Your ShelfYour Projects

Signs of the Times, Vol. 6, No. 12.

General Articles
Earlier text: SINCERITY, OR TRUTH

MR. STEPHENS' PERICARDIUM.

"Now I am going to tell you just what my husband said to me this morning, doctor, word for word," said the invalid, Mrs. Stephens, lying back on the sofa pillow, the very picture of misery. The family physician, who was called on an average, to the Stephens mansion, three hundred and sixty times a year, drew a chair close to the couch and waited quietly for his patient to open her book of complaints.
"Last night, you see, doctor, I had an ill turn, and he wanted to come for you; but when I got so he dared to leave me, he concluded then we'd better let you sleep."
"Much obliged to him," said the doctor, with sarcastic emphasis on the personal pronoun. "Last night was the first undisturbed night's rest I have enjoyed for a week."
Mrs. Stephens continued:—
"This spell is the same as I had the last time you were sent for, doctor—"
"A slight nervous attack," broke in the physician; "nothing more."
"Well, it don't make any difference what you call it, it was mighty hard to bear; but let me tell you what my husband said first, doctor, before we go into symptoms. When he was going down to breakfast, he says to me, 'Kate, what shall I send you up?'"
"Says I, 'I don't want anything in the world but a good, strong cup of tea. Tell Bridget to send it up in the little teapot.' I saw, doctor, that he did not move after I said this, so I turned and looked at him, and such a picture of rage and disgust I never saw in my life. Finally, says he, 'Tea! tea! tea! it's nothing but tea from morning till night, Kate,' says he; 'you are the color of a Chinaman now. Why don't you order a good piece of beefsteak, and a slice of brown bread and a cup of chocolate? That would be a sensible breakfast.'"
"'But, John,' says I, 'you forget that I am sick and have no appetite.' I was all ready to cry, but I was determined that he shouldn't have the satisfaction of seeing the tears fall.
"'Forget,' says he, 'forget! I wish to heaven I could forget; it's nothing but grunt and groan from one year's end to the other. I have lost all patience with you,' says he. 'When we lived in a part of a house, and you did your own housework, we were as well and happy as anybody, and no man ever had a pleasanter little home than John Stephens; but what have I now to leave or come back to?' And this, doctor, is what he ended up with:—
"'Kate,' says he, 'you are nothing more nor less than a drunkard, and in the sight of God more culpable than most of the men who stagger through the streets, because the majority of those poor devils have some sort of excuse for their conduct; and you haven't the slightest. You have a luxurious home, a husband doing his level best to make you happy—everything under the light of the sun to please you, and yet you will persist in 'swilling tea.' Yes, doctor, swilling was the word he used—boo! hoo! hoo! O dear me! to think that I should ever have lived to have heard such dreadful language out of my own husband's mouth; and then he says, 'and making me as miserable a wretch as walks the earth.'"
"Pretty plain talk," interrupted the doctor, with a shrug of his broad shoulders.
"Oh, yes," sobbed the victim, "and so awfully coarse and unkind. If I had a spell and died before his very face, I don't believe he would have cared a snap of his finger. I tell you, Dr. Ellis, there is such a thing as a man's getting hardened."
"Evidently," replied the physician, with a laconism absolutely painful.
"But my husband has nothing in the world to trouble him but just my poor health; and I am sure I can't help that."
This remark was more in answer to her companion's tone and manner than to the one single word that had escaped his lips, and this the doctor felt.
"Anybody would think by the way he goes on," continued the irate woman, "that I enjoyed myself with spasms and cramps and fainting fits. Anybody would think it was a pleasure to me to feel, every time I see a funeral procession, as if the hearse was going to stop at our door next. Oh, yes, such a life is very enviable; very, indeed."
Dr. Ellis took no notice of these last words; the man's eyes grew luminous, and his whole face declared that he considered himself master of the situation; and if Mrs. Stephens had not been so entirely taken up with her own ailments, mental and physical, that honest countenance would have betrayed him.
"You say," he began, settling himself in the large easy chair, and assuming a strictly professional air, "that your husband has nothing to trouble him but your health; how do you know that, Mrs. Stephens?"
"How? Why, how do you know anything? By the evidence of my senses. Don't I know that John Stephens has a splendid business that looks after itself, a magnificent income, and money enough to live on the bare interest, as well as a family need to live, if he never entered his office again while he drew breath?"
"But money isn't everything, Mrs. Stephens," proceeded the physician with a calmness that was almost Mephistophelian. "How about health, madam?"
"Health?" repeated the lady, with a smile she intended to be sarcastic to the last degree. "Health! Dr. Ellis! Why, there is not a healthier or sounder man than my husband in the United States. He eats more in one meal than I do in three months."
"There is nothing the matter with your husband's stomach, Mrs. Stephens." Dr. Ellis shaded his face with his hand and waited further developments. Mrs. Stephens mistook this attempt at forced concealment for emotion, and immediately assumed a sitting posture, brushed her eyes, and looked piercingly into her companion's face.
"Why do you accent the word 'stomach' so strongly, Dr. Ellis?" she inquired in anxious tones. Mrs. Stephens was forgetting herself, and this the doctor hailed as an excellent omen.
"Only that I might make you understand that a man's digestion could be the most unexceptionable, and yet be far from sound in other directions."
