—Brigham Young has been sick for the last two weeks, and is still unable to receive visitors. His death, which cannot be far off, must evidently open the way for divisions and sects among the Salt Lake Mormons, as there is no one who has the ability and the confidence of the people enough to take his place. The Josephites are hoping to reap a rich harvest to their party when that occurs. Joseph Smith, Jr., now claims to be a prophet, the successor of his father.
—The fourth meeting of the Woman's Baptist Missionary Society was held in Boston, April 21. From the report it appears that fifteen missionaries are supported by the Society, of whom five are among the Burmese, six among the Karens, three among the Eurasians, and one among the Chinese. In addition to these, sixteen Bible-women are sustained by its funds. Seventeen schools, containing nine hundred and eighty pupils, are under the care of these missionaries. The treasurer's report showed the receipts to be $30,241,29, and the expenditures $27,700, 07. It is a little singular that the great tract societies of London and America owe their existence to infidels. They founded a tract society during the French Revolution, and kept it up long after its atrocities ceased. Christians saw the power of this instrumentality; seized it; and hurled it back with power on the enemy.
—The receipts of the Baptist Home Mission Society the past year for its missionary operations including its educational work among the Freedmen was $199,048.57
—Under the head of "Denominational Unrest," the Examiner says, "The ease with which ministers run from one denomination into another is one of the marked things of the day. The old moorings are giving away and thinking men are becoming more and more dissatisfied with the present state of the church and religion.
—The Seventh-day-Advents are publishing seven different papers and journals, one in Danish, one in the Swedish language, and the rest in English. One of these, the Review and Herald, is regularly sent to subscribers in the following countries outside of their own land:—
China, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Ireland, New South Wales, and Italy.
FOREIGN.
—It is stated that the Jesuits are making great efforts to widen their sphere of action in Asia Minor, by founding establishments, schools, and churches. At Beyrout alone the order has acquired no less than twenty sites, which are about to be built upon.
—Pope Pius, in a letter to a professor in the Louvain University, strongly censures the wickedness of those persons "boastfully styling themselves Catholics who obstinately adhere to the liberty of conscience, liberty of creed, the freedom of the press, and similiar kinds of liberty which the church has always condemned." This is the way that church is in favor of freedom!
—There is one part of the world to which, until within a few years, the Papacy could point as "all its own." That favored region was the once powerful little kingdom of Portugal. The abominations of Protestant heresy had gained no foothold there. The Church was supreme. Priestly authority was unquestioned. Church and State linked hands in a mutual endeavor to ward off the least beginnings of Protestant error. By stern measures the Church of Rome managed to keep the population of the kingdom loyal to itself, and the mass of the people as dirty, unlettered, and superstitious as even the infallible Pius could wish them to be. But a few years since the Protestants managed to obtain a foothold in Lisbon and Oporto. They are now slowly but steadily gaining ground. Thus the power of the papacy is waning everywhere. May its end soon come.
D. M. C.
News and Miscellany.
By Editor
—Sunday evening, June 6, Mr Simmons, formerly a missionary to China, spoke in Chinese to a large number of the "heathen" in the Baptist church of Oakland. After the sermon three converted Chinamen were baptized by Rev. McLafferty, pastor.
—Further details of the recent earthquake in Asia Minor show that several villages were destroyed. Two thousand persons perished.
—Calculation, based on the recent observations of the transit of Venus, makes the earth about seven millions of miles nearer the sun than it was supposed to be.
A FORTY-SEVEN thousand dollar robbery has lately occured in the treasury department, which will probably result in the exclusion of visitors from certain parts of the treasury building.
—Although many of the strikers in the pennsylvania coal regions have given up the strike and commenced work they are quickly overpowered and driven away by the remaining rioters. June 3, in Mahanoy City about one thousand men were marching from colliery to colliery compelling the miners to suspend work.
NEW YORK, June 1.—Forest fires have again broken out in the mountains of Delaware and Sullivan counties, New York, doing much damage. The village of Bethel, Sullivan county, was surrounded by fires for two days, and were only saved after a hard fight.
