p. 359 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 1, No. 45. (9/16/1875)

THE NAMES AND UNCHANGED ORDER OF THE DAYS OF THE WEEK IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.

By James White

ENGLISH BIBLE	First Day	Second Day	Third Day	Fourth Day	Fifth Day	The Sixth Day	The Seventh Day or, The Sabbath
HEBREW	Elhad Yom One Day	Sheni Yom Second day	Shelishi Yom Third day	Revii Yom Fourth Day	Kahmishi Yom Fifth day	Hashshishi Yom Sixth the day	Hashshabbath Yom Sabbath the Day
ARABIC	Al-ahad The One	Al-ithnin Second	Ath-thalatha Third	Al-arbaa Fourth	Al-khamis Fifth	Al-joom-ah Assembly day	Assabt The Sabbath
PERSIAN	Yek Shamba One from Sabbath	Do Shamba Two from Sabbath	Sa shamba Three from Sabbath	Chahar Shamba Four from Sab	Punj Shamba Five from Sabbath	Joomat Assembly day	Shamba Sabbath
TURKISH	Bazar Gooni Market-day	Bazar Ertasi Market-following	Sali Third-day	Chahar Shamba Four from Sab	Punj Shamba Five from Sabbath	Joom-ah Assembly-day	Assabt Yom Day the Sabbath
AMHARIC, The Vernacular of Abyssinia	Ehud First	Sagna Second	Maksagnuo Third	Rebue Fourth	Hamus Fifth	Arbe Eve of Sabbath	Sanbat Sabbath
MODERN GREEK	Kiriaki Lordly day	Theutera Second	Triti Third	Tetarti Fourth	Pemti Fifth	Paraskevi Preparation	Sabbaton Sabbath
RUSSIAN	Voskriesenye Resurrection day	Ponedielnik First day after	Vtornik Second day after	Srieda Middle-day	Chetviertok Fourth day after	Piatok Fifth day after	Soobbota Sabbath
POLISH	Niedziela	Ponedzilek	Wtorek	Sroda	Czwartek	Pitaek	Sobota
FALASHA of Abyssinia	Ad One	San Second	Seles Third	Loba Fourth	Hams Fifth	Sedast Kan Sixth day	Yini Sanbt Sabbath
BENGALI and HINDUSTANI	Ek'Shamba One from Sabbath	Do Shamba Two from Sabbath	Sishamba Three from Sabbath	Charshamba Four from Sabbath	Panjshamba Five from Sabbath	Jooma Assembly day	Shamba Sabbath
MALAY	Ari-Ahad Day One	Asnin Second	Ari-Salasa Day Third	Ari-raba Day Fourth	Ari Khamis Day Fifth	Joomat Assembly day	Ari-Sabtu Day Sabbath
GERMAN	Sonntag Sunday	Montag Monday	Dienstag Tuesday	Mittwoche Midweek	Donnerstag Thursday	Frietag Friday	Samtag Sabbath
NORMAN-FRENCH of the 10th and 11th centuries	Diemane Lord's day	Luner	Jeusday, Jeusdye and Jurisdie	Merkedy, Merdie, Mercuredi, and Meskerdy	Jeodi	Venerdy, Venardy, and Venedi	Sabbedi and Samaady
FRENCH	Dimanche Lord's day	Lundi Monday	Mardi Tuesday	Mercredi Wednesday	Jeudi Thursday	Vendredi Friday	Samedi Sabbath
ITALIAN	Domenica	Lunedi	Mertedi	Mercoledi	Giovedi	Venerdi	Sabbati
SPANISH	Domingo	Lunes	Martes	Miercoles	Jueves	Viernes	Sabado
PORTUGUESE	Domingo	Segunda feira	Terca —	Quarta —	Quinta —	Sexta —	Sabbado
ECCLESIASTICAL	Dominica	Feria secunda	— Tertia	— Quarta	— Quinta	— Sexta	Sabbatum
PARLIAMENTARY	Dies Solis	Dies Lunæ	Dies Martis	Dies Mercurii	Dies Jovis	Dies Veneris	Sabbati

Tabular Testimony.

