The changes that the Turkish empire has recently passed through seem to have had the effect of stimulating a Mohammedan revival in Asia. As long as the Sultan arrogated to himself the califate, and had the military power to enforce his decrees, the followers of the prophet in Africa, Arabia, and even in Persia, were virtually compelled to acknowledge his supremacy. This was not done willingly; for the Tartar instincts of the Turk, that have clung to him through successive generations, made him a disagreeable associate for his more refined coreligionists. But, recognizing the impossibility of successfully combating the pretensions of the Sultan, the Mohammedans throughout the East have quietly acquiesced; and, as the theory of extirpating unbelief by forcibly converting or killing the infidels was dropped, years ago, from the policy of the Sultan, the whole religion has, so far as its professors are concerned, been characterized by a lethargy which had the appearance of gradual decay. But, now that the power of the Sultan has been in a great measure broken, the Asiatic sectarians have come to the belief that their day for action has arrived. In Arabia, for some months past, a systematic organization has been going on. It is true that the larger part of the peninsula is under the government of the Sultan, but, just at present, he seems powerless to check the movement. Possibly he may think that it is not for his interest to interfere; for those whom these Arabian fanatics seek to overthrow are his religious enemies as well as theirs. The ostensible head of this agitation is the Sheik of Derepah, who claims that he has been raised up to restore the domain of the immediate descendants of the prophet, and it is reported that he has enrolled as his supporters not less than sixty thousand men in Arabia alone.
How are these men to carry out their views? and whom do they propose to fight? These are questions somewhat difficult to answer; but appearances indicate that the English are looked upon as immediate enemies. They are fighting the Mohammedans in Afghanistan, and have under their control in India millions of believers in this faith. That the leaders of this revival may attempt, and perhaps are attempting, to get up a religious war in India, is thought not improbable, from the fact that an unusual number of Arabians are now entering the Indian seaports and are passing up into the interior; while, at the same time, small parties of Afghans are passing over the mountains southward into India. The English officials have stopped quite a number of these, and have endeavored to find out from them what object they had in view; but to no purpose. Yet this failure to solve the mystery can hardly be said to prove much. Asiatic conspiracies are always carried on with the utmost secrecy. It is not supposed that this Mohammedan revival can attain any permanent success; but should it continue, it may cost England a long and bloody war.—Boston Herald.
THE SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF VICE.
The Christian Weekly, in its issue of Jan. 10, 1880, gives the following item of the doings of this society:—
“Scarcely had the rigorous efforts of its Secretary, Anthony Comstock, to check the lottery swindlers from using the United States mails, been made public before it was announced that he had broken up another fraudulent business by which multitudes have been systematically robbed. Nearly filling his office were boxes and mail-bags taken from a gang of bogus stock brokers, who, taking advantage of the feverish desire on the part of many to speculate in stocks, advertise large inducements for securing their patronage. Money has poured into their hands from the credulous, eager to share in the fortunes which they believe are so readily made in Wall street; but not a dollar ever left their hands, or was invested in the stocks, which their patrons were notified by letter had been done. The letters and the books which Mr. Comstock seized show that at least $120,000 a month had thus been stolen from the confiding dupes of these rascally swindlers.”
Grant on the Universal Peace Union and Arbitration
MEMBERS of the “Universal Peace Union” called on Gen. Grant while he was in Philadelphia. Gen. Grant, in his reply, said that although he had been brought up a soldier, he was of the opinion that there should be some way of preventing the spilling of innocent blood in a struggle in which but few men were interested. He looked forward to the time when a court could be established which would be recognized by all nations, and which would be the means of settling all international differences of opinion. But he also said that in the course of his travels he had found that there was not in other countries so great a desire for such a court as there is here. So far as the Eastern question is concerned, he thought it would be long before the European nations would consent to a settlement by arbitration, for all the countries bordering on the East are extremely jealous of each other. And he might have added that some of the governments of Europe are not only jealous of each other; they are hardly less jealous of their own subjects, whose loyalty they dare not trust much beyond the reach of a bayonet thrust.—Advance.
