Earlier text: FINISHED WORKA BROTHER sends us an abstract of a discourse by W. B. Wright on Ex. 20 : 8, recently delivered in Boston, Mass., and reported in the Boston Herald. In it we find the puzzling change from Sabbath to Sunday summarily accounted for as follows :— “Our Lord abolished the fourth commandment exactly as he abolished the other nine; that is, as he destroys an acorn when he makes an oak. He touched the commandment, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ and it blossomed into, ‘Thou shalt not be angry.’ He touched the Jewish Sabbath, and it became the Christian Sunday.” This last blossom is certainly an anomaly in the floral world. We can well understand how the command, “Thou shalt not kill,” can receive so broad an application that it shall reach to the thoughts and intents of the heart, and prohibit even the feeling of anger; for the two are related: anger must precede murder; it is the very root of that terrible deed, and the injunction not to cherish anger must be broken before the murder can follow. This is the sixth commandment “magnified and made honorable,” the very work which the prophet said Christ should do in reference to the law. But how the Sabbath blossoms into Sunday, we do not understand. Is Sunday-keeping the root of Sabbath-keeping? Does Sabbath-keeping spring from it, as murder springs from anger? Must we transgress the Sunday before we can break the Sabbath? How did Christ “touch” the Sabbath in reference to the Sunday? He labored diligently to strip off from the Sabbath the abuses and superstitions which the Jews had heaped upon it, and show them what was in accordance with the Sabbath law; but of Sunday he said never a word. If he had somewhere said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; but I say unto you, Thou shalt keep the first day in the stead thereof; for God need no longer be remembered, and the creation is no longer worth commemorating. Therefore thou shalt keep another day, even the first day, for another purpose, namely, to commemorate my rising from the dead, in addition to baptism, which is given for the same purpose; because my work in redemption [the reader will pardon the length of this revised portion of the decalogue; we do not know how it could be complete and be any shorter] is to be greater than that of the Father in the creation, and therefore should be commemorated in the place of that. And although the work of redemption will by no means be completed on the first day when I shall rise from the dead, yet the observance of that day, instead of the Sabbath, will perhaps commemorate the work as well as anything can, before it is done!” The fourth commandment sets forth the Sabbatic institution, and the reason therefor; and if the Sunday is a corresponding institution for this dispensation, it should have been set forth, and the reason given for it, in some such language as above indicated. Then the controversy would forever have been settled; or, rather, it would never have arisen. Sunday would have been received everywhere in Christendom as a Sabbath of divine appointment. But this would not have been a “blossom” from the old stock; it would have been a new flower set out in new soil. The difficulty under which our friends labor in this matter is well illustrated by Christ’s parable of the new wine and old bottles, and the new cloth and old garment. The new will not unite with the old. If Mr. Wright still insists on advocating the Sunday institution, he must try his hand again in constructing a reason for it. Our advice to him, however, would be to abandon it to its inevitable fate; for Christ said, “Every plant which my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.” TRACT OFFICERS, PLEASE NOTICE.
By William C. White
We are near the end of the quarter, and each church and district should be ambitious to make as good a financial report as possible. Let each librarian take especial care to collect the little dues as well as the great ones. We have about 500 church T. and M. societies, and if each of these will put forth a special effort on April 6 to pay all dues, and if the sums, though small, are promptly forwarded to the district and State officers, it will place in the State treasuries thousands of dollars that are greatly needed to pay debts and purchase necessary publications. A REQUEST.
By A. S. Hutchins
Some of the secretaries and librarians in our T. and M. society have not a full supply of books for their use in doing business. It is necessary that you should have them, in order to do the business with convenience, and correctly. Each district secretary and each librarian should have a record book, periodical book, and journal. Now, will each of these officers who has not the books above named, which you should have, please let me know what ones you lack. If you cannot write me previous to April 10, please notify Miss M. L. Huntley, Battle Creek, Mich., which ones you need. Let us hear from you.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Irasburgh, Vt. BLANK REPORTS.
By Stephen Nelson Haskell
To secure more full reports from the tract and missionary societies, also a uniformity in the same, blanks for State and district secretaries have been prepared. These are designed to give a report of the labor performed, and to accompany written reports of quarterly meetings when forwarded to State secretaries, or to the office of publication. That these blanks may be used this quarter, we send a supply to each State and district secretary, and trust none will fail to make use of them. The librarians are also requested to use the blank prepared for them in making their reports to the district secretaries. S. N. HASKELL, Proc. Gen. T. and M. S. INDIANA TEXTS.
