Earlier text: Morality of the Ten CommandmentsThe Missionary.
By S. N. Haskell
Our object in coming to Europe was, first, to visit our missions where our brethren are making special efforts to spread the truth; second, to visit different persons with whom we have corresponded, or who we have otherwise learned were interested in the truth, or likely to become so. In doing this we have had opportunity to visit nearly all of the nations, and many of the cities of Europe. While carrying out the object of our mission, we have, at the same time, made it in our way to learn as much as possible from personal observation and otherwise about places of historical interest. There is much in the Old World in the way of architecture, cathedrals, monuments, etc., as well as in the customs of the people, which are constantly reminding one of ancient times, and the history of past ages. In Paris, “the pleasure city of Europe,” we spent several days. Have also visited Strasburg, Berlin, Frankfurth, and Dresden in Germany. While in these cities we were very forcibly impressed with the fact, that the mould given any people or government by leading spirits, continues for generations after the men themselves have passed away. Paris has long been noted for its atheistical principles. It was here that Monvel defied God, if such a being existed, to strike him dead. And because the thunderbolts of heaven spared his life, he declared that God did not exist, and that from that time men would not believe in him. It was here also that a vile woman was borne upon the shoulders of others into the cathedral and declared to be the representative of the goddess of reason, and as such to be the true object of worship. We visited the building where these blasphemous words were uttered, and wicked deeds were committed. As we viewed the pillars which supported the structure, now devoted to Catholicism, we felt solemnly impressed with the scenes of those times. The Archbishop’s Cathedral of Notre Dame, is a relic of the twelfth century. It has two majestic towers, in one of which there is a bell which is said to weigh thirty-eight thousand six hundred and forty pounds. The tongue alone weighs fifteen hundred pounds. This bell is only rung on certain great occasions. As we went through the interior of this massive structure, and saw the evidences it gives of a power to devise and execute, given to man by God, and then considered how weak man is when left of God, as evinced by what we saw around us, the thought was almost overpowering. How often is God forgotten and denied by the creature whom he has made in his own likeness, and endowed with precious gifts in order that he might glorify his Creator. We also visited the palace of the kings, now partly in ruins. Here wealth and art combined in doing their best to afford happiness, but with what success we leave our readers to judge. In this city, in the morning, men and women can be seen carrying to the dead house, all earthly that remains of wasted lives. After tasting the pleasures of sin and folly for a few years, and wasting life’s blessings, many suddenly put an end to their existence. What better than this could be expected of thousands among a people who have been taught that there is no hereafter, and that death is an eternal sleep? The sculptures in public places, pictures in art-galleries, and many of the customs of the people, reveal a morbid state of the public mind. There things show that when men depart from God and the Bible, although in some respects they may stand high in the estimation of nations, they sink in morality to the lowest depths of degradation. As we left the city, we thanked God from the heart for the Christian religion. We were prepared to appreciate the moral atmosphere of Switzerland, the home of Zwingle, Ecolampadius, and other reformers of the sixteenth century. The stamp given to society by these men is also seen in the habits and customs of the people. We were also especially prepared to appreciate the home of Eld. Andrews, where the spirit of the Christian religion pervades the entire household. Here we found a rest which can only be found where the peace of God abides. The cities of Germany also in their works of art, etc., show a marked contrast with those of France. This was the home of such spirits as Martin Luther, Philip Melanchton, and others, who have left an influence that has not only given cast to the characters of the people of Germany, but moulded the whole Christian world. We noticed this more particularly in Dresden, the literary city of Germany, than in other cities. The countenances of the people bear an expression of honest intelligence. Modesty and refinement here take the place