Earlier text: The Sealing of the 144,000Religious News and Notes.
By Editor
—Bishop Ames of the M. E. church died in Baltimore April 25. —Mr. Moody is still holding his meetings in Baltimore with marked success. —Cardinal Manning has forbid women singing in the choirs of Westminster diocese. —Dr. Hugh Miller has bequeathed $100,000 to the Scottish Free Church Missionary Society. —The late Governor General of India says that missionaries have done more to benefit India than all other agencies combined. —The Methodist Conference in Liberia has organized a missionary society for the conversion of the heathen in that country. —It is Colton who says that "men will wrangle for religion—write for it, fight for it, die for it; anything but—live for it." —R. Arthington, of Leeds, Eng., has given the Baptist Missionary Society $10,000 to provide a steamer to navigate the Congo river. —A minister of the English church has come to grief. He permitted Mr. Sankey to sing in his church, and the Bishop has been called upon to interfere. —An aged minister was asked by a young lady if Christians might dance. He answered, "Wait till you are converted and you will not ask such a question." —The Louisiana Constitutional Convention has passed a resolution declaring its intention to preserve the religious and political right of all classes of people without regard to color. —A Baptist Council in Minnesota refused to ordain a candidate because he denied the right of women to speak in church. It was held that it would seriously impair his usefulness. —Hon. Gardner Colby, of Boston, recently died. He was a prominent man in the Baptist church, whose life was full of generous deeds. Colby College, of Waterville, Maine, was named for him. —The Roman Catholic College at Kensington, England, has proved a complete failure. It was started a few years ago, has never had a dozen students at one time, and has lately been formally closed. —It is reported as being "the talk" in London that Dean Stanley is about to go over to the church of Rome. It seems strange, yet he is certainly not strongly wedded to the English church establishment. —Dr. Deems is in favor of often repeating sermons. It is said that Whitefield never reached the largest measure of success on a sermon until he had preached it over thirty times. Not a safe rule for all. —In Paisley, Scotland, the English language was introduced into the Gaelic church, recently, when the congregation not only left the church, but made so much noise outside that no service could be held. —Dr. Hull, editor of the Sabbath Recorder, says, "We are satisfied, after two or three attempts, we can never write poetry. We are not even good at rhyming." But the Dr. knows something which many rhymers do not know—that there is a difference between rhyming and writing poetry. —At the New England Methodist Conference the editor of the Methodist Advocate, Atlanta, Ga., said that half the wrongs and injuries to the freedmen had not been told. It is useless for politicians to deny it, and the present "exodus" is a necessary result. —The London Christian of March 27, says: "A Presbyterian minister expresses his thanks for the delightful conference at Mildmay, on the second advent. He returned to his work much refreshed. One result is a few Christians are arranging for a meeting in his home, at least once a month, for the study of prophecy." —The Christian at Work says: "Dr. I. S. Kalloch writes a public letter justifying the San Francisco Baptist Ministers' Association for striking off the name of a member because of his position on the Chinese question. We should have thought better of that action but for Dr. Kalloch's letter. That makes it indefensible." —Mr. Hathaway, formerly connected with Talmage's Tabernacle work, now preaching in Jersey City, said in his testimony in the trial: "I believe that Dr. Talmage got so used to dealing in hyperbole that he did not know he lied. I can't say whether Dr. Talmage knew whether he was telling falsehoods or not; he's put together so different from any other man I ever knew." —The Christian at Work says: "The life of Christ after his crucifixion would scarcely have commanded a denarius from any purchaser immediately after his ascension. But now a publisher sues the writer of the Life of Christ for $40,000 damages for not producing a second volume." And yet "the life of Christ" (not the history), was more highly esteemed by some then than it is now. —A sensible writer in the Sunday School Times tells of a Sunday-school superintendent who said, "We had a real good time at our Sunday-school yesterday; teachers and scholars were in tears during the closing address;" and remarks, "That is not an uncommon way of estimating the influence of a Sunday-school session, but