Earlier text: THIS DO AND THOU SHALT LIVE.THE GOSPEL FOR THE TIME.
By Professor Taylor
I KNOW it is said that the gospel is not adapted to the nineteenth century. Men are different now from what they were. Yes, they may be different externally, but essentially they are the same. What man was, man is. What man needed, he needs still. In problems of the sciences, much is gained by assuming the uniformity of the laws of nature. In problems of the soul, much will be gained by you by assuming the uniformity of the laws of human nature. No, the gospel is not adapted to the nineteenth century. It wasn't adapted to any century. It wasn't intended to be. It was intended that the nineteenth century should be adapted to the gospel. Your work is not to make the truths of the Bible fit into all the crooks and crevices of the lives and beliefs of men. You are to stamp, not overlay; to coin, not gild. You are to apply the teachings of Christ with such force to the hearts and lives of men that their hearts will ever after bear the impress of the image of Jesus Christ, and their lives be conformed to his will. There are peculiarities of the times that will require special methods of delivering the truth, not special truth. You may have to leave the pulpit and stand at the door, or on the street corner, in order to preach to men. But when you preach, preach the truth.—Professor Taylor. HEARTY trust in the Most High is desirable every way. It yields sweetness to the soul, and efficiency to the life. The believers are the doers, and the doers are always happy. Vigorous Christianity is healthful Christianity, and no Christianity is vigorous without faith. If you doubt the success of a scheme, half your heart is taken out of your effort to accomplish it. Get your faith strong, and your arm will be powerful to strike hard blows for God. God will help you, too. According to your faith be it unto you. The normal condition of the Christian mind is that of unfaltering trust. Doubt is unchristian; it does not spring from religious experience, but from the want of it. The nearer you are to God, the more fully will you believe in him. Place your own throbbing heart against his, until the intimate pulsations bring you into closest sympathy, and until you can almost audibly hear the comforting whispers of your divine Friend, and your doubts and fears will all vanish like ice and snow before the face of the summer sun. We follow Christ at too great a distance. The enemy steps in betwixt us and him. Quicken your religious pace. Get so near the compassionate Redeemer that none can come between you. The church needs more loving Johns who will keep ever near and lay their heads confidingly upon the bosom of Jesus and show how our divine Lord is equal to the task of befriending a world. "I have called you friends." This friendship is never exhausted, and it never changes. Let us rely upon it. Trusting in this succor, let us venture greater things in our private and public work for Him whom we serve.—Selected. God even seems to break them sometimes that they may become truly useful. At least he can use broken lives in his service just as well as the whole ones; indeed, it often appears as if men can never do much for God till they are "broken vessels." He chooses the weak things of this world that no flesh may glory. We ought, therefore, never to be afraid of God's providences when they seem to break up our lives and crush our hopes, and even to turn us away from our chosen paths of usefulness and service. God knows what he wants to do with us, how he can best use us, and where and in what lines of ministry he would have us serve. When he shuts one door it is because he has another standing open for our feet. When he breaks our lives to pieces it is because they will do more for his glory and the world's good broken and shattered than whole.—Presbyterian. THE TWIN GRACES.
By Central Christian Advocate
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS and sincerity are of inestimable value in every relation of life, but they give a peculiar splendor to Christian character. These virtues spring out of a sensitive nature, conscious of its own dignity and worth, and no less regardful of the rights and privileges of all men in every relation of life. This high breeding, which teaches one to respect others as well as one's self, seems to have its roots in the commandment to do unto others as we wish they should do unto us, and it has its rewards. But it is never perfect until it joins to it the greater commandment that enjoins larger, even perfect, love to God; for it is then purified of all selfishness. In religion we ask for entire sincerity, for the very notion of spiritual religion is exclusive of all deception and hypocrisy. And it is the same in regard to conscientiousness. The awakened and renewed soul can no longer suffer itself to drift aimlessly or yield to currents of worldliness; it has begun to live unto God, and to live as in the immediate presence of God.—Central Christian Advocate. A VIGOROUS PROTEST.