of their opposites in Paris. Here we became acquainted with persons of whom we have heard, and in whom we have been much interested for several years. The measure of God’s Spirit which rested upon us while in conversation with them on present truth, and while bowed with them in prayer, made an impression on our mind which will not soon be forgotten. Our interview was pleasant and we trust profitable. We became interested in Germany as never before. While God is doing much to enlighten France through the able writings of Eld. Andrews and others in Les Signes de Temps, we cannot see why Germany should be passed by. This paper, within the few past years, has visited not less than ten thousand families in France. Germany has forty-five million inhabitants, three-fourths of whom are Protestants. In that country all parents are obliged to give their children an education, while the more educated classes understand English and French. Publishers’ rates of postage, and the laws relating to the religious interests of the people, are more favorable than in most of the countries of Europe. France contains less than thirty-seven million inhabitants, of whom it is estimated that but seven hundred and forty thousand are Protestants, while in Germany there are thirty million Protestants, or about forty times as many as in France. We look forward to the time when God’s providence will do as much for Germany, in connection with the cause of present truth, as for France, inasmuch as to all outward appearances it presents a better field. On our way to Christiana, Norway, we passed through Copenhagen, where our boat stopped seven hours. This gave ample opportunity to visit the city. Many of the churches in this part of the world have towers connected with them, built for the purpose of watching for the approach of an enemy. These towers differ from those in other parts of Europe. Instead of stairs, the top is reached by a smooth gradual ascent which winds round and round in the tower. Some of these towers are very large, so that the passage leading upward is fifteen or twenty feet wide. One of these we visited. The church called Trinity, or round church, is one of the finest in the metropolis. Its foundation stone was laid the seventh of July, 1639. It is said that during his stay in Copenhagen, in 1716, Peter the Great rode up this tower upon horseback, while his consort, Catherine, drove up the same way in a coach and four, for which there is ample room. The tower, judging from others whose height was given, must have been three hundred feet high. As it was located on an elevated spot we had from it a good view of the city. In another church called the Holy Ghost Church, having a tower two hundred feet high, the Danish reformer, John Tausen, defended his doctrines. Thus in nearly every city are found churches or cathedrals in which reformers of the sixteenth and seventh centuries defended the doctrines of the Reformation, and many of them have been scenes of great conflicts between truth and error. It would now be as difficult to present the truth for the present time in them, as it then was to present the truth for that time. The days predicted by Cotton Mather have come, when the truths for the last days are shut out of those houses consecrated to the worship of God by the reformers and their children. Now that the Sunday question is the leading thing in politics, the politicians are learning a new set of phrases to use in their stereotyped speeches. They speak learnedly of “the law given by Moses;” are very zealous for the “time-honored American Sunday,” and are struck with holy horror lest this “Christian nation” should forget “the God of our fathers” by not giving due reverence to certain “police regulations.” It does not seem to occur to anybody to wonder why the Christian zeal of these professional politicians has never been manifested before; why their light has so long remained hidden under a bushel. The good people who are so anxious to have the Sunday protected by law, are glad of any help they can get, without stopping to question motives. The depth of the piety of these men may be learned from the following incident: One of the leaders in the Republican party was asked what, in his opinion, the Republicans would do with the Sunday question. Said he, “I think they will give the Sunday-law plank to the Sunday people, and the candidates to the whisky men.” It may be that their calculations will fail in some respects, but this will serve to show how easy it would be to “convert the world” if the proper pressure were applied, and just how much such conversion would be worth. Seaman's Mission, San Francisco.
By C. H. Palmer
ITEMS OF INTEREST FOR JULY.