By S. H. Lane
We have already ordered one of the two tents which we wish to purchase for use in this Conference during the coming summer. We desire all in the State to aid in paying for these tents. Let the elder of each church introduce the matter at the quarterly meeting, April 5, 6, and secure money and pledges, and report immediately, either to Dr. Wm. Hill, Rochester, Ind., or to me at Battle Creek, Mich. Let all our scattered brethren and sisters report how much they can aid us. Send means as soon as possible, as we wish to pay for the tents soon. The King and the Stable Boy
A KING walking out one morning, met a lad at a stable door, and asked him, “Well, boy, what do you do? what do they pay you?” “I help in the stable,” replied the lad; “but I have nothing except victuals and clothes.” “Be content,” replied the king, “I have no more.” All that the richest possess beyond food, raiment, and habitation, they have but the keeping or the disposing, not the present enjoyment of. A plough-boy who thinks and feels correctly has enough to make him contented; and if a king have a discontented spirit, he will find some plea for indulging it.—Selected. CHRISTIANA, NORWAY.
By John G. Matteson
The storm of opposition has quieted some. The priests pray for us in the churches; and one went to Trondheim and preached against Adventism, thus calling the attention of the people there to our work. Some view our preaching in this city as a great calamity, which the Lord has suffered to come upon them on account of their sins. The majority of religious people are favorable to the idea that the coming of our Saviour may not be far distant, and some think this preaching may be the last message of mercy. Our work is now proclaimed all over the kingdom by the papers; and although our opponents have presented our faith as fanatical and entirely contrary to the Bible, yet they state that there is much ability and zeal on our side, and that we are able to present the Bible in such a way that it seems to sustain our faith. One Isaachsen, a Methodist editor and speaker, who has been educated in America, has written and lectured against us in a very personal and harsh way. He has been very determined to prove that we deny the divinity of Christ. His attacks in a public paper have been answered in the same paper, but his lectures I have had no opportunity to hear. Our friends thought best that I should request a public discussion. He tried to get around it. I presented the request before a large congregation, and afterward through the paper that has the largest circulation (14,000). He answered back and forth, and tried to say both yes and no. At last he came with a decided no. I then inquired through the paper for the followers of Luther. None have come forward; but they are becoming more careful about their attacks. I cannot get any large hall at present. This is too bad. Many people who would like to hear, have no chance. I am thankful for the help received, and promised by our brethren in America for the paper, Tidings of the Times. I shall be as saving as possible of every cent, and try hard, the Lord willing, to work for the establishing of a printing office in this place. Our brethren in America and in Northern Europe who are interested in the prosperity of this work, have now a good opportunity to assist by their prayers and means. May the Lord abundantly bless his truth here, and throughout the earth. Osterhausgaden 12, Christiana, Norway, Mar. 4. SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.
By John Norton Loughborough
Another busy week has passed since I reported. We have made some advancement in our work. One more took a stand with us last Sabbath, and others have promised to keep next Sabbath. A brother writes me from London that there is some stir on the Sabbath question there. One joined them last week, and they have many interesting cases of those who are reading and almost persuaded. The efforts of Bro. W. M. Jones and his associates are producing good fruit. This week we have received another pound ($5 00) from a party here, as a donation toward our new tent. Our congregations at our house increase, and the interest on the part of those who attend is deepening. On the last two Sunday afternoons the sessions of our Bible-class have been quite interesting. We shall soon start a Sabbath-school, as the children of those embracing the truth come in. Last week a brother in San Francisco who formerly resided in Southampton, sent me the names of about sixty persons of his acquaintance with whom he, with others, will open correspondence, sending them reading matter. May God bless the workers who shall strive with us to place the truth before the people of this vicinity, and all England. In response to calls from America, we have this week sent out over one hundred addresses for V. M. workers to use in connection with their distribution of Signs. Two or three parties in America have sent us Signs, so that with the thirty copies we take ourselves we now have about fifty copies a week. If we erect a tent, we could use nearly that number each day. We shall do the best we can, and increase our facilities for labor as circumstances demand. We have already a number of subscribers for the Signs and the weekly Instructor, who pay by the week. That is the mode of “taking in” papers here, especially with those of moderate means. One sister who has lately embraced the Sabbath expresses her thankfulness for the opening of the mission here in the following lines, which were accompanied with a donation of 4s. ($1.00) from her scanty purse:— “ Far across the mighty deep
God’s faithful servants came,
From the New World to the Old,
Glad tidings to proclaim;
“ To found a mission for the truth;
God grant that it may be
Sustained of Heaven, and fruit appear
Throughout eternity.