By Theodore L. Cuyler
SOME able and excellent women—chiefly among the class who appear on public platforms—do indeed favor the project of loading their own sex with the burdens of political citizenship and civil government. But they are a very small minority. Horace Greeley once said to me very wisely: "I will be more inclined to grant the ballot and all its attendant responsibilities to the female sex when a large majority of the thoughtful, cultivated, and conscientious women of the land really want the ballot. But I do not yet discover that they do want it." He was right. Four-fifths of the most sensible women of America are utterly opposed to the imposition of the burdens of political duties upon their shoulders. Woman's empire is wide enough already, her burdens heavy enough. It would be the meanest and most skulking cowardice on the part of the men to call upon woman to bear and train every child, to regulate every home, to educate the human race, and then, in addition to these vital and exacting offices, to turn to and pry out of the mire the vehicle of civil government which their masculine incompetence had capsized! Shame on such poltroonery!—T. L. Cuyler. THERE are many religious speculations that are very interesting and entertaining, but at the same time very unprofitable. What men need to know, and what they should desire above everything else to know about religion, is of a practical character—that which bears directly on their present and everlasting salvation. There are mysteries everywhere, pertaining to the great First Cause, the origin of the universe, ourselves, and the operations of nature around us, which we would love to grasp, but which are beyond our reach, and which perhaps we will never be able fully to comprehend. It is natural for us to desire to penetrate these mysteries and to discover the great secrets of God and nature. But why should we amuse ourselves with vain conjectures about things above our capacity, and which have no direct bearing upon our true happiness, while the great practical truths of religion, pertaining to the every-day duties of life, and involving our highest interests here and hereafter, are neglected? Anyone who will attentively read the New Testament will discover that the religion inculcated by Jesus Christ is not a speculative religion, but a religion founded on facts, pertaining to the condition of the soul, the practical duties of life, our relation to God, and our future destiny as determined by our conduct here. These are the things that immediately concern us, and to which we should give earnest attention. Experimental, practical religion is the only kind of religion that is of real value to us, and this, instead of abstract speculations, should occupy our chief thought.—Selected. THE giving of gifts when death stands ready to take all from us is not the keenest test of true nobility of character and warmth of heart. Gifts distributed by a willing hand under the impulse of a heart that throbs healthfully in the enjoyment of the act of giving, carry with them the true aroma of brotherhood and universal love.—The Milwaukee Wisconsin. Neglected Calumny
By Tacitus
NEGLECTED calumny soon expires; show that you are hurt, and you give it the appearance of truth.—Tacitus. ROMAN CATHOLICS AND THE SCHOOLS.
THE Roman Catholics of the Northwest appear to be making a carefully planned war upon the public-school system, and they are meeting with enough success in isolated cases to arouse general interest in the question. In one district of the town of Barton, Wis., the Catholics rallied in force at the annual meeting last year, and carried a resolution that no public school should be maintained during the year, and none was held. This year the contest was renewed, but the Catholics took advantage of the new law giving women the right to vote at school elections, to bring out all their women, and carried the same resolution again. At Melrose, Minn., the Catholic priests engineered a movement to shorten the school year of the public schools, in order to compel children to attend a parochial school. Throughout Stearns County, Minn., the Roman catechism is said to be taught openly in the public schools, and either the opening or the closing hours of the session are devoted to religious instruction given by the priests, all this being in direct violation of the State constitution, and especially of an amendment adopted in 1877 to meet this very condition. Most of this work has been done so quietly as not to attract wide attention, but the evidences of a determined assault upon the public-school system are now so clear that its friends are becoming aroused to the necessity of action.—New York Evening Post. "SELL that ye have, and give alms." GENERAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.