Ship L——. The captain and his wife have been here before. They are somewhat interested, and promised to investigate and report, though they did not attach that importance to the truth that it demands. The steward has read a few papers, and seems anxious to study, and to know the Lord's will more thoroughly. He promised to use his influence in the distribution of reading matter, and write his experience on reaching home. Ship P—— M—— W——. The cook and a man in the forecastle are much interested. They will read and report. Ship W—— A—— C——. The cook is interested, and promised to distribute reading matter. Ship C——. The steward and two apprentices are interested. Three signed the temperance pledge. Ship W——. The captain was very much impressed with our views, and will investigate, and write. Ship I——. This was one of the most interesting visits of this month, for the views advanced for the first time were received in a manner which shows honest and balanced minds. The first and second officers, the steward, and a man in the forecastle are much interested. They discussed the spiritual condition of the churches, and their increasing conformation to the world. The Sabbath question met with a concurrence unusual, and a careful investigation of the works placed in their charge, will, we trust, bring forth fruit. There was a spirit of inquiry manifested which gives promise for the future. May the Spirit of God rest upon their minds, and bring them into an acceptance of this most precious truth. Ship G—— W—— S——. Two on this ship signed the temperance pledge. Though the captain is a disbeliever in the Bible, he and his wife both promised to read, and write to me on their arrival at their destination. We must pray for results. Ship C——. A boy was interested, and said that if he could get testimony to convince him that Saturday was the Sabbath, he would quit the sea, and trust in the Lord for a living. A package of reading matter was sent to the tent for him, but he did not receive it. The seed is sown, and we can pray that this willing heart may receive it and bring forth fruit. Ship A—— H——. The second engineer was favorable to our views, and promised to thoroughly investigate and write. Ship R—— T——. The steward believes that our principles are good, and will investigate further and write. Ship F——. The first mate of this ship had learned at school that the Roman Catholics changed the Sabbath, but had never attached any importance to it. He promised to write after thoroughly investigating. Ship M——. Our visit to this ship was very interesting. Bro. Dymot helped to present the truth, and several listened with marked attention. A second visit to the same ship was made to furnish them with extra reading matter. We hope to hear from several. Seven signed the temperance pledge. On ship A—— D—— L—— one signed the temperance pledge. The carpenter has given our publications to English friends to read; after reading with much enjoyment they loan them to their neighbors. Their names were sent to Eld. Loughborough. Two others seemed interested. Ship S—— B——. Five signed the temperance pledge. One refused five times, but when asked the sixth time concluded to sign. Both captain and steward were interested. On ship S—— W—— we found one interested in present truth. Two signed the temperance pledge. Ship V——. Several on this ship were much interested. The captain donated $5. He had visitors from San Francisco, who promised to read, and we hope to call on them. Two signed the temperance pledge, and there are others who we hope will follow their example. We feel grateful to our divine Lord for the encouraging results of this month's labor. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES is called a good paper by all who read it; several have spoken of having seen it at home. This mission needs two more earnest workers; the busy season is drawing on, and it sometimes takes two or three hours to visit one ship. The truth is kindly received, and we leave cases of interest with regret that our time is so limited. Our papers must confirm the seed sown. Under the new system of distribution the steamer-work is conveying the message to places inland, which otherwise might not receive it for some time. Means will be required to promote this branch of the work; for there is a demand for reading that our people little realize. For example: the Oregon steamers take from four to six hundred passengers twice a week. We place about thirty papers on one ship; these have to be divided between the cabin and steerage. One hundred would not be too many. Surely our awakening time is upon us. May our Heavenly Father give some a burden to advance means, and labor in this great work. May all take this subject deeply to heart, and see what they can do for this important work. We feel that the message is widening rapidly, and trust that the Master will give us grace and strength to do his will so that he can bless every effort put forth. The Sunday-Law question is brought up repeatedly on these lines of travel; arguments on each side are determinedly maintained. Twenty have signed the temperance pledge this month. The more we are engaged in the work for the Saviour, the more impressed we are with the necessity of a living connection with the Vine. The Work in California
By M. C. Israel