"Then you mean to tell me that my husband is sick."
"I do."
"Perhaps you will go still further and say dangerously."
"If you desire it."
"Oh, Dr. Ellis, how cold and unfeeling you are! I should think you ought to know by this time," and just there Mrs. Stephens broke down entirely and sobbed as if her heart would break.
"Ought to know what, Mrs. Stephens?" inquired the doctor with uncalled-for deliberation.
"You ought to know—to know—that my—my husband's health and life are of a good deal more consequence to me than my own."
"Ah, indeed," interrupted the physician, with an elevation of the bushy eye-brows immensely suggestive of a contrary opinion, as well as several very excellent reasons for said opinion.
"Dr. Ellis, will you be kind enough to tell me what's the matter with my husband?"
Mrs. Stephens was now on her feet—tears all wiped away, eyes flashing with resentful spirit, and only the little quiver of her lip to show how deep a wound the kind heart in her bosom had sustained. There she stood, reproachful, determined, womanly.
"Mrs. Stephens," said he, "you have no cause to be alarmed. If I can only get your co-operation in this business, I feel certain I shall be able to make a well man of your husband in a few months at the longest; but as true as I sit here before you I cannot do this alone."
"Why have I not been informed of this before?" broke in Mrs. Stephens imperiously.
"Who was there to inform you, madam? Your husband does not know his condition, and I should really like to be told when you have been sufficiently calm to hear all that was necessary for you to know."
"But, Dr. Ellis, I should think you ought to understand that my own health and comfort are nothing, compared to my husband's."
Mrs. Stephens was weeping again. "There is no sacrifice that I would not make for him."
"Curious creatures!" muttered the doctor; "delightful bundles of contradiction. How the mischief should I know, Mrs. Stephens, how much you care for your husband? I am sure you have spent the last hour complaining about him. Is that the way women generally testify their regard for their husbands?"
"Oh, don't, Dr. Ellis, please don't," pleaded the terrified woman. "I will never complain again—never—if you will only let me know what I can do for him. Do you know, doctor, I had begun to think lately that something must be amiss with him, he was growing so irritable. Poor dear, how wicked and thoughtless I have been."
"This, then, is the trouble. I shall take it for granted, madam, that you know something about physiology, and can follow me without difficulty?"
"O—yes, for mercy sake, go on."
"Very well; I find that the pericardium—"
"The pericardium?" repeated Mrs. Stephens.
"You know what that is I suppose?"
Evidently Mrs. Stephens' anatomical knowledge was limited. She shook her head in despair.
"Something about the heart, is it not?" she asked at last.
"Yes, the pericardium is the membranous sac that holds the heart. Well, sometimes the sac—it is no matter about particulars, Mrs. Stephens," and Dr. Ellis suddenly came to a standstill.
"It is enough, though, for me to say that we are both possibly anxious that his heart should remain where it belongs. Mr. Stephens must be amused. He wants the lecture, the social circle, entertaining books—a happy home—music. You play and sing, do you not, Mrs. Stephens?"
"Oh, yes—I used to," and Mrs. Stephens' tones were so pitiful now that big Dr. Ellis really and truly was obliged to wipe both his eyes and his nose. Before he was aware, the lachrymal duct had gotten the upper hand.
"Well, try it again; get a teacher and go to practicing."
"But how am I going to manage my spasms?" sobbed the lady.
"Well, perhaps, between us both—you using your will power, and thinking of your husband, and going out with him, and taking care of him, and I doing my way—we may be able to subdue them; but you must remember this, madam—do not let Mr. Stephens have the faintest suspicion that you think anything is the matter with him; and above all, do not treat him like an invalid. Just amuse him, and all that, you know, just as you used to when you were first married."
Another series of sobs from Mrs. Stephens.
The doctor arose to go. His patient had entirely forgotten that he had left no prescription.
"About tea, doctor?" she asked, as he prepared to leave. "Do you think it very hurtful?"
"As an occasional tonic, I have no objection to tea; but as a daily beverage, madam, it is an invention of the devil. Good morning."
John Stephens sought his home that evening with a heavy heart. His wife he believed a confirmed invalid, or hypochondriac—it mattered little which; one was as bad as the other. His remonstrances were of no avail, he was doubtful even whether his wife loved him. He opened the door softly with his latchkey. This had become habitual; seldom did the gentleman show himself to his beloved wife until after the dining-bell had summoned the family to the dining-room.
A strain of music met and transfixed him on the very threshold. Abt's beautiful song was being rendered, and his wife was the musician. He was just in time to hear:—
"The eyes that cannot weep Are the saddest eyes of all."
For full a year that charming voice had been as silent as the grave.
"Company, perhaps," he muttered. Curiosity overcame him. He opened the parlor door and peeped in. There was Mrs. John Stephens, becomingly attired, all alone, as enthusiastic over the fine rendition of a piece of music as he had ever seen her.
"What does this mean, Kate?" he asked with outstretched arms.
"That I have given up tea and am going to try hard to be well. I guess my voice will all come back, John."
"I guess so," he replied, folding her tight to his heart.
Three months after this the cure was so radical that Dr. Ellis made a clean breast of the whole thing; and there is no word or set of words that can provoke so hearty a laugh in the happy home of the Stephenses as this physiologically scientific one—Pericardium.

