p. 526 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 33. (8/28/1884)

Earlier text: International Tract Society Reading—Rooms, St. Louis, Mo

SECULAR.

—It is reported that cholera is again spreading in France.

—A recent explosion at Kazan, Russia, attributed to nihilists, killed 100 persons.

—During last week there were forty-two deaths from yellow fever at Havana, Cuba.

—The California Cotton Mills, now being erected in Oakland, will be ready for operation in January next.

—The president of the First National Bank of Albion, N. Y., has absconded, and the bank has suspended.

—A sheet of fire from seventy-five to eighty miles long was recently raging on the prairie near Shoshone, I. T.

—It is intended to have the work of all the Government Indian schools represented at the New Orleans Exposition.

—There is great excitement in Jersey City over the reported discovery of leprosy among the Chinese laundrymen.

—A terrible plague of locusts has visited central Spain. The damage to crops about Ciudad Real is estimated at $10,000,000.

—Yellow fever is reported at Hermosillo and other parts of Mexico. In some places the cattle have been afflicted with the disease.

—It is thought that communication by rail between San Bernardino and San Diego, Cal., will be re-established within sixty days.

—The main building of the New Orleans Exposition will be completed in a few days. Machinery Hall has a total length of nearly two miles.

—Up to the present time 2,000 persons of both sexes, suspected of conspiring against the peace of the czar, have been expelled from Germany.

—Governor Stoneman has proclaimed that Sept. 9, the thirty-fourth anniversary of California's admission into the Union, be a legal holiday.

—The mayor of Carrollton, Ga., has published notice that "dissolute men and women" will not be allowed to live there "except in the chain gang."

—It is charged that the crew of a German man-of-war recently hauled down the British flag and substituted that of Germany at Bogeeda, West Africa.

—Judge Van Brunt, of New York, has decided that the Emigration Commissioners have full discretion under the present laws to keep out paupers.

—In the horticultural branch of the New Orleans Exposition will be a pyramid of twenty thousand plates of fruits, the largest exhibit of this kind ever made.

—Mrs. Treece, of Shelbyville, Ind., on the 21st inst., used arsenic for yeast powder in some biscuits, by mistake, and fatally poisoned herself, her mother, and her child.

—Rev. Dr. Hovey was arrested in the streets of Troy, N. Y., last week when intoxicated and on the verge of delirium tremens. He was sentenced to jail for ten days.

—The business portion of Roseburg, Oregon, was destroyed by fire on the 19th inst. Two persons were burned to death, and the financial loss is estimated at $100,000.

—The United States war steamer Tallapoosa was sunk by collision with a coal schooner off Martha's Vineyard, on the night of the 21st inst. Four persons are reported missing.

—The natives of the Zambezi country, Africa, have revolted and massacred the entire Portuguese force. Re-enforcements are asked for. The British Vice-consul is missing.

—A money-lender at Carlsruhe, in Baden, named Hausmann, has been fined 800 marks, imprisoned six years, and deprived of civil rights for five years thereafter, for excessive usury.

—The authorities at San Quentin, Cal., State Prison, have just discovered that they have a Chinese leper on hand, in the person of a prisoner. The only way they can isolate him is to keep him in a cell.

—Lieutenant Greely, when asked as to his ideas upon the probable results of Arctic exploration, said: "I do not think the North Pole can be reached unless every circumstance hitherto found to be unfavorable should prove favorable."

—Forest fires have done great damage in Michigan, in the vicinity of East Tawas. Farm buildings, fences, grain, and hay, as also a large area of timber, have been burned; potatoes were baked in the ground, and wet marshes dried up.

—The Chinese Government positively declines to pay the French indemnity; the French representative at Peking has hauled down his flag, and the Chinese Minister at Paris has been given his passports. In the ordinary diplomatic routine, the next thing is war.

—A couple of boat loads of drunken sailors, going from the wharf at San Francisco to their ship, last week, got so muddled that several found themselves in the water, and one was drowned. Others would have lost their lives, but for the presence of mind of the boatman and the timely assistance from the ship. A small boat is a dangerous place for a dozen or more drunken revelers.