ELD. VAN HORN has been holding meetings about five weeks in the tent on the corner of Jones and Eddy Streets. The average attendance has been between one and two hundred. Not as large as we had hoped for, but there are some hopeful features in the work here. Many of these attend regularly, and several have decided to keep the Sabbath. Four signed the covenant yesterday (Sabbath), two of them joined the church, and there is reason to hope for quite a number more who are in the valley of decision. A good work is being done in the church at this place. Eld. Ballou and Bro. Andrew Brorsen have been at this place about three weeks, and report that our views are not new there; for Elders J. H. Waggoner and D. M. Canright held a tent meeting there seven years ago. The attendance has been small, averaging only thirty or forty, but quite a number of these manifest deep interest. Three had already decided to keep the Sabbath. A man and his wife came twenty miles to attend the meeting and stayed two days. They were very anxious to learn more about the present truth, and gave an urgent invitation for the ministers to visit them. One more at Salinas has decided to keep all the commandments, since the meetings there. Letters from Elder and Sister Rice give encouraging reports of the work there. Two had already fully decided to keep the Sabbath. The average attendance is better than it was at Ukiah. They visit Ukiah every week to help the little company raised up there. Ten have signed the Teetotal Pledge, and seven have become members of the Tract Society, and they had arranged to take sixteen copies of the SIGNS for missionary work. Brn. Morrison and Lamb expect to pitch the new 24x36-foot tent soon at San Juan, a little village about ten miles west of Hollister. Arrangements are being made to hold a tent meeting at Healdsburgh, commencing about the first of September and closing with the camp-meeting at that place. M. C. ISRAEL. Oakland, Aug. 20, 1882. A WELL-KNOWN financier in New York, who died lately, was noted during life for lavish and unceasing liberality, as well as for the wisdom with which he gave to individuals, to charitable and religious purposes, in a word, to every worthy cause. On one occasion, when a friend spoke to him of his generosity, he said, bluntly: "You mistake. I am not generous. I am by nature extremely avaricious. But when I was a young man I had sense enough to see how mean and belittling such a position was, and I forced myself to give. At first, I declare to you, it was torture to me to part with a penny; but I persisted, until the habit of liberality was formed. There is no yoke like that of habit. Now I like to give." Feelings Must Become Decisions
By Theodore L. Cuyler
For a few brief days the orchards are white with blossoms. They soon turn to fruit, or else float away, useless and wasted, upon the idle breeze. So will it be with present feelings. They must be deepened into decision, or be entirely dissipated by delay.—T. L. Cuyler. “A LETTER from George,” exclaimed sister Kate, coming up from the post-office, and holding up for our inspection a large yellow envelope. “And addressed to mother. Isn’t it funny?” “To me!” exclaimed the mother in turn, laying down the blue sock she was mending, and smoothing her apron as though she was going to take the baby. “Dear me!” “Why, how queer!” said Hattie, dropping her book and looking at Kate, wonderinglly. “George hasn’t written to any of us in an age, and never to ma. What secret’s brewing now, I wonder?” “Maybe he and Millie are coming home on a visit,” said I. “Not so early in the spring as this,” returned Hattie, sagely; “Millie and the house-cleaning can’t be separated.” At this moment mother, who had succeeded in tearing off the envelope with eager, trembling fingers, and had commenced reading the letter, suddenly twisted her chair around so as to turn her face from us, cleared her throat, and wiped her eyes on a corner of her gingham apron. “Anything the matter, mother?” questioned Kate, anxiously, while Hattie and I sat in wondering silence. There was no answer for a moment, then turning toward us, she held out the letter, saying, “Read it aloud, Kate; Millie is taken very ill with the typhoid fever, and George has written for me to come to them. Dear child, I wish I was so I could go.” “Go!” echoed Kate decisively, “of course you’ll go, and take one of us girls along to help nurse, too.” “But the work, my dear. How will you manage?” “Some way,” said Kate. “Let’s see; the express goes at half-past six, and its half-past five now—just an hour. Go and get ready, mother, and Cad and I’ll pack your valise.” “We’ll take care of him, never fear, and he’ll be home before you go. Hattie, you’re not fit for much at home except to run errands and keep awake at nights, and you can do that there. Get ready as quickly as possible, and help mother; she’s so excited she’ll be sure to get her dress hinside before, and forget to lace up her shoes.” My energetic sister had by this time gathered together their clothes, and, bringing the valise from the wardrobe, was packing them in a manner which foretold their coming out a mass of wrinkles, I meantime helplessly looking on. By dint of her earnest efforts they were ready in season; and when father came home from work, he found us hailing a street-car to take them to the depot. “Now, what’s to be done first?” inquired Kate, after we had seen them off, and had re-entered the house, with something of a realizing sense of the responsibility we had undertaken weighing our minds. “There’s supper to get, of course, and—Nellie can wash the dishes. That’s all, isn’t it?” “Mother said something about baking to-morrow,” I suggested with a vague idea that a certain preparation was generally made concerning the bread the evening before its manufacture. “To-morrow? Well, let to-morrow take care of itself,” she