Turkish Government and Religious Liberty Under the Berlin Treaty
The Turkish government is probably about as detestable as it is easy to imagine a government to be. The pretenses of religious liberty, which were artfully made to appear to be secured by the terms of the Berlin treaty, were never meant, on the part of Turkey, to be anything better than a delusive, evasive sham. It is not at all likely that the astute diplomats of the great powers cherished any “great expectations.” Truth and honor and justice are not qualities which a Turkish statesman knows anything about. A Mussulman priest was lately sentenced to death for assisting a missionary, Dr. Groelle, to translate portions of the Bible and the English prayer-book into the Turkish language. Even one of the most liberal Turkish papers demands that the “miserable creature may receive an overwhelming punishment, so that he may by his example deter others from selling their religion for a few pence.” Sir Austen Layard, the British Ambassador, has interfered on behalf of the Mussulman, even announcing that if his demands were not complied with, diplomatic communications with the Porte would be suspended. Serious rupture in the relations of the two governments was threatened unless the demand was complied with. This, it is reported, has, for the time, brought the Porte to its senses.—Advance.
An Undying Thought from an Obscure Man
—ONE great and kindling thought from a retired and obscure man, may live when thrones are fallen, and the memory of those who filled them obliterated, and like an undying fire may illuminate and quicken all future generations.
NORTHERN EUROPE.
By J. G. Matteson
The days are short now in Norway. In this place (Christiania) the sun rises at present about 9 o’clock, and sets at 2:52. The days are gloomy and dark. The sun is quite low at midday. Yet people are as active as ever, if not more so; and the winter is the best time for evening meetings.
The meetings in our own hall, Akersveien No. 2, are well attended. The tide has turned very much in favor of the truth, and the influence of this reaction in public sentiment has gone out to other places. A religious paper published at Göteborg, Sweden, has commenced a series of articles on the religious sects of our day, and begins with the S. D. Adventists. The paper devotes two columns to this matter. The article contains, first, a very fair extract from Bro. U. Smith’s History of S. D. Adventists in Die Stimme der Wahrheit; and then the editor speaks favorably of the work in Norway. He says: “Missionaer Matteson, who is stationed in Norway, labors with much zeal; but he has also met strong opposition, especially from the Methodists.” And again: “It cannot be denied, that the Adventists have some good reasons for their faith; and it is certain that they can more easily defend their belief concerning Saturday, that it should be the Sabbath in the place of Sunday, than the idea which they also defend, that the wicked shall be destroyed. Yet this idea has lately gained many adherents.”
The editor promises to give, from time to time, more information concerning the Adventists, from The Signs of the Times.
A Lutheran paper printed in this city, also contained a notice of our work in an article filling a little more than two columns. This was written by one of our brethren, by request of the editor. They notice our Sabbath-school and printing office with respect, and speak well of us. This is beyond my highest expectations, and it is wonderful, in view of the fact that nearly all papers in this country are swayed by the Lutheran church, because that carries with it the weight of public opinion. In Denmark, also, my work and name ran through the papers, but only to be misrepresented and ridiculed. Here it is different. The Lord has given us an opportunity successfully to carry through a battle with the theological faculty of the State University, the bishop and most prominent theologians of the country. Our church stands acknowledged by the State as a Christian church, and we have taken our place in the rank of dissenters, with as many privileges as any of them.
The determined efforts of the Methodists against us have resulted in great loss to them. Their editor, who was the main leader in this opposition, has given up his office, and has gone to another city to preach. Many of their members flock to our meetings, and at present their meetings are not so well attended as ours. Even our worst opposers have publicly acknowledged that our coming here has stirred the people, and wrought a great change in them in regard to searching the Scriptures.
Printing-work is especially favored in this country. The liberty of the press is unbounded. This is not the case in Denmark or Sweden. Here we can print all we wish and sell all printed matter without any license or tax. But we could not sell so much as a pencil without paying quite a sum for citizenship. Then the publications can go freely into our sister kingdoms, and Tidernes Tegn can be carried by mail twice a month for one year to one subscriber at a cost of 5½ cents.
