Many of our readers are somewhat familiar with the work of the American Bible Society. The following extract from the New York Tribune gives some interesting statistics of the magnitude of the work. It should have at least the interest and good wishes of every Christian reader:—
“Just above Cooper Institute (New York City) stands a six-story building, the home and workshop of the American Bible Society. Plain in architectural design and unobtrusive in outward appearance, it serves a potent and far-reaching purpose. From its store-rooms over 1,000,000 copies of the Scriptures, printed in 164 languages and dialects, are annually distributed throughout the world. The Society was organized in May, 1816, by a convention of delegates from different parts of the country. Its business is conducted by a Board of Managers, consisting of thirty-six laymen of various Christian denominations. The publishing business is under the charge of Caleb T. Rowe. A. L. Taylor, the treasurer, found time recently to say to a Tribune reporter:—
“‘Ours is a manufacturing, commercial, and benevolent business. We never sell above cost price, more frequently below, and not seldom give the Bibles out and out. The channels of distribution in this country are through the trade, through about 2,000 auxiliary societies, and through the agency of colporters who are employed to carry books into sparsely settled sections. To some extent we also use other benevolent bodies as agents. The distribution in foreign countries is done mainly by the agencies at Constantinople, Yokohama, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Mexico, St. Petersburg, and Tabreez, Persia. The number of volumes issued from our house last year was 1,357,051; the number made in other countries, 451,164. During the sixty-eight years that the society has been at work, 43,892,031 Bibles and Testaments have been scattered among the peoples of the earth, including over 12,000 copies for the blind.’”
“And your general expenses—how are they met?” suggested the reporter.
“‘The deficit is covered by contributions, legacies, and the rent from the building. Our total annual income from all sources is upward of $600,000. Last year we employed 400 colporters in America, and gave work to 200 persons in this building. Our fortnightly pay-roll now ranges from $10,000 to $12,000.’”
Responsibility.
One of the most wonderful things in the world is the power of men to draw themselves a line beyond which they never dream of counting themselves responsible, across which they look and judge with cruelest criticism the men who are really fighting the world's sins and troubles on the other side, as if of them there were no more to be asked than just that they should be perfect in their own self-limited world of elegant uselessness. Never a brave reformer tried to break down a popular sin, or to build up some new and needed progress, taking on himself the responsibility which a true man ought to take, but these self-satisfied scribes gather around him to criticize his methods and ridicule his blunders, but never lift a hand to show how they too would blunder if they let themselves step outside of their safe and limited and petty life. This, I think, is the way in which most men of the world look at Christianity, and at the efforts of their brother men to live a Christian life. “I am no Christian,” says the practical man; “I do not pretend to be pious or religious.” And then he looks up in your face as if he had settled the whole question, as if his entire business thenceforth were just to stand by and see what sort of a Christian you were, and how your piety came on.—Phillips Brooks.
International Tract and Missionary Society.
By Stephen N. Haskell
THE International Tract and Missionary Society was organized Aug. 13, 1874. It has furnished health and religious publications to co-operative missions and individuals in every State and Territory in the United States, and to every civilized nation on the globe. During 1883-84 it placed in free public libraries in this country over 10,000 volumes of standard religious books, at a cost of over $10,000, two-thirds of which was donated by other funds and the publishers. It has also placed valuable books in many libraries in England, Australia, the United States, and supplied reading-rooms with health and religious periodicals.
Free reading and lecture-room, 914 Laguna Street, San Francisco, Cal., from which place all ships are visited which enter that harbor. Andrew Brosen and H. C. Palmer, city missionaries. C. R. Robbins, ship missionary.
Book and tract depository at 1959 Castro Street, Oakland, Cal., where will be kept constantly on hand Health and Temperance publications to furnish co-operative missions and branch offices on the Pacific Coast, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Address, Anna L. Ingels, care of Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.
Free reading-room on L Street, near corner of Fifth, East Portland, Oregon. H. W. Reed, ship missionary.
Free reading-room, 113 Pearl Street, Portland, Maine. Elder S. J. Hersum, superintendent.