answered so promptly that I was at once silenced. “Let’s see what’s for supper; light bread, cookies, float, and cold beef. Very good. The clouds disperse, and the sky is most serene and fair. Set the table, Cad, while I make tea.” And now, while I am doing that, if the reader will take a little retrospective glance over our lives up to this point, she will no doubt the better understand why we were all so ignorant in household affairs. There was a large family of us—ten children in all; John, the master workman in one of the machine shops in the flourishing manufacturing town of which we were resident; Millie, the married sister, and a general favorite; Kate and myself, twins, but totally unlike, both in looks and disposition; Hattie, a studious girl of sixteen; Ross, a boisterous schoolboy of fourteen; Nellie, a delicate, petted child of eleven; and three little boys in a row, aged respectively nine, seven, and four, whom we call Tip, Earle, and Benny. And mother did the work for us all. I don’t know how she managed it, but she did. Millie was the only one that had taken to house-work, and mother was one of those domesticated burden-bearers who never consider their burdens so heavy but that they can add another trifle. Father had never been fortunate, pecuniarily; and being anxious to give all their children a good education, the labor of saving for this end was added to their other toil. And then, like many another good and unselfish, but unwise mother, she allowed us our own way, and spoiled us through indulgence; and as we had often heard her say she would rather do a thing herself than take the trouble to teach us how, we felt as if we were actually conferring a favor upon her by letting things alone. To be sure we could sweep, dust, wash dishes, and make beds, and were familiar with some of the minor details of cookery; but trying to keep the domestic machinery well oiled and in constant motion, was to us like conversing in an unknown tongue. And so now, without any adequate knowledge of work and its responsibilities, we found ourselves with a mountain of difficulties to surmount, and a pretty mess we made of it for a few days, too. It was not at all difficult to get through supper, for thanks to mother’s provident hands, there was plenty prepared for that meal; but when, next morning, we found the bread was out, the cookies all gone, and not a stray pie for dinner, our troubles began—and they broadened and deepened with every moment, as we became painfully aware that making bread and pastry was a branch of our education which had been terribly neglected; and when, about ten o’clock, father, in blissful ignorance of the novice in charge at home, sent a sirloin roast and the information that a stranger would dine with us, and fifteen minutes later the washer-woman brought in the clothes for us to iron, I was ready to melt in tears, and Kate was so cross that it was dangerous to speak to her. O, that weary, weary day! But only the beginning of many similar ones that followed it. How we longed for mother’s skillful hands to straighten out the tangled threads our awkward fingers had managed to produce. There was something to be done from early morning till late at night; so no sooner did we fancy ourselves free for half an hour, than some duty undone would stare us in the face, or the children would come in with clamoring tongues and empty stomachs, and in a few days I became addicted to chronic fretfulness, while Kate was transformed into a veritable scold. John scowled over the miserable meals; Ross teased us in every vulnerable point, but poor, patient father pitied our often infirmities, and ate what was set before him for conscience’s sake. It went on this way for about a fortnight, when, after a very trying day, we took our books and sat down for a quiet evening. But alas for our hopes! Only ten minutes of peace, and then an ominous “ahem” from father caused us to look up. “Do you know, girls,” he inquired, “whether mother mended my pants before she went away? I should like them to put on in the morning. She generally did her mending every week, I believe.” “There!” burst out Kate, shutting her book with a bang, while I, after one desponding glance at the fascinating pages of “David Copperfield,” went to examine the mending-basket. It was full to the brim; shirts, socks, little ging-ham coats with the pockets torn down, and buttons pulled half off, with shreds of cloth hanging to them; father’s pants, and Nellie’s school dress with a great rent clear across the front. With a doleful sigh I lifted the basket, and without a word we sat down to the unwelcome task. Nine, ten o’clock came and went, and the basket was not half emptied of its contents. Father, John, Ross, and Nellie gaped and stretched, and one by one followed the children off to bed. Eleven, and still we sat, silent and grim as ghosts, solemnly stitching away at the endless rents. “Cad,” said Kate, at last, jerking the words out as if she hated them, “how do you like it?” “Like what?” I asked in astonishment. “This life of slavery. This humdrum, everlasting stick-to-it, unsatisfactory existence, with not a speck of spice in the way of variety about it. Just over and over, round and round, until we seek our rest ‘low in the ground.’” “Oh Kate!” I exclaimed, almost shocked, “not so bad as that; not nearly so bad as that.” “Yes, worse than that with many, very many, Cad Rouncewell. My plain opinion very plainly expressed, is that women are fools.” “Don’t ‘why Kate’ me. Just look at the mending-basket. It has been filled and emptied year after year; filled by