“ May those who hear, not idle stand,
But cast the seed abroad,
And lend a faithful, helping hand
In bringing souls to God.
“ And may there be a harvest rich
Yet found on English soil;
God bless the missionaries in
Their ardent, earnest toil.
“ Oh! may this glorious truth extend,
With conquest, through the land,
And Sabbath-keepers soon appear,
A strong and numerous band.
“ We thank our friends with one consent,
Beyond the rolling sea,
For sending help to lead us forth
To light and liberty.
“L. O. NEILL.” Our motto is, “Onward, and no room for discouragement for those who humbly labor in God’s cause.” Paul says, “Ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:58. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. Dallas, Denison, and Plano.—The lectures of Bro. and Sr. White at Dallas, in December last, were received so well that some of the prominent citizens extended an invitation to them, through the Herald, to return to their city and speak again on the great subjects of religious and moral reform. This they accepted through the same paper, promising them a series of lectures as soon as the large tent could be pitched in the early spring. The first week in March the tent was pitched, and the lectures commenced Sunday, the 9th, with a good audience at 3 P. M., and in the evening the tent was filled with interested hearers. They remained over the following Sunday, speaking, when the weather would permit, during the week. A heavy rain storm and a severe “norther” greatly disturbed the meetings, and paralyzed the interest. But the truth was presented in its usual force, and good must result from the effort. Many seemed highly pleased with what they heard, and expressed regret that Bro. and Sr. White could not stay longer. Wednesday, the 19th, we left Dallas with five loaded teams for Denison, a distance of seventy-five miles, Bro. and Sr. White leading the van. After camping two nights on the way, we arrived Friday P. M. On Sunday the large tent was pitched in the city park, and Bro. and Sr. White each spoke to good audiences the same day. Quite an interest is manifested on the part of the citizens of the place, to hear the servants of God who have been in their midst during the past few months. Should the interest prove to be general and permanent, we now hope to round off the meetings with a full course of lectures on the reasons of our faith and hope. We anxiously await the arrival of Bro. Corliss to help us on with the good work. Sabbath and Sunday I met with the little company at Plano. They are all firm in the faith, and growing in the knowledge of the truth. Our meetings were held in the vacant dining-hall of a hotel, fitted up for the occasion. All the brethren and sisters and many others were present at each meeting, and the word spoken found a ready response in their hearts. About two hundred were present at the last meeting. Organized S. B., all but one uniting together on the tithing plan so plainly revealed in the Bible. A move was made for the erection of a meeting-house. The brethren are anxious to engage in the enterprise, and by the expression taken at the close of our meeting, I am confident that quite a number not of our faith would esteem it a privilege to assist with their means. If the popular churches did not act the part of the “dog in the manger,” our people, and those who are friendly, would not so readily see the necessity and importance of having a meeting-house of our own. But the wrath of man will praise the Lord. R. M. KILGORE. KENTUCKY
By J. T. Crockett
Mt. Salem, Lincoln Co.—Since the middle of January I have been lecturing here every other Sabbath and Sunday, and sometimes oftener. The next week after I began to lecture here, Mr. N. B. Hamblin, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, offered some opposition on the subject of the immortality of the soul. He next commenced to ridicule the idea of the seventh-day Sabbath. Mr. H. continued to attend my meetings, and for a while opposed the truth very bitterly; but he soon acknowledged that he was on “new ground.” He held to the seventh part-of-time theory, and advanced no new arguments at all. I have only heard of one person agreeing with him. After Mr. Hamblin left, Mr. Linthicum, a Baptist, the superintendent of the Sunday-school here, took up the opposition side, and said he differed from both views which were presented. He said he was a “Protestant;” he “protested against the law of Moses.” He was not under the law; all the commandments were abolished, and in their stead Christ gave two commands, viz. to love God and to love our neighbor, so the Sabbath commandment was gone. I replied by calling attention to the two laws, showing their differences, then showing how Christ and the apostles taught the perpetuity of the ten commandments. I then read 1 John 2:3, 4, simply remarking that I did not wish to be of the class there spoken of, who “keep not his commandments.” Thus far the truth has gained the victory. To the Lord be all the praise. Last Sunday, two expressed themselves (by rising to their feet) fully convinced that the seventh day is the Sabbath. Twelve others (in the same manner) expressed themselves not fully satisfied, but investigating. Pray for us here, that the Lord may work mightily, convincing and converting. INTERESTING EXTRACTS.