By John Nevins Andrews

In the July number of the Sabbath Memorial, we find the foregoing table of the days of the week, showing the names and unchanged order of the days of the week in twenty-one different languages.

But little comment on this table is necessary. No matter what the six working days of the week may be called in the twenty-one languages given, the seventh day is called Sabbath.

As a last resort our opponents claim that the order of the days of the week has been lost, and that we cannot tell when the seventh does come. Such a cloud of witnesses as the above, it would seem, should be sufficient to put a quietus upon such flimsy evasions of the truth.

Of the table, Bro. Jones says:—

"In the table we have presented at one view the common use at the present day of the term Sabbath in twenty-one languages. It will be seen that the Asiatic and African languages retain the Scriptural term of FIRST-DAY, while the European languages have substituted Lordly, Lord's, Resurrection, and Sun for the FIRST-DAY. All the European languages, and all others which we have examined, agree in the numerical order of the days. Here are TWENTY-ONE WITNESSES: who will bring forward one language of the human family which confronts the united testimony of these twenty-one languages with the declaration that the ORDER of the days of the week has been changed, or that at any period of the world's history weekly time has been lost, or disarranged?

"For the sake of truth and a conscience void of offence, it is to be hoped that no one will any longer try to ward off the claims of the Lord's holy Sabbath day, by saying that he cannot tell which day is the Sabbath!"

In the SIGNS we have been unable to equal in execution, the table presented in the Memorial, as it was impossible for us to obtain the type of the different languages. Hence we have placed the translation of the first seven in italics, and were obliged to omit the original letter.

J. E. W.

Influence of Newspapers.

A SCHOOL-TEACHER who has enjoyed the benefit of a long practice in his profession, and watched closely the influence of newspapers upon a family of children, states, as the result of his observation, that, without exception, those scholars of both sexes who have access to newspapers at home, when compared to those who have not, are,

1. Better readers, excellent in pronunciation, and consequently read more understandingly.

2. They are better spellers, and define words with ease and accuracy.

3. They obtain a partial knowledge of geography in almost half the time it requires others, as the newspaper has made them familiar with the location of most important places, nations, and governments.

4. They are better grammarians; for the newspaper has made them familiar with every variety of style, from the commonplace advertisement to the finished and classical oratory of the statesman; they more readily apprehend the text, and consequently analyze its construction with more alacrity.

5. They write better compositions, using better language, containing more thought, and more clearly expressed.

From these important facts three important things can be deducted :—

1. The responsibility of the press in providing literature which is both healthful in tone and understandingly expressed.

2. The absolute necessity of personal supervision of the child's reading by the parents.

3. Having once obtained a good, able paper, no matter what the price, don't begrudge it a hearty support.

Five Occasions of Particular Folly

MEN show particular folly on five different occasions—when they establish their fortune on the ruin of another; when they expect to excite love by coldness, and by showing more marks of dislike than affection; when they expect to become learned in the midst of repose and pleasure; when they seek friends without making any advances of friendship; and when they are unwilling to succor their friends in distress.

Missionary Department.

By John Norton Loughborough

"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." Eccl. 11:6.

Work to be Done.

Where? What? When? Such is the response we hear from those desirous to labor in God's cause when it is announced that there is "work to be done," while those who do not love labor will profess not to have heard the call, appearing like a class of men I have heard described on this coast who traverse the country "looking for work," yet it is said "praying that they may not find any work," still expecting of course to be favored with meals and lodging free as they go.

I do not believe that our Tract and Missionary members are of that class, but indolent professors who feed on the truth and fail to do anything for others' good are the same in a spiritual sense that such are among laboring men literally. In homely phrase they here call them "Bumers."

I write to our readers, as to a class ready and desirous of filling some humble place in the cause, anxiously inquiring for some labor which they can perform. To such we will point again to what seems to us a golden field, white already for the harvester's sickle. Do you ask what it is? It is in obtaining the names of your friends or of any one who will candidly read the SIGNS for three months, either with or without paying for it. Obtain names anywhere of those who consent to read, and to such send copies of the SIGNS.

