Such a flutter as the boys and girls of Mr. Prescott's class were in! They had been given what they called a riddle, and as yet not one of them had guessed it. It was simply a word, about which they were each to write a paper to be read at the Wednesday exercises. The word was "Lutetia." Not one of the thirteen knew what it meant.
"It is a girl's name!" Alice said, tossing back her curls. "I suppose she was some old queen or princess, who wore millions of dollars' worth of diamonds, and let her subjects starve."
But the others exclaimed against this. It wasn't spelled right for the name of a woman. Fanny Lewis was sure of this, for her own grandmother's name was Letitia. Who should know better than she how to spell it?
So they wondered, and argued, and looked in the dictionary in vain, and groaned over Mr. Prescott's rule that none of them should ask their elders.
"How are we to know things if we can't ask our fathers and mothers, or our big brothers home from College?" Kate Briggs wondered.
"Books are the fellows to ask," said Stevie Brooks. So they asked all the books they could think of that would be likely to know, and learned nothing. Wednesday morning came, and the class were ready—for fun. Every one of them had made up a story about "Lutetia," and put it on paper; and each of them meant to declare that to the best of their knowledge it was the original story. One had made her a queen; another a nun; another a wonderful old grandmother; another a Gypsy fortune-teller.
Nora Williams, the youngest girl in the class, and, if it must be confessed, the most unpopular (I don't know for what reason, unless because she wore faded, ill-fitting clothes, and thick boots), had been out of school for a week, and only appeared again on Wednesday. Somebody asked her if she had her paper ready for the afternoon.
Yes, she said she met Mr. Prescott on the street, and he told her the subject, but she hadn't more than a dozen lines; she hadn't had time to study it out. Nobody was intimate enough with her to ask what she had found to study, so they contented themselves with giggling, and wondered what her dozen lines were about. It so happened that her name was the last one called, and she sat in wide-eyed wonder while the rest of her class read their queer, made-up stories, written as though they were true.
"Mine isn't at all like the others," she said doubtfully to Mr. Prescott, as she went to the platform, "it's just the truth."
Then she read simply a statement that "Lutetia" was just a huddle of mud huts, and nobody knew it was going to be wonderful. Then she told a little bit about the city after it received its new name; how the river Seine wound around and made two little islands, named "La Cite" and "St. Louis;" and that it was on the St. Louis side that the poor little forgotten Lutetia set up its mud huts. Then she said just a word or two about the wonderful "Hotel des Invalides," built for poor and wounded soldiers, and large enough to hold eight thousand of them at a time. Only a very little did Nora know about Lutetia, it is true, nor about Paris either, for that matter; but the beauty of it was, as Mr. Prescott said, that little was the truth, and could be added to whenever Nora had a chance to learn more.
"How in the world did she find it out?" wondered the rest when they met to talk it over. They decided to ask her.
"Why," she said, "mother sent me on an errand to Dr. Carter's, and I waited in the library while the doctor wrote a note for me to leave at the office, and I saw an encyclopedia there, and I happened to open it at Paris, and I happened to see the name "Lutetia." and there I found all I know." Nora was still a few minutes, and then, with her eyes very bright, said:—
"I don't know whether I ought to say the rest or not; but I don't know as it is quite right to say it all happened. I didn't know what to write, and I had no books to help me, so I prayed about it every night and morning, and I think maybe God let the encyclopedia open to just that place."
Some of the boys laughed, and one of them whistled, and another said, "You're a queer chick!" But some way, they all liked Nora better after that.—The Pansy.
The Memory of Children.
THE farmer has his crib wherein he stores his grain; the merchant has his store-house wherein he lays up his merchandise; and every lad has a shelf in his brain whereon he puts all his knowledge. How curious it is that a boy, like a merchant, can take account of stock and ascertain how much he has gained in the knowledge of things. But if he should undertake to make an inventory of all, it would take years to complete it, if indeed his lifetime would be sufficient for the purpose.