Free reading and lecture-room, 744 Broadway, New York City, where it will keep constantly on hand Health and Temperance publications to furnish co-operating missions and branch offices on the Atlantic Coast and in Europe. Ships visiting this harbor are supplied with reading matter. M. B. Patterson, manager and city missionary.
Free reading and lecture-room, 21 Boylston Place, Boston, Mass. A. T. Robinson, city missionary. Ship missionary, C. W. Priest, 191 Atlantic Avenue.
Free reading-room, 148 High Street, Providence, R. I. H. B. Tucker, manager.
The mission work at Worcester, Mass., is in charge of J. R. Israel. Public services are held at 26 Chandler Street, each Sabbath, at 1:30 P. M.; Sunday, at 7 P. M., Bible-reading; Wednesday at 7 P. M., prayer-meeting.
Free reading-room at No. 330 North Eighth Street (second floor), Philadelphia, Pa., Elder D. T. Fero, resident manager. Rooms open from 2 to 7:30 P. M., preaching or Bible-reading every evening except Mondays and Saturdays.
Parlor reading and lecture-rooms at 13 West Huron Street, Buffalo, N. Y., open from 2:30 to 9 P. M. Alex. Gleason, superintendent.
Parlor reading and lecture-rooms, 52 Crouse Building, Warren Street, Syracuse, N. Y. N. J. Walsworth, resident manager.
Free reading-room at 219 West Madison Street, Chicago; Room 2, second floor. Eld. Geo. B. Starr and James Sawyer, managers.
Mission and free reading-room at 2339 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, Mo., N. W. Allen, superintendent.
Free reading-room and book depository, 422 N. East Street, Indianapolis, Ind. A. W. Bartlett, superintendent.
The ship work at Liverpool, England, is under the charge of Geo. R. Drew, 32 Grange Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire; J. H. Dorland, Southampton. Tract and book depository, 72 Heneage Street, Great Grimsby, Eng., in charge of Miss Jennie Thayer.
Free reading-room, tract and book depository, at 189 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, H. I. L. A. Scott, city missionary; A. LaRue, ship missionary.
Branch societies are being organized in all parts of the United States and Europe. The New York State branch has its offices and depository at Rome, N. Y. E. W. Whitney, President; Miss May Taylor, Secretary.
At the above-mentioned places the public are cordially invited.
The society is sustained by the liberalities of friends of missions. Donations by draft or otherwise will be thankfully received and gratefully acknowledged by any of the above-mentioned agents, or Miss M. L. Huntley, Secretary, South Lancaster, Mass., U. S. A.
S. N. HASKELL, President
A. J. CUDNEY,
By A. J. Cudney
Appointments.
OAKLAND.—House of worship, northeast corner of Clay and Thirteenth Streets. Sabbath-school every Sabbath at 9:30 A. M. Preaching at 11 A. M. Prayer and missionary meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:00. Seats free. Preaching every Sunday evening at 7:30.
SAN FRANCISCO.—House of worship, 912 Laguna Street, between McAllister and Tyler Streets. Sabbath-school every Sabbath at 9:45 A. M. Preaching at 11 A. M. Prayer and missionary meeting every Wednesday evening at 7:45. Preaching every Sunday evening at 7:30. Mission Reading-rooms at the church.
WILL meet with the church about seven miles north of Oxford, Neb., Friday evening, Feb. 13, and continue over Sabbath and Sunday.
Will meet with the brethren in Red Willow County, Friday evening, Feb. 20, and continue a few days. The meetings will be held near Indianola or Cambridge, as may be directed by Brother Shaw.
I wish to see a general attendance of all the friends of the cause near these places, as it will be quite a long time before meetings will be held here again.
A. J. CUDNEY,
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY. IN FOUR VOLUMES.
By Mrs. E. G. White.
These volumes describe the great conflict between Christ and Satan, as illustrated in the history of man, his temptations, conflicts, victories and defeats, and the final triumph of right and truth with a growing immortality.
Volume one treats of the rebellion of Satan, the fall of man, and the lives of the patriarchs to the time of Solomon.