Cases too numerous to mention, come to light all the time, of persons who have embraced the truth by reading the SIGNS. For us as a people to be indifferent at such a time, in the matter of extending the circulation of the SIGNS as fully and as rapidly as possible, would certainly be very unwise. Only last week we learned of a man near Hollister who, with his wife, is keeping the Sabbath as the result of reading copies of the SIGNS which were sent to a party in this town who never read them. I have just received a letter from one of our brethren, who, a few weeks since passed through Shasta Co., and left a few copies of the SIGNS and some tracts with a family. He says, a few days since, on his return home, he called on the same family, and to his glad surprise he found they had read, decided on the truth, and the man and his wife were keeping the Sabbath. The man became a paying subscriber to the SIGNS.

Don't wait till your seed sprouts before you sow it, nor be impatient for it to grow as soon as it is in the soil, and child-like dig it up to see if it is going to grow, but make earnest efforts, trusting in God for his blessing to water the seed sown. None of you know what might result from your efforts, and eternity alone can fully declare the results.

Now is a favorable time to circulate reading matter. The hurry of summer labor is about over, evenings are rapidly growing longer, and people will have more leisure to read. Now is the time to make earnest efforts to get the paper before the people. Here is work to be done. Now, and onward indefinitely, is the time to do it. The place where to do it, is anywhere that candid readers can be found. Who will improve this golden opportunity, take hold of the work, and use this effective means of saving souls?

As explained in instructions heretofore given in the SIGNS, let those obtaining trial subscribers for three or six months, whether paid or unpaid, keep a list of said subscribers with the date of the close of their trial time, and either by calling on them, or by correspondence with them near the close of their time, ascertain whether they are interested and wish to continue the paper, and report on their cases to the SIGNS Office. Who will do this work? J. N. L.

Cure for Worldliness.

By Prof. R. E. Thompson

ONE of the most offensive and unprotestant phrases of these days is "work for Christ." It is so because of the narrow sense that men put upon it; they mean preaching, praying, distributing tracts, and the like. At the utmost they include works of mercy and charity. But in the gospel ideal of life all work is to be work for Christ, be it at lathe or lap-stone, behind the counter or at the easel. All is to be "done in the name of the Lord Jesus"—"as unto the Lord." That does not mean mixing up Christ's name with our work, or tagging on pious phrases to it in an artificial and mechanical way. It means our hearty recognition of 'Christ as the creator of our lawful callings; of his spirit as the giver of all the gifts of mind and heart that fit us to work well and honestly.

It means the recognition of his will as being wrought out in the whole movement of the world's history, in the advancement of its civilization; in the discharge of all the individual tasks that fall to men. It means the feeling in one's heart as we do simple and common things, "I am helping on God's world in my place; I am serving God's purpose here. These things are his concern, not mine only. He cares to have them done, to have the hungry fed, and the naked clothed, and life adorned and beautified by acts fine and homely, that raise it out of its squalor and sordidness. He cares to have these mouths fed, these children trained in mind and heart and hand. He cares to have me do my work in manful, simple and honest fashion." It means that we, in faith and sincerity, refer all things to the will of God.

It means what the Strasburg monk, Johann Tauler, meant, when he said, "One can spin, another can make shoes; and these are gifts of the Holy Ghost. I tell you, if I were not a priest I would esteem it a great gift that I was able to make shoes, and would try to make them so well as to be a pattern to all."

The attempt to make men unworldly by crying down their daily work as of no spiritual importance, by contrasting it with "religious" duties and the works of the world to come, has signally failed. Luther sailed on the opposite tack; he urged men to magnify their office, to make much of their work, especially by faithfully associating it with the will of God in all their thoughts of it. Now, worldliness does not really make much, but little, of it. It shows this by judging of it by a standard of success that lies entirely outside of it—the money standard. Though a merchant may have saved cities from famine by a wise foresight, he is said to have "failed" if his bank account shows a deficit. The worldly lawyer may have won great causes; his success is in his wealth alone. Not work but money-making, is become the test of success commonly applied by all the professions.

Get men to make much of their work by seeing in it a means to nobler gains than dollars and cents, and the battle is won. They will become simpler and happier and less worldly; they will have found something worth working for. They will have discovered that their daily takes hold of the unseen and the eternal; that their common strivings lead up to the highest good, when they have their eyes open to see that the lines that they draw on counters and work-benches, if prolonged, lead on to the stars. Prof. R. E. Thompson.