Those who have most carefully considered the immense number of facts that a small boy has learned, are of the opinion that a lad at the age of five years has then acquired more than he can by any possibility add to during the remaining years of his life.
He retains in his memory every separate fact. He has mastered the ordinary, every-day laws of his being. He has become familiar with the ordinary laws of nature. He has learned language, an achievement which has not been attained by anyone over five years of age. Of some twenty-eight well attested cases of infants having been carried away by wild animals and recovered, not one could be taught to talk.
And further, a child learns several languages at the same time with the same ease with which he masters one. If the father, mother, and nurse be of different nationalities, and each speaks to the child in his veracular, he learns the three languages without apparent effort, and never fails of addressing each in the proper tongue. It is otherwise with adults.
It is said of a certain missionary, who devoted much time to the acquisition of a foreign language, that with all his effort he was outstripped by his children, who were allowed to come in contact with the children of the natives, and that he was obliged frequently to call his little ones to supply a word. It was a child who corrected his parent's prayer that "God would eat the Indians," the words eat and save being similar.
The mind and memory of a child has no affinity for principles. It deals only in facts. Rules are to them a hindrance. Age has recourse to association to assist memory; but children have no such occasion. For this reason a child can learn to spell much more easily than a man. It is seldom that a man can wholly correct his lack of early education in this regard.
There was a colored school in the city of Providence some years ago, in which the younger scholars were restless, on account of the restraint to which they were not accustomed. The teacher deputized one of the older pupils to hear them spell, as a means of quiet.
In a short time they became famous in this particular, and the High School would hardly have dared to meet them in a spelling-match. The writer, together with the late Dr. Arnold, selected one hundred of the hardest words in the dictionary with which to examine these little girls and boys—such words as daguerreotype, belleslettres, diarrhœa, and the like—and no failure was made till the ninety-eighth word.
Had rules been given them for doubling the consonants, or in any other regard, they would not only have been of no advantage, but a hindrance. If a child is compelled to learn rules instead of facts, it is an occasion for the interference of the society to prevent cruelty to children. Was there ever a child who so overcame the laws of its being as to be interested in grammar, which is nothing but rules? If so, it was phenomenal.—Examiner.
The Home Circle.
By Margaret E. Sangster
THE RIVER.
FAR up on the mountain the river begins—
I saw it, a thread in the sun.
Then it grew to a brook, and through dell and through nook
It dimpled and danced in its fun.
A ribbon of silver, it sparkled along
Over meadows be-sprinkled with gold;
With a twist and a twirl, and a loop and a curl
Through the pastures the rivulet rolled.
Then on to the valleys it leaped and it laughed,
Till it stronger and stiller became;
On its banks the tall trees rocked their boughs in the breeze,
And the lilies were tapers aflame.
The children threw pebbles, and shouted with glee
At the circles they made in the stream;
And the white fisher boat, sent so lightly afloat,
Drifted off like a sail in a dream.
Deep-hearted, the mirth of its baby life past,
It toiled for the grinding of corn;
Its shores heard the beat of the lumberman’s feet;
His raft on its current was borne.
At inlet and cove where its harbors were fair,
Vast cities arose in their pride,
And the wealth of their streets came from beautiful fleets,
Forth launched on its affluent tide.
The glorious river swept on to the sea,
The sea that engirdles the land;
But I saw it begin in a thread I could spin,
Like a cobweb of silk, in my hand.
And I thought of the river that flows from the throne;
Of the love that is deathless and free;
Of the grace of his peace that shall ever increase,
Christ-given to you and to me.
Far up on the mountain and near to the sky,
The cup full of water is seen,
That is brimmed till its tide carries benisons wide
Where the dales and the meadows are green.
Is thy soul like a cup? Let its little be given,
Not stinted nor churlish to One
Who will fill thee with love, and thy faithfulness prove,
And bless thee in shadow and sun.
—Margaret E. Sangster.
"More Than a Hundred Pounds."