Volumes two and three are devoted to the Life of Christ and the Ministry of his Apostles.
Volume four contains sketches of the history of the Church from the destruction of Jerusalem to the close of time.
These books are not argumentative, yet they throw much light on the sacred page. They afford especial encouragement to the Christian, and are excellent to place in the hands of skeptics to convince them of Bible truth.
The four volumes contain over 1,500 pages, and are furnished to the subscriber for $4.00 per set.
Either volume may be furnished separately for $1.00, post-paid.
PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
THE HONOR DUE TO GOD.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
By ELD. E. J. WAGGONER.
This is a candid examination of the question as to what the Lord expects from his children as an acceptable manifestation of gratitude for his gifts and care. It treats the important subject of tithes and offerings in a new and interesting way. Its arguments are clear and concise. It is a plain and faithful presentation of the truth of God's word on the important subject. An idea of the scope of the work may be obtained from the following brief synopsis:—
CHAPTER I.
Man's Duty to Love God Supremely.—God's Pleasure Man's Profit.—Love is Active, not Passive.—Two Ways of Honoring God—with Our Time and Our Substance.—Tithing Rests on Same Foundation as Sabbath.—The Right of Property: Everything is the Lord's.—Tithing Not Peculiar to Jewish Dispensation.
CHAPTER II.
First Instance of Payment of Tithes.—What the Tithe Is.—Jacob's Vow.
CHAPTER III.
From What Is the Tithe to be Paid?—When Shall It Be Laid Aside?—Redeeming the Tithe.—Object of the Tithe.—Nehemiah's Example.—Offerings: Various Kinds in Old Dispensation.—David's Example.—Christian Obligation.
CHAPTER IV.
Difference Between Tithes and Offerings.—Offerings to be Given Willingly.—Modern Methods of Raising Money for Church Support Contrasted with Ancient.—Tithe Must Be Paid Continuously.—Church Expenses; How Raised in Ancient Times.—Support of the Poor; Bible Plan.—A Second Tithe.
CHAPTER V.
Who Should Pay Tithes.—Who should Make Offerings.—The Promise of God.
CHAPTER VI.
Parable of Rich Man; Luke 12:15–21. “Rich Toward God.”—Parable of the Unjust Steward.—Children of this World Wiser than Children of Light.—Why God Requires Men to Give of Their Means.
CHAPTER VII.
Systematic Giving—Impossible to Discharge Our Obligations Without a Plan in Giving.—Purposing in the Heart.—How to Make Duty a Pleasure.—Giving One of the Christian Graces.
CHAPTER VIII.
An Objection; Tithing Not Mentioned by the Apostles.—The Reason Why.—Not One-tenth Merely, but All Belongs to God.—“Sell That Ye Have, and Give Alms.”—When Does this Command Apply?
This work shows the nature of the mistake made in expecting the Lord to come in 1844, which was not an error of time computation, but in the nature of the event to take place, namely, the cleansing of the Sanctuary. The work sheds a flood of light on the Scriptures, especially on the subject of the Atonement.
352 pp. Price, cloth, $1.00. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
SABBATH-SCHOOL HELPS.
Bible Lessons for Little Ones, No. 1. Flexible cover.......... 15 cts.
Bible Lessons for Little Ones, No. 2. Flexible cloth.......... 20 cts.
Bible Lessons for Children, No. 3.......... 25 cts.
Bible Lessons, No. 4, with map.......... 25 cts.
Bible Lessons, No. 5.......... 25 cts.
Bible Lessons, No. 6.......... 25 cts.
Address,
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.;
Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich
Valuable Map for Bible Students.
