A sixteen-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel; with Departments devoted to Health and Temperance, The Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
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Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
Twelfth and Castro Sts., OAKLAND, CAL. U. S. A.
News from the Australian Laborers
By Editor
The last Australian steamer brought meager news from the laborers there, owing to the fact that it sailed a little sooner than was expected. A brief note from Elder Daniells states that the church in Auckland now occupy their own house of worship, and that a missionary society of forty members has been organized.
Subscriptions to the American Sentinel
By Editor
SUBSCRIPTIONS to the American Sentinel are now coming in in a way to delight the hearts, not only of the publishers, but of all who believe that the Sentinel has an important work to do. Every mail brings in scores, and some hundreds of subscriptions. That it does occupy a position second to none in importance is conceded by all who are awake to the issues of the day. Let its friends rally to its support.
National Reform Government in a Nutshell
By Editor
ONE of the main points in a recent address delivered by George W. Cable, in Nashville, Tenn., was that "the ideal government must be by a minority, elected by the majority, whose will is to be appealed to frequently, administered in harmony with the higher law of God." Of course it is understood that the majority are to decide what is in harmony with that higher law of God; and there you have National Reform government in a nutshell.
Spiritualists and Infidels
By Editor
The Truth Seeker, which is the inappropriate name of the chief infidel organ in this country, has a correspondent who has been studying Spiritualism in Boston. As the result of his investigations he reports that all the Spiritualists are infidels, but that not all infidels are Spiritualists. He is undoubtedly correct, but if he should make his investigations a few years from now he would have to change the last part of his report, for all the infidels will then be Spiritualists. But they will still be infidels.
The Euphemisms of Stealing
By Editor
QUITE a stir has been made of late over the charge that Canon Fleming, of the Church of England, had appropriated one of Dr. Talmage's sermons, and had preached it as his own. The Canon now admits the deed, and confesses that he was guilty of an "inadvertance." This is the latest euphemism for stealing. What with "defalcations," "shortages," "failures," "appropriations," "inadvertances," etc., we shall soon have no such thing as stealing. Then will all the world be honest! But it will be honesty that will correspond to the chastity of the ancient Spartans, among whom, we are told, it was impossible to find an adulterer, and that they knew not what the name adultery meant. This, however, was solely because what is now universally known as adultery was exceedingly common, and was sanctioned by law. This seeking to relieve a thing of the odium attached to it, by changing its name, is indirectly encouraged by those who think to avoid the imputation of breaking the fourth commandment, by calling the first day of the week the seventh.
The Tithe Question in Wales
By Editor
THE tithe question is making no small stir in Wales. The case stands thus: The Church of England being a State church, derives its income from the country, just the same as the general Government. The tithe is the tax which the church imposes for the support of its ministers. Now many of the farmers of Wales are dissenters, and while they may be willing to give even more than a tithe for the support of the gospel, they do not wish to be forced to pay, nor to pay tithe at all for a religious establishment with which they have no sympathy. Accordingly the English Government proceeds to sell their property for delinquent church taxes, and the farmers rebel. The same thing would be done in this country if the National Reformers had their scheme in running order. Everybody, Jew, Gentile, and Christian, would be compelled to pay for the support of the ministers of the State religion, just as they now have to pay for the support of the civil Government. While all men ought to help support the Government which protects them, no man ought to be compelled to contribute for the support of any religion. And the injustice is increased when the support is demanded of one who is not in sympathy with the ecclesiastical establishment. But justice in any particular is not to be expected when religion is made a matter of politics.