By Mrs. Wm. H. Brown
We lately received a letter from a gentleman in North Carolina who had procured my address through the columns of the REVIEW. I referred to some persons in his own State to whom I had been sending reading matter. He desired me to send him the addresses in full. We have done so, and also sent, according to his request, some of our own works, papers, etc. He says:— “I indorse the doctrine S. D. Adventists hold, and consider it present truth. I was convinced about a year ago that the seventh day is God’s holy Sabbath. The two resurrections are subjects I love dearly. The destruction of the wicked I indorse also. I have for some months past been111 promulgating these truths, and, as a result, we have a company of seven Sabbath-keepers, besides children from thirteen years of age down to smaller ones. Let us give God all the glory. We are meeting with great opposition, and have been excluded from the Baptist church, because we are teaching doctrines contrary to Baptist discipline. We mean to organize a Sabbath-school, and do all the good we can; for the time to work is short.” We intend to send him a few copies of the Instructor to use in this school. Thus the good work moves on. Truly we have reason to praise God for the T. and M. enterprise, and that we are permitted to bear some humble part in it. By engaging in this work we have already obtained an experience that is of great value to us. We would not exchange it for this world and its pleasures; for in a little while the world will pass away, but he that doeth the will of God will abide forever. Of late we have been praying earnestly to know the will of God; we feel assured that he has imparted unto us a measure of light; and we are fully determined to walk humbly in this light, and thereby be of that number who are doers of the word, and not hearers only. CAREFUL AND NEEDFUL.
By S. M. Spicer.
Martha, Martha, thou art careful,
Many things engross thy heart;
Dost thou know the one thing needful?
Wilt thou choose the better part? Thou’rt kindly careful, loving, thoughtful,
Seeking varied cares to meet;
Thou dost lose the moments precious,
Low to sit at Jesus’ feet. One thing needful he would teach thee,
Pearl of greatest price to seek;
Eagerly doth Mary listen,
Precious truths we hear him speak! Seeking first the heavenly kingdom,
All else needful thou shalt find;
Be earth’s treasures, its ambitions,
All its needless cares resigned. Anxious cares, how oft they press us,
Choking growth of precious seed!
Hindering still the promised blessing
Which our souls so sadly need! Many Marthas, over-careful,
Still pursue life’s toilsome way,
Busy, anxious, worn, and weary,
With no time to rest or pray; None to seek the one thing needful,
Hope of Heaven when life is o’er,
And our hold on earth is broken,—
Treasures on the heavenly shore. ILLINOIS
By D. T. Bourdeau
Pittwood and Martintown.—At least twenty-five persons have embraced the message in these places. Some have moved away, yet we have organized a Sabbath-school, and a systematic-benevolence pledge has been made. Bro. R. F. Andrews has been with me the past two days, and is taking hold of the American branch of the work in good earnest. To-day he has baptized ten persons, nine of whom are French. D. T. BOURDEAU. Wakeman.—Since my last report, two more persons have heartily accepted the truth. We shall hold a few meetings in a school-house in the country, and then close the work here for the present. H. A. ST. JOHN. Belleville, March 26.—It is one week since we came here. Bro. Bigelow had the meetings well advertised, and had spoken several times. Storms and other hindering causes have prevented us from having a good hearing, yet we hope to see some new ones gathered in, and the cause built up here. A. O. BURRELL. NEBRASKA
By CHAS. L. BOYD.
Eagle, Cass Co., March 25.—Four weeks ago Brn. Hackworth and Williams came to this place, and commenced a series of meetings. Two weeks ago I joined them. The Lord has blessed the labors, and the good seed sown has been springing up. Seventeen have signed the covenant. I remain for a time. Brethren and sisters, pray for the reapers, and thus be co-laborers in the great harvest field.