By Editor
We have received from the publishers (Franke & Schneider, 529 Fifteenth Street, Washington, D. C.), a copy of a “Map of Egypt, the Sinaitic Peninsula, and the Promised Land,” with a “Companion,” giving historical and descriptive notes of the principal places on the map. We have looked over this map with more than ordinary interest. The encampments of the children of Israel, on their journeyings through Arabia, are marked, named, and numbered, and the notes give information of value. The most accurate Government surveys have been employed, and we think the following words from the introduction are fully justified:—
“The annotations appended are alphabetically arranged, and will prove a valuable aid in studying the map. For the superficial student they invest with interest places which to him were geographical names and nothing more. They give a summary of Scripture history, together with interesting topography of the sacred localities represented on the map, to obtain which would otherwise require the study of many books. The more advanced student will find them a welcome aid as a summary of the latest and most valuable researches.”
We shall draw from these notes for the interest of our readers as soon as our time and labors will permit.
Six More Signs Subscriptions from Honolulu
By Editor
JUST as we go to press, six more full-year subscriptions for the SIGNS come from Honolulu.
The Cynosure and Sunday Laws
THE Cynosure comes to the front with a denial of the charge that it would sanction laws to punish those who keep Saturday. This sounds well, and we doubt not that our cotemporary honestly repels the insinuation. We notice one thing, however, that is, that the demand for a Sunday liquor law invariably leads to the advocacy of the Constitutional Amendment and a law to compel cessation from labor also on that day. We shall see what we shall see.
White Infants Sold to China
ANOTHER villainous practice has been unearthed in San Francisco. It now appears that the Chinese of that city have for years been engaged in buying white infants and sending them to China. Most of the purchases made have been from the keepers of lying-in hospitals, the little waifs having been left there by their unnatural mothers. It can only be conjectured what is done with the children upon their arrival in the pagan land. It is generally supposed, however, that they are to be trained to vile practices. It seems strange that a human being should become so depraved as to be a party to such nefarious business. When we consider, too, that we are living in the boasted enlightenment of the nineteenth century, and in a land of Bibles and churches, it is stranger yet that a system of slavery, the most vile and degrading ever known, could be for a moment tolerated. Yet it is said that there is at present no statute that will touch this base crime.
Death of Dr. Robert Patterson.
By Editor
DR. PATTERSON, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of East Oakland, died in this city Jan. 17. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, both as a speaker and a writer. His series of tracts compiled into a book of 300 pages, entitled: “Fables of Infidelity and Facts of Faith,” is worthy of more attention than it has generally received. It is replete with telling arguments showing up the fallacies of infidelity in a logical and forcible manner. We can cordially recommend it to readers of all classes. Though we could not agree with every sentence in it (and it would be surprising if we could), we believe there is no better book to put into the hands of the young who are troubled over the pretended “deductions of science,” than this of Dr. Patterson.
Fanciful Interpretation of Scripture.
By J. O. C.
A CELEBRATED D. D. of Washington, is giving a series of discourses to the young people of his congregation. Not long since he preached, basing his remarks upon the “flying roll” of Zechariah. In this prophecy he saw predicted the daily newspaper of the present. He said: “No work of man so overawes me as does this ubiquitous power of the daily paper. It brings knowledge, facts, companionship.”
The newspaper men who will take the trouble to read carefully the fifth chapter of Zechariah, certainly will not feel flattered with the application of the prophecy to their productions. The prophet declares the flying roll to be a curse, going over the face of all the earth, and entering houses, only to entirely consume them. If this is to be the result of the daily visits of newspapers to the houses of the land, the sooner the world has the warning the better. If the recital of sickening tragedies and fiendish outrages will accomplish such a work, it will not be long before the mission of the average daily will be accomplished.
Such interpretations of Scripture, however, serve to show one thing, and that is to what extremes one can go when allowing his mind to roam the field of fancy.
J. O. C.
The Sunday Law Movement.
As a point of interest to our readers we insert the following from the San Francisco Chronicle of February 3:—
“Rev. Dr. Gibson, of the committee appointed last month to prepare petitions and secure a concerted movement of the churches in favor of a revival of the Sunday law, reported progress yesterday at the meeting of the ministers in Young Men's Christian Association Hall. The petitions were not quite ready for distribution, he said, but would soon be, and he would like to see a pile of petitions ten feet high heaped before the Legislature. He thought the legislators would not disregard such petitions. There was a better feeling coming in, he was sure, with regard to a Sunday law—not a law that would compel people to go to church, but one that would put a stop to public amusements on Sunday. The committee had sent out circulars to all the clergy of the State, asking them to press the subject on the attention of their congregations. Some of them had done so, if not all.