Bro. Brorson is steadily gaining ground in Denmark. Six brethren and sisters have lately been baptized. Others are coming into the truth. Bro. Jasperson and Roseqvist are at work in Skien. Bro. J. writes lately that Bro. R. does good service, and that he has excellent abilities for preaching. Indeed, he says he thinks he is not behind any of our Scandinavian preachers in America.
Bro. Olsen is doing good in Sweden. He has translated a small tract (concerning the word eternity), which he very much needed. It is now in type, and will soon be printed. A Swedish brother writes from Amot (the first place Bro. Olsen visited after he left us) that his visit did the friends good. There are five believers who have since commenced to keep the Sabbath. Several persons from Amot have attended our meetings here in Christiania, and many tracts have been scattered by them. The truth is spreading largely there.
I have also just received a letter from Bro. Tockzelius in Sweden, who came here with another brother last fall. They were both baptized. Bro. T. has been a preacher for several years. He has been advocating the truth diligently, and it is stirring many souls. A Baptist preacher has accepted the truth and is also spreading it among others. Then I receive letters from other places in Sweden, where little companies here and there are investigating. Truly, the fields are white for the harvest.
Next week I commence to give a series of lectures in a new place where we have rented a hall—Strömsveien No. 64. Yet the meetings in this place are not diminished. So every day in the week will be occupied. This will open a new field to us. Aid us, dear brethren in the distant West, with your prayers. We need very much the help of God; for who is sufficient for these things? May we get our work done at last, and meet in the kingdom.
We held meetings at Bellfountain one week, commencing Nov. 15. The members of this church are united in the truth, are doing what they can in the T. and M. work, and are prompt in paying the tithe. The Lord blessed the word spoken to the good of all. Five united with them at this meeting, making a membership of twenty. They all have an interest in the temperance work, and nearly all signed the pledge. Nov. 20, came to Mackford, where we held ten meetings. An effort was made to set plain practical truths before this old and tried church, and we trust the word spoken was well received. Sunday, the 23d, we held a temperance meeting, at the close of which twenty-seven signed the teetotal and five the anti-whisky and tobacco pledge. There are a few that still indulge in tea, coffee, and tobacco. May the Lord help them to see that they are standing in the way of sinners. Thursday the church was made to rejoice by the return of their elder, Bro. Baker, who has been at the Sanitarium about three months. Bro. B. has returned much improved in health, feeling that he has received a new lease of life. This church has a flourishing Sabbath-school, and we hope to organize a temperance club soon. May the Lord help all to open the door of their hearts and let the Saviour in. Courage, brethren; “for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”
C. W. OLDS.
HYMN
FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE S. D. A. MEETING-HOUSE
IN PIERREPONT, N. Y., JAN. 17, 18, 1880.
Almighty God, whose eye of flame
Sees at a glance our inmost soul!
Feign would we magnify thy name,
And spread thy praise from pole to pole!
The Heaven of heavens cannot contain
The mighty God, the power divine;
But have we built this house in vain?
Great God, upon thy temple shine!
We dedicate this sacred desk,
This altar, and these seats, to thee;
Is it too much, O God, to ask
That thousands may converted be?
Oh! bless the choir, thou King of kings;
And while in hymns they chant thy praise,
Inspire the tribute which they bring,
And fill their hearts with heavenly grace.
Oh! may thy sanctifying power
This house with thine own glory fill,
Thy grace upon thy people shower,
As rains upon the grass distill!
When here thy servants spread their hands,
And pray toward thy holy hill,
Heal thou the plague through all our land,
And be our God and Saviour still.
And when our day of life is past,
O Father, Son, and Holy Dove,
Receive us to thy house at last,
A house not made with hands, above.
KANSAS
By M. Enoch; H. Enoch
Smith Center.—Our meetings near Smith Center closed Dec. 28. Eleven signed the covenant. Four of these began to keep the Sabbath as the result of our meetings. We look for others to take hold soon.