CHAS. L. BOYD. MISSOURY
By GEO. L. BUTLER
Salisbury, March 25.—Our meetings have been in progress over five weeks, and yet we dare not leave. We have had a good, healthy interest all the time, and have yet. Last Sunday our congregations were as large as at any time since we came, and there is as much stir in the community as ever. The town has been stirred more than ever before; all admit this. For a month our meetings were in the Baptist church. Soon after we began the lectures, the minister attacked us one night after the discourse, and said we had “wilfully misrepresented.” He said a child ought to know that the word Sabbath did not mean rest, but meant seventh, and made other statements about as sensible. He was in a state of excitement. He acted so supremely foolish that he hurt his own cause very much, and his own members were ashamed of him. After this he went away, and left us in quiet possession of the field; but he returned at the end of a month, and made a savage attack upon us in his discourses on Sunday. He called us “semi-infidels,” “false teachers,” “teachers of doctrines of devils,” etc., and promised to take up the Sabbath question. He stated that he would commence to prepare a series of discourses upon the Sabbath. He evidently proposes to put this off till we go away. He got us shut out of the church, so we have since used a hall. Meantime the people have become very impatient for the “other side.” Two men have already been off on the railroad to find some champion to defend the cause, but failed. The hope now is to get the famous Methodist debater, Mr. Deitzler, perhaps as famous as any in the West. He speaks within seven miles of us here next Sunday, and a committee will wait upon him to secure his services. The Methodist minister is confident he will come to their relief by next Monday. We hope so. We want them to hear the “other side” as much as anybody; for many cannot be got any further, apparently, till they do hear it. So we keep pouring the truth into them, till they get help. Quite a number are keeping the Sabbath, and many more are almost persuaded. We had a good Sabbath meeting last Sabbath. Several spoke, and the Lord’s Spirit was with us. Have sold over $20.00 worth of books. Bro. Hollenbeck has been with me for two weeks, and helps much in the music and other ways. About $20 has been raised by donations. It seems to require a tremendous effort to get the people to take a stand; but our faith is, we shall have a church in Salisbury. Pray for us that God will help us. GEO. L. BUTLER. Finlay, March 24.— Since my last writing, one more family have embraced the Sabbath. They had but just come into the territory, had made no profession of religion before, and heard but one discourse before deciding to obey the present truth. Their testimony in meeting last Sabbath was very decided, and borne with much feeling. Seventeen have signed the covenant, and the majority of these had made no profession of religion before our meetings. The Sabbath-school, numbering over twenty, is in working order, having a club of ten weekly instructors, register, class records, penny box, etc. Held our last meeting with them for the present last evening; it was full and interesting. River Sioux, Harrison Co., March. 27.—My meetings near my home in Onawa have closed. When they commenced there were only four Sabbath-keepers here living near enough together to hold meetings; now there are fourteen. Four came out of the Congregationalist church; one of them was their Sunday-school superintendent. Some of my children have taken hold of the truth, among whom are my son-in-law and his wife. We trust this young man may do much good. I am now at River Sioux. I am speaking on the Sabbath question. The excitement is great, and many are deciding that we have the truth. There is strong opposition; the preacher says he does not “go anything on religious tramps.” Thirty-three attended our meeting last Sabbath. We had a good meeting; the Lord was with us by his Spirit. Next Sabbath we expect the Onawa church to meet with us. March 8 and 9 I met with the little company at Modale. We had a melting season on the Sabbath. The Spirit of God was manifest in power. A sister who came out on the truth when the tent was here a year ago last summer is now happy to see her husband with her in the faith. They are old Methodists, having belonged to that church for over forty years. Jewell Center, Jewell Co., March 24.—The 16th I commenced meetings six miles north of Jewell Center in a Christian (Campbellite) meeting-house, with a good congregation. The house was locked against me after a time; but as four other places were offered me, I staid. I have just commenced on the Sabbath question. One family is observing the seventh day, and several families have acknowledged it ought to be kept; among them are the families of the elder and deacon of the church. GEO. H. SMITH. The Superintendent of the Sabbath-school at Otsego, Mich., writes as follows in reply to a letter on S. S. work:— I am glad to say that our school is doing well; there is a deep interest manifested by both old and young, and also by those that visit the school. Some have said that ours was the best Sabbath-school they ever attended. This is owing largely to the plan on which we work, viz., the one recommended at our last camp-meeting. I believe the Lord is