it is a very poor way. Tear-shedding is by no means a test of religious conviction, however much it may show of momentary feeling." —Turkey is improving its alphabet. —Persian troops from Meshed are marching toward the Afghan frontier. —Reports to April 26 says every industry seems to be killed by poverty and famine in Bolivia. —During the week ending April 22, there were 36,720 pounds of quicksilver shipped from Calistoga, Cal. —Of the twenty-four deputies elected in Cuba to the Spanish Cortes, sixteen are Liberal Conservatives. —An ill feeling is growing with all the tribes interested in the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan, against the English. —The first women clerks employed in the National Treasury were appointed in 1862. There are now over 1,300. —Report from Wilksbarre, Pa., says seven persons were buried alive by the caving of a mine at Sugar Notch, April 23. —Representative Lowe has challenged Senator Logan. The latter refused to accept the challenge; difficulty is anticipated. —Work was commenced April 23, on the Canada Southern Railroad tunnel, to be built under the Detroit river at Grosse Island. —The "frontier" in Texas has advanced a hundred miles in two years, and 40,000,000 acres of good land reclaimed for settlement. —A Texas jury arose after the evidence was all in and requested that the case go to them without "any lawyers' speeches," and it did. —Governor Howard of Dakota Territory is in San Francisco. He speaks enthusiastically of the resources and recent growth of Dakota. —Disastrous floods have recently occurred in Russia. Rivers have overflowed their banks; some rising twenty feet above the ordinary level. —A Russian scientific expedition will proceed to Central Asia in the summer under the leadership of Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovich. —John Bright, addressing his constituents in Birmingham, April 15, said, The government is imbecile at home, and turbulent and wicked abroad. —Whitelaw Reid, editor of the N. Y. Tribune, was offered the German mission, but refused it, believing his position as editor to be more in the line of duty to his country. —An attempt was made to assassinate Edwin Booth at McVicker's theatre in Chicago on the night of the 23d. A man in the gallery fired a pistol at him, the ball passing by him on the stage. —April 20, the steamer Great Republic was wrecked on Sand Island at the mouth of the Columbia River. Thirteen men were drowned. The destitute survivors are receiving aid in Astoria. —Advices up to April 25 show that the floods are still very damaging in Hungary. A late rise in the river Theiss prevents the recovery of Szegedin, and some villages are nearly destroyed. —Two thousand persons have been arrested at St. Petersburg during the last few days. Persons suspected of complicity in the murder of the Governor of Krapatkine and the attempt on General Dreutelm have been arrested in Warsaw and Pleosk, respectively. —It is claimed that the evidence already obtained shows conclusively that the Government has been defrauded out of at least $3,000,000 a year by under valuation of silk for several years, and that in many cases there have been corrupt practices by Government examiners and other employes. —An attempt has been made by a German, Herr Kreusler, to invent a simple method of recording and measuring the variations of daylight throughout the day. The results are considered highly satisfactory. This will render the weather record more complete, and it has also a special bearing on plant physiology. —In no country is Communism, or Nihilism as it is there called, more determined than it is in Russia. The officers who have executed the laws with despotic power, are becoming afraid to act, as assassination threatens them at every step. Of late the life of the Czar has been in danger, and special precautions have been observed. An attempt on his life was made April 14. —Secretary Sherman has ordered the revenue steamer Rush to take on board sufficient supplies for a five-months' cruise; to leave San Francisco not later than May 15th, and to proceed to the waters of Alaska for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the law and for the protection of the interests of the Government in the seal islands, the sea-otter hunting grounds, and Alaska generally. DIED, of diphtheria, at their home, two miles south of New London, Wis., February 17, Martha E., aged 8 years, 11 months, and 19 days; March 2, John F., aged 2 years, 11 months, and 20 days; April 10, Amanda H., aged 12 years, 11 months, and 11 days, children of Gustave and Henrietta Westphal. Sweet be their rest, until the voice of the Lord awakens them in the morning of the resurrection, to praise him who hath redeemed them from the grave.