"Henry," said his father, one day, "can you make up your mind to live at home and be a farmer?"
"I would rather be a tanner than a farmer," replied Henry.
"Very well," responded his father, who was willing to let Henry follow his own tastes, as he was now seventeen years old. "Very well, my son, I will try to find a place for you."
Very shortly after a place was found for Master Henry with a good Quaker. When the youth presented himself at the tannery, the honest Quaker said:—
"Henry, if thee will be a good boy, I will do well by thee; if not, I will send thee home again. All the bargain that I will make by thee is that thee shall do as well by me as I do by thee."
"Very well, sir," said Henry, "I will try what I can do."
Henry now went to work with a hearty good will. He worked hard, read his Bible, was steady, honest, and good-natured. The Quaker liked him. He liked the Quaker. Hence the Quaker was satisfied. Henry was happy, and the years of his apprenticeship passed pleasantly away.
Just before Henry became of age, his master said to him:—
"Henry, I think of making thee a nice present when thy time is out."
Henry smiled pleasantly at this scrap of news, and said, "I shall be happy to receive any gift you may please to make me, sir."
Then the Quaker looked knowingly at Henry, and added, "I cannot tell thee now what the present is to be, but it shall be worth more than a hundred pounds to thee!"
"More than a hundred pounds!" said Henry to himself, his eyes sparkling at the thought of such a costly gift. "What can it be?"
That was the puzzling question which buzzed about like a bee in Henry's brain from that time until the day before he was of age. On that day the Quaker said to him:—
"Henry, thy time is out to-morrow; I will take thee and thy present home to-day."
Henry breathed freely on hearing these words. Dressing himself in his best suit, he soon joined the Quaker, but could see nothing that looked like a gift worth more than a hundred pounds. He puzzled himself about it all the way, and said to himself, "Perhaps the Quaker has forgotten it."
At last they reached Henry's home. After he had been greeted by his friends, the Quaker turned to him and said:—
"Henry, I will give thy present to thy father."
"As you please, sir," said Henry, now on the very tiptoe of expectation.
"Well," said the Quaker, speaking to Henry's father, "Thy son is the best boy I ever had."
Then turning to Henry, he added, "This is thy present, Henry—A GOOD NAME."
Henry blushed; perhaps he felt a little disappointed because his golden visions were so suddenly spirited away. But his sensible father was delighted, and said to the Quaker, who was smiling a little waggishly:—
"I would rather hear you say that of my son, sir, than to see you give him all the money you are worth; for a 'good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.'"
Religious Notes.
By Editor
-Barnes, the "mountain evangelist," is drawing great crowds in Indianapolis, by the excitement which he has raised.
-Rev. Otis Gibson, of San Francisco, in his sermon before the Methodist Conference, held in Oakland last week, urged his hearers to work together for the preservation and enforcement of the Sunday Law.
-Dr. Edward B. Pusey, of the Church of England, died in London, Sept. 16. From his zeal in advocating ritualism, that movement took his name, and was known as Puseyism. Although nominally a Protestant, he was actually a Catholic, believing all the Catholic dogmas, and was instrumental in leading many Protestants to the Romish Church. Of him, it was truly said that "he ate the bread of England, and worked for Rome." Could his influence die with him, the world would be better off.
-The Vidette states that Judge Terry, the author of the anti-Sunday plank in the Democratic platform, "has got them into difficulty with God about the fourth commandment." We think our contemporary must be troubled with defective vision. We have seen nothing in the platform of either party concerning the fourth commandment, although they have had a good deal to say about Sunday. It is a fact, however, that most of the people, the Vidette included, are directly opposed, in practice, to the fourth commandment; and we have the authority of the Scriptures for saying that, unless they act in harmony with its teachings, they will get into serious and irremediable difficulty with its author.