—Late advices from Vera Cruz, Mexico, say that myriads of locusts have appeared in that State, and, notwithstanding an immense quantity had been killed, the greatest destruction to crops had resulted. In Yucatan and in southern Mexico 100 square miles of country are covered with the pests, and the corn, grass and other crops are utterly destroyed. It is said 1,000 families, dependent on small crops, will have to be supported by the Government during the next six months.

—A New York telegram positively states that "Negotiations have been concluded between the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company and the Southern and Central Pacific Companies of California with a view to forming a close-working train service and traffic arrangement, extending from St. Louis over the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, and from Atchison and Kansas City over the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fé Railroad, by way of the Atlantic and Pacific route, to Albuquerque, N. M., and thence to San Francisco and all points in California."

Publishers' Department.

By Editor

NOTICE.—We send no papers from this Office without pay in advance, unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without ordering them they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving them are not indebted to the Office.

Money orders, drafts, etc., should be made to "Pacific Press," NEVER to individuals, as they may be absent, and business thereby be delayed.

Are You One?

By Editor

QUITE a number of subscriptions expire in August and September. We would be pleased to have you renew, for we think the SIGNS will do you good. If you desire to keep pace with the "Third Angel's Message," you should read this paper studiously each week. A few of our subscribers whose time has expired have requested us to continue sending the paper until September; others until October. We will do so; please remit promptly.

Great Controversy, Vol. 4.

By Editor

AGENTS will please be careful in wording their orders so as to prevent mistakes in filling them.

The title "Spirit of Prophecy" is for the book in black binding—to match binding on Vols. 1, 2, and 3 already printed and sold.

The title "Great Controversy" is for the same book in olive binding. Circulars, etc., now ready; send for them.

Testimonials for "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation."

Prof. John W. Worst, Superintendent of Schools, Elmore, Ohio, says: "No one can read 'Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,' without being forcibly impressed with the vast amount of time and research the author has given the work. I pronounce it a valuable book to every person interested in the study of history (especially scriptural history), and I cheerfully recommend it to the reading public."

Eld. H. A. St. John, Superintendent "Crystal Springs" Health Retreat, St. Helena, Cal., says: "I have several times carefully read Smith's work entitled, 'Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,' and have no hesitancy in pronouncing it a work of inestimable value."

Jas. Summerbell, Pastor S. D. Baptist Church, Richburgh, N. Y., says: "As an interesting, instructive, and profitable work, on the most important of all themes, this I regard as one of the best of books."

C. L. Sands, Pastor First Baptist Church, Richburgh, N. Y., says: "I fully concur in the opinion of Rev. Jas. Summerbell, as expressed above."

Eld. J. O. Corliss, Pastor S. D. A. Tent, corner Tenth and Poplar Streets, Oakland, Cal., says: "After carefully examining 'Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,' I can cheerfully recommend it as a work well calculated to impart instruction upon what has formerly been considered dark and mysterious. The movements of the nations in the past ages of the world, and the peculiar position of leading Governments at the present time, with the probable result of pending diplomatic measures, are by the author set forth in a most clear and forcible manner from the prophetic stand-point. In a word, it is a mine of useful knowledge to all, and especially valuable as a text-book for Bible students."

Hon. W. C. Edsell, Otsego, Mich., says: "I consider these 'Thoughts' a good explanation of the book of Daniel and the Revelation, and well calculated to enlighten people on those subjects."

The above work is sold by subscription. C. L. BOYD, agent, East Portland, Oregon. G. W. COLCORD, agent, Walla Walla, W. T. G. D. BALLOU, agent, Reno, Nevada. PACIFIC PRESS, general agents, Oakland, Cal. Review and Herald, general agents, Battle Creek, Mich.

RECEIPTS.

By Editor

NOTICE.—The change of figures on the address labels will be in all cases a sufficient receipt for money sent for the paper. If these changes do not appear in due time, and if books ordered by mail are not received, please notify us. All other business is acknowledged below.

CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE FUND.—Petaluma per E Powellson $60.25, Nord, per J Leininger $57, Gonzales, per J B Brannan $10, B Robb $20, Unknown, Ft Wayne $3.

CASH RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT.—N Y T and M Society $400, Maine T and M Society $75, Upper Columbia T and M Society $250, Mrs E A Dyke $13.75.

CALIFORNIA T AND M SOCIETY.—Mrs Whisby 50c, E B Saunders $2, Mrs A R Bond $2, R Brown $5, Miss Emma Hoxie $1.40.