our carelessness, and emptied by our mother’s slavish toil, and we, great, healthy, over-grown girls, sat calmly by and saw her do it. And she, weak, unselfish woman that she is, hasn’t snap enough about her to rap us over the head for our ugliness.” I opened my mouth to say something, but she made a dab at me with her needle, and I desisted. “Don’t expostulate!” she exclaimed, I hate it. Look at yourself as you are, and as you have been ever since you were born, a little, useless bit of furniture, and see if you don’t look ugly. I have been taking just such a view of myself ever since we’ve found ourselves trying to fill mother’s place, and found we couldn’t, and have got so full of indignation at myself for being so blind, that I shall burst if I don’t out with it.” “But we can’t help it now, Kate,” I ventured to remonstrate. “No, of course we can’t, you goose. The past isn’t ours, but the present is, and the future may be. That’s what I’m coming at, exactly. We must not let mother and father die, yet awhile.” “Die!” I exclaimed, shocked beyond expression. “Yes, Caddy, I didn’t notice it any more than you have, until the past two weeks; but it seems to me now that I could count every furrow in father’s brow, and every thread of mother’s white hair. They are all beyond their years, Caddy. They have been worked to death, and because they loved us so well as to bear it all patiently, we never saw it.” Kate’s voice was all of a tremble, and I burst into tears. “Mother is an intellectual woman,” she went on in a moment, “with a mind capable of rare development. But how much time do you suppose she has had for reading and reflection beyond the wants and necessities of her large family? And don’t you know, Cad, how often we have excused ourselves from reading aloud to her, letting her sit digging away into this very basket, solitary and lone, through the long evening hours? I fairly hate myself when I think of it.” I did, too, by this time, and I said so. “But, Katie,” I added, “isn’t there a bright side to it somewhere?” “We can make one,” she answered decisively. “I have been thinking of that; how would it do to work and get the house-cleaning all done before she gets home? It will be vacation next week, and Ross and Nellie will be here to help us.” To this plan I readily assented, and then we went to bed. When we arose next morning it was with very different views of life and its stern realities from what we had ever cherished before. But we were determined to enter into the conflict armed with a strength higher than our own, and through that to conquer. And we did. Two weeks more and the house wore a new aspect from garret to cellar; everything was as fresh and clean as could be, and well repaid we felt for all our toil. One spot in the house was our especial attraction, and that was mother’s and father’s room; hitherto a bare, sparsely-furnished apartment, with the same stamp of self-denial upon it there had always been upon everything that was individually their own; but now the most cheery, tastefully arranged of any room in the house. We girls had planned the renovation, and John—dear, good, honest fellow—had lovingly paid the bills. And now, with all in readiness for her coming, with a well-cooked meal upon the table, with an air of thrift and neatness upon everything, which gave us the utmost satisfaction, we looked for our383 mother home. But when she came—when we saw the dear face looking eagerly out of the hack window to catch a glimpse of home and its treasured inmates—the revulsion of feeling was too much for us, and we ran behind the door to hide our tears. Such a foolish thing, but we did not stay there long. She called us as she came in, and we came out of our hiding-place, all tear-stained as we were, and greeted her. And such a time as we had taking her over the house and witnessing her delight and surprise, mingled with little soft-hearted rebukes for working so hard while she was gone! But when she came upon her own room, and her eyes fell upon the bright, new carpet, the bed with its snowy spread and ruffled pillows, the easy-chair, and dressing-table with all its little appointments, it was really refreshing to hear her exclaim over the extravaganza we had been guilty of, and all for the sake of a woman who was fast growing old. But oh, when we told her that we had done it all that she might dwell in perpetual youth; when we whispered in her ear the lesson we had learned by putting ourselves in her place; when we told her what we proposed to do in the future, that she might live, not a slave, but a queen, among her children, how her heart melted into tears, and with what manifest love she clung to us! And as the years still come and go, we are reaping a blessed recompense! The rich reward of our struggle with idleness and self-indulgence we see before us in the faces of our loved and loving parents, where sits a sweet content, and beams a look of youth once more. They share with us our pleasures and our entertainments; we share with them the otherwise solitary hours, and in the interchange of thought and feeling, find wisdom we could have gained from no other source. Rejoicing in the knowledge that we are smoothing for them the rugged pathway of mortality, we feel our recompense to be incorruptible, being assured that it is as gold laid up in the treasure-house of God, and bringing it forth an hundred fold. One wept that his harvest was small,
With little of fruit or of grain;
While his neighbor, with tears running o'er,
Still followed the full-freighted wain. "How much did'st thou sow," I said, "friend?"