Health Department.

By J. H. Hanaford

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2.

“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.”

THE statement of the wise man that “out of the heart are the issues of life,” had reference primarily to the moral nature, unquestionably, yet it has a physical application of a wonderful interest. Like the tongue, it is a “little member,” not “boasting great things,” but performing an amount of labor absolutely miraculous. The human heart is about six inches in length and four in diameter, contracting, or “beating,” about seventy times, in male adults, each minute, seventy-five in females, and in children more frequently. In sickness, of course, its “beats” are ordinarily much more frequent. The design of these contractions is to send the blood to every nook and recess of the body, bearing food for bone, muscle, nerve, hair, nails, blood-vessels, etc., without which the body could not receive its nourishment even for a single day. So true is this that the puncture of the finest needle, in any part of skin, produces a flow of blood, indicating that one or more of the millions of blood-vessels of the body—some of which are too small to be seen by the unaided eye—have been wounded.

Omitting all reference to the mysterious transformation of all kinds of food into red blood—though the same food, if taken by some of the lower orders of animals, would produce white or yellow blood, instead of red, conforming to the constitution of these animals—there is enough directly connected with the heart to commend our admiration. From birth, and even before, this faithful servant toils till the latest period of mortal life, pumping day and night untiringly, contracting, and sending about two and a half ounces of blood where it is needed, oftener than once each second of existence, since a moment’s pause would endanger health, if not life. This faithful sentinel in the citadel of life is true to his charge, never yielding to fatigue or indulgence for a single minute, so important is its mission, sending the pure blood, just purified in the lungs, or fresh from the laboratory of the organs of digestion, to repair the waste of our constantly dying bodies, substituting new particles as fast as the processes of decay remove old and worn-out ones. Without this regenerating process, this daily creation, our bodies, or portions of them, would be masses of effete, dead matter, as substantially so as if life were extinct. Truly, “in the midst of life we are in death.”

To form some vague idea of the labor performed by this small organ, let it be remembered that the human body contains about thirty pounds of blood, all of which passes from the heart to the lungs for purification and to all parts of the body once in about three minutes. And what a labor! At this rate, at the close of a life of “threescore years and ten,” this small and retired organ, having no reference to its acceleration in illness and childhood, will have beat no less than 2,565,440,000 times, lifting and sending up and through the minute ramifications of the blood-vessels a weight of more than 400,000,000 pounds, or about 200,475 tons! The hearts of the patriarchs must have performed a labor equal to raising more than 2,500,000 tons! And yet this little organ never stops for repairs. If it is out of order, as it often is, it labors and must labor till its power utterly ceases, and then stop from mere exhaustion. All of this is done by pumping less than three ounces at each contraction, each stroke.

The passage of such a vast amount of liquid through the hardest metals would wear away such a heart many times during a life time, and yet this soft and yielding heart endures all this labor, and never stops for repairs. Its walls are not very thick, though the fibers are arranged to give it the greatest amount of strength, its peculiar structure, of itself, proving a great first cause. It constitutes an exception to the general principle that health results from labor and succeeding rest, since it toils on from its creation till the close of life, though constantly in danger from disease and from accidents. Though its labors are often made even much more burdensome by excesses and dissipation, especially by the use of tobacco and ardent spirits—its repairs are only secured while constantly at work, being secured by that wonderful agency sometimes called recuperation, an agency constantly endeavoring to avert and remove the injuries resulting from our almost continual physical sins. The same blood that it sends to all parts of the body also visits its own structure for its own nourishment and protection.