ORDERS FORWARDED.

By Editor

BOOKS SENT BY FREIGHT.—Eld M C Israel, Ira A Wheeler, George H Beck.

BOOKS SENT BY MAIL.—Frank Thorp, Miss Emma Hoxie, Mrs Ida Shaw, Miss M J Giles, Mrs A A Randall, D E Crouch, Wm Crothers, Eld J C Mikelsen, Frank Lamb, Minnie Robbins, C A Saxby, D E Lindsey, A H Van Doren, N W Allen, S K Fleeks, H W Reed, Sarah L Master, W R Jones, G D Ballou.

Upper Columbia Conference.

By J. N. Loughborough

SINCE my last report I have visited Walla Walla, Dayton, Colfax, and Farmington, W. T. In Walla Walla I had a business meeting with the church. We found the list of members in a condition calling for patient and earnest labor. Walla Walla has many non-resident members, some of whom have failed to report. With some this had been neglected so long that it was with difficulty that even their post-office address could be obtained. Resolutions were passed, which as they are carried out, will bring the list where it will more truly represent the living members of the church, and not leave the church carrying some who have a name to "live" but who "are dead" spiritually. Two members, who had grossly violated their covenant vow to keep God's commandments, were disfellowshipped. So many of the members of this church are non-resident that the burden of keeping up the meetings is left with a few. We hope those members away from Walla Walla will do all possible to encourage and sustain the church.

August 8 to 10, I was with the church at Dayton. On the Sabbath we had quite a full representation of the church, and we were enabled to ascertain something of the standing of the members. We hoped to have also a good attendance on first-day, that we might pass some resolutions and labor still further for the church. What was our astonishment, on first-day, to find only a congregation of ten, and less than half a dozen of these members of the church. So, as a matter of course, the resolutions had to be laid over till Brother Ings should visit them, Sabbath, August 23. It was pleaded in excuse for those who did not attend that it was the "hurry of harvest." Yes, but what do you imagine are the reflections of a minister under such circumstances. It seems to me that when we are all awake to a sense of the times we are in, and the necessity of improving these seasons for seeking God together, we shall not mind the sacrifice of one day, even in harvest. If the things of this world occupy the highest place in the affections, I fear such would want the Lord to appear on some holiday, in order for them to have leisure to watch and wait for him. We tried to do the best we could for the work and cause in Dayton. Our meetings seemed to awaken some outside interest, and we expect should we ever visit the place again, we might be able to get a quite full two days' attendance of our people.

On August 11, after a sixty-five-mile ride on a stage over the dustiest road I ever saw in my life, I came to Colfax, where Brother Colcord and his company are holding a tent-meeting. I spoke in the tent on the evenings of August 12 and 13. There are a few in Colfax who are interested to hear the truth. The church members for the most part banded themselves to stay away from the meetings, and the rest of the town are mostly for this world. A very few are taking their stand for truth. For the benefit of such the meetings will continue another week, but will probably close on Sunday evening, August 24. It is expected to erect the tent, for another effort this season, at Garfield, a point between Colfax and Farmington.

Sister Halley, who was elected Conference Sabbath-school secretary, and assistant T. and M. secretary, has consented to give herself to the work; she is at Colfax with Sister Colcord. The two days of my visit were, I trust, profitably spent in council and planning the future work for the Upper Columbia Conference and Missionary Society.

August 14, Brother Price, elder of the Farmington church, brought me with his carriage twenty-five miles to Farmington, where from August 15 to 17 I held four meetings. These were quite well attended by the members of the church and by citizens of the place. While here the deed of the new church building and lot was made. It was deeded to the president of the Upper Columbia Conference and his successors in office. This is allowed by the laws of Washington Territory, and obviates the necessity and expense of a local legal society, and serves just as good a purpose. While with this people, much time was spent in giving instructions to the church and its officers. We deem it the best way when officers are elected to let them do the work of their office, kindly showing them how, instead of electing officers and then doing their work for them.

Letters were voted to Eld. A. T. Jones and wife, that they may unite with the church in Oakland, California, whither they have removed.

One who has violated the Sabbath for many months was disfellowshipped, and another who has commenced to keep the Sabbath was received by vote of the church.

As the elder of the church is about to remove with his family into Montana Territory, another elder was elected; he to serve for a time in that capacity before being ordained.