"A handful of wheat less or more."
"And did'st thou expect broad acres would bend
To thy sickle from such scanty store?" Who sparingly soweth, must look
For little of fruit or of grain;
'Tis only the bountiful sower can reap
A bountiful harvest again. A lesson, I said, to thee, soul,
For harvest time soon will be here;
Sow with bountiful hand, lest thou weep at last,
When the Lord of the harvest draws near. -It is said that more new churches have been built in Washington Territory since January 1, 1881, than in the previous five years. -Mr. Moody recently received a petition from Chicago, with sixteen hundred names attached, asking him to return home, and join in the evangelization of Chicago. -Serious Anti-Catholic disturbances have occurred at Montsurs, Mayenne, France. A mob destroyed the church doors with dynamite, but the police prevented it from attacking the priest's house. -The Legislature of Texas has repealed the law which taxed colporteurs of religious books annually fifty dollars. Besides this, it has imposed a tax of $500 on all persons who sell the Police Gazette and similar illustrated papers. Good for Texas. -An "Orthodox Hebrew Congregation" has just been organized in Oakland, under the name of "Beth Jacob." This is in addition to the already existing First Hebrew Congregation. California Medical College Hall has been selected as the place of meeting. -The Journal and Messenger, Jewish, thinks that "the question of adapting Judaism to its present environment in civilized lands cannot be longer shirked, and should form the subject of an International Jewish Conference." This may signify a great deal, and it may not mean very much. -The Bishop of Hongkong says he has been repeatedly stopped while preaching, and asked if he is not an Englishman, and if his is not the country that sends opium to China; and when he admits the fact, they tell him to go back and stop the opium, and then they will talk about Christianity. -Bishop Nestor, who was at the head of the Greek Church in North America, with headquarters in San Francisco, committed suicide by jumping from the steamer St. Paul, off St. Michaels, Alaska, a short time ago. The intense pain caused by neuralgia, to which he was subject, is supposed to have driven him to the act. He was a native of Northern Russia, and fifty six years of age. -The Salvation Army in England is losing favor on account of the irreverence displayed in the programmes and meetings. For example one announced a "Salvation Charge" a "Great Exhibition of Hallelujah Lasses," "Tremendous Free and Easy," "Great Charge on the Devil," "Hallelujah Galop," etc. The friends of the movement are protesting against such irreverence. Lord Shaftsbury said in regard to it: "The excesses of the Army are producing great irreverence of thought, of expression—turning religion into a play, and making it grotesque." -A correspondent writing to the London Spectator lately adduced some curious instances of the crusade against religion which is being carried on by the departmental and municipal administrations in France. A lady applied for the post of head mistress of a communal school. The examiners found her qualifications admirable, but finally asked her: "Suppose that in reading a lesson to your class you met with the word "God," what word would you use in place of it?" "I should read right on as it was written," was her answer, and she was therefore rejected. Another instance: A list of books suggested for a public library was lately subjected to an official censor, and he struck out "Robinson Crusoe," as being too religious in its tendency.—N. Y. Tablet.