Again, the care manifested in the protection of this organ is worthy of remark. A slight puncture of its walls would inevitably destroy life. To guard against such a contingency, it is placed where such an accident is not likely to occur, between the lobes of the lungs in the chest, which is surrounded in its walls by the ribs and still stronger bones, where it is again enclosed in a tough covering, sometimes called the “heart-case.” The arteries, the blood-vessels carrying the blood from the heart—the cutting of the larger of which would be as destructive, if not soon tied, as that of the heart itself—are deep seated, out of the way of ordinary accidents, while the veins are on the surface to some extent, as seen on the backs of the hands, the cutting of which is attended, ordinarily, by no special harm. These arteries are known by their beating, as at the wrist, though the larger ones are too far from the surface to be felt, being constantly protected, passing under muscles and bones, or through grooves manifestly made for their protection. A good illustration of the latter is found at the elbow, at what is called the “crazy-bone,” a depression or groove in the bone of arm through which the blood-vessels safely pass the joint—instead of on the surface where they would be constantly exposed with the nerve, a slight injury of which produces a singular sensation felt even to the ends of the fingers.

It is also true, even in the event of ordinary accidents, that the blood-vessels, torn as they usually are, do not bleed as freely as they do when cut, which is still another means of saving life, and another evidence of the mercy and goodness of the Heavenly Father.

It may be well to remark that some of the diseases attributed to the heart, as “heart-burn,” “palpitation of the heart,” are generally a derangement of the stomach reacting on the heart, that organ often being charged with the sins of another. Of course it is sometimes diseased and overexcited. The excitants floating in the blood are carried to the heart and irritate and excite it to over-action, resulting in debility, producing an effect not unlike that of putting similar substances, as mustard or pepper, in the eye. All of the stimulants and excitants tend to produce an increased action of the heart, resulting, as a necessary consequence, in disease or a diseasing tendency. Whatever irritates and disturbs the stomach produces, indirectly, more or less disturbance at the heart, and indeed upon the whole body. The stomach is generally overtasked, more cruelly worked than our horses, for which we justly feel considerable sympathy and regard, though that, unlike the heart, was made for some rest. If, therefore, we would avoid these “palpitations,” “flutterings,” “burnings” etc., a little more care of the stomach, less exciting, rich, concentrated, and unwholesome food would be promotive of our health and comfort. It is enough that it should labor constantly without being abused.—DR. J. H. HANAFORD, in Household.

Teach Me to Live.

Teach me to live for self and sin no more; But use the time remaining to me yet, Not mine own pleasure seeking as before— Wasting no precious hours in vain regret.

Teach me to live! No idler let me be, But in thy service hand and heart employ; Prepared to do thy bidding cheerfully— Be this my highest and my holiest joy.

Teach me to live!—my daily cross to bear; Nor murmur though I bend beneath its load. Only be with me. Let me feel thee near— Thy smile sheds gladness on the darkest road.

Teach me to live!—and find my life in thee, Looking from earth and earthly things away; Let me not falter, but untiringly Press on; and gain new strength and power each day.

Teach me to live!—with kindly words for all— Wearing no cold, repulsive brow of gloom; Waiting with cheerful patience, till thy call Is heard to lay my earthly armor down.

A Word for the Truth.

By J. D. Bandy

I have often heard persons say that it makes no difference what we believe if we are only sincere in it. But let us go back with our readers to the case of Nadab and Abihu who "offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not, and there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them." Lev. 10:1, 2. I suppose they thought like many people of the present day that if they were only sincere it made no difference what kind of fire they offered.

But not so. The Lord had spoken concerning it and his word must be obeyed. Here is where they made the sad mistake, and should not their fate be a warning to us upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Another case, and of more recent date, was that of Ananias and Sapphira, who sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, but "brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet." They doubtless thought that if they were only sincere in bringing a part of the price of their possessions, it would make no difference if they did secretly keep back the other part.

But see how evidently the displeasure of God at such a course was manifested. "And Ananias hearing the words of Peter fell down and gave up the ghost."

This is sufficient to show to all that we must believe the truth; nay, more we must obey the truth. But what is truth? Christ says in his prayer for his disciples, "Thy word is truth." John 17:17. The words of the Lord spoken upon Mt. Sinai are the words of truth. Says the psalmist, "Thy truth shall be my shield and buckler." It is the pure truth of God that shall make us able to stand the test of the Judgment-day. Paul says in 2 Thess. 2:11, that "God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believe not the truth."

Dear reader may it be our happy lot to be numbered with those who believe and obey the truth, that we may be able to stand in that great and terrible day.

J. D. BANDY.

What are we Doing.