-A young Methodist preacher, who had a tendency to "liberality," was advised by his presiding elder to devote himself to the work of saving souls, and the Cal. Christian Advocate, says: "We think first of all, that a young minister should be a religious man, and then if he thinks his business is not chiefly to save souls, he ought instantly to quit preaching, and go to selling dry goods, or to some other profitable work. We, too, join the old elder, and with considerable modesty advise young ministers to try to save the people. O friends, for Christ's sake, let Darwin and Huxley alone, and preach Jesus and the resurrection." To all of which we say, Amen. We are only too glad to be able to agree with our contemporary.
-The S. S. Times says there was never a country in greater danger from love of riches and the pursuit of wealth, than our own, and quotes the following from the American: "That covetousness is a more abounding sin in this land and age, than even intemperance, we shall not stop to prove. Any who may ask proofs of it show that they have made very scanty observation of the moral condition of the country. Not only does it pervade 'the world' outside the churches; it is a deadly dry-rot in the churches themselves. So low have we got, that the right of a man to give his whole energy to getting money for money's sake, is no longer questioned outside the pulpit, and rarely enough in it." And in this, too, the Bible student sees evidence that we are in the last days. See Jas. 5:1-3.
-It seems that in the mind of Rev. E. H. King, pastor of the First M. E. Church, of Birmingham, Ala., the privileges of the gospel are to be accorded only to white persons. Color, and not character, is the test of fellowship. Very lately, Rev. C. L. Harris, pastor of the African M. E. Church, attended a service at the church of which Mr. King is pastor, and his presence caused some trouble, whereupon Mr. King issued the following card in the local paper: "In view of certain occurrences, and a misapprehension which exists in the minds of some, I desire to make the following statement through the columns of your paper: The First Methodist Episcopal Church in this city, of which I am pastor, is for white persons exclusively, and colored persons are not invited or expected to attend." That a man should occupy a pulpit, is a libel on the Christianity that he pretends to teach.
-Talk no more of the blindness of the early disciples, in supposing that the Messiah was about to overthrow the Roman power, and sit on the throne as a temporal ruler, and that they would be advanced to high rank. In this nineteenth century, a man writes to the New York Weekly Witness, on the subject, "Shall Christians Vote?" and says: "If the worldlings are the only ones who ought to vote and enter politics, and rule the nation generally, what will Christ do for officers when his kingdom shall rule the whole earth?" Christ said: "My kingdom is not of this world," and "Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's," plainly showing a distinction between earthly governments and his own. But modern Christians ignore this distinction, and think that by their votes they can Christianize this nation. The blindness of the Jews was slight, compared with that of their modern followers.
-The religio-political leaders are piling up the authority for Sunday-keeping. One of them in a recent lecture said: "Sunday, as a day of rest and recreation, is not a new thing with us. It was not first discovered and introduced in America. No, the Spanish Cavaliers brought it with them from Spain to Florida; the Hollanders engrafted it upon the old Holland purchase in New York and Pennsylvania; the descendants and followers of Frederick the Great planted it upon American soil and gave it root upon every spot where their industrious hands have touched our land; the Mayflower landed it upon Plymouth Rock; and France gave it expression in Louisiana. Indeed, it is a custom of our country, brought here from the fatherland. Dear to all men, and injurious to none." That is a formidable array, but we have something stronger than that for the true Sabbath. The Creator of the heavens and earth, in whose sight "the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance," has said to all men, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work." Whom shall we follow, the creature or the Creator?
-If it were not so serious a matter it would be amusing to notice the inconsistencies in the popular comments on Mark 13, the subject of the international S. S. lessons. The Independent, on verse 25, makes "the powers that are in the heavens," mean the literal constellations. But on the verse following, "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds," &c., it says: "Probably still figurative. We cannot tell how far the figure goes; very likely through the whole description." That is, Christ's coming in clouds is figurative. Let us see how that interpretation will stand. In Acts 1:9-11 we are told that when Christ ascended, a cloud received him out of the sight of his disciples, and that two men in white apparel told them that he would come again in the same manner that they had seen him go into heaven. That is, that he would come in clouds, personally and visibly. See Rev. 1:7. But we are told that his coming in clouds is figurative; then of course his ascent must have been figurative. Then he didn't really ascend. But perhaps it was only a figurative Christ that is spoken of, and the angels were also figurative, and the disciples existed only in figure. Who knows? Oh, for a little sanctified common sense in Biblical interpretation!