THE General Conference has now (Thursday evening, November 17) been five days in session, and the interest has been steadily increasing. There have been six meetings of the Conference, one of the International Sabbath-school Association, one of the Health and Temperance Association, one of the Health Reform Institute Association, and one of the Educational Society. An outline of the work transacted and the measures proposed is here given. After the organization of the Conference, the Norway Conference made request through Elder O. A. Olsen to be received into the General Conference. There are four churches in Norway, containing 205 members in all, with forty Sabbath-keepers who are not yet connected with any church. Elder Olsen gave an interesting account of the work in Norway. On recommendation of Elder Underwood, the West Virginia Conference, with 5 churches and upwards of 150 members, was received into the Conference. The President then made an extended address, outlining the progress of the work during the past year, and suggesting matters for action at this session of the Conference. He stated that the paper in the Dutch language was started in February, in accordance with the vote taken at the last session of the Conference, and has met with remarkable success, having already upwards of 2,600 paying subscribers. Calls for reading matter are coming in from the Dutch in various parts of the world. Following the address, the President named the standing committees as follows:— Nominations—J. Fargo, J. B. Goodrich, J. Fulton.
Resolutions—U. Smith, W. C. White, O. A. Olsen.
Auditing—A. R. Henry, D. T. Jones, H. W. Decker, J. H. Morrison, H. W. Miller, J. W. Raymond.
Credentials and Licenses—R. A. Underwood, R. M. Kilgore, S. H. Lane.
Religious Services—J. N. Loughborough, L. McCoy, William Ostrander. On motion of Elder Underwood, it was voted that a committee of nine be appointed to consider the week of prayer and holiday gifts, the president to be chairman of the committee. The committee was named as follows: G. I. Butler, W. C. White, O. A. Olsen, R. A. Underwood, C. H. Jones, W. C. Sisley, J. H. Cook, J. O. Corliss, A. J. Cudney. It was voted that a committee of five be appointed by the chair, to act with the members of the General Conference Committee, as a committee on distribution of labor. The following persons were appointed: G. C. Tenney, E. S. Griggs, J. M. Rees, A. D. Olsen, Samuel Fulton. Meeting then adjourned to the call of the chair. At 2:30 P. M. the Conference assembled at the call of the chair. Prayer by Elder R. M. Kilgore. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read, and after some minor corrections, were accepted. The president then named the following persons as members of a committee to consider the training of canvassers and Bible-workers: G. I. Butler, W. C. White, O. A. Olsen, R. A. Underwood, A. T. Robinson, Clement Eldridge, F. E. Belden, H. W. Miller, H. P. Holser. On behalf of the California delegation, Elder A. T. Jones introduced to the Conference the following preamble and resolution, which was passed by the California Conference at its late session:— WHEREAS, We believe that the Third Angel's Message must go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; and, WHEREAS, The islands of the Pacific, as well as other parts, demand attention from our people; and, WHEREAS, It is difficult to reach them at all by present means of transportation, therefore, Resolved, That the brethren of this Conference favor the purchase of a missionary ship adapted to the wants of the work among these islands, and that we request the General Conference to take the matter under consideration at its coming session. He then read the following resolution, and moved that it be referred to a committee of five, who should consider it and make recommendation to the Conference:— An Act to Provide for the More Efficient Transportation of Missionaries to the Islands of the Pacific Ocean— WHEREAS, The professed faith of Seventh-day Adventists requires them to carry the message of truth for this generation to all kindreds, tongues, and people; and as the islands of the Pacific Ocean are peopled with many thousands who have never heard the tidings of the soon-coming King; and there are no regular means of transportation whereby missionaries may be sent to these islands; and, WHEREAS, It is thought by many that the time has fully come in the history of this work when these islanders should receive that consideration which shall result in an organized effort to carry them the truth for these days; and believing that our people everywhere stand ready to give substantial assistance to every legitimate project for the spread of truth; therefore, 1. It is recommended by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists assembled, that a vessel of suitable size and construction for missionary purposes be purchased, or built, and equipped for missionary work among the islands of the Pacific Ocean. 2. That the cost of building and equipping said vessel for a two years' cruise shall not exceed the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). 