Earlier text: American Health and Temperance AssociationReligious News and Notes.
By Editor
—The Grand Orient of Free Masons in France has expunged all recognition of God from the ritual. —The pope's newspaper at Rome, calls Dr. Taylor's new Baptist church in that city an "infernal hall." —Mr. Sankey, who is in London, contemplates laboring with ministers in their individual churches. —The Christian Radical says:—"If you want to see a flower garden in midwinter, go to church." —Dr. Leonard Woods recently died, aged seventy-two. He was President of Bowdoin College in Brunswick Maine, from 1839 to 1866. —The Supreme Court of Indiana, in a suit of a church against a member, decided that a subscription taken on Sunday cannot be collected. —The Archbishop of Canterbury receives $75,000 a year, while over 1,000 working ministers of the same church receive less than $500 each a year. —Dr. McLeod of Philadelphia has preached against the expensiveness of funerals. A reform society, on this subject, has been organized in England, with prominent individuals at its head. —The fears entertained that Russian influence in Bulgaria would be detrimental to religion and the Bible have passed away. The Russians have favored the circulation of the Bible. —There is a colony of Mormons in London, but they are not at all prosperous. The class of men enticed into it are generally from among those who find it hard work to maintain one wife and one family. —The Jewish Messenger says: It is strange how the simple word, toleration, is misunderstood. Many who are very tolerant, of people outside their sect, are often intolerant of people and opinions within it. —Dr. Curr delivered a lecture on Col. Ingersoll's ideas, on Sunday evening last, in San Francisco. He said, "Teach men to die like beasts and you go a long way toward teaching them to live like beasts." A truth well expressed. The Rev. Dr. Hemphill states that "Christianity in San Francisco is sick and palsied." There are "Doctors of Divinity" enough there to save it, if they were to be relied upon to save a sick Christianity. Upon what basis did they get their diplomas? —More than one thousand dollars have been subscribed in England to the Palestine Exploration Fund, the especial object being the exploration of the sea of Galilee. It is expected the work will begin in the spring. One immediate object is to explore the eastern side. —Several charges were dismissed in Bridgeport, Conn., made against butchers and cigar dealers for selling on Sunday, because the complaints were defective, which charged them with selling on "the Sabbath" instead of Sunday. A good item, showing that the distinction is legally recognized. —The Congregationalist complains of the statement that no collections are taken in the meetings in Prof. Swing's church in Chicago, as proof that they have not been taught to make giving a part of worship. The worst of it is that the miserly pittance given in the Sunday collection is all that is given by many church members. —A man condemned for murder in Vermont, admitted that his guilty passion was aroused in a game of forfeits, at a "sociable" of the church of which he was deacon. He laid the blame of his downfall to the kissing forfeit which he was adjudged to pay. Satan must be pleased with churches where "sociables" take the place of prayer-meetings. —Zion's Herald says the turning of a minister, called of God to preach the gospel, to dabbling in politics and venturing into money speculations, is a spectacle to men and angels. The Christian at Work, which will be facetious even over grave matters, adds, "and a spectacle to devils too." And thinks the devil has too many spectacles of that kind. —The Christian at Work, has, very sensibly, been protesting against the nonsense contained in Sunday-school Song Books. It says, "Here is a gem from a new publication called the Tree of Life:—
"I love to see my teacher smile,
I love my classmates too;
I love to learn my lessons, while
I've nothing else to do.