pleased with this work, and that we have his blessing. We do not have Instructors enough to satisfy the children. We take twenty-five copies, and have enough for one paper in each family; but every child wants a paper of his own. When I distribute the papers, it seems hard to pass by some of them without giving them a paper, when I know they want one. Some of our children are becoming missionaries. When they get through with their papers, they send them to their friends in different places. May God bless them. We have all the books that you recommend, and we like them very much. We have also adopted the penny contribution, and it works well. —Gen. T. W. Sherman died March 16. —A lively little revolution is in progress in Mexico. —Complete anarchy prevails in Mandelay, Burmah. —A fresh case of the plague is reported from Russia. —Utah, with a population of 130,000, is knocking for admission into the Union. —A Russian countess has been arrested for sympathizing with the Nihilists. —Chicago has a Chinese school of twenty-six scholars, with a teacher for each. —A French ironclad sunk March 21, off Hyeres; 47 men were drowned, out of a crew of 122. —A recent fire in Akyab, Farther India, rendered 1,000 people homeless. —The Presse, of Vienna, states that 7,000 men have risen in insurrection in Macedonia. —Upward of 100 arrests have been made in Moscow in consequence of the assassination of a government spy. —There is a little misunderstanding between Turkey and Greece, and the Turks are making warlike preparations. —There is in Boston a Chinese Sunday-school, under the supervision of two missionaries, who are assisted by volunteer teachers. —Rev. W. McAll, whose work among the workmen in Paris has been so successful, is urged to commence a branch mission in Toulouse. —The 22d of March was Emperor William’s 82d birthday. The occasion was celebrated by a banquet given by the German residents of Berlin. —The poet Cowper is to have a memorial church built in his honor at Olney, Eng. His only monument now is a memorial window at Barkhampstead. —Connecticut proposes to register the drinks of its thirsty citizens by the bell punch, a bill to the effect having passed the lower House of the Legislature. —An international exhibition is announced for next year in the City of Mexico. It is to be opened on January 14, if no revolution happens to be in progress at that time. —The French Minister of Finance, Leon Say, has been able to clear himself from the charges recently brought against him. There is quiet in France again. —The opening of T. De Witt Talmage’s trial in Brooklyn on the 24th of March was attended with considerable excitement. Talmage has bitter enemies and warm friends. —A few days ago, a prairie fire occurred in Lincoln Co., Kan. A little boy 12 years of age perished in the flames, and two men were so badly burned that they died in a few hours. —The celebration of St. Patrick’s day in Belfast, Ireland, March 17, was attended with riots, in which several persons were wounded. There was great excitement. —Fears are entertained that there will be a still greater loss of life by the floods in Hungary. Renewed floods have covered 12,000 acres of land which had already been sown. —On time,—a North Carolinian who has sent a $1000 Confederate note to Secretary Sherman, requesting him to put it on file for redemption at some future day. —A submarine cable is to be laid to South Africa, connecting England with the whole Eastern system of telegraphy, extending to India, China, and Australia. —29,000 spinners and weavers have sent a deputation to Paris to represent to the government the destitution in consequence of the reduction of wages, and, in some cases, the complete stoppage of work. —The town of Minah, in Persia, was much damaged by an earthquake which occurred March 22 and 23, and two adjacent villages were totally destroyed. Out of 1,100 inhabitants, only a few escaped death. —Terrible reports come of the sufferings of the fugitives from Bosnia, who have been driven back in the past winter to their devastated country, and are dying by hundreds and thousands from hunger and exposure. —The distress for food among the Jews in Jerusalem, owing to a protracted drought, still continues. There is also apprehension that the locusts, that have come in enormous flights from the Jordan, may destroy the spring crops. —The British have gained another victory in Afghanistan. General Kaufman says that “as regards any plans that may have been entertained by Russia with respect to Afghanistan, they have, for the present, been given up.” —A saddening glimpse behind the scenes in the homes of the Gloucester (Mass.) fishermen is given in the announcement that the thirteen vessels lost in the gale last month carried 143 men, who, if lost, will leave 53 widows and 137 orphans. —Some unknown party has destroyed a great portion of the monuments and tombstones in Evansville, Wis., by chipping them with a sharp instrument. The inhabitants are indignant, and will endeavor to ferret out the guilty ones. —The subject of an autonomous government for Alsace and Lorraine is up for discussion in the German Reichstag. Bismarck expresses himself willing to grant these provinces the highest measure of independence consistent with the safety of the empire. —The Christian Union asks: “Who will invent an undecipherable cipher for political use