The Home Circle.

By Lizzie Mace McFarland

ASPIRATION.

O for a thought! a little thought That ne'er was thought before; One gleam of truth divinely fraught With wealth of angel lore.
O for a thought! a happy thought Of truth yet unexpressed; Which mortal ear hath never caught, Nor mortal mind hath guessed.
O for the power to look beyond The vail 'twixt earth and Heaven; To see what eye hath never seen— The bliss of the forgiven;
To trace duration from its birth, To where the future flies, And grasp the never-parted whole Of two eternities! —Lizzie Mace M'Farland.

ITEMS OF NEWS.

By Editor

  • Strikes continue to be popular.
  • Arrests are still being made in Russia.
  • No prospects of peace in Chile at present.
  • Moody's meetings at St. Louis continue to draw the crowd.
  • A sharp shock of earthquake was felt at Los Angeles, March 21.
  • The present population of the globe is estimated at 1,300,000,000.
  • The Pope, while not approving, will submit to the expulsion of the Jesuits from France.
  • A bill, giving the right of suffrage to women, has passed both houses of the Legislature of Wisconsin.
  • The uprising of the Commune in Paris in 1871 was commemorated March 20, by an address, banquet, and ball.
  • A company of negroes, 150 in number, passed through Memphis, Tenn., a few days since, bound for Liberia.
  • The San Francisco Christian Advocate wonders that religious papers publish laudations of Hop Bitters, which, it says, should be treated as "disguised gin or whisky." For which we commend the Advocate.
  • A Buddhist temple in Marysville, Cal., was set down for dedication on Sunday, the 21st. "The world moves."
  • March 19, the Tennessee river was reported to be higher than at any time since 1875. Great damage was feared.
  • The discovery of a mine of chalk is reported in Fresno county, Cal. The chalk is said to be of a superior quality.
  • Charles de Young, the would-be assassin of Kalloch, Mayor of San Francisco, arrived from the East Saturday last.
  • The City of Tokio, which left for China and Japan last Saturday, took 650 cases of rifles, valued at $13,000, for Yokohama.
  • A bill has been introduced into the Senate, directing the Post-master General to establish a dead-letter post-office at San Francisco.
  • The Health Department of Memphis, Tenn., during the last year, has expended $20,000 to improve the sanitary condition of that city.
  • Five hundred and seventy Cuban insurgents have surrendered to the Spanish authorities. It is to be hoped that the rebellion has ended.
  • The steamer, Maria Louise, from Shreveport to New Orleans, sank in Red river last Thursday morning. She had 1500 bales of cotton on board.
  • The German ambassador's civility to the Celestials is extremely marked, and points to secret negotiations between Pekin and Berlin against Russia.
  • The tide is turning. The French in Canada have raised the cry, "The Irish must go;" and threaten to burn houses if their demands are not complied with.
  • The idea of making the great plains east of the Rocky Mountains valuable by boring artesian wells is receiving considerable attention by our national legislators.
  • It is said that there were never so many "scandals" hovering over the United States Senate as there are now. Senator Hill of Georgia is just now under a heavy cloud.
  • Parnell, the Irish orator, who has been in this country some time, trying to gain the sympathies and assistance of Americans for his countrymen, has returned to Ireland.
  • The new Constitution of California cost $300,000 in the making, which is estimated to be only a tithe of what it will cost to put the conglomerate instrument into working order.
  • L. J. Gannon, Kearney's echo in sand-lot blasphemy and threatening, has been convicted and sentenced to $1,000 fine and six months' imprisonment, but has appealed to the higher court.
  • The Southern Pacific Railroad has been completed to Tucson, Arizona, a distance of one thousand miles. At El Paso, 200 miles further on, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad is expected to connect with it.
  • La Telegraphe, of March 18, says: The principal Jesuits are so persuaded that Premier de Freycinet is in earnest, that they no longer hope to remain in France, and are preparing to emigrate to Spain and Belgium.
  • Viscount de Lesseps, the projector of both the Suez and Inter-ocean canals, has been spending a few days in San Francisco. Having divided two continents in the Old World, he seeks now to divide North and South America.
  • The jute manufacturing company in Alameda Co. (Cal.), have disincorporated, and now do business as individuals in a firm. They employ some 700 or 800 Chinese, and have taken this step because the new constitution forbids corporations employing Chinese.
  • The Commission to which the question of letter-carrying by Well's, Fargo & Co's Express was referred, have reported adversely to the continuance of such service. This action was strongly protected by all Pacific coast senators, representatives, and delegates, as being a serious blow to the business facilities of our people.
  • A dispatch from New Orleans says that negro laborers are on a strike in St. Charles Parish. The governor, on application of the whites, has ordered the Louisiana field artillery to the parish. The whites report that the negroes threaten to burn the sugar-houses if their demands are not complied with.
  • In San Francisco there are over 2600 licensed saloons, and it is supposed there are of 4,000 places where drinks are sold with or without license, at a probable cost to consumers of at least $15,000,000 a year. This is below the estimates. And this to produce pauperism, crime, insanity, etc. Who will raise the cry, "The liquor sellers must go"? The "Chinese curse" does not equal this.
  • After a careful examination of the Chinese question, the Congressional committee have submitted their report to the House. The majority agree in the statement that "Chinese immigration is destroying the trade and materially effecting the business of San Francisco and the whole Pacific coast." As a temporary means of relief, the committee recommends that the bill of last session, limiting the landing of Chinese to but fifteen upon any vessel, be adopted by Congress; also that a joint resolution be adopted, abrogating that part of the treaty between the United States and China which relates to immigration.

GOODNESS AND SMARTNESS.

By J. E. M'C.

