever. The result was that in the fall he had a good head of hair. And in this experiment he was not alone: several of his acquaintances, who were bald-headed, having followed the same plan, they were all fortunate enough to experience the same result.”
The editor adds that a similar case once came under his observation, and professes to have no doubt “the exposure of the skin to the air and sunshine, under proper circumstances, stimulates it to a healthy action, and with it those glands upon which the growth of the hair depends.”
Rubbing Cure.
It is impossible to find a simpler and more effectual remedy for nervous diseases than what is known as the Rubbing Cure—a cure within the reach of all. Nervous persons are in a disturbed electric state, and need the rubbing friction from another's hands to draw off the electricity which is in excess, or impart what is lacking to a healthy condition. Rubbing is the best anodyne that can be administered. It soothes and quiets the nerves, inducing sleep, which in turn invigorates the body. Again; rubbing is beneficial to invalids as a substitute for other exercise and outdoor life. Were rubbing generally resorted to in the case of persons suffering from overwork or nervous prostration, more cures would be wrought than the best physicians ever dreamed of in their philosophy.
Insulating Sick-Beds.
The Chicago Advance narrates a case where a patient "sick unto death" of a complication of disorders, and suffering constantly, by day and by night, an excruciating agony of pain, for which medicines administered afforded not the slightest alleviation, was entirely and almost instantly relieved from the torment of suffering she had previously endured by insulating the bed, so that the electrical currents were prevented from flowing from the body. Heavy glass salt-cellars were placed under the bed posts, the bed moved out from the wall, and the bed clothing carefully adjusted. It is a simple remedy, and is said to be infallible in acute pain, as rheumatism.
Strength of Appetite Early Cultivated.
One of the first literary men in the United States said to the writer, after speaking on the subject of temperance, "There is one thing, which, as you visit different places I wish you to do everywhere; that is, to entreat every mother never to give a drop of strong drink to a child. I have had to fight as for my life all my days to keep from being a drunkard, because I was fed with spirits when a child. I acquired a taste for it. My brother, poor fellow! died a drunkard. I would not have a child of mine take a drop of it for anything. Warn every mother, wherever you go, never to give a drop of it to a child."
Saloons and Municipal Bankruptcy
ELIZABETH has from one hundred and fifty to two hundred licensed saloons, and yet, with the revenue derived from these licenses, Elizabeth is the worst bankrupted city in the state.—Central New Jersey Times.
Of course it is, unless some place having more saloons in proportion to population, for every dollar received by any municipality for license is a germ of evil, producing a luxuriant harvest of intemperance, pauperism, and crime, which must be gathered at the expense of industry and sobriety, and when the growth is excessive, bankruptcy is inevitable.—Sabbath Recorder.
The Happiness of Unhappiness
MANY people find their only happiness in forcing themselves to be unhappy.