—W. Corbin, a wealthy farmer of Delaware county, was surrounded by fire while fighting the flames and burned to death. Two other men narrowly escaped. In Sullivan county 1,000 acres of valuable timber and 300,000 feet of lumber were destroyed. The conflagration is so fierce that families have been obliged to leave their houses to save their lives, leaving everything to be destroyed.
FASHIONABLE RELIGION.—Rev. Dr. Hall's church, in New York City, cost one million dollars. Half the pews were disposed of at an aggregate bonus of $77,000. The pews are valued at from $300 to $6,000 apiece, and the total valuation of 352 pews is $800,000.
—The Roman Catholic bishops of Prussia have decided to dissolve even the religious orders which the State tolerates, being unwilling to see them subjected to governmental supervision.
—A terrible massacre of Protestants on one of the Loyalty group of islands in the South Seas, is reported. Twenty men and fourteen women were killed and horribly mutilated. Priests were the instigators.
—The largest wooden bridge in the world caught fire a few nights ago, and is now a heap of charcoal and ashes. It was the Portage Bridge on the Erie Railway, spanning the Genesee River and Falls, at a point about sixty miles this side of Buffalo. A new bridge of iron will at once be erected in place of the ruined structure.
—After more than three weeks spent in consultation among themselves, and conference with the government commissioners, the nineteen Indian chiefs have prepared to leave Washington without having accomplished any arrangement for the sale of the Black Hills. They must talk with their people about it. They were anxious to see the $25,000, offered for a part of their territory, before they returned, so that they could assure their people that the government had the money. Some expressed great dissatisfaction at not being presented with guns, horses, and saddles.
—The Governor of Missouri issued a proclamation calling on the people of the State to observe Thursday, June 3d, as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer. Information comes to him from all sources that the State is threatened with a grasshopper pestilence to be followed by a failure of crops, great distress, and possible famine. Nothing but the interposition of Providence can save from the pest, and the Governor recommends that supplications of the people be raised for Divine relief and protection.
The Quarterly Meetings.
By John Norton Loughborough
We earnestly urge all our brethren and sisters to attend the quarterly meetings in their respective districts, whether there is preaching or not. It will of course encourage the minister, if he attends, to see a full attendance of all the members in the district. How much more need that all turn out if there is no minister, that the director may be encouraged in his work, and the church be encouraged where the quarterly meeting is held.
Where there is more than one church in a district, as is the case in several of the districts, it is expected to hold the meetings alternately with these churches. In the matter of attendance at these meetings we have a good opportunity to carry out the Golden Rule of doing to others as we would have others do to us. When the meeting is in our own church we love to have the brethren and sisters from the other churches in the district meet with us. Shall we not do them the favor to make some little effort to meet with them?
In a district where there are two churches, with their quarterly meetings alternating, it would only require the labor of our going to the other church twice a year. This is no great task as the churches in any one district in our State, as yet, are not very far apart.
Three times in a year all the males in ancient Israel were required to meet in Jerusalem from all parts of Canaan. One of those feasts lasted seven days. If you let this one stand for our camp-meeting, and we make some little effort to get to the quarterly meeting in the church away from our own, twice a year, it would be a slight comparison with what they did, especially when we consider the long journey they made to attend their gatherings. They met, expecting to "see the land that is very far off." We meet to converse of that land that is nigh, and to cheer each other with the prospect of the speedy consummation of our hope in the coming of our Master in "this generation."
The Jews met to praise God for his goodness, to "rejoice before the Lord," to make vows to God, to pay vows already made, to show through their types and appropriate bloody offerings their faith in a Saviour to come. We meet to talk of that High Priest in the heavens who has been here, buffeted, afflicted, tempted in all points like as we are. With the benevolent heart of a tender father he pities us. "Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him." As we meet we contemplate him with a heart all compassion and pity, in the heavens at the right hand of the Father's throne, with all power in Heaven and earth at his command.
We meet also to rejoice before the Lord for his blessings to us as individuals, to rejoice in him for the wonderful manner in which he is causing his truth to find way to many hearts not only in our own language, but among those of foreign birth. As we meet and rejoice in God for these things, we lay plans and make vows to lift still more in the future, with our means, our influence, our example and individual labor in trying to get these truths before the minds of our fellow-men.
Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but let us exhort one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. J. N. L.