3. That such a vessel be made ready for service early in the year 1888. 4. That the duly elected officers of this body for the coming year constitute a committee who shall be empowered to put in execution the provisions of this bill, and also to appoint other persons, as their judgment may dictate, to act with them in carrying out the project. The motion was carried, and C. H. Jones suggested that as Elder Corliss had given the matter considerable thought, and was well acquainted with the situation, he be asked to address the meeting at length upon the subject. This suggestion was favorably received, and Brother Corliss was requested to occupy the time, when Brother C. Eldridge stated that it is an important matter, and one in which all the people are interested, and suggested that he be asked to speak on it Monday evening, provided it would not interfere with the plans of the Committee on Religious Exercises. This suggestion was carried out, and on Monday evening Elder Corliss spoke to a large congregation, concerning the Pacific islands as a missionary field. At 9 o'clock A. M. the first meeting of the tenth annual session of the International Sabbath-school Association was held, President C. H. Jones in the chair. The president gave the following interesting statistics of the work of the association:— The first session of this association was held in Battle Creek, Mich., October 11, 1878, Elder S. N. Haskell being president. The number of schools at that time was 177. The number of schools June 30, 1887, was 977, being a gain of 800 schools in less than nine years. The Sabbath-school contributions for 1878 were $25; the contributions for the year ending June 30, 1887, were $13,440.61. The number of schools that reported for the quarter ending June 30, 1887, was 915, leaving 62 unreported. The total membership of the schools reported was 25,294, and the average attendance for the quarter was 17,978, a little over 71 per cent. of the membership. The number of Instructors taken by the schools reported is 11,330. The amount of contributions received during the quarter ending September 30, 1886, was $2,322.22; the amount for the quarter ending December 31, 1886, was $2,830.61; for the quarter ending March 31, 1887, it was $3,710.53; and for the quarter ending June 30, 1887, it was $4,577.25. Thus there has been a steady increase in this respect. The total contributions for the year ending June 30, 1887, were $13,440.61. The total amount donated to the African Mission for the first six months of the present year was $4,798.16. This does not include the large donations taken up at the camp-meetings. The following standing committees were appointed by the chair:—
Nominations—R. A. Underwood, M. H. Brown, A. T. Jones.
Resolutions—E. J. Waggoner, G. C. Tenney, H. P. Holser.
Lessons—W. C. White, E. W. Farnsworth, A. T. Robinson.
Auditing—A. R. Henry, W. C. Sisley, C. Eldridge. Reports from the various fields were then called for. Elder W. C. White spoke for Central Europe, J. O. Corliss for Australia, S. H. Lane for England, G. C. Tenney for Minnesota, L. E. Chadwick for Pennsylvania, A. T. Robinson for New England, M. H. Brown for New York, A. J. Cudney for Nebraska, W. C. Sisley for Michigan, A. J. Breed for Wisconsin, R. A. Underwood for Ohio, J. B. Goodrich for Maine, J. D. Pegg for Colorado, H. W. Decker for Upper Columbia, J. N. Loughborough for California; and all gave encouraging reports of the work of the Sabbath-schools in these places. The third meeting of the General Conference was held at 3 o'clock. Additional delegates were received from Indiana, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, and California. The following report of the Committee on the Week of Prayer was then presented by J. O. Corliss, the secretary of the committee:— Your committee recommend that this Conference indorse the action of its Executive Committee in appointing a week of prayer to be held December 17-25, and offer the following suggestions:— First, That an address be sent to the officers of the churches, Sabbath-schools, and Missionary Societies, setting forth the importance of the week of prayer, and urging them to work for a large attendance at the meeting appointed on fast-day, when they will also have plans to unfold before the brethren, that will secure the co-operation of all the members, so that the following meetings of the week may be a success, and that the Christmas offerings may be liberal. In order to accomplish this, we recommend that the address mentioned shall urge that a special meeting of the officers of the church, Sabbath-school, and Missionary Society be held on Sabbath, December 10, in which they may pray together and consult as to the best method of procedure. Second, We also recommend that a circular letter be published in the Advent Review, and be read in the churches on December 10, setting forth the objects and importance of the week of prayer. Third, We further recommend that articles on the following subjects be prepared to be read in the churches during the week of prayer:— - Reading for fast-day, Sabbath, December 17, setting forth the importance of devoting the week of prayer to the special work of seeking God.