"How is my boy getting on, Mr. Carter?" asked a father of his son's teacher.
"He is one of the best boys in my school," said the teacher, emphatically. "A very conscientious, truthful lad, and one whom I can always trust as pure-hearted and generous."
"Glad to hear it," said the father, indifferently. "I always knew he was a pretty good boy about home, but what I wish to ask particularly is, how is he getting along in his studies. I want him to be sharp and smart for business when he is through school."
"Well as to that," said the teacher, hesitatingly, "he is a very industrious boy, but he is not very quick to learn, especially in mathematics. He likes rhetoric and moral science better, and always has good lessons in geology."
"Oh, fiddlesticks," said the father, impatiently. "If he isn't good at cyphering, he isn't for anything. Drop off the other things and put him through on arithmetic. I always knew he had too soft a head for business. I brought him here to be made something of, and not to fool away his time over moral science and all that. I am afraid you make quite too much of these things and don't toughen up the boys for every-day work. If a boy isn't smart, of what advantage is his goodness to him, I should like to know. Might almost as well send him to a girls' school," he added, with a half sneer, as he rose to leave. He could not hide his dissatisfaction at having his boy commended chiefly for his good moral qualities. These, he took for granted, could be taken up and developed at any odd leisure hour or two.
Had the teacher been able to say, "Your boy is at the head of his classes in almost everything. He will win the first prize," there would have been no bounds to his delight and satisfaction. If he had been compelled to add, "I wish I could speak as confidently about his purity of character and the good influence he exerts over the other boys," the father would have been very ready with his excuse.
"We must not think too hardly of a boy who is just sowing his wild oats. No doubt you and I did the same, but we forget these things as we grow old. The boy will come out all right, never fear. Watch him closely that he does not get into mischief that will bring trouble on him and me; and don't be too hard on small offenses. It sours a boy's disposition."
And so the "wild oats" are allowed to be sowed plentifully; the result is the same that it was when those terrible words were first spoken: "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."—J. E. M'C.

VALUABLE BOOKS OF REFERENCE,

AND MANUALS OF INSTRUCTION FOR TEACHERS AND OFFICERS OF THE SABBATH-SCHOOL, AND BIBLE STUDENTS.
D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation, 5 vols. $4.50
Gibbon's Rome. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. 6 vols. $5.00
Josephus, by William Whiston. $1.50
Pilgrim's Progress. 12mo. edition, printed by Dodd, Mead, & Co. This edition is firmly and beautifully bound, printed on heavy tint paper, contains 36 engravings, and has marginal references to such texts of Scripture as are illustrated by the story. 336 pp. $1.50
Dowling's History of Romanism. This large work of 940 pages traces the history of Romanism from the earliest corruptions of Christianity to the proclamation of Papal infallibility, and the deposition of Pius IX. as a temporal sovereign. It not only refutes the errors and superstitions of Romanism, but tells the story of their origin, exhibits the workings of the iniquitous system, reviews historically its domination over kings and princes, its oppression of the consciences, and torture of the bodies, of men, and the efforts of different ones at different times to relieve Christendom of its terrible thraldom. The papacy occupies so prominent a position in the prophetic field, and is gaining such an influence upon the people of this country that any information pertaining to it is of special interest to the student of prophecy. Price in Muslin, $4.00 Half Morocco, $4.75