in the coming presidential contest? It must be capable of transmission by telegraph and telephone, and must be susceptible of at least three different interpretations, all of which shall be correct.” —A dispatch dated London, March 26, says that the famine in Upper Egypt causes terrible suffering. In some villages, the people, naked like wild beasts, dig for roots. In one town women and children fought over scraps of bread. The inhabitants of the inland villages are said to be starving like dogs. —The forthcoming Baptist Year for 1879 will show that the total number of baptisms for 1878 was 102,736; and that the total number of members in the Baptist churches is 2,102,034, being an increase of nearly 78,000 on the preceding year. Complete reports from all the associations in the United States would, no doubt, increase these figures. —A telegraph has been invented by an English mechanical engineer. A writer in London moves his pen, and simultaneously at Brighton another pen is moved in precisely similar curves and motions. The writer writes in London, the ink marks in Brighton. The pen at the receiving end has all the appearance of being guided by a spirit hand. The apparatus is shortly to be made public before the Society of Telegraph Engineers. —One more discovery in telegraphy! The Boston Post announces that the American Cable Company of New York has closed a contract which gives it the exclusive right to an invention by means of which it can send twenty messages of ten words each, per minute, and at a moderate expense telegraph the entire contents of a newspaper, so that it can be published simultaneously everywhere. There, now, is a chance for journalistic enterprise. —St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, is rapidly approaching completion, and it is expected that everything will be in readiness for the dedication, which will take place May 25, and in which it is expected that representatives of the Roman Catholic Church from all quarters of the United States and Canada will participate. The main altar at the east end of the cathedral will have a central spire fifty feet in height, and the reredos will be thirty-two feet wide. In the cardinal’s throne the material employed is English oak, richly carved; and in the reredos, marble from Italy and France, where it has been preparing. It is estimated that the cost of the altars will be about $100,000. —It was a notable occasion which brought together the representatives of the Catholic press throughout the world to Rome to pay their homage to the pope. Seven hundred journalists were present, representing Italy, France, Spain, Austria, America, etc. It was a gala-day—February 22—many cardinals, archbishops, and bishops being present. Leo XIII. delivered an elaborate address, in which he counseled “a moderate tone of writing, which does not offend readers by an excessive or inopportune acerbity of style.” The most striking passage of the address, however, was that in which the pope avowed his determination to contend unflinchingly for the restoration of his temporal power. “The Roman pontiffs,” said he, “have ever felt it their sacred duty to defend this civil sovereignty from violation or disturbance, and to preserve intact the sacred rights of the Church of Rome; and we ourselves, following the example of our predecessors, have not failed, nor will we ever fail, to assert and vindicate those rights.” This gathering of journalists shows a purpose to unite them in the common advocacy of a papal policy, and to influence and guide them from the Vatican. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth.” Rev. 14:13. Miller.—Died of consumption, in Clay Co., Dakota, Bro. H. C. Miller, aged 42 years, 2 months, and 9 days. Bro. M. embraced the truth eleven years ago, at Raymond, Wis., under the labors of Bro. Matteson. He has since been a firm believer in the truth, and was looking for the near advent of Christ. He leaves a wife and seven children. Funeral discourse to a large and sympathizing congregation from 1 Thess. 4:16. M. M. Olsen. Brackett.—Died in Convis, Mich., March 21, Clyde, infant son of C. H. and L. E. Brackett. Funeral services March 23, participated in by a large circle of sympathizing friends and neighbors.
Cease, stricken mother, thy sorrow and weeping;
Though death, cruel foe, plucks the flower from thy hand,
The lost one now sweetly in Jesus is sleeping,
And will soon be released from the enemy’s land.
W. O. G. French.—Died in Plainfield, Wis., Jan. 1, 1879. Sister Mary A. French, aged 42 years. Sister French was a consistent and exemplary member of the Plainfield church. She enjoyed the confidence and love of all her neighbors. We miss her much. She leaves a husband and seven children. Discourse by Eld. Palmer (Baptist). Abram Kisner. Lowery.—Died of consumption, at Woodburn, Iowa, March 19, 1879, our dear sister, Maggie Lowery, aged 25 years. She leaves evidence of a hope in the better resurrection. The husband mourns the loss of a kind and affectionate wife, the brothers a devoted sister, the church a faithful and consistent member. Words of comfort and consolation were spoken to a large and sympathizing audience from 1 Cor. 15:26. J. H. Morrison. Goodrich.—Died of pneumonia, at Warren, Madison Co., Neb., March 14, 1879, Edwin, only child of O. P. and Matilda Goodrich. Words of comfort by M. Dugan. C. A. Just.