M. AND H. ENOCH.
COLORADO
By H. H. Pierce
Boulder, Jan. 6.—According to appointment, the quarterly meeting was held at Boulder, Jan. 3 and 4. Several were in from abroad. Dr. Williams, a United Brethren minister who came out under Eld. Cornell’s labors here, preached several times. The social meetings were characterized by deep feeling. The business meetings passed off harmoniously. All took hold of the tithing system in good earnest. Twenty-five copies of the Signs were taken by the T. and M. society, fifteen copies of the Testimonies were subscribed and paid for, and five hundred Annuals were also taken. This is the second quarterly meeting held in this State. H. H. PIERCE.
NEBRASKA
By Chas. L. Boyd
Humboldt and Nebraska City.—The meeting at Humboldt was a season of interest and profit to all present. One was added to the church. The subject of missionary labor was considered, and a V. M. society was organized, embracing every member of the church in attendance. A club of the Signs was taken. An earnest desire to work in this glorious cause seemed to take possession of every heart.
The meeting with the Nebraska City church was held at Camp Creek. The unfavorable weather and bad roads made it impracticable for those living at the city to attend. This is an earnest company. A good outside interest was manifested, which I trust will result in accessions to the church.
CHAS. L. BOYD.
WISCONSIN
By T. B. Snow
Durand, Jan. 5.—I commenced meetings in the Stringer school-house, Dec. 19. At first the congregations were small; but as the weather and roads improved, the congregations increased. Last evening there were over eighty present—more than could find seats. The interest has been good, and seems to be on the increase. We have had good attention and good order from the first.
I attended the quarterly meeting at Burnside. The brethren expressed a desire for higher spiritual attainments, and most of them seemed willing to adopt the reforms recommended by our people.
Pray for the success of the work here.
T. B. Snow.
MICHIGAN
By Wm. Ostrander
Tuscola Co.—The church at Elmwood gave evidence of appreciating the labor bestowed.
The church at Fairgrove pledged over $500 to aid in erecting a house of worship. One young man who was formerly a Methodist took his stand for the truth. His wife, with many others, was favorably impressed.
We are glad to report progress on the part of the church at Watrousville. This church has been relieved of the weight of some chronic grumblers, and was never in so prosperous a condition as at the present time. One excellent young lady took a firm stand for the truth. (Bro. Lawrence’s visit here a few weeks ago was timely.)
In the church at Vassar we found elements of discord, and at first all our efforts to rally seemed unavailing; but last evening the Lord came near to us, the spirit of confession was present, and our hearts were made glad.
We organized a V. M. society in each church. All are united on the tithing system, and the one-third for the tract society. Wm. OSTRANDER.
ILLINOIS
By D. T. Bourdeau
Kankakee, Jan. 5.—Since reporting last, I have been laboring for churches and scattered brethren in Iroquois and Kankakee counties. I have celebrated the ordinances with three churches, and organized three health and temperance clubs, embracing about seventy members, most of whom have signed the teetotal pledge and become full members. One interesting feature at one point was, that of eight persons not of our faith who became members, seven signed the teetotal pledge. Of course, this fact was used to stir up our brethren to emulation. Books were purchased, and prepared to keep the records of these clubs, and care was taken to put the first report in shape. By commencing right, habits of order are contracted, and the painful duty of re-organizing societies is avoided.
Although I have labored largely for the French, most of whom cannot read English, yet I have done something in encouraging families to obtain the works recommended in the recent Appeal. More books will be taken as the children learn to read English. Our American brethren have no excuse. Is it not an offense against God, and doing violence to our conscience and better judgment, to knowingly and selfishly deprive ourselves of knowledge which we believe God mercifully offers us for our spiritual advancement? I heartily approve of the plan proposed.
While the young converts have done well in taking hold of different branches of the work, and attending our late camp-meeting, we urge upon them, in the line of giving, the importance of first rendering unto God what he justly claims. To pay our tithe is an easy duty, if we give God the first place in our affections, and give him the first-fruits of all our earnings and income.
D. T. BOURDEAU.
OHIO H. AND T. SOCIETY.