-The Catholic Mirror, of Baltimore, announces the organization of the Catholic American Union of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the political objects of which are "to support honest and just measures for the general office, regardless of their religious belief or opinions, and to oppose men who deny to their Catholic fellow-citizens equal rights and liberty before the law." This certainly seems to be a harmless society, but one of the conditions of membership is this: "no one can become a member of this organization except he acknowledge implicit obedience in spiritual affairs to the constituted ecclesiastical head of the diocese." And the creed which all members of the Catholic Church are required to subscribe to, contains the following: "I promise and swear true obedience to the Bishop of Rome, successor to St. Peter, prince of the apostles and vicar of Jesus Christ." When it is remembered that with Catholics Rome is always chief, it will be seen that the organization is not so harmless as it seems. It will be objected that this obedience required is only in spiritual matters; but ecclesiastical and civil matters blend together in the Catholic mind, as shown by the history of the past. In this, however, they do not differ much from the majority of the Protestants of to-day.
Arrangements for Camp-Meeting.
By M. C. Israel
FARES.
ALL who go by rail will have to come to San Francisco first. The only reduction on the Central Pacific Railroad from usual rates, is by chartered cars. Seating capacity, fifty adults. For children from five to twelve, half fare. Round trip as follows:—
Woodland, $194 for car; to each person.....$ 3.88
Fresno, $435, “ “ “ “ “ ..... 8.75
Lemoore, $550, “ “ “ “ “ ..... 11.00
SACRAMENTO.
Our friends from this place can take advantage of rates already existing, which are as low as $1.50 each way.
SALINAS AND CASTROVILLE.
Tickets for the camp-meeting and return will be sold at these stations,—$8.80 from Salinas, and $7.00 from Castroville, including camp-meeting baggage; no reduction can be obtained for intermediate places, except for a larger number than will be likely to come.
HEALDSBURGH AND SAN FRANCISCO.
The San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad Company have reduced the fare for us to $4.00 round trip, including 100 pounds of baggage, each. They have also kindly offered to give us a free pass for two tons of our camp-meeting freight, each way.
Our brethren will find it best to have one of their number to each car, or each company to attend to the baggage and have it checked as if it was all his own. By doing this you will not be likely to have to pay anything extra for baggage. Some having more and some less than the rate allowed will not average over the 100 pounds each.
TENTS.
All who wish to be provided with tents, already pitched on the ground when they arrive, had better apply by letter, or otherwise, to the undersigned or G. D. Hager, Pacific Press, Oakland, at once, so that provision can be made in time. The rates will be as usual.
Trains leave San Francisco for Healdsburgh at 7:10 A. M., 4:50 P. M., via San Rafael. 2:30 P. M., via Donahue.
M. C. ISRAEL.
News and Notes.
By Editor
—At Sevenford, County Mayo, Ireland, a thousand ejectment decrees have been issued against the tenants of one estate.
—The town of Susanville, Cal., was nearly destroyed by fire on the 23rd inst. It is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary.
—A contract has been signed for the laying of a telegraph cable between Lisbon, Portugal, and the United States, touching at the Azores.
—Heavy floods have occurred in Northern Italy. The city of Trent is submerged. Verona is also inundated. Very many houses have been carried away. No loss of life is reported.
—At every station on the Russian railroads is a grievance book, in which the traveler may inscribe his wrongs in any language he likes, and which is periodically read by the authorities.
—On a recent Sunday, the visitors at Ridgeway Park, a summer resort near Philadelphia, drank $3,300 worth of beer. That is, they paid that much for beer; it was really worth nothing.
