The readers of the SIGNS will find a feast of information in the series of articles, entitled, "Life Sketches," by Elder James White, the first of which is presented in this week's issue. They will contain the leading incidents in the lives of Elder and Mrs. White, and consequently the more prominent features in the history of the Advent movement. We are printing a supply of extra copies of the SIGNS, in order to furnish back numbers to new subscribers and others desiring them.
Discussion at Vacaville.
By W. M. Healey
The discussion announced for the 26th opened at 10 o'clock A. M., we affirming the following proposition:—
"That the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is binding upon man, and not the first day of the week which we find Christians generally observing as a day of rest."
We showed that the decalogue was given by God as a guide, and is the only test of moral character, and its principles are binding everywhere that God has intelligent creatures. That it represents God's will, and is a transcript of his character, and every one of its precepts grow out of God's inherent attributes. That the fourth commandment is the only one that points out the true God, by showing that he is the one that created the heavens and the earth; and therefore had a right to command us to have "no other gods" or "worship images." He being our creator it is our duty to acknowledge it, which is done by keeping the fourth commandment. Having an hour's speech in the opening, we spent the time in thus showing the morality of all the ten commandments, their universal application and eternal duration.
Mr. Johnson followed, claiming the ten commandments to be a part of the old covenant, and that, with it, were all abolished, reading from Gal. 3, and Col. 2, to show that the law was abolished at the cross.
On the second day we showed that the ten commandments were a covenant commanded but not a covenant made; that the old covenant was made concerning the ten commandments, and was an agreement on the part of the people to do them. Ex. 19, 20, and 24. That the old covenant was ratified before God wrote the ten commandments. Ex. 24.
We also showed that the law done away was the ceremonial, which pointed forward to the cross, being simply a law regulating the typical system, which was a shadow of good things to come and the body (casting the shadow) was of Christ.
We managed upon the first day of the debate to draw out about all the argument that our opponent had to present from the Bible, and as we did not press him very hard upon any point he was perfectly reckless in his statements.
The following is a sample of the statements he made: "The ten commandments were all given over in the New Testament except the fourth one. Tell us why that was left out?"
We asked him where we could find them given. He said in Christ's sermon on the mount. Matt. 5. Of course we showed that they were not half there, and besides this was a sermon preached three years and a half before the crucifixion, and while they all admitted the old law to be binding. We then urged him to give us a commandment in the New Testament against image worship. We urged him upon this and many other equally presumptuous positions, and soon drove him from the Bible, when to fill up his time, he began to read from history to show that we ought to keep the first day of the week, making quotations from the "Epistle of Barnabas," and others, and misquoting other authors. We charged him with bringing forgeries for history, which he did not dare deny. Our opponent had indulged in slang and sarcasm which all reacted upon himself. We claimed three days upon this proposition, but Johnson said at the end of the second day he would not go on another day. I told him and his friends that if they had got enough they could back down, and putting it to vote nearly all his members voted to stop. There were many good points that were made against them which we have not time to notice in this report. Our people here are all well pleased with the result thus far, which cannot be said of the other side. God is giving us a victory. The Disciples claim that they have put forward the best man they have on this coast. There has been some fifteen ministers of different denominations in attendance, and from three to four hundred persons, many of whom are convinced that we have the truth.
December 30, 1877.
W. M. HEALEY.
Sabbath-Schools.
By James Edson White
PLEASE REPORT. Simply voting to join the California Sabbath-school Society of Seventh-day Adventists does not bring your school into membership. After voting to adopt the constitution as given in SIGNS No. 41, of Vol. 3, a report of such must be sent to the State secretary. See Art. VII of the constitution.
But four schools have reported, and they indirectly. All the schools which have voted to join the society should report immediately to Miss A. R. Canfield, Oakland, Cal.
J. E. White, State Supt.
APPOINTMENTS.
By John Norton Loughborough
PROVIDENCE permitting I will hold meetings with the churches in California as follows :—
MIDDLETOWN, Lake Co., January 5 and 6.
ST. HELENA, Tuesday, January 8. Business meeting 1 P. M. Preaching in the evening.
NAPA, Wednesday, January 9. Business meeting 1 P. M. Preaching in the evening.
VALLEJO, January 10. At 2 P. M. and in the evening.
WOODLAND, District Quarterly Meeting, January 12 and 13.
VACAVILLE, January 15 and 16.
OAKLAND, State Quarterly Meeting, January 19 and 20.
SACRAMENTO, Wednesday evening, January 23.
TEHAMA Co., where Brother Brorsen may appoint, January 26 and 27.
ST. CLAIR, Nevada, February 2 and 3, and as long as the interest may demand.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
District Quarterly Meetings.
THE quarterly meetings of the eight districts of California will all be held Sabbath and first-day, January 12 and 13, as follows :—
DISTRICT NO. 1, at Santa Rosa.