The Church, School, and its Officers, by J. H. Vincent, D. D. This thoroughly instructive and interesting volume was written mainly for the younger ministers of the church. It also defines the duties of the Superintendent, the Secretary, and the Chorister, upon whom the success of the school so largely depends. 224 pp. 75 cts.
Sacred Geography and Antiquities, with maps and illustrations by Rev. E. P. Barrows, D. D. The investigations of missionaries and explorers during the last century have thrown a flood of light on many points once involved in obscurity, and it is the aim of this book to condense and put into methodical form what has thus been collected. 685 pp. $2.25.
Companion to the Bible, by E. P. Barrows, D. D. Designed to assist teachers of the Sabbath-school, ministers of the gospel and Bible students generally, in a thorough and systematic study of the Scriptures. Part First contains a concise view of the Evidences of Revealed Religion. Parts Two and Three are introductions to the Old and New Testaments. Part Four is devoted to the principles of interpretation. 668 pp. $1.75
Cruden's Concordance Condensed, a Complete Concordance to the Holy Scriptures, on the basis of Cruden, edited by John Eadie, D. D. This Concordance, published by the American Tract Society, contains nearly all that is useful in this line. It has 561 pages printed with clear type on fine tough paper, and is substantially bound in black muslin. The price has lately been reduced to $1.00.
The Art of Questioning, with an introductory address on Training Classes, by J. G. Fitch. 15 cts
The Use of Illustrations in S. S. Teaching, by J. M. Freeman. 15 cts
The Art of Securing Attention in a S. S. Class, by J. G. Fitch. 15 cts
Bible Geography, Hand-Book of. (New and Revised Edition.) Containing the Name, Pronunciation, and Meaning of every Place, Nation, and Tribe mentioned in both the Canonical and Apocryphal Scriptures. By Rev. Geo. H. Whitney, A. M. Illustrated by one hundred Engravings, and forty Maps and Plans. Four hundred closely printed pages. 12mo. $2.50
Bible Manners and Customs, Hand-Book of. Containing Descriptions of the Ancient Manners and Customs mentioned in the Bible, and explaining over three thousand Scripture Texts. By James M. Freeman, D. D. Illustrated by 168 Engravings, and accompanied by an Analytical Index, a Textual Index, and a Topical Index. 12mo. 515 pp. $2.50
The Bible Atlas and Gazetteer, Containing six large and accurate maps, and a list of all geographical names with references to their Scripture places and to the proper maps; also a variety of useful tables. Muslin Bound, $1.00
A Dictionary of the Holy Bible, for general use in the study of the Scriptures; with engravings, maps, and tables. Published by American Tract Society. Muslin Bound, $1.25 Sheep. 2.00
COLTON'S SABBATH-SCHOOL MAPS.
No. 1. Eight-sheet map of Palestine.—With topographical plan of the city of Jerusalem, and a plan of the vicinity of Jerusalem. Size, 116x81 inches. This beautiful wall map is printed in such a large, clear, distinct style, that everything upon it is clearly distinguishable from every part of a large school-room. Price, printed on cloth, $12.50.
Any of the above works will be sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of the prices named. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