District No. 3.
By John Norton Loughborough
As THE director of this district, who also acts as business agent of the St. Helena church, is necessarily absent for a few months, I request the vice president of our State T. and M. Society to perform the duties of the director in that district till his return. I would also request Bro. A. B. Atwood to act as business agent for the St. Helena church for the same period.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH,
Pres. Cal. T. and M. Society.
A Sharp Criticism.
THE Stockton Leader, edited by Mrs. Gordon, gave the following opinion of the manner in which Mr. Hammond conducts his meetings :—
"We confess to a thorough disappointment in the man. The impression we had received, and which was doubtless shared by many of our citizens, was that Hammond was a gentleman of culture, thoroughly devoted to the cause of his Master, earnest and truthful in his utterances, quiet in his demeanor and eloquent and impassioned in his appeals to those hardened of heart, and whom he is seeking to lead to the better way. We find him a buffoon in his actions, a boor in his language, and a trickster in his method. With those earnest Christians who are unselfishly laboring with him to bring sinners to repentance, we have the most profound sympathy, for their efforts we have the highest appreciation—but if the 'profound religious interest' so fervently hoped for reveals itself in this community it will be in spite of rather than through any effort of the Rev. E. Payson Hammond. God sometimes chooses unworthy instruments to perform his service, but beneath the trick of manner and the vein of coarseness there must lie a solid substratum of earnestness of life and sincerity of purpose. Something of the same disappointment which we have felt, has doubtless infused itself in the community. * No magnetic power was evinced by either manner of speech or gesture, and no enthusiasm was awakened. The tediousness of detail which characterizes Mr. Hammond's illustrative anecdotes, weakens his effort, and the listener waits anxiously for the crowning point to be reached, until interest gives place to weariness, and the application falls without effect."
Overfed Ministers.
The following remarks from DeWitt Talmage's paper are worthy of special note. The present is an age of gluttony, and it is a shame that ministers are foremost in the sin. They who ought to be "ensamples to the flock" in self-denial and genuine temperance, are leaders in this work of self-indulgence and self-destruction. Many ministers who are "broken down" and have to take a vacation with a trip to Europe or to the mountains, would speedily recover if they would live on graham bread, and saw wood for exercise. We know that there is a fault with the overseers of the kitchen, who love to get up "something good for the minister," as they call their unhygienic and dyspepsia-creating dishes, but the ministers are most to blame, for it belongs to them to discourage the practice and to break up the habit.
"What is more delicious for a minister than to accept an invitation to a parishioner's house, and sit an hour or two in the evening at the table with a collection of pleasant people? But that is what kills ministers. Hot waffles, fresh biscuit, oysters, and cold tongue at seven o'clock in the evening have given many a "man of God" dyspepsia, a dull brain, poor sermons, short pastorate, and an early decease. Rich and late suppers are doing a bad work for some of our best clergymen. We know of ministerial clubs where the members assemble Saturday afternoons to discuss religious topics, tarrying until evening, when a sumptuous table is provided for them. As a consequence they do not sleep well on Saturday night, and the congregation on Sabbath see what they suppose is heavenly pallor on their pastor's cheek, when his wife knows it was hot biscuit at tea the evening before that did the business. If you invite your minister out to eat, better have him at noon or thereabouts; or, if calling him to tea, then, let it be in the early part of the week, giving him time to get over his gustatory indulgences. The most of ministers have a powerful appetite for good food, and capacity to resist temptation in that direction is not one of their strong points."
J. H. w.
English Bibles.
By Editor
We will send any of the following English Reference Bibles, by mail, post-paid, at their respective prices:
Our BOOK LIST.—Any persons on the Pacific Coast wishing any of the publications named in our book list can obtain them by mail or express by writing to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, California, enclosing the published price of the same. When sent by mail, books will be post paid; when by express, at the expense of the one ordering the books; but in this case a liberal discount will be made when ten dollars worth or more are paid for with any one order.
PUBLICATIONS.
Cruden’s Complete Concordance. In this any passage in the Scriptures can readily be found. $1.50 per copy, post. paid.
Bible Dictionary of Bible names, customs and countries, and maps of Bible lands. $1.50 per copy, post. paid.