- Sunday, December 18. The steps by which we place ourselves in a condition where God can accept us.
- Monday, December 19. The blessing of God brought to us through faith. The value of such an experience.
- Tuesday, December 20. The object of God's blessing and how it can be retained.
- Wednesday, December 21. Missionary work in the home, church, and neighborhood—Mrs. E. G. White.
- Thursday, December 22. Foreign Mission work, Great Britain, Scandinavia—Elders Olsen and Lane.
- Friday, December 23. Foreign Mission work, Central Europe, Russia, etc.—Elder W. C. White.
- Sabbath, December 24. The obligation, privilege, and blessing of giving, and also setting forth the branches of the work most in need.
Fourth, We still further recommend that the delegates of this Conference do all in their power to enlist the interest, and secure the co-operation of the ministers, in their several fields of labor, to help forward this work. Moved by S. H. Lane to adopt the resolution by considering each item separately. Carried. At 9 o'clock A. M. a meeting of the American Health and Temperance Association was held, the president, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, in the chair. Reports were called for from various parts of the field. Elder711 S. H. Lane reported for England, and gave a most interesting account of the temperance cause there. He said that in order to break down the influences of the public houses, the temperance people have started vegetarian restaurants, which had sprung at once into popular favor. In these lemonade is the strongest drink that can be had, and no meat at all. The Good Health has been placed in these restaurants, and has met with the greatest favor. Health literature has been sold in large quantities, and the influence of our health publications is most favorable in opening the way for the reception of the other parts of present truth. Elder O. A. Olsen reported the same influence being exerted by the health literature in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. There are seventeen colporters in Sweden, who are so successful as to be able to support themselves on the commission which they receive from the sale of health publications alone, and the commissions are not so large as in America. One young man, not of our faith, read the Swedish health journal and liked it so well that he subscribed for 400 copies to circulate among the public schools in that country. Sister E. G. White, who had just arrived from St. Helena, then spoke for a few minutes on the importance of improving every opportunity to set ourselves before the people as a temperance people. The temperance work must go with the Bible doctrine. As our first parents lost Eden through indulgence of appetites, a way has been opened by the sacrifice of Christ whereby we may gain it by denial of appetite. Our people do not take the extensive view of this work that they ought to. She then drew a parallel between Paul's time and ours. He would labor for a long time, drawing arguments from the types and shadows, showing an intimate knowledge of the Scriptures, and would thus gain the favor of the people. Then he would teach them that this Christ prefigured by the types had already come. So we should begin to work with the people from a standpoint where we can gain the favor of the people. How shall we leaven the world, unless we have something with which to lift them up? We must labor unselfishly for humanity. Conference assembled at 3 o'clock. Reports from foreign fields were called for. Elder W. C. White spoke for Central Europe, and said that the workers were all of good courage, and the work prospering. Germany is really a more promising field than England. Elder O. A. Olsen spoke for the Scandinavian work. The Denmark Conference has 9 churches with 230 members. The Swedish Conference has 10 churches and 288 members, besides 97 Sabbath-keepers who are not joined to any organization, making 385 in all in that country. Elder Matteson held a four months' mission school in Stockholm, Sweden, and although the material upon which he had to work was most unpromising, some of the young people being ignorant to the very extreme, the result was excellent. They soon began to take subscribers for health journals, besides selling books. In nine months they took 2,335 subscribers for the Danish-Norwegian health journal, and received $3,500 on subscriptions and book sales. There are some difficulties, but none which cannot be overcome by the grace of God. Elder Lane said that there had never been a time when he was discouraged over the work in England. In one city he began meetings, speaking to eight people, but the congregation soon increased so much that another place had to be secured. There are four churches in England, and their donations and tithes have reached $625. Erelong a church will be organized in London. A room for a book depository