THE CAUSE IN CALIFORNIA.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

THE friends of the cause of "present truth" in California have much reason to be hopeful at the present time. The prospect before us is highly encouraging.
During the Conference year of 1878-9 there was no President of this Conference. Last fall Elder Haskell was elected to the office, but was obliged to go East to remain some time. The laborers have been few, and they have felt the need of a presiding officer to unite their efforts, and with whom to counsel in their labors.
Recently Bro. Haskell has returned and is laboring among the churches, and meetings now appointed will give an excellent opportunity to assist the ministers who may come together, and to instruct the officers of the Tract Societies in their duty.
The meeting at Oakland, the first Sabbath in April and through much of the week following, will be of great importance to the cause in this State, as well as the camp-meeting in Tulare county in April. The spring is the best time for a camp-meeting in that county. The weather will be more pleasant than at any other time, and nothing will hinder a full attendance.
Sister White has also come to remain for a season, and is now visiting the churches. The meetings of special interest which she will attend will be those at Oakland and in Tulare county. We wish to make special mention of the meeting at Oakland. It will be the only general meeting in this part of the State which Mrs. White will be able to attend before going to Oregon. The business of the State Quarterly Meeting will be done at that time. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Association will be held that week. Everything indicates the necessity of a good attendance from all the churches.
Bro. Willie C. White and wife have also come to this State, to give their labors more especially to the publishing interest. His experience in connection with the several enterprises at Battle Creek, where the business interests are larger and more varied than those at Oakland, and his natural cautiousness in business matters, give assurance that whatever comes under his supervision will be faithfully and wisely attended to, and carried forward to success.
Since Mrs. M. K. White left this State she has had considerable experience in connection with our papers at Battle Creek. She is now taking hold to assist on the Signs, and making good use of the experience acquired in years past.
Beside this, we are informed that two ministers from the East will soon arrive here to carry on tent labor. A new tent, in addition to those used last year, will soon be in the field. The friends are now subscribing liberally toward a fund for tract and missionary purposes. As Bro. Haskell cannot permanently remain on this coast, the coming of two ministers from the East gives great encouragement to those who have so long deplored the scarcity of laborers here.
Last year we made special efforts to place the Review in every family of Seventh-day Adventists on the Pacific coast. Our success in this was all we could expect. A special and united effort will be made this season to extend the circulation of the Signs of the Times as a missionary paper. No pains will be spared to make it just such a paper as will meet the approval of the Tract Societies, and we shall confidently look for their co-operation in this work.
Altogether we have much reason to be encouraged with the prospect. The work here has been subjected to some discouragements, as already noticed, but with present arrangements there is no reason why we should not be hopeful.
The cause is onward—it must be onward. It cannot be stayed. What is now needed is unity of action. To insure this there must be unity of spirit, and the basis of this is found in unity of the faith. If any are doubting, or partly in the truth and the light, let them put away their doubts,—accept fully and heartily the whole truth of the third angel's message, take a part in the work, so shall they have a part in the reward which is soon to be given. J. H. Waggoner.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES FOR 1880.