"The writer of such senseless trash ought to be shelved as soon as possible." —The following from the Independent is very good. "We said that in the Cathedral fair of this city, little boys and girls were tempted by priests in their sacred robes to trade by pennies, in violation of moral law and the law of the State." The Catholic Times calls this language, 'diabolical.' If it is true, not the language, but the act described by it, may be devilish; and that it is true no Catholic paper denies. The only defense we have seen, is that in certain cases, as the election of a successor to Judas and the appointment of jurors, an appeal is had to the lot. This is like defending a man on trial for killing a man with an ax, on the plea that an ax may be innocently used to chop wood. —Barnabas and Matthias did not cast lots to see which should get the other's money without earning it." Protestant church-fair holders may take notice. —The plague is reported to be very violent in Astrakhan. —Storms, disasters, losses by sea, have been unusually frequent of late. —Petroleum in great quantities has been discovered in Southern Russia. —Michigan has just dedicated a State House which cost $1,500,000; worth it, too. —The question of Chinese immigration is becoming a prominent one in Congress. —Afghanistan appears to be subdued, if not entirely destroyed as a nation. But the end is not yet. —Gold has not been on par before since the outbreak of the rebellion. In 1864 it was 285 for the dollar. —During the late cold spell ice was gathered in Atlanta, Georgia; a thing scarcely ever known before. —In nearly all parts of France there has been a snow blockade, suspending all travel and communication. —Congressional investigation is showing up a great deal of crookedness in the late elections, in the South. —A powder mill at Preakness, N. J., exploded on the 28th of December; three men were blown to pieces. —The reports of distress in England multiply. As the saying is they are altogether "too numerous to mention." —Senator Sargent's daughter has graduated in medicine and is practicing in the Freedman's Hospital in Washington. —The plague in Astrakhan is increasing and spreading. It is now reported as being very severe in some Russian towns. —We saw ice on Twelfth street, in Oakland, nearly a quarter of an inch thick, at one o'clock P. M., January 13. An unusual sight. —A quicksilver mine is reported as having been discovered in the north end of Lake Co., equal to that of the Sulphur Banks. —Dr. L. E. Hudson, a young physician of Oakland, died January 6, from inhaling poisonous gases while engaged in dissection. —Reports against the working of female suffrage in Wyoming are denied by resident witnesses. They say elections are conducted with greater propriety. —The Erie Railway has completed their third rail, making a narrow as well as a broad gauge from Buffalo to New York. The distance measures 425 miles. —The hostile Cheyennes confined at Fort Robinson made a dash for liberty on the night of Jan. 9 and more than forty were shot by the military who pursued them. —On Sunday, Dec. 22, Fox's Variety Theatre in Philadelphia was opened for a "full dress rehearsal;" a crowd was present. The manager was arrested on Monday. —The loss in wages by a strike at Oldham, England, amounted to $300,000, besides the expenditure of Union funds, and the loss to capital by the suspension of four million spindles. —The city of Cork refused to receive Gen. Grant. That is ungrateful. The United States have received a great number from that country whom we could as well spare as they could spare Gen. Grant. —A Chinaman connected with the embassy in Paris, has passed his examination for the degree of Bachelor of Letters, though he has been there but one year, and knew not a word of the language when he came there. —Mrs. Catherine Roe, of Washington, Orange Co., N. Y. brought suit at White Plains against George Eppell, for damages for the sale of ale to her husband, recovering $200. The Judge allowed her 5 per cent, additional. —There has lately been a great uprising of students in Russia. Hundreds of arrests were made, and some injured by the soldiers. It originated in the Medical Schools on account of some new orders against which the students protested. —At the Sulphur Banks Quicksilver mine in Lake Co., Cal., Daniel Sullivan fell from a scaffold into a shaft and into a stream of water which was a temperature of 180 degrees. He was taken out immediately, but soon died, being so badly scalded. —A Moscow telegram says that an express train on the Rostow and Vladi-Kavkas Railway recently fell off an embankment. Twenty persons were killed, including General Hintze and several functionaries and officers of the army of the Caucasus. Thirty-eight persons were injured. —Mrs. Stevens said, in a temperance meeting in San Francisco, January 9th, there were no less than 4,000 places in that city where liquor is sold, where at least $40,000 are spent each day, and yet men are starving here for want of work." And so it must continue while temperance people denounce prohibition. —John S. Morton, President of the Permanent International Exhibition Company of Philadelphia, and Samuel P. Huhn, Treasurer, have been sent to States Prison for ten years each, for fraudulently issuing stocks which they used, to the amount of $2,000,000. Stokes, the secretary, their associate in crime, is in an insane asylum. Morton was also President of the Market Street Railway, grandson of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and late a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. Hold the Fort.