—Vast prairie fires have been raging in Western Nebraska. The heavy cattle ranges are in the devastated section, and unless rain comes, great loss is expected. Two men were fatally burned.
—Dispatches from the South say that the yellow fever epidemic shows no decrease. At Brownsville, Tex., the river has driven many citizens from their homes. A large part of the city is inundated.
—A considerable part of Iceland is suffering from famine, and there seems to be no means of getting relief. An extremely cold winter, followed by a summer in which the crops were scanty has caused the loss of most of the live-stock.
—Several companies of troops have been ordered to Fort Douglas, near Salt Lake, Utah. It is intimated that the reason for strengthening the forces at Fort Douglas is anticipated trouble from the Mormons during the approaching election, which is to be under the supervision of the Utah Commissioners.
—An applicant for naturalization, who appeared before a judge in San Francisco, in response to the question, "Do you believe in a Republican form of government?" replied, "No, sir; I don't believe in any goverment except my church." When the question was repeated, the same answer was given, and his application was denied.
—The papers contain the account of the carrying off of a little child who was playing near her home in Brooklyn, N. Y. After three days, during which time the police searched in vain, the child was accidentally found by a private citizen. For many reasons, besides the danger of kidnapping, the street is an unsafe place for children.
—It has been deemed a fact worthy of telegraphing across the continent, and probably to Europe, that President Arthur, in default of other conveyance, actually rode in a lumber wagon, and the chronicler adds that "the President was not ashamed to be seen in his traveling rig." If he had been, Americans would have good cause to be ashamed of him.
—The heaviest rain-storm that has been known for many years has prevailed in the East, for several days. Bridges, houses, and railroad tracks have been washed away, and travel has been suspended. The storm seems to have been most severe in Eastern New York and New Jersey. It is impossible to make any estimate of the amount of damage done.
—We have received a circular from the Warner Astronomical Observatory, in regard to the new comet, and stating as a "significant fact" that two comets were discovered on the same day. In the absence of any further information we are left to suppose that the only thing of which it is significant is that two men chanced to be on the lookout for comets at the same time.
—Secretary Teller has decided that the Indian police may be furnished with revolvers for the better enforcement of their official authority, but the custom of supplying them with the best improved breech-loading rifles will be discontinued. No rifles and no fixed ammunition for breech-loaders will hereafter be placed in the hands of any Indians, by the department. This decision will commend itself to the good sense of all.
—The liquor dealers in the East are becoming alarmed, and, strange to say, the cause of their alarm is the rapid increase of prohibition, which they say is powerless against the liquor traffic. The Liquor Dealers Convention of Illinois conclude that they will favor a license system which shall make the trade respectable. As soon as they have succeeded in making the liquor traffic respectable, we will inform our readers of the fact.
—The Married Woman's Property Bill, which has recently passed both houses of Parliament, repeals the provisions of the common law which made the husband absolute owner of his wife's property. A married woman can now hold and dispose of property, and make contracts, as if she were a single woman. The Independent, speaking of this advance over the old law of England, which made a woman in reality the slave of her husband, predicts that this growth will continue until women are politically enfranchised and vote on the same basis as men.
Appointments.
By N. C. McClure, F. V. Harmon, G. D. Hagar
Healdsburgh Camp-Ground, Hassett's Grove.
THROUGH the kindness of Mr. Hassett, we will occupy the same grove for our camp-meeting that we occupied three years ago. All who were there will remember it as being a very pleasant place.
The cars run close to the grove, and will stop during the time of the meeting, to leave passengers and their baggage. Those coming to the meeting can ask the conductor to leave them there.
We can get horses fed at Mr. Hassett's barn for $1.50 per week per head, or pastured for $1.00. Will as many of the brethren as can, come three or four days before the meeting commences to assist in making preparations? And we would extend an earnest invitation to every brother and sister in the State to be present. We believe these privileges in the future will be very few. The last conflict of the people of God with the powers of the earth, is fast approaching. Come up to this important gathering and let us all seek the Lord together, and get our spiritual strength renewed, that we may be able to go through the conflict and come out on the side of victory.