After the morning service in Farmington yesterday, Bro. W. R. Jones, clerk of the church, came with a team to fetch me to this place, so that I might take the first morning train, and have ample time to perform the trip to Boise City, a place to be reached as yet only by alternate railroading and staging. We traveled most of the night, coming a distance of forty-seven miles, arriving here more than half an hour before the advertised time of the train, but only to learn that this morning the train had received orders to run two hours before its advertised time. So the train, which we had made such an effort to reach, had departed. Here I am in the North Pacific Railroad station at Cheney, to wait ten hours for a train. Waiting is one of the tedious parts of railway travel and requires patience. So does it require patience to wait properly for the return of the Lord from Heaven. O for grace to be found all packed up and in as good readiness for him to come as I am to board this train for which I am so anxiously looking.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Cheney, Aug. 18, 1884.

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 7:45. Seats free. Invitations to all.

SAN FRANCISCO.—House of worship, Laguna Street, between McAllister and Tyler Streets. Sabbath-school every Sabbath at 9:45. Preaching at 11 A. M. Prayer and missionary meeting every Wednesday evening at 7:45. Mission Reading-rooms at 316 Fremont Street.

California Conference.

By S. N. Haskell, M. C. Israel, W. C. White

The thirteenth annual session of the California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held in connection with the State camp-meeting at Oakland, Sept. 18-30, 1884. Every company of Seventh-day Adventists in the Conference should be well represented. The delegates should be elected according to the following ratio: Each church to the number of twenty members or under, shall be entitled to one delegate, and one delegate for every additional fifteen members.

S. N. HASKELL, M. C. ISRAEL, W. C. WHITE, California Conference Committee.

California Tract and Missionary Society.

By M. C. Israel

THE fourteenth annual meeting of the California T. and M. Society will be held during the session of the camp-meeting, to be held at Oakland, Sept. 18-30, 1884.

This will be the most important meeting of the kind ever held in the State, as the work is nearer its close and the field is opening up more fully before us. Arrangements should be made at this meeting to provide for many places that are calling for labor in our own State and Nevada; also to extend efforts already being made for the islands of the Pacific Ocean.

M. C. ISRAEL, Vice-Pres.

The Last Terror

If the pitchers, trumpets, and fire-brands did so daunt and dismay the proud troops of Midian and Amalek, who shall be able to stand before the last terror when the trumpet of the archangel shall sound, the elements shall be on a flame, the heavens pass away with a great noise, and the Lord himself shall descend with a shout?

Brauges, France.

By Daniel T. Bourdeau

I HAVE now been here five weeks; have spoken twenty-eight times and visited much, and about twelve persons are rejoicing in present truth. They have about everything to learn, and it will take time for them to come up fully on all points; but I have faith that they will set a worthy example to others in France, in every important feature of this glorious work.

The cholera is still doing its deadly work at different points in France. One hundred thousand persons have left the city of Marseilles; twenty thousand out of twenty-five thousand have left the city of Arles, near Marseilles; and two-thirds of the population of Toulon have fled to other more salubrious parts of the country. The Italian Government will not suffer foreigners from the West or even from Switzerland to enter Italy. So I am shut up to France for the present. This plague is doing more toward preparing the French people to receive the truth, and to hear of more fearful plagues, than fifty preachers could do in six months. God help us to act well our part.

D. T. BOURDEAU. August 4, 1884.

Tent-Meeting Journal.

By Editor

DURING the tent-meetings in Oakland we have issued a Tent-Meeting Journal, a small paper of four pages, each number containing about as much reading as one and a half pages of the SIGNS; and each number gives the report of one sermon preached in the tent. The sermon in last week's SIGNS on the Relation of Law and Grace, is one so published, it being No. 8 of the Journal. We have found them excellent for circulation; the people read the report of a sermon with deeper interest, and we believe to greater profit, after having heard the subject preached upon.

These will be found good for general circulation, or for use in tent-meetings anywhere. They afford a cheap means of scattering the truth, which is given in a style easy to be understood. The interest and benefit will be the same if the preacher in another meeting does not present the subject in just the same manner. The substance, the proofs, will be the same. They may be used to advantage in many cases instead of tracts by missionary societies.