By James White
SECOND RESPONSE TO APPEAL FOR BATTLE CREEK AND OAKLAND HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
BROTHER AND SISTER DARIUS AND SARAH REYNOLDS, from Illinois, now sojourning at Austin, Texas, send $40 as a New Year's present to the churches at Battle Creek and Oakland,—$20 each. They write, Jan. 1, 1879:— “Having noticed in the Review your urgent appeal, and that of Sister White, for help to relieve the Oakland church from a heavy debt, and also for more aid for the Tabernacle at Battle Creek, we have concluded to send you a donation of $40, to be equally divided between the two. We do not much favor the plan of building churches and then calling for outside help; but these cases may be exceptions. Certainly it would greatly embarrass the work all along the coast to lose the Oakland church. “I once gave $100 to help pay for a church bought by the Free Methodists in Chicago. It was purchased for $6,000, and was said to be worth $15,000. An agent was sent to solicit aid from Eastern Conferences, but he failed to get up an interest, or the people felt too poor to help, so the church went back to its former owners. But I believe this will not be the case with us. As long as our people have such stirring appeals for help, and such examples of liberality and consecration as you have given, the work, with the blessing of God, will succeed.” These dear aged friends of the truth have commenced the new year well. We put them down good for $10 each month for each of these churches until the debts shall be paid. All remittances for these houses in money orders or drafts should be made payable to James White, and the envelopes should be addressed, Elder James White, Denison, Texas, Box P. Small sums in bank notes should be sent direct to either Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich., or to Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. J. W. Christmas Offerings.
By James White
GOOD NEWS FROM BATTLE CREEK AND OAKLAND; GRAND SUCCESS. WE are happy to learn from W. C. W. that the Christmas tree at Battle Creek, Mich., bore fruit in the form of cash amounting to more than seven hundred dollars. This is better than we expected. But we are astonished to learn from J. E. W. that the Oakland, Cal., church have done even more. Its numbers are about one-third the Battle Creek church, and most of these are very poor. There is not a tithe the property in the Oakland Church that there is in the Battle Creek Church, and yet their tree bore one hundred dollars more than the Battle Creek tree. If Battle Creek has done better than we expected, Oakland has done BEST. It is understood everywhere that California is a grand State for fruit; but that one tree in mid-winter should produce fruit to the value of more than eight hundred dollars!! Astonishing? Indeed it is. Hold the fort? We imagine we hear an affirmative response from all true hearts, not only all along the Pacific slope, from San Diego on the south to British America on the north, but from every part of our good country. The debts shall be lifted from these two houses, built for God, at the two great centers of the work. We wait with happy solicitude for full reports from all parts of the wide field. When these houses shall be free from debt, a pamphlet for each will be published, containing the names of the donors and the amount each has given, and a copy will be furnished to each donor free. OVER $1000 were gathered from our Oakland tree. We sent a hasty report at first of the money only, because we did not know the value of other gifts. We have seen a copy of this monthly, which is our long time friend, the Health Reformer, with another name. Our first remark was upon the antiquated appearance of the new title page. But, why not? It is Vol. 14. And who ever before heard of a first class health journal living to be so old as that? And yet it need not dress up with such an appearance of old age, for it has not yet got its growth. It is decidedly a growing magazine. Judging from a hasty look we think this first, under its new name, is an excellent number. We used to exchange with the Reformer, and we are sure it cannot be intentional that we have received no copy of Good Health. Please remember us. AT our last annual meeting, the General Sabbath-school Association recommended the publication of a weekly Instructor. This sheet is now published in behalf of the Sabbath-school interests, and its importance to the schools cannot be overestimated. Every Sabbath-school (and there should be one in every company of S. D. Adventists) should have a club of the weekly Instructor. The question is often asked,— WHAT SHALL WE DO FOR LESSON BOOKS?
We have not enough for all the scholars, and can buy no more from the Office. We answer, Take a club of the weekly Instructor. The Instructor will contain weekly Lessons for children, designed for those between the ages of ten and fifteen; and Lessons for youth, suited to those who are fifteen years old and upwards. Once a month the Lesson Sheets for Bible Classes will be placed in the Instructor as a Supplement. Thus everything we have in the line of lessons will be found in the Instructor except “Lessons for Little Ones,” which is published in book form. The Instructor will also contain much interesting and instructive matter relating to the Sabbath School interests, besides its usual amount of original and carefully selected reading, with occasional letters from the children. Do not send for too small clubs. You should not estimate how many copies you need by the number of families that send children to the Sabbath School. Clubs of sufficient size should be ordered, so that each scholar capable of studying for himself can have a sheet, and so that your neighbors and their children who may be induced to come in and take part with you, may each have a copy. to our ministers, tract-society officers, and Sabbath-school officers especially, to immediately take hold of this matter. A responsibility rests upon you who have influence. God will hold you responsible not only for the influence you have, but for what you might have if faithful in these things. Therefore, in view of the day of judgment and the salvation of precious souls for whom Christ died, we appeal to you to take an interest in these matters which materially affect the usefulness of our Sabbath-schools. Usually, churches should have not less than twenty-four copies. This will cost you but one dollar per month, or three dollars per quarter. Small churches or companies need twelve copies. This will be but fifty cents per month, or one dollar and a half per quarter. Families living at a distance from the church, and having a different post-office, can have their copy or copies mailed to their address for ten cents extra per copy, when ordered through the superintendent. The object is that the children may keep up with the class and recite at home, in case they cannot attend the school every Sabbath. Individuals living alone, who wish to arrange for a Sabbath-school for their neighbors and neighbors’ children, can subscribe for a club of five copies at sixty cents each. This would cost but twenty-five cents per month, or seventy-five cents per quarter. The money for their subscriptions can be paid to the librarian, or sent directly to the Office. In the latter case, the tract society will take no responsibility in the matter. We send this week to each of our tract-society officers, ministers, and librarians, sample copies of the weekly Instructor, with blanks for orders for clubs of the Instructor. We ask for the hearty co-operation of every lover of present truth, that before February, 1879, we may have 15,000 copies on their way to the different schools and homes of our people. A SCORNER seeketh wisdom and findeth it not. Pledges to the Pacific Press.