By L. H. Church

It is evident that the Lord has intrusted to our care a message to the world. And what does it consist of? The last note of warning to the fallen world. The last call to the marriage supper. The last call of mercy that Jesus makes to sinners. A message to warn the world of its pending doom. But what are we doing to proclaim it? What are we doing to get it before those that are hungering and thirsting for the truth? Are we doing with our might what our hands find to do, knowing that the night cometh when no man can work? Are we keeping Joel's command, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand."

What are we doing as we hear the call from every quarter, "Come over and help us?" Are we doing it? Where are those that are willing to say as did the prophet of old "Here am I, send me"? "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few." The master has said, "Go labor in my vineyard." Who is willing to go? Come let us start and prove our faith by our works. If we are not as eloquent as an Apollos, perhaps we can be as successful, in persuading some to come and hear others, as the woman of Samaria. If we cannot occupy the sphere of a Paul, perhaps we can that of an Aquila. If we cannot exhort like Peter, let us not flee like Jonah.

"Faith without works is dead." Have we not tracts that we can scatter to the four winds of heaven? Are we doing it? Have we not the instrumentalities by which we can stir up families in the four quarters of the globe? Are we doing it? Others may be, but I am afraid that I, like Peter, James, and John, am sleeping just upon the brink of the greatest event that ever transpired. L. H. CHURCH.

The Magic of Silence.

You have often heard "it takes two to make a quarrel." Do you believe it? I'll tell you how one of my little friends managed. Dolly never came to see Marjorie that there was not a quarrel. Marjorie tried to speak gently, but, no matter how hard she tried, Dolly finally made her so angry that she would soon speak sharp words too. "Oh, what shall I do?" cried poor little Marjorie. "Suppose you try this plan," said her mother: "the next time Dolly comes in seat yourself in front of the fire and take the tongs in your hand. Whenever a sharp word comes from Dolly, gently snap the tongs without speaking a word."

Soon afterward in marched Dolly to see her little friend. It was not a quarter of an hour before Dolly's temper was ruffled, and her voice was raised, and as usual she began to find fault and scold. Marjorie fled to the hearth and seized the tongs, snapping them gently. More angry words from Dolly. Snap went the tongs. More still. Snap. "Why don't you speak?" screamed Dolly in a fury. Snap went the tongs. "Speak," said she. Snap was the only answer. "I'll never, never come again, never!" cried Dolly. Away she went. Did she keep her promise? No, indeed. She came the next day, but seeing Marjorie run for the tongs, she solemnly said if she would only let them alone they would quarrel no more forever and ever.

Harsh Judgments.

If you must form harsh judgments, form them of yourself, not of others, and, in general, begin by attending to your own deficiencies first. If every one would sweep up his own walk, we should have very clean streets.

Medicine.

By Joseph Clarke

POSTED everywhere, on fences and bridges, on walls and trees, and sign posts, advertised in newspapers, and handbills, and almanacs, you will see every sort of medicine, for all sorts of diseases, for man and for beast.

The man of medical science patents his compound according to the known rules of chemistry, and his nicely wrapped bottles stand side by side with the unscientific compound of the ignorant quack, who, among the multitude of patent medicine venders, stands out as prominent as any; for who cares to investigate the matter if the compound sells well!

The shelves of the country apothecary are adorned from the floor to the ceiling with long rows of popular medicines, wrapped in showy papers, or inclosed in tawdry collored boxes or bottles, and these are sold by the hundred, or dozen, or singly, to a credulous public, who really believe that wonderful life-giving properties exist in those bottles, and boxes, and wrappers.

We will no longer wonder at the stupidity of the ancient pagans, who worshiped at druidical altars, or at the Median schools, where the future was divined from the flight of birds, or at the Roman priest, who carefully ascertained the will of the gods from the entrails of the victims slain at the pagan altars. No; the credibility and stupidity of modern society in swallowing unknown compounds of poisons with firm faith, not in Vishnoo, not in Jupiter or Venus, but, oh! horribly lower idolatry, with firmer faith, in mixtures of the most poisonous of poisons. And mankind, old and young, and horses, and cattle, and sheep, and fowl, all must be dosed with these infernal, poisonous compounds.