DISTRICT NO. 2, at Fairview, Fresno Co.
DISTRICT NO. 3, at St. Helena, Napa Co.
DISTRICT NO. 4, at San Pasqual, San Diego Co.
DISTRICT NO. 5, at Woodland, Yolo Co.
DISTRICT NO. 6, near Brother Himstreets, Tehama Co.
DISTRICT NO. 7, at Oakland.
DISTRICT NO. 8, at San Francisco.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.
By Editor
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The Atonement. J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
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The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts.
Christ in the Old Testament and the Sabbath in the New. James White. 10 cts.
The Saints' Inheritance, or the Earth made New. J. N. Loughborough. 10 cts.
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Sunday Seventh-day. A Refutation of Mede, Jennings, Akers and Fuller. J. N. A. 10 cts.
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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—Present Truth—The Sufferings of Christ—The Two Thrones—The Third Message of Rev. 14—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion.
Three-cent Tracts: Much in Little—The Lost Time Question—Argument on Sabbath—Infidel Cavils Considered—The End of the Wicked—Scripture Reference—Who Changed the Sabbath?—The First Message of Rev. 14.
Two-cent Tracts: Christ in the Old Testament—The Sabbath in the New Testament—The Old Moral Code of Ten Commandments not Revised—Definite Seventh Day—Seven Reasons for Sunday Keeping Examined—Elihu on the Sabbath—The Rich Man and Lazarus—The Sanctuary of the Bible—The Millennium—Departing and Being with Christ—Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists—The Judgment; or the Waymarks of Daniel to the Holy City—The Two Laws—Spirit of Prophecy—One Hundred Bible Facts.
One-cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Nahum's Chariots—The Perfection of the Ten Commandments—Coming of the Lord—Without Excuse—Which Day do you keep and Why?—Geology and the Bible—The Sleep of the Dead—The Sinner's Fate—Can we know?—Is the End Near?
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, OAKLAND, CAL.
The Cause at Vacaville.
By J. E. White
NOTWITHSTANDING the most obstinate opposition, the cause of present truth at Vacaville is in a prosperous condition. September 25, at the commencement of lectures by Brother Stephens there were about twenty Sabbath-keepers in the vicinity of Vacaville. On our arrival, December 26, to attend the discussion elsewhere noticed, we found that twelve had been added to their number and had signed the covenant. Many others seemed waiting the result of the discussion before making a final decision. Before the Sabbath question was concluded others had taken their stand, and at the time of leaving, December 31, the number was increased to at least twenty, and others deeply interested.
What added much to the interest of the meetings was the presence of Mrs. White, who arrived Friday noon, and spoke four times in the large Baptist college hall, thus occupying the time omitted in the discussion between Friday evening and Monday morning. This removed much prejudice.
Sabbath afternoon we organized one of the most interesting Sabbath-schools we have met in California. The membership of this school reaches over sixty, and will probably reach seventy or eighty. All seemed anxious to take hold of this work according to the plan adopted by the State Sabbath-school Society.
Brother Healey will remain after the discussion to follow up the good work begun. We look for good results from the work at Vacaville. J. E. WHITE.
Volume Four.
By Editor
WITH this number commences the fourth volume of the Signs of the Times. We print 10,000 copies of the first number in faith that the friends of the Signs will exert themselves to swell the list to these figures. We design to make the fourth volume exceed in interest either of the three that has gone before it. Our friends will not be disappointed. J. W.
Report of Meetings.
By James White
DECEMBER 22, we passed a blessed Sabbath with the church in Healdsburg. In the morning we spoke on baptism. We gave the same brief view of the subject which we have usually given at camp-meetings and on other occasions where many have followed their Lord in baptism. Mrs. W. followed with forcible remarks for about thirty minutes, and the Sabbath service closed with an excellent social meeting.
On first-day Brother Augustus W. Collins received the ordinance of baptism at our hands in the purest running water that it has ever been our pleasure "to go down into" with a candidate. As we raised him up out of the water he shouted to the praise of God. It was a good season. Elder I. D. Van Horn and the friends in Oregon who feel an interest in this dear brother who received his first impressions of duty at a tent-meeting in Portland, will be glad to learn that Brother Collins has been baptized, is a member of the Healdsburg church, and is for the time being, a member of our family.
Sabbath, December 29, we spoke again to the brethren at Healdsburg on the love of God, which is given in substance in this week's issue, under the caption God is Love. Mrs. W. was not with us. Duty called her to Vacaville. We hear good news from the discussion there being conducted by Elder Healey, S. D. Adventist, and Mr. Johnson, Disciple. The Disciples had secured a number of good speakers for evenings and first-day, and it was desired that Mrs. W. should be on the ground to speak Sabbath and first-day. We did design to attend the discussion and speak to the people, but bad roads and home duties seemed to forbid. We hope to see these brethren before long, and speak to them the word of God. J. W.