By Dudley Marvin Canright; Wm. Beebe
This society met in convention at the new S. D. A. church in Camden, Dec. 28, 29. Exercises opened by singing Temperance Rally, from the Song Anchor. Prayer by Bro. Bartlett. D. M. Canright spoke one hour on Bible temperance, keeping the large audience in the best of humor while he pointed out the causes of intemperance, and showed the necessity of striking at the root of this appalling evil. Then Bro. Bartlett was introduced, and spoke fifteen minutes. The writer was then granted the privilege of making an appeal in behalf of the temperance work in Ohio, urging all to sign the teetotal pledge and help us in this good work. All appeared well pleased with our way of dealing with this question. Song, Look Not on the Wine. Benediction by H. A. St. John.
SECOND MEETING, Dec. 29.—Prayer by Eld. Wm. Beebe. Eld. D. M. Canright spoke on tea, coffee, and tobacco, treating them from a scientific standpoint. Eld. H. A. St. John took up the temperance cudgel, wielding it right and left, until most of those present were willing to compromise by signing the teetotal pledge. As it was a very stormy day, the attendance was not large during the second meeting; but twenty-seven signed the teetotal pledge, and three signed the anti-rum and tobacco pledge, which was doing well considering the number present when the pledges were circulated.
Adjourned sine die. D. M. Canright, Pres. Wm. Beebe, Sec.
GLAD TO LEARN.
By Mrs. B. C. P.
BY MRS. B. C. P.
I have been reading in the Review of Nov. 6, a “Memorial” written by our dear brother, W. H. Ebert, who has of late taken a decided stand on the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I am glad to learn that our brother has willingly accepted the light that God has been pleased to show him. Let us ever seek to know what the will of the Lord is, and then cheerfully do it. We ourselves can do nothing; therefore, we must ask help of God, believing that he is able and willing to deliver all who put their trust in him.
The seventh day is the only Sabbath mentioned in the Bible. Sunday is not called “Sabbath”; it is termed “first-day of the week.” Therefore, let us not be dismayed or discouraged; for we have the Bible for our guide, and if the Lord is on our side, who can be against us? If we are despised, and meet with trials, let us remember that our Saviour was rejected and shamefully treated, and he bore it all with patience.
We cannot enter the kingdom of God half-hearted. We must not extend one hand to our Saviour, expecting him to save us, while with the other we are clinging to earth and its vanities and to our evil habits and propensities. Saying that we want to serve God and that we will try to serve him will never save us, unless we come up to the standard of righteousness. We read that it is not those that cry, “Lord, Lord,” that shall enter the kingdom. We should all be up and doing. Time is short, and it will be too late to repent when the day of mercy is over. Perhaps there may be small sins, or those that seem small to us, that will shut us out of the promised land. Dear brethren and sisters, let us consider this point. Is there not about us some little root of selfishness or covetousness that we have not hitherto discovered? If so, let us ask God to forgive us, and to help us eradicate these evils from our character. He is a just God, and does not look upon sin with any allowance, but he is also merciful and full of love and compassion. He bears long with us; and our precious Saviour, who gave his life a ransom for sinners, has given the invitation, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” All are invited to come. And the promise is sure,—eternal life to all that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
T. AND M. INSTITUTES.
By Stephen N. Haskell
BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.
These Institutes, properly conducted, are and can be of great benefit to our cause and people. By comparing the amount of business transacted annually by T. and M. societies with that done by the Publishing Association a few years ago, it will be seen that some of these societies now do more than was done at that time by all of our people; and as this business is constantly increasing, it is important that it be done properly.
Also, we want hundreds of canvassers and colporters in the field immediately, to introduce our publications and obtain subscribers for our periodicals. The foreign element in this country,—the Danes, Swedes, French and Germans,—should be made available laborers in scattering publications in their native tongues. Ministers and T. and M. officers should ever be ready to instruct others by precept and example in the various branches of the missionary work. The instructions given should not be merely theoretical,—simply how to do the business,—but T. and M. workers should also be taught how to approach people, and to labor in the most successful manner in every department of the work.