has been secured in Paternoster Row, and the foundation is being laid for an extensive work in that city. Elder Corliss spoke of the work in Australia. There are now 3 churches there and 150 members. The church at Melbourne numbers 90, and the one at Ballarat about 50. There is a church in Adelaide, and a few Sabbath-keepers in Sydney, and some in other places. Between 300 and 400 people have embraced the truth in Australia, but some have given it up. It is impossible for a man to get work after he begins to keep the Sabbath, and so some of them, after holding on for a while, give up. It costs very much to carry on tent work there. Lumber comes from California and Oregon, and lumber suitable for seating costs $100 per thousand. To avoid expense, chairs were bought. It cost $200 to seat a fifty-foot tent, but the advantage is that chairs can be shipped at moderate cost. W. C. White, A. R. Henry, and C. H. Jones were appointed a Committee on Year Book. W. C. White then requested to be released from the Committee on Resolutions. His request was granted, and the president appointed E. J. Waggoner in his stead. At 9 A. M. the annual meeting of the Sanitarium Association was held. Dr. Kellogg gave an interesting sketch of the growth of the institution from its organization in 1866 until the present. The net profits last year were $40,000, and this year nearly as much. The net worth of the institution is now over $200,000, and the amount of charity work done is more than twice as much as the amount of the original capital. Sister White followed with remarks touching the necessity of broader plans for judicious charity work. She also spoke of the Rural Health Retreat, as did also Elder Loughborough. There is now represented in the Health Retreat an investment of $60,000. Conference assembled at 3 o'clock. Elder S. Fulton spoke of the work in Florida. The cities and towns are largely inhabited by Northern people. Some people from New York City who were visiting in Florida attended the meetings and began keeping the Sabbath. One of the ladies told him that she never would have attended the meetings if the tent had been pitched in New York City, and would never have heard and accepted the truth if it had had to find her in that city. The president stated that Brother C. W. Olds, of Wisconsin, who went South to canvass, had sold $1,500 worth of books in Birmingham and vicinity, in Alabama. The Committee on Resolutions presented the following:—
WHEREAS, There has been during the past year steady and tangible progress in all departments of our work, notwithstanding increased obstacles thrown in its way, and more active opposition than heretofore, on the part of those who desire to hinder its progress; therefore, 1. Resolved, That we recognize in this prosperity an evident token of God's willingness to respond to the prayers and efforts of his people, and a prophecy that his counsel will guide and his hand defend and sustain this his work in the future; and, WHEREAS, The increasing demands for our publications have rendered it necessary that both the Central and Pacific Publishing Associations should increase their facilities by enlarging the offices of publication at Battle Creek and Oakland, to nearly double their former capacity, 2. Resolved, That we commend the prompt action of the managers of both these Associations in making their provision to meet the demand for our books and periodicals; and we regard this great increase in the circulation of our literature as a cheering evidence that this message is soon to arrest the attention of this generation. 3. Resolved, That we hail with pleasure the addition to our other periodicals, of a paper in the Holland language, and we are peculiarly grateful to God for the success which has so far attended its publication, and for the marked progress of his work among that people. WHEREAS, The great religio-political crisis, in which will be involved the last conflict between truth and error, is even now overshadowing our land; and, WHEREAS, In these troublous times the Lord by the prophet (Dan. 12:1) has assured protection to those only whose names are written in the book of life, and whose robes are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb; and, WHEREAS, The success of the cause of truth depends not upon human efforts, but solely upon the power of God, which power can be secured only by bringing ourselves into such harmony with his will that we may become partakers of the divine nature, therefore, 4. Resolved, That we will, by the help of God, strive as never before to heed the injunction of the Scriptures, "Be ye holy, for I am holy," and so separate ourselves from all sin and impurity of heart and life, that the divine counsel may guide, and the divine power attend, all our efforts. WHEREAS, The General Conference Association is a legally incorporated organization, capable of holding