By Isaac D. Van Horn
Dear Brethren of the North Pacific Conference:—You have, no doubt, read the articles in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, showing the great need of means at this time to pay debts and carry on the work at the SIGNS Office. The time has come when those of you in this Conference, who have made pledges to the Stock of the Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association, should make a special effort to pay those pledges. I am aware of the favor granted you of an extension of time in which to pay these pledges, at the last session of our Conference. But notwithstanding this, if you will come forward now and pay your pledges, you will render great and much needed assistance to the cause at this time. Now as there is pressing need of means at the SIGNS Office to pay interest and debts, you are invited to make an earnest effort immediately to fulfill your vows. Send your money direct by draft or money orders to the Pacific Press, Oakland, California, and report the same to the Conference Secretary, Mrs. A. P. Van Horn, Salem, Oregon. I. D. VAN HORN, Pres. N. P. Conf. Eld. Waggoner appoints to preach in Oakland Sabbath, 18th, and San Francisco Sunday evening, the 20th. 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 Tuesday 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. Business Department.
By Editor
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully," (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10. $2.00 EACH. J C Foster 6-1, A Farrington 6-1, C Townsene 6-1, Sarah E Barrette 6-1, J A McCulluch 6-1, J Richardson 6-13, Belle Jennings 6-1, W L Wade 6-1, Mrs Mary Gould 6-1, Mrs C L Huddle 6-1, Mrs P J Striplin 6-1, J P Farnsworth 6-1, Susan Shaw 6-1, Jane Cooledge 6-1, Catherine E Millard 6-1, Wm Levitt 6-1, Sarah Halstead 6-1, James Gars n 6-1, Mrs H M Wallace 6-1, Martin Shepherd 6-1, Elisher Phipps 6-1, H J Spicer 6-1, S S Coston 6-1, J B Chamberlin 6-1, Nicholas Ownby 6-1, Jeremiah Wagy 6-1, Sarah Eldridge 6-5, E Moore 6-1, Mary A Higley 6-1, P M Partridge 6-1, Mrs Betsey Landon 6-1, Frank D Starr 6-1, Mrs W E Lowrey 6-1. $1.50 EACH. C W McCaffee 6-1, Mrs Mary Hanson 6-1, Thos Gilfillin 6-1, Rollin Rease 6-1, Nannie J Dye 6-1, Mrs Louisa Johnson 6-5, R S Hensley 6-1, Sarah E Cane 6-1, Mrs Sample 6-1, Benj T Richards 6-1, Mrs Sarah Smith 6-1, P Morrison 6-1, Geo Smiley 6-1, Wm F Stewart 6-1, Wm Patterson 6-1, Mrs A L Kenyon 6-1, Benjamine Turner 6-1, Henry A Wiltsa 6-1, Wilbur Tenny 6-1, Philetus Purdy 6-1, Alex McDonald 6-1, S T Beardslee 6-1, James Woof 6-1, Clara Z Woodworth 5-1, B L Roberts 6-1, Peter Cranson 6-1, Thomas P Cranson 6-7. $1.20 EACH. Mrs L A Sawyer 6-1, Winny A Kember 6-1, H A Anderson 6-1, Royal Phelps 6-1, Albert Olsen 6-1, Henry Young 6-1, James W Carpenter 6-1, Alvin Record 6-1, Norwalk O Reading Room 6-1, Orin Moore 6-1, Elmer Newman 6-1, Venesse William 6-1, Prof H Olcott 6-1, Daniel Tripp 6-1, D H Lamson 6-1, D A Wellman 6-1, M F Mullen 6-1, C H Chapman 6-1. $1.00 EACH. Harriet Horniday 5-33, Ira Abbey 5-30, Joquin Puls 5-26, Mrs Billett 5-26, Mrs C Stilwell 5-25. 