The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week, by J. N. Andrews. 528 pp. $1 25.
Thoughts on Daniel. By U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed paper edition, 35 cts.
Thoughts on the Revelation. By U. Smith. $1.00.
Life of Wm. Miller, with likeness. $1.00.
The Nature and Destiny of Man. By U. Smith. 384 pp. $1.00. Paper, 40 cts.
The Constitutional Amendment: or The Sunday, the Sabbath, the Change, and The Restitution. A discussion between W. H. Littlejohn and the Editor of the "Christian Statesman." Bound, $1.00. Paper, 40 cts.
The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. I. By Ellen G. White; 416 pp. $1.00.
Autobiography of Eld. Jos. Bates. 318 pp. $1.
Hygienic Family Physician. $1.00.
The Game of Life (illustrated). Satan playing with man for his soul. In board, 50 cts.; in paper, 30 cts.
Hymns and Religious Songs for Camp Meetings and other Religious Gatherings. Compiled by Elder James White. 196 pp. Bound 50 cts. Paper 25.
The United States in Prophecy. By U. Smith. Bound, 40 cts. Paper, 20 cts.
The Advent Keepsake. Muslin, 25 cts. Gilt, 40 cts.
Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular History of the Sabbath for 6,000 years. By J. N. Andrews, 25 cts.
Facts for the Times, revised and enlarged, 25c.
History of the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul. By D. M. Canright, 25 cts.
The State of the Dead. By U. Smith. 224 pp. 25 cts.
Our Faith and Hope. Sermons on the Millennium, Second Advent, the Kingdom, the Judgment, the Time, the Sanctuary and Saving Faith. 20 cts
Refutation of the Age to Come. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Atonement. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Bible from Heaven; a Dissertation. 20 cts.
Miraculous Powers. Evidences, Scriptural and historical of the perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts. 20c.
The Complete Testimony of the Fathers concerning the Sabbath and First Day. By J. N. Andrews. 15 cts.
The Ministration of Angels: and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. By D. M. Canright. 20 cts.
The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two-Horned Beast. By J. N. Andrews. 15 cts.
The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. By J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts.
Redemption, or the Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness (Life of Christ, No. 2). By Mrs E. G. White. 15 cts.
The Saint's Inheritance, or the Earth made New. By J. N. Loughborough. 10 cts.
The Sanctuary and Twenty-three. Hundred Days. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
Sunday Seventh-day. A Refutation of Mede, Jennings, Akers and Fuller. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts
The Truth Found; The Sabbath. By J. H. Waggoner. 10 cts.
Brown's Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath. 10 cts.
Vindication of the True Sabbath. Morton 10 cts.
The Date of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9, established. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Seven Trumpets of Rev. 8 and 9. 10 cts.
Matthew Twenty-four. By James White. 10c.
Position and Work of the True People of God under the Third Angel's Message. Littlejohn. 10 cts.
The Hope of the Gospel: What it is, and when it will be consummated. By J. N. Loughborough, 80 pp. 10 cts.
An Appeal to the Baptists, from the Seventh-day Baptists, for the restoration of the Bible Sabbath 10 cts.
Four-cent Tracts: The Second Advent.—The Seventh Part of Time—Celestial Railroad—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The Ten Commandments not Abolished—Address to the Baptists—The Present Truth—The Sufferings of Christ.
Three-cent Tracts: Much in Little—The Lost Time Question—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion—Infidel Cavils Considered—The End of the Wicked—Scripture References—Who Changed the Sabbath?
Two-cent Tracts: Definite Seventh Day—Seven Reasons for Sunday-Keeping Examined—Sabbath by Elihu—The Rich Man and Lazarus—Argument on Sabbaton—The Millennium—Departing and Being with Christ—Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists.
One-cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Sign of the Day of God—The Two Laws—The Perfection of the Ten Commandments—Coming of the Lord—Without Excuse—Which Day, and God's Answers.
** Address, Signs of the Times. OAKLAND, CAL.
Quarterly Meetings.
By John Norton Loughborough
THE Quarterly Meetings for the third quarter will be held as follows:—
The State Quarterly Meeting will be held at Oakland, Cal., July 3 and 4.