For “Camp-meeting Arrangements,” see preceding page. It is important—examine with care.
Paying Pledges.
By Editor
At the camp-meeting last year pledges were made to a considerable amount toward the payment of church debts. Recently, among other sums given, Bro. M. J. Church, of Fresno, paid $1,000 on the debt on San Francisco church. This is timely help, and a great relief to San Francisco. "Who'll be the next?"
Sanctification.
By Editor
THE excellent articles on this subject, by Mrs. E. G. White, will be given in several numbers, and we bespeak for them a careful reading.
And we think we need not apologize to our readers for giving another article on the same subject on the fourth page (whole number 436) of this paper. It is from the California Christian Advocate. We are pleased to find such an article in the Advocate. It is sound doctrine, and clear in statement, and cannot fail to have a good effect wherever it is read.
Camp-Meeting Prospects.
THE prospects for a successful camp-meeting in this State were never better than at this time. There has been an early rain in California, since which the weather is warm, and there is every probability that it may continue so for some time, as is usually the case after the first rain in this State.
Our Job Office has got out the best looking poster, or large advertising sheet of the camp-meeting, that we have ever seen for any such meeting. It is a splendid advertisement of both the meeting and the office.
The number of preachers who will be present is larger than at any previous annual gathering in California. It will be a favorable circumstance that a few wearied ones will not have to bear the entire burden of this meeting.
And the present political crisis in this State makes our work very important at this time. Every one who loves the truth ought to be inquiring what he can do to further the good work. Come one—come all. Come early, and stay till the close.
Death of Dr. Ribton.
By Editor
The article from Elder Haskell in this week's paper on the massacre in Alexandria and the death of Dr. Ribton, will be read with great interest. We have anxiously waited for some particulars of this sad event, and we are glad that, by reason of Bro. Haskell's visit, we are enabled to publish an authentic account, given by members of Dr. Ribton's family. Thus for the present ends the missionary work of Sabbath-keepers in Northern Africa. But God, who makes the wrath of man to praise him, can turn even this to the advancement of his truth. We cannot see how, but faith trusts where sight fails.
The N. Y. Independent kindly advised our people to present the matter to the Secretary of State. But these missionaries were not American citizens.
The College Boarding-House.
By William Clarence White
Our new building is progressing well under the hands of the few men at work on it, but more men are needed on the job. We want a number of first-class carpenters. Any such coming to Healdsburgh with a view to working on the building after camp-meeting, would do well to bring his tools, so that he can begin work without delay after the meeting closes. W. C. WHITE.
Special Edition of the Signs.
By Editor
WE have dropped the name Supplement, because it did not exactly express the idea which we wished to convey, and named our campaign edition the "Special Edition."
The present Sunday excitement in California is the first installment of that which is to shake the whole nation. Believing that our brethren everywhere ought to understand the progress of this work here, we have mailed the first two numbers together to all our regular subscribers, and to all the tract societies. The pages are stereotyped, and a large number has already been printed. And we think our brethren need all the numbers, that they may understand the matter until the end. Soon after the election, we presume it will be possible to give all necessary attention to it in the regular edition.
The sending out of these two numbers has involved considerable outlay, and we ask those who receive them to assist us in the work. And we hope we may receive many orders for all the numbers. One society in the East has already ordered one hundred copies.
Railroad Accident at Temescal.
By Editor
LAST Friday afternoon, at 6 o'clock, the dummy on the road from Temescal to the University ran over and killed a young man by the name of Albert Wright. He was a deaf mute. The engineer made the following statement, which we copy from the Oakland Times:—
"He states that at the time of the accident he saw a large crowd of people crossing the track, and kept his bell ringing; that the boiler in the engine concealed the right-hand side of the track from view, and the first intimation he had of the accident was hearing the dinner-pail of deceased knock against the dummy, and feeling the jolt as the engine passed over his body; that he had the reverse lever on at the time, and no steam on; that the engine was stopped within its length, and that he got out of his cab and helped to carry the injured man into the hotel."