Hitherto our ministers have not been prepared to instruct others, for want of this knowledge themselves. These Institutes are designed to instruct all, as far as possible, in the different phases of missionary labor, but especially to educate ministers and T. and M. officers, so that they can properly instruct others, and in this way the same method may be presented to every officer and member in our churches. All of our Conferences need this disciplinary drill, but none more than Michigan. No Conference is more important than this; and it is now designed to hold two or three such institutes in this State. The first will probably be held in Montcalm county, by Eld. B. L. Whitney or myself, commencing February 5, and continuing two weeks. This is the shortest time in which proper instruction can be given. We hope it will be well attended. Definite appointments next week.
PLEDGED HIMSELF INTO THE LIGHT.
Bro. Frank Starr, of Springport, Mich., sends us a brief sketch of an interesting experience through which he has recently been passing. He had unconsciously fallen upon the background in his religious life, where his mind, as a matter of course, became more or less enveloped in darkness. In this state he suffered a great conflict of temptations, misgivings, doubts, and fears, and was especially tempted to reduce his contributions to the cause of the Lord to the smallest proportions. While in this state of mind, the call was issued for our brethren from abroad to attend the dedication of the Tabernacle. From that point we give his narrative in his own words:—
“As the invitation to attend the dedication of the Tabernacle was given, I thought of going, but hardly dared to; for, as every means of grace seemed really more detrimental than beneficial, I feared that I might return home in a worse condition than that in which I went. I went, however, and was moved to sign $50 toward the house. Though I did not think of such a thing when I went there, I asked the Lord to help me to do what was right. As I first engaged in secret prayer on returning home, I was astonished at the change in my mind. Light had taken the place of darkness, faith of unbelief, and Heaven seemed near. I began to inquire the cause of the change. What had brought it about? Then my mind was pointed directly to my act of signing to the pledge-roll the $50. If a like act would be a remedy for any of my brethren who are in darkness, and inquiring, ‘Wherefore have we fasted,’ etc., I would suggest that they set about it immediately.
“It has afforded me pleasure to be able to take stock in the REVIEW and Signs offices, the Sanitarium, and the College. I think nothing has given me greater or more lasting satisfaction than this very outlay of means.”
INSPIRED BY GRATITUDE.
In a communication for the REVIEW, a brother who signs himself “Backslider,” after confessing and bemoaning his shortcomings and his consequent lack of the presence of the Lord, and his barrenness of soul, at length turns to the gracious offers of mercy, and speaks in the following words of the good resolutions and determinations it prompts him to form. It will do many others good to take the same view of the subject, and adopt the same cheerful determinations.
“Praise the Lord, O my soul! probation is not yet ended; the ledger book of Heaven is not yet closed! Yet there is an opportunity for sinners and backsliders to come and wash away their sins in the fountain of God’s infinite mercy. ‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ ‘To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.’”
“Merciful Father, full of love, pity, and compassion, help me humbly and earnestly to seek the throne of thy grace; help me to return to thy extended arms. Let me hear thy pleading voice: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ Help me to feel as Jonah felt when he said: ‘I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.’ How great is thy longsuffering.”
“Thou hast spared my unprofitable life, in order that I might be converted, and perfect a character worthy of a place in thy kingdom. Help me now to refrain from evil, and to do good, to redeem the time which I have lost by my indifference and negligence.
“I feel that I will return again unto the Lord, who will abundantly pardon. I will take the cup of salvation, and sing of his majesty and his boundless love. I will again put on the whole armor of God, and engage in the Christian warfare. I will be a soldier of the cross, and fight nobly on the battle field till I win the everlasting crown. I will arise in the name of God, and bid defiance to every allurement and temptation, to Satan and his angels.
“I will consecrate myself anew to the service of God, and engage with renewed vigor and earnestness in the glorious work of spreading the light of truth to those who yet grope in darkness. I will endeavor to put my whole soul and my best energies into this glorious cause. To this end may God give me strength; and when Jesus appears in the clouds of glory to gather his faithful, ransomed ones home, may I be so happy as to be one of their number. Give me then, O Lord, a humble place in thine everlasting kingdom!”
BUT THE TRUTH.
Go thou in life's fair morning,
Go in thy bloom of youth,
And buy, for thine adorning,
The precious boon of truth.