District Quarterly Meetings will be held in District No. 1, at Bloomfield, June 19 and 20. District No. 2, at Healdsburg, June 19 and 20. District No. 3, at St. Helena, June 19 and 20. District No. 4, at Vallejo, June 19 and 20. District No. 5, at Woodland, June 19 and 20. District No. 7, in connection with the State Quarterly Meeting at Oakland, July 3 and 4. District No. 8, at San Jose, June 19 and 20. District No. 9, at San Francisco, June 19 and 20.
We will try to furnish ministerial labor for the State Quarterly Meeting at Oakland, and at the San Jose meeting, at Woodland, and at Vallejo. The other Quarterly Meetings will be presided over by the directors of the respective districts, except No. 3, which, as the director is absent, will be presided over by the Vice President of the Cal. T. and M. Society.
The blanks should be passed out by the church librarians June 5, and then filled out and returned to the librarians June 12, so as to give the librarians ample time to make up their reports for their district Quarterly Meeting. The report of each church should be sent, or carried, to the district secretary at the Quarterly Meeting, so that the district secretary can make a report of the workings of the district for the quarter.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH,
Pres. Cal. State T. and M. Society.
Appointments.
Woodland.—At the quarterly meeting with the Woodland church, June 19 and 20.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
St. Helena.—Monday evening, June 14.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
The next quarterly meeting of the S. D. Adventists of the Walla Walla Valley and vicinity, will be held at Walla Walla City, on Sabbath and first-day, July 3 and 4. Friends from Pendleton, Weston, Milton, Dayton, and Mill Creek, are especially invited to attend. The house of worship will be dedicated at this meeting. We shall hope to organize a Tract and Missionary Society, and it is hoped that all will be prepared to pay their s. b. pledges as far as possible. Come brethren and sisters all make preparations to be at the meeting.
I. D. VAN HORN.
Business Department.
By Editor
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully," (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$2.00 EACH. A Dratt 2-1, J W Cassidy 2-1, Rebecca Rucker 2-1, Aaron Lawson 2-31, J H Benson 2-1, R E Taylor 2-31, M A Taylor 2-31, Stephen B Taylor 2-31, E Turner 2-1.
$1.00 EACH. Mrs M Husted 2-6, W I Alexander 2-7, C M Wright 2-7, H P Dunham 2-7, R W Oneal 2-7.
MISCELLANEOUS. Mrs F P Crystal 25c, J W Henry 50c 2-7, Allen Reed 10c, Amy E Dartt 50c, John Lawton 21c, A Dratt 25c, T G Adams 25c, M H Morris 50c 2-6, W R Roberts 50c 2-6, Josiah Sherman 25c, Wm Morrow 25c, Jennette Groves 50c 2-7, Joseph Gray 50c 2-7, Geo W Madison 50c 2-7, F L Courvoisier 50c 1-44.
California Publishing Fund.
Mittie Sevrens $25, Alonzo Papworth $20, Mrs Dimmick $15, Wm Harmon $20, E J Harmon $20, A Friend $5.
Donations to the Signs.
A Dratt and wife $10, Theodocia Terry 50c, Lottie Bental $5.
California Tent Fund.
Mrs Dimmick $5.
Cal. T. and M. Society.
District No. 9 $15, District No. 1 $5, District No. 2 $4.80.
Graces Better Than Notions
A heart full of graces is better than a heart full of notions.
The Narrow Strait of Repentance
By James White
THERE is no coming at the fair haven of eternal glory without sailing through the narrow strait of repentance.
Lists and Credits.
By John Norton Loughborough
It is no small job to get up a list of subscribers to a newspaper, and in any Office mistakes are liable to occur, especially if different clerks have to do with the account. It is our desire to do our business accurately, and with our present competent Secretary, we shall be enabled, we think, to give satisfaction to all.
Whatever mistakes have occured we shall be most happy to correct. We are now engaged in getting up printed lists of our subscribers in all the States. These lists will be used with our new machine in mailing papers. Let all examine the paster on their paper, and if there is any mistake in your credits please notify. We wish to have our printed lists right. If any of your names are spelled wrong, write and all these things shall be corrected.