75 CTS EACH. C T Humphry 5-28, E S Thomas 5-28, Jerome Tubbs 5-28, Mrs R J Lane 5-28, Thomas Cartwright 5-28, B Ward 5-28. $50 CTS EACH. Wm R Adams 5-15, Frank Hodges 5-15, J Souck 5-15, Mrs Gold and Brown 5-20, Mother Rhoda White 5-20, Mrs John Freeland 5-16. MISCELLANEOUS. A Hamilton (4 copies) 4.80 6-1, W S Jackson 2.50 6-1, S F Philbrick 4.00 6-1, Joseph Collard (16 copies) 19.20 6-1, John F Chubb (10 copies, 12.00 6-1, Christopher Pierce (12 copies) 14.40 6-1, Jas Lacy (5 copies) 6.00 6-1, A D Lacy (8 copies) 9.60 6-1, L G Moore (10 copies) 12.00 6-1, D A Owen (6 copies) 7.20 6-1, A A Fairfield (10 copies) 12.00 6-1, Mary A Lewis (9 copies) 10.80 6-1, Ella Perkins (11 copies) 13.20 6-1, D Malin (10 copies) 12.00 6-1, W C Hebner (2 copies) 2.40 6-1, G O States (2 copies) 2.40 6-1, J S Chapman (2 copies) 2.40, 6-1 A E Hall (2 copies) 2.40, 6-1, A Lartue (2 copies) 3.00 6-1, G P Sanford (4 copies) 6.00 6-1, H F Terwilliger 25c 5-1, O S Stevens (7 copies) 8.40 6-1, N G Dana (5 copies) 6.00 6-1, R H Brock (3 copies) 3.60, 6-1, Edna Perkins (7 copies) 8.40 6-1, Mrs Berenice Ayers (2 copies) 2 40 6-1, Mrs Emily S Hbben (46 copies) 55.20 6-1, Geo Foreman (4 copies) 4.80 6-1 Mrs C Filton 2.85 6-1 James Plum (10 copies) 12.00 6-1 F A Drake (10 copies) 12.00 6-1, Delia E Walker (7 copies) 8.40 6.1, Thomas Bickle (5 copies) 6.00 6-1, Albert Cash (4 copies) 4.80 6-1, Elmer Cash (2 copies) 2.40 6-1, David Quinn (2 copies) 2.40 6-1, Sarah J Merrill (2 copies) 2.40 6-1, Allen Moon (2 copies) 2 40 6-1, J M Litle (5 copies) 6.00 6-1, H C Bullis 60c 5-38, T M Faddis 60c 5-28, A J Green (12 copies) 14.40 6-1, San Francisco Church (32 copies) 48. 0 6-1, San Francisco Church (8 copies) 12.00 6-1, Mrs L A Bramhall (10 copies) 12.00 6-1. CALIFORNIA PUBLISHING FUND. A Sister $20.00, A T Stickney 90.00, R Stickney 100.00, T H Starbuck 100.00, Wm Butcher 50.00. Cal T and M Society $43.90, N P T and M Society 50.00. H H and L A Bramhall $25.00, Barbara C Stickney 5.00, Silas C Stickney 5.00, Wm Butcher 25.00. Woodland church $65.00, Mrs Weisby 1.00, M L Kenedy 5.00 Geo Kenedy 1.00, Susan Shann 1.00, Napa 4.10, Mrs Bets y Landon 2.00, H H Bramhall 1.00 L A Bramhall 1.00, S G Knight 1.00, Mary E Dunn 75c, Susan B Williams 25c, Mrs H Donaldson 25 60 Mrs S Jordan 5.00, I D Van Horn 5.00, T H Starbuck 2.50, R A Darr 1.00, A T Jones 50c F E P Jones 50c, Mrs Lenox 50c, Mrs M S Stevens 1.00, Millie Stevens 1.00.