We can furnish them in any quantity at $1.00 per hundred, post paid; $7.50 per thousand. Specimen copies sent when desired.

A Genuine Household Book.

By Editor

FROM the publisher, J. E. White, Kansas City, Mo., we have received a copy of a book just issued, entitled, "Breakfast, Dinner, and Supper. How, What, and When." The matter of this book interests every household, without exception, and the manner in which the subjects are presented cannot fail to interest every one. It is divided into five parts, as follows: 1. Ethics of Eating. 2. Etiquette of the Home. 3. Hygiene of the Home. 4. Hints to Housekeepers. 5. How to Cook. Each part embraces a great variety of topics. We may select from its pages hereafter. The following from "The Mid-day Meal," has our hearty indorsement:—

"Before passing to the subject of luncheon, we shall take our stand squarely on the subject of wine at table, and shall take this opportunity of giving a temperance lecture in a small way. We believe that wine at table has done more to create and foster a love for strong drink among the young than all the saloons in the land. The habit of drinking is seldom first formed at the saloon. The drinking customs of 'good society' have much to answer for in creating a desire to which the saloon gladly ministers at a later day."

It is a subscription book of 405 pages. Address the publisher, 12th Street and Tracy Ave., Kansas City, Mo.

Camp-Meetings for 1884.

By General Conference Committee

INDIANA (Southern), Farmersburg,	Sept. 2- 9
MAINE, Portland,	" 4-15
COLORADO, Denver,	" 10-16
OHIO, Columbus,	" 11-22
MICHIGAN, Jackson,	" 18-29
CALIFORNIA, Oakland,	" 18-30
NEBRASKA, Omaha,	" 24-30
INDIANA, Logansport,	Sept. 25 to Oct. 7
KENTUCKY, Glasgow,	Oct. 9-20

GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

A report from Eld. E. R. Jones says that Sister White stopped at Denver long enough to meet with and speak to the friends in that city, Aug. 7. All were blessed and much encouraged by her counsel and words of cheer. Many prayers follow her in her journeyings and her labors.

Sandwich Islands.

By Editor

BRETHREN Scott and LaRue left San Francisco Aug. 13 for Honolulu. The field is so different from any other in which our people have worked that we cannot even conjecture what will be their line of labor. They are men of experience, and we trust they will be guided in judgment, and that good may be done in the islands. They had for a fellow-passenger a Brother Desha, a native preacher of the islands. We shall anxiously wait for information from them.

California Camp-Meeting.

By Editor

It is not often that a pleasant, well-shaded camp-ground can be secured in a city of the size and thrift of Oakland. But such has been obtained here. It is an inclosed lot, bounded by 28th and 30th, east and west, and Adeline and Linden, north and south. It has a number of rows of eucalyptus trees running north and south, giving an agreeable shade, and by their regularity allowing of economy in space. The ground is large, containing four blocks.

Two lines of street-cars are near the ground. The Market Street line, running from the Market Street station on the local railroad, connecting also with the 14th Street line, terminates at Adeline and 24th Street, south of the camp. The 14th Street cars run to 16th Street station on the C. P. R. R. The San Pablo line runs near the ground on the north side.

And the time of the meeting is fast approaching. Only three weeks from the date of this paper to the beginning of the meeting. No time to lose; make preparations in season. Let your delegates to the Conference be chosen early. Bring all record books of churches, Tract Societies, and Sabbath-schools. Let us make this the most profitable meeting we have ever had in this State; one which shall tell for the advancement of the cause the coming year. Extensive preparations will be made. This opportunity must not be lost. Come early, and come to stay. For full particulars, see Supplement to SIGNS.

"The Unspeakable Gift."

By Editor

WE have received from the publisher a copy of Prof. J. H. Pettingell's last work, bearing the above title. The unspeakable gift which the author considers, is the gift of eternal life. Prof. Pettingell has made the doctrine of conditional immortality a subject of special study, and those who have read his previous works, especially "The Life Everlasting," will not doubt but that the subject is ably handled in this book. Our work has been so pressing for the past few weeks that we have not had time to read the book through. When we have done so, we shall give it a more extended notice. Through the kindness of the author, we have made many valuable selections from "The Life Everlasting" for the SIGNS, and hope to present to our readers still more from the Professor's able pen.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,

By Editor

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, Oakland, Cal.