By Editor

HAVING made some improvements in the Signs, both in appearance and contents, we have concluded to give the Tract Societies their choice between the two editions. We have received many criticisms on the eight-page edition, because its size would not admit that variety of reading matter which was thought indispensable to a successful missionary paper, and some have suggested that the 12-page edition would be more acceptable to the T. and M. Societies. We are not only willing, but anxious to please those Societies which have worked so diligently and effectively in the past.
The Signs of the Times is no experiment. Experience has fully proved that it is necessary to have two papers: one for a church paper, the organ of the denomination. Our brethren throughout the country—on the Pacific as well as on the Atlantic—have done well in accepting the Advent Review as the church organ. We are pleased with our success in placing it in almost every family of Sabbath-keepers in California.
Beside this we must have a missionary paper; one which, while it advocates the great truths of the third angel's message, is not so distinctly denominational as the Review; one which shall contain a variety of that which will be of greatest interest to new readers, with none of the matters pertaining to the churches only, such as can be of no interest to those not identified with us as a people. To serve this purpose the Signs of the Times has been published.
We do not intend to let the Signs fall below what it has been in the past, but, on the contrary, we shall aim to make it better than any volume which has been published. Our 12-page edition being stitched and trimmed, is more convenient to handle and contains more matter than the eight pages of previous volumes. This affords opportunity for that variety of reading which must render it acceptable to the Tract Societies, and to the numerous readers throughout the world to whom it is sent.
PUBLISHERS SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

SPECIAL NOTICE.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

It will be seen by the appointments in this week's paper that the district quarterly meetings, except in district No. 2, are appointed the third Sabbath and First-day in April, instead of the second, which is the usual time. This change is made so that all may have the privilege of attending the general meeting at Oakland, which circumstances demand shall be a general meeting for the State.
We propose that all the church quarterly meetings be postponed till the second Sabbath in April. Then the State quarterly meeting will be held in connection with the Southern camp-meeting, as appears in this week's Signs.
We are anxious that as many of our tract society officers and workers should attend this meeting, and remain as long during the following week as possible, as special instructions will be given in the missionary work, manner of doing business, book-keeping, etc. The amount of time devoted to this will depend upon the number present, and the length of time they can remain. We therefore invite all to come and remain until the last of the following week.
S. N. HASKELL.

Business Department.

RECEIVED FOR THE SIGNS.