property and transacting business in any part of the world, and is therefore the proper body to look after the financial interest of our missions and other pioneer enterprises; and, WHEREAS, This association, in order to do the important work it is designed to accomplish, must have funds; therefore, 5. Resolved, That we recommend to those who have means to donate for the general advancement of the cause, or money which they can loan temporarily without interest, to deposit such means with this association, rather than with any institution which is more local in its operations. WHEREAS, The opening of missions in foreign lands involves much expense, and is attended with many difficulties, therefore, 6. Resolved, That we hail with much gratitude the progress of the work in the different countries of Europe, as seen in the organization of four Conferences, the establishment of three offices of publication, and the large interest that has been awakened all over Europe. 7. Resolved, That we approve of the efforts made in England, Central Europe and Scandinavia, in holding mission schools for the purpose of educating canvassers and colporters; and we hereby express our gratitude at the success of the canvassing work in those countries as a potent means of bringing the truth before the masses. 8. Resolved, That we approve of the removal of the office of publication in England from Great Grimsby to London, and the opening of a depot for our publications in Paternoster Row; and we bid the mission workers there Godspeed in their efforts to establish the cause on a firm basis in the very heart of the English-speaking world. 9. Resolved, That a standing committee of five be appointed by the Chairman, to confer with other committees which should be appointed in the various Conferences, in reference to the defense of those who may suffer persecution under oppressive Sunday laws, and also to direct in efforts that may be needed in various States to oppose the passage of such Sunday laws. These resolutions were all carefully considered, and with the exception of resolutions four and nine, were adopted. The two resolutions excepted were referred to a special committee of nine, who should consider the whole subject broached by them, and should frame a resolution defining our relation to the work of National Reform and to Sunday laws. The committee were also to plan for a daily class for instruction in National Reform principles and how to oppose them. U. Smith, A. T. Jones, E. J. Waggoner, L. McCoy, D. T. Jones, J. M. Rees, J. N. Loughborough, E. W. Farnsworth, and A. R. Henry were named as said committee. Later items of interest will be found on the last page. THE following from the Jewish Times (San Francisco) will apply to any city:— "The community is treated to a series of scandals, rotten enough for ancient Babylon and Rome. The growth of vice in a young city, not yet forty years of age, is a strong argument against the pious belief that we are better than our fathers, and that the millennium is nearer than it has been. The catalogue of sins that infest the city of San Francisco is so appalling that one turns with disgust from the daily accounts in the newspapers. Whether the publication of these accounts will tend to diminish crime is an open question. It will surely, if nothing else, pervert the morals of the innocent, for it is unwholesome food, and excites a morbid appetite for literature that is none the less obscene because it is a presumably truthful account of the happenings in society. We live in dreary times. The churches of San Francisco are to-day mute witnesses of the fact that religion has to battle harder than ever, and our schools are on the witness stand to prove that knowledge has not barred the progress of vice. It is enough to cause hypochondria. Will humanity ever remain the same? Will Satan ever retain the upper hand?" Yes, vice is rampant, and on the increase; but Satan will not always triumph. Evil will soon be rooted out, and the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters712 cover the sea. Isa. 11:9. It will not be, however, by the increase of education, nor by the conversion of the world, but by the coming of Christ in his kingdom, who shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall slay the wicked. It will be by the destruction of Satan and all his works—the burning up, root and branch, of all that do wickedly—and the renovation of the earth, so that in it righteousness may dwell. Until that time "wicked men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived;" but when that time comes there will be such a revolution as the universe has never yet beheld. Happy will it then be for those who resist the tide of evil that is carrying so many willing victims to ruin. Yes, these are dreary times, but better times are coming for those to whom these times are indeed dreary. "THE MINISTERS AROUSED."