He made the same statement before the coroner's jury, who exonerated him from blame. That may be all right; but what about the management in using a track where large crowds daily cross, with such an arrangement that the engineer cannot see the whole of the track ahead of him? There is work for another jury in that case.
By the loss of her son, Sister Wright loses her earthly dependence for support. But she has the sympathy of many friends, and, above all, has "the blessed hope" to sustain her.
St. Helena Health Retreat.
By Editor
AFTER many unavoidable delays the Health Retreat is in operation as a Sanitarium. According to the announcement made some time since in the SIGNS, Dr. Chase is now at Crystal Springs as a resident physician, with Mrs. Dr. C. F. Young as assistant. Now is the time for those who wish to assist this important enterprise to come forward, for improvements and additions must be made, especially to the bathing department. Means are needed which ought to be furnished very soon in order to increase its facilities and usefulness. A large patronage is expected as soon as the facilities will warrant advertising for it. No time ought to be lost, for the work which can and should be done there is much needed.
California Conference.
By CAL. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
THE eleventh annual meeting of the California Conference will be held in connection with the camp-meeting at Healdsburg, commencing October 5, 1882. Every organized church of twenty or less members is entitled to one delegate, and an additional one for every fifteen members over that number. Unorganized companies and isolated brethren should also be represented in person or by letter, so that the wants of the cause in the State may be known.
Ministers and licentiates, and others laboring in the Conference, are requested to make out a written report of labor, time, and expenses, to October 1, the close of the present Conference year, and hand it in at the first session. Conference business will be disposed of during the early part of the meeting, that all the time possible may be devoted to spiritual matters: delegates are therefore requested to be on the ground at the commencement. All letters pertaining to Conference business should be addressed to Mrs. Barbara C. Rice, Healdsburg.
Brethren and Sisters, we would invite every one of you to read Mal. 3:10, and fulfill that scripture that we may have the promised blessing at our camp-meeting, and also that the expenses of the Conference which have been larger than usual this year, may be met. We have purchased three new preaching tents, a 50 ft., a 40 ft., and a 24x36 ft. We have had more laborers in the field this year than ever before, which will account for the increase of expenses.
Church Clerks and Treasurers will please bring their books.
CAL. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
California State T. and M. Society.
By Alice Morrison
THE next annual meeting of the California T. and M. Society will be held in connection with the camp-meeting at Healdsburgh, commencing Oct. 5, 1882. As far as consistent all pledges to this society or the Reserve Fund should be paid at or before the meeting.
All District Secretaries and Church Librarians are requested to have their books there that they may be audited.
ALICE MORRISON, Secretary.
California Sabbath-School Association.
By William Clarence White
The fifth annual session of the California Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath-school Association, will be held in connection with the camp-meeting at Healdsburgh, commencing Oct. 5, 1882. It is hoped that each school in the State will be represented. The Secretary of each school is requested to bring or send the school and class record-books to the meeting, for examination by a committee to be appointed for that work.
W. C. WHITE, Pres.
Model Sabbath-School.
By James White
As is usual at our camp-meetings, there will be a Bible-school held each Sabbath of the meeting, at 8:45 A. M. All are invited to join the school.
The Senior and Intermediate Divisions will use the regular lessons in the Youth's Instructor for those Sabbaths. All the Primary classes will unite in using Lessons No. 27 and 28 of Book No. 3. For the very little ones, lessons are being prepared about the Garden of Eden.
Let as many as can, bring Instructors containing lessons for the first and second Sabbaths of October. The children's lessons will be printed for distribution on the ground. W. C. WHITE.
California H. and T. Society.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
The third annual session of the California Health and Temperance Society will be held in connection with the camp-meeting at Healdsburgh, Cal., to commence October 5, 1882. E. J. WAGGONER, Pres.