Secure this heavenly treasure,
And bind it on thy heart,
And let no worldly pleasure
E'er cause it to depart.
Go, while the day-star shineth,
Go, while thy heart is light,
Go, ere thy strength declineth,
While every sense is bright.
Sell all thou hast, and buy it;
'Tis worth all earthly things,—
Rubies, and gold, and diamonds,
Scepters and crowns of kings.
Go, ere the cloud of sorrow
Steal o'er the bloom of youth!
Defer not till to-morrow,
Go now and buy the truth;
Go, seek thy great Creator,
Learn early to be wise;
Go place upon the altar
A morning sacrifice!
—Selected.
Our Cricket.
“A little balm, and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds.” Gen. 43: 11.
—To the Christian nothing can be so dark but there can be a bright side.
—THE heart that is soonest awake to the flowers is always the first to be touched by the thorns.—Moore.
—A MAN’S virtues should be measured, not by his occasional exertions, but by the doings of his ordinary life.
—MAN wastes his mornings in anticipating his afternoons, and wastes his afternoons in regretting his mornings.
—THERE is no sin we can be tempted to commit, but we shall find a greater satisfaction in resisting than committing.
—GOD is the safety of his people, but we tempt Providence if we do not make use of the necessary means for our preservation.
—WHEN you are reading a book in a dark room, and come to a difficult part, you take it to a window to get more light. So take your Bibles to Christ.—McCheyne.
—WHOEVER looks for a friend without imperfections will never find what he seeks. We love ourselves with all our faults, and we ought to love our friends in like manner.
A FIFTH-MONARCHY MAN.—The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, preaching not long since from Rev. 5: 10, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth,” said: “Do you know I am a fifth-monarchy man? In Cromwell’s time, some said there had been four monarchies, and the fifth would come and overturn every other. Well, I never wish to do as they did; but I believe with them, that a fifth monarchy shall come. There have now existed four great monarchies (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome) arrogating universal dominion, and there never shall be another world-wide monarchy until Christ shall come. Jesus our Lord is to be King of all the earth, and rule all nations in a glorious, personal reign. The saints, as being kings in Christ, have a right to the whole world.”
AN ENCOURAGING RESPONSE.
Instances like the following, which are almost constantly coming to light, should greatly encourage those members of the T. and M. societies who are engaged in the work of putting our periodicals into the hands of new readers, in order to awaken an interest with them in the truths we teach. A sister in Arkansas Post, Arkansas, having received a few copies of the REVIEW, probably through some T. and M. worker, now sends on $2.00 for a year’s subscription, and writes:—
“Providence has kindly placed in our hands a few copies of your paper, the REVIEW AND HERALD. We prize them very highly. We had never seen any of them, and did not know that there was any such paper, until a few weeks ago, when a member of your church living at some distance from us placed in our hands some of the papers. We like them better than any other paper we have ever read, finding nothing in them but what is good, and according to Bible truth. We belong to the Methodist church, but believe that if more such reading matter were circulated and read in this country and others, there would be more real Christians than at present, and more Bible-reading and searching for the truth. We find more truth and light on the Bible in the REVIEW than in any other paper we ever read; and we know there are thousands of souls that are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, who would read them with joy.”
Notes of News.
—PAPER bricks are now being made in Wisconsin.
—A SINGLE property in California is half the size of Rhode Island.
—THE silver product of Nevada has fallen off $36,000,000 in two years.
—THE editor of the Bible Examiner, Eld. Geo. Storrs, died Dec. 28, 1879.
—THERE are 18 mission churches in China that are wholly self-sustaining.
—A DISPATCH from Vienna states that 20 villages on the banks of the Vistula are inundated.
—THE Philadelphia mint coins on an average $200,000 worth of eagles and half eagles daily.
—THE British government proposes to aid the sufferers in Ireland by a system of public works.
—THERE are one-third more German newspapers published in the United States than in the old country.
—THE famine in the Afghan province of Seistan is so severe that people are selling their children for food.
—FAMINES seem to be the order of the day. In Bosnia, 8,000 people are reported to be on the verge of starvation.
—IT would seem that teachers are needed in West Virginia, where, out of a population of 442,014, there are 81,490 illiterates.