D. E. WALKER. A Safe Calculation.
By Editor
A YOUNG man with a small family once embraced the Sabbath, and at the same time made his first effort to live a Christian life. He had been accustomed to associate with those who spent their evenings at saloons, and of course joined with them in spending their earnings in such places. When he professed the Christian faith and quit working on the seventh day, his companions endeavored to turn him away by telling him he would "lose two days," as he could not work on the first day, and would not work on the seventh, and therefore he "could not live"—his family would be brought to suffering. His reply was well worth considering by all who have to choose between worldly interest and duty. "If you can live," said he, "working six days, and spending half or two-thirds of your wages for cigars and liquor, besides often losing time about the saloons, I can surely live, working five days, keeping all my wages for the support of my family." As "Poor Richard" said, we are taxed more by our habits than by the government. Employers are largely responsible for the unfaithfulness of their employees. A laborer may have his weekly sprees, and not only lose a day in drunkenness, but unfit himself for work for the day following, and the employer will say less about it than he would say if an honest, steady hand took some time to worship God. People have come to act as if conscientious conviction, even if sustained by the plainest declarations of the Scriptures, were unworthy of any favorable consideration. How little are the rights and authority of God respected in this age. How nearly true, even in this day of gospel privileges, are the words of the apostle, "The whole world lieth in wickedness." THERE is a young man in California who thinks he is under the special leadings of the Spirit of God, and has been giving messages to his brethren and sisters. We have received four foolscap pages from him for publication, which contain the most incoherent jargon that we have ever attempted to read outside of the writings of Spiritualist mediums. We pity the deceived person, because our observation has taught us that such a spirit of fanaticism generally clings to individuals for years, if not for life. At a meeting in San Francisco while the Chinese Bill was pending, Denis Kearney said, concerning the President's signing the Bill,—"I don't care a straw, whether he does or not, but if he don't sign this bill the cannon ball will stop Chinese immigration. [Applause.] I challenge the student of history, I challenge every man here to-night, or in San Francisco, or in California, to show me when the Workingmen ever gained a point only by the point of the sword. [Applause.] Now we have heard talk of legislation. I am sick about hearing so much talk about legislating this or that." Heterodox Spelling.
By Editor
The San Francisco Presbytery was recently in session, and we find some rare reports in the Chronicle. A letter from the Second Presbyterian Church of Oakland was rejected because of its bad spelling, which was declared to be "conceived with marvelous ingenuity of incorrectness." It reported that "the Lord's suppar was administard to Mrs. Kate Sheppard on the profession of hur faith." "The foweling persons were granted letters of dismissal to the Presbyterian church at Sentalena: Mr. Sylvestar Barry, Mrs. Jane Barrey, Miss Mary Barey." And such words as, sallery, paied, minits, and deligate, were used. We readily agree that such spelling is not orthodox; but we do not think the clerk of that church is a sinner above all church clerks, and that is just why we write this article. We believe that the churches possess a full average of the intelligence of any community, and in many instances rise above that, and why, then, church records should be kept in such a faulty manner, when kept at all, we are at a loss to understand. But such is the case. We rarely find a church book in first class style. We know of some; we can point one near us which will compare favorably with any legal records kept in the same county. But if all religious associations should follow the example of the San Francisco Presbytery, and refuse to accept papers which were not made out in good order, we fear many churches of nearly all denominations would go unrepresented in such bodies. General John A. Dix, of New York died on the night of April 21. He was born in New Hampshire in 1798. He served as ensign and adjutant in the war with England, though quite young. He was successful and prominent as a politician, filling the offices of Adjutant General, Secretary of State, Superintendent of schools, and member of Assembly, in New York State. In 1845 he was elected to the United States Senate; in 1853 was Assistant U. S. Treasurer in New York; and when Howell Cobb vacated his office to join the rebellion, Gen. Dix succeeded him as Secretary of the Treasury. He espoused the cause of the Union with great earnestness, and was the author of the well-known order, "If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." He was appointed Major-General, and was placed in command of different Departments. In 1866 he was appointed Minister to France, and in 1872 was elected Governor of New York. He served in the vestry of Trinity church for a long time, of which his son, Dr. Morgan Dix, is now rector. Importance of Discipline.