Jos. CLARKE.

Religious Miscellany.

By Editor

The famous monastery of St. Rufina at Rome has been converted into an educational institute for girls under the auspices of the Crown Princess Marguerita.

Dr. John Hall says that the best Sunday-schools he ever saw or heard of are in North Wales. Every North Welchman who goes to church also goes to Sunday-school.

A secular journal of Japan says:— "Christianity seems to be becoming popular and powerful, while our religions are moving in the opposite direction and are decaying."

There was a meeting of a large number of prominent clergymen of San Francisco last week, to consider a proposition for the continuance of the Union Revival Meetings. The sum of $6,000 was asked for to sustain the meetings, and the plan was abandoned.

There will probably be an influx of a new variety of immigrants before long. The Nazarines of Hungary, a powerful and growing sect of Quakers, refuse to render military service, as the Mennonites refused in Russia. The result of the matter will be that the Nazarines will have to go somewhere else. Such people are of no use to a European power just at this particular time. There are 30,000 of them in Hungary.

Another Roman Catholic Bishop has dared to lift up his voice against the monstrous assumption of Vaticanism. He is Bishop of Oporto, Portugal, and in a recent charge to his clergy he denounced in the most plainspoken language the new doctrines of the Immaculate Conception, Papal Infallibility, and the Syllabus. He also spoke in strong condemnation of some of the superstitious practices encouraged by the Ultramontanes.

A new Presbyterian chapel was dedicated in Tokio, Japan, on the 19th of June. The society was formed in 1873, and consists of 68 members. It employs two native preachers and sustains eighteen preaching places in the city. The building is 50 feet long by 30 wide, and will seat 300 persons. The dedication sermon was preached in Japanese, by Rev. Dr. Verbeck. An address was also delivered by Okano, a native Christian, in charge of a church at Yokohama.

The Rev. A. N. Somerville, accompanied by his son, has been making a missionary tour through India, visiting most of the large towns. They took an American organ with them, which proved of great use in drawing the attention of the people. This experiment has led him to think that, in missionary work among the heathen, greater use should be made of the power of sacred song. He characterized the vice, the frivolity, the Ritualism, and the infidelity prevailing among the European inhabitants of India as the greatest adversaries to the spread of the Christian religion which the missionaries had to contend against.

In the recent bloody riots at Miguel, in Central America, "one curious and incredible discovery was made after the murderous affair was over; namely, on the persons of some of the dead rebels were found passports, which, when translated, read as follows: 'Peter, open to the bearer, who died for religion, the gates of Heaven.' These were signed by George, Bishop of San Salvador, and sealed with the seal of the bishopric of San Salvador." The practical question now before the American people is this: Shall we put part of the public schools in the hands of these priests to educate future citizens in this superstition? —Christian Statesman.

The Mennonites are a sect little known beyond the few places where they are found. They derive their name from Menno Symons, a contemporary of Luther, under whose guidance they were organized and indoctrinated. In some respects they are like the Baptists, in others like the Quakers, in still others only like themselves. They are opposed to war, and consistently refuse military service, or to hold civil office. They decline to take oaths, in obedience to their interpretation of the Christian precept, "Swear not at all." They hold it sinful to receive or pay a salary for preaching, and their preachers are chosen by lot. God is held responsible for the character of their preaching, and the faithful are content to receive the gospel from their ministers as God "chooses to give it them."

The Universalists are building a very large and elegant meeting-house, to cost $200,000. Its seating capacity is 1,000. There is something very striking about organized Universalism. There is scarcely a large city on the continent where a prominent Universalist church cannot be reared. But these societies have no power of multiplication. Murry's church of New-York, expired and left no successor. And why is this? No denomination embraces so many young people. The answer is this, People are afraid of it. There is a gush of sentimentality about its talk of love and mercy that well pleases the young. But when life's duties begin, families are gathered, children grow up, the doctrines do not satisfy. The religious longings of the community, even of worldly people, are not answered. Mothers have been heard to say over and over again: "Yes, Universalism may be all very pleasant to hear, and perhaps may be true; but my children are now old enough to understand, and I prefer to have them under other influences"

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