“Rev. Mr. Woodworth said that Christians even were working and amusement seeking now on Sunday. He knew active Christian men who would work on Sunday when business pressed them. Others would even take their children out of Sunday-school to go to the ocean beach, or some other pleasure resort, on Sunday. Such things must stop, or there would soon be no Sabbath all. Dr. Gibson's report was accepted and the committee continued.
An Interesting Occasion.
By George B. Starr
THROUGH an acquaintance with the city missionary of the Y. M. C. A., I received an invitation to attend a general meeting of the Bible workers,—a class of some considerable numbers, comprised mostly of ladies, who visit from house to house and read the Bible among the people. The subject for consideration at the meeting mentioned was the personal second advent of Jesus. The subject was introduced by Rev. Blackstone, of Oak Park, and after stating his love for the doctrine and expressing faith in the nearness of the event, he invited all present to present briefly their views of the subject.
Several responded, among them Dr. Goodwin, the leading Congregationalist of the city, who expressed his sadness at the tendency with both the ministry and people of the present day to spiritualize the plain declarations of Scripture referring so unmistakably to a personal second coming of Christ, and contenting themselves with the Spirit, which was only to represent the Saviour until his personal return. He thought the preaching of the personal second advent would tend to lead the people to faith in a personal Saviour. He said he believed the coming of Jesus would precede the millennium. Major Whittle, the evangelist, Major Cole, and others expressed themselves in substantially the same way. It was really refreshing to me to hear the testimony of these men in favor of this precious Bible subject, and thus lend their influence to the investigation of the theme by others.
GEO. B. STARR.
Chicago Mission, 219 West Madison St.
Nothing New Under the Sun.
It is a singular fact that we are indebted to Pompeii for the great industry of canned fruits. Years ago, when the excavations were just beginning, a party of Americans found, in what had been the pantry of a house, many jars of preserved figs. One was opened, and they were fresh and good. Investigation showed that the figs had been put into jars in a heated state, an aperture left for the steam to escape, and then sealed with wax. The hint was taken, and the next year, fruit canning was introduced in the United States, the process being identical with that in vogue at Pompeii twenty centuries ago.—Sel.
THE ATONEMENT:
By J. H. Waggoner
AN EXAMINATION OF A REMEDIAL SYSTEM, IN THE LIGHT OF NATURE AND OF REVELATION.
By Eld. J. H. Waggoner.
THIRD EDITION, REVISED AND GREATLY ENLARGED.
This work is a critical and exhaustive treatise on the plan of salvation as revealed in the Scriptures, showing its harmony with the principles of justice and mercy, its consistency with reason, and its final results as affecting the destiny of the human race.
365 pp.; cloth, $1.00.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
THE DEFINITE SEVENTH DAY; OR, GOD'S MEASUREMENT OF TIME ON THE ROUND WORLD.
By John Nevins Andrews
By Eld. J. N. Andrews.
This tract is an answer to the question, “Can a definite day be observed by all the inhabitants of the earth?” It is a complete refutation of the common objection against the Sabbath, that the rotation of the earth on its axis makes it impossible for all men to keep the same day, showing not only that a definite day may be observed in all parts of the earth, but that no real difficulty has ever been experienced in the matter.
16 pp. Price, $2.00 per hundred.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.; Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
Thoughts on Revelation, Critical and Practical.
By Uriah Smith
By Eld. U. Smith.
This work presents every verse in the book of Revelation, with such remarks as serve to illustrate or explain the meaning of the text. It is a new and harmonious exposition of that important book, and is designed to create an interest in its study.
416 pp. Price, $1.25.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
International Tract and Missionary Society.
A sixteen-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel; with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
Price Per Year, $2.00
In Clubs of five or more copies to one address, to be used in Missionary Work. 1.50
Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
Twelfth and Castro Streets, OAKLAND, CAL.