—A CONSIDERABLE battle has recently been fought near Gusinje, in which the Montenegrins defeated the Albanians.
—LAST year the world's product of raw sugar amounted to 5,800,000,000 pounds, more than double that produced 25 years ago.
—THE miners of the West Virginia coal-mining districts are on a strike, and have inaugurated a reign of terror throughout that section of country.
—THE intense excitement in Maine over the recent election frauds has not yet subsided. The Republicans are confident of the strength of their cause.
—THERE are now 8 high schools for both sexes in 8 cities near the Harpoot station of the American Mission Board in Eastern Turkey, and 16 girl schools in Asia Minor.
—THERE are in the Fiji Islands 841 chapels and 291 other places where preaching is held, with 58 missionaries engaged in preparing the way for others. The membership numbers 23,274 persons.
—THE cotton crop of this country is this year larger by half a million bales than ever before; the sugar crop, by 12,000,000 pounds; the wheat yield, by 20,000,000 bushels; and the corn crop by 100,000,000 bushels.
—THERE are 675 colored schools in Virginia, taught by 415 colored teachers; 35,768 colored children are enrolled in the schools, of which number 21,231 are in average daily attendance. The schools during the past year cost $511,902.53.
—FROM a compilation given in the Inter-Ocean of Jan. 8, it appears that the total of all the national debts in the world amounts to over twenty-five billions and five hundred millions of dollars. The exact figures given are $25,531,138,211.
—TO the Roman Catholic population of Canada (1,846,800) there are 25 bishops, 1,599 priests, 1,617 churches, 18 seminaries, 40 colleges, 85 academies, 247 convents, 92 religious communities, 43 asylums, 34 hospitals, and 3,644 elementary schools.
—THERE are in the United States 50 places of worship where services are conducted in the sign language, for the benefit of the 30,000 deaf mutes in the country. They owe this blessing to the Church Mission to Deaf Mutes, of which the Rev. Thomas Callaudet, of New York City, is the founder.
—IN Upper Silesia over 100,000 people are destitute. The government contemplates the construction of two branch railway lines in Silesia. It is hoped that lasting improvements will be effected by means of extensive draining works, and the promotion of local industries.
—AT the Conference at Basle of the Evangelical Alliance, Prof. Christlieb read an essay on the Opium Traffic, in which the complication of Christian England in this nefarious business was severely censured. It has been translated into many of the European languages, and also into Chinese by the Chinese ambassador at Berlin.
—A SAD state of things was recently developed in London similar to that which has long existed here. One of its institutions advertised for a secretary at a salary of £300, for which there were over 300 applicants, two being members of Parliament, 25 clergymen, and 73 retired military and naval officers.
—PARNELL, the Irish agitator, has reached New York. He appeals for money, not only to relieve present distresses in Ireland, but for political organizations. Donations for the relief of the sufferers will be welcome, but the English object to gifts for political purposes, considering them purely mischievous. Many English noblemen are reducing their rents.
—IT used to be said that white men could never take the place of the blacks in our Southern cotton fields. Experience has shown the assertion to have no foundation in fact. Mr. Manning, of Mississippi, says that the facts he has collected justify the opinion that three-fifths of the crop of 1879 was produced by free white labor.
—A LETTER from Madagascar states that complications are being fomented by Jesuits with a view to induce the eventual intervention of France and its assumption of a protectorate of the island. “We hope,” says Le Journal du Protestantisme Français, “that the government of the republic will not be tempted to renew in Madagascar the deplorable errors which formerly brought trouble upon Tahiti.”
—WHEN the Emperor William received the news of the attempt on the life of the Czar, he became, it is said, very serious, and after remaining silent for some minutes, he said in a tone at once melancholy and energetic: “If we do not change the direction of our policy, if we do not think seriously of giving sound instruction to youth, if we do not give the first place to religion, if we only pretend to govern by expedients from day to day, our thrones will be overturned, and society will become a prey to the most terrible events. We have no more time to lose, and it will be a great misfortune if all the governments do not come to an accord in this salutary work of repression.”