$2.00 EACH. J B Ingalls 7-9, E H Winchester 7-11, L Potter 7-9, Mrs N P Hills 7-11, Mrs Mary Crowthers 7-11, J E Graham 7-11, Mrs B Fish 7-9, J C Borden (2 copies) 7-11, D P Curtis (2 copies) 7-1, S A Green (2 copies) 7-9, W E Morton 7-11, C P Whitford (2 copies) 7-11, W H Truett 7-9, R M Kilgore 6-48, Maria Mead 7-11, A S Perrin (2 copies) 7-11, Ann Cox 7-8, J W Hogne 7-10.
$1.25 EACH. Carrie Clough 7-1, James Pott r 7-1, Mrs H Tawney 7-11, Jas Arnway 7-11, P W Washburn 7-11, Allen Monroe 7-11.
$1.00 EACH. Isabella Moore 6-36, Emma Hardin 7-11, S H Tyler 7-11, Moses Barrett 7-11, G W Nevill 7-11, Louisa Phillis 7-11, A C McNeal 7-11, F Gould 7-10, J L Howard 7-11, Mrs Mary Williard 6-36, Wm Jacob 6-36, Wm T Hicks 6-36, Wm Saunders 6-36, Harriett Hornidey 6-36.
35c EACH. Ralf Cheever 6-24, Mrs E S Goldbery 6-24, Mrs Mary Holt 6-24, Robert Walker 6-24, Mrs Mel Perkins 6-24, Mrs Reuben Smith 6-24, Calvin Cox 6-24, Mrs Marple 6-24, Mrs E Todd 6-24, Wm Shouse 6-24, Richard Means 6-24, Mrs Annie Lenhart 6-24, Milton Beck 6-24, Henry Smith 6-24.
MISCELLANEOUS. Wm Morehouse (5 copies) 5.00, 7-11, Andrew Fuller (5 copies) 5.00, 7-11, Wita Morrow (10 copies) 10.00, 7-11, B F Wright 1.50, 7-11, E Morgan 1.50, 7-11, J F Klostemeyrs (4 copies) 5.00, 7-11, Wm Whitebust 20c 6-21, Chas M Everett 25c 6-18, Thos W Hill 25c 6-20, Sarah Ballard 50c 6-27, Annie E Newton 1.50, 7-9, Mrs Obrock 50c 6-23, Mrs L M Dodge 75c 6-48, Geo R Drew (10 copies) 10.00, 7-11, O W Bent (10 copies) 10.00, 7-8, Wm Everington (10 copies) 10.00, 7-4, Mrs Fannie Kingsbury (5 copies) 1.50, 6-24, David Alway (10 copies) 10.00, 7-11, C H Potter (10 copies) 7-11, H F Phelps (4 copies) 4.00, 7-11, Elizabeth Fulton (10 copies) 2.50, 6-24, Mrs L H Tomlinson (10 copies) 10.00, 7-11, Ellis Clark (17 copies) 17.00, 7-11, Greenville Branstetter (3 copies) 3.00, 7-11, Mrs Anna Hall (10 copies) 10.00, 7-11, James May 75c 6-36, J N Loughborough (10 copies) 3.25, 6-23, Harriett Jefferies (2 copies) 2.50, 7-11.

Appointments.

By Editor

SABBATH and Sunday, March 27 and 28, Mrs. E. G. White will meet with the church at Woodland. The friends at Vacaville and surrounding country are invited to be present.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAMP-MEETING.

THIS camp-meeting will be held April 22-28. The grounds selected are about half way between Hannaford and Lamoore. Trains will stop at the ground. Hay and good grazing for cows or horses; also wood will be furnished free. Tents will be furnished at a reasonable price by ordering immediately of G. W. Cody, Lemoore, Tulare Co., Cal. All mail matter designed for those upon the camp-ground should be sent to Lamoore.
This will be an important meeting for all Southern California. Time will be taken for instruction in the missionary work. Sister White and other help from the East will be present. A grand rally of all our friends in that section of the country is expected. Come and bring your children, neighbors, and friends. Come prepared to remain till the close.
CAMP-MEETING COMMITTEE.

CALIFORNIA STATE QUARTERLY MEETING.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

The general quarterly meeting of the California Tract and Missionary Society will be held in connection with the camp-meeting, April 22-27.
At the close of their district meeting, each district secretary should immediately make out his report and forward it to Miss Barbara Stickney, Lamoore, Tulare Co., Cal. S. N. HASKELL.

DISTRICT QUARTERLY MEETINGS.

By Editor

The quarterly meetings of the several districts will be held on Sabbath and Sunday, April 17 and 18, as follows:— No. 1 at Santa Rosa. No. 3 at St. Helena. No. 4 at Los Bolsa. No. 5 at Woodland. No. 6 at Red Bluff. No. 7 at Oakland. No. 8 at San Francisco.
At these meetings there should be a full report from every church in each district.

STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING.

By L. D. Carruth

PURSUANT to Article 6, Section 2, of the By-Laws of the Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association, the fifth annual meeting of the stockholders of said Association will be held at the Pacific Press Office, Castro and 12th streets, Oakland, Tuesday, April 6, 1880, at 10 o'clock, A. M., for the purpose of electing a board of five directors, and transacting such other business as may come before the meeting. By order of the President. L. D. CARRUTH, Secretary.

STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING—SPECIAL.

By L. D. Carruth

A SPECIAL meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, will be held at the Pacific Press Office, in Oakland, Cal., on Tuesday, April 6, 1880, at 2 P. M., to act upon the following proposed amendment to the By-Laws of the Association, namely:—
To so amend section 2 of Article 6 as to provide for the date of the annual meeting on the fourth Monday in April, instead of the first Tuesday in April. By order of Directors.
L. D. CARRUTH, Secretary.
Continue reading: ANNUAL MEETING