TWENTY-FOUR hundred school children were saved out of a position of no little danger on April 3d, by discipline and courage, when Grammar School No. 17, in Forty-seventh street, New York, being on fire, the whole of the children were quietly marched out of the burning building without panic or disorder. One of the teachers first noticed a filmy line of smoke curling around the slate of a six-years-old child, and small forks of flame shooting up from beneath the children's seats. The children, frightened, rose up; the teacher quickly ordered them to sit down, and down they sat. The principal was quietly sent for, who said, "Children, I want you to follow me without any disorder," which they did, and in a few minutes afterwards a stream of fire shot out in the rooms just vacated. On the third floor was the grammar school, the occupants of which were in still greater danger. Before all could leave, the smoke had filled the room, and the fire was on the stairways that were built as fire escapes. One by one the girls were passed down, those of Jewish birth showing especial coolness under such trying circumstances. There were two lame girls in the school, and as their crutches brought them to the head of the stairway some of their companions fell back and others twined their arms tenderly around them, and so conveyed them safely into the street. The courage of teachers and children was alike remarkable; one little fellow of ten, sent from one classroom to another to fetch a slate, on coming back said to his teacher, "Teacher, there's a fire in the school, but don't say anything about it." Such is the value of persistent training in habits of discipline and order. Walla Walla, W. T., June 4—10.
Salem, Oregon, June 25—July 1. OAKLAND—Services at the Seventh-day Adventist church, corner of Thirteenth and Clay streets, every Sabbath (Saturday) at 10:30 A. M., and Sunday evening at 7:30. Prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:30. Sabbath-school at 9:15 o'clock Sabbath morning. SAN FRANCISCO—Services at the Seventh-day Adventist church, on Laguna street, between Tyler and McAllister, every Sabbath (Saturday), at 11 A. M., and Sunday evening at 7:30. Prayer-meeting every Wednesday evening at 7:30. The Hayes Valley cars of Market street and the Lone Mountain cars of the Central railroad, cross Laguna street near the church. There will be preaching in both Oakland and San Francisco next Sunday evening. General Meeting in Oakland.
By Editor
THERE will be a General Meeting of Seventh-day Adventists of California, in Oakland, May 10 and 11. In importance to the cause in this State, this meeting will be second to only the Camp-meeting. Elder Haskell will be here. Let the friends rally. Teachers' Bibles.
By Editor
AFTER a careful examination of many varieties of Bibles, we are satisfied that the Oxford Teachers' Bible presents more advantages than any other we have seen. The print is clear, and the binding substantial. In addition to the authorized text, with references, it contains much that is essential to the study of the Bible, to wit :—- Notes on the Old and New Testaments.
- Index. 3. Concordance. 4. Dictionary of Scriptural Names, with their pronunciation and meaning. 5. Twelve Scripture Maps.
The price has been recently reduced, so that they can be offered even lower than the English Bibles we have previously kept. | Number. |
Description. |
By Freight or Express. |
By Mail. |
|---|
| 500 |
Pearl, French Morocco. |
$ 1.50 |
$ 1.60 |
| 502 |
“ Venetian “ (Circuit) |
2.00 |
2.10 |
| 600 |
Nonpariel, French Morocco. |
2.35 |
2.50 |
| 601 |
“ “ “ (Circuit). |
2.75 |
2.90 |
| 605 |
“ Persian “ (Flexible) |
2.75 |
2.90 |
| 611 |
“ Turkey “ “ |
3.25 |
3.40 |
| 705 |
Minion, Persian Morocco (Flexible. |
4.25 |
4.45 |
| 715 |
“ Levant “ (Divinity Circuit) |
7.50 |
7.75 |
| 915 |
“ “ “ “ “ |
14.00 |
14 50 |
Please order by number, and not by price. We have also a good supply of family Bibles, and Bibles adapted to church use, which were bought low and can be sold below prices offered at any book store. The type is Small Pica, and very easy to read. Prices from $7.50 to $9.00. These Bibles must be sent by freight or express as they are too heavy to go by mail. We have a few copies of Bibles for the center table, beautifully bound, Minion type. Prices from $4.00 to $7.50. Health Publications.