By Editor
THE religious papers of New York are very much agitated over the matter of Sunday observance. About three weeks ago a large meeting of leading clergymen of New York and vicinity was held to consider the propriety of taking concerted action against the opening of the liquor saloons on Sunday. The Rev. Dr. John Hall was chairman of the meeting, and at his suggestion a committee was appointed to draw up resolutions expressing the sense of the meeting. They recommended that all the pastors be urgently requested to present to their people their duty regarding the maintenance and enforcement of the laws regarding the sale of liquors on Sunday; that a public meeting be called for the purpose of calling attention to the advantages to be derived by the whole community from the preservation of Sunday as a day of periodic rest; that the position of every candidate for election to the Senate or Assembly be definitely ascertained, and that they take steps to secure the defeat of any candidate who declines to pledge himself to defend Sunday laws; and that a committee be appointed to secure the dissemination of English and German reading matter upon the subject. All the denominations were represented on the committee that was called for in the last resolution, and it was stated that an effort would be made to get either Archbishop Corrigan or Mgr. Preston to represent the Roman Catholic Church in the committee. The above facts are abridged from a report in the New York Observer, under the heading, "The Ministers Aroused." The concluding paragraph of the article is as follows:— "Several of the ministers present made brief remarks, Dr. Hall suggesting that there should be special preaching on the matter in all the churches on the following Sunday. The tone of the meeting was one of intense earnestness. It is evident that the action of the liquor men in endeavoring to secure a repeal of the Sabbath laws has awakened a sentiment among the Christian people of the State that will make itself felt at the coming election." If anything more were needed to show that this Sunday movement is simply a movement in favor of an establishment of religion, we find it in an expression in the Christian Union's account of the same meeting. It says of the effort to have saloons open on Sunday: "The clergy can halt this movement for the destruction of the most sacred and eminent symbol of their holy religion, if they will." This is a fair sample of all the movements to make Sunday laws. They take the guise of shutting up the saloons, and then those who do not believe in enforced Sunday observance, and do not join the movement, are denounced as enemies of temperance. We say emphatically that there is not the shadow of temperance principle in the effort to close saloons on Sunday. It is simply an entering wedge by the clergy to preserve "the most sacred and eminent symbol of their holy religion." It is an effort to secure by civil law that which "their holy religion" has not vitality enough to do. Now we are staunch friends of temperance; we are foes to the saloons, and would gladly and enthusiastically unite in any movement to close them altogether, seven days in the week. But no lover of religious liberty can join a pseudo-temperance movement, whose sole object is to force a religious custom (an unwarranted one at that) upon the people, leaving the saloons as much power as before. While we place ourselves on record as uncompromisingly opposed to saloons, we wish to emphasize the statement that these Sunday movements are in the interest of the liquor traffic rather than against it. For (1) if there is power among the clergy to close the saloons one day in the week, there is power to close them every day in the week; and the fact that, having that power, they do not use it, shows that they are not really concerned over the ravages of the liquor traffic, provided it does not encroach upon the symbol of "their [not God's] holy religion;" and (2) the formal action of the clergy in taking steps to close the saloons only on Sunday, when they have the power to close them every day, gives the saloons standing in society; it is a sort of indorsement by the highest profession of the saloon for the last six days of the week. Let it not be forgotten that in this effort to secure the preservation of "the most sacred and eminent symbol of their holy religion," the clergy are anxious to secure the co-operation of the Roman Catholic Church. They need not fear, for the Sunday institution is the most eminent, and indeed the only real symbol of the power of the Catholic Church, and she will guard her own. How complacently she must look upon the Protestants who are making themselves her willing servants. W.