By Editor
The Uses of Water in Health and Disease. Bound, 160 pp., 50c. Paper covers, pp. 136, 25c. The Household Manual. Brief, plain directions for treatment of common sicknesses, etc. Bound, 176 pp. 75c. Plain Facts about Sexual Life. (The Boston Journal, and many other papers, highly recommend this work.) Bound, tinted paper, 360 pp., $1.50. Flexible covers, 260 pp., 75c. The Physical, Moral, and Social Effects of Alcoholic Poison as a Beverage and a Medicine. Paper, 128 pp., 25c. Healthful Cookery. Indispensable to every household. 128 pp., 25c. Proper Diet for Man. Paper, 48 pp., 15c. Evils of Fashionable Dress, and How to Dress Healthfully. 40 pp., 10c. Tracts. Dyspepsia, its Cause and Cure. 32 pp., 4c. Healthful Clothing. 32 pp., 4c. Startling Facts about Tobacco. 32 pp., 4c. Tea and Coffee. 32 pp., 4c. Wine and the Bible, (showing that the Bible affords no support to the use of intoxicating beverages). 24 pp., 3c. Principles of Health Reform. 16 pp., 2c. Twenty-five Arguments for Tobacco-using Answered. 24 pp., 3c. Pork, (with an engraving of the terrible trichina worm). 16 pp., 2c. The Drunkard's Arguments Answered. 16 pp., 2c. Alcoholic Medication. 16 pp., 2c. Moral and Social Effects of Alcohol. 8 pp., 1c. Causes and Cure of Intemperance. 8 pp., 1c. Alcohol; What is it? 4 pp., 1/2c. Alcoholic Poison. 4 pp., 1/2c. True Temperance. 4 pp., 1/2c. The whole series of Tracts put up in a neat package, 30c. Discount made to Tract and Temperance societies. Address—
Signs of the Times.
Oakland, Cal. Business Department.
By Editor
$2.00 EACH, Martin S Bowers 6-17, Eva Cason 6-32, L A Lemon 6-17, Mrs P C Bramhall 6-17. $1.50 EACH. Miss R A Bailey 6-17, Samuel Haynes 6-17, Mrs O H Knight 6-17 Lizzie Moore 6-17, A H Keever 6-17, Nellie J Field 6-17, F I Gray 6-17, Louisa R Lovejoy 6-17, Clarisa Evertts 6-17, M L Groom 6-17, Phebe Cory 6-17. MISCELLANEOUS. Mrs Lovina Boardman 1.00, 5.40, Mrs Geo Dean 1.00, 5-40, Mrs Lucy A Barry 2.50, 6-25, John Demster 1.00, 5-41, Hattie Davis (2 copies) 1.00, 5-30, Louisa Clawson 1.00, 5-41, Wm Coalson 50c 6-1, Daniel Thompson (10 copies) 12.00, 6-17, H C Crippen 1.00, 5-44, W P Jones 70c 5-40, J C Tucker (22 copies) 26.40, 6-17, Mrs A C Green (20 copies) 24.00, 6-17, J Addie Sweet (2 copies) 2.40, 6-17, R Stickney (2 copies) 3.00, 6-15, Edwin Slagle 75c 6-4, W H Bedoe 75c 5-41, Mrs E B Evans (15 copies) 18.00, 6-15, Mrs Melinda Sutherland 1.20, 6-17, Sarah Reynolds 1.20, 6-17, Mrs L E Wilkins (10 copies) 15.00, 6-17, E J Eastman (8 copies) 7.20, 6-1, W Sanborn (2 copies) 1.80, 6-1, Mrs James Simpson 1.13, 6-1, Susan Harwood 1.00, 6-1, Abigail Douglas (5 copies) 6.00, 6-17, Elizebath Bailey 1.20, 6-17. E W Darling 1.20, 6-17, Calvin Paul 1.20, 6-17, Frank Coon (12 copies) 14.40, 6-17, Mrs Lydia M Gates 1.20, 6-17, Mary S Fuller 1.20, 6-17, Geo L Hawes (5 copies) 6-00, 6-17, S Gorton (7 copies) 8.40, 6-17, Lydia R Allen 1.20, 6-17, Chas Peck 75c 5-41, RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT.
Ill T and M Society 46.00, Cal T and M Society 9.50, Mo T and M Society 100.00, Ind T and M Society 50.00, Ohio T and M Society 50.00. CAL. PUBLISHING FUND.
Mrs Osterwaldt 25.00, Wm B Mallaugh 50.00, OAKLAND CHURCH.
Robert Vickery 1.00, Danford Ayres 2.00, Horace Munn 2.00, church at Adams Center N Y 12.80. CAL. CONFERENCE.
St Helena church 41.90. DONATION TO SIGNS.
A J